Parish Activities at All Saint's Episcopal Church, Montgomery, AL

ADULT ACTIVITIES
Parish Offerings: Adult - Intergenerational - Youth
8:30 A.M. on Sundays, Spirituality Breakfasts Ethics 101: Tough Moral Choices; Living the Prudent Way All of us face tough choices; not all respond alike, however. Those who live in close proximity to a deep core of ethical values are apt to struggle over choices that other people, drifting over the surface of their lives, might never tag as problematic. Yet it has been said that if we don’t get a handle on the ethical collapse going on around us, we will be as “surely doomed as we would be by a nuclear disaster or an environmental catastrophe.” Ethics – no mere luxury – is central to our survival as God’s people of faith. Christians respond differently when it comes to resolving a moral dilemma. Blessed with practical wisdom, graced by the Spirit, they are aware and alert. They understand the various relationships involved in the struggle more clearly than others, who are blinded by fear or personal opinion. Christians have a rich moral heritage, which in this class is referred to as “The Prudent Way”. The Jubilate Class “Becoming An Easter People” Nelson Smith, our Senior Warden, teaches this year-long class in response to ideas developed by members of the Vestry at their Annual Retreat for 2005. On Wednesday Evenings from 6 until 7 PM “The Life of Jesus” Over a simple supper participants reflect on the teaching of the late Roman Catholic Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen’s book by the same title. Presented by the Rector. The Friday Bible Study begins at 9:30 AM; it lasts an hour TGIF! Taught by All Saints parishioner Don Drenth, a gifted lay teacher who has studied at Emory University's Candler School of Theology, the TGIF class has explored a variety of biblical topics that reflect the interest of participants, topics such as "Women in the Bible," and "The Lesser Prophets." TGIF will start again for the fall on September 17, with the topic yet to be announced. The Choir rehearses on Wednesday evenings at 7:00 PM for an hour ADULT CHOIR This group includes a mix of professional and amateur musicians. The Choir's goal is not so much to perform, though an anthem is sung each Sunday, as it is to provide music leadership for parishioners during the liturgy, in order that all who attend worship may "Sing to the Lord a new song!" (Psalm 96:1, 98:1). Our parish was given a set of hand bells, which are used on special Sundays, and a few parishioners are gifted instrumentalists. Our organist has a PhD in music and was a Fulbright Scholar. Our parish with its abundance of resources is blessed with good music in both traditional and contemporary styles. GUITAR GROUP A group of parishioners have a talent for playing guitar. Each Sunday, during the Communion, as worshippers come to the altar to receive Bread and Wine, music of a contemporary style is offered. A small group meets at 6:30 PM on Thursday evenings; it lasts 2 1/2 hours EDUCATION FOR MINISTRY (EFM) The EFM program is designed for the serious student of Christianity. It is administered through the Program Center of the School of Theology at The University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee. A new class begins each October at All Saints. EFM involves a four-year commitment. The Old Testament is studied the first year, New Testament the second, Christian theology the third, and ethics the fourth. Spirituality is studied throughout the year. And classes meet for a period of nine months. The hallmark of EFM is its theological reflection process, designed so that participants eventually are able to make connections between their experience of daily life and their faith. There is a cost for EFM, with scholarship-aid available. Workshop in flower arranging being planned FLOWER MINISTRY The Psalmist calls us to "Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness" (Ps. 96:9). At All Saints, part of that beauty has to do with flowers and plants and the land on which our parish is located. Flowers are prepared each Sunday by parishioner, Shirley Fifield, for the altar, and their beauty is enjoyed on other special occasions as well. A group of parishioners called the "Godly Gardeners" tend to the outdoors. Shirley is now planning to offer a Workshop in Flower Arranging at the church, for those who would just like to try their hand at this, or share in the Flower Ministry. Date and time for the workshop are yet to be decided. A Three-day Spiritual Retreat at Camp McDowell CURSILLO Cursillo is one of a number of three-day spiritual renewal retreat weekends that are offered through the Diocese. Others include Kairos for prison inmates, Happening for teens in grades 10 through 12, Vocare for young adults, and Epiphany for juveniles in detention. Retreats such as these provide many Christians with their first awareness of spiritual renewal, and of what it means to have a personal life in the Spirit. An Outreach Opportunity MORNINGVIEW SCHOOL Parishioners offer an hour of their time each week to work at Morningview School in a remedial-reading program, taking a personal interest in students by listening to them read. With the start of a new school year, this is a particularly good time to become involved in this project. All Saints Church and the school are "Partners-In-Education," - a program connecting schools with resources available to them in their immediate neighborhoods.
