From the Resident Priest… I begin here by begging (a bit of) your indulgence –

Or, for that matter, maybe even something more than a bit.

For an “old Lutheran” like myself, the month of October

Always has a particular note to sound. And my asking for your indulgence

Is simply to let me share something of that with you.

You see, October is the month of Reformation,

Admittedly a note not sounded much apart from Lutheran circles.

So let’s be honest.

Truth is that it’s less and less polite in ecumenical company

To celebrate in your face Reformation. And I do understand (and agree with) that.

Our age is much more given to the search for unity.

And that is, indeed, as it absolutely should be.

It has already taken too many centuries

To heal the wounds, make the corrections,

And institute the reforms,

To be hurling insults at fellow believers.

In a very real way, any meaningful Reformation celebrations in this century

Must have focus on a new and shared sense of justification.

So that’s why I just want to reflect quickly on some 16th century work

By Martin Luther, an authentic hero and champion of the faith.

The whole Church cannot lose sight of that courageous monk

Who stood before the powers that be in defense of the Gospel.

It’s not a desire to flaunt a victory,

But instead, a lasting reminder of the courage needed

To identify and serve God’s truth.

And there we are!

This Reformation-tide brings new meaning to the search,

New questions, not only about serving the truth,

But also to the very foundations of identifying it.

And that search is marching through the whole Church these days,

Not just in any particular denominational tradition.

Perhaps the Reformation itself does not provide the only answers in this quest.

But it does provide some powerful guides.

It reminds us as much as any era in Christian history

(And more than some)

That God’s Word is living, dynamic, not static or stale.

Instead it is always speaking and always there to be discerned.

In every age the Church is called to the discernment of the truth,

Not just to storing it in a museum.

It reminds us powerfully that the Word prevails

When the Spirit of God mixes with the courage of the faithful.

And surely that spirit must be awakened in the whole Church these days.

We need now, as much or maybe more than ever, to be in service of God’s call to oneness in Christ,

And the shared (and perhaps even new) sense of justification by the incredible grace of God.

Reformation for the People of God is a continuing need.

And it is also a continuing work.

It is to know the strength of God’s resolve.

And we are thankful for every such witness,

From every denominational tradition.

At the very least, October reminds us with the brightness of its colored leaves,

That God always promises to renew the Church,

And to bring new life with every new Spring

Which, by the way, we begin to anticipate already in October.

Peace in the guidance of God’s Spirit, Fred

October 2016

ADULT EDUCATION

Is starting at All Saints’ this October

On Sundays between Services 9:30 to 10:30 A.M.

Sunday School in the Parish House

The venture will begin on October 2

We’ll begin with a study of the following:

What does it mean to be an Episcopalian Christian?

In this “survey class:” We’ll look at how the Episcopal Church started;

What its unique emphases are; How it is both like and different from other denominations;

How it views the Bible; What important role the Book of Common Prayer has;

How it relates to the world; And many other things,

especially matters that arise from participants’ questions.

This will be a refresher for some and new information for others. We’ll also make an effort to invite folks who are not our members

who might like to learn about us – and may be interested in joining our church family.

(That gives you a chance to invite others to come.)

Leadership will be provided by our “clergy crew,” Joan Vella, Worth Jennings and Fred Eichner

AND by all participants as they share experiences and insights.

We sincerely hope you’ll participate!

Bible Study

A New Season

The Wednesday evening study will resume in

October (on the 5th

)

Please note – this date is a change from the plan that was in last month’s Messenger

(The change is necessitated by a glitch in Fred Eichner’s schedule)

The 12 session series will be

The Sermon on the Mount

The group will meet each Wednesday 6:30 to 7:45 P.M.

It will be in the Conference Room, lower level of the Office Building

This account of Jesus’ teachings in Matthew’s Gospel is thought by most to have been a ‘collection’ of instructions

that the author grouped together in a unique setting.

It has some of the best known and most cherished of Jesus’ wisdom, including the so-called Beatitudes.

This study will offer opportunities to examine and discuss those teachings and to raise questions about them.

All participants are welcome. You may want to invite others, perhaps other members of All Saints’ or even your neighbors and

friends.

If you have questions about the study before we begin, feel free to contact Fred Eichner.

Hymn Notes

Isaac Watts, an English Christian minister, theologian and logician was a prolific and popular hymn writer. His work was intended to evangelize and to proclaim the Christian Gospel. He was called the "Father of English Hymnody." Some 750 hymns are credited to him. Many of those hymns remain in use today. They have been translated into numerous languages and they are in-cluded in the hymn collections of all denominations.

