Today's intro message comes from our own Julie Worley! :)
Hello Athenians :)
I hope everyone is going well and not too hot down in the classic city. I figured sending updates via email would be a good way to let you all know how I am doing. So this is the first long update :)
I arrived in Ireland (Dublin) on Thursday July 28th after leaving Dulles on the evening of Wednesday the 27th. The flight was very uneventful (thank goodness), and I got through customs with no problem! Walked outside (to 65 degree temps 😍 ) and got on the bus to Galway.
Once there I met my (for lack of a better term) host family (the Phillips, Matt and Lori, and their three kids, Eli, Issac, and Ester) They have been the kindest people and I think they would get along swimmingly with the rest of St Gregs. Ester even made a welcome sign for the door of the guest room I am staying in :). I went to the church (St. Nicks!) to help with a graveyard clean up on Saturday in some very irish (ie drizzly and 60s) weather. Their decon seemed to be surprised that I would just jump in and help clean, but I know you all will not be surprised in the least :) The St. Nick's choir is also taking a break from july and most of aug, but I did meet Mark, their choir director. He even asked me to audition and I passed :D so dont worry Joe, i'll still be able to stay in top choir form! I even went to the 'chatty crafters' meeting on wednesday (similar to threads of prayer) So the church folks have all been super kind and nice.
I also started work this week, and my office is in an old friary! My coworkers (of which I've only met a few because it seems everyone takes August off 😅) are very nice. One even just married a woman from Tenn, and had lots of moving to Ireland from the states advice to give.
I miss you all a ton, but know the church folks here are taking good care of me <3 (also feel free to share with anyone who is interested, i'm still a little jet lagged and worried I may have forgotten someone!)
Until next time!
Julie
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After over two years away, Sunday school for all those from the 6th to 12th grade begins this Sunday, 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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Community Yoga!
**New DAY/TIME**
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Community Yoga is back for fall (Aug. 10 – Nov. 30, 2022), New day and time: Wednesdays, from 5:15-6:15PM. 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*
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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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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! They can be found in the narthex, or in the big mailbox outside Parish Hall, or 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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praise
returning and
new members here
with viewers all
together cheer
connections that
we would not make
if worship we
would now forsake
for anger or
for angst or grief
assuming there
is no relief
but love is here
and all around
in prayer and song
grace can be found
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. 10 – Nov. 30, 2022), Wednesdays, 5:15-6:15 PM; the 4th Sunday 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*
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. 1st & 3rd Saturdays at the Somervilles and 2nd & 4th Saturdays 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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