Forever beloveds,

Be still, and know that i am God. 

Ps. 46:10

Contemplation is so often, not only individual, but very communal. There’s the companionable silence of some Gregorians when working in their gardens and on their farms at home, or perhaps simply taking a walk. There are those of you who are visual artists, musicians, and teachers collaborating to make installations, publications, and productions. Those in works of service, sharing with one another visits and aid, highlight the interdependence inherent in Beloved Community. Any and all of these reflect the beauty of the Triune and Loving God. I believe these and any other instances of awareness of the Divine—this is always what it means to inhabit prayerful contemplation. This is what it is to be still and know….

Love and Peace,

Mother Nikki+

You Live in My Living

In this moment,

a struck match,

and a bee lands on the

purple coneflower.

The crow calls from the maple.

Thunder rolls in the morning rain.

I know beyond my knowing

as wisdom rests on the green leaf.

You see in my seeing,

You hear in my hearing,

You feel in my feeling,

You taste in my tasting,

You smell in my smelling,

You love in my loving,

You live in my living.

To be truly alive,

I open myself–am opened–

the frond of the fern unfurls

with a dream to kiss the sun.

Your desire to live through me–

I feel your heartbeat in

my fingertips.

And it just may be that

you are curious to see

if I will notice

what is really happening

in the life I once thought of as

my own.



Stuart

6/19/2023

https://contemplativereformation.blog/2023/06/19/you-live-in-my-living-a-poem/

The Rev. Stuart Higgenbothem, Rector

Grace Episcopal Church

Gainesville, GA

CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS CAMPAIGN

Don't forget to turn in your vote on which physical improvements to our church

are most important to you! 

The ballot box and blank voting forms are in the narthex.

The Capital Improvements Campaign Committee wants your vote! We recently sent out a letter to parishioners asking for your feedback on which physical needs of the church are most important to you. Each letter had a voting form. There is a box in the narthex where you can return the forms. You can also put them in the collection plate or email Mark Richardson or Stacie Court with your vote. If your family needs more forms, blanks are in a basket next to the return box in the narthex. 

If you didn't get a form and don't come to church often but would still like to participate, the issues you could vote for are as follows: 

• a capital preserve fund for future major repairs
• a new organ
• an outside labyrinth
• new flooring for the parish hall
• a renovated playground with a new surface, a fence, and new equipment

We're asking you to give a "3" to any issues that seem most important to you, a "2" to any issues that seem somewhat important, and a "1" to any issues that seem less important to you. You can vote by emailing Mark or Stacie.

Thanks so much for your help! 

LIBRARY COMMITTEE

The Library Committee (reforming & kickstarting!) will meet in the library after the 10:30AM service on January 14. Please join us if you’re interested in serving on this committee!

BUILDINGS COMMITTEE

There will be an organizational meeting of the Buildings Committee following the 10:30 service on January 28. If you are interested in helping to maintain and improve our buildings this year, or if you have concerns you would like to see addressed, please join us. The meeting will be held in the Christian Education Building.

EYC Hiking Day

On January 13th all youth members (6th-12th grades) are invited to go on a hike at Raven's Cliff Falls! Meet up at St. Gregory's will be at 10AM and pick up at the end of the day should be no later than 6PM. We will be having a picnic lunch on the trail so please contact Wade if you or your child have any dietary restrictions. We will need chaperones and drivers so please reach out to Wade if you are available. Email Wade if you have any questions.

If you or your child have not already joined the Youth Group Discord server, please let Wade know. Messages will be sent through there on the day of the event.

Participants should consider: Bug spray * Dressing in layers * Closed toed, walking/hiking appropriate footwear * Water

Blindspot Group

The Blindspot Group (20s and 30s group) has decided that meeting once a month on the last Thursday is not enough! Starting Sunday, January 14, we will also meet at 6PM on the 2nd Sunday of each month for dinner and small group study. Newcomers are always welcome! Contact Wade McGlamery, 770-624-4837 for more information.

We continue to collect estimate of giving pledge cards for 2024. You may put your completed card in the collection plate on Sunday, mail your card to the church office, bring your completed card to the church office, or enter your pledge online here.

epiphany 2

southern winters

dry and sunny

cloudy and cold 

wet and muddy

church colors green

remind us all

that spring again

will come to call

epiphany

with purple lent

time to recall

the fundament

of the story

of christ on earth

and his glory

for our rebirth

alice mohor

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!