After Dark @ All Saints’ 2025

AFTER DARK @ ALL SAINTS’ EPISCOPAL CHURCH offers an opportunity to learn something new and interesting while helping raise needed funds for community organizations like Cooperative Christian Ministry, Community Free Clinic, battered women’s shelter and others. Classes begin at 3:00 on Saturdays and Sundays, and 6:00 all other days (exceptions are noted). Sessions run approximately 90 minutes and the teachers are experts in their field. Youth registrations, where available, are at a reduced rate.

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02/06/2025

Hands-Only CPR American Red Cross
In those few minutes when someone seems very ill or suffering an emergency medical event, what should you do? We will cover some key points that you can implement quickly to determine the next steps to help this person. This includes protecting yourself to starting appropriate care. We will cover the basics of "Hands Only CPR" including at least two minutes of time conducting this skill on manikins. We will also look at how to use an Automated External Defibrillator (AED). Lastly, we will review steps to be taken in the event of a person choking. This is a non-certification course but will include those key steps that can help save a life." The session will require some time "on the floor" working with a manikin. Limited to 12 participants.

02/07/2025

Stemless Wine Glass Painting Krista Johns
Unleash your creativity at our wine glass painting class, where you will create unique, hand-painted glassware that’s both functional and decorative. All materials, including stemless wine glasses, paint, and brushes, are provided. Imagine the joy of sipping your favorite wine from a glass you’ve designed yourself—turning every pour into a celebration of your artistic flair!

Enneagram Explained Julie Wagner
Want to unlock more compassion for yourself and others? Want to understand how your greatest strengths are on a continuum with your shadow? The popular and ancient Enneagram system is used across multiple disciplines but often hard to get into with independent study. Experts originally said it is an oral tradition and a student needs to hear the energy of the 9 numbers explained. Julie Wagner will humorously share stories conveying the energy of each of the 9 types and how they view the world through 9 different lenses. We will explore the easiest and hardest way to access Enneagram understanding by deeply exploring the only 2 questions you need to answer to identify which of the 9 numbers resonates most deeply with you. Begin taking off your Enneagram mask and connect more deeply to your true self and with others with this engaging and lively exploration! Session is limited to participants age 16 and over.

02/08/2025

Beer Tasting Steve Steinbacher
Do you know your beers? What is the difference between an ale and a lager? Which do you like better, a blond or an amber? Just what is an IPA? Flavored beers, what are those all about? Learn from Steve Steinbacher, one of the owners of Cabarrus Brewing Company. He will bring a selection of beers for you to taste, and will explain what distinguishes them from each other.

Stained Glass Brad Fisher and Rita Smith – Almost Gone!
Stained glass artwork has been around for over 1,000 years. Here is your chance to try your hand at the historic practice. In this class you will learn about the basic tools, materials, and techniques for creating stained glass projects. You will have an opportunity to practice glass-cutting and soldering. Finally, you will assemble a simple stained glass-project from pre-cut glass pieces to take home. Session is limited to 8 participants.

Uke Can Play! Brian Sullivan
Have you always wanted to try your hand at playing the ukulele? It’s easier than you think! Join Brian Sullivan, Director of Performing Arts with the Cabarrus Arts Council, for an evening of Ukulele fun. Whether you’re a seasoned strummer or someone who has never touched an instrument before, Brian has developed an approach that makes room for everyone to be successful. We’ll learn a few simple chords and before long we’ll be playing and singing familiar songs together. Brian will bring 20 ukuleles to share, or you can bring your own. Let’s jam!Session limited to 20 participants age 7 and up.

Canning and Preserving Elizabeth Sullivan – Almost Gone!
Do you want to taste summer fruits and vegetables year-round? Do you want to make your fresh produce last longer? Do you want to waste less in the kitchen? In this session, participants will learn about the basic tools, supplies and skills necessary for food storage and preservation of fruits, vegetables, and herbs. Discussion will focus on how to make fresh produce last longer through proper storage techniques, freezing and drying methods. Participants will also take part in a simple water bath canning demonstration appropriate for making jams, jellies and preserves. Each participant will leave with a small jar of jam, and new knowledge about food preservation.

