Newsbytes, March 26, 2017

THIS WEEK AT ALL SAINTS:
 
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 29, 2017 LENTEN SUPPER/BIBLE STUDY:   Join us this Wednesday from 6 pm to 7 pm at Church of the Epiphany, Laurens, in their Parish Hall.
 
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 29:  Choir Practice @ 7:00 pm
 
 
APRIL 2, 2017:  THE FIFTH SUNDAY IN LENT
 
Holy Eucharist, Rite I at 10:30 am
The Rev. Jim Nichols will preach on John 11: 7-44  “Jesus Teaches about Death”
 
Sunday  Ministries (Just a Reminder):                       
Ushers: H. Smith & A. Alloy
Acolyte:  H. Pierce                                           
Lector:  O. Roosevelt                
Gospel Bearer:  C. Perry                          
Prayers: H. McKee
Chalicer:  H. Pierce                                   
Counter:  O. Roosevelt                                  
Vestry Rep:  L. McKean  
Coffee Host:  J. Parris    
Altar Guild:  J. Roberts                               
 
 
Birthdays and Anniversaries:
Mac Howe
Hal & Mickell Stribling
 
Parish Prayer List  
To add or remove names, contact one of the following:
Harry Sullivan at (803) 276-0007 or [email protected]
Neal Prater at 833-1545 or [email protected]
 
Please pray for:  Mikell & Hal Stribling; Charlotte & Dillard Hill; Terri & Kenny Murphy; Helen, Lisa & Lori Wicks; Mary Barrus; Devon Stewart; Gordon Locatis; Ron Elson; Harriet Monahan; Charles Lyman Bates; Barbara Anderson; LeAnn Watson; Esabelle Davies; Walter Boyden; Mac Howe; Ted Watson; Carol Gurga; Danny Snow; Edna Guthrie; Art Alloy; Charles Krewson; Marquita Hamilton; David Roop; Bill Halbert; Virginia Sides; Dale Rains, Whitney McDuffy
 
 
NEWS AND COMING EVENTS:
 
 
 
UPDATE FROM  THE VESTRY: 
 
It is with great joy and thanksgiving that we announce our new Rector: The Rev. Canon Charles Meyer Davis, Jr.
 
Fr. Charles comes to us from Trinity Episcopal Cathedral in Columbia, SC where he has served since 2001. He is the Canon Pastor, Canon for Liturgy and Canon to the Dean.
 
Prior to this he has served as Rector at several smaller parishes:  St. Christopher’s in Spartanburg, SC, St. John’s in Ocean Springs, MS,  and St. Simon’s, Conyers, GA. All of these parishes grew under the leadership of Fr. Charles. He also served as Assistant to the Rector at St. Thaddeus, Aiken, SC and Assistant to the Rector, St. Mark’s, Dalton, GA.
 
Fr. Charles graduated from The General Theological Seminary in New York City in 1985. He and his wife Alicia have been married for 30 years and have two adult children: Sara and Coleman. Fr. Charles and Alicia are planning to live in the rectory. They both love small towns, and Alicia would like to be a visible presence at All Saints and in  Clinton.
 
Fr. Charles’s first Sunday with us will be on Palm Sunday, April, 9, 2017.
 
Fr. Charles is warm, compassionate, and an excellent preacher and teacher. He especially enjoys working with young people, and is pleased to be so close to Presbyterian College. His pastoral gifts and skills are evident and we know he will lead us with creativity and purpose. We are blessed that he has accepted our call.
 
Marlene Halbert, Search Committee member, recently wrote: “It will be an exciting time for All Saints as we await his and Alicia’s arrival. Having been with him in the chapel at The Cathedral as we visited and worshipped, we saw what a wonderful relationship he had with the congregation.”
 
The Vestry thanks you, the Members and Friends of All Saints, for your prayers, and we thank the Search Committee for their excellent work.
 
EASTER FLOWERS: If you would like to make a donation to the Easter Flower Fund in honor or in memory of someone, please fill out one of the Easter Fund inserts, attach a check , and place in the offering plate or mail to the church so that it is received by Monday, April 10.
 
WEDNESDAY  LENTEN  SUPPERS:   We will be joining Epiphany Church in Laurens along with invitations to our Lutheran friends at St. John’s Clinton and Atonement in Laurens to share a light supper, African Bible study focusing on the Lenten gospel texts, and Compline.
Epiphany will host on March 29 and April 5. We will meet from 6:00 – 7:00 pm in the Parish Hall. Please mark your calendars and join in this Lenten study and fellowship.
 
THE FIRST SUNDAY OUTREACH OFFERING  is taken up at the close of the service on the first Sunday of each month. The April offering will benefit The Open Door Ministries of Clinton.
 
UNITED MINISTRIES FOOD BASKETS:   Nonperishable food will be received at the church at any time. This food will be presented at the altar on the second Sunday of each month. Please remember to bring nonperishable foods to fill the baskets!
 
 
SINGING ROOSTER FAIR-TRADE COFFEE FROM HAITI  is available through the church as a way of supporting our diocesan mission in Cange.  An order sheet is placed in the church and in the parish hall.  Buy some for yourself—and some to give as gifts!  All proceeds go to the farmers who grow the coffee in Haiti.
 
GLUTEN-FREE COMMUNION WAFERS are always available upon request.  Let the priest know before the service or at the communion rail.