Adult Education & Spirituality
The committee sponsors a variety of adult religious growth opportunities.
The ministry of the Adult Education and Spirituality Committee (AESC) is to assist pastoral leadership in meeting the individual, small group, and community education and spirituality needs to the best of its ability. By conducting occasional surveys, and keeping in close contact with parishoners, vestry and other committee members, the AESC will meet those needs through on-line and in-person experiences.
We will maintain an active presence on the Church bulletin board, and will provide email addresses and telephone numbers of AESC committee members who are willing to be contacted with concerns.
Committee membership currently includes Wayne Barry, Kaye White, Jane Williams, Brooks Sutton and Dick Calhoun.
Tuesday Morning Small Groups
Men’s and Women’s Groups meet separately for discussion about spirituality at work in our lives.
Religious Instruction
Classes are offered periodically for those who wish to learn more about the Episcopal faith (“Inquirers”), for both current church members and prospective members. Classes are also offered for those who wish to make a public commitment to their religion through the sacrament of Confirmation. Those interested in either class may contact the Rector.
After Dark at All Saints
After Dark at All Saints is an annual program of evening classes taught by members of the church and friends in our community. The classes are open to the public and the goal of the program is to give back to our community. All the net proceeds are donated to service organizations that help our community. The After Dark @ All Saints program has distributed over $115,812 in 9 years! Thanks to our instructors, volunteers and attendees for making this program so successful.
All Saints Church Endowment Fund
The committee meets as necessary or when called by the chair. The mission of the committee is to bring awareness of the opportunity to the members of All Saints’ Episcopal Church to establish planned gifts/estate gifts to create an endowment for the long term sustainability of the church. Committee members will periodically remind parishioners of the opportunities that are available to make a long term gift to All Saints. Several members have already indicated that they have remembered the church in their wills. The church is most grateful to these thoughtful families.
Donors benefit from planned giving by becoming eligible for tax and estate planning advantages. Donors also benefit from knowing that their gift will ensure the church for the future.
Building/Facility Planning
Building/Facility Planning Committee
The committee plans and oversees additions to our current facility, including obtaining necessary funding.
Buildings and Grounds
The Junior Warden normally is the Vestry’s liaison for Buildings and Grounds function, but committee leadership may be assigned to another church member.
Building Committee
The committee is responsible to the Junior Warden or to the Vestry to identify building maintenance requirements and to arrange for repairs.
Grounds Committee
The committee establishes and maintains the Church landscape, oversees the lawn mowing, supervises the implementation of the long-term landscape plan, and schedules periodic work days utilizing additional volunteers for specific landscaping projects.
Christian Education
Kids Church
Kids Church serves ages pre-school through 6th grade children at the 10:30 AM service every Sunday morning (except June through August) and are taught by Stephanie Gillaspie and a volunteer in the Education Building. The teachers help each child understand the Christian concept of Jesus and God. They use an Episcopal curriculum and include appropriate images, stories and music to integrate the Bible, worship and life experience.
Nursery
The Nursery, provided for children 3 and under, is staffed by a coordinator and a volunteer and is located in the Education Building. Nursery service is provided during the 10:30 AM church service. The Nursery rooms are a cheerful setting full of fun toys for the toddlers and a room where babies can rest peacefully. Volunteers are always welcomed for this important ministry.
Parents Night Out
During the year, church volunteers offer several “parents’ nights out” where parents can drop off their children at the church from 4:30 PM to 8:00 PM for a fun night. The parents get a night out and the children socialize and play. The children are fed supper, play fun games and watch a short movie with popcorn. During the summer months, a Bible story is added to the parent’s night out curriculum with fun games that are related to the bible story.
Finance Committee
The Finance Committee has the responsibility of preparing the annual Church budget, which is then presented to the Vestry for approval. The committee meets monthly to review the financial position of the Church and, working with the Treasurer, ensures accurate reporting to the Vestry on the progress of pledge giving and operational spending.
Gifts and Memorials
Mission – This committee is a conduit for all gifts which will be readily used by the All Saints Family.
The committee will determine the following for each gift
A) Description and Value.
B) Where and how the gift will be used by All Saints.
C) Will there be any ongoing expenses to maintain the integrity of the gift.
D) Will gift have any memorial or recognition.
E) Donor’s name or do they want to remain anonymous.
