Dearly Beloveds,
Consider this lovely poem sent to me from a parishioner, as we navigate the church's (that's us as a people, not the buildings) mission of reconciliation, (pg. 855 BCP)
The Place Where We Are Right
by Yehuda Amichai
From the place where we are right
Flowers will never grow
In the spring.
The place where we are right
Is hard and trampled
Like a yard.
But doubts and loves
Dig up the world
Like a mole, a plow.
And a whisper will be heard in the place
Where the ruined
House once stood.
Blessings and love,
Mo. Nikki
‘Don't pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize their faults -- unless, of course, you want the same treatment. That critical spirit has a way of boomeranging. It's easy to see a smudge on your neighbor's face and be oblivious to the ugly sneer on your own. Do you have the nerve to say, "Let me wash your face for you," when your own face is distorted by contempt? It's this whole traveling road-show mentality all over again, playing a holier-than-thou part instead of just living your part. Wipe that ugly sneer off your own face, and you might be fit to offer a washcloth to your neighbor.' -- Matthew 7:1-5, The Message Bible
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Finance Committee Meeting
The Finance Committee will meet in the office next to Kendall’s this Sunday, August 11, after the 10:30AM service. Anyone is welcome to join!
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Below this space you will find a QR code that will take you to a website where t-shirts and caps with the capital campaign logo are available for purchase. These are quality items at a fair price. Once you order and pay for your t-shirts and caps, they will arrive at the church the week before Family Night. You’ll be able to pick up your items at the church on Sunday, September 15 or anytime during the following week that the office is open and then proudly wear them to Family Night. And you’ll have them to wear for many subsequent occasions. Just be sure to order before August 30th, when the online shop will close down to give the manufacturers time to process the orders. Click here for the online shop! see below for QR code. | |
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Finance Chair Announcement
I have had the honor of serving on the Finance Committee for more than 15 years, for the last 5 years as the chairperson of the Committee. I feel it is time to pass this position off to the next generation. Our financial Policy reads: “The chairperson shall be elected by the Vestry, upon the recommendation of the rector, (or Senior Warden, if none). The term of the Chair shall be for three years, and the Chair serves at the pleasure of the Rector and Vestry.” I, like Les, am in my second term which ends December 31, 2025.
Please give prayerful consideration to the treasurer’s position and the position of the Finance Chair. If you are at all interested, please contact me as chair or Les as treasurer. It would be ideal if the persons who are to fill these two positions are known before the budget is developed for the 2026 calendar year. Please feel free to attend our finance meeting in person. If you cannot attend in person, I can provide a Zoom link so that you can attend the meeting virtually. ALL are welcome to attend.
— Jeff Welch
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Family Promise Week: Aug 11-18
Thank you to those who provided gift cards, signed up to prepare food, and to be the shelter monitor on Sat August 17. More info coming to those who signed up to provide food. Two things to do still:
1. Provide toilet paper and cleaning products. Boxes will be set out this week.
2. Two people to host a children's activity on Sat. Aug 17 at the Day Center, sometime between the hours of 1:00 and 5:00 p m., it's not necessary to be there the whole time. Even an hour would be great. Children's ages are 8, 9, and 11. If you have children and would like to bring them along, this is an ideal opportunity to show them how to volunteer.
Click here to sign up!
Thank you for your generosity!
For more information, contact Annette via email or at 706-255-5839.
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CEILIDH: FOLK SERVICE
St Gregory's offers a monthly Ceilidh service (pronounced kay-lee) on the 3rd Friday of the month, which will fall on Friday, August 16 this 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.
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We know it happens all the time with people impersonating Nikki via fake emails. If you want to find out about more scams and how to avoid them and how to report them, click here to register for the event shown below! | |
The Children’s Sunday School program returns SEPTEMBER 8TH. Children K through 5th grade gather in the Children’s Chapel in the Education Building beginning at 9:15 am. At 9:30, we go to the upstairs classrooms for a Bible based lesson, activities, and snacks. Around 10:20, children return to the Chapel. Parents, please drop off your children in the Chapel so we can touch base with you as needed, and pick the kids up again in the Chapel or from the upstairs rooms. Thank you!
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August 23rd - First DnD Night of the school year! Meet up in the youth room at 6pm for DnD and pizza will be provided! Make sure to bring your favorite snack with you.
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Confirmation Classes
Confirmation classes will begin on October 20. If you or your child are interested in getting confirmed, received, reaffirmed, or if you just want to learn more about the Episcopal Church, then make sure to come to confirmation class starting on October 20 after the 10:30 service. The class will run every Sunday for 7 weeks leading up to the confirmation service at the Cathedral of St. Philip on December 8th. If you're interested please let either Wade McGlamery or Mother Nikki know.
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Seeking Volunteers
We need volunteers at the Food Bank for August, September, and October! 2-3 volunteers are needed each month. A signup sheet is in the narthex. We meet at 640 Barber St. on 3rd Mondays from 9AM-1PM.
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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!
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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.
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Adult Sunday School
Adult Discussion Group: (Parish Hall) The Adult Spiritual Formation Sunday morning Bible Study reconvenes this Sunday (Aug 11) to begin our discussion of the Gospel of Matthew. Wayne Coppins will once again be 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.
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The Athens Area Emergency Food Bank needs PEANUT BUTTER! Please help us fill the Little Red Wagon! | | |
august
only halfway
through the summer
super-hot days
still a bummer
long retired from
teaching at school
i stay inside
where it is cool
languid beneath
a ceiling fan
i may soon need
a strong sedan
to carry me
from here to there
to go out in
the crisp fall air
alice mohor
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Instructions for Live Streaming
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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:
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If you don’t immediately see the video that says ‘live’, (for instance, if you opened YouTube before the service begins) keep refreshing it.
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When you see the video square that says ‘live’, click on it.
Welcome to worship!
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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 (August 16). 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 on Zoom
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