All Saints Episcopal Church
celebrating and sharing God's love for all
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, all worship services have moved online. Join us every Thursday at 10:00am live for outdoor worship in person or on facebook live; we also offer one service each weekend; alternating between our Saturday@5 style and Traditional Sunday Worship. You can join us on our Facebook page or right here on our website.
WORSHIP SERVICES
Thursday
Saturday
Sunday
10:00am
Holy Eucharist with Healing
5:00pm
Saturday@5
8:00am
Holy Eucharist I
10:15am
Holy Eucharist II
July 23, 2020
Dear All Saints Friends,
Summer greetings to you all! I hope each of you are staying well and safe and finding time to recreate in whatever way possible. I want to update you on the latest news regarding our plans for regathering in person. In July, we began a mid-week in person, outdoor Eucharist service, and that is going very well. Everyone is maintaining safe distance, wearing a mask and enjoying taking communion together as a group. We average between 15-20 people each week. This service is also available live on Facebook.
We have continued with pre-recorded weekend worship, alternating between the Saturday@5 style and the traditional Sunday format. We began in July, recording all of the traditional Sunday services in the Nave of the church. We have also done some recording of the Saturday@5 service from Gordon Mann Hall. After each service on Saturday and Sunday, there is a zoom hospitality hour with an added consecration prayer, so that anyone who could not participate in the Eucharist during the week, may have the opportunity to share communion with others.
When we made our original timeline, the month of August would have been when the church building would be open to the public, and we would resume regular services with guidelines. Unfortunately, the situation with the virus has worsened rather than improved. The vestry has made a decision to continue our current pattern of functioning through the month of August. We will re-evaluate at the end of August, as to whether or not the church will be opening to the public in September. The pre-school will begin classes according to Beaufort County, on September 8. We hope to have the church building open by then, but it will depend on the circumstances.
I am so grateful that people are remaining connected and active in ministry, despite our circumstances. Ministry meetings are continuing each week by zoom. We have added at least two outreach ministries, as well as started the anti-racism educational group discussions. These are well attended, and I am so excited for the future of our social justice ministries.
While we have been out of the building, several projects have been completed. The new streaming equipment has been installed and the staff has received training. In the month of August, we will be utilizing the new equipment for recording in the church. Brian Hayes, our sexton, has been hard at work coordinating projects in the building, such as, a deep cleaning of the pews and nave and carpets throughout the building. Several maintenance projects are underway, and the whole building will receive a deep clean before we resume public worship. The preschool will be repainted soon as well. Our new phone system is up and running and our administrative staff is working in the building to keep our everyday activities going. The office hours remain 10am-2pm Monday-Thursday.
The vestry and pastoral caregivers continue calls to the congregation, and the clergy are available by telephone or zoom to provide prayers and one on one consultation. We have done several private memorials but are not providing in person hospital visits or home communions at this time.
Several subgroups of the vestry are meeting regularly for strategic planning for the coming year, and developing guidelines for public worship and small group meetings.
We miss being together as a parish family, but we are being creative in continuing the work of ministry. Know that the clergy are always available if you have a particular need, just reach out to one of us. I am so impressed with how small groups have come together to minister to each other in this time, and I know God is moving us to a new horizon, with intention and purpose. We will need to stay attuned to God’s timing and in the meantime, find the good in each day, and give thanks for God’s abundant blessings among us.
In Christ,
Denise+
Join us for our Weekend Worship in the style of our traditional Sunday service for August 8 & 9.
The bulletin can be found by clicking here.
A Fellowship Hour will begin on Saturday evening at 5:30pm through Zoom. You can join us for the fellowship by clicking here.
A Coffee Hour will begin on Sunday morning at 11:00am through Zoom. You can join us for the fellowship by clicking here.