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Hello Most Wonderful Beloveds!
It's InGathering! That beautiful time in the fall when we give what we can of our time, talent, and treasure for the glory of God and the building of the Beloved Community in all the world! I want to thank you ahead of time for your generosity, so that we can keep doing what we do in our church family, the community, and the wider Church all over the world! I love InGathering Day here at St. Gregory the Great because we give in response to God's goodness and generosity to us ... not because it's required, not because it's a competition, but because we are organically responding to God's goodness, love and generosity given to us, and we want to share that with the church and the world.
many blessings, pressed down and running together,
Mo. Nikki+
"I want each of you to take plenty of time to think it over, make up your mind what you will give. That will protect you from sob stories and arm-twisting. God loves it when the giver delights in the giving."
The Message
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Ingathering Sunday
You should have received your pledge letter and pledge card in the mail. This Sunday, Oct 30 is Ingathering Day for our pledges! We will joyfully and thankfully give to our church to do God’s work with the gifts He has provided. Remember to bring your pledge cards to place in the basket at the altar. If you can’t make it to church this week, you can mail in your pledge card or pledge online here.
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Trunk-or-Treat and Halloweenie Roast
Sunday, October 30, 5:00 - 7:30
Come join the St. Gregory’s family as we share in a fun fellowship for the Halloween season. We have 14 trunks committed for the evening, which is a wonderful response. Please Know: you do not have to provide a trunk to participate. Come on out and celebrate the evening with us. We do ask, if you can, to bring some sort of side dish or dessert of choice to add to the weenie roast. The Children’s Ministry of the church will provide the hot dogs, buns, drinks, and supplies to make S’Mores.
A few other things to remember:
- This is a great opportunity to invite friends/neighbors of all ages to join us for a time of fun and fellowship.
- We will eat first; then have Trunk-or-Treat; then gather around our imaginary campfire in the parish hall to hear stories and sing some Halloween songs.
- All are encouraged to bring a pumpkin - carved or painted - for our “Parish Pumpkin Patch Pageant.”
- If it rains, we will change the Trunk-or-Treat to an indoors Table-or-Treat.
- We are still trying to be inclusive of children with peanut allergies, so please, no peanut products.
- If you are bringing chocolate that may have been produced in a facility with peanuts, please make sure that it is separated from other candy prior to distributing to our trunk-or-treaters.
Thank you to everyone who committed to decorating a trunk and providing goodies. Hope to see you Sunday. Doug
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Needed: Children's Clothes
One of St. Gregory’s annual Outreach projects is sponsoring the parish-wide clothes drive to support our neighbor, Barnett Shoals Elementary. Your donations will replenish the following prioritized items most needed for the school’s clothes closet.
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boys’ pants/sweatpants/shorts - all sizes, from youth XS through L
- girls’ pants/shorts/leggings - all sizes, from youth XS through L
- boys' and girls' underwear - youth sizes XS (4-5), S (5-6), and M (7-8)
- boys’ and girls’ shirts - youth sizes XS – M (can include t-shirts that come in multi-packs, not necessarily gendered)
Donations will be collected through Sunday, November 6, in the box located in the lobby of Parish Hall. If you have questions, contact Rhonda Packer.
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FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING
The Finance Committee will meet on Sunday, Nov. 6 right after the 10:30AM service in the little room next to Kendall's office. All interested parishioners are welcome to attend. We meet the Sunday before the monthly Vestry meetings (which are the 2nd Tuesday of the month).
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The Altar Guild Needs You!!
The altar guild is looking for new volunteers! You will be trained! Please contact Barbara Dean at 706-354-4269 or via email.
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A Counting Opportunity
With the departure of Marilyn Walsh for parts South in the next couple of weeks, we have an immediate need for a counter, someone to tally the week's contributions to St. Gregory the Great between the third and fourth Sundays each month. You'll be trained and have an experienced counting partner, Katie Hein. You'll choose a time convenient for both of you to count each month at the church. It's a 30 minute, once/month commitment. Please contact Jane Hudson, janeghudson@gmail.com, to volunteer. Remember, we’re still a small enough parish that we need everyone’s help to get everything done.
