Three Core Values: Serving, Worshipping, Gathering

Learn more about these three core values through which All Saints strives to be faithful to its Mission as a way to learn more about our parish:

Serving
Giving that is only focused on budget, done through various line items designated for Outreach, though important for a balanced Outreach ministry, is often the kind of giving that is unable to deeply touch the lives of individual parishioners. All Saints seeks a balance between budgeted Outreach and a hands-on approach to Outreach giving, that looks like this:

Our parish gives the tithe, 10% of pledge and plate offering as our Covenant in support of the Diocese of Alabama and the ministry of our bishops. We financially support Holy Cross, the new Episcopal School in Montgomery. The parish regularly makes its facilities available to the Girl Scouts for leadership-training events and is the proud sponsor of one or more troops each year. During the seasons of Advent and Lent, a special outreach offering is taken each Sunday, which goes to a ministry chosen by our Vestry.

Individual parishioners and groups also take the initiative with Outreach projects. Thus, last year All Saints established a Headmaster's Discretionary Fund at Holy Cross, and presented Roman Catholic musician Terry Little, the son of parishioners, in a benefit concert for the school. In support of public education, the parish conducts a remedial-reading program at Morningview School, located near the Church, with whom we "Partner-In-Education." Parishioners have served for three summers in Honduras as part of a mission-team from the Diocese, and serve on the Board of the Renascence Center, a halfway-house ministry for recent parolees.

In support of our mission statement, as you can see, Outreach giving at All Saints includes a healthy mix of budget and personal involvement.

Worshipping
The act of celebrating connects every facet of our parish life with Sunday Eucharist. The disciples of All Saints know that as is the case with all growing parishes, "When worship goes well, so does everything else!" A group of parishioners, in fact, recently noted: "We find All Saints to be a Christ-centered place for weekly renewal and strength through a deep sense of reverence in learning and worship." A reverent, celebrative lifestyle is characteristic of our Church.

On Sunday we enjoy a rich diversity of worship experience, always with Eucharist, and we use the full resources of the Book of Common Prayer.

Our worship involves a balance of classical and contemporary hymns and music. A number of parishioners are gifted in music and generous with their gifts. Our organist-choirmaster is a professional musician who enables our talented, energetic choir to provide leadership so that all parishioners may "Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness" (Psalm 96:9a).

With the focus on God, All Saints is a come-as-you-are, user-friendly parish. Some folks dress up, others don't. And there is always someone nearby to help find your place in Prayer Book and Hymnal.

Our reverent, celebrative lifestyle is not restricted to Sunday worship. There are other venues as well. For pet-lovers, we have a pet blessing on the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi. With our teens, we celebrate getting a driver's license, or the gift of a new car. Many parishioners have celebrated a House Blessing. And since Christian leadership is an act of worship and therefore an event to be celebrated, our monthly Vestry meetings always take place within the context of the service of Compline, as found in the Prayer Book.

In support of our mission statement, as you can see, at All Saints we celebrate God's abundant blessing in a variety of settings. Then, on Sunday there is Eucharist, the Greek word for "giving thanks," thanksgiving that "All things come of thee, O Lord, and of thine own have we given thee."

Gathering
What is special about All Saints is the quality of its community. Parishioners really do enjoy each other's company, most evident by how much humor and laughter there always seems to be. When problems arise, it is the natural response of this community to help. In the words of one newcomer, "The people are so friendly, I felt very much at home."

In addition to a balanced hands-on approach to Outreach giving, and reverent, celebrative worship with "thanksgiving" or Eucharist on Sunday, the following qualities of parish life are also noteworthy:

All Saints is a caring, extended family. This is especially important for short-timers like military families and other folks who will be in Montgomery on a time-limited basis, but who want to get involved, have a ministry and make a contribution in a family that will support and will not forget them. Many who have left Montgomery keep in touch with All Saints and visit when they can. Some military have retired in Montgomery and they have reestablished their membership, making All Saints a parish family with members of all ages.

All Saints is arguably the most diverse Episcopal parish in Montgomery. Besides active and retired military, there is a notable group of teachers in college, private and public education, as well as government workers. On most subjects there are a variety of points of view shared in a community that strives to "respect the dignity of every human being" (BCP, pg 305).

The disciples of All Saints celebrate the best of two worlds, we believe, through a variety of programming and ministry, characteristic of the large church, but offered in the setting of a small church. We have plenty of program offerings that challenge our faith and "equip the Saints for the work of ministry" (Ephesians 4:12). And we can be responsive to individual needs and to spiritual growth.

Finally, prayer is important to All Saints parishioners. There is a Prayer Circle that is part of the Prayers of the People during the Eucharist on Sunday mornings. Parishioners then include the Prayer Circle biddings throughout the week in their private prayers. This Prayer Circle has become an important part of what it means for All Saints to be an extended, supportive family of Christ's faithful people; it means that we regularly pray for each other - and for the world.

In support of our mission statement, as you can see, the disciples of All Saints Church faithfully gather as a supportive, extended family to "continue in the apostles' teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in the prayers," in order that we may serve and love Christ in all persons. (BCP, pg. 304).