Vestry Spotlight
At All Saints, our Vestry plays a vital role in guiding and supporting the life of our parish. Made up of 15 dedicated members, with one-third elected each year at our fall parish meeting, the Vestry helps shape the future of our church. To help you get to know the faces behind the decisions, we're offering a Vestry spotlight series.
First up is our Senior Warden, Martha Bains. A member of All Saints for about 15 years, Martha is now in her third year on the Vestry. “One of my favorite things about All Saints right now is that in this position I get to work closely, not just with our amazing vestry, but also with our wonderful church staff and clergy,” she says.
Two traditions close to her heart are the way so many come together on Holy Saturday morning and December 23rd to prepare our church for Easter and Christmas—moments that reflect the spirit of community she loves most.
More Announcements
OJ & Outreach will be Sunday, August 17, 10:00am in the Great Hall! We need YOUR help to make this happen! Please sign up HERE ! We will be packing food into 140 backpacks for Homewood Helps. These will go home with food insecure students to ensure that they have something to eat over the weekends.
Registration is open for FALL Session 2025! The 11-week fall session is September 7 - November 22. These Fiddlesticks Music classes are perfect for infants to 5-year olds and their "grown-ups." Parents, grandparents, or nannies come make music with your little one through singing, dancing, and musical play! When you register, make sure to let us know that you are a member at All Saints, to receive 20% off of the $195 tuition. We also have need-based scholarship options. Learn more or to register for the session today: www.fiddlesticks-music.com .
The first 15 to register will receive a prize! The 2025 All Saints Parish Retreat weekend at Camp McDowell kicks off Friday, August 22 , with check-in starting at 4:30 pm and wraps up with lunch on Sunday, August 24 around noon. Whether you're joining us for the weekend, staying one night, or just coming for the day on Saturday, we’re glad you’ll be part of it. Enjoy unstructured time, good company, great food, and a mix of fun activities. Try out camp favorites like canoeing, hiking, a hayride, and the pasture party, or just take it easy in a rocking chair. It’s a chance to reconnect with old friends and meet new ones in a place that brings people together.
Catechesis of the Good Shepherd is a hands-on, Montessori-based faith formation for children ages 3 through 6th grade. It nurtures a child’s relationship with God through scripture, liturgy, and rich sensory experiences in a sacred space called the Atrium. Children reflect on Bible stories and prayers by working with materials like figures of the Good Shepherd and sheep, a miniature altar, or baptism symbols—engaging their hearts and minds in the great mysteries of the Christian faith. Orientation dates and kickoff events are set: Level II & III (1st–6th grade) Orientation Sunday, August 17, 10:00–10:45am Level I (3-year-olds* & new 4–5-year-olds) Orientation Thursday, September 4, 6:00–7:00pm or Monday, September 8, 6:00–7:00pm *Children must be 3 years old and potty-trained by September 1, 2025. First Day of Atrium: Sunday, September 14, at 8:15am or 9:45am Please contact Kathleen Busbee, kbusbee@allsaintsbhm.org with questions.
An Afternoon with Dr. Woody Register: Exploring the Roberson Project History isn’t just in the past, it shapes who we are and who we choose to become. On Sunday, September 14, 2025, from 4:00–5:00pm, Dr. Woody Register will lead a conversation about how one university is confronting its own history to build a more honest future. Light refreshments will be served. Dr. Register is the Francis S. Houghteling Professor of American History at the University of the South and founding director of the Roberson Project, a teaching-focused initiative launched in 2017 to examine Sewanee’s historical ties to slavery. Through deep research, public engagement, and innovative teaching, the project is reshaping how institutions reckon with the past. At the heart of the Roberson Project are four guiding commitments: Truth-Telling: Uncovering and telling the full story of Sewanee’s origins in a society rooted in slavery. Community: Working alongside descendants of the enslaved and the town’s Black community to recognize their vital place in Sewanee’s history. Innovation: Creating new ways to teach, research, and engage with the legacy of slavery. Leadership: Establishing Sewanee as a leader among universities confronting their historical ties to slavery. Learn more: https://robersonproject.sewanee.edu
This summer, Vacation Bible School at All Saints was full of joy, laughter, and meaningful moments, especially the beautiful sight of middle and high schoolers, once VBS kids themselves, now returning as volunteers. With parents, grandparents, and so many others involved, it truly felt like a village coming together in Galilee. As we turn toward fall, there’s more to look forward to: Blessing of the Backpacks happens on August 3 and 10 at all three services. Backpack tags will be available for children, students of all ages, and working adults, yes, they fit on briefcases too! Children’s Formation Orientations : Level 2 & 3 (1st–6th grade): August 17 at 10:00am Level 1 (new 3–5 year olds): September 2 or September 8, 6–7pm Parish Retreat at Camp McDowell is August 22–24 . For kids of all ages, whether for a night, the weekend, or just a day, it’s a time of fun, connection, and worship. Atrium sessions resume on Sunday, September 14 , with gatherings at 8:15am and 9:45am . We’re grateful for all who helped make this summer special and are excited for the season ahead. Thank you for your prayers and for walking alongside the children of All Saints.