Dearly Beloveds,

Happy Lent! First of all, I’d love to thank you, St. Gregory the Great for the wonderful way the Bishop was received by this parish family last week. Many thanks to both the Capital Improvements Committee and the Parish Life Committee for a beautiful reception, complete with phenomenal Capital Campaign kickoff, after our service. Also thank you to Pete Nichols and all involved with audio in the parish hall. The music was outstanding, thank you Jonathan Klein and choir, soloists and guest musicians. As they say where I come from, “we had CHURCH!” Thank you to all who worked with the children in singing ‘Draw the Circle Wide.’ Their voices were heavenly, and that entire piece moved Bishop Wright to tears. Thank you as well to ushers, acolytes, LEMS, lay readers, altar guild and flower guild. Thank you, David Stooksbury and company, for preparing the nave. Thank you, parish family, for showing up for our combined congregation service. What’s so wonderful, is that even though this was a special occasion, with special goings on, it was still what we do every Sunday….bringing God and one another our best, and letting the Holy Spirit lead. Thank you, St. Gregory the Great, for being you!

As is his practice, Bishop Wright has offered short video meditations for spiritual growth during Lent, each one coming with a worksheet. We will be attaching links here for congregational participation as you see fit.

https://episcopalatlanta.org/lent24/

Be at peace and have a holy and joyful beginning to your Lenten practice.

Blessings,

Mother Nikki+

Transcript of Bishop Wrights Ash Wednesday Meditation:

Today we begin a journey together, called Lent. Lent is a season of grace for growth.

This Lent I am inviting you towards God, towards your self and towards one another using the theme, “Letting Go.” So many of us are “heavy laden” or “ensnared” as the Bible puts it that we aren’t experiencing the life abundant that Jesus offers.

Since Jesus came to set the “captives free,” “Letting Go”of those things and ways that hold us back is central to the new and risen life in Christ that we celebrate each Easter. For the next five weeks, we’ll offer a video meditation on this theme with a study companion for you to make the meditations as personal and useful as possible. So then, in the Name of God, I invite you to the keeping of an Holy Lent by “Letting Go” of “…those weights and obstacles and sin that so easily entangle us and run with patience the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of faith.”



And so, as your bishop and brother, I call you and all of us to the keeping of a Holy Lent.

God bless you!

CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS CAMPAIGN UPDATE

Dear Gregorians:

Tha capital campaign kicked off last Sunday on a great day when we celebrated the confirmations and reception of beloved parishioners with the Bishop in attendance. Thanks to Lane Norton and Stacie Court for a lovely meal and some great displays of the campaign projects!

A few facts about the campaign so far:

• We have already raised over $100,000--but we will need much more to complete our five projects, which include a capital reserve fund for repairing/replacing systems like the HVAC units, a new floor for the parish hall, a safer and better playground, a new organ, and an outdoor labyrinth.
• Our campaign will last for one year--but your giving can be spread out over a five-year period. To find out more about how to give, go to the St Gregory the Great website and choose Quick Links then Capital Improvements Campaign.
• Starting in March, members of the Capital Improvements Committee will speak briefly during the announcements portion of the church services about the campaign as a whole and about individual projects they have been researching. We will also feature their comments in the newsletter. Stay tuned to hear more about each project.

Thank you so much for your commitment to our church! And please remember--the capital campaign will not help us hire a new Christian Education Director or Music Director, nor will it help us give our hardworking staff members a cost-of- living increase. Your pledges to the annual budget are still needed as well. 

Any questions? Please contact one of the Capital Campaign co-chairs, Mark Richardson, at 912-660-0271 or at mrichsn@gmail.com or Stacie Court at stacie.court@gmail.com.

Thanks so much for your attention, and bless you all!

Lenten Program

Adult Spiritual Formation will be offering a Wednesday evening program for Lent. The wonderful Matt Rogers will once again be leading us in Bibliodrama, this time in an exploration of the Psalms. Wednesday evenings 2/21-3/20, 6:30PM for a simple supper with the program to follow at 7PM.

STATIONS OF THE CROSS WEDNESDAYS @ 5:30PM

Wednesdays February 21, 28, & March 6, 13, 20, & 27 @ 5:30PM in the Sanctuary

The stations mark Jesus’ journey through the streets of Jerusalem from his arrest and trial to his crucifixion and burial. At each station, we pause for a brief reading and prayer.

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 will begin a discussion of the Gospel of Mark led by Wayne Coppins on Feb. 18th. We will not meet the morning of the Bishop's visit on Feb. 11th. 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. 

Children’s Sunday School continues for children in grades K-5/6 beginning at 9:15 with a gathering time in the Children’s Chapel located on the ground floor of the education building. We go to the upstairs classrooms at 9:30 and hold our program until roughly 10:20. It would be great if parents could drop off children and pick them up again when the group time is over. That would help keep our youngsters safer!

Children’s Chapel/Church starts with families gathering in the Sanctuary at the 10:30 service for opening announcements, music, and prayers. The children then adjourn to the Children’s Chapel for their own worship time, including their lighting candles, having a short and usually interactive lesson, saying a doxology, singing, and saying the prayers of our young people. Children return to the Sanctuary during the peace, so that they can join their families for communion. Children of all ages are welcome to attend the children’s service time.

We continue to collect estimate of giving pledge cards for 2024. You may put your completed card in the collection plate on Sunday, mail your card to the church office, bring your completed card to the church office, or enter your pledge online here.

lent

not a reason

for great despair

but a season

for soul repair

a discipline

of reflection

to establish

a direction

a fast to turn

from lethargy

to develop 

new energy

an intention

to notice more

those we rather

would just ignore

alice mohor

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!