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For Faith: Easter Gift
Click this link for Bishop Wright's weekly devotional.
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An Announcement From Bishop Wright.
Click here.
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A message from Rhonda Packer of the Capital Improvements Committee; Rhonda is the manager of our Parish Hall Flooring project:
A focus area of the Capital Improvement Campaign is to replace the Parish Hall carpeting which was installed in 2003–over TWENTY YEARS AGO. Flooring is the foundation of creating a welcoming environment for current and prospective parishioners by enhancing the look, feel, and sound of our Parish Hall.
Carpet Tiles, Vinyl Plank Flooring (VPF), or a combination of both are being considered to replace the existing carpet. When selecting flooring, cost-effectiveness isn't just about the purchase price. Value for our money is also a factor in installation costs, maintenance, and lifespan of flooring choices. Following are advantages and disadvantages for carpet tiles and VPF.
Carpet Tiles
● Variety of colors and designs
● Affordable materials
● Ease of installation (replacement tiles can be easily installed)
● Moderate maintenance (regularly vacuumed and occasionally
deep cleaned)
● Absorbs sound
● Can retain dirt and allergens
Vinyl Plank
● Variety of colors and wood grains
● Affordable materials
● Ease of installation
● Resists normal wear and tear (moisture, food spills, moving
furniture, children’s play)
● Low maintenance (damp mopping)
● Will require installation of acoustic panels to eliminate echoes
Current Estimated Costs (may change over time)
● Carpet Tiles: $9,500
● Vinyl Plank Flooring: $15,000
● Acoustic Tiles: $5,000
As I mentioned earlier, we cannot simply look at immediate purchase cost; we also need to thoughtfully consider the overall use of the flooring and the total costs over time. Over the months to come, as we have a better idea of the funds available to us through your
generous gifts to the Capital Improvements Campaign, we will work hard to narrow down our choices from the wide range of possibilities available to us.
All of us on the Committee would like to thank you for your time and will be glad to help you answer any questions you may have about the choices and the selection process. In the meantime, please feel free to read through the materials in the Campaign Brochure and on our parish website. In addition, there is an information board about this project in the Parish Hall.
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Youth DnD Rescheduled!
Due to spring break, we've moved our next youth DnD night to May 3 at 7pm in the youth room. Snacks will be provided but feel free to bring your favorites! Feel free to come dressed as your character or in pajamas!
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Stewardship Committee
Next Stewardship Committee meeting will be Friday, April 19th @ 3:30 pm - we meet in the Parish Hall. We welcome all who are interested in participating in our next Stewardship Campaign.
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Counter Needed
We’re looking for a volunteer to count with Katie Reinberger, a very nice person and an experienced counter, after the fourth Sunday of each month. Counters work together in pairs to tally a week’s worth of donations to St. Gregory the Great. When the tally is completed, either counter takes the checks and cash to deposit at Truist Bank on Gaines School Road. Counting takes about 30 minutes, one time each month, and the visit to the bank takes 5-10 minutes. Counters work with the same partner each month. Counting partners determine a mutually convenient time to meet in the copy room in the Parish Hall to tally checks and cash donated on the Sunday before their week. Lifetime commitment to counting isn’t required or expected! Counting is an easy task and an opportunity to serve at St. Gregory the Great.
Currently, counters include Lois Alworth (wilo59@charter.net), Michael Castengera (castengera@gmail.com), Stacie Court (stacie.court@gmail.com), Gail Eilers (eilersgail@gmail.com), Katie Hein (khein@uga.edu), Jane Hudson (janeghudson@gmail.com), Alice Mohor (alicemohor@windstream.com), Katie Reinberger (kreinbe@gmail.com), and Maggie Reinberger (mmreinberger@gmail.com), any of whom are happy to answer your questions about counting.
Contact Jane Hudson at janeghudson@gmail.com to volunteer to count.
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Blue Jean Sunday
Save the date for Sunday, April 14: Blue Jean Sunday! Come enjoy a free lunch and help us spring clean the church! Everyone wear their blue jeans to church that day and bring your gardening gloves. Jobs for every ability!
