The God Baby Jesus Gave Us and Gives Us
"The God Baby Jesus Gave Us and Gives Us"
Sermon by The Rev. Ed Bacon
Dec. 24, 2025
This sermon reflects on how certain moments quietly change us, marking a clear before and after in our lives. Drawing from stories of trauma, tenderness, and hope, it points to a God who heals not through judgment but through deep compassion and cherished belonging. Christmas, then, is not just about a baby in a manger, but about a God who reaches toward us, sees us fully, and invites us to live into the truth of who we are. In that love, we are called to become places of healing for others too.
More Announcements

All Saints is excited to announce that Ethan Armistead will be our newest seminarian. After two years of prayer and discernment, Ethan has been named a postulant for Holy Orders. He will begin seminary this fall. Ethan has listened closely for where God is leading. His message is below: Last week I attended the Bishops Advisory Commission on Ministry. Bishop Curry has informed me that I was made a postulant for Holy Orders. I am so grateful, and delighted to announce that I will be attending seminary in the Fall! I have been in a process through the Church for about two years now, discerning my call to priesthood. I have kept a listening heart, and a posture of dependency on the Lord. A group of wise and amazing individuals helped me discern this call. Brad Landry, Bryson Waldo, Susanna Whitsett, Marisa Mitchell, Trent Ponder, and the late Joseph Slane. This group listened to me, gave wisdom, and helped me discern what this call God has put on my life means. Going to seminary means so much to me. I am able to obey what God has called me to do. I look forward to spreading God’s love, and being a vessel for the Holy Spirit. To helping others, and being a faithful servant to a good, and gracious God. Thank you All Saints!

Registration is OPEN for our next session at Fiddlesticks Music! Session Length and Dates: Winter 2026 (10 - week) January 11 - March 21. Tuition is $185. Remember that scholarships and payment plans are available, and All Saints members receive 20% off. We also have need-based scholarship options. Register here: https://www.fiddlesticks-music.com/register.aspx Learn more or to register for the session today: www.fiddlesticks-music.com .

Alert! To be clear, All Saints' Clergy, Vestry, Warden's or staff will NEVER ask for money or gift cards from you! If you receive any communication asking for money in any form at all, it is a SCAM! Or if you get texts asking for a private conversation, it is a scam! These scams are becoming increasingly sophisticated, so it’s important to approach texts and emails with caution. One quick way to spot a scammer is to check the email address it came from. No matter the name, look at the email address. Emails from All Saints staff will always end with "@allsaintsbhm.org" (i.e. office@allsaintsbhm.org). Never reply to, click on, or enter any information if you receive one of these suspicious EMAIL/TEXT messages. Most schemes involve scammers mimicking church staff, typically posing as someone in a position of authority asking you for money transfers or gift cards. Many times, the scammers will manipulate the email address, name, or even the area code of phone numbers, so that it appears to be coming from someone you know. Even if the email or text seems legitimate, if a request seems even remotely “off” or is asking for anything from you, don’t act on it until you confirm it with a phone call ( 205-879-8651 ) or face-to-face conversation with someone at All Saints. Some general suggestions: Check sender details carefully. Any suspicious emails or text message should be investigated before replying. Pay attention to the message content, including attachments and URLs. When in doubt, call: If there are questions about any email, do not reply. Instead, call our office - 205-879-8651 Label it spam: If your email service has the ability, report the email as spam. Here’s how you can report these scams: Report Phishing Attacks: the United States Computer Emergency Readiness Team has an Incident Reporting page to report email phishing, as well as an email to forward them to, at https://www.us-cert.gov/report-phishing . Forward all emails to the Anti Phishing Working group at phishing-report@us-cert.gov . Report text scams to through the Federal Trade Commission’s Complaint Assistant which helps the FTC detect patterns of fraud and abuse.

Altar Flower Memorials You are invited to donate altar flower arrangements to honor, remember, or give thanks for someone special. These arrangements can be dedicated in honor of a loved one, in memory of someone who has passed, or in thanksgiving for a particular blessing or person in your life. Each memorial dedication will be acknowledged in the bulletin for that week, ensuring your tribute is shared with the congregation. Flowers are $100.00 and checks should be made out to All Saints Episcopal Church. If you are ordering flowers and would like to dedicate them in honor, memory or in thanksgiving for someone, please indicate what you would like for the dedication to say. If there is no dedication filled in we will assume they should be dedicated “to the Glory of God." The flower guild can create your arrangement but if you would like to order them from the florist we will honor that request. Please comment that you are using a florist and contact Mountain Brook Florist or Dorothy McDaniel's directly. With questions, contact office@allsaintsbhm.org or allsaintshwdflowerguild@gmail.com