02/10/2025

Cooking with 2 Gals Mary Niemeier – Almost Gone!
Mary Niemeier, owner of 2 Gals Kitchen in Concord, will bring us another session covering a dish featured on the 2 Gals menu. In a hands-on kitchen session, participants will learn how to create Mary’s specialty: Dill Pickle Soup! (Yes, really! And it’s amazing.) Then, of course, you will sit down together and enjoy your yummy creations. Feel free to bring a beverage of your choice. Session is limited to 10 participants, age 21 and up.

Landscape Planning Teri Jones
Nothing complements your home like a well designed and executed landscape. With the right selection of shrubs, perennials and annuals, it’s also possible to provide an array of blooms and greenery for every season.  Teri Jones, owner of The Little Farm Midland, raises beautiful cut flowers for customers in the Charlotte metro area and beyond. Her original background, however, is in landscape design. She works with clients who need help designing their own home landscapes, kitchen gardens and/or containers. Whether you’re interested in creating colorful containers or just need help choosing the right shrubs for your unique soil/water/light condition, join Teri when she shares her expertise in planning and planting for the perfect home landscape.

02/11/2025

Glass Plant Sculptures Katlyn “Kat" Cornelius
Join artist TuxedoKat for a whimsical and inspiring workshop designed for anyone—no matter your level of creativity! In this 90-minute session, we’ll embrace the joy of making something beautiful from broken pieces. Using my experience with Glass Plants, I’ll guide you through the process of creating a unique mini sculpture from upcycled glass I’ve collected over time. No need to worry about experience or skill—this is about having fun, exploring your inner artist, and discovering the magic of working without a plan. You’ll simply sit down, pick the pieces that call to you, and glue them together using UV resin. As you piece it together, your sculpture will reveal itself in real time, a delightful act of spontaneity and creativity. Yes, we’ll be working with broken glass, but we’ll practice mindfulness and care to ensure it’s safe and enjoyable—no cuts, just creativity! The beauty of this workshop lies in its absurdity: there’s no pressure to “do well” or create something perfect. It’s about letting go, playing with possibilities, and taking home a one-of-a-kind creation that reminds you of the power of transformation. Come glue, laugh, and create with us—you may just discover your inner artist!

Recycle Right! Everything You Need to Know About Recycling Kevin Grant
Kevin Grant, Cabarrus County Environmental Management Director, will share with us the official guide to recycling in our area. Knowing what items are acceptable (and why) to place in your recycling cart is very important. Some items not acceptable for your recycling cart may be taken elsewhere for recycling. Often we’re not sure if a particular item is recyclable or not. Which plastics can be recycled and which ones can’t? Is all glass recyclable? Must labels be removed from plastic, glass and cans? Are there specific rules in incorporated areas, or are the regulations consistent county-wide? If you have specific questions, this is the place to bring them. It’s sure to be a helpful and enlightening session, and we’ll be getting the scoop from the man who knows!

Carolina Thread Trail Ashton Lamb
Connecting a Region while Creating Trail Destinations Come learn about the Carolina Thread Trail (CTT), a 1,600 mile planned trail network around the greater Charlotte region from Ashton Lamb, Community Coordinator. Ashton will provide insights into how the Carolina Thread Trail is working to connect communities across the region together. Specifically, he will discuss two high priority trail corridors for CTT which include the 23-mile Matthews-Belk South Fork River Corridor in Gaston County, NC and the 30-mile Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail in Cherokee County, SC. Both of these trail corridors are primed to change the region by creating new outdoor destinations for all to enjoy! Come get the behind the scenes look at how large trail projects happen and what’s the latest on two of our region's next big outdoor economy drivers!

02/13/2025

Card Making Tiffany Fulton – Almost Gone!
Renew the joy of written correspondence just in time for Valentine’s Day! In this session you will have all the fun and creativity of creating your own cards. There will be multiple designs to use as models, or you can stretch your creative muscle by designing your own. Each registrant will have a variety of modalities from which to choose and use, including paper layering, rubber stamping, foil-etching, and embossing. This class is great for beginners or seasoned card-makers, and is recommended for all ages. Supplies will be provided.

