The Bell Tower January 2011

Happy New Year and greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ! About 30 years ago Marge and I, with two little ones in tow, walked into All Saints’ for the first time. We got a warm reception and haven’t thought about going to church anywhere else since. As we watched our children grow in the knowledge of Jesus Christ, Marge and I fellowshipped and made lasting friendships with lots of people, many of whom are still here. The sense of com‐munity here was and still is great. That and the compassion shown for all who come through the door make this a place where we all want to be. When I was elected to the Vestry in 1984, the church was “pastoral” in size (one with a Sunday attendance below 140). We had a budget of $60,000 and a relatively new investment portfolio. That portfolio was viewed as an endowment, and grew nicely, as we resolved not to dip into it unless it was absolutely necessary. At times, we may have used part of the year’s interest, but we didn’t touch the principal. Fr David arrived more than a decade ago and identified ministries we were lacking, and we started to grow. Heidi Conley built up the youth group with her knowledge of Christ and ability to get and hold their interest. Alden Phelps was hired to be music director for the growing family service. For me this was the golden age at All Saints’, as my personal growth in the teachings of Our Lord and Savior soared and I believe this was true for many others as well. As we grew we moved into a new church size “Program” classification (140 weekly attendance or more). However, the events of 2003 stunted our growth as some left the church. Furthermore, in 2008 the economy took a substantial dip from which we have not yet recovered fiscally. Add to this, the numbers in the pews have declined by about 4% a year for the last 5 years. Consequently we’ve had to pull from the investment portfolio each year to cover expenses. We’re currently in an economic situation we’d rather not be in. We desire to offer the same ministries we have come to love and enjoy, but no longer have the funds to do so. If we keep dipping into the portfolio to cover the excesses in the budget, the life‐span of the church can be simply calculated. I, for one, don’t want to even consider that option. What we can do is take steps towards balancing the budget so that we can protect the portfolio and the long‐term fiscal stability of the church. You, the congregation, have an opportunity to participate in Vestry decision on the current proposed budget. Each member of the Vestry has the budget and is prepared to talk to you. If you have concerns about the $60,000 proposed budget deficit, (the same amount as the entire budget in 1984), we want to hear from you. Other‐wise, you will be expected to support it financially. Please do so before the January 18 meeting which has been called for the express purpose of passing the budget. The Bible is filled with adversity and hard times, but those who are faithful eventually see the light and are successful. Let’s remain faithful and assure that our little church is here for the next generation and beyond. Please pray on a solution and we will discuss this matter further at the Annual meeting January 23, 2011. Our 2011 pledge campaign will also be announced at that time. In His and Your Service, Erik Ewertz Senior Warden

A Letter from the Senior Warden

The Bell Tower

Vision Statement: All Saints’ strives to be a place where people come to know Jesus Christ, are transformed to His glory, and become witnesses to God’s unchangeable word.

All Saints’ Episcopal Church

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Inside this issue:

Letter from the Senior Warden

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The Body Words from the Congregation

2

Congratulations Announcement

2

Calendar of Events 3

Closing 4

Reisterstown Parish

SYKES TOY PROJECT– Church Members Volunteer to Help Needy Families

Woodlawn this past Saturday. More than 1,800 families are being helped by DSS, either through the toy distribution or being adopted, which is when a donor provides food and gifts for a family.

Leading up to the distributions, donations were made at Bal-timore County Public Library branches.

"It's up from last year, for sure, which is a little bit surprising since the economy is so [bad]," said Melissa Gotsch, manager of the Reisterstown Library. "We've actually had some good donations."

When donated toys are collected, volunteers ensure that they are in good condition before parents ever see them.

"If they're usable and cleanable we clean them up then wrap them," said longtime volunteer Katie McClean. "It's mostly used toys but some people do donate money and we use that to purchase toys that we may not have in the collection."

There were 20 volunteers helping out Tuesday morning, each of them thrilled to be able to help local needy families.

"[I volunteer] because I get a lot of joy out of knowing we cleaned up these toys and we're getting them out to the kids," said Iris Buchheiser, one of many volunteers from All Saints Episcopal Church. "I get a sense of satisfaction and it's fun, a lot of fun."

The Sykes Toy Distribution will be held again on Thursday from 9:30 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. Participation for parents is by invitation only. However, anyone interested in making a do-nation may contact Pat Hahn, Northminster Presbyterian Church secretary at 410-833-3815.

*HEIDI, REED, ADDIE, MELVIN AND MARGARET ALL VOLUN‐TEER. THE YOUTH HAVE SPENT TIME OVER THE YEARS

HELPING OUT AS WELL.

Needy Families Pick Out Christmas Presents

Through a Department of Social Services partnership, the Sykes Toy Distribution was able to give more needy families children's toys for the holidays.

By Marc Shapiro and David Pecor

This holiday season, many families who have fallen on hard times will still be able to have presents for the kids.

Thanks to a partnership between the Baltimore County Depart-ment of Social Services (DSS) and the Sykes Toy Distribution, needy parents in parts of Baltimore County – Reisterstown, Ran-dallstown, Pikesville and Towson – were able to pick out free toys for their young ones.

