1John 4:12
No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and God’s love is made complete in us.
Make God’s Unconditional Love Visible
Whenever, contrary to the world’s vindictiveness, we love our enemy, we exhibit something of the perfect love of God, whose will is to bring all human beings together as children of one Father. Whenever we forgive instead of getting angry at one another, bless instead of cursing one another, tend one another’s wounds instead of rubbing salt into them, hearten instead of discouraging one another, give hope instead of driving one another to despair, hug instead of harassing one another, welcome instead of cold-shouldering one another, thank instead of criticizing one another, praise instead of maligning one another…in short, whenever we opt for and not against one another, we make God’s unconditional love visible; we are diminishing violence and giving birth to a new community.
Letters to Marc About Jesus, Feb 13
All devotional quotes are from the book:
You Are the Beloved: A Devotional, Henri J. M. Nouwen, compiled and edited by Gabrielle Earnshaw
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CEILIDH: FOLK SERVICE OFFERING : Tonight
St Gregory's offers a monthly Ceilidh service (pronounced kay-lee) on the 3rd Friday of the month (October 18). Based on a Gaelic tradition of celebrating community and hospitality, a folk liturgy complete with live folk music and a meal will be offered in the Christian Education building at 6:30PM. Foot washing and hand anointing will also be available before or after (not during) these services for anyone who wants to take part, starting at 6PM. Food will be provided, but we always accept more dishes to add to the table if anyone wishes to bring something! Any musicians that are interested in helping to provide the music for these services, as well as anyone with questions about the service, are encouraged to reach out to Wade McGlamery.
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Vestry Candidates
Attention Parishioners! It's time to nominate candidates for next year's vestry. We have five positions opening up! If you know someone who is at least 18 years old and a communicant in good standing whom you think would make a good vestry member, please pass on their name to anyone on the vestry nominating committee: John Barrett, Stace Court, Gail Eilers, Karen Hankins, Kathryn Musholt, or Mark Richardson. You can also email your nomination to Mark Richardson. Nominations will remain open until the end of October. Thank you for helping us keep St Gregory's a great place to worship!
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We are continuing to accept stewardship giving pledges for 2025. If you have not yet pledged, please do so as soon as possible. The parish finance committee needs to formulate our church operating budget before our annual meeting in November. | |
Barnett Shoals Elementary School Clothing Drive
Every Fall, St. Gregory’s sponsors a parish-wide clothing drive to support our neighbor, Barnett Shoals Elementary School. This year, school personnel have devoted extra time to reviewing prioritized clothing needs for the schools’ clothes closets. Your contributions of any of the following items will make a difference:
- boys’ and girls’ pants and shorts - all sizes, Youth XS-XL
- boys’ sweatpants - all sizes, Youth XS-XL and Adult Small - Medium
- girls’ leggings - all sizes, Youth XS-XL and Adult Small - Large
- boys’ and girls’ underwear - all sizes, XS-XL
- socks - all sizes
- boys’ and girls’ shirts - all sizes, XS-XL (can include t-shirts in multi- packs, not necessarily gendered)
- Boys’ and girls’ pants may include new and gently-used, clean items.
Donations will be collected from Monday, September 30 through Friday, November 1, in the boxes located in the lobby of the Parrish Hall. If you have any questions, please contact Gail Eilers, eilersgail@gmail.com, or Jane Sheridan, jsheridan@friendlycity.net. Thank you, in advance, for your support.
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Confirmation Classes
Confirmation classes will begin on October 20. If you or your child are interested in getting confirmed, received, reaffirmed, or if you just want to learn more about the Episcopal Church, then make sure to come to confirmation class starting on October 20 after the 10:30 service. The class will run every Sunday for 7 weeks leading up to the confirmation service at the Cathedral of St. Philip on December 8th. If you're interested please let either Wade McGlamery or Mother Nikki know.
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Trunk or Treat!!
Make plans to join the St. Gregory’s family for a fun Halloween fellowship. This evening will consist of carved/painted pumpkins & trunk-or-treating! If it rains, we’ll move the trunk-or-treat inside. In Preparation: All Gregorians are encouraged to bring your Halloween treats of choice to distribute from your own car trunk in the parking lot. If you don’t have a trunk, we will give you an assigned space to hand out your goodies. Carve or paint your own pumpkin to bring for the pumpkin display. Invite your friends and neighbors!
If you do not plan on attending, but wish to contribute candy for the Trunk-or-Treat, you can drop off bags of candy in the copier room across from Kendall's office.
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Click the photo above for the website. To order Christmas Bell luminaries, use QR code above or click here. | |
Adult Sunday School
Adult Discussion Group: (Parish Hall) The Adult Spiritual Formation Sunday morning Bible Study meets at 9:15AM and is currently studying the Gospel of Matthew. Wayne Coppins is leading this discussion. All are welcome.
Lectionary Class: (Library) The lectionary class meets in the Library at 9:15AM. We study the assigned readings for each Sunday. Please contact Les House at 478-733-2939 or via email if you have any questions.
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The Athens Area Emergency Food Bank needs canned soup, Saltines, and hamburger helper! Please help us fill the Little Red Wagon! | | |
step-by-step
by taking time
to be aware
in stillness or
study or prayer
of what we need
to make our way
to do more than
endure today
but bravely ask
for what we need
to create space
to then proceed
with generous
and grateful hearts
to share the love
that god imparts
alice mohor
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Instructions for Live Streaming
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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:
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If you don’t immediately see the video that says ‘live’, (for instance, if you opened YouTube before the service begins) keep refreshing it.
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When you see the video square that says ‘live’, click on it.
Welcome to worship!
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Ongoing Services/Meeting Opportunities
Parish community offerings via Zoom or in person:
Holy Eucharist and Healing Service Please join us on Wednesday evenings at 6PM in the sanctuary for eucharist and prayers for healing.
Ceilidh Folk Service St Gregory's offers a monthly Ceilidh service (pronounced kay-lee) on the 3rd Friday of the month (October 18). Based on a Gaelic tradition of celebrating community and hospitality, a folk liturgy complete with live folk music and a meal will be offered in the Christian Education building at 6:30PM. Foot washing and hand anointing will also be available before or after (not during) these services for anyone who wants to take part, starting at 6PM. Food will be provided, but we always accept more dishes to add to the table if anyone wishes to bring something! Any musicians that are interested in helping to provide the music for these services, as well as anyone with questions about the service, are encouraged to reach out to Wade McGlamery.
Blindspot Group Our 20s and 30s group meets on the last Thursday of each month at 6:30PM and the 2nd Sunday of each month at 6PM for dinner and a small group study (usually off-site of the church). We also meet at least once a month for game nights, dinner and drinks, movie nights, and more. Newcomers are always welcome! Contact Wade McGlamery, 770-624-4837 for more information.
*Hebrew Reading meets via Zoom on Wednesdays from 1-3PM. If you're interested, email Joel Hunt for more info!
St. Gregory's Book Club meets the first Friday of the month in the library @ 7PM ongoing for the foreseeable future. Email Lois Alworth if you are interested in participating.
Threads of Prayer meets on the 1st Tuesdays of the month @1PM! We meet outside if the weather is good and inside the Christian Ed building if the weather is bad. Email Annette Bates if you are interested in participating. All knitters and crocheters welcome!
Men's Group: 9AM on Saturdays. 1st & 3rd Saturdays at St. Gregory's library and 2nd & 4th & 5th Saturdays at the Somerville's house ! Email Peter Rice
* group(s) meeting on Zoom
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