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Our preacher for the celebration of Absalom Jones this coming Sunday, the Rev. Canon Willis Foster, will preach at both the 8:00 and 10:00 services. Canon Foster will also gather with us in Baines Hall between the services to share about his work as Canon for Diversity and the several programs underway in the
Diocese for growing diversity, acceptance and inclusion. Again, we are excited to welcome Fr. Foster to All Saints’. Make plans to be here for one of the services and the 9:00 gathering.
Tom+
Fr. Foster was appointed as the Canon for Diversity in the Diocese of Southern Virginia in July
of 2021.
Bishop Susan Haynes established the Canon for Diversity for the Diocese of Southern Virginia, as a new staff position that will enable the Diocese to live into being God’s beloved community. She said in part that the Canon for Diversity will be “the key to working together as lovers of God and each other, to live into the promises we made or that were made for us at our baptism. I am thinking especially of the promise to strive for justice and peace among all people and respect
the dignity of every human being.”
This appointment recognizes the work that we have to do as members of the Episcopal branch of the Jesus Movement in Southern Virginia. One of the primary goals of this position is to help the Diocese to understand that social diversity and social justice are two sides of the same coin. They cannot be separated and both are needed to defeat the sins of inequality, oppression and social
injustice. This office will lead the hard conversations that will help the reconstruction of diocesan institutions and policies based on biblical principles of unity, love, and justice.
Fr. Foster retired in December 2020. Prior to his retirement he was the Rector of St Stephen’s Episcopal Church in Petersburg, Virginia for over 10 years. In Petersburg VA, he served on the Board of CARES (Crisis Assistance Response Emergency Shelter) and was a member of STICN (South-side Trauma Informed Care Network). He is presently working with the James River
District of the United Methodist Church to develop an ecumenical/interfaith center called “The 2 Gathering” in Petersburg, VA. The purpose of this center is to work alongside the community to empower individuals and the community to thrive.
Fr. Foster grew up in Greensboro, North Carolina and after graduating from North Carolina Agriculture and Technical State University he served for a short time as an infantry officer in the U.S. Army. Ultimately he was commissioned in the United States Marine Corps, designated as a Naval Aviator and served in command, staff and instructional positions both in the United States and overseas.
Retiring after 30 plus years of military service in 2000, Fr. Foster joined the faculty of Regent
University’s Center of Leadership Studies as an Assistant Professor. While there he taught
courses in leadership and focused in areas of faculty socialization and mentoring, organization development and consulting. During this time he presented papers on mentoring at both national and international academic conferences and published articles on mentoring and learning organizations in both academic and popular journals.
After leaving Regent University, Fr. Foster was employed as a civilian consultant to the
Department of the Navy and the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He also assisted in developing and
conducting seminars on disaster preparedness planning/training for secondary/post-secondary educational institutions, military and other organizations.
A third generation Episcopalian, Fr. Foster has been active in both lay and ordained ministries. In the Diocese of Southern Virginia he has been involved in small church planning and development in both lay and ordained capacities. He has served on the Board of the Central Virginia Leadership Program for Musicians and was also on its faculty. Presently he serves as a
member of the Repairers of the Breach Commission, The Mission Network, and Transition Pastors and Consultants.
Fr. Foster’s undergraduate degree is in Sociology. He also holds a Master of Science Degree in Management from Troy State University, a Master of Divinity from Virginia Theological Seminary and post graduate work in Higher Education Administration from Old Dominion
While February is Black History Month across the nation, it is also the month in which the Episcopal Church celebrates the first African American ordained to the Episcopal priesthood, Absalom Jones (deacon, 1795 and priest, 1802). The annual celebration of Absalom Jones is February 13.
Born a slave in Delaware, 1746, Jones taught himself to read and later attended a Quaker school for Blacks in Philadelphia. He purchased his freedom in 1784 having already purchased his wife Mary King’s freedom. As a layperson, Jones rose in the leadership of ministry to Black members of Philadelphia’s
prominent Methodist congregation a few blocks from Independence Hall. Alarmed by the growth of African American congregants, church leaders, without consulting Jones and others, resolved to segregate them to a balcony during worship. At the Sunday service when ushers sought to remove them from the nave, the Blacks indignantly walked out as a body.
Jones helped organize and lead the Free African Society in 1787, organizing African American worship communities, ministering to those in need, and supporting similar societies in other cities. The Free African Society completed the construction of their own church in July 1794. In October the congregation was admitted into the Episcopal Church as St. Thomas African Episcopal Church with Jones licensed as its lay reader – worship leader. Subsequently, Jones was ordained a deacon and then a priest.
Known as “the Black Bishop of the Episcopal Church”, Jones, an ardent abolitionist and admired by his flock and community for his pastoral care and humble manners, is a notable example of persistent faith in the God of justice and compassion and in the Church as God’s instrument. Absalom Jones died on February 13, 1818.
We will observe the “feast” of Absalom Jones on the anniversary of his death with a special guest
preacher, the Rev. Canon Willis Foster, Canon for Diversity in our Diocese. Fr. Foster has long and
distinguished careers both in service to our country and to the Episcopal Church. (See the link to a bio
of Fr. Foster.) We are excited to welcome Fr. Foster to lead us in celebrating Absalom Jones!
The Annual Congregational Report is now available for review.
THIS SUNDAY IS INTERGENERATIONAL Sunday 9:00 – 9:45 a.m.
Join us this Sunday as we celebrate LOVE! We will learn about God’s love for us, and how we can expand that love to others as we work on a sweet service project for some of our neighbors. This event is for ALL ages! If we can’t meet in person, you will receive an email invitation (to meet via Zoom) from Fr. Tom, it will include instructions for participating in the service project. Hope to see you on Sunday!
Our 2's class is looking to plant bulbs in the garden. If anyone is separating their bulbs, please think about donating to the children's garden at the Day School. Thanks!
It's been brought to my attention that there some people have been having trouble finding our Facebook Page. Here is a link to the actual page:
If you click the link and like the page you should be able to find it easily. BUT I have also put in a ticket to Facebook to explain why it may not be coming up for some. Hopefully that will be fixed in the near future.
All Saints’ will host a Great Neck Community Event with Rise Against Hunger to prepare 20,000+ meals AND collect non-perishable food items for our local area Food Pantries on
Saturday, March 19, 2022. Register yourself or your entire family to volunteer through the link below for this fun, family-inclusive event! A nursery for those under 4 years of age will be available. Our fundraising goal is $7,000. Donate what you can! Don’t miss out, sign up now! If you have any questions, please email Nan Kesler at nan.kesler@gmail.com.
AUDIO VISUAL VOLUNTEERS - COME BE PART OF THE TEAM!
HELLO! As you all know we are off and running with the live stream. It is a work in progress, but nonetheless, we are doing it. A while ago we made a call out for anyone that would be interested in learning how to do this so we will have backups and people will have the opportunity to run the sound or the video. Next month we would like to begin training. SO can you please respond to this email if you are interested in learning how to help on Sunday Mornings with your name and phone number. I will put together a few training sessions. I ENCOURAGE the amazing kids in our family to also volunteer- so it is an open call to adults and kids alike! THANKS!
What's Happening at All Saints'
There will be no choir practice until we are free to resume in-person worship with singing.
There will be no choir practice until in-person worship with singing is on the known horizon.
Joint Stewardship/Outreach Sub-Committee ZOOM Meeting via ZOOM Wednesday, February 2 nd @ 7:00 p.m.
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