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Confirmation Classes
Wanna learn more about or brush up on all things Episcopal? Wanna get baptized, confirmed, reaffirmed, or received into the Episcopal Church Family? Learn why we use all those fancy words for the spaces in the church and the shiny stuff on the altar. And why we wear long dresses up front, every single Sunday. Learn why Mother Nikki can't remember anybody's name. It's all here...in Confirmation class!
Class will begin on April 14th following the 10:30am service for all who are interested in being confirmed, received, reaffirmed, or just want to learn more about the Episcopal Church. If you and/or your child are interested please let either Mother Nikki or Wade McGlammery know as soon as possible.
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Environmental Sustainability Committee
"We have solar panels, what else do we need?" "For the good earth which God has given us, and for the wisdom and will to conserve it, let us pray to the Lord." Form I, pg. 384, BCP.
We are reforming the Environmental Sustainability committee. Anyone interested should join us on Sunday, April 24, after the 10:30 service, or contact Maggie Reinberger or Mark Tavernier.
Where do we go from here? Is there more we can do for the community, the world? Should we be in communion with other groups working on environmental issues, including indigenous people? Come share your thoughts and ideas.
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Outpace Parkinsons: April 6
Jack Armistead has again chaired a committee to plan the annual 5K run/walk in support of Parkinson’s research through the Michael J. Fox Foundation. This year’s event will honor his late wife Jane (1946-2023) for her work toward finding a cure for Parkinson’s. Outpace Parkinson’s 9 will start at 8 am on April 6th in Sandy Creek Park, Pavilion 1. Runners can choose either on-site or virtual participation. To qualify for a T-shirt, they should register by midnight, March 22nd. Late registration will be available as well. There will be a full slate of awards and plenty of refreshments and opportunities to socialize. Donations to the Parkinson’s research effort are also encouraged. Details about the race and links to registration and donations can be found at pdathens.com.
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Join Emmanuel and St. Gregory the Great at Candler in Atlanta!
Come see The Philadelphia Eleven, the historic story of civil disobedience in ordaining the first women priests in the Episcopal Church. Transportation is available from Emmanuel Episcopal Church to this event. To register for transportation, please call Emmanuel Episcopal Church Parish Administrator at 706-543-1294. Registration for the screening and reception requires a separate step. Please use the QR code to reserve your space at the screening. See ya there!
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YOUNG DESIGNERS FASHION SHOW
Call to fellow Gregorians! On Saturday, 4/20 at 3PM, St. Gregory's will host the fashion show for the Young Designers Sewing Program. We did this last year and it was a huge success due to the generous help from our congregation. The Young Designers Sewing Program is a sewing program for girls from Gainesville Elementary School, Hillsman Middle School, and Cedar Shoals High School. The girls who participate in the program learn to sew, design patterns and fabrics in a variety of techniques, and much, much more. The program encourages leadership, life and work skills, and travel experiences. Maggie Reinberger and I are regular volunteers with this group.The girls have been working hard on their garments, and have included a number of surface design techniques such as Shibori, ice dyeing, kaleidoscope designs, and 3D printing.
The fashion show at St. Gregory will welcome the family members and friends of the girls as well as our congregation to see what the girls have made and where they are going next. Last year we had about 90 people for the show and I anticipate that we will have that many again this time. We will need volunteers to help with refreshments, setting up chairs, decorating, putting away chairs, and greeting visitors. The event is free, donations are happily accepted. If you can't make this event, they have another fashion show on 4/28 at the Athens Country Club which is the major fundraiser of the season.
If you can help with any part of this worthy event, please contact me, Jenifer Borg or 706-614-4895. Everyone is welcome!
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CEILIDH FOLK SERVICE
Beginning on Friday, April 19, St Gregory's will be offering a monthly Ceilidh service (pronounced kay-lee). Based on a Gaelic tradition of celebrating community and hospitality, a folk liturgy complete with live folk music and a meal will be offered in the Christian Education building at 6:30PM. Foot washing and hand anointing will also be available at these services for anyone who wants to take part. Any musicians that are interested in helping to provide the music for these services, as well as anyone with questions about the service, are encouraged to reach out to Wade McGlamery.
