Welcome
Uplifting worship, Bible studies, outreach projects, and other ministries for men, women, youth, and children await you and your family. Our nursery service was paused during the pandemic, but our leadership is currently making plans and working towards making it available once again.
We extend a special welcome to those who are single, married, divorced, gay, filthy rich, dirt poor, y no habla inglés. We extend a special welcome to those who are crying newborns, skinny as a rail or could afford to lose a few pounds.
We welcome you if you can sing like Andrea Bocelli or, like some clergy, can’t carry a tune in a bucket. You’re welcome here if you’re “just browsing,” just woke up or just got out of jail. We don’t care if you’re more Anglican than the Presiding Bishop Michael Curry, or haven’t been in church since little Joey’s baptism.
We extend a special welcome to those who are over 60 but not grown-up yet, and to teenagers who are growing up too fast. We welcome soccer moms, NASCAR dads, starving artists, tree huggers, latte-sippers, vegetarians/vegan, junk food eaters. We welcome those who are in recovery or still addicted. We welcome you if you’re having problems or you’re down in the dumps or if you don’t like “organized religion,” we’ve been there too.
If you blew all your offering money at the dog track, you’re welcome here. We offer a special welcome to those who think the earth is flat, work too hard, don’t work, can’t spell or because grandma is in town and wanted to go to church.
We welcome those who are inked, pierced or both. We offer a special welcome to those who could use a prayer right now, had religion shoved down your throat as a kid or got lost in traffic and wound up here by mistake. We welcome tourists, seekers and doubters, bleeding hearts…and you!
Borrowed with permission from St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
When You Visit
You will find the worship services located on the upper level of the church, along with the Parish Hall, where coffee and goodies are served after the services. Our friendly greeters and ushers will assist you. The Sunday School classes are located in the lower level of the building, as is the church office. Be sure to introduce yourself — we would love to find out more about you and to tell you about upcoming events or answer any questions you may have!
If you are not familiar with the Episcopal style of worship, we have a pamphlet in the foyer that may help: “Frequently Asked Questions for Visitors and Newcomers”. Or see the FAQ page on this site. Relax and know that we’re just glad you’re here.
If you are just passing through, we wish you Godspeed for your journey and hope you will come back again someday. If you are seeking a church home or a place for your family to grow spiritually, we would love to talk with you about your needs. Just grab a cup of coffee after services and introduce yourself — we want to get to know you! Our Rector (chief pastor), The Rev. J. Mark Holland, would love to talk with you after services, or you can call the church office (423-586-6201) for an appointment with him.
About Us
Like all families, there are certain things we do have in common, although an Episcopal upbringing is not necessarily one of them. We come from many different backgrounds; Catholic, Lutheran, Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian, you name it, you will probably find it at All Saints’. Our commonality lies in our appreciation of the tradition and heritage of the Episcopal church and having found a church home where our doubts and questions are not ridiculed; where we are allowed to grow in our relationship to God and to each other, and where we are reminded that God’s saving grace is eternally evident in our own lives.
All Saints’ is a diverse parish. The members span the economic scale and include people from a variety of cultures and countries. We are newborns and retired; we are school teachers and sales people and mechanics; we are doctors and lawyers; we are CEOs and we work in the plants; we are single and married; we are divorced and widowed; we are young and old.
We are an affirming parish to the LGBTQ+ community. We have a legacy of inclusion, aspiring to tell and exemplify God’s love for every human being. Ordination and the offices of bishop, priest, and deacon are open to all without discrimination. Laypeople and clergy cooperate as leaders at all levels of our church. Leadership is a gift from God and can be expressed by all people in our church, regardless of gender, sexual orientation, or gender identity or expression.
We believe that God loves us all – no exceptions.
The congregation of All Saints’ is called to live into their Baptismal Covenant, to be God’s presence in our community, to be good stewards of God’s creation and abundance, and to give outside ourselves. We look to the future with confidence that God will continue to work miracles in our community.
Getting To Know Us
Foyer Groups
For those folks who are new to All Saints’, we have a fun way to help them get to know us – and vice versa: Foyer Groups, small, casual groups of parishioners who get together in each other’s homes for a meal. Twice a year we will “reshuffle” our Foyer Groups into parties of 4 to 6 people. Each group will contain some old-timers and some relative newcomers, and each group will invite 2 guests who are either brand new to All Saints’ or those whom we have met out in the community. Each host/hostess will decide whether to make their dinners potlucks, or prepared completely by them. Some groups will include a devotion or special prayer, asking for God’s blessing on the relationships represented.
The foyer is where we greet people when they come to our door, and from which we invite them to come deeper, into our houses and into relationship with us. There’s just something about breaking bread with people that seals your relationship with them. Think about it…we tend to share more of ourselves in conversations over a meal, and families who share regular meals together tend to be closer. Jesus shared meals with his disciples often in the Bible. The disciples realized who he was as they shared a fish breakfast with him on the shore early one morning.
We encourage newcomers to join Foyer Groups and experience the joy (and fun) of fellowship in Christ. If you want to establish or deepen a relationship with our All Saints’ faith community beyond Sunday morning, call the church office and give your name to Lynne Ann, to be placed in the hat for the Foyer Reshuffle Dinner. All are invited.
What We Believe
