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OCTOBER 19, 2023
TRANSFORMING HEARTS AND COMMUNITY THROUGH JESUS' LOVE.
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AN INVITATION AND MESSAGE OF GRATITUDE FROM FR. ANDREW | In today's video message, Father Andrew extends a warm invitation and expresses a heartfelt message of gratitude as we usher in the Stewardship season. This Sunday, Father Andrew and his guests will conduct an informative and engaging Fall Town Hall Meeting as part of the 10:00 a.m. service (The meeting portion will begin at approximately 10:45 a.m.) The service and meeting will be live-streamed for those unable to attend in person. Meanwhile, upstairs, the Sunday School Coordinators will host a Harvest Festival for the children and youth—complete with reflection time, activities, and s'mores on the menu. | | | |
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MAKING A DIFFERENCE
Steve Demoreulle
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St. Gregory's is blessed with a talented and dedicated staff that serves our Lord and this congregation with grace and love. This week I want to highlight the servant leadership of our Facility Manager and Sexton Steve Demoreuille. The last two weeks have been challenging due to the significant repairs of our cooling tower, which powers the air conditioning system for Harris Hall and our office complex. Last Sunday, Steve was up at 5 a.m. to pump water and ladle ice by hand into the cooling tower to ensure that our worship space was comfortable for our morning worship. From that early start, he spent the next five hours climbing a ladder and piping water, and dumping buckets of ice into the tower. So much of Steve's ministry is behind the scenes as he attends to the needs of our church campus including the Harris Hall and office complex, the church, four houses, and our parking lot! Steve's work requires him to be on call at all hours, whether it's locking up the church late at night or attending to the cooling tower early in the morning. Helping Steve as an unpaid volunteer is his partner in life and beloved church member, Sandy McGrath, who is a blessing to our congregation as well. So, it is with gratitude that we salute Steve for making a difference at St. Gregory's!
-Fr. Andrew+
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Wisdom School
To learn more about Fr. Ben's Wisdom School, click here.
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Radical Optimism
This 8-week class will meet on Zoom Wednesday evenings at 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm EST through November 8th
This week we worked with Sin and Salvation. Breaking open the mystery of evil, how we fall into the identifications of the descriptive self, and what true inner and outer freedom looks like when salvation is engaged with as love. Register here Click here to read the latest news on the Radial Optimism class.
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The Reality of Being with Fr. Ben
The Reality of Being is an ongoing group, initially composed of the fruit that has fallen out of a three-year Gospel of Thomas circle and will meet via Zoom every Wednesday morning from 10:00 am - 11:30 am EST. If interested, contact Fr. Ben here.
Click here to read the latest news on the Reality of Being class.
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VOIR: A THEOLOGICAL QUARTERLY
Fr. Ben is pleased to announce a new project – VOIR: A THEOLOGICAL QUARTERLY.
Submissions are open for a Winter 2024 publication.
Please visit Fr. Ben's letter on the ABOUT page to learn more or click here to support this initiative with your tax-deductible donation.
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WISDOM SCHOOL
Seeing with the Eye of the Heart
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Dear Wisdom students,
If you are looking for something you're trying to find outside of yourself, join me by going within. Connect here.
With everything going on in the world, I offer Gurdjieff’s version of the Te Laudamus (We Praise You God) as a prayer. Typically, this is chanted in times of great joy, but this haunting tone seems more appropriate while we try to stay in front of the grief and praise God nonetheless.
In Christ,
Fr. Ben+
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FALL / 2023 OFFERINGS
Click here to learn more about Fr. Ben's Fall offerings:
Radical Optimism, and The Reality of Being.
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Morning Prayer and Musical Meditations with Tim Brumfield
Tuesday, October 17, 2023
| Wednesday, October 18, 2023 | |
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A MESSAGE FROM TIM
Music Ministry
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This Sunday, we will weave our Town Hall meeting into the last portion of our 10 am service. After the meeting, our closing hymn will be the powerful and inspiring “All My Hope on God is Founded” which is sung to a beautiful tune, Michael, which was composed by English composer Herbert Howells (1892-1983). Howells named this tune after his son who died tragically from polio at the age of nine in 1935. The family had been on an outing where he contracted the highly contagious and often fatal disease. He died three days later. The text was originally written by Joachim Neander (1650-80) and was later revised by Robert Bridges (1844-1930).
Did you know that HYMN SINGING is the earliest recorded musical activity in the Western church mentioned in the Gospels of Matthew and Mark and by Pliny the Younger around 112 A.D.? Ancient records indicate the Christian tradition of singing “a song to Christ as a god” in the province of Bithynia in Asia Minor. This practice grew out of the Judean practices from the synagogues with the singing of psalms in a responsorial manner, or antiphonal psalmody, which has remained one of the great shared aspects of the Christian and Judean traditions. It is likely that these early hymns were sung to what we would call folk melodies and it’s quite possible that these secular melodies made it into the chant repertoire as the music evolved.
