Hello Beautiful Beloveds,
Because of all the world and national upheaval, especially over the last two years, I have found myself sometimes getting stuck in wishing for some things (only some) as they used to be. Greiving loss is necessary and healthy, but not accepting the present is something over which i have to remember to be curious. When I'm not at least curious, it's almost impossible for me to be attentive to God's invitation to be present to all the goodness in what is happening in this moment, right now. If this isn't a struggle for you...hallelujah! I pray to be like you someday and I hope you'll join me in those prayers. If this is a 'growing edge' for you, maybe we can pray for and remind each other, that nothing in the 24 hour news cycle is a surprise to God, and that God is always able to make a way.
See, I am doing something new!
Now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?
In the wilderness I make a way,
in the wasteland, rivers.
Isaiah 43:19
peace and joy in the ordinary moments of our lives,
Mother Nikki+
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Annual Meeting - this Sunday,
Jan. 23
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Our annual meeting this year will be done via Zoom. Join us for a celebration of the mission and ministries of St. Gregory’s Episcopal Church, elections of new vestry members, on Sunday, January 23 immediately following the 10:30AM service. The meeting will also include reports from the vestry and a discussion of the 2022 budget.
Meeting ID: 997 3414 7132
Passcode: 501879
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STEWARDSHIP UPDATE
For those who have already pledged this year, thank you for your generosity. For those who are intending to pledge, and for those who contribute regularly without pledging, please prayerfully consider making a pledge now to St. Gregory the Great. We have given up the idea of meeting our Strategic budget, which would fund the goals set by us in our Strategic Plan known as Nourish, Grow, and Go. Now we're trying simply to fund our Basic budget, which includes our commitments to pay staff at last year's level, to pay for utilities and service contracts, and to fund Outreach and parish programs, but our pledged amount is still $ 45,565 short. Of course, for those who cannot pledge money at this time due to financial constraints, never forget that God loves us from the top of our head to the tips of our toes, whether we give or not.
We have made an adjustment to the Stewardship Update this week to make it simpler, per parishioners' requests.
We don't have enough to fund our Basic Budget, which means paying our bills and paying our staff this year.
Total required to fund the Basic Budget = $429,899
Projected Funding minus Pledges = $ 39,000
(Loose Plate, Non-Pledge Trend, Other, & Building Use)
Total pledge required to fund the Basic Budget $390,899
Calculation: $429,899 - $39,000=$390,899
2022 pledge (Updated on 1/19/2022) $345,334
Total additional pledge required $ 45,565
Calculation: $390,899 - $345,334 =$45,565
The Basic Budget does not include the items listed below.
- A 5.9% cost of living increase for all employees (they have not received one in 2 years)
- Increase the Local Outreach budget from $7,000 to $12,240 as requested.
- Increase other parish program budgets (many of which were cut in 2020) to meet the Strategic Visioning Plan.
Additional cuts will be needed to make up the $45,565 shortfall.
If you have questions, please come to the Annual Meeting for our discussion of the 2022 budget.
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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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NEW VESTRY SLATE
The vestry nominating committee is happy to announce the slate of proposed new members for the Vestry 2022-2024. They are Gail Eilers, Mark Richardson, Maggie Reinberger, Lane Norton, and Stacie Court. Congratulations to all, and thank you for your willingness to serve on the Vestry!
Below are each of their bios, so the whole congregation can become better acquainted with them. This slate will be voted on in the January Annual Meeting. Please congratulate them when you see them.
Jane Hudson, Senior Warden
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Gail Eilers
I am from Jacksonville, Florida, where I raised a family, worked in public education for 30 years, and was a member of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church. After my husband passed away in 2018, I moved to Watkinsville to be near my daughter and my three grandchildren.
Immediately after my move, I found St. Gregory the Great! I was immediately impressed by your informality, consistent emphasis on service and genuine welcome to all. Just two Sundays after I arrived, Mother Nikki became our new rector. Her relentless message of God’s love for us reminds me over and over again that I am truly home here. During the last three years, I have served on the Outreach and Parish Life Committees and had begun volunteering as an usher when the pandemic hit.
This horrible pandemic has taught and re-taught me several important lessons. Primary among them is the realization – again and again – of how amazingly blessed and privileged my life is and has been. More importantly, I feel, more than ever, the calling to give back to those in need. I believe St. Gregory’s is the perfect vehicle for me to do that.
I am a lousy cook, and I am not creative. However, I am a hard and willing worker, a fairly fast learner, and am honored by this opportunity to serve on your vestry.
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Mark Richardson
Mark Richardson is a retired writing teacher. He was born in Rochester, New York and attended Colgate University and Emory University. He has taught in colleges in Georgia, Tennessee, Virginia, and North Carolina. He is married to Ellen Richardson, formerly a family practice and palliative care physician and latterly an Episcopal priest. They have two children, Will and Owen, and three grandchildren, Reese, Walker and Ford.
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Maggie Reinberger
I was born into the Episcopal Church, starting my life in upstate New York, then moving through Maryland and Philadelphia, then to Athens, GA. I received my BA from Cornell University, where I studied history and dance, then I returned to Cornell when I married Mark Reinberger, who got his PhD there. At age 30 I went back to school to become a physical therapist. Being a physical therapist has allowed me to meet many people, from many backgrounds, and with different problems. Mark and I have two adult daughters, Kristen and Katie.
