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SEPTEMBER 21, 2023
TRANSFORMING HEARTS AND COMMUNITY THROUGH JESUS' LOVE.
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A VIDEO MESSAGE FROM THE RECTOR
Fr. Andrew Shares An Important
Message of Gratitude
| In today's video, Fr. Andrew shares an important message of gratitude for two beloved Servants of God who generously donated transformative gifts to St. Gregory's which will enable their legacies to continue to make an impact for many years to come. We are truly blessed and grateful. (Please click on the video to the left to view Fr. Andrew's message.) | | | |
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MAKING A DIFFERENCE
Summer Faerman of B’nai Torah
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 |  | On Wednesday, August 30, while residents of Southeast Florida were relieved that Hurricane Idalia spared our coast, most of us were also praying for those on the West Coast of Florida facing the fury of the storm. Our friends at B’nai Torah, however, wanted to do more and quickly acted. As the storm brutally assailed the West Coast, Summer Faerman (of B’nai Torah) reached out to me, seeking a connection with an Episcopal Church in Cedar Key as she anticipated the shortfall of food and water following the aftermath and wanted to get supplies sent to the people that needed it the most. Aware that there was not a Synagogue on the island of Cedar Key, Summer’s immediate thought was to turn to the local Episcopal Church. The bond between B’nai Torah and St. Gregory’s, originating from the friendship between Fr. Andrew Sherman and Rabbi David Steinhardt, has roots that long precede my connection with Summer. Yet, our mutual appreciation and shared engagement within the community have blossomed through Meals with Meaning.
Determined, Summer contacted various Diocesan offices confident that one would point her in the right direction. Her persistence paid off. Through the "Hands on Tzedakah" (HOT) program, Cheney Brothers dispatched a truck filled with essential food supplies to Christ Episcopal Church in Cedar Key just two days after the hurricane's impact. What an incredible example of how this community works towards caring for others and helping those in need. Thanks be to God for knitting together such beauty in humanity in Summer and B’nai Torah’s HOT program. We are so very blessed to all be in God’s family together.
-Gena
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BAPTISM BLESSINGS
Isabella James Tenorio
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This Sunday at the 10:00 AM service
we will welcome into our Family of God:
Isabella James Tenorio.
Through the Sacrament of Baptism she becomes our sister in Christ. Pray that she will continue to grow in faith and love throughout her life. Isabella is the daughter of Amanda and Jeff Tenorio.
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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 via Zoom every Wednesday evening at 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm EST from September 13 - November 1, 2023.
Register here.
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The Reality of Being
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 morning from 10:00 am - 11:30 am EST beginning on October 4, 2023.
If interested, contact Fr. Ben here.
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The Gospel of Thomas
Join Fr. Ben for Coffee with Thomas every Wednesday from 10:00 - 11:00 am EST, beginning Wednesday, August 23, 2023.
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VOIR: A THEOLOGICAL QUARTERLY
Fr. Ben is pleased to announce a new project – VOIR: A THEOLOGICAL QUARTERLY.
“Seeing. One could say that the whole of life lies in seeing.” – Pierre Teilhard de Chardin
How do you see God? 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.
In Christ,
Fr. Ben+
FALL / 2023 OFFERINGS
Click here to learn more about Fr. Ben's Fall offerings:
Radical Optimism, The Reality of Being, and Coffee with Thomas.
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Morning Prayer and Musical Meditations with Tim Brumfield | |
Tuesday, September 19, 2023
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Wednesday, September 20, 2023
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A MESSAGE FROM TIM
Music Ministry
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We read in this Sunday’s lectionary two great stories from the Old and New Testaments about receiving from the Lord what we need, the importance of generosity, and providing equality for all. From Exodus we read “…they looked toward the wilderness, and the glory of the LORD appeared in the cloud. The LORD spoke to Moses and said, “I have heard the complaining of the Israelites; say to them, ‘At twilight you shall eat meat, and in the morning you shall have your fill of bread…” And in Matthew’s Gospel we hear the parable about the landowner giving equal wages… “‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong; did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage? Take what belongs to you and go; I choose to give to this last the same as I give to you. Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or are you envious because I am generous?’ So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”
The anthem will be Gerald Near’s setting of “The Eyes of All Wait Upon Thee” which bridges these two readings together beautifully. The text comes from Psalms 48 and 145: “The eyes of all wait upon thee, O Lord; and thou givest them their meat in due season. We wait for thy loving-kindness, O God, in the midst of thy temple. Thou openest thine hand, and fillest all things living with plenteousness.”
During Communion, the Choir will sing Nicholas White’s beautiful arrangement of the Spiritual, “Steal Away”, as we observe another beautiful baptism at the 10 AM service, ”Steal away, steal away, steal away to Jesus. Steal away, steal away home, I ain’t got long to stay here. My Lord, he calls me, he calls me by the thunder; the trumpet sounds within-a my soul, I ain’t got long to stay here.”
