Get to know your Vestry- Q&A with LeeAnne Krause

During Mother Nikki's sabbatical, the Friday newsletters will feature one Vestry member each week. Please thank them for their service to the congregation, and let them know if you are able to assist with their committee's work!

Q: Name?

A: LeeAnne Krause, Senior Warden, 3rd year on Vestry

Q: What's your committee assignment?

A: I'm liaison to the Finance Committee, which is the committee tasked with implementing the budget, monitoring expenses and income, and providing financial recommendations to the Vestry. Our Chair is Jeff Welch, and members include: Jane Hudson, Sheila Kelley, Elmer Clark, Mark Richardson, and Les House, our Treasurer. This committee works year round to ensure the financial health of the congregation, which is made difficult at times due to sudden expenses and fluctuations in income. Jeff and Les are on the job for us literally daily, making sure business gets handled efficiently and thoughtfully. A special shoutout to Kendall, who processes transactions in the church office!

Q: What's it like being the Senior Warden?

A: Being a Senior Warden is like being a parent. Your family comes to you at any time with questions, most of which are very good, legit questions, but you may or may not have an immediate answer, and you may or may not be able to oblige their wishes. The challenge is to make sure that everyone gets heard, and concerns get attended to as promptly as possible given the necessary slowdowns working through proper committee and procedural channels.

Q: What is the best part about serving on Vestry?

A: The thing I like best about the Vestry is the wide-angle view you get of the congregation. There are so many ways we serve each other and the community and so many ways to connect with each other. It's hard to fully appreciate the scope until you attend a Vestry meeting and hear updates of all that is going on and what it takes to accomplish the work of the church. 

Q: What would you tell someone considering serving on the Vestry?

A: I would tell them that you don't have to have any one specific set of skills to serve on Vestry. It may be tempting to wonder "do I have what it takes" and decide to leave it to people already accustomed to serving in visible roles. If you have the time to attend two meetings per month (Vestry and committee), and you have the wish to do God's work, then you have what it takes to serve on the Vestry. 

Q: What is your favorite hymn?

A: It's got to be "What Wondrous Love is This", which is an old Appalachian tune. My late father had a passion for classical music. He owned an impressive collection of Rachmaninoff and Puccini on LPs and tapes, but he listened to other types of music too. When my eldest sister started college at West Virginia University he found an LP of dulcimer music in a local shop. One of the tracks was a man singing What Wondrous Love is This, simply accompanied by the dulcimer. It sounded something like this https://youtu.be/NkeVvTO1Qeo. Every time we sing this hymn in church it takes me back.

Parish offices will be closed on Monday, May 29, in observance of Memorial Day, and on Friday, June 2, when Kendall will be out of town.

LIBRARY

Volunteers are needed for a defacto steering committee for the parish library. Two principal goals are the development of (1) a strategic plan for the library and (2) a database of library books/resources. A very brief meeting will be held after the 10:30AM service this Sunday, May 28, in the parish library. If interested but unable to meet, please contact Richard Cooper, Parish Librarian, via email.

Athens’ 2nd annual Pride Parade and Resource Fair will be on Saturday, June 3. St. Gregory the Great Episcopal Church will host a table at the resource fair following the 2:00PM parade. Last year we greeted 440 people in the broiling heat. This year the resource fair will be held in the shade of the Foundry Pavilion behind the Classic Center 270 W. Hancock Ave., Athens, from 2:30 until 6PM. Greeters will be needed to help welcome everyone to our resource table and to our church.  Please email Alice Mohor or call or text (706) 207-4716 if you would like to help.

pandemic

in looking back

i marvel how

i got from then

to present now

growing despair

with each new strain

and tragedy

beyond profane

isolating

in fear and grief

connection was

my soul relief

saving me from

long days too flat

church video

zoom group and chat

alice mohor

The dates for VBS 2023 are July 17-20, 5:30 PM - 8:30 PM.  We will begin with supper; participate in three rotations; and conclude with Compline in the nave.  Like last year, children will be participating in “Compassion Camp.”  This year’s theme is “Every Living Thing.” Watch future news for details about each night’s theme.



    For now: please look at your calendar and check your availability to help make “camp” a success for our children.  We need folks to help with the three rotations (Art/Crafts; Bible Story; Recreation/Movement).  We also need people to help with the set-up, serving, and clean-up of the nightly meals.  See Doug Adkins for details.  

Doug's Ordination to the Priesthood

Doug Adkins completed his coursework at Bexley-Seabury Seminary and was awarded a Diploma in Anglican Studies May 12. 

His ordination to the priesthood is scheduled for Saturday, June 24 at 2PM, at The Cathedral of St. Philip, Atlanta. 

Instructions for Live Streaming

• Just go to the St. Gregory the Great Episcopal Church YouTube Homepage

• 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:

• If you don’t immediately see the video that says ‘live’, (for instance, if you opened YouTube before the service begins) keep refreshing it.  

• When you see the video square that says ‘live’, click on it. 

Welcome to worship!