The man who would become St. Francis was born the son of a wealthy cloth merchant in the city of Assisi. When the boy was born, his mother asked that the he be named Giovanni, after John the Baptist, for she had great hopes that her son would grow to become a man of God, perhaps even a priest. The boy's father wanted nothing to do with such religious nonsense. He defied his wife and had the boy named Francesco, which means "free one."...Keep Reading
Our Stewardship Series begins on Sunday, October 16, marking the time of year when we as a church focus our thoughts and prayers on our pledges to All Saints for 2017. It is also a time for reflection on how our monies have been used over the past year and how blessed we are at All Saints. Our slogan for the series this year is "Generous Living," which describes the kind of lives we want to steward for God's kingdom....Keep Reading
Since the start of the new year, the vestry has been exploring what it means to be good stewards of our ongoing growth. Above all, it means remaining faithful to our mission: to share in the life of God for the life of the world....Keep Reading
At my ordination as a deacon, the bishop gave me a charge to work with my brothers and sisters in Christ to search "for the sick, the poor, and the helpless, that they may be relieved." Each Wednesday, we find them at JACOA, an alcohol and drug dependency treatment facility here in Jackson that serves West Tennessee....Keep Reading
As God continues to bless All Saints with more people, no doubt you've felt our walls close in a bit tighter. Our church is full of life, but it's also feeling a bit cramped! Such growth is exciting to be a part of, but it does raise the question of how we are to be good stewards of it....Keep Reading
The story of All Saints is a story of God's provision, a story of the Holy Spirit working miracles in our midst. It was true twelve years ago; it remains true to this day. God has and continues to look with favor upon this wonderful parish....Keep Reading
As God continues to bless All Saints with more people, no doubt you've felt our walls close in a bit tighter. Our church is full of life, but it's also feeling a bit cramped! Such growth is exciting to be a part of, no doubt, but it can also raise some unsettling questions: How much longer can we all fit in here? How will this growth affect who we are as a church? Will I ever get to know these new faces? ...Keep Reading
The celebration of Pentecost marks the completion of the Easter Season, which began on Easter Day, the celebration of Jesus' resurrection. This is the "Sunday of all Sundays," the highest and holiest day of the year. The Easter Season is celebrated for seven weeks or fifty days. Within the Easter Season, forty days after Easter to be exact, the Church celebrates the ascension of Jesus on Ascension Day. Pentecost simply means "the fiftieth day," and this celebration marks the end of the Easter Season. ...Keep Reading
On a sunny Saturday, the weeds that had grown all winter were removed and new plants made their home in St. Patrick's Place. Last year, All Saints donated over $300 of organic produce to the Jackson Harvest Share, and we hope to do even more this year. ...Keep Reading
In the more solemn season of Lent, St. Patrick's Day breaks our small acts of self-denial with a day of celebration. St. Patrick's Day is often equated with Irish heritage parades, shamrocks, leprechauns, and beer. Recently, Benjamin, my six-year-old, asked me, "What's the day people pinch you if you don't wear green?" Here's a little bit about the life of St. Patrick that might help us turn St. Patrick's Day 2016 from a holiday to a Holy Day. ...Keep Reading