This piece by Anglican Compass reflects on the tension we experience as we celebrate Ascension Day and experience life in anticipation of His coming again.
Getting to Know the Church- Jedd Trenum+
Each week we’ll be featuring a staff member or ministry at All Saints’ Church to encourage our community to stay connected and find ways to get involved. This week, we’re featuring our Associate Rector and Youth Pastor, Jedd Trenum+
We asked him a few questions to get to know him better.
What is your role at All Saints’ Church?
I am the Associate Rector and Youth Pastor. You can see me each Sunday serving at the altar in the morning, and leading the Youth Group in the afternoon.
What is the Youth Group up to?
On the horizon we have another trip to Camp Booyah this summer- the Anglican youth camp with churches from our diocese and other dioceses within the ACNA. We’re doing a few fundraising jobs for that this year. We will also have some events this summer like a trip to Kings Dominion and some hiking. Weekly, we have Bible Study on Thursday nights, Sunday School between the two services, and we meet Sunday evenings from 4-6 p.m. for games, worship music, teaching, and discussions. We have a faithful group of adult leaders who serve each week, and we would welcome any new adult leaders to come to these events.
What is your favorite thing about youth ministry?
I really enjoy the deep conversations and moments with teens- especially the connections they make in their understanding of God. I also really love just being able to goof off and have fun with them.
How can the church be praying for you?
There are two things: one, that I would be a faithful and obedient priest in the ministry of the church. Two, for time management so that God’s work gets completed, and I can have quality family time.
What is the most exciting place you’ve ever visited?
Kakum National Park in Ghana. It's a tropical forest with a canopy bridge walkway 130 feet in the air. You get the best views that way!
What’s playing in your AirPods lately?
I'm a devout listener to the Bible Project Podcast; I also like the Russell Moore Show, Theology in the Raw, Lord of the Spirits (Eastern Orthodox priests discussing things), and Revisionist History by Malcolm Gladwell.
Besides the Bible, what is the most formative book you've read?
Confessions by St. Augustine, and The Cost of Discipleship by Dietrich Bonhoeffer.
What do you like to do for fun outside of church?
Spending time with family; relaxing with friends; playing soccer; traveling; reading books; hiking in the mountains; enjoying a good Malbec with good cheese and charcuterie.
If you would like more information about the Youth Group you can email Jedd+ to get involved or serve.
Jedd+ baptizing his youngest daughter, Chloe at the Easter Vigil.
Vacation Bible School- Ways to Get Involved!
Mark Your Calendars for Monumental VBS on-site at All Saints’ Church! Our children will go off-road August 1-5, 9 a.m.- Noon, for a Monumental adventure through the colorful canyons and sunbaked trails of the Southwest where kids form a rock-solid faith for the road ahead!
How can you help prepare for the Awesome Adventure?
Help create, paint, twist, splash, sponge, wrap at our VBS Decor Parties! Come to the church Monday, May 23, 10 a.m.-Noon, and/or Wednesday, June 1, 6:30-8:30p p.m. Creativity is not required; we will instruct and guide you every step of the way. Refreshments served. RSVP to Tammy Bailey.
Attend VBS Training! If you love seeing kids faces light up, then you are perfect!
Dates are:
Monday, June 20, 7-9 p.m.
Thursday, July 14, 1-3 p.m.
Saturday, July 23, 9:30-11:30 a.m.
RSVP to Tara.
Attend Protecting God's Children Training! As part of Diocesan requirements, all VBS volunteers are required to be PGC trained. Make sure you are certified and up to date!
Saturday, June 4, 9:30 a.m.-Noon
Tuesday, July 12, 7-9:30 p.m.
Thursday, July 21, 7-9:30 p.m.
RSVP to Tara.
A little more about this year’s VBS
Small group crews and their Crew Leader will travel together for each day's adventure, worshipping and singing at Sing & Play Celebration, digging into Bible Adventures, experimenting with Science-y Fun at Imagination Station, playing games at Red Rocks Rec, view Kid-Vid Cinema real-kid testimonies, and eat fun treats at Oasis Tastes. Ages Kindergarten graduates through 5th grade. 6th graders and up can serve as Crew Leaders or Assistants! Registration opens Memorial Day Weekend!
Have a preschooler ages 3-5? Quail Trail Preschool VBS is just for Pre-K kids! (Registration priority for volunteers; 20 slots available). Little ones gather with the older kids for Sing & Play Celebration each day (except Day 1 so they can immediately connect with their Crew Leaders & Quail Trail Preschool Area), experience a little less structure and more free-choice play in a simpler learning environment, enjoy PreK Quail Trail decorations, play on the playground, get messy with irresistible craft and play activities, and have their own interactive Bible Adventure!
Garden Boxes Still Available!
Interested in vegetable gardening?