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Brown Bag Lecture Series
Managing the Aging Journey
Presented by Robin Lacrimosa, Life Care Coordinator. This session is for those who are determining how they will manage their elder care journey or for those who are supporting others in making these decisions. Topics include: home health care, aging in place, assisted living, long-term care, veteran’s pension benefits, Medicare, and Medicaid. Monday, November 7th, 11:30 am - 1:30 pm. Parish Hall. Bring a bag lunch if you'd like! A sign-up sheet will be in the narthex this Sunday.
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You are invited to walk St. Gregory’s Labyrinth in the parish hall Monday, October 31 through Saturday November 5 in honor and remembrance of All Saint’s Day and All Soul’s Day. The labyrinth offers you the opportunity to “put feet on your prayers.” Experience a walking meditation that connects your mind, body and spirit.
FEAST OF ALL SAINTS
SUNDAY, NOV. 6
Sunday, November 6, we will celebrate the Holy Eucharist and Feast of All Saints at both services, with a baptism at the 10:30AM service. There will be a reception in Parish Hall to follow the 10:30AM service.
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Altar of Remembrance
& Memorial Garden
Rest eternal, grant unto them, O Lord; and let light perpetual shine upon them.
All Saints' Day is the time in the liturgical year when we pause to celebrate the lives of those saints who have gone before us; loved ones who made us who we are today. All parish families are invited to place the names their departed loved ones, small photos, and other mementos on this altar, which will be in Parish Hall. Candles will be available for prayerful lighting, starting Oct 24.
Lane Norton will also place votive candles in our Memorial Garden, They will be there 10/20-11/6 for anyone who may like to come and light a candle in memory of someone. There are matches provided in a ziplock bag for you to use. Please remember to extinguish the candle(s) before you leave.
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THANKSGIVING FOOD COLLECTION
for ATHENS EMERGENCY FOOD BANK
The next time you're in church, please pick up a paper grocery bag with the shopping list attached, fill it with the items requested by the Food Bank for their clients’ Thanksgiving dinners, and return it to St. Gregory’s any weekday or Sunday through November 13th. We have missed doing this the last few years due to Covid; but we have an opportunity once again to support this important ministry in our community. If you need assistance with shopping or pick up of your purchases, call Marge Massey, 706-255-2145. Thank you.
“If you are generous with the hungry and start giving yourselves to the down-and-out, your lives will begin to glow in the darkness, your shadowed lives will be bathed in sunlight.” Isaiah 58:10 MSG Bible
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Report on Family Promise
for October, 2022
St. Gregory's Family Promise week was October 16-22. Family Promise (formerly IHN) is fortunate to have a static site at Milledge Avenue Baptist Church, which means that all families in the program who need housing stay at this site. During our assigned week, our church served along with First A.M.E. Three families were served during the week, including 11 people, 7 of whom were children. Two of these families soon will be in apartments of their own, thanks to Family Promise. In the last month, Family Promise helped to prevent the loss of housing for several other families.
Special thanks for our week go to: Diane Barret, Jennifer and Mary Anne Caplinger, Tina Carlson, Ruth-Elizabeth Conine-Nakano, Jennifer Marquardt, Jamaica Miller, Rhonda Packer and Ellen Richardson. These giving people made meals, served as evening hosts and provided gift cards for the families. We will be given three weeks in 2023 to serve and you will be able to mark your calendars so that you can join in this ministry. For more information about Family Promise check their website www.familypromiseathens.org or contact Annette Bates at bateskannette@gmail.com 706-255-5839.
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ACT presents Jekyll & Hyde
Come to the Morton Theatre between Nov. 10-13 to see Jekyll & Hyde. Both Melinda Jones and Kendall Kookogey (and the whole Bono family!) will be participating. Thursday-Saturday, November 10-12 at 7:30PM and Sunday Nov. 13 @ 3PM.
Tickets are on sale at www.mortontheatre.com or 706-613-3771.
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sharing
this time of year
we do give back
as god intends
for those who lack
some clothes for school
some food to eat
for those we may
not know or meet
but need our help
to better live
from all who can
a portion give
to share from what
is meant for all
by those who choose
to heed faith’s call
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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Instructions for Live Streaming
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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.
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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. 10 – Nov. 30, 2022), Wednesdays, 5:15-6:15 PM; the 4th Wednesday of every month will be Chair Yoga. 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*
Hebrew Reading meets on Zoom every other Wednesday from 11am-1pm. Contact Joel Hunt!
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 Parish Hall @ 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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