Beautiful Beloveds,

Here we are at the week of the Christ’s Passion. And with it may come, for some of us, all the shoulds and coulds of what this week would look like if our lives were perfectly holy, and our lived faith was all that we thought it should be, when compared to some sainted life of the past or something in our imaginations. But I think the invitation we’re given in this week isn’t so much to add so much more that it’s impossible, but to instead, slow it down, quiet our hearts, and walk/pray as we can and not as we can’t. If we’re to keep company with Christ in Christ’s sufferings so that we can rise with Him on Easter, we’ll be better equipped to do so (I believe) with even five minutes more to be conscious of and feel into our bodies during the passion story on Palm Sunday. Five minutes of peace in which to hear in the silent darkness, the crash and finality of the empty chalice on the bare altar on Maundy Thursday. Five minutes of rest to allow our heart holy comfort as we see into the ice cold and very real eyes of evil on Good Friday. Five minutes of speechless excitement at the triumph and endless possibilities given us in Easter Vigil or at the Easter Morning service of worship. This is a week where maybe there can be five minutes less of doing, and five minutes more of BE-ING, present with God as God’s love for us in the person of Jesus is actively on display in the holy theatre of Palm Sunday and the Triduum. Come…in person or online, that’s the invitation…come and BE, with the One Who Loves you THIS much.

Much love,

Mo. Nikki +

Nikki's Sabatical

Get ready for summer fun, April 30th - July 31st with amazing guest priests, the Rev. Bob Dentler, (y’all remember him?) and our very own phenomenal Rev. Ellen Richardson and Rev. Carol Schwenke. They will be covering for me while I am on my first EVER sabbatical. Yippee!! Priests are supposed to have those every 7 years, yet I’m on year 15 of ordination, with this being my first. I’m not going out of the country, but there will be travel and independent study. I’ll return fresh and ready to roll Tuesday, August 1st! And I know you, my Beloved church family will do what you always do, no matter who is the face and voice of God in our services of worship, because you’re awesome! You’ll continue to have church and be church, because that’s just who you are. That’s I’m so blessed to walk this journey of faith in your company. So much love to you!! I thank God for you!

Annual Easter Egg Hunt

The Children’s Ministry of St. Gregory’s will be preparing our annual egg hunt for children (preschool - through 5th grade) immediately following worship on Resurrection Sunday (April 9).  We are grateful for any donations to contribute to the event.  This year, we would gratefully receive these donations:

• Candy!  You are welcome to drop off any candy at the church. You can leave candy in the workroom across the hall from Kendall’s office, or, if you bring it on Sunday, you can give it to Doug Adkins, Jenifer Borg, or Jenifer Marquardt.

• Baskets!   We are trying to collect a number of Easter baskets that can be used over the years for any children who may want to hunt eggs but forgot to bring a basket.  If you have any baskets that are no longer used, we would gladly receive them and keep them stored in our supply closet.  You can leave any donated basket in the copy room near the candy, or give it to Doug. 

Remember to invite friends who may have children who would like to participate.  This would be a great opportunity to introduce neighbors and community members to the St. Greg’s spirit!

Dismantling Racism Training

The 2023 Dismantling Racism Training schedule is available. This class is required for all parish clergy and all lay leaders, including vestry members. We also recommend taking the class every three years. Click here for the training schedule.

palm sunday

celebrating

penance relief

processing then

to silent grief

triumphantly

we sing and wave

remembering

who came to save

the ending play’s

passion story

moves us closer

to the glory

when at easter

we will rejoice

in songs of praise

with happy voice

alice mohor

Join us for Gospel Music Sunday with the Trey Clegg Singers!

On April 16, 2023, join us for a gospel music celebration with guest choir, the Trey Clegg Singers. There will be ONE service this day at 10AM only. You may remember Trey Clegg and some of his choristers from Bishop Wright's Consecration in the Diocese of Atlanta in 2012, and some of the glorious music heard there. Some others of you may have heard of the excellent music from St. Paul's Episcopal Church and its choirs, when Mr. Clegg served as Minister of Music there. And whether you have or haven't heard this choir before, know that here at St. Gregory the Great, as we give our own excellent choir and musical staff a well-deserved break after the phenomenal music performances given to us for Lent and Easter, you are in for a treat. They will be with us at the 10AM service, and joining us for coffee hour afterward. Please come and worship with us.

