Christmas Pageant Rehearsals Begin This Sunday
Greetings!

This Sunday, we'll have our first read-through of this year's Christmas pageant during the education hour! Make sure to be there if you want to participate in this year's Christmas pageant; and if you can't, just let Peter know that you're interested but can't make it.

This year's pageant focuses more on the story of Mary, and follows the narrative of the Gospel of Luke closely. Rehearsals will continue each subsequent Sunday during the education hour. I hope you'll join us this year for what will be a fantastic pageant!

With anticipation,
Peter
Giving Generously to St. Gregory's
Hello Gregorians,
 
Our community has given me so many tiny unexpected gifts over the past years through COVIDtide and post-COVID: a certain ease with Zoom, an appreciation for excellent ventilation, and the welcoming greeting that is front porch coffee hour, just to name a few. In this month of gratitude, I find myself treasuring our resilience and adaptability - and our forethought!
 
A few years ago, the vestry saw the need for reserve funds. Fundraising and careful stewardship mean that we did have the ability to cope with the significant changes of COVID, which included a drop in giving last year and this year. As we regather, we’ve used the reserve as intended: to keep our programs going while we regather. However, we do project that this reserve will run out sometime in 2023. The staff has been very careful with spending, so the best avenue forward is an increase in giving.
 
Increases in our pledged income would get us on a much firmer footing for next year. Knowing this, Susan and I raised our pledge by 20% - and I know that other vestry members, who have been following the budget progress, are considering or doing the same. We can’t do it alone, of course, so my hope is that by sharing the numbers, we will have others join us. At the same time, the whole vestry - and the whole community - welcomes all your gifts of participation as we continue to grow into our common future.
 
We are always learning how to be the church together. Our presence in liturgy, our ideas, and sharing and stories, our support for each other, and our care for our staff, grounds, and building are the active practice of that learning. Thank you to everyone who makes SGN possible - including everyone who sees these words. This place is awesome.
 
Barb Nicol
Co-Convener of the vestry
Our Shared Life
  • This week we pray for everyone who faces Thanksgiving alone or apart from family or who will have difficult conversations over dinner.
  • If you would like to participate in our Sunday Liturgy as a reader in person or on Zoom, you can sign up by contacting Peter he will share the new sign-up information with you.
  • We are actively recruiting more deacons, zoom hosts, and camera deacons for our hybrid service. If you'd like to help out, contact Peter.


Announcements from Friends
and Partners

  • AA Big Book Meeting takes place at 10:00 am every Saturday at St. Gregory's. Enter by the ground floor admin building entrance.
  • The Food Pantry is closed this week for Thanksgiving. Every other week, we give away free food on Saturdays, Noon to 2:00 pm. Come at 9:00 am and help set up.
  • Mission Fusion dance comes to St. Gregory's Saturday, December 3, from 8:00 pm to 12:00 am. Everyone is welcome to come and share in social dance and great company.


Calendar & Links for Events
Click the event name for the link. All times in PST.

Every Sunday:
  • The Early Liturgy (8:30 am, in-person). This 45-minute service features creative storytelling using Godly Play, gospel enactment, congregational singing, embodied prayer, and Eucharist. All ages are welcome and encouraged to come.
  • Youth and Family Ministry (9:30 am, in-person) meets after the early service in the seating area. From this Sunday through Christmas, we will have rehearsals for the pageant.
  • The Adult Forum (9:30 am, in-person in the Seating Area and on Zoom) This week, we'll have an update from Good Courage Farm from Kerri Meyer.
  • Contemplative Prayer (9:30 am, in-person) meets in the chapel. Everyone is welcome to come and share the silence.
  • The Late Liturgy (10:30 am, hybrid). This 75-minute liturgy highlights song, prayer, reflection, personal sharing, and the Holy Eucharist. All ages are welcome and encouraged to come.
  • Fifteen Good Minutes (following the late service). This is a 15-minute conversation about the Sunday liturgy, specially designed for visitors to learn more about how we make church together.

Every Week:
  • Zoom Morning Prayer (Tuesday-Friday 7:30 am, on Zoom). This 45-minute intimate gathering for prayer and reflection on the day's scripture follows the Book of Common Prayer. Contact Ebba for more information.
  • In-Person Morning Prayer (Monday-Friday 8:00, in-person) meets at the church for a 30-minute time of song, silence, scripture, and singing.
  • Zoom Bible Study (Wednesdays at 12:00 pm, on Zoom) is going through Genesis, picking foundational stories to re-read and discuss. Everyone is invited, and no preparation is required - just bring your heart and wonderings.

Other Upcoming Events:
  • The Elder Women's Group (Monday, November 28, 11:00 am). This group is for St. Gregory's women over 65 and meets on Zoom. For more information, contact Tonia or Ebba.
  • Pastoral Caregivers (Sunday, December 4, 12:15 - 1:45 pm) we will meet in the downstairs conference room and on Zoom. John Wolff will talk about the theory and practice of pastoral care. Bring food to share.
  • The Icon Painters Group (Sunday, December 4, 12:30 - 5:00 pm, in-person). Join others and paint an icon - or just drop by and see others at work. For more information, contact Betsy.
  • East Bay Evensong (Thursday, December 8, 6:30-8:30 pm). This group meets on the second Thursday of each month for Gregorians in the East Bay to share prayer, fellowship, song, and a meal together. For more information about East Bay Evensong or to attend, contact Leesy.
  • The North Bay Group (Saturday, December 10, 2:00 pm, in person). This group is for folks living in the North Bay to connect spiritually with each other, meeting on the 2nd Saturday of each month. Contact Laurie for details.
  • Second Sunday visit to Anchor Taps (Sunday, December 11, at 12:15 pm). Join friends for conversation and beverages and food following the 10:30 service.
  • Zoom Icon Group (Sunday, December 11, 2:00 - 4:00 pm). Connect with icon painters from around the world. For login and other information, contact Betsy.
  • St. Gregory's Vestry (Sunday, December 18, 12:30 - 2:30 pm, in-person and on Zoom). Everyone is invited to come in person or on Zoom. Contact Barb or Anne for information.
One Last Thing...

Kerri Meyer, our beloved former associate rector, will be visiting us this coming Sunday from Good Courage Farm! She'll preside & preach at the late service and preside at the early service. She'll also give an update about the farm during the 9:30 hour. We look forward to having her share her experiences with us in the time since she and her wife Jen Blecha founded Good Courage Farm.
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