In his later years, Watts once complained about hymn singing in church: "To see the dull in-difference, the negligent and thoughtless air that sits upon the faces of a whole assembly, while the psalm is upon their lips, might even tempt a charitable observer to suspect the fervency of their in-ward religion." Hymn singing in the early eighteenth century in England was still very simple and most often plain and unadorned chant of psalm texts.

Watts had been bemoaning such practice since his late teens. His father, tired of his com-plaints, challenged him to write something better. The following week, the adolescent Isaac present-ed his first hymn to the church, "Behold the Glories of the Lamb," which received an enthusiastic response. The career of the "Father of English Hymnody" had begun.

At Isaac's birth in 1674, his father was in prison for his Nonconformist sympathies (that is, he would not embrace the established Church of England). His father was eventually freed (and fa-thered seven more children), but Isaac respected his courage and remembered his mother's tales of nursing her children on the jail steps.

The young Isaac showed genius early. He was learning Latin by age 4, Greek at 9, French (which he took up to converse with his refugee neighbors) at 11, and Hebrew at 13. Several wealthy townspeople offered to pay for his university education at Oxford or Cambridge, which would have led him into Anglican ministry. Isaac refused and at 16 went to London to study at a leading Non-conformist academy. Upon graduation, he spent five years as a private tutor.

In 1702 he became pastor of London's Mark Lane Independent (i.e. Congregational) Chapel, then one of the city's most influential independent churches. But the following year, he began suffer-ing from psychiatric illness that would plague him for the rest of his life. He had to pass off more and more of his work to his assistant and eventually resigned in 1712.

Watts is the author of the one of the hymns we’ll sing at All Saints’ in October. It is Jesus shall reign wher’er the sun. It is set to a very familiar tune named Duke Street, composed by John Hatton. Very little is known of him. He was born in 1710 in Warrington, England. He lived on Duke Street in Windle, England, where he died in 1793. That is certainly the source of the hymn tune that he composed and gave its name. In various other hymnals the tune is also used for I know that my redeemer lives, for From all that dwells below the skies, and for Give to our God im-mortal praise. Its meter is known as Long Meter. That means that it has four lines with eight sylla-bles in each line. That is a common poetic form.

Announcing the 134TH ECW Annual Meeting of the Episcopal Church Women of the Diocese of North Carolina

When: Friday, November 4 & Saturday, November 5, 2016 Where: St. Paul’s Episcopal Church 520 Summit St., Winston-Salem, NC Holy Eucharist: The Rt. Rev. Anne Hodges-Copple, Bishop Pro Tempore The Keynote speaker is The Reverend Kathryn Mary (Kammy) Young. She is the Director of Contextual Ed-ucation and Lecturer in Contextual Theology The School of Theology at Sewanee.

The Diocesan ECW is in a period of transition. The Constitution and Bylaws committee has met regularly since its appointment. Society changes and needs of the Diocese ECW have guided changes in language and roles/positions needed toward the future functions of the organization.

Nominations for presentation on the ballot for the voting delegation are as follows:

President: (Mary Gordon has agreed to extend her position for another year until a President Elect is availa-ble to step into position of President. The ballot will include Mary Gordon for President.) President –Elect: This position has not been active. Will assume the position of President after the 2017 Annual Meeting. Treasurer-Elect: This is a new position. Kathy MacLeod has agreed to serve as Treasurer-Elect. She will need to be asked to serve and her name will be placed on the ballot for Treasurer-Elect. Vice-President: Should be elected rather than appointed by the ECW Board. Lisa H. Towle Endowment Fund Coordinator: This is a new position. Missions Coordinator: This is a new position. THERE IS NO LONGER A COORDINATOR OF CHRIS-TIAN SOCIAL MINISTRIES. UNITED THANK OFFERING COORDINATOR: This position has been vacant for several years. Lisa Towle during her tenure as President has taken on this responsibility.