If anyone would like to audition for The Choir of St. Gregory’s or if you have a child in grades 3-8 interested in singing with the Choristers, please contact me at tbrumfield@st-gregorys.com. Rehearsals begin at 5:45 on Thursday evenings for the children and 7 PM for the adult choir.
With blessings,
Tim
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CHORISTER REHEARSALS RESUME TODAY
IN THE CHOIR ROOM
Thursday, September 21
from 5:45 PM - 6:30 PM
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To mark this occasion, I’m extremely pleased to announce that we are bringing a very special person on board as my Music Assistant, Ms. Emily Carter! Emily will be assisting me with the Choristers, as well as other items such as administrative duties and substitute conductor as needed. She will also serve as a choral section leader in the Choir of St. Greogry’s. Emily will be an extremely valuable asset to me and I want to introduce her to all of you!
Emily Carter is a South Florida native and widely respected music educator, classical soprano, accompanist, and performer across South Florida. She currently serves as the Upper School Chorus Director at American Heritage School in Delray Beach. Additionally, she is the treble choir conductor for Young Singers of the Palm Beaches, a non-profit children's community chorus based out of the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts. Ms. Carter holds a BA in Music & Theatre from Florida Atlantic University, and a Masters in Choral Music Education & Conducting from Mississippi State University. She currently holds her professional teaching certificate in both Elementary and Music Education and is certified in the Orff-Schulwerk approach.
Ms. Carter is a member of Florida Music Educators Association, National Association for Music Education, and American Choral Directors Association. Her biggest honor as a music educator was her selection to be the Orff-Schulwerk conductor for the 2022 Spotlight on Young Musicians Elementary honor choir held at the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts. Her students have frequently been selected to participate in the All-State and ACDA honor choirs around the country.
In addition to her experience in the classroom, Ms. Carter enjoys performing on stage and in the church setting. Her experience spans a variety of styles including classical, musical theatre, opera, jazz and folk. Her voice has been featured on Live Hymnal: Procession and Live Hymnal: Prelude albums, a liturgical offering of St. Joseph’s Episcopal Church in Boynton Beach.
In her spare time, Ms. Carter enjoys reading, playing tennis, and spending time with her two young children: Audrey and Hastings.
I’m most happy to welcome Emily as part of the music ministry of St. Gregory’s!
Blessings to all!
Tim Brumfield
Director of Music Ministry, Organist, and Choirmaster
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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 enroll for Fall!
Our online registration is open!
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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Sunday, September 24
Beach Eucharist - 6:30 am
South Beach Park
(at Palmetto Park Rd and A1A in Boca)
9:10 am - Confirmation Class (Conference Room)
9:45 am - 3yrs - 5th grade (Designated Rooms)
9:45 am - Upper Room Time for middle and high school (Youth Room)
Thursday, September 28
5:45 PM - Choristers Rehearsal (Choir Room)
Sunday, October 1
9:10 am - Confirmation Class (Conference Room)
No regular Sunday School classes
or Upper Room Time for Youth
Boca Raton Interfaith Youth Association (BRIYA)
Celebrate Sukkot at B'nai Torah
2:30 PM - 4:00 PM
See the article below for more details!
11:30 am - Newcomers Reception
(Rectory; 245 NE 2nd St, across from St. Gregory's parking lot). All those new to St. Gregory's
are warmly invited to attend. Children and youth are welcome, too!
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The B'nai Torah Congregation is located at 6261 SW 18th Street, Boca Raton. | |
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BOCA RATON INTERFAITH
YOUTH ASSOCIATION (BRIYA)
Celebrate Sukkot at B'nai Torah
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Youth grades 6 through 12 are warmly invited to participate in this enriching cultural and spiritual event. The Sukkot celebration will be held at B'nai Torah Congregation on Sunday, October 1, from 2:30 PM to 4:00 PM.
This is a unique opportunity for our young members to deepen their understanding of the Festival of Sukkot through hands-on activities. Enjoy apple cider and donut making, partake in the Lulav Shake, and delight in crafting edible sukkot. Additionally, there will be a variety of Sukkot-themed crafts to engage with. Please dress modestly, covering shoulders and wearing long pants and wear your BRIYA shirt if you have one. Please RSVP to Gena Vallee at GVallee@St-Gregorys.com to confirm your attendance. We look forward to seeing you there!
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PET FOOD COLLECTION
Help Local Animal Shelters Feed Their Guests
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Please bring canned wet food
or bagged dry food to the Pet Blessing
(NO expired or previously opened items, please!)
The Youth Group will collect items
and donate them to local shelters.
LOOK FOR OUR TABLE AT THE PET BLESSING!
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PARKING AT ST. GREGORY'S
Mobile Parking App Launched
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St Gregory's mobile parking app, ParkPoolr has launched!
The signage has been installed, and the app is up and running. This is a great opportunity to generate more revenue from our parking lot, especially during evenings and Mizner Park special events. Parking decals for St. Gregory’s Episcopal Church members will be available after the 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. services on Sunday, September 10.
There will always be ample priority parking for parishioners, as the parking lot will be closed to the public during church events. Feel free to contact Bill Lintz, Scott Wing, or Kristen Chaney with any questions.
