Ava Sadowska

Ava Sadowska found All Saints Church through her work as a volunteer in the community. And now she says she's found a very special community here.

She met Claudia Sodaro while volunteering at the Salvation Army's Angel Tree project. Claudia introduced her to All Saints. Since she started coming here, she has been active with Pack A Snack and joined volunteers from All Saints to help at the Rotary project, Rise Against Hunger, recently.

"When I came to All Saints, that's what attracted me, the outreach here," she says. "There is so much happening, so much volunteering here, such warm people.

"There is so much community here. The people are so open." Ava adds. "It's what I was looking for at this stage of my life."

Ava was born and raised in Krakow, Poland, and came to Chicago in 1989 as a young adult. She graduated from National Louis University in Chicago with a masters in business. She worked at the University of Illinois as an auditor before moving to Florida with family. She lives with her two daughters in Palm Harbor. One daughter just started college and one is graduating from college this summer.

Ava works at AmiKids, a nonprofit, where she does internal auditing. She enjoys not only her job but also the volunteer work she can do with the children through AmiKids. "AmiKids helps empower disadvantaged kids, to learn their potential. it's a beautiful mission they have," she says. She recalls the chance she had last year to go with a group of young people and volunteers from AmiKids for a week of wilderness challenge in Hot Springs, N.C.

"There were 75 kids at the camp grounds and we got up at 5 a.m. to cook breakfast for them" she says, laughing at the memory. "I learned how long it takes to cook scrambled egs for 75 kids, it took an hour and 5 minute! That was a lot of scrambled eggs , but they were hungry and they were grateful for them. "

Sadly the whole camp and the town of Hot Springs, located on the French Broad River, were destroyed last fall in the devastating storm and flooding. But both town and camp are rebuilding and she says they hope to return there this year.

Asked what she likes about All Saints, she says, "Of course I love the coffee and pastries, and the chance to meet and get to know the people at the gazebo after church."

She adds, "It's smaller, more intimate here. This is a beautiful place."

Marlene Dersch

Marlene Dersch is a bundle of energy who has a great passion for all her interests. That holds especially true for her love of All Saints, where she is a very active and very involved member.

Marlene tried several different churches and different denominations before she found All Saints.

"It was here I found that God wants me to be," she says enthusiastically. She loves everything about All Saints, but she was especially drawn here because of its outreach work. "I've always been interested in missionary work. But after my first mission trip, I know this is my home. I love this church! It's my home."

Marlene went on her first mission trip to Honduras last year and will be going again this year in May. She enjoys working with the children, but says she is open to doing whatever is needed. Last year the medical mission group traveled to four villages offering medical and dental screenings and wellness checkups as well as storytelling, music and fun activities for the children. She says she is excited about returning this year with the group.

But Marlene's involvement at All Saints goes in many directions. She is very active in the weekly Bible study group on Wednesday. "I love Bible study!" she exclaims. "I'm in love with the people there!"

She also works with Midge Grabowski on coffee hour, helping with receptions and programs that require refreshments, she teaches in the Sunday School and is a part of the Greeters team. She also is serving on the Vestry and was recently elected to be a delegate to the annual convention in October. She is a regular contributor to Parish News To Go, taking photos at many of the church events, and she is a member of the Cursillo ministry at All Saints..

"I want to get involved, to do whatever they want me to do," she says. And her days are filled with her faith. "I can't imagine my life without my Lord."

Marlene was born and raised in Costa Rica and came to the United States in 1968. She lived in Amsterdam, N.Y. until she married and moved to Florida about 38 years ago. Raised a Roman Catholic, she became a member of the Jehovah Witness church for many years while she was raising her three daughters. After her husband died in 2015, she began looking for a new church and visited All Saints often with her youngest daugher and son-in-law Andrea and Ian Simpson. She lives in New Port Richey near them and their sons, Aiden and Desmond. She has two other daughters, Fancine Dickerhoof, who also lives in New Port Richey, and Shirley Campas, who lives in Largo and has a daughter, Johana, 21.

She lives in a condo in New Port Richey with her two cats, Hope and Midnight, and her 13-year-old chihuahua, Tiki.