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Messages from Bishop Wright


Jun 26, 2024

Today the House of Bishops elected Bishop Sean Rowe as the 28th Presiding Bishop of The Episcopal Church. Please join me in offering prayers for the church and for Presiding Bishop-elect Rowe, his wife, Carly, and his family. Let us pray for those who stood for election: Bishops Scott Barker, Daniel Gutiérrez, and DeDe Duncan-Probe and their families.


Beth-Sarah and I are immensely grateful to God for all of the support and prayers sent in our direction from across the church and especially from the people of The Diocese of Atlanta. By the grace of God, let us continue to press on in the name of Jesus Christ.


Jul 1, 2024

Beloved in Christ, now that The 81st General Convention is adjourned, I want to share a few words with you.


The first two words are, thank you! Beth-Sarah and I have been on the receiving end of your prayers, kindness and support for thirteen years. And, we are especially grateful for your care throughout a very lengthy and intense discernment process as a candidate for Presiding Bishop. It is not an exaggeration to say that you lifted us and strengthened us as we offered ourselves for this important work.


Also, an ocean of gratitude is owed to the Bishop’s staff. For two years with the possibility of my leaving looming, they worked tirelessly despite the uncertainty. Indeed, they are partners in purpose and not partners gathered around a personality. I thank God for each member of the staff.


Clarity is my next word. Now that my discernment is complete, it is clear we are to continue bearing witness together to Jesus Christ in Middle and North Georgia. By no means did my discernment period mean I was out of ideas or energy about our work together. Rather, it has clarified for me that we must go even deeper in what it means to follow Jesus in Georgia and beyond.



Finally, my last word is vacation. Beth-Sarah and I will take our regular vacation time this July. And, I will also participate in two weeks of continuing education. In August, I will resume visitations and all the other duties that are my great privilege as your bishop.

Until then beloved, in the words of the Apostle Paul, “I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now….”


Yours in Christ,

Bishop Rob Wright

A message from Lane Norton of the Capital Improvements Committee; 

Lane is the manager of our Labyrinth project:


A labyrinth is a sacred space that invites the community to come experience peace in God’s presence.


Visual incarnations of the Fibonacci Sequence, the circle and spiral have been used as spiritual symbols by people of many cultures for millennia.


The most famous labyrinths are found in medieval cathedrals throughout Europe, but lesser-known labyrinths can be found all around us, in church and hospital gardens, and even in your neighbors’ backyards. Local examples include labyrinths at Piedmont Hospital, Emmanuel Episcopal Church, and Barrow Elementary School.


Labyrinths have been used throughout history to bring our spirits closer to the presence of the divine; many have been used to make spiritual pilgrimages, in lieu of traditional journeys which are often too physically and financially demanding for most seekers of God’s peace.


We purchased our first labyrinth about 25 years ago, a 32-foot diameter canvas modeled on the labyrinth at Chartres Cathedral. While it is a wonderful meditation tool, it is greatly limited in two ways: space and time.


Our labyrinth takes up much-needed space, and because it is indoors, users can come only when a caretaker is present to open the building. 


Because of the space limitation, it is laid out only a few days a year, adding further time limitation.


A permanent, outdoor labyrinth is available to all, any time of day, without appointment: our personal need for meditative prayer does not always happen only during office hours.


Seekers of all ages can use a labyrinth for both personal meditation and for community-building experiences. Religious education classes, school groups, groups of friends, families with children, and individuals all gain personal and communal insight and peace from traveling the labyrinth. You may not be aware, but people from around the surrounding neighborhoods often use our grounds for their daily walks; many of them would welcome the opportunity to walk a labyrinth. What a wonderful and easy outreach we could offer to our neighbors! There is also an online site , World-Wide Labyrinth Locator, where we could register our labyrinth and welcome visitors from all over the world.


There are many types of labyrinths: they can be made from a wide variety of materials and there are many layouts to choose from. One layout we are considering is the Reconciliation, or Ceremonial, Path. It was designed by Clare Wilson of South Africa as she worked to bring about a peaceful end to apartheid. This labyrinth has two entrances that merge and lead to one exit, allowing multiple people to use it at once in an exercise focusing on bringing people together.


We have a display in the Parish Hall which includes images of different examples of labyrinths as well as a QR code to access Clare Wilson’s description of her journey to her labyrinth. The estimated cost of the labyrinths we are considering, including landscape preparation and installation, is about $20,000.


I am Lane Norton, a member of your Capital Improvements Campaign Committee, and you are always welcome to reach out to me with any questions. Thank you so much for all that you do to help bring peace and reconciliation to our community.


CEILIDH: FOLK SERVICE OFFERING - July 19


St Gregory's offers a monthly Ceilidh service (pronounced kay-lee) on the 3rd Friday of the month. 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.


Pastoral Care Committee


Pastoral Care Committee will meet Sunday, July 21, in the library following the 10:30 service.

Family Promise Week: Aug 11-18


Our next Family Promise commitment is August 11-18. As our week gets closer, there will be more detail, but here's a first look at what we will be responsible for:

  • $25 Kroger gift cards (how many depends on number of people in shelter)
  • Three dinner commitments, August 13, 14 and 15; make or buy dinner
  • Possible van driving Monday August 12, a.m.
  • Monitor for the Day Center 1:00-5:00 p.m. (even an hour would help) Saturday August 17; help with kids activities at least part of this time
  • Back to school supplies possibly.

Questions, contact Annette via email or 706-255-5839. To sign up for any of the above, click here. Thank you for your past generosity in helping families in housing crisis!


Building and Grounds would like to open up a Qualtrics survey so that parishioners may help us pinpoint areas of improvement around the church. This will aid us in developing Church workdays for families and individuals to participate in and help grow our sense of community and appreciation of our home.


Suggestions can be made anonymously or with names attached. Please click here for survey!


EXCHANGE STUDENTS

If any families are interested in hosting an international exchange student in the area please contact Karen Brill 706-540-4455 for requirements and details. 


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. 

The Athens Area Emergency Food Bank needs canned salmon, pasta sauces, and pork 'n' beans! Please help us fill the Little Red Wagon!

july 14 and 21

 

i see my twin

but once a year

he lives away

from my home here

 

he and his friends

have savoir-faire

all gracious hosts

when i am there

 

i will be gone

from our narthex

please greet for me

sunday and next

 

our visitors

must never doubt

welcome is what

we are about

 

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 (July 19). 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 will take the months of June and July off. Starting back in August, we meet 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 in person


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