We have 2 garden boxes available to an individual or family who would like to bless our community by growing fresh food to give to those in need.
Perfect opportunity for families or individuals to try their hand at gardening
Make a difference in Dale City
No experience necessary (We will train you!)
Gardening will take place in the raised boxes in our church backyard
Food harvested will be given out to our local community in need
Contact Tammy for more information.
Community Outreach Opportunities
There are two new ways to support our growing Food Pantry Ministry! In June we are expecting referrals for about 50 recently settled immigrants/refugees in the Woodbridge area. Please pray about serving in a some capacity to share the light of Christ by providing food to these families. We also have a need for drivers to support our food distribution to Neabsco Elementary School.
Providing Food Boxes For New Immigrants
Pack culturally-appropriate food boxes
Hand out pre-packaged food at All Saints’ Church
Deliver food to homes (in teams of 2)
Fill out this Google form if you would like more information or contact Tammy.
Drivers of pick-up trucks and/or SUVs are needed to pick up and/or deliver food:
Sunday School this Summer!
The Sunday School hour continues this summer for nursery, children, teens, and adults with the exception of just a few dates (May 29, July 3, August 7, September 4).
During the summer Children’s Ministry will focus on the 10/40 mission field with special guest teachers!
The adult class will continue their look into “Who is Jesus?”
Teens will explore a deep dive into a book of the Bible.
Nursery care will be available for children under 5.
Readings and Collect for Sunday, May 22
Read ahead, follow along, and pray with the Saints using the “lectionary insert” for this Sunday.
Getting to Know the Church- David McLendon
Each week we’ll be featuring a staff member or ministry at All Saints’ Church to encourage our community to stay connected and find ways to get involved. This week, we’re featuring our Worship Arts Director- David McLendon!
We asked him a few questions related to the music he leads us in each week and to get to know him better.
How did you come to All Saints’ Church?
I had just finished grad school at the University of Tennessee, and I was looking for a church with a musical inclination toward both the traditional and contemporary. When I read about All Saints’ Church, I immediately reached out, and the rest is history. I came as an interim worship leader for the Christmas season in 2013, and I officially came on staff in March of 2014. The people of ASC welcomed me with open arms, and I’ve been here ever since!
What are your top five favorite worship songs that we sing in church?
It’s hard to pick five, and my answer changes, depending on the season, but today, it’s as follows, in no particular order:
Behold Our God
Dear Lord and Father of Mankind
O God Beyond All Praising
Great is Thy Faithfulness
Come Thou Fount
Bonus: I grew up in a United Methodist church in Mississippi, and I have fond memories of “hymn singin’s” on Sunday nights, where we could make song requests. My friends and I always requested “The Church in the Wildwood” because we liked the bass line of the chorus. I still love the hymn, and its meaning hold a special, somewhat ironic place in my personal hymnody.
You are a recent father- what has been the biggest adjustment and what is your favorite thing about being a dad?
Many of the cliches about parenting have been true, but experiencing it for myself has been eye-opening. I had no idea I was capable of such capacity for loving another human. It really is on a different level with my own boy. He’s wonderful! And the cutest!
What is your favorite book that you would recommend to others? What's one book that's on your list to read?
I can’t think of one absolute favorite book, but I wish everyone that I know would read these three books:
Myth of a Christian Nation: How the Quest for Political Power is Destroying the Church
Benefit of the Doubt: Breaking the Idol of Certainty
Love Matters More: Why Fighting to Be Right Keeps Us From Loving Like Jesus
On my to-read list: Anything Pete Enns writes or has written.
Any podcasts you're currently listening to?
Heaven Bent, Season 2: Inside America’s Most Unusual Church
What do you like to do for fun outside of church?
Cooking, grilling, hiking, visiting wineries, camping, and doing all of the above with my wife, Lindsey (and now our kiddo, Vaughn!)
You can hear some of the other hymns we sing-including a few of David’s favorites in this Spotify playlist.
If you’d like to learn more about Worship Arts at All Saints’ Church or getting involved with the church choir you can contact David.
David, Lindsey, and the adorable Vaughn!
Vacation Bible School Decor Parties!
Help create, paint, twist, splash, sponge, wrap at our VBS Decor Parties! Come Monday, May 23, 10 a.m.-noon (childcare provided), and/or Wednesday, June 1, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Creativity is not required. We will instruct and guide you every step of the way. Enjoy refreshments, fellowship, and fun!
RSVP's helpful to Tammy Bailey or Tara.
Readings and Collect for Sunday, May 15
Read ahead, follow along, and pray with the Saints using the “lectionary insert” for this Sunday.
Ascension Day Service
Come to the Ascension Day Service Thursday, May 26 at 7 p.m. as we celebrate the day Jesus ascended into heaven forty days after Easter Sunday. Childcare is provided.