So, when we chant our psalms and sing our beautiful hymns, remember that this musical tradition enjoys a great history which helps to unite us in both faith and spirit with all those who have gone before.
Blessings to all,
Tim
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CHILDREN, YOUTH, AND FAMILIES | | |
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Teach children in the way they should go and when they are old, they will still not depart from it.
- Proverbs 22.6
There is still time to
register online for Fall!
Click here to register online.
For more information,
please contact:
ANITA SHERMAN anitasherman561@gmail.com
or
KRISTEN CHANEY
kchaney@st-gregorys.com.
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CHILDREN, YOUTH, AND FAMILIES
A Place to Belong
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Thursday, October 19
5:45 PM - Choristers Rehearsal (Choir Room)
Sunday, October 22
9:10 AM - Confirmation Class (Conference Room)
9:30 AM - St. Gregory's Nursery Opens for Dropoff
9:45 AM - Sunday School (Designated Rooms)
9:45 AM - Upper Room Time for Middle and High School (Youth Room)
HARVEST FESTIVAL!
For all children and youth (nursery open for our youngest members). Scroll down for more info!
Thursday, October 26
5:45 PM - Choristers Rehearsal (Choir Room)
Sunday, October 29
9:10 AM - Confirmation Class (Conference Room)
9:30 AM - St. Gregory's Nursery Opens for Dropoff
9:45 AM - Sunday School (Designated Rooms)
9:45 AM - Upper Room Time for Middle and High School (Youth Room)
MEALS WITH MEANING SERVICE DAY
(Scroll down for more information)
Thursday, November 2
5:45 PM - Choristers Rehearsal (Harris Hall)
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UPPER ROOM TIME
FOR MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL TEENS
Meets Sundays at 9:45 AM
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St. Gregory's Upper Room Time meets each Sunday (except the first Sunday of the month or other specially designated Sundays) for snacks, downtime, conversation, reflection, and prayer.
Our theme last year focused on living our "one wild and precious life". We'll continue this theme and add some Benedictine spirituality by working on a rule of life to help us with balance, proportion, and harmony.
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HARVEST FESTIVAL
For all children and youth
Sunday, October 22
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Join us in the Youth Room after Communion time at the 10am service
Parents remain in church for the remainder of the church service and enjoy a special presentation. Please pick up your children afterwards from upstairs classrooms and/or Youth Room.
We'll celebrate Fall with great food, reflection time, and super fun activities -- s'mores are on the menu!!!
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MEALS WITH MEANING SERVICE DAY
Sunday, October 29
| During Upper Room Time we will have conversations around serving, hunger, and hope. After church, gather in the Youth Room for lunch and fun before we start our service shift. Community service hours for all who help! | | | |
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CHORISTER REHEARSALS
Thursday Evenings
from 5:45 PM - 6:30 PM
| St. Gregory's Choristers meet each Thursday at 5:45 p.m. in the choir room for rehearsals. If you are interested in learning more about the Choristers, please email Tim Brumfield at TBrumfield@St-gregorys.com | | | |
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YOUTH GROUP PET FOOD COLLECTION
CONTINUES THROUGHOUT OCTOBER
Help Local Animal Shelters
Feed Their Guests!
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Please bring canned wet food or bagged dry food to the church office during the week (during office hours) and on Sundays all through October.
(NO expired or previously opened items, please!)
The Youth Group will collect items
and donate them to local shelters.
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54TH ANNUAL EPISCOPAL CONVENTION FOR THE SOUTHEAST DIOCESE OF FLORIDA
Thank You to St. Gregory's Delegates!
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The 54th Annual Episcopal Convention for the Southeast Diocese of Florida will convene on October 27 and 28 at St. Andrews School in Boca Raton, Fl. St. Gregory’s will send three delegates this year: Paula Holgerson, Hugh Strachan, and Phil Hall. The First Alternate is David Gury. We would like to give prayers and thanks to our volunteer members as they represent our church
at this important convention.
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ROOTED IN ABUNDANCE
St. Gregory's theme for this year's Stewardship season is "Rooted in Abundance."
Please keep an eye out for your stewardship package which should arrive in the mail within the next week.
Click here for more information.
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WHAT IS STEWARDSHIP?
Stewardship Sunday is October 22
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WHAT IS STEWARDSHIP?
Stewardship is about being grateful, responsible stewards of the gifts we receive from God. The tradition of giving back to God and to the church comes from the Biblical practice of “tithing,” which means to give back a tenth of our earnings to God (Numbers 18:26). The Episcopal Church sees stewardship as more than simply contributing money to the church; it’s also about contributing time and talents and volunteering for ministry and mission. It’s about reaching out to build relationships from a perspective of abundance instead of scarcity.
