April 18, 2024 Edition

Christ is Risen! Alleluia! 

Easter celebrates the fulfilling of the promise that Jesus, though crucified, would rise again. (Mark 9:31). As “Easter people,” our pilgrimage of faith is full of gratitude. God has released us from sin and death and offered us new life. We are invited to live and act in the power of the Risen Lord that we may, as a witnesses to the power of the risen Christ, bring God’s truth and healing love to others from our place of resurrection.

Following the path of Resurrection does not mean we will not face challenges in life, times of shadow and sorrow, of war and economic woe, of need and neglect. The Easter promise means that we will never face these trials alone, and ultimately life and love will triumph. Click to continue reading.

Rev. Nancy will be going on sabbatical, from late July to late October of this year. Read about her plans during this important time of rest, recharge, and refocus. Click for Rev. Nancy's letter to the parish.

Buddy Hilbish is turning 100 years old on April 20! Let's celebrate this amazing milestone by sending him lots of love and well wishes! Everyone is invited to send birthday cards to Buddy's address, which is listed in Realm, or drop off a card at the church office, and we'll send it for you.

UPDATE: The church's front entrance will be OPEN this week and next week! Parking lot construction continues, so please pardon the dust and be extra careful as you enter and exit the church property.

This week, the curbs and gutters around the medians were replaced. The 50-year-old drainage pipes for the parking lots were removed and replaced. The plan for the upcoming week is to demolish the driveway to the truck dock and replace it with a larger concrete area. Please be extremely cautious of the large construction vehicles going in and out of the property over the next several weeks. We do anticipate future closures and will work to keep you updated via our various communication channels. Please check the website or call the church office at 704-782-2024 for the latest updates, as plans are subject to change. Thank you for your patience and flexibility as we make these improvements.

Please note: There are NO construction impacts on Sunday, April 21, 2024. Sunday services and events will proceed as scheduled.

Men for Change | Each spring, men and men's groups contribute $100 each to support the Cabarrus Victims Assistance Network (CVAN). Anyone can contribute $100 in honor or memory of a man. The funds collectively support CVAN's services for battered women and their children. Names are listed in a full-page newspaper ad, taking a public stand against domestic violence. For more information and to donate, click here. If you have questions, contact Joe Hunter or David Baxter.

Upcoming Community Opportunities | Fundraiser for Academic Learning Center on Thursday, May 2, 5-7:30 PM at Southern Strain Brewing. Drop in or support by buying tickets. For more information, contact Anne Jaeger. Piedmont Choral Society presents free community concerts on Friday, May 3 at 7 PM and Sunday, May 5 at 3 PM at Calvary Lutheran Church, 950 Bradley Street, Concord. Program will be "To Music: Celebrating the Powerful Gift of Music."

The Teller/Counter Team is looking for a volunteer to serve as an alternate Teller, which would entail performing such duties on the 5th Sunday of each month (4 times per year) and to substitute when a regularly scheduled Teller is not available. The process has been streamlined considerably over the past year and typically does not take more than 30 minutes, immediately after the conclusion of the 11:10 AM service. Complete training will be provided. The volunteer will assist with the count of cash and will enter information into a basic online form. Please contact Bob Black, if you are interested in serving on this important ministry and/or if you have any questions.

A new Presiding Bishop will be chosen at the General Convention in June. The slate of nominees has been announced. You can learn about the process of selecting a new Presiding Bishop and more about the four nominees by clicking here.

The church gardens and grounds are blooming! The redbud, dogwood, and serviceberry trees are amazing this year. In the native plant garden, the chokeberry, Carolina all-spice, and columbine are blooming. Pictured here is the crimson clover cover crop for our vegetable garden. Since last October, it has fixed nitrogen from the air into the soil and will be soon mown to become a green manure for the vegetable garden. The cycle of life is an Easter message in Creation. You are invited to enjoy the gardens this Spring.

Steve Phillips wants to express how thankful his family is for everything All Saints' parishioners have done for them. Steve says that they love everybody very much. The Phillips family suffered a devastating house fire in March. The family was able to evacuate in time, but the house is a near total loss. The immediate need is not for physical goods, but for prayers and support in the form of gift cards to restaurants or unspecified gift cards. Assistance can also be given via this GoFundMe fundraiser. When the time comes for accepting physical items (which may be some time), Fran Burkett is agreed to coordinate the ingathering.

Jennifer Cook is the April Vestry Person of the Month. Jennifer began attending All Saints' in 2010 after being invited by several people she knew who were already members. She was immediately drawn to the warm, welcoming environment and the authenticity of the members. Jennifer was confirmed at All Saints' in 2012 and married her husband, Chris, here in 2014. She now enjoys singing in the choir, coordinating the annual Chili Cook-off, and assisting with Tour de Saints. Jennifer teaches chorus and music appreciation at Cox Mill High School and enjoys camping, hiking, and spending quality time with family and friends. Click to read more.

We offer condolences and prayers for the family and friends of Jessie Pearl Hord Collins, grandmother of Emily Badgett, who entered the resurrection on April 9. Emily shares that she died peacefully at 97 years of age. Here is the obituary. We offer comfort and love to this precious family.

We offer praise and thanks for the birth of Josephine Eliza Black, child of Kat and Joey Black, born on March 15, 2024. Grandparents Ragan and Sharon Kearns are delighted to welcome Josie into their growing family. We rejoice and share in their joy.

Be aware of potential scams! There are several going around right now. It is important to use caution when anyone reaches out to you, asking for private information or some sort of money. Neither financial institutions or your church will ask for these things via call, email, or text. Please remember that All Saints' staff or volunteers will never call, email, or text parishioners asking for gift cards or money.

Questionable emails often have misspellings and glaring grammar and punctuation mistakes. Always check the sender's email address, and if is not what you expected, you can be assured that it is spam. Remember: emails from All Saints' will end in @allsaintsconcord.org. Bad actors can text or even call you asking for gift cards or money. If this happens on your cell phone, then you can easily block them. Please be alert and careful!

Prayer is the foundation of the ministry of this parish. If you would like to request prayers, please share here. If you are hospitalized, please let the church know. If you are unable to make the call yourself, ask for the chaplain on call and they will make it for you. The church phone number is 704-782-2024.

Prayers have been requested for Wendy, Rita, Frank, Lucas, Paul, Lynn, Elena, the Ukrainian people and their friends, Barry, Joyce, Thomas, Lynda, Princess Kate, and King Charles. We continue to keep Presiding Bishop Michael Curry in our prayers.