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Hello Beloveds,


Since it’s still Easter, I thought you might enjoy our Bishop Wright preaching on just that topic at Historic Ebeneezer Baptist Church. Enjoy!


Click here.

A message from Jonathan Klein of the Capital Improvements Committee (CIC); Jonathan is the lead member for the Organ portion of the CIC but also would like to address the construction of a enclosed walkway connecting both our Sanctuary & Parish Hall buildings this week:


I have had the privilege of working, worshiping, and being a member of St. Gregory’s for the last 25 years. During this time you can easily imagine that our wonderful church has gone through a variety of seasons. Some of these seasons have asked us to focus on parish in-reach activities, some seasons with outreach projects, some with the calling of new clergy; some seasons have been about simply maintaining, navigating a pandemic, and a few of them have even been about building new things.


It appears that this season of Capital Improvements is calling us to partner with God and move forward once again into something new. One of the focal points that I am excited about is the prospect of connecting our two buildings with an enclosed walkway.

The connecting of our two spaces benefits St. Gregory’s in the following ways:

  • Provides a seamless flow from worship in the Nave to post-worship gatherings in the Parish Hall
  • Creates a new and ideal location to house the Sanctuary & Parish Hall HVAC systems. This in turn would yield the following benefits:


1) Greatly reduce HVAC noise during worship

2) Create more storage space in our Nave & Parish Hall due to the relocation of HVAC systems

3) Make climate (and again, acoustic) conditions more favorable for worship (and future organs)


  • Increases safety (for all ages) when walking between buildings during poor weather days
  • Creates more space for the welcoming of parishioners to worship (i.e. extension of Narthex)
  • Allows us to relocate our kitchen space into the parish hall building and gives us the ability to host any gatherings with food under ONE roof.
  • Opens up additional space in Christian education building (because of the kitchen change)
  • Adds beauty to our grounds (the enclosed breezeway would feature many windows and replace the incomplete gable overhanging currently on the sanctuary)


Personally, my imagination delights at the possibilities of such a walkway and relishes in the symbolism of “connecting” us all with this type of structure. It is my hope that we can leave St. Gregory’s grounds & buildings better than we found them by revitalizing our spaces for the continued welcoming HOME of both friends, strangers, and those who seek to deepen their faith now and for generations to come.

Finance Committee


The Finance Committee will meet in the little office next to Kendall's this Sunday, May 12, right after the 10:30AM service.


All are welcome to join!

Our Daily Bread


A lively crew led by Ron Balthazor and including Jill Crandall, Diane Barrett, Ellen & Mark Richardson, served over 100 hungry folks at Our Daily Bread soup kitchen on Monday, April 30. Our chili mac, cheesy bread, and fruit salad continue to be a hit!

Coffee Hour Treats Needed!


We are in need of volunteers to bring treats for coffee hour! Please sign up on the sheet in the CE building!


Athens Master Chorale performs To Saint Cecelia by Norman Dello Joio, with brass, Mozart’s Ave Verum and Haydn’s Lord Nelson Mass, with orchestra on Saturday, May 11 @ 7:30PM in Hugh Hodgson Hall.

New sign-up sheet for the rest of 2024! We are currently seeking volunteers to work at the Athens Area Emergency FoodBank, 640 Barber St. on 3rd Mondays from 9AM-1PM. 2-3 volunteers are needed each month. A signup sheet is in the narthex.


New Usher Coordinator Needed!


After 3 years of coordinating ushers, Anna Hiers is stepping down effective August 1. Please prayerfully consider this ministry!

Groaning in the Tent


The Pastoral Care Committee welcomes you to a community opportunity to engage in holy conversation about our mortality, including dying, death, and loss, as well as the fear that keeps those topics on our back burners most of the time. 


On three Sunday afternoons May 5, 12, and 19, 2024, from 12:30 to 2:30PM the Rev. Dr. Ellen Richardson will offer a program called Groaning in the Tent for members of St. Gregory’s and their friends. Each session will offer a menu of Holy Scripture, holy conversation, prayers, poetry, and excerpts from her book, Holy Dying: Stories and Struggles, inspired by her (pre-retirement) work as a Hospice physician and Episcopal priest. A light lunch will be served.


It is not necessary to have read the book before attending and it is not necessary to attend all three sessions in order to participate. Below are websites where you can purchase the book:


Barnes & Noble

Church Publishing

Amazon (Limited quantities of paperback available and Kindle version available)


Rising 6th Graders Brunch


All rising 6th graders and their parents/guardians are invited to a brunch and interest meeting for the St Greg's youth program. We will discuss Sunday school, field trips, diocesan opportunities, student leadership, and more! Just head over to the parish hall building after the 10:30 service on May 19th. 