These positions are described in the updated Constitution and to be proposed By-Laws. The Constitution will be voted on by the delegation at the 2016 Annual Meeting. The By-Laws will be presented at the 2017 Annual Meeting. There is a need to recognize the roles/positions needed toward the future functions of the organization. More information is on their website. www.ecwnc.org

The Ushers for October Mike Scott and Scott Harris

October 2 - Pentecost 20—Proper 22

8 am Chalice/Lay Reader: Julian Gardner 8 am Lector: Inez Gardner 11 am Chalice/Lay Reader: Patricia Barnes 11 am Lector: Mary Wellman

Habakkuk 1:1-4; 2:1-4 Wicked surround the right-eous; wait for the Lord. Psalm 37:1-9 Commit your way to the Lord; put your trust in the Lord. 2 Timothy 1:1-14 Guard the treasure entrusted to you: faith and love in Christ. Luke 17:5-10 Faith the size of a mustard seed.

October 9 - Pentecost 21 - Proper 23

8 am Chalice/Lay Reader: Joanne Parrott 8 am Lector: Ginny Orvedahl 11 am Lay Reader: Scott Barber 11 am Chalice: Gaynell Jennings 11 am Lector: Tom Wellman 2 Kings 5:1-3, 7-15c Naaman washes in the Jordan and is cleansed. Psalm 111 I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart. 2 Timothy 2:8-15 If we die with Christ, we will live with Christ. Luke 17:11-19 One leper made clean by Jesus gives thanks to God.

October 16 - Pentecost 22—Proper 23

8 am Chalice/Lay Reader: Robbie Stewart 8 am Lector: Jennifer Quinn 11 am Lay Reader: Chris Lehman 11 am Chalice: Patricia Barnes 11 am Lector: Jack Barber Genesis 32:22-31 Jacob ’s struggle with the angel: I’ll not let go until you bless me. Psalm 121 My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth. 2 Timothy 3:14--4:5 In the presence of Christ the judge, proclaim the message. Luke 18:1-8 The widow begs for justice; God grants justice to those who cry to him.

Scripture Readings and Server Schedule

October 23 - Pentecost 23—Proper 24

8 am Chalice/Lay Reader: Julian Gardner 8 am Lector: Inez Gardner 11 am Lay Reader: Patricia Barnes 11 am Chalice: Gaynell Jennings 11 am Lector: Scott Barber Jeremiah 14:7-10, 19-22 Jerusalem will be defeated. Psalm 84:1-7 Happy are the people whose strength is in you. 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18 The good fight of faith. Luke 18:9-14 A Pharisee and tax collector pray togeth-er.

October 30 - Pentecost 24—Proper 25

8 am Chalice/Lay Reader: Joanne Parrott 8 am Lector: Ginny Orvedahl 11 am Lay Reader: Scott Barber 11 am Chalice: Gaynell Jennings 11 am Lector: Patricia Barnes Isaiah 1:10-18 Learn to do good, seek justice, and res-cue the oppressed. Psalm 32:1-7 All the faithful will make their prayers to you in time of trouble. 2 Thessalonians 1:1-4, 11-12 Faith and love amid per-secution and adversity. Luke 19:1-10 Zacchaeus climbs into a tree to see Je-sus.

The Ushers for November Danny Haislip and Joanne Parrott

November 6—All Saints’ Sunday

8 am Chalice/Lay Reader: Robbie Stewart 8 am Lector: Jennifer Quinn 11 am Lay Reader: Chris Lehman 11 am Chalice: Patricia Barnes 11 am Lector: Carl Burke

The Messenger

is published the last week of each month.

Associate Priest: The Rev. Fred Eichner

Please submit articles to Vickie Irby via email allsaintsrr@gmail.com

Deadline for the November Messenger is Wednesday, October 26, 2016

Publications can be found on our

website at www.allsaintsrr.org Webmaster: Gail Eichner

Please email the office at allsaintsrr@gmail.com

if you wish to receive this publication in the future via email.

ALL SAINTS' EPISCOPAL CHURCH 635 Hamilton Street

Roanoke Rapids, NC 27870

PARISH OFFICE: 252-537-3610

allsaintsrr@gmail.com

OUTREACH We have a change in season, but we see little change in the needs of our community. The loose offering for Sunday, October 9 will go to the Union Mission. The mission not only shelters and feeds people, but has also helped residents make positive changes in their lives. On Sunday, October 16, the loose offering will go to the All Saints’ Food Bank. Donations of food and paper products, as well as money are appreciated. Fi-nally, on the fifth Sunday, October 30, the loose offering will be used for general needs of our community and church members. If any members know of an individual or or-ganization that could benefit from some assistance, please call Vickie. Thank you in advance for your generosity and caring.