STEWARDSHIP SUNDAY
This Sunday, October 22, is Stewardship Sunday which kicks off St. Gregory's Stewardship season. During this time, we ask that you prayerfully consider your pledge for the coming year. The monies pledged will help St. Gregory's formulate our 2024 budget, so we can meet our operating expenses such as salaries, insurance, utilities, etc., and fuel our mission and ministries for this coming year but also help to secure the future. Your pledges are a loving response to a generous and loving God and demonstrate our commitment to Him and the Church. Look for pledge cards in the mail this week or go to the stgregorysepiscopal.org/pledge website.
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RENOVATION OF THE SANCTUARY | | | |
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CONSTRUCTION UPDATE
Sanctuary Renovation
The renovation work in the church sanctuary is coming together beautifully. The installation of the hardwood flooring in the choir loft is nearing completion. The AC units are in the process of being reinstalled. The Botticino altar flooring installation should commence in the next couple of weeks when the installers will work on the stunning Italian marble inlets down the center aisle. The crew has started painting. Allen Neely, our organ specialist, will be here in the next couple of weeks to reinstall our magnificent pipe organ. We are looking forward to the pews being delivered in mid-November. We have not encountered significant delays and anticipate being in the Sanctuary for Christmas.
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ALL SAINTS DAY IS NOVEMBER 5
Please Submit the Names of Your Loved Ones
| If you would like to have the names of your friends and loved ones remembered on All Saints Sunday, please call the office, 561-395-8285 or email us at office@st-gregorys.com. Let us know if you'd like the names read at the 8 AM or 10 AM service. ALL NAMES MUST BE INTO THE OFFICE BY MONDAY, OCTOBER 30 to be included. | | | |
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ADULT FORMATION
Classes and Formation at St. Gregory's
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Sundays
The Newcomers Classes with Fr. Andrew will resume Sunday, October 29th
Wednesdays
8:00 AM - Men's Spirituality Hour (Zoom)
Meeting Link
10:00 AM - The Reality of Being with Fr. Ben (Zoom)
The Reality of Being will be an ongoing group, initially composed of the fruit that has fallen out of a three-year Gospel of Thomas circle, and will meet via Zoom every Wednesday from 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM EST. If interested, contact Fr. Ben here.
6:00 PM - Rector's Bible Study with Fr. Andrew - Hybrid - On Zoom and In Person (In the Conference Room)
Meeting Link Meeting ID: 821 8193 8028 Passcode: 713673
6:00 PM - Radical Optimism with Fr. Ben (Zoom) Click here to learn more and to register.
Thursdays
1:00 PM - Women's Bible Study (Youth Room) - For information, contact Evelyn Anderson at ebunn@stanfordalumni.org or Susan D’Ambrosio, sldambro@gmail.com
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TOWN HALL MEETING
AND STEWARDSHIP KICKOFF
Sunday, October 22
| Join us on Sunday, October 22nd as we kick off Stewardship season with an informative Town Hall meeting as part of the 10:00 AM service! During the meeting, children and youth will enjoy a fun Harvest Festival in the Youth Room! Note: The Service and Town Hall Meeting will be livestreamed. Please click here to view the service and meeting on Facebook or click here to view it on St. Gregory's homepage. | | | |
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Click here for more information.
The presentation will also be livestreamed.
If you are unable to join us in person, please view the presentation online: click here to view the presentation on Facebook or click here to view it on St. Gregory's homepage.
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ALZHEIMER'S AND DEMENTIA
An Informative Discussion
on Sunday, October 29
| Alzheimer’s and Dementia: An Informative Discussion with Deborah Germain, Program Manager, Alzheimer’s Association Sunday, October 29, 2023 at 11:30 am in Harris Hall. Refreshments and continued conversation will be available in the courtyard following the program Worldwide, 55 million people are experiencing the heavy burden that living with Alzheimer's or dementia carries for themselves as well as their caregivers. Join us Sunday, October 29 following the 10:00 am service for an informative discussion with Deborah Germain, Palm Beach County’s Program Manager for the Alzheimer’s Association, to learn more about early signs, symptoms, stages of progression, and the resources that are available at every step. Whether you or a loved one are already suffering from this degenerative brain disease or you are worried about memory loss or another cognitive decline that is beginning to interfere with daily life, help and support is available. This program is hosted by St. Gregory’s Stephen Ministry. For further information, contact Roberta Kjelgaard, rkjelgaard@gmail.com or office@st | | | |
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ECW FALL MARKET AND BAKE SALE
Sunday, November 5th
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Join the ECW in celebrating Fall on Sunday, November 5th in the Courtyard from 9am-12:30 pm. Baked items will be for sale as well as holiday decor.