If the value of gift (estate, stocks, bonds, and real estate as an example) appear to be more appropriate for our endowment, this committee will meet with our endowment committee to determine the greatest long term benefit.
Examples of recent gifts are: playground equipment, grill, picnic tables, as well as a new candelabra.
Holly Days
Each year on the weekend before Thanksgiving, All Saints’ presents this beautiful Christmas bazaar inside the church buildings. Arts, crafts, jewelry, and food are showcased by local and non-local vendors. Lunch is available each day in the “All Saints’ café”. Holly Days is a favorite event in the community and is brought to life entirely by volunteers from the church.
Hospitality Committee
Meetings are monthly on the 10th at 10:00 am (unless otherwise posted) on the kitchen bulletin board. The committee is made up of ten who recruit volunteers to host Coffee Hour after Eucharist services. We maintain supplies for the convenience of all who host and keep a tidy kitchen. Each year we host two Coffee Hours as a committee, on Mothers’ and Father’s Day for both the 8:30 and 10:30 services.
Hospitality is present when something happens for you. The least we can do is smile and offer water which is all we do at public health screenings. The height of hospitality is seen in large receptions which require careful planning and a team to host like the Bishop’s visit or following a public concert. The bulk of work falls somewhere in between those two extremes like lunch for 12 or soup for someone who is ill. We focus on food service and respond to requests from Vestry and/or other Committees as needed.
We welcome any request to plan and host receptions for parish families during various life transitions such as baptism, graduation, wedding, birthday and anniversary. Usually we ask benevolence of the congregation to set a family table at times of funeral and our role is to greet and serve whatever is offered. Funeral receptions are beautiful celebrations of life with precious photos, the family’s favorite recipes, and a sacred hour of fellowship. Committee members come to know the people at All Saints and hold high the Golden Rule to “Do unto others as you would have others do unto you.”
Incorporation Committee
This group meets formally and informally as needed to develop and champion ideas, strategies, and activities to meet specific goals set forth by the Vestry to (1) significantly improve the incorporation of existing church members and (2) use intentional hospitality to purposefully incorporate new members. That’s a fancy way of saying we want EVERYONE who comes to All Saints to feel welcome, comfortable, valued, and connected. We also want to facilitate opportunities for each person to use his/her specific gifts in ministry at All Saints, for the common good of our community and the personal joy of the giver.
In addition to greeting people at services and following up with newcomers, we support and facilitate various group activities, such a book club, women’s discussion, movie and cultural outings, and crafters gatherings. We help with keeping our Parish Directory and informational booklets about All Saints up to date. We work jointly with other committees such as Hospitality to organize dinners and programs with fun activities to help us all feel stronger bonds with others in our All Saints family.
While we are a designated committee, “incorporation” by definition requires the participation of EVERYONE to truly realize our church family’s goals. Please reach out to your neighbors at church. Share ideas and experiences that might contribute to these goals. Join a group or activity that appeals to you – or help start a new one! Finally, make known what YOU need in the give and take of our All Saints family life.
Office Volunteers
Office Volunteers share the love, concern and answers about our programs at All Saints to our members and the community at large when answering the phones in the afternoons.
Responsibilities of the volunteers include taking messages and making calls as needed. The volunteers make weekday calls to “Those Who Serve” on the upcoming Sunday morning to remind them of their duties such as LEMS, Lay Readers, Ushers, Greeters, Acolytes, Torch Bearers, Coffee Hour Hosts and Nursery Volunteers. In addition, they help with office tasks as requested, including bulletin folding, taking reservations for events such as the Lobsterfest and After Dark@All Saints.
We are currently using SignUpGenius to fill in the 1-4 PM, Monday – Thursday dates each month. This new system seems to be working well. We have also requested a back-up person throughout the winter months in case of unexpected scheduling conflicts. The first volunteer should contact the back-up if needed.
Parish Life
The committee’s mission is to encourage a warm and welcoming environment in order to broaden the ministry of All Saints’ Episcopal Church. The committee specifically is charged to welcome visitors by delivering informational material as well as signs of welcoming – a loaf of bread, and a mug. Committee members bake the bread as well as deliver it, and host fellowship events such as the newcomers’ informational hour, Lenten soup and salad dinners, monthly prayer breakfasts, and special events. They also provide name tags, pew cards, and pamphlets. The committee meets monthly.