"Between [Tuesday] and Thursday there are about 200 parents registered to pick out toys for about 300 kids," said Joan Stall, the volunteer coordinator for the Sykes Toy Distribution.

The annual event, which has been held every Christmas for the past 20 years, was held in Northminster Presbyterian Church's gymnasium this year.

"This is the first year we've partnered with DSS," Stall said. "They've supplied us with a lot and so has Toys for Tots and the local school toy drives."

Deborah Ward, director of Volunteer Services for DSS, said do-nations picked up this year compared to last. As of Monday, there were 331 donors, and she expected that number to surpass last year's 400.

Before the toy distribution came to Reisterstown, a record num-ber of 344 families showed up in Essex, and another 140 in

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Note from the Parish Office: If you know of anyone who will celebrate their 80th birthday or older– or who will have a 50th wedding anniversary or higher, please call the parish office to make sure we are aware of the information. Thank you.

BELATED HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Jean Watson

celebrated her 80th birthday on Monday, December 17, 2010 (1211 N. Main Street, Apt. 111

Hampstead, MD 21074-2258)

SPECIAL BIRTHDAYS

Mrs. Lillian Arnold will celebrate her 90th birthday on

Tuesday, January 11, 2011 (St. Elizabeth’s Hall, Apt. K202,

2300 Dulaney Valley Road Timonium, MD 21093-2748)

Mrs. Margaret Lawson

will celebrate her 93rd birthday on: Thursday, January 13, 2011

(5223 – 86th Street Lubbock, TX 79424)

SPECIAL

ANNIVERSARIES

The Rev. Melvin and Margaret Turner will celebrate their 52nd wedding

anniversary on Monday, January 10, 2011

(4759 Shellbark Road Owings Mills, MD 21117-5102)

J. Buford, Jr. and Betty Davis

will celebrate their 54th wedding anniversary on

Monday, January 17, 2011 (Fairhaven, 7200 Third Ave., Apt. O-505

Sykesville, MD 21784)

DEATHS

James Dennard Hertz (member)

died November 24, 2010

Phyllis M. Fox (member)

died December 4, 2010 (son & daughter-in-law:

Dennis and Janie Hudgins 10519 Amity St

Lorton, VA 22079)

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1

2 2 Worship Services 11:00 Young Adults 7:30 Alanon 8:30 A.A.

3 New Year Holiday PARISH OFFICE CLOSED

4 7:00p Women/FH 7:00p Men’s Fellowship 8:30p A.A.

5 7:00p Youth Study 8:00p Choir Reh.

6

7

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9 Baptism of the Lord 11:00a Young Adults 12:00p Youth for Truth 12:30p G.O.C. 7:30p Alanon 8:30p A.A.

10 7:00p Prayer meeting, GH Prayer Room 7:30p R.O.G./GH

11 10:00a Bible Study 7:00p Women/FH 7:00p Men’s Fellowship 8:30p A.A.


13 10a-3p Franklin Garden Club

14

15 Bell Tower Deadline 1p-3p Prayer Shawl Workshop, FH

16 11:00a Young Adults 12:00p Youth for Truth 7:30p Alanon 8:30p A.A.

17 Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday PARISH OFFICE CLOSED

18 10:00a Bible Study 7:00p Vestry/GH 7:00p Women/FH 7:00p Men’s Fellowship 8:30p A.A.


20 7:30p Catonsville Kennel Club

21

22

23 9:30a ASEC Anl Mtg 11:00a Combined Worship 12:30p Vestry 7:30p Alanon 8:30p A.A.

24 7:00p Prayer meeting, GH Prayer Room 7:30p Catonsville KC Board

25 10:00a Bible Study 7:00p Women/FH 7:00p Men’s Fellowship 8:30p A.A.


27 28

29 Men’s Breakfast

30 11:00a Young Adults 12:00p Youth for Truth 7:30p Alanon 8:30p A.A.

31 7:00p Prayer meeting, GH Prayer Room

January 2011

• Jan 23: 9:30am All Saints’ Annual Meeting

• Jan 23: 11:00am Combined Worship

• Jan 29: Men’s Fellowship Breakfast

Schedule of Special Events

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203 E. Chatsworth Ave. PO Box 279 Reisterstown, MD 21136-0279

Phone: 410-833-0700 Fax: 410-833-2352 E-mail: [email protected]

All Saints’ Episcopal Church

We’re on the web:

www.allsaints.ang‐md.org

Non-Profit Org.

U.S. POSTAGE PAID

Permit No. 45 Owings Mills, MD.

Online Sermons

Have a favorite sermon you want to hear again? Here is the link to the online sermons. http://mysite.verizon.net/vze7yhsb/allsaintschurch/ You can also get there by going to the All Saints' home web page: http://www.allsaints.ang‐md.org/

Regular Schedule for Sunday Services 7:45a Holy Eucharist (Quiet) 9:00a Holy Eucharist (Contemporary) 9:15a Children’s School 11:00a Holy Eucharist (Traditional)

The Bell Tower January 2011

Documents

Transcript of The Bell Tower January 2011