Hello there, Beloveds!
So much to be thankful for! VBS was a smashing success, thanks to Doug, our Children's Formation Director, Wade along with Ron and Ellen, Youth/Young Adult and (older?) Adult Formation Leaders respectively. Doug and all the volunteers did a fantastic job with the kids; Wade in consultation with Ron and Ellen, brought in a wonderful biblical drama coach for the adults, Matt Rodgers. (Please see his bio below.)*
Since I can't say it any better than it's already been said, I'll share with you the wonderful words of
Jennifer Marquardt:
Thank you so much, Doug, for a great VBS experience! Your steadfast good humor and loving kindness infused the whole time together each evening with joy. It took a very positive, enthusiastic, and special servant of the Lord to pull off the guiding role of VBS for us all, and you ROCKED, Doug!
Not only did you excel with the superhero moves and other teachings yourself, but you evoked a like response from us all. Not only did you bring a sense of wonder, worship and peace to each aspect of the camp, you involved the children in so much of that wonder and worship by including them in demonstrations and readings. You could see how included and important they felt!
Thank you for all the details you took care of that made the evenings run so smoothly. I appreciate how much coordination it took to pull this off, and am very grateful to have been able to enjoy the time together with everyone that you made possible.
Sincerely,
Jenifer M.
*Bio for Matt Rodgers:
Matt Rodgers is a Graduate Student at Kansas State University studying Drama Therapy. While he’s always thought about throwing his life away and living out of his van in the jungle as a professional lightning bug catcher, he’s spent most of his life working as a teacher, an education director, an actor, a director, and a facilitator for afterschool programs focused on social emotional learning. He believes in meeting people where they are, even if that means they’re hangin off the side of a volcano. Mcrodgers@Ksu.edu
Many thanks also to those who served the church in my stead when my mother was ill (she's great now, thanks for all the prayers!) and while I did the extremely back breaking work of ministering to those who need Jesus while sailing the seas on a cruise and also lounging on the beach. Please show love to Mother Carol Schwenke, Mother Ellen Richardson, and the Rev. Lin Kromhout, Deacon, for all their help this summer.
Thanks be to God for the wealth of gifts in this parish and a wealth of disciples sharing those gifts! Hallelujah!
Ephesians 1:15-16
For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers ...
Blessings and great love,
Mo. Nikki
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BLESSING OF THE BACKPACKS
THIS SUNDAY!
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Ready or not, here it comes! The local school systems begin the new year next week. As part of marking this crucial time in the lives of children and their families, we will be sharing in our annual "Blessing of the Backpacks" this Sunday, July 31. This is for all ages - anyone who is starting a new school year, whether student, teacher, administrator, bus driver, etc. During the 10:30AM service, we will have a blessing of the backpacks. If you have a backpack, briefcase, etc., you are encouraged to bring it. Otherwise, just come down for the blessing when called. Each participant will be given a backpack tag as a daily reminder of the love and prayers of their church family throughout the school year! |
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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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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.
Streamlined instructions penpal signup:
Here's the address you can use for your mailing address, instead of giving your home address:
The Episcopal Church of the Epiphany
2089 Ponce de Leon Avenue, NE
Atlanta, Georgia 30307
Please email the Rev. Nicole Lambelet, at nlambelet@epiphany.org to let her know that you are using their church address, and to give her your real address so that their church can send you any mail you receive from your pen pal.
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After over two years away, Sunday school for all those from the 6th to 12th grade begins on August 7th in the youth room at 9:15am!
While at home at St Gregory's we will be studying the Bible, with particular emphasis on how to engage with what we find inside. A great deal of our focus this year will also be on increasing religious literacy, learning about what sets the Episcopal church apart, and building meaningful relationships with those that believe differently than ourselves. In the Fall semester, students will go on monthly field trips where they will experience manifestations of Christ's church ranging from contemporary nondenominational worship to silent worship at a Quaker meeting to a Catholic mass. They will see a Water Ceremony at a Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, hear the beautiful music of a Shabbat service at the local synagogue, and tour a mosque that has been servicing Muslims in the Atlanta area for over 40 years, among other experiences. Meeting leaders, as well as peers, in these communities will allow students to ask questions, engage in dialogue, and forge ecumenical and interfaith relationships within their community. I look forward to seeing all of our youth on August 7th! Please reach out if there is anything I can do for you.
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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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New Forward Day by Days for Aug-Oct can be picked up now! There are some in the narthex, some in the big mailbox outside Parish Hall, and some in the magazine racks outside the nursery. |
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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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starting again
when school began
post-labor day
we had august
for summer play
now enjoying
my senior rest
teachers instead
begin their best
to prompt learning
in church and school
while instilling
the golden rule
through instruction
with fun-filled tasks
yet once again
from behind masks
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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