Pastoral Care
The committee’s mission is to be there “when things fall apart”, that is, to provide for your earthly and spiritual needs, especially if you are sick, home-bound, hospitalized, or in need of some support. The committee has a number of ways to address your needs.
Prayer Chain
The Prayer Chain is open to all in times of need or thanksgiving. It consists of a group of parishioners who, when called upon, will pray for your specific request, whether it is for you, another person, special needs or situations.
Sunday Prayers of the People
This ministry’s responsibility is to gather and keep up-to-date the names of persons mentioned in the Sunday services Prayers of the People. This includes parishioners and their family members and friends who are ill, have died, are traveling, serving in combat zones, and other situations.
Healing Teams
The Healing Team consists of more than a dozen people who feel called to devote themselves to sharing God’s healing love with the people at All Saints’. Twice monthly at the 8:30 Sunday services, and every week at the 10:30 Sunday services, Healing Team members invite you to share your concerns, difficulties, and challenges, and they will anoint and pray with you.
Prayer Box
A specially marked box in the foyer of the church is intended for special confidential prayer requests to be seen only by a priest.
Prayer Shawl Ministry and Other Activities and Projects
Prayer Shawl Ministry meets weekly for the purpose of creating shawls for those who are in need of comfort or healing for any reason. The group knits the shawls with mindfulness and prayerfulness for the needs of others. Shawls are then blessed and distributed. The Prayer Shawl Minitry also supports functions year round at All Saints. These activities include creating crafts for Holly Days, making easter eggs for Easter, knitting and crocheting hats, gloves and scarves for our homeless guests.
Home Eucharist
Home Eucharist is available to parishioners who are unable to make it to church services due to surgery, illness, etc. A Lay Eucharistic Minister will conduct a very short service in your home and provide communion.
Meals Ministry
A meal or meals can be provided to members in times of need. This can be during an illness, following surgery, during a family emergency, after a child is born, or under other circumstances. A group of parishioners meets periodically to prepare and freeze soups and casseroles for this ministry.
Cards and Notes
A card or note is sent to any All Saints’ parishioners in need. Each note is individually written for a personal touch.
Servant Ministry
Committee Mission: Coordinate and implement the Outreach program of All Saints. God calls us to be attentive to the needs of the community; to communicate those needs to the congregation; and to provide, to the best of our ability, the volunteer and financial resources to meet those needs. Past achievements and activities include: Coordinating providing volunteers for Food For Thought, The Beach Food Pantry, Community Care Clinic of Dare, Ruthie’s Kitchen, Episcopal Farm Workers Ministry in Newton Grove, Mano al Hermano Literacy program, Room In The Inn, Angel Tree, and the Harmony Café.
Monthly Meeting Time: Second Tuesday of the Month, 2:00 PM
Solo Flight Singles Ministry
This group welcomes singles of all descriptions providing fellowship, events, outings as well as encouragement to participate in church worship, committees and activities to help us find and develop our spiritual gifts and help grow into what God wants for us.
Stewardship Committee
The Stewardship Committee meets between church services as needed starting the month before Kickoff Stewardship Breakfast Sunday until the Stewardship Campaign is completed. Our mission is to plan and conduct the annual Fall Stewardship Campaign. Pledging one’s financial commitment allows the Finance Committee and Vestry to budget church operations, and plan the programs and outreach we can support in the upcoming year.
Welcoming Committee
The Welcoming Committee works with the greeters, ushers and Parish Life Committee to identify and welcome visitors to All Saints. It is the committee’s goal to help visitors feel immediately welcome to All Saints. The Welcoming Coordinator, based on the willingness of the visitor, prepares a name tag so that our visitor can be welcomed by other parishioners, introduces the visitor to the Rector and obtains information (if the visitor is willing to provide) so that the Rector can send a welcoming letter. We obtain the visitor’s email information if they want to be included in the weekly email bulletin. Following this, one of the committee members delivers an All Saints mug, baked good and the “Open Door” information brochure to the visitor’s home, if they live on the Outer Banks.
Worship Committee
The committee consists of the Rector, associated clergy, the organist, representatives of the Sunday school, the Altar Guild, the Flower Guild, and any other interested persons. The committee discusses general worship needs and plans services and special events for specific occasions, such as a visit from the Bishop, church picnics, or kick-off Sunday for the Christian education program. This committee meets monthly.