Hello Beloveds,
Happy Summer! Yes, HAPPY SUMMER…even though there are still wars, various and sundry “isms” that are breathtaking in their tenacity, assassinations and mass shootings; not to mention all the intensified and ugly political words and wrangling of a polarized people during an election year…there’s also this:
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This landscape of “mountains” and “valleys” speckled with glittering stars is actually the edge of a nearby, young, star-forming region called NGC 3324 in the Carina Nebula. Captured in infrared light by NASA’s new James Webb Space Telescope, this image reveals for the first time previously invisible areas of star birth. Credits: NASA, ESA, CSA, and STScI
The full set of the telescope’s first full-color images and spectroscopic data, which uncover a collection of cosmic features elusive until now, released Tuesday 7/12/22, are available at:
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Sometimes there’s nothing to do in the face of God’s majestic creativity, except say ‘wow’ and ‘thank you, God!’ Sometimes there’s nothing to do but get lost in wonder, and realize what does and doesn’t matter, what is good use of and what is a waste of my energy in the vast beauty of this universe created by a God who loves each and every one of us as if we were all that mattered. The waste of time and effort put in my attempts at being super-efficient each time I go up the steps at my house so that I insist carrying twenty items at a time (and end up dropping half), or that I put into still holding a grudge against my neighbor for that time she was incredibly rude, is brought up in stark relief against the worthiness of spending my time enjoying my kid’s singing voice when he doesn’t realize I can hear him, or loving it when I feel ocean breezes. All these gifts from the Lover of our Souls!
And when I’m legitimately grieving, weary, or enraged, this image reminds me that God is loving me and you through every bit of beauty in existence. Because of that, I love what Nadia Bolz Weber says about seeing these images from NASA.
“When my ego wants once again to seek attention or take umbrage at slights or know itself only in comparison to others, I think I may try and undertake the practice of pulling up the latest images from the Webb telescope. Feel free to join me in this. Perhaps then I will remember that most of the (stuff) I get wound up about just doesn’t matter. The cosmos is unbelievably big and yet here we are breathing our delicious gaseous oxygen and moving these glorious bodies and getting to have perfect dogs and eat pretty good pizza and love each other and also, by the way - the trees in my neighborhood are totally showing off right now and cherries are in season. I mean, why in the world would I spend any time whatsoever getting angry in traffic or holding onto some (dumb) grudge about something the other person has for sure forgotten about years ago.”*
Let us pray:
For first light and bird song,
I give thanks to you, Creator,
By whose hand darkness and light
were set apart, and whose imagination
dreamed this universe and breathed its life
by your enkindling Spirit and good Word.
Bless this summer day and me, Lover of Souls,
To whom I give glory, honor, love, and praise.
Amen.*1
*1 “At Dawn” by the Rev. Jennifer Phillips from her book, Simple Prayers for Complicated Lives
So much love,
Mo. Nikki+
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This evening, July 15, we will be watching The Wizard of Oz (1939)! Join us in the parish hall and enjoy some popcorn and soft drinks - or bring a blanket and a picnic dinner! The movie begins promptly at 7pm.
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GEORGIA FREEDOM LETTERS
Georgia Freedom Letters was formed in the summer of 2020 by a group of organizers, educators, and people who care about building connections across the walls of Georgia’s criminal legal system through letter writing. Due to an overwhelming amount of interest in recent months from those currently experiencing incarceration, GFL is eagerly asking us to get out our pens and paper and participate in their recently launched pen pal project.
Especially now, people experiencing incarceration need our support. Since COVID, many of the programs and visitations at our prisons have been significantly reduced if not cancelled--letter writing is one way we can help provide human connection and companionship especially until these programs can be re-instantiated. If you would like to sign up to correspond with one of the 55,000 people on the inside of Georgia's prisons you can do so by visiting this website.
Finally, The Episcopal Church of the Epiphany Atlanta would like to offer the church address to anyone who is interested in becoming a pen pal with GFL. Please email the Rev. Nicole Lambelet at nlambelet@epiphany.org if you have any questions about this project or the letter writing process. You can also contact GFL directly at georgiafreedomletters@gmail.com
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Compassion Camp Bible School Is Almost Here!
We are looking forward to four days of Vacation Bible School next week. St. Gregory the Great has a wonderful tradition of Bible School for all ages, and we are excited to renew that fully in-person this summer.
Parents of children: Remember to bring your kids and stay for the adult VBS option.
Youth: Come and assist us in a number of ways: shepherd children from rotation to rotation, be a character in the Bible Story scripts, or sit in on the adult option.
All adults: If you don’t have a VBS job, come share the experience of adult VBS with fellow Gregorians.
Everyone reading this: Invite children and adults you know to join us.
As always, you are encouraged to come as many nights as your schedule will allow.
Supper begins at 5:30 PM. The four suppers will be: Pizza; Taco Night; Sub Sandwiches; Chicken Fingers A salad option will be available every night. Please email Doug Adkins at dadkins@bexleyseabury.edu if you have any dietary restrictions.