INTERGENERATIONAL EVENTS

FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH
Childcare Available - From 9:30 AM every Sunday until the end of worship NURSERY Nursery care is provided downstairs so that the parents of young children can attend the Adult Class, worship, and have the opportunity to socialize with other adult parishioners, while their children are well cared for. Children at age 3 or 4 are invited to join the "Godly Play" class, so they can begin to get involved with Christian formation as early as possible. For ages 4 through 9 - on Sundays, 9:30 AM "GODLY PLAY" Central to the "Godly Play" curriculum, designed by Episcopal priest, The Rev. Jerome Berryman, and based on a Montessori approach to education, is the belief that children can and do have encounters with the mystery of God, but they do not have the language to talk about and share their experiences. Teachers of "Godly Play" use developmentally appropriate bible stories to teach children the art of using the language of our faith, as an alternative to giving pat answers, and as a balance to just presenting Christian doctrine, so that their students may encounter Christ in a personal way and begin to find direction for their own lives, as their character, by God's grace, is being formed in the image and love of Christ. For ages 10 and older - Every Sunday morning ACOLYTES The role of acolyte in Episcopal worship is important for young people. One way at All Saints that Christian formation and worship interplay is through the ministry of our acolytes. Acolytes play an integral part in our liturgy, and for youth, being an acolyte offers not just the opportunity to serve and learn more about liturgy, but to provide leadership as well. Acolytes are trained by the Rector and serve in teams. For ages 10 and older - 5:00 PM on Second and Fourth Sundays YOUTH GROUP "The Great Commandment," given by Jesus, and remembered by the evangelist Mark in his Gospel (Mk. 12:19-31), speaks of God's love in three ways: "Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is the only Lord. Love your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. The second is this: Love your neighbor as yourself." The youth program at All Saints hopes for a balance between "love of God" which means worship, "love of neighbor" which means Outreach to others, and "love of self" which means plenty of opportunity for personal and spiritual growth within the context of Christian community. Our Youth Group has fun through community-building activities, such as a recent Canoe Trip and Six Flag's Trip; helps others, for example, through a new Outreach program called the "Brown Bag" Monthly Food Project, by helping with the Seder Meal, and by serving as acolytes; and worships: each activity begins with prayer, and there is ample opportunity for youth to talk with each other and their adult sponsors about God. For ages 7 and older - Rehearsals at 9:00 AM on Sundays YOUTH CHOIR Our Youth Choir, under the direction of talented parishioner, Annette Taylor, sings at select Youth Sundays and at other special times of the year, such as Christmas, Palm Sunday and Easter. This year the Choir will begin work with hand bells. Honoring our Youth - Fourth Sunday of each month YOUTH SUNDAY On Youth Sunday the liturgy takes on a youthful bias, with a sermon designed for children. And our youth take on added responsibilities. Along with their usual role as acolytes, our children and youth serve as greeters, read the lessons and prayers, and offer the Bread and Wine. The goal of this special Sunday is to honor our young people for the gifts they bring to our parish, as well as to provide them the opportunity to practice the skills of worship and thus become conversant with Episcopal liturgy. Youth Sunday is also a way that Christian formation and worship might be integrated. As an important component to Youth Sunday, our youth this year will collect food for the needy and deliver it to the Montgomery Food Bank. This is called the "Brown Bag" Monthly Food Project. They follow the example of the adults, who each year during the seasons of Advent and Lent, take on a special Outreach project.