Prayers for the Persecuted Church: A New Weekly Feature

by Mother Valarie Whitcomb

Every Sunday morning during the Prayers of the People we pray for the Persecuted Church.

Because the ongoing trauma of the Persecuted Church is very real around the world except (at least at this time) the Church in the West, we are adding a weekly opportunity in our Newsletter to inform you of a specific country or situation that needs our prayers. We encourage you to take a few minutes each week to pray for our precious brothers and sisters in Christ who are under such extreme duress. This can include loss of livelihood, forced eviction from their homes, the burning of their churches, torture, imprisonment, murder, abduction of their children, forced marriage to someone from another religion, and so forth.

Our brothers and sisters of the Persecuted Church count on our prayers to sustain them in their dire circumstances.

Should you wish deeper information for prayer and/or feel that God is calling you to give a contribution for their support, contact BarnabasAid, an Anglican nonprofit organization that works with local believers in persecuted countries to provide desperately needed aid:

usa@barnabasaid.org
BarnabasAid
80 Abbeyville Road
Lancaster, PA 17603
703-288-1681 or toll-free 866-936-2525.

Thank you for your willingness to pray!

VBS Commissioning Sunday is July 21

Calling all SCUBA VBS volunteers! Get ready to make a splash as we lead children to dive into friendship with God July 22-26!  Everyone serving at any time during VBS week is asked to wear their SCUBA VBS t-shirt on Sunday, July 21, as Father Scott will be inviting the church to pray over us at both the 8:15 a.m. and 11 a.m. services to commission us for mission. Need a t-shirt (specifically labeled with “All Saints' Church”)? We have plenty for anyone that wants one! Contact Tara at tpedersen@allsaintswoodbridge.org or stop by the church office.

No Morning Prayer or Compline Through the Summer

Wednesday Morning Prayer and Friday evening Compline, held on Zoom, will be on hiatus through the summer. Watch this space for updates!

Pray for Provincial Assembly

The Anglican Church in North America’s Provincial Assembly meets Monday, June 24 through Friday, June 28 in Latrobe, PA. The Conclave of the College of Bishops begins Thursday, June 20, during which the next Archbishop will be chosen. Please keep both of these gatherings in prayer. Learn more here.

Prayer and Worship Hour

Please come on April 28 as we continue our fourth Sunday prayer and worship hour from 6-7 p.m. at All Saints’ Church in the sanctuary. Join us as we pray for our congregation, community, and upcoming outreach events. Please note, RSVP’s are required to Tara for childcare.

Prayer and Worship Hour

Sunday, March 24 we continue our fourth Sunday prayer and worship hour from 6-7 p.m. at All Saints’ Church in the sanctuary. Join us as we pray for our congregation, community, and upcoming outreach events. Please note, RSVP’s are required to Tara for childcare.

It's Not Too Late to Join Stephen Minister Training!

Stephen Ministry Training will now take place on Zoom! Even though a few sessions have started, it’s not too late to join! Contact Deacon Julie if you are interested in this training at all.

Below are the resources and information to learn more about Stephen Ministry!

All Saints’ Church will be training the 4th group of Stephen Ministers this winter/spring on Sunday afternoons 1:00-3:30 from January 7 through June 2. If you feel led to minister to those who are suffering, or if you would just like to improve your relationships with your loved ones, this class is for you. If you are interested in this training, but this time may not work for you, please contact Deacon Julie.

Here are a few resources to tell you more about Stephen Ministry

• What is a Stephen Minister?

• Care Receivers Tell Their Stories

• More About the Training

For those called to be Stephen Ministers, this is the first step in discerning and equipping God’s call on your service to him. Near the end of the class those desiring to be commissioned as a Stephen Minister will be asked to fill out an application and meet with clergy for discernment on God’s calling and timing. Questions? Contact Deacon Julie or Deacon Andy for more information.

What is Stephen Minister Training?

Stephen Minister training is an engaging, energizing experience that features a mixture of presentation, video, group discussion, skill practice, and spiritual growth activities. Since 1975, more than 600,000 Stephen Ministers have been equipped by this training to provide care to millions of people.

Stephen Minister training . . .

• teaches principles and skills that equip you to provide high-quality, Christ-centered emotional and spiritual care to others.

• gives you new insight into the thoughts, feelings, and actions of people who are hurting.

• equips you with relational and caring skills you can apply to all aspects of your life.

• helps deepen your faith as the Holy Spirit fashions you into a Christ-centered caregiver.

• builds a special bond of Christian community and camaraderie among all those in your class.

• is highly interactive, engaging, and a lot of fun!

Prayer and Worship Hour

Sunday, January 28 we resume our fourth Sunday prayer and worship hour from 6-7 p.m. at All Saints’ Church in the sanctuary. Join us as we pray for our congregation, community, and upcoming outreach events. Please note, RSVP’s are required to Tara for childcare.

Pray for Our Youth Group at Camp Booyah This Weekend

This weekend our Youth Group Teens and several adult leaders will be away at Watermarks Retreat Center for the winter camp Booyah Brrrr! This three-night camp is a shorter version of the summer camp. Teens are invited to enter into the Anglican way of worshiping together and get to know other teenagers from Anglican churches in the ACNA. Pray for the teens as they are encouraged to grow in their relationship with Jesus and challenged to follow him more closely.

Students:

• Susannah Pedersen

• Esther Goeller

• Ivey Pachecano

• Sarah-Joy Reichert

• John Pedersen

• Isaac McHargue

• Aaron SaJous

• Isaac Fair

• Leo Manning

Adults:

• Jedd Trenum

• Heidi Reichert

• Lilliana McCloy

• Reilly Pachecano

• Jackson McHargue

Readings and Collect for Sunday, February 14

Read ahead, follow along, and pray with the Saints using the “lectionary insert” for this upcoming Sunday, “The Last Sunday of Epiphany: Transfiguration Sunday.”