For music sample and news click here and here.

PALM SUNDAY, April 2

8am and 10:30am * Liturgy of the Palms & Holy Eucharist

(8am begins in sanctuary; 10:30am begins in the courtyard)

WEDNESDAY, April 5

5:30 pm Stations of the Cross

6pm Holy Eucharist & Healing Service

MAUNDY THURSDAY, April 6

7pm * Maundy Thursday Liturgy & Stripping of Altar

ALL NIGHT PRAYER VIGIL 

Thurs. 9pm - Good Fri. 11am

Jesus said,”Could you not stay awake with me one hour?”

Sign-up sheet is in the narthex for 1-hr time slots

GOOD FRIDAY, April 7

12pm Good Friday Liturgy

7pm * Good Friday Liturgy

THE GREAT VIGIL OF EASTER, April 8

8:30pm * Festival Eucharist & Choir 

starts outside with the lighting of the Paschal Candle

Please bring noisemakers, pots, pans, cowbells, airhorns, drums for the 

Great Noise to ring in Easter!

EASTER DAY, April 9

10am * Festival Eucharist, Baptism, & Choir

followed by an Easter Reception 

(please bring a finger food if you’re able!)

& Easter Egg Hunt for children

**(please note only 1 service on Easter morning)

* these services will be live streamed

Committal Service for Eric Groff Agner

Eric Groff Agner, 56, of Washington, DC, died January 30, 2023 after complications from cancer. Formerly of Athens, Georgia, he graduated from the University of Georgia School of Journalism and worked at The Observer and Graphic Composition. He received his Master’s Degree in Publication Design from the University of Baltimore in 1995. Most recently, he worked in graphic design with the Justice Department supporting community-oriented policing.

A life-long musician, he was in bands starting in high school in Athens—including Banned 37 and The Woggles. In Baltimore and DC, he played with The Dilettantes, Dames Rocket, Lawn Chair, The Racket, The Paper Tapes, The Sugar Biscuits and The Judith Hour. Eric was an avid participant in February Album Writing Month—an online challenge that had him composing, arranging, singing, playing the bass and other string instruments, in the recording studio in his basement every February. 

He is survived by his wife Patti Fetz, sister Suzanne Coffman, mother Margaret, daughter Robin, 2 grandchildren, 5 aunts, an uncle, and many grieving friends, relatives and musicians. 

Committal of the ashes will be Saturday, April 15 at 4PM at St. Gregory the Great Episcopal Church Memorial Garden. A memorial gathering will follow from 5-8PM at Lyndon House Art Center, 211 Hoyt St, downtown Athens. Bands are welcome to play. Refreshments, anecdotes and photos will be shared.

Family Promise, a coalition of local churches who volunteer to help temporarily homeless families housed at Milledge Avenue Baptist (MAB), is holding orientation and training for all new volunteers at 5:30 p.m. on the first Tuesday of each month at MAB. The next session is Tuesday, April 4. Our church helps out four weeks a year. Our next week is coming up April 30-May 7. Volunteers help by preparing meals or serving as on-site hosts at MAB. As our week gets closer, a signup genius link will be put in the Friday email. This is satisfying work helping those who are trying to get their lives back and get into permanent housing. For questions, please contact Annette Bates via email or 706-255-5839.

Instructions for Live Streaming

• Just go to the St. Gregory the Great Episcopal Church YouTube Homepage

• Near the time for service, underneath our channel logo, you will see our video for that day, with the word ‘live’ on it. The page will look like this:

• If you don’t immediately see the video that says ‘live’, (for instance, if you opened YouTube before the service begins) keep refreshing it.  

• When you see the video square that says ‘live’, click on it. 

Welcome to worship!