Get to know your Vestry- Q&A with Les House

During Mother Nikki's sabbatical, the Friday newsletters will feature one Vestry member each week. Please thank them for their service to the congregation, and let them know if you are able to assist with their committee's work!

Q: Name?  

A: Les House. This is my fourth year as Treasurer. The Treasurer is not on Vestry, and thus there is not a three-year limit. I would like to invite someone to agree to be the assistant Treasurer with the goal of taking over sometime in the future.

Q: What does a Treasurer do?

A: The Treasurer reports the financial stability of the church to the Finance Committee, Vestry, and parish. The Treasurer works closely with the Rector, Finance Committee, Endowment Committee, and Vestry in all aspects that affect the financial well being of St. Gregory the Great Episcopal Church.

Q: Does it require a lot of training to be a treasurer?

A: Technically, a treasurer should have a degree in Accounting, but I have a degree in Paper Engineering. The thing that Accountants and Engineers have in common is that they are very good with numbers.

Q: What's the best part about serving on Vestry? 

A: Working with Mother Nikki, Vestry, the Finance Committee, and the Finance Committee Chair in helping maintain St. Gregory the Great Episcopal Church's financial stability . Financial stability enables us to do God's work. It has been an absolute pleasure working with the leadership group.

Q: What's has been the biggest challenge on Vestry? 

A: I am a Paper Engineer by education. A Paper Engineer is a specialized chemical engineer. Engineers understand the need and the concept of double entry accounting, but the execution is counter-intuitive to an engineer.

Q: What would you tell a person considering serving on the Vestry? 

A: Prayerfully consider this calling. You are being asked because someone thinks you have a gift that is needed.

Q: What are your hobbies? 

A. I am a homebrewer since 1979. I brew the beer that I drink.

Q: What is your favorite hymn? Why?

A: I want to walk as a child of the light (490). The refrain is what really speaks to me:

    "In him there is no darkness at all.

    The night and the day are both alike.

    The Lamb is the light of the city of God.

    Shine in my heart, Lord Jesus".

This is an assurance that we will be with Jesus after we die. I had a soloist sing this at my dad's funeral in 2012, and I will have this sung at my funeral when the time comes. I want it to be sung as a celebration of life rather than a somber funeral.

Compassion Camp Accolades

   Our 2023 Vacation Bible School has come and gone, and we shared another intergenerational experience of Compassion Camp. This past week, we learned that God created us to be people of compassion, and we are called to extend that compassion to all living things.  So many Gregorians contributed to the success of the week that there is not enough space to name them – but thanksgivings are due to all who showed up faithfully and were living examples of compassion.  We all shared a common experience of a uniquely formed community, shaped by the presence of the Spirit as we participated in historic, yet creative, practices of our faith: fellowshipping together around a meal; singing praises together; praying together; creating together; moving and playing together; listening and learning together.  

   On our final night, we had to make major adjustments as the tornado warning came just 20 minutes into the first rotation.  The experience of moving to safety, huddling together, following the weather forecast, lifting and removing a limb off of a parishoner’s car – profoundly illustrated for our children the theme of the last session: all living things need community to thrive.  We shared compassion in our care for each other until the storm had passed.  Adults surveyed the damage and addressed the most immediate concerns.  The children completed their project of preparing meals for neighbors who need them.  And we re-convened for a final prayer, acknowledging the God who called us into community; who formed us into a unique community for four nights; and who promises to be our shelter in the storm.  Thanks be to God for a church family whose faithfulness in gathering at 3195 Barnett Shoals results in compassion shared every day.

 Fr Doug   

Brown Bag Lecture Series

The next Brown Bag Lecture will be held at St. Gregory’s on Sunday, August 20 in the Parish Hall from 2-4PM. Presenter will be Holle Tubbs, Director of Diocesan Youth Ministries, and co-author of Keep Watch: Suicide, Christ, and Community. Keep/Watch is a learning tool for people of faith around suicide causes and prevention. Bring a snack if you’d like!

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!