NOTE: There will be no confirmation class on this day.

Family Promise June 2-9


Our next commitment for Family Promise, a program to better the lives of the temporarily homeless families, is June 2-9. As our week gets closer, we will have more information about the families, but these tasks need doing:


1. Make/purchase an evening meal June 4, 5 or 6 and deliver by 6:30 p.m.; for two families who are living in two separate parts of the same duplex, to be done by either one or two volunteers.

2. Transport parents as needed on Monday June 3 from 9:00-12:00 using Family Promise van.  

3. Transport families to and from the First Baptist Day Center on Saturday, June 8, 12:45-1:15 p.m. and/or 5:00-5:30 p.m. using the Family Promise van, could be one or two volunteers.

4. Be present at the First Baptist Day Center on Saturday, June 8, to help families as they do their laundry there, tentative times 1:00-5:00 p.m.

5. Plan and/or help with an activity for the children at the First Baptist Day Center on Saturday, June 8 sometime during the afternoon with other volunteers. A retired teacher would be great, certainly for planning!

6. Purchase $25 Kroger gift cards, we will need at least 6. Email Annette.

7. Purchase hygiene supplies, including toilet paper, paper towels, etc. Email Annette.


The Day Center is located in First Baptist Church downtown. Park behind the church and head toward the door marked Family Promise on the far right hand side of the building as you face it.   Sign up here for tasks above. Questions? Email Annette Bates .


LOVE FREE OR DIE FILM SCREENING


University of Georgia's Special Collections Libraries is hosting a screening of "Love Free or Die" on Tuesday, June 4th at Cine from 5:15pm-7:15pm. Bishop Gene Robinson (from the film) and director Macky Alston will be in attendance and will also be a part of a Q&A that will take place after the screening. It is going to be an incredible event!

St Gregory’s children are invited to VBS at Emmanuel Episcopal Church! Compassion Camp will allow children 4 years through 5th grade to explore what all living things need to live- shelter, food, water, air, and community and how we can have compassion for the living Earth. Click picture below to register. Registration ends May 29.

Adult Sunday School


Adult Discussion Group: (Parish Hall) The Adult Spiritual Formation Sunday morning Bible Study meets at 9:15AM in the Parish Hall. We are currently discussing the Gospel of Mark led by Wayne Coppins. Please join us! 


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. 

Summer Break for Children’s Sunday School


Sunday School for our children will continue through May. But then our summer break begins! We will not hold Sunday School classes for our kindergarten through fifth graders during June, July, or August. The program will resume in September.


Children’s Church, occurring in conjunction with the 10:30 service, will continue as usual!

Orthodox Tours


In Oct 2022 Anthony Barkdoll went to Israel and Jordan on a tour with a group called Orthodox tours, with his in-laws who are Greek orthodox (his sister-in-law painted the icon in the sanctuary). The person that runs the Orthodox tours, Father Ilya Gotlinsky, is trying to fill up spots for a trip to England called "In the Footsteps of the Early English Saints" and asked if any parishioners at St Gregory would be interested. Here's the link for the tour.


Camp Mikell


The Episcopal Church offers Kid camp, Junior camp, Intermediate camp, and Youth camp experiences specifically tailored to each age group. There is also a Mini camp experience for young children to explore with a parent, as well as a performing arts camp.  Registration for summer 2024 camps is now open. Check out the website for more information!  


The Athens Area Emergency Food Bank needs pork & beans and plain white rice! Please help us fill the Little Red Wagon!

for mothers



you might not know

that we watch you

and notice all

the things you do


then do ourselves

because we know

you are the way 

for how we go


or listen to

the words you say

while moving through

a busy day


so that when we

want ones to hear

we speak from love

instead of fear



alice mohor

Instructions for Live Streaming



  • 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!

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.


* Community Yoga Monday evenings January 8 - May 27 @ 5:30pm. ALL are welcome! Donations are accepted, a portion of which will go to Saint Gregory for use of the space. We do have a small supply of props but please bring a yoga mat.


* 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!


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!


* 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'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. 1st & 3rd Saturdays at St. Gregory's library and 2nd & 4th & 5th Saturdays at the Somerville's house ! Email Peter Rice


* group(s) meeting in person


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St. Gregory the Great Episcopal Church | office@stgregoryathens.org
706.546.7553 | www.stregoryathens.org