The themes for the kids’ Compassion Camp are:
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Monday: All Around Me - Kids will learn the principles of empathy and compassion through the story of Miriam.
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Tuesday: Compassion for Myself - Kids will hear the story of Elijah in the wilderness and explore about caring for ourselves when we have needs.
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Wednesday: Compassion to The Neighbor - Using the parable of the Good Samaritan, kids will learn how compassion leads us to cross barriers.
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Thursday: Compassion for The World - Kids will look at the mystery of Pentecost and learn about having compassion for all creation, including people and places we do not yet know.
Please pray for all of the opportunities for spiritual formation and community-building that can happen through a week of showing up for Bible School.
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UPDATE:
Confirmation Classes
for the rest of the summer
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July 17: we will not meet
July 24: we will meet (& possibly finish!)
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Community Yoga is back for fall (Aug. 1 – Nov. 30, 2022), Mondays, 6:00-7:00 PM, Parish Hall or Zoom, Passcode: 509230. Come thrive with us! Email Anna Hiers for more information, or just show up!
The class is free; donations to the church are welcome. *Please bring a yoga mat*
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Equal Exchange Coffee/Tea |
If you are interested in purchasing coffee or tea or chocolate from Equal Exchange, there is a group of parishioners who purchase at the same time every few months. Take a look at their catalog here, and contact Catherine Drewry if you'd like to order something. We get free shipping!
Equal Exchange’s mission is to build long-term trade partnerships that are economically just and environmentally sound, to foster mutually beneficial relationships between farmers and consumers and to demonstrate, through our success, the contribution of worker co-operatives and Fair Trade to a more equitable, democratic and sustainable world.
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Parents: remember that Children’s Sunday School (9:15-10:15) will not meet again until August 14. However, Children’s Chapel continues to meet each Sunday. |
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ACOLYTES NEEDED
We are in need of a few more acolytes to give a bit of relief to those in our current rotation. Never served before? That's fine- we will teach you! Acolyting is a great, low commitment, way to get involved in the life of the parish! Reach out to Wade McGlamery, 770-624-4837, if you would like to volunteer.
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We need 8 more! If you would like to volunteer, and/or coordinate, please contact Anna Hiers, vestry liaison to the Worship Committee, via email or @ 706-340-9799. Training will be provided.
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Adult Spiritual Formation |
Adult Spiritual Formation meets this Sunday to continue our exploration of the Gospel of Luke. All are welcome in the Parish Hall from 9:15 to 10:15 with no need to have attended earlier sessions. Bibles will be available but feel free to bring your own favorite.
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compassion
finding a way
to love beyond
the few with whom
i share a bond
begins with knowing
the what and where
and who and why
and how i care
for me myself
and those i meet
and those i still
have yet to greet
until i come
to understand
loving kindness
is god’s command
alice mohor
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If you're in your 20s or 30s and would like to stay up to date on events for your age group please reach out to Wade McGlamery, 770-624-4837, to join our group chat. |
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The Athens Area Emergency food bank appreciates all the food St. Gregory's supplies!
They are especially needing all JUICES right now!
Let's fill the Little Red Wagon!
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Due to the lack of volunteers, there may or may not be coffee hour on any given Sunday. If you are able to host or bring a baked item for a future coffee hour, contact Melissa or Catrina to sign up. A sign up sheet will also be posted at the event.
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Instructions for Live Streaming
- Just go to the St. Gregory the Great Episcopal Church
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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. To ‘refresh’ go up to the top of your screen and on the left or right of the web address you will see this image (little curvy arrow to the right -->). Click on it to ‘refresh.’
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When you see the video square that says ‘live’, click on it.
Welcome to worship!
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Meeting Opportunities
Parish community offerings via Zoom or in person:
*Community Yoga is back for fall (Aug. 1 – Nov. 30, 2022), Mondays, 6:00-7:00 PM, Parish Hall or Zoom, Passcode: 509230. Come thrive with us! Email Anna Hiers for more information, or just show up! The class is free; donations to the church are welcome. *Please bring a yoga mat*
Stacie Court hosts "Let's Chat!" for women of the parish. The days and time vary, and not everyone can join every time, but everyone is welcome to join whenever they can! Email Stacie!
Book Club first Friday of the month @ 7PM ongoing for the foreseeable future. Email Lois Alworth if you are interested in participating.
Lectionary Discussion Group via Zoom, every Thursday at 6:00pm. Email Ken Taylor if you are interested in participating.
*Threads of Prayer will meet only the 1st Tuesdays of the month @1PM for June and July, and likely August! We'll 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. Starting in July, they will alternate Saturdays at the Somervilles with meeting in the library at St. Gregory's ! Email Peter Rice
* group(s) now meeting in person
Other groups have been meeting via Zoom as well, so if you've got a group already meeting in Zoom rooms, and want to widen your circle, let Kendall know so we can get the word out there!
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See what's happening on our social sites: |
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