Donations are needed!
Your donations of savory, sweet and gluten free treats are also appreciated, and can be brought to the office on Thurs or Fri 11/1-2 from 9-12:00pm. Please email Karen Guzik for more information at KarenGuzik@aol.com.
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TICKET SALES CLOSE THIS SUNDAY!
St. Gregory's Platinum Anniversary Gala
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Mark your calendars for an evening of elegance and celebration! Join us for St. Gregory's Platinum Anniversary Gala on Thursday, November 2nd, from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 pm at Lakeside Terrace located at 7880 Glades Road in Boca Raton.
This gala promises to be a dazzling tribute to our rich history and vibrant future. Click here to purchase your tickets now. Ticket sales will close this Sunday, October 22nd. We look forward to celebrating with you!
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ST. GREGORY'S
PLATINUM ANNIVERSARY GALA
Supporting The Event
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We are excited to announce our 70th Anniversary Gala! To commemorate this milestone in our history of devotion to God, we will be celebrating with a festive fundraising event on November 2, 2023. We prayerfully ask that you support this important event with contributions, gift certificates, sponsorships, your own creative ideas, as well as donated items for silent and live auctions. All donations are taxdeductible as allowed by law. To donate and celebrate this historic anniversary, please contact:
Arely Castellón-Cox: ACastellon@sparkleteam.com or Carole Boucard: caroleboucard@gmail.com
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SUNDAY "COFFEE HOUR"
Join us in the Courtyard on Sunday!
| Join us in the courtyard on Sunday morning following the 10 AM service to enjoy cool drinks and time with good friends. Unfortunately, we don’t always have a varied assortment of goodies to serve. If you would like to bring some treats please drop them by the kitchen before the 10 AM service (the earlier, the better). Once construction is over and we have moved out of Harris Hall, we will go back to our snack contribution rotation, but until then, please bring something to go with our cold drinks! Thank you. | | | |
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ALTAR FLOWERS
Honoring Loved Ones
| Donations to our flower dedication fund help to offset the cost of altar flowers and are a wonderful way to honor a loved one or an important milestone. Click to learn more. | | |
ST. GREGORY'S LIVESTREAMING | | | |
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ST. GREGORY'S IS NOW LIVESTREAMING
TO THE HOMEPAGE OF OUR WEBSITE
stgregorysepiscopal.org
| If you are unable to join us in person for services on Sunday, please join us online! In addition to livestreaming each Sunday's 10:00 AM Holy Eucharist to our Facebook page, St. Gregory's is now livestreaming the service to our homepage for your convenience. Click here to view the service on our hompage (it is located in the middle of the page) or click here to view it on Facebook. | | | |
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PASTORAL CARE
St. Gregory's Is Here For You.
| St. Gregory's provides a variety of support ministries that are here to support you. Our clergy, staff, and Stephen Ministers are here to answer your questions, pray with you, and for your pastoral needs. Contact the church office at 561-395-8285 or by email at office@st-gregorys.com. Learn more. | | | |
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PRAYER
Daily Prayer and Prayer Requests
| Join us in prayer. Click here to submit your prayer request. To pray for others, click here to view this week's prayer requests. If you'd prefer to receive a daily written prayer, click here to receive each day's word from Daily Prayer (a resource of Forward Movement). | | | |
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UPCOMING AT ST. GREGORY'S
Important Dates
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Thursday, October 19th and 26th - Chorister and Choir Rehearsals
Saturday, October 21st - Altar Guild Meeting
Sunday, October 22nd - Stewardship Sunday - Town Hall Meeting (The Town Hall Meeting will be part of the 10 am service), Harvest Festival for Children and Youth
Tuesday, October 24th - Stephen Ministers Meeting
Saturday, October 28th - Yoga Mass
Sunday, October 29th - Alzheimer's Care Presentation
Thursday, November 2nd - St. Gregory's Platinum Anniversary Gala
Sunday, November 5th - All Saints Sunday
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If you are interested in giving of your time to helping others and making a difference, St. Gregory's and its ministries have many volunteer opportunities available There is truly something for everyone. Learn more. | |
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VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
Volunteers are needed for various ministries.
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Our Lay Eucharistic Visitor volunteer group is looking for members of our St. Gregory’s family to join them as they:
1. Deliver communion and enrich the religious experience of those unable to attend church due to illness or incapacity
2. Visit and spiritually support those in need of the comfort and companionship of St. Gregory’s
3. Maintain contact with those parishioners with whom they are assigned to assure them that they are still a part of our St. Gregory’s community.
If this type of ministry appeals to you, please contact David Cominole 561-376-9056 or email him at david.cominole@att.net for more information.
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