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RENOVATION OF THE SANCTUARY | | |
Click to support the Capital Campaign. | |
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CONSTRUCTION UPDATE
Sanctuary Renovation Is Progressing Well
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The renovation work in the church sanctuary is coming together beautifully. As you can see in the latest photos, the crew is making significant progress. The tile work is 80% complete in the main Sanctuary. The library entryway double glass door has been installed which will allow an abundance of light to this area. The construction crew did a great job building the risers in the choir loft, and Tim is quite pleased! We have not encountered significant delays and anticipate being in the Sanctuary for Christmas.
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YOGAMASS THIS SATURDAY!
Saturday, September 23 at 4:00 PM
| Bring your friends, family, and neighbors for this incredible experience! On Saturday, September 23rd at 4:00 PM, St. Gregory's invites everyone to experience the unique blend of spirituality and physical wellness that is our popular YogaMass. YogaMass offers a holistic approach to well-being and spiritual connection rooted in Christ's love. Whether you're a seasoned yogi or new to both practices, join us for this refreshing and uplifting session that nourishes both body and soul. Please bring your friends and family - everyone is welcome! Also please bring your mat, and water, and wear comfortable clothes. Namaste. | | | |
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SUNRISE BEACH EUCHARIST THIS SUNDAY!
Sunday, September 24 at 6:30 AM
| On Sunday, September 24 at 6:30 AM, St. Gregory's cordially invites everyone to join us for a serene Sunrise Beach Eucharist service at South Beach Park in Boca Raton (located at A1A and Palmetto Park . As the sun paints the morning sky, join us by the shore for this beloved service, offering a unique blend of nature's beauty and spiritual communion. Bring your friends and family - everyone is welcome. We look forward to sharing this very special service with you. | | | |
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BLESSING OF THE PETS
Saturday, October 7 at 11:00 AM
| Everyone is invited! On Saturday, October 7th, join us for our annual Blessing of the Pets at 11:00 AM. A cherished tradition and one of our community's most anticipated events of the year, this special gathering celebrates our furry, feathered, and finned friends. Whether they bark, meow, chirp, or swim, all pets are welcome. Come join us for this heartwarming event and share in the joy and unity it brings to our community. Note: The Youth Group is collecting food for pets to be donated to local animal shelters. Please bring your donations to the Blessing of the Pets. Please see more information on this in the article above. Additional (free) parking is available in the Mizner Park garage. | | | |
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ST. GREGORY'S LUNCH BUNCHERS
Next Lunch: October 11
| The next Lunch Bunch meetup will take place on October 11th. For more information about the Lunch Bunchers or to reserve your spot for the next lunch, please email Andrea Chang at Chang0113@aol.com | | | |
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SAVE THE DATE
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 pm 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. Tickets are on sale and offered at early bird pricing through October 1. Click here to purchase your tickets now. Rates increase on October 2. 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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SEPTEMBER PRAYER CALENDAR
Prayers for Haiti
| Please join us as we lift up the people of Haiti in prayer. Click here to view the September Prayer calendar. | | | |
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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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PRAYERS
For Everyone Affected by Natural Disasters
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Let us pray for those who have lost loved ones, for the first responders and medical professionals, and for all those facing the hardship of rebuilding.
O God, our refuge and strength,
our help in times of trouble.
Have mercy on the lands damaged by hurricanes, fires, earthquakes, and other natural disasters.
Have mercy on the lands where the weather has destroyed livelihoods.
Protect those who evacuate houses,
and strengthen those who rebuild hope
so that entire communities may face the future without fear.
Amen.
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UPCOMING AT ST. GREGORY'S
Important Dates
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Thursday, September 21st - Choir Rehearsal
Saturday, September 23rd - YogaMass
Sunday, September 24th - Sunrise Beach Eucharist
Sunday, October 1st - Newcomers Reception (Rectory)
Saturday, October 7th - Blessing of the Pets
Sunday, October 8th - Newcomers Classes Begin
Thursday, November 2nd - St. Gregory's Platinum Anniversary Gala
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NEWCOMERS BRUNCH
Sunday, October 1 at 11:30 AM
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Explore a deeper relationship with Christ and learn more about St. Gregory's.
If you are new to St. Gregory's, we warmly invite you to join us on Sunday, October 1st for a Newcomers brunch at the Rectory with Fr. Andrew. This is a beautiful way to enter into our community and forge new friendships. For more information, please email the church office at office@st-gregorys.com
Newcomers classes begin Sunday, October 8th.
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NEW TO ST. GREGORY'S?
We are so very glad you're here.
| Welcome! We invite you to explore life at St. Gregory’s by reaching out to our clergy after services, by emailing the church office at office@st-gregorys.com, by calling us at 561-395-8285 or by clicking here to complete our welcome form. Father Andrew will host the next Newcomers gathering on Sunday, October 1st in the Rectory followed by Newcomers classes beginning on Sunday, October 8th. We warmly invite you to attend. God is doing extraordinary things among us and would love for you to be a part of it all. | | |
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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