Note that this is not a glamorous trip, though there may be beautiful moments. Nor is it a vacation, although one may find moments of solace. This will be a very active trip–full of giving, serving, laughing, maybe even crying.

But going to Slovakia is certainly not the only way to be involved. The group going to Slovakia needs your help in putting on a VBS day camp for a small Slovak church and hosting events for its women’s ministry. You might be asking, “How might I do that from way over here?” Here are a few more ways to be involved:

• Pray. “Unless the LORD builds the house, those who build it labor in vain” (Ps. 127:1). Pray as we prepare for this trip, make plans, build curriculum, and meet together. But also pray during the time we are in Slovakia: June 28 – July 9. This Slovak church we will walk alongside is a fragile one- small, meager, easily attacked by the evil one. But God is stronger.
• Give. The costs of putting on programs for the Slovak church’s kid’s ministry and women’s ministry are substantial, and that’s after the team actually gets to Trnava! If perhaps you are not able to go, consider playing a valuable part by making a financial gift towards the cost of this trip. Just put “Slovakia” in the memo of your check or online contribution.
• Help. As we approach the summer months, the team will have specific needs for crafts and other supplies to bring with them to Slovakia. This is a great way to involve your family or friends in participating in this mission trip from your own living room. Or maybe you want to help design the curriculum for the VBS camp. Or perhaps you just want to send a gift to the Lundgaards. We’ll keep you posted regarding the group’s specific needs.

Maybe you have thought of something else that would contribute towards the Slovakia mission trip this summer. We’re all ears. Contact David Breeding with questions or for more information.

May the Apostle Paul’s words to the Corinthians about the “cheerful giver” ring true for us all, not just in thinking of ministering to strangers across the globe during this mission trip, but through all of our lives:

“He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God. For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God” (II Cor 9:10-12).

Dear Friends,

With great joy we invite you to a special worship service in the life of All Saints this Sunday to install Rev. Tim Frickenschmidt as our new Senior Pastor.
Following the example of the apostles as they set apart particular men to serve the church, we will set Tim apart for the specific work of leading us. This service will take place during our normal 10:30AM service and will be led by Rev. David Cassidy, the Senior Pastor at Redeemer Presbyterian in Austin. David will preach, we (the congregation) along with Tim will answer vows, and the elders will lay hands on Tim and pray for him.

At the conclusion of the service, we will be hosting a simple reception for Tim, Elissa and their family. At the reception we will have a box to collect notes of encouragement for the Frickenschmidts. Please take a few minutes to write your prayers and hopes for the work that God will do in and through Tim during his time at All Saints. You may bring notes with you or write them on stationery we provide.

Join us in praising God for His blessing of All Saints.
-The All Saints Session

• gift of diapers for LifeCare
• gift of school supplies for Side By Side Kids
• gift of time by signing up to volunteer at one of our ministries

For more information contact Caitlyn Allen or Meredith Michelson.

Ashley was born in Austin and, except for a brief stint in Nashville, has lived here her whole life. She recently graduated with honors from the University of Texas at Austin, with degrees in Communication Studies and English. She is currently working full time as a content writer with Cloud [8] Sixteen in The Search Engine Guys division. An avid athlete, she has run two marathons and hopes to do another this year in order to re-qualify for the Boston Marathon. Ashley is looking forward to working as the Children’s Hallway Coordinator for All Saints.

We are excited to welcome Ashley and grateful for her presence as a familiar face in the children’s ministry. If you are in the children’s hallway Sunday morning, take a moment to introduce yourself to her.

I am excited to let you know we have reserved Laity Lodge Family Camp for All Saints for September 21-23, 2012. We have 20 cabins ready for you and your family to be refreshed, renewed, and rejuvenated! It will only be All Saints families this weekend so go ahead and register so we can have the whole camp to ourselves! I know it seems like a long way off, but I know how quickly my calendar fills up. Also, it is a non-UT weekend.

We are holding spots for the All Saints group at a special link. Campers registering for this weekend will need to use this link. Please do NOT register from the Family Camp website, as it will NOT place you in the All Saints group.

Find out more and see photos at www.llfamilycamp.org,  or feel free to contact me.

-Sabra Boone

 
FY2012 Annual Budgeted Giving: $1,627,388

As can be seen from the above results, we continue to have actual giving and expenses track quite favorably with our budget through the first half of FY2012. December and year-end giving once more proved to be very significant, as has been the case in prior years. Giving for December 2011 was $382,572 compared to $316,415 for December 2010. Furthermore giving during all of calendar year 2011 was $1,593,673, and was higher than any prior calendar year in All Saints’ young history. Praise the Lord! Finally our general fund balance stands at approximately $492,000 as of December 31, 2011 which along with remaining expected giving should put us in good standing for the rest of the fiscal year.

We will continue to monitor with our staff and our Session the financial status of All Saints, and we will provide our next financial update upon the completion of our 3rd fiscal quarter. Later this spring we will begin the budget-setting process for FY2013 and we are excited that we will have in place during this process the leadership of our new Senior Pastor. Accordingly, we will continue to trust in our Lord’s faithfulness to us and we are thankful for his abundant blessings. We are also thankful for your prayers and your financial support of the All Saints body. Please contact any Finance Committee member with any questions that you may have about this financial update or other financial matters.

In Christ,
The All Saints Finance Committee
Brett Cantrell, Peter Dawson, Danielle Miller, Toby Tobleman (chair), John Turner, Bonnie Whiteis, David Breeding (staff), Gate Davis (staff), Stephen Hurd (Session)

FY2012 GIVING UPDATE | Budget v. Actual