This week, Mo. Nikki cedes her space to a lay leader of not 1, not 2, but 4 (if not more) ministries ... Kenneth Taylor, we will miss you and always love you here at St. Gregory the Great!
I moved to Athens in August 2005. Immediately, I joined St. Gregory the Great Church. Having grown up a United Methodist "preacher's kid" in South Georgia, I moved every two years, on average, for a while. Being part of this parish for sixteen years and two months has constituted a wonderful exception to that rule. Becoming involved in the life of St. Gregory the Great Church has been a rewarding honor and privilege.
Familial duties summon me to Americus, Georgia. As I prepare to move, I experience a mix of emotions. I am at peace, for this is the time to go. On the other hand, I know I will miss you (plural). Furthermore, I know I need to go, for another personal reason; I need a change of scenery in the wake of Bonny's death, nearly two years ago. Take my word for it when I tell you that only God and I know how much her death damaged me. I am not whole.
I have remained vague about the nature of the relationship Bonny and I had. Private life was private life, after all. (And so it remains.) The relationship changed over time. It had wonderful high points and extremely difficult low points. The relationship spanned a decade that has transformed me. I have emerged with greater sympathy for those struggling with mental illness and empathy for those in their orbits. I have emerged with greater sympathy for those who have lost their battles with mental illness and empathy for those who mourn them. I have grown spiritually.
This parish has seen me through the lowest points of my life. You have helped me survive crises, including a suicidal period (2007) and Bonny's death (2019) and aftermath thereof. "Thank you" is woefully inadequate. Nevertheless, thank you.
I have reserved a U-Haul trailer for the morning of Monday, October 11, assuming weather suitable for moving. (I have no desire to load a trailer and drive for hours through a torrent.) I will need help loading the trailer. Many hands will make for light work. If you can help, please contact me at intj1973@hotmail.com or 706-410-0295.
The lectionary class will continue, on Zoom, from Americus until that class can resume in person, on the parish grounds. Then I will surrender the leadership of that class, which will continue in its pre-pandemic format.
May God's best for this parish be its reality.
Peace,
Kenneth Taylor
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BLESSING OF THE ANIMALS - OCT 3 |
The Blessing of the Animals will take place this year at 4PM this Sunday, October 3, on the patio. Please have your furry, feathered, or scaley friends properly crated or leashed.
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CHILDRENS THEATRE
New! We are forming a fall Theatre group for children, and also seek interested youth and adults to help facilitate the process. The group will meet Sunday mornings from 9:30 - 10:15, outdoors, or in the parish hall or Children's Chapel with windows open. Please contact Catherine Drewry to sign up cbdrewry@gmail.com 706-201-7241.
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YOU TUBE STORIES
Tune in to our church YouTube channel to hear great stories read by fellow Gregorians each week. Recent readers have included Dakota Hamlin, Jude RedBear, Conoly Hester, Barbara Kuhn, Brenda Browning, and Carolyn Howell, and coming soon are videos by Porter Welch, Karen Hankins, and Nancy Watson. Click here to find the videos:
And, if you want to be a reader, contact Catherine Drewry to volunteer at cbdrewry@gmail.com or 706-201-7241.
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NEEDED: Children's Clothes
Our Outreach Committee is sponsoring a parish-wide clothes drive to support our neighbor Barnett Shoals Elementary School. Although the Barnett Shoals children do not wear uniforms, the school does have a clothes closet that is in dire need of replenishment of some items. The school counselor there has indicated a need for the following clothing items.
Boys
- Underwear in all sizes (XS, S, M, and L) especially in XS and S (or sizes 4-8)
- Pants/sweatpants/shorts in sizes (XS, M, and L)
- Shirts in sizes M and L (already set for everything smaller)
- Note that the school is well stocked with socks.
Girls
- Underwear in all sizes (XS, S, M, and L) especially in XS and S (or sizes 4-8)
- Pants/shorts/leggings in all sizes (XS, S, M, L)
- Tops in sizes S, M, and L
- Note that the school is well stocked with socks.
This year you can contribute to the Clothes Closet in three ways:
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Make an online donation through REALM by Sunday, October 31. Select the Outreach option when making your contribution. Include Barnett Shoals Clothes Closet in the memo line.
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Write a check to St. Gregory the Great and bring/mail to the Parish so it is received by Sunday, October 31. Include Barnett Shoals Clothes Closet in the memo line.
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Bring clothing to the Parish anytime Monday-Friday (10am-5pm) or on Sunday when you are here for church. We will be collecting these items in bins located in the lobby of the Parish Hall building from now through Sunday, October 31.
Thank you for your support,
St. Gregory Outreach Committee
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of god
tornado storms
pandemic doubts
hurricane floods
wildfires and droughts
if frogs rained down
in dense showers
might demagogues
lose their powers
to captivate
those of like mind
who march in step
with speakers blind
but need to turn
from only fear
to see that all
are children here
alice mohor
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Altar Guild
The altar guild needs volunteers! No experience is needed and training will be provided.
Anyone who is interested can contact Barbara Dean at
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Zoom Meeting Opportunities
Parish community offerings via Zoom:
Sunday yoga ! for fall (Aug-Dec), via Zoom, 4:00pm, 30-45 minutes. Chair Yoga taught on the first Sunday of each month. Contact Anna Hiers (aldhiers@gmail.com) for more information. Join Zoom Meeting https://zoom.us/j/97745366532 Meeting ID: 977 4536 6532 Passcode: 3195
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 be on hiatus for the month of October!
** 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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