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The


Gregorian


Chant

Love like Jesus!


Hi there Beloveds!


Election season is over, and I, for one, am very glad to see the ads and texts and emails go away for a while. I'm also thankful that the potential for a longer period of uncertainty around who would win the presidential and down ballot elections was avoided. I'm grateful to know that the likelihood of the peaceful transfer of power come January, will be high. 


And, I'm happy that roughly half of the country who were blessed to and did exercise their civic responsibility in casting their ballot are pleased with the outcome. Blessings and joy to those who are celebrating that outcome, as well as comfort and company in lament are my prayers for those who are in deep grief. "Rejoice with those who rejoice and mourn with those who mourn," is in epistle to the Romans, chapter 12 (v.15). The difference in response to the outcome of any of our presidential elections is inevitable, but our response to one another, regardless of how we voted, is to be uniform in following our baptismal covenant. We continue to love one another by treating one another with dignity, by seeing one another as people who are beloved of God, no matter how our politics, ideologies, or theology differs. ALL means ALL. That's what it is to follow our diocesan purpose statement:

"We challenge ourselves and the world to love like Jesus as we worship joyfully, serve compassionately, and grow spiritually."


Easier said than done? Absolutely! Extremely difficult to even imagine, crossing those emotional lines for relating and conversation? Of course! I think that's why Jesus, in so many of the gospel stories, meets the disciples exactly where they are, and THEN moves them toward where he wants them to be. So be gentle with yourselves and authentic. If it's party-time for you and yours, enjoy! If it's a time of tender need, seek those who can accompany you on that road. If it's a time of anxiety and uncertainty, gently acknowledge the state of your body, mind, and spirit, and maybe shut off the news for a little while to be still and know that God is God and God is always Almighty, and is there for you. 


And I say all this because we can't give what we haven't received, when it comes to loving our neighbors....ALL our neighbors. And loving our neighbors continues to mean feeding the hungry, visiting the sick, defending the vulnerable...continues to mean justice and equity for ALL...continues to mean welcoming the stranger and the lonely, and speaking out against hate and harm of all kinds. Immigrants, LGBTQIA+ folk, targeted minorities and ethnicities, elders, children, those who have been harmed by sexual violence or any other kind, those without rights to proper healthcare....we will continue to speak out and honor all of these. When we remember that God is here, and God is love, and God in us, the Holy Spirit will still be empowering us and filling us, and moving us in God's story, we can know peace, both within and without.


Please read the following letter (click here) from our Presiding Bishop concerning this time in our country, and continue to pray for those in leadership.


Peace and joy,

Mother Nikki+


FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING


The Finance Committee will meet this Sunday, Nov. 10 in the room next to Kendall’s office immediately following the 10:30AM service.

Annual Meeting


St. Gregory’s annual meeting will take place next Sunday, Nov. 17. There will be just ONE service that day, at 10AM, followed by fried chicken and potluck lunch (St. G’s will supply chicken and drinks); please bring a side dish or dessert.


THANK YOU!


Once again, St. Gregory’s parishioners have come through for students in need. Whether it’s backpacks, cleaning supplies, after-school care or clothes, when the need is identified, our family steps up to fill it. With the help of Jane Sheridan, the Outreach Committee delivered over 200 pounds of clothes to help fill six Clothes Closets at Barnett Shoals Elementary School! Your caring and generosity have made a big difference to a large number of students - again!! Thank you.


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.  

The Capital Campaign: Where Do We Stand?


Dear fellow Gregorians,


When we launched our capital campaign at the start of 2024, we were aiming to fund a number of projects growing out of the Nourish, Grow and Go Strategic Plan. Among them were a new HVAC system for the sanctuary, a new and improved playground, a new floor for the parish hall, a new organ, and an outdoor labyrinth. Along the way, we also resurrected a building project that envisions connecting the sanctuary and the parish hall and expanding the parish hall kitchen.


We estimated that we would need to raise about $1 million to complete these projects. As of this writing (October 20, 2024), we have, through your generosity, raised around $300,000 in commitments and donations.


We are deeply thankful for your generosity so far. We are already able, or very nearly able, to take care of our facility’s most pressing needs. Where we go from here is entirely up to your generosity that is yet to come.


If you have not yet donated to the capital campaign, please take a prayerful moment to consider helping us shape the next fifty years at St. Gregory the Great. And please remember that although you may schedule your commitment to be spread over the next four years, the deadline for letting us know your intentions is December 31st of this year.


If you have already committed or donated, please consider whether you can add to your generosity to help us reach our common goal.


And thank you for all that you have done so far! No one likes to be asked for money (or to ask for it). It’s a great gift that you have already given so freely.


In His light,

Mark Richardson, CIC committee co-chair 

LAST WEEKEND!  

orders due by November 15th; will be delivered on December 8th

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 mac-n-cheese, dried pinto beans, canned fruit, and canned soup! Please help us fill the Little Red Wagon!

come holy spirit

 

i try to turn

again toward love

to know the will

of god above

 

away from fear

where i can pray

where i can find

a better way

 

to listen for

the still small voice

that helps me make

a better choice

 

for how to live

as god intends

for neighbors all

to become friends


 

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