Hello Beloveds!
Good news and so-so news…. The good news is, case numbers* are going down in our surrounding area. So-so news is while we won’t be able to start meeting again inside this Sunday, returning to in-person worship this month IS still looking good.
And yes, especially in light of the virus, among other things, we’re still living in a world of unknowns. But we also live, truly live in Jesus. So while we don’t know all the answers, we are known and loved by the One who does.
“So spacious is he, so roomy, that everything of God finds its proper place in him without crowding. Not only that, but all the broken and dislocated pieces of the universe - people and things, animals and atoms - get properly fixed and fit together in vibrant harmonies, all because of his death, his blood that poured down from the Cross.” Colossians 1:19-20 MSG
I Worried
Mary Oliver
I worried a lot. Will the garden grow, will the rivers
flow in the right direction, will the earth turn
as it was taught, and if not how shall
I correct it?
Was I right, was I wrong, will I be forgiven,
can I do better?
Will I ever be able to sing, even the sparrows
can do it and I am, well,
hopeless.
Is my eyesight fading or am I just imagining it,
am I going to get rheumatism,
lockjaw, dementia?
Finally, I saw that worrying had come to nothing.
And gave it up. And took my old body
and went out into the morning,
and sang.
Blessings and deepest love,
Mo. Nikki
*new Covid-19 case numbers per day in Clarke County per a seven day average. As of today, the number is 79.3. Our threshold for gathering inside is 50.
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Hello to the family of faith known as St. Gregory the Great!
I am so excited to begin this journey with you, and so grateful for the opportunity to serve alongside all of you. I know that Catherine Drewry has invested a great deal of her life in leading the ministry with children and families in the parish (and beyond). I am looking forward to becoming acquainted with the weekly and seasonal rhythms of the parish; experiencing the unique gifts and personalities of our children and their families; and exploring further possibilities for us all to recognize the presence of God in ourselves and in one another. It has been my experience that the lessons we can learn about faith from our children are just as important as those we hope to teach them. I am excited about the possibility of learning and growing together.
For now, a little bit about me . . . Becky and I have been married for 26 years. She is currently an ESL teacher at Fowler Drive Elementary School in Athens. Our oldest daughter, Lydia, graduated from Georgia College & State University in 2020 and currently works for the Girl Scouts of Historic Georgia (Athens Service Center). Our youngest, Elizabeth, is a freshman at the University of Southern California. I grew up in northern Kentucky (just 35 miles south of Cincinnati), where most of my family still lives, but have lived in Madison, Georgia, for 21 years. I was confirmed at Church of the Advent, Madison. I imagine some of you may know the priest there, my good friend Fr. Dann Brown, who previously served at the Episcopal Student Center at UGA.
I know, like all congregations, the people of St. Gregory the Great have been doing their best to care for each other during these past two years – whether in person, or virtually. It has been a trying time for all of us, and I am sure it will be a long time before we realize just how we have been impacted individually and corporately. But how wonderful that we have the assurance that we are a wonderfully made and connected Body of Christ no matter the circumstances. I cannot wait to join you in this amazing journey. See you soon!
Doug Adkins,
Director of Children's Ministries
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ANOTHER STEWARDSHIP UPDATE
We have received three generous gifts, had a few increases in pledges, and two data-entry mistakes/mistakenly filled out pledge cards remedied !! We are now roughly $4,000 away from the money needed to keep the church open this year (i.e. pay employees and utilities and debt for the year 2022).
Thank you so much to those who have already pledged. For those who are unable to pledge, God loves us from the top of our heads to the tips of our toes, when we give AND when we can't. For those who can pledge, and haven't yet, please prayerfully consider doing so.
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In January, I met with Holle Tubbs, the Youth Missioner for the Diocese of Atlanta, to discuss plans for the year and start networking in the Diocese.
I am planning a bonfire event for interested youth on the evening of March 5th at 6:30PM, complete with s’mores, music, and games. The bonfire will be held in the clearing in the woods on the left side of the church.
St. G's youth -- reach out to me by email or phone if you have any questions!
Wade McGlamery
770-624-4837
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help
in a tangle
of false gestalt
pre-worry is
my go-to fault
in fear of what
may be ahead
my coping skill
is early dread
this strategy
to react prior
is to ward off
what may transpire
forgetting that
god makes a way
and praying would
my fears allay
alice mohor
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OUTREACH
Outreach needs someone to coordinate services for Family Promise. We assist one week each month with feeding and/or being responsible for feeding a family in need. Contact Susanne Burton at 706-743-8910 or leave a message at 706-543-6404. Thanks for your help.
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The Feast Day of Absalom Jones
February 13 @ 3:00 pm - 4:30 pm
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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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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, 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of the month @ 1PM via Zoom. Email Annette Bates if you are interested in participating and to get the Zoom link. 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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