MAKING A DIFFERENCE

Two Young Adults

Added to St. Gregory's Vestry

St. Gregory’s Vestry met on Monday, September 18, 2023, and announced the addition of two new vestry members – Jacob Beavin and Verona Zeqiri. The church bylaws permit up to two Youth or Young Adults to fully participate in Vestry Meeting discussions. The positions are an appointment by the Rector and Sr. Warden for one-year terms and are non-voting positions.



Bill Lintz, Sr. Warden commenting on the announcement said, “We are thrilled and honored to

have Jacob and Verona joining the vestry. All voices and ideas need to be heard and our youth

and young people represent an important group within our church. As we formulate our future

plans for St. Gregory’s, we are looking for Verona and Jacob to help guide us to what is best and

most relevant for our young people. Our Sunday School is rapidly growing with now over 40

students and our Canterbury House is in high demand, especially from students from FAU. We

need to continue to attract, minister, and provide relevant programs to our children and youth.”

WISDOM SCHOOL

Seeing with the Eye of the Heart

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, and The Reality of Being.

A MESSAGE FROM TIM

Music Ministry

This week’s music continues to feature a congregational mass setting we’ve been singing this season which I composed during my tenure as Cathedral Organist at the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine. The Mixolydian Mode, known as the “church mode,” incorporates a lowered seventh within the major scale and is prominent throughout this setting which includes The Venite in place of The Gloria.

On Sunday we read of Paul telling the Philippians “…be of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves. Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others. …work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, enabling you both to will and to work for his good pleasure. And in Matthew’s Gospel we learn from Christ’s parable that true salvation comes from faith, “… For John came to you in the way of righteousness and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him; and even after you saw it, you did not change your minds and believe him.

Click here to read Tim's full message.

CHILDREN, YOUTH, AND FAMILIES

A Place to Belong

Thursday, September 28

5:45 PM - Choristers Rehearsal (Choir Room)

Sunday, October 1

9:10 am - Confirmation Class (Conference Room)

9:30 AM - St Gregory's Nursery Opens for Dropoff

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). Everyone new to St. Gregory's

is warmly invited to attend. Children and youth are welcome, too!

Thursday, October 5

5:45 PM - Choristers Rehearsal (Choir Room)

Saturday, October 7

11:00 AM - Pet Blessing

(On the South Lawn at St. Gregory's)

Youth Group - Pet Food Collection for local pet shelter(s)! Scroll down for more info.

Sunday, October 8

9:10 AM - Confirmation Class (Conference Room)

9:30 AM - St Gregory's Nursery Opens for Dropoff

9:45 AM - 3yrs - 5th grade (Designated classrooms)

9:45 AM - Upper Room Time for middle and high school (Youth Room)

CHORISTER REHEARSALS

Thursday Evenings

from 5:45 PM - 6:30 PM

St. Gregory's Choristers meet each Thursday at 5:45 p.m. in the choir room for rehearsals. If you are interested in learning more about the Choristers, please email Tim Brumfield at TBrumfield@St-gregorys.com

BOCA RATON INTERFAITH

YOUTH ASSOCIATION (BRIYA)

Celebrate Sukkot at B'nai Torah this Sunday

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!

GODLY PLAY

We Have An Exciting Fall Planned!

So many thought-provoking events are happening with Godly Play this fall! Click here to view our September newsletter and learn about ways to connect and engage. Click here to hear from an adult who grew up with Godly Play to better understand the importance of why Sunday School Matters. Don't miss a minute of information about Godly Play! Click here to register for our newsletter!

GODLY PLAY

Playing with the Gifts of Creation

On a recent Sunday, I had the joy of sitting in a circle and sharing the story of Creation. As we moved through the wondering, talking about what other shapes the days might take on, one child wondered... "If we turn them all over and mix them up, do you think you could put them back together?" And so we tried it and there was some debate about whether I had two days swapped (I did not) and whether I might be able to do it with my eyes closed (I could not!)... and before long they had chosen their work for the morning to keep playing this new game of memory...Playing with the gifts of Creation - it was full of God and it was very good.

- Anna Thomas

YOUTH GROUP SPONSORS

PET FOOD COLLECTION

Help Local Animal Shelters

Feed Their Guests!

Please bring canned wet food or bagged dry food to the Pet Blessing. Or, you can bring items to the church office during the week (during office hours) and on Sundays all through October.

(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!

THANK YOU

To our incredible set up team and those who attended last Sunday's Sunrise Beach Eucharist

Last Sunday, more than forty-five worshipers gathered for St. Gregory’s Sunrise Beach Eucharist. Despite the threat of inclement weather, we enjoyed a moving service against a backdrop of distant lightening storms and breathtaking skies reminiscent of impressionistic paintings, We want to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who attended, and to the incredible team who does such an amazing job setting up our Beach Eucharist services.

54TH ANNUAL EPISCOPAL CONVENTION FOR THE SOUTHEAST DIOCESE OF FLORIDA

Thank You to St. Gregory's Delegates!

