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Dear Beloved Saints!


Happy All Saints Day! We'll be celebrating that feast day this coming Sunday, with all the pomp, circumstance, and fun we Episcopalians can muster. How cool is it that we ALL get to be saints, not on our own merits (because compared to a perfect God, who loves us to perfection, who has those?), but on the merits of God Incarnate who came to reconcile us to the Lover of our Souls! Such good news! I like the way pastor and author Nadia Bolz-Weber talks about it, so that's what I'm sharing today (please see below). See ya Sunday!


Blessings, saints...party on!


Mo. Nikki+


(an excerpt from) It's All Saints, not Some Saints


by Nadia Bolz-Weber


"God will swallow up death forever.

Then the Lord God will wipe away the tears from all faces,

  and the disgrace of his people he will take away from all the earth. (Isaiah 25:8)


I mean, come on, isn’t that beautiful?


I have no idea why so many churches try to make Christianity into a reward and punishment program instead. I do not know why so many people seem to think that we only get to return to the one who created us if we happen to say the right things and believe the right things and do the right things – only if we happen to be a member of the right church and have the right lifestyle and political affiliation.


As if we are that powerful.  


Friends, if as the prophet Isaiah said, God is swallowing up death –I just can’t imagine God spits anyone out in the process (as if the blood of the lamb can only wash garments that are lightly soiled)


It just isn’t like that, friends. We aren’t more powerful than God’s grace and mercy.


Our failings are never as powerful as a God who sees to it that all the shortcomings (mine, yours, our loved ones’) that are so glaring now, fade when in glory our eyes adjust to the light of Christ and we finally see how the story works out.


God promises you this. The story works out. Amen."*


*from The Corners Substack by Nadia Bolz-Weber, 11-1-22


https://thecorners.substack.com/p/its-all-saints-not-some-saints

Barnett Shoals Elementary School Clothing Drive

FINAL DAY


Every Fall, St. Gregory’s sponsors a parish-wide clothing drive to support our neighbor, Barnett Shoals Elementary School. This year, school personnel have devoted extra time to reviewing prioritized clothing needs for the schools’ clothes closets. Your contributions of any of the following items will make a difference:

  • boys’ and girls’ pants and shorts - all sizes, Youth XS-XL
  • boys’ sweatpants - all sizes, Youth XS-XL and Adult Small - Medium
  • girls’ leggings - all sizes, Youth XS-XL and Adult Small - Large
  • boys’ and girls’ underwear - all sizes, XS-XL
  • socks - all sizes
  • boys’ and girls’ shirts - all sizes, XS-XL (can include t-shirts in multi- packs, not necessarily gendered)
  • Boys’ and girls’ pants may include new and gently-used, clean items.

Donations will be collected from Monday, September 30 through Friday, November 1, in the boxes located in the lobby of the Parrish Hall. If you have any questions, please contact Gail Eilers, eilersgail@gmail.com, or Jane Sheridan, jsheridan@friendlycity.net. Thank you, in advance, for your support.

ALTAR OF REMEMBRANCE & MEMORIAL GARDEN


Rest eternal, grant unto them, O Lord; and let light perpetual shine upon them.


All Saint’s Day is the time in the liturgical year when we pause to celebrate the lives of those saints who have gone before us; loved ones who made us who we are today. Lane Norton has placed votive candles in our Memorial Garden, They will be there 10/29-11/5 for anyone who may like to come and light a candle in memory of someone. There are matches provided in a ziplock bag for you to use. Please remember to extinguish the candle(s) before you leave.


FEAST OF ALL SAINTS


Sunday, November 3, we will celebrate the Holy Eucharist and Feast of All Saints at both services w a baptism at 8AM.



LABYRINTH


You are invited to walk St. Gregory’s Labyrinth in the parish hall Friday, November 1 through Weds morning, November 6, in honor and remembrance of All Saint’s Day and All Soul’s Day. The labyrinth offers you the opportunity to “put feet on your prayers.” Experience a walking meditation that connects your mind, body and spirit. 

Vestry Candidates


Attention Parishioners! It's time to nominate candidates for next year's vestry. We have five positions opening up! If you know someone who is at least 18 years old and a communicant in good standing whom you think would make a good vestry member, please pass on their name to anyone on the vestry nominating committee: John Barrett, Stace Court, Gail Eilers, Karen Hankins, Kathryn Musholt, or Mark Richardson. You can also email your nomination to Mark Richardson. Nominations will remain open until the end of October. Thank you for helping us keep St Gregory's a great place to worship!


We are continuing to accept stewardship giving pledges for 2025. If you have not yet pledged, please do so as soon as possible. The parish finance committee needs to formulate our church operating budget before our annual meeting in November.  

Click the photo above for the website. To order Christmas Bell luminaries, use QR code above or click here.


Adult Sunday School


Adult Discussion Group: (Parish Hall) The Adult Spiritual Formation Sunday morning Bible Study meets at 9:15AM and is currently studying the Gospel of Matthew. Wayne Coppins is leading this discussion. All are welcome.


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. 

The Athens Area Emergency Food Bank needs canned soup, Saltines, and hamburger helper! Please help us fill the Little Red Wagon!

the way

 

uncertain what

to do or say

we calm the urge

to turn away

 

from our neighbors

both friends and foes

whose pain we may

or may not know

 

but see or hear

in sound of voice

or in worried

actions of choice

 

an opening

for us to love

on earth below

as heaven above


 

alice mohor

Instructions for Live Streaming



  • 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!

Ongoing Services/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.


Ceilidh Folk Service St Gregory's offers a monthly Ceilidh service (pronounced kay-lee) on the 3rd Friday of the month (November 15). 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 before or after (not during) these services for anyone who wants to take part, starting at 6PM. Food will be provided, but we always accept more dishes to add to the table if anyone wishes to bring something! 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.


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!


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 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 on Zoom


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St. Gregory the Great Episcopal Church | office@stgregoryathens.org
706.546.7553 | www.stregoryathens.org