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New Offering for Church Leaders: "Kindle Holy Fire"
Kindle Holy Fire is an immersive online training for church leaders to learn to adapt to change and discern God's future in a changing world. The Diocese of Atlanta, in partnership with the Society for the Increase of the Ministry (SIM), is offering this training for free to Diocese of Atlanta and Province IV parishes through a grant from Trinity Wallstreet. Kindle Holy Fire is a 14-week, self-paced, experiential immersion in the "Hearts on Fire" spiritual leadership practices that support the work of leaders navigating change. Specifically, churches will build their capacities for deep discernment, relationship-building, holy listening, letting go, prophetic imagining, adaptation, and design. The first online training cohort will start in April and is being offered to those leaders of Province IV who are reimagining church, and it is especially geared for leaders of small congregations. Interested in registering for the first cohort? Contact Sally.
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Adult Sunday School
Adult Discussion Group: (Parish Hall) The Adult Spiritual Formation Sunday morning Bible Study meets at 9:15AM in the Parish Hall. We are currently discussing the Gospel of Mark led by Wayne Coppins. Please join us!
Lectionary Class: (Library) The lectionary class meets in the Library at 9:15AM. We study the assigned readings for each Sunday. Please contact Les House at 478-733-2939 or via email if you have any questions.
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Children’s Sunday School continues for children in grades K-5/6 beginning at 9:15 with a gathering time in the Children’s Chapel located on the ground floor of the education building. We go to the upstairs classrooms at 9:30 and hold our program until roughly 10:20. It would be great if parents could drop off children and pick them up again when the group time is over. That would help keep our youngsters safer!
Children’s Chapel/Church starts with families gathering in the Sanctuary at the 10:30 service for opening announcements, music, and prayers. The children then adjourn to the Children’s Chapel for their own worship time, including their lighting candles, having a short and usually interactive lesson, saying a doxology, singing, and saying the prayers of our young people. Children return to the Sanctuary during the peace, so that they can join their families for communion. Children of all ages are welcome to attend the children’s service time.
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Orthodox Tours
In Oct 2022 Anthony Barkdoll went to Israel and Jordan on a tour with a group called Orthodox tours, with his in-laws who are Greek orthodox (his sister-in-law painted the icon in the sanctuary). The person that runs the Orthodox tours, Father Ilya Gotlinsky, is trying to fill up spots for a trip to England called "In the Footsteps of the Early English Saints" and asked if any parishioners at St Gregory would be interested. Here's the link for the tour.
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Camp Mikell
The Episcopal Church offers Kid camp, Junior camp, Intermediate camp, and Youth camp experiences specifically tailored to each age group. There is also a Mini camp experience for young children to explore with a parent, as well as a performing arts camp. Registration for summer 2024 camps is now open. Check out the website for more information!
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The Athens Area Emergency Food Bank needs pork & beans and plain white rice! Please help us fill the Little Red Wagon! | | |
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thomas' story
a twin sister
to my brother
i have felt an
ignored other
in his shadow
where i was hid
anxious to do
the things he did
for our boomer
growing up life
lack of notice
my constant strife
in present time
as in the past
good women still
are lesser cast
alice mohor
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Instructions for Live Streaming
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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.
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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:
* Holy Eucharist and Healing Service Please join us on Wednesday evenings at 6PM in the sanctuary for eucharist and prayers for healing.
* Community Yoga Monday evenings January 8 - May 27 @ 5:30pm. ALL are welcome! Donations are accepted, a portion of which will go to Saint Gregory for use of the space. We do have a small supply of props but please bring a yoga mat.
* Blindspot Group Our 20s and 30s group meets on the last Thursday of each month at 6:30PM and the 2nd Sunday of each month at 6PM for dinner and a small group study (usually off-site of the church). We also meet at least once a month for game nights, dinner and drinks, movie nights, and more. Newcomers are always welcome! Contact Wade McGlamery, 770-624-4837 for more information.
Hebrew Reading meets via Zoom on Wednesdays from 1-3PM. If you're interested, email Joel Hunt for more info!
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!
* St. Gregory's Book Club meets the first Friday of the month in the library @ 7PM ongoing for the foreseeable future. Email Lois Alworth if you are interested in participating.
*Threads of Prayer meets on the 1st Tuesdays of the month @1PM! 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 St. Gregory's library and 2nd & 4th & 5th Saturdays at the Somerville's house ! Email Peter Rice
* group(s) meeting in person
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