The 54th Annual Episcopal Convention for the Southeast Diocese of Florida will be convened on October 27 and 28 at St. Andrews School in Boca Raton, Fl. St. Gregory’s will send three delegates this year: Paula Holgerson, Hugh Strachan, and Phil Hall. The First Alternate is David Gury. We would like to give prayers and thanks to our volunteer members as they represent our church

at this important convention.

CONSTRUCTION UPDATE

Sanctuary Renovation

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 flooring work continues. The tile is being installed in the bathrooms, and wood flooring in the musicians gallery is scheduled to be installed next week. The library entryway double glass door has been installed and, as you can see from the photos, will allow an abundance of light to this area. The drywall installation is complete. The finishes should be completed by next week when the painting begins. We have not encountered significant delays and anticipate being in the Sanctuary for Christmas. 

ADULT FORMATION

Classes and Formation at St. Gregory's

Wednesdays

8:00 AM - Men's Spirituality Hour (Zoom) 

Meeting Link

10:00 AM - The Reality of Being with Fr. Ben (Zoom)

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 from 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM EST beginning on October 4, 2023. If interested, contact Fr. Ben here.

6:00 PM - Rector's Bible Study with Fr. Andrew - Hybrid - On Zoom and In Person (In the Conference Room)

Meeting Link Meeting ID: 821 8193 8028 Passcode: 713673

6:00 PM - Radical Optimism with Fr. Ben (Zoom) Click here to learn more and to register.



Thursdays

1:00 PM - Women's Bible Study (Youth Room) - For information, contact Evelyn Anderson at ebunn@stanfordalumni.org  or Susan D’Ambrosio, sldambro@gmail.com

THE DAUGHTERS OF THE KING

A Brief History of this Outstanding Organization

St. Brigid of Kildare is an active chapter of the International Order of the Daughters of the King (DoK) here at St. Gregory’s that was initiated on December 13, 1959. The DoK is an ecumenical organization originating in 1885 in the Episcopal Church. Today there are chapters worldwide including churches in communion with the Episcopal church, or churches in the historic episcopate but not in communion with it. Our membership currently includes women in the Anglican, Episcopal, Lutheran (ELCA), and Roman Catholic churches.

The Mission of The Order is the extension of Christ’s Kingdom through Prayer, Service, and Evangelism. The vows of prayer, service, and evangelism are taken after a discernment period during which a twelve-unit study is completed. As nuns we do not wear habits or live in communal housing together, rather we are regular women married, single, or divorced.

In line with St. Gregory’s inclusive tenets we are an open and inclusive organization available to all women regardless of race, creed, color, gender, or sexual identity, and LGBTQIA+ women are welcomed as children of God.

Our chapter has hybrid meetings (live and via Zoom) monthly on the second Saturday. The meetings incorporate spiritual growth & and development, prayer, scripture readings, and chapter business, We are mindful of respecting time and maintain a one-hour meeting.

DID YOU KNOW?

Madagascar and St. Gregory's have a connection!

As a congregation, we pray for the Diocese of Toliara in our weekly worship.  Would you like to be involved in furthering this relationship? If you are interested in helping, there will be a luncheon meeting on Saturday October 14 at 11:45am at the home of Betsy Wenzel, 485 NW 6th Street in Boca Raton.  We intend to connect via Zoom at the meeting with a diocesan leader in Madagascar to discuss ways to enhance educational opportunities in the Diocese.  For more information please contact Betsy Wenzel at (561) 542-0305 or jpbetsy@gmail.com 

NEWCOMERS BRUNCH

Sunday, October 1 at 11:30 AM

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.

BLESSING OF THE PETS

Saturday, October 7 at 11:00 AM

on St. Gregory's South Lawn

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.

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

SAVE THE DATE

St. Gregory's Platinum Anniversary Gala

Hurry! Ticket Prices increase on Monday!

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!

ST. GREGORY'S

PLATINUM ANNIVERSARY GALA

Supporting The Event

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

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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).

PRAYERS

For Everyone Affected by Natural Disasters

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.

UPCOMING AT ST. GREGORY'S

Important Dates

Sunday, October 1st - Newcomers Reception (Rectory), Last day for early bird ticket pricing for St. Gregory's Gala Saturday, October 7th - Blessing of the Pets

Sunday, October 8th - Newcomers Classes Begin

Wednesday, October 11th - Lunch Bunchers Meetup

Thursday, November 2nd - St. Gregory's Platinum Anniversary Gala

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.  

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

Volunteers are needed for various ministries.

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.

GIVING ST. GREGORY'S

Your Support Makes An Impact

Your support of St. Gregory's and our ministries makes our mission of Transforming Hearts and Community Through Jesus' Love a reality. Please click here to give online now. For more information, please email the Church Office or click on these links: Altar Flower Dedications, Capital Campaign, Meals with Meaning, Stewardship, and South Florida Haiti Project.

CONNECT WITH US

Engaging With St. Gregory's

We're grateful that you're part of St. Gregory's growing community! Visit our website at www.stgregorysepiscopal.org for more information or click the links and social media buttons below:

Contact Information

Volunteer Information

Download the St. Gregory's App - iOS, Google Play