Barber Scotia College Dr. Chris Rey
Barber-Scotia College has been a part of Concord since its founding in 1867. It is a private, four-year Historically Black liberal arts college known for its commitment to academic excellence.The school has evolved from a preparatory school for young, newly freed African American women to a private 4-year college. It is well on its way to regaining its accreditation, sound financial footing, and renovating the historic campus buildings. The school's president, Chris Rey, will share updates about the school's impressive progress, and about the vision and plans to revitalize the college as it continues to foster the ideals of uplifting humankind through education.

02/14/2025

Artisan Pizza Don Smith – Almost Gone!
Making Artisan Pizza will once again be offered at After Dark @ All Saints’, but the sessions will have a different venue: at the home of instructor Don Smith. Two sessions will be offered and there will be room for four people in each class. You will learn pizza-making techniques and go home with enough dough for 5 pizzas. You will learn how to make the dough, make a tomato sauce, and how to spread your dough and bake it. We will make pizza using a home oven, just the way you can do it at home. The class is specifically designed to use techniques for the home chef. Over the years, dozens of people have learned these methods to operate their own “pizzeria.” At the end of the class, we will sit down together for a meal, enjoying the fruits of our labor! Those participating are asked to bring a large mixing bowl to take home a batch of pizza dough.

02/15/2025

Let's Read Together: Exploring the Language of Children's Literature Dr. Ralf Thiede
Children see the world differently than adults do. They also read books differently. What is it that they love? In this presentation, we will explore why children adore repetition, active and sensory language, rhythm and changes of rhythm, logical nonsense, and words gone wrong. Come and discover Dr. Seuss and Winnie the Pooh (and some intriguing new books) from a child's unique perspective.

Hymn Sing Gary Kovar
Come sing some of your favorite hymns with Gary the Guitar Guy! We will sing some old favorites, and perhaps some new favorites. You don’t have to be able to read music, or even read… This is a chance to make a joyful noise with friends.

More than Baseball: Kannapolis Cannon Ballers Matt Millward
Join us for a hands-on and interactive session with the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers at Atrium Health Ballpark. The session will feature a tour of the ballpark along with a discussion amongst key staff of the organization. Learn everything from how the team keeps their playing field in pristine condition to what decisions are made to ensure the fans HAVE A BLAST at each Cannon Ballers home game. In addition to all of the excitement behind the scenes, attendees will also have the chance to test their skills and take a few swings in the batting cages! Bring your questions, bring your inner slugger, and be ready for a great time! Meet at the ballpark. Session begins at 3:00.

Disappearing Quilting Blocks Charles McKinley
Who would go to the trouble of sewing a quilt block together and then cut it up? Are they angry? frustrated? insane? or . . . creative! Join Charles McKinley and explore the piecing (re-piecing?) technique called “Disappearing Quilt Blocks.” We will have fun visualizing possibilities with hands-on activities and you will have the opportunity to inspect some finished examples.

ABRACADABRA – The Art of Magic and Illusion Guy Antonides aka “Magnifico”
Magnifico the Magician will share his magic origins and discuss those of the Art of Magic. This class will consist of some fun magic trick demonstrations as well as some hands-on magic tricks. You will learn some fun tricks to take home to impress friends and family. Magnifico has been practicing magic and illusions since he was 15 years old and hopes participants will take home an enjoyable understanding of this unique hobby. Tricks will include the Magic Milk Pitcher, Multiplying Magic Tomatoes, Dots Incredible, Eat Your Vegetables, and other fun card tricks, just to name a few. Participants please wear pants/sacks with pockets and a light jacket or vest if possible. (Ooh, intriguing!)

02/16/2025

Artisan Pizza Don Smith – Almost Gone!
Making Artisan Pizza will once again be offered at After Dark @ All Saints’, but the sessions will have a different venue: at the home of instructor Don Smith. Two sessions will be offered and there will be room for four people in each class. You will learn pizza-making techniques and go home with enough dough for 5 pizzas. You will learn how to make the dough, make a tomato sauce, and how to spread your dough and bake it. We will make pizza using a home oven, just the way you can do it at home. The class is specifically designed to use techniques for the home chef. Over the years, dozens of people have learned these methods to operate their own “pizzeria.” At the end of the class, we will sit down together for a meal, enjoying the fruits of our labor! Those participating are asked to bring a large mixing bowl to take home a batch of pizza dough.