Coffee Hour Returning this Summer!
Coffee hour will resume Sunday, July 10! To make this happen we need volunteers to help serve the hospitality ministry! There will be 2 shifts each Sunday. One from 9-11 a.m. and the other from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. You can choose one Sunday a month to serve! About 2-4 people are needed for each shift, and coffee hour will resume as long as there are enough volunteers. Training will be provided.
Please contact Kim Russell (703-409-8324) if you are interested in volunteering.
All Saints' Food Pantry Awarded Grant!
Take a look at this exciting update about the $90,000 grant All Saints’ Church received to support our work continuing the monthly food giveaways for our community! God continues to provide as we seek to pour out more of his His love into families in need!
“The Lord has poured his blessings upon the All Saints' Food Pantry ministry! In January, the Prince William County Board of Supervisors allocated $10 million of American Rescue Plan Act funds to support COVID-19 recovery efforts for Prince William County residents, including the administration of hunger-relief programs.
We are thrilled to report that we were notified last week that we were awarded a $90,000 grant! Praise God!
These funds will be for:
A modified, climate-controlled shipping container to store our non-perishables
An energy-efficient commercial freezer
An irrigation system in the church vegetable gardens, complete with timers for the individual beds
An additional shed for garden supplies
Shelving, carts, etc. to organize the food
Garden equipment to enhance our ability to grow more vegetables
A variety of supplies to run our Food Pantry ministry for the next 2 years
I'd especially like to thank Alison Pachecano, Susan Baggott, Jim Morrison, Walt DeHoust, Ed Speare, Roger Ellefsen, Lynne Cheney, Father Scott, and the Vestry for the time they spent praying, researching, budgeting, and writing to pull this grant together on very short notice.
Please rejoice with me in giving thanks to our Lord for enabling us to do even more to feed the hungry in our community!
Grateful we can serve together,
Tammy”
For more information about how you can get involved in the Food Pantry Ministry email Tammy.
Zoom for Life!
You’re invited to the Anglicans for Life’s May Zoom for Life call scheduled for next Monday, May 9 at 8 p.m.
May's Zoom for Life guest speaker is Jill Stanek who will speak about the "HER PLAN" project that is sponsored by the Susan B. Anthony List. This timely call will also show this resource for churches as we prepare for the changing future of abortion in many states. There will be a question and answer session afterward Jill's presentation. Anglicans for Life’s goal is to focus on the life issues that impact our culture, and equip you to lead by participating in Life-Affirming ministry, education, and advocacy.
Here is the link to the call, meeting ID and password:
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88434780365?pwd=Y3RIdEFKdjNvckdiWnQvTnJDRUNTdz09
Meeting ID: 884 3478 0365
Passcode: 356305
You can also contact Ed Speare, the All Saints’ Anglicans for Life Chapter President, with any questions.
Parking Lot Under Maintenance Next Week
Next Monday, May 9 the church asphalt will get rejuvenated. Specific areas of the lot will be CLOSED throughout the week. Please see the map and schedule below to plan accordingly. Walking on the rejuvenation material while lots are closed down will ruin shoes, track onto concrete, rugs & floors.
Help Serve our Littlest Saints! Upcoming Protecting God's Children Class
Do you love holding babies? Or reading to little ones? Nursery needs are increasing! Our young parents are taking turns serving in the nursery. However, we still are in need of PGC certified adults willing to serve. Please consider spending 1-2 hours a month or semester serving our Little Saints. We have needs on Sunday mornings, Sunday late afternoons during Youth Group/Foundations (4-6 p.m.), occasional Sunday evenings (6-7 p.m.), and on some Monday mornings during MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers), 9:30-11:30 a.m. Please contact Tara to get set up to help this summer!
Protecting God’s Children at All Saints’ Church, a required workshop for all those 14 and older who volunteer with youth and children (VBS, children's church, Nursery, Youth Group, etc.) will be offered Saturday, June 4, 9:30am-Noon, in the children’s wing. Nursery and child care for children third grade and younger will be made available upon request by June 1. Please RSVP to Tara with any childcare need by this date. Everyone who plans to attend the workshop is asked to register by emailing Tara.
Readings and Collect for Sunday, May 8
Read ahead, follow along, and pray with the Saints using the “lectionary insert” for this Sunday.
Garden Work Day May 7!
Volunteers are needed Saturday, May 7 from 9-11 a.m. to help prepare our church gardens for vegetable planting season. We will be removing some bushes and placing liners and mulch on the garden paths. Please contact Susan if you are able to serve.
Gene Emmett Turner Funeral Saturday, April 30
A memorial in celebration of Gene Emmett Turner will take place at All Saints’ Church Saturday, April 30 at 1 p.m. You can read more about his life here.