I consider myself lucky that I was involved in the Episcopal Church as a teenager in the 1970s, when there was an exploration of new ideas. I believe supporting young people in their growth is a vital role of the church. Since joining St. Gregory’s 21 years ago, I have worked with the youth, served on vestry, and served as co-chair of the Pastoral Care committee. I have also acolyted, something I was not allowed as a girl. I have observed the church evolve in many ways over the years to be a much more inclusive community. The recently completed Sacred Ground course has given me even more to think about.
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Lane Norton
After a gypsy-like childhood of following my parents around the world and the country, I have called Athens my home for the past 50 years. I have been an active member of St. Gregory’s for the past 11. Prior to my membership here, I attended Emmanuel Episcopal church for 30-plus years. My long association with the Episcopal church began with my four years at the University of the South, Sewanee TN. That experience fostered in me my life long love of liturgy, choral singing, and my husband of 45 years, Jim Norton.
When my father, a veteran of Korea and Viet Nam, retired from a 20 year career in the Army, my family settled in Athens to be near relatives in northeast Georgia. Both of my parents became active members at Emmanuel serving on the vestry and taking and mentoring EFM. I finished my last 2 years of high school at Clarke Central and headed for Sewanee.
My husband and I came to live in Athens after marrying. We opened “The Hobby Horse ”, a craft and hobby store in downtown Athens, for 5 years. Our only child, Sarah, was born in 1981. We bought Homeplace Gifts and Toys in Five Points in 1982 and ran it jointly for 33 years.
As our daughter grew up and moved on, I began a series of searchings that included graduating from Education for Ministry and co-mentoring a group for 2 years. In the past 10 years I have been certified as a facilitator of Christian Dreamwork, and as a labyrinth facilitator.
At St. Gregory’s I have facilitated a weekly dream group for the past 10 years. I participate in the Flower Guild, the choir, the bread ministry, and have had custody and care of the church’s canvas labyrinth.
My husband returned to UGA in 2004 to earn an MFA in jewelry and metal smithing. When he is not making jewelry he travels all over the East coast selling his wares at Craft Festivals. I joined him at several craft schools taking classes in needle arts and doll making while he pursued his metal arts. Occasionally, we exhibit together.
Our daughter earned her PhD in Depth Psychology in 2020. She is married and lives with her husband of 15 years, Ryan, in northern Virginia.
I am a 6 year survivor of breast cancer and spent a year of my life in rehabilitation from a brain aneurysm that left me comatose for 2 months in 2013.
I look forward to bringing what gifts I have been given to the church as a new vestry member.
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Stacie Court
I was raised by gypsies and wolves, as a secular Catholic; I think we went to church about eight times while I was growing up. As an adult, I became the white sheep of the family, becoming very active with the Catholic Church in Savannah. I was involved in music ministry at several churches, as well as children’s and youth ministries. After becoming a professional musician, I began teaching private voice, directing church and community choirs, teaching K-8 music at multiple parochial schools, and I also worked in music ministry for other faiths as well, including the Episcopal and Presbyterian churches in the area.
David and I moved to Athens in 2007, and I converted and joined St. Gregory the Great over Christmas 2016. Since joining St. Gregory, besides my activities with the music ministry, I have served (not all at once!) in the music ministry; the card ministry; the counting ministry; the parish life committee; and the stewardship committee. I have also enjoyed being active with the movie nights, the food bank ministry, the lectionary group, and the book group when time allows. Communication is very important to me; I believe most of the world’s problems stem from communication problems. During COVID I started a weekly online chat group open to all women of the parish where we talk about everything from topics of faith to how to get vaccinated and even about tv shows we’re streaming.
In my free time, I am also involved with multiple singing groups around Athens and am an active member of the Athens Lions Club. I recently left my longtime day job as a nonprofit director and am now focusing on my private voice studio, which I have maintained for more than 25 years. I am married to my very best friend, David Court (aka The Free Range Minstrel), and have the best children and in-laws in the world, Joe and Sarah O’Connor of Arlington, Virginia; and Rachel O’Connor and Andy Quick of Bloomington, Indiana.
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annual meeting
lunch and reports
with soup and bread
to learn the past
and look ahead
now in a surge
yet covid stave
we zoom to stall
this current wave
of a virus
that plagues us still
to test our nerve
and strain our will
but with our church
we strive to pray
to hear the word
and walk the way
alice mohor
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Come Join the Flower Guild!
The Flower Guild are looking for a couple of willing parishioners to add to our number! With a full rota, member duties are light, just 5-6 Sundays a year. Please consider joining us. If you have questions, please call Lane Norton 706-338-3071
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Zoom Meeting Opportunities
Parish community offerings via Zoom:
*Spring Hatha Yoga Class (Jan 10 – May 30, 2022) in person Mondays, 6:00-7:00 PM, Parish Hall or Zoom Passcode: 509230
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 evaluate in January when it is safe to meet in person. Threads of Prayer, 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of the month @ 1PM. Email Annette Bates if you are interested in participating. All knitters and crocheters welcome!
* 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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