Digital Photography Basics Joy Marie deBlock
Do you own a digital SLR or mirrorless camera and you’re not sure you are fully utilizing the camera’s functionality? Then join professional photographer and photography instructor Joy Marie DeBlock for a 90-minute photography basics class! We’ll review common camera features and controls, proper camera handling technique, then dive into the three basic components of photography: aperture, shutter speed and ISO and how changing these settings can change the look of your images. Bring your digital SLR or mirrorless camera (note that this class is designed for users of interchangeable lens cameras, not smartphones) with a memory card and fully-charged battery. Class handouts will be provided.

Prayer with Purpose Rabbi Barbara Thiede
Why do we pray? For inner healing? For comfort and aid in troubled times? In this session, we will explore how prayer can call us to action and commitment. We will learn how Jewish liturgy embeds just such a call in specific and beautifully constructed prayers (and we will sing them, too!)

Auto Maintenance for TEENS Chad Raitz
We welcome back Mr. Chad Raitz and his wife Suzanne. They are the owners of Raitz Automotive Service in Kannapolis and this year they are presenting a class for our young people to give them information and skills in keeping their car well-maintained and safe. He will explain maintenance needs for cars of different ages and models. We all need to know what the different symbols on the dashboard mean. How often do you need to change your oil and what kind of oil is best? Our teens will leave this session with some basic essentials of operating and maintaining a safe vehicle.

Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence Sean Szakal
The most common phrase on the North Carolina license plate is "First in Flight," but there is another option: the phrase, "First in Freedom" is also an option. Have you ever seen it? Do you know why? Do you know why the date "May 20, 1775" is on our state flag? Or why there is a celebration in North Carolina on May 20 every year? This session will explain that and tell the fascinating story of the Mecklenburg Resolves, commonly referred to as the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence or the "Meck Dec" and why North Carolina claims to be the first in freedom. Come and learn from history teacher Sean Szakal about a little-known piece of the history of our state.

02/17/2025

Stained Glass Brad Fisher – Almost Gone!
Stained glass artwork has been around for over 1,000 years. Here is your chance to try your hand at the historic practice. In this class you will learn about the basic tools, materials, and techniques for creating stained glass projects. You will have an opportunity to practice glass-cutting and soldering. Finally, you will assemble a simple stained glass-project from pre-cut glass pieces to take home. Session is limited to 8 participants.

Wine Tasting: Around the World with Wine Robin and Andrew Angell
Robin and Andrew Angell, owners of Cellar Door Wine Shop in downtown Concord, will take you on a tour around the globe, sampling wines from 5 different regions across multiple continents. You will taste wines that are less well-known, so it will be a time to experience some new wines. This session will be enjoyable and informative to both those who are well-informed about wines, and those who are not. There will be food to accompany each wine, and you will leave with printed descriptions of each wine, as well as suggestions for appropriate pairings. Limited to 20 participants, age 21 and up.

02/18/2025

Cooking with Lin Childers Lin Childers – Almost Gone!
We are delighted to welcome Chef Lin Childers, Executive Chef at the Cabarrus Arena and Events Center. Chef Lin brings years of culinary experience, including with the Atlanta Falcons, Wolfgang Puck, and many restaurants and organizations. He will teach us how to prepare one of his favorites: shrimp and grits. In this hands-on session, participants will make their own dish with options of adding Andouille sausage or bacon to the shrimp, and various flavors to the grits. Chef Lin will demonstrate the options for different flavors of grits and will describe some fun ways to make use of leftover grits. You will have an entertaining evening with stories of the history and traditions of this famous food. Then the class will enjoy a dinner together. Feel free to bring a beverage of your choice. Limited to 10 participants, age 21 and up.

Songbirds Wild Birds Unlimited
As we get closer to spring, many songbirds will soon be migrating in a worldwide movement that occurs twice a year. Nesting season – a time where birds raise their young – will occur shortly afterwards. Join Wild Birds Unlimited of Concord to learn how to support these songbirds through providing the right food, nest boxes, or by raising awareness. Not only that, but we will also go over what it takes to certify your yard with the National Wildlife Federation to provide a healthy habitat for birds and other wildlife. If you want to improve your bird identification skills, Merlin ID by Cornell Lab of Ornithology is a free phone app that can help! Download the app before the session and we will provide a crash course on how to use it.