SHARE:  

The


Gregorian


Chant

Advent week 1 with Henri J M Nouwen

 

Radical Waiting


I have found it very important in my own life to try to let go of my wishes and instead to live in hope. I am finding that when I choose to let go of my sometimes petty and superficial wishes and trust that my life is precious and meaningful in the eyes of God, something really new, something beyond my own expectations begins to happen in me. To wait with openness and trust is an enormously radical attitude toward life. It is choosing to hope that something is happening for us that is far beyond our own imaginings. It is giving up control over our future and letting God define our life. It is living with the conviction that God molds us in love, holds us in tenderness, and moves us away from the sources of our fear. Our spiritual life is a life in which we wait, actively present to the moment, expecting that new things will happen to us, new things that are far beyond our own imagination or prediction. This, indeed, is a very radical stance toward life in a world preoccupied with control.


 Finding My Way Home

From the book You are the Beloved by Henri J M Nouwen 

TODAY & TOMORROW!

AAEFB Help Needed


Friday, December 6 is Canathon Day at the Athens Emergency Food Bank! They need helpers! It will take all day to collect and stock, so any time you have available, they will have work!

St. Nicholas will be at the 10:30AM service this Sunday, Dec. 8!

Band of Believers!


Band of Believers! We will begin practicing for the Christmas pageant the first Sunday in Advent (December 1) from 9:45-10:30AM in the Children's Chapel. We accept all folks who have ever played an instrument. All means all! If you want to play with the Band of Believers let Vicky Taverner know!


Vicky and Mark Tavernier

Adult Sunday School


Adult Discussion Group: (Parish Hall) Join the Adult Formation class this Advent as we host a series exploring the interaction between faith and the arts!


December 8th - Matt Rodgers will be leading a Drama workshop exploring the roles in the Nativity - both those that you are familiar with and some that you may never have considered.


December 15th - Clare Baeckeroot will lead a class on the artistic work of medieval nuns and the part that it played in their practice.


December 22nd - Ron Balthazor will teach a class on poetry and its use in spiritual practice.


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. 

There will be a Christmas pageant led by the children at the Christmas Eve service on December 24 at 5:00 PM. Children interested in participating in the pageant are encouraged to join us for rehearsals during Children's church during the 10:30 Sunday services between now and then. Every year, some children join in the pageant at the last minute. For those interested in participating, the only rehearsal that is mandatory is the 4:00 PM rehearsal before the 5:00 Christmas Eve service itself. We have many roles available to choose from! The children are encouraged to invite a friend to participate with them. The pageant is a relaxed and fun occasion, and we welcome all who are interested. 

With questions, please contact Kate Avinger's cell at 706-461-1089. 

Family Promise


Family Promise is moving to their new Family Resource Center in December! There are multiple opportunities for us to sign up to help with the moving and cleaning and organizing process. See the sign-up genius link here. If there is a group that wants volunteer at a different time than those listed in the signup genius, contact Annette Bates.



Youth Sunday!


December 15th is Youth Sunday! Join us to celebrate our youth members as they lead worship at both 8am and 10:30. They have an interesting sermon, music selection, and a few special prayers prepared for you.

Advent Adult Spiritual Formation

Nothing in all creation is so like God as stillness. - Meister Eckhart 


On Wednesday evenings in December, Gene Ruffin will lead a program on contemplation and Advent (December 4, 11, 18). The program will reflect on Advent as an opportunity to be present in the moment rather than simply waiting for something to occur. Through the practice of stillness we are arrayed more deeply to the arrival of the season.  


We will have a simple supper at 6pm and then have the program at 6:30pm.   


ADVENT MEDITATION PRACTICE


Melissa Hamlin will be leading a guided meditation during Advent. This is for beginners and those who would like to reignite their practice. Wednesday evenings 5:30-6PM in the library (Dec. 4, 11, 18).


The Meridian Women's Chorus invites you their annual Holiday Tapestry Concert on Saturday, December 7th at 2:00 pm at Holy Cross Lutheran Church. The concert is free and will include performances by the Athens Recorder Ensemble, the Trinity Handbell Choir, and OC A CAPPELLA. The concert will be followed by a reception and Holiday Market. For more information, contact Director Stacie Court at stacie.court@gmail.com or 706-424-9516.


Our entire Athens faith community is invited to the 30th Annual Holiday Benevolence Market on Sunday, December 8, from noon to 3:00 p.m. at Covenant Presbyterian Church, 1065 Gaines School Road, Athens. The Market is a popular place to purchase teacher gifts, appreciation gifts for everyone and stocking stuffers. Gifts range in price from $5 to $150 - in the form of donations - and are tax-deductible. Refreshments will be served. Everyone is invited. Come support the missions of local nonprofits serving those most in need, and get your Christmas shopping done!

Poinsettias


If you wish to give a poinsettia this Christmas in honor or memory of a loved one, the deadline for ordering will be Friday, Dec. 20. The suggested donation this year is $15 per dedication. Please place your completed form (see blue forms in the narthex) and your check in the offering plate on Sundays, Kendall’s office door, or mail it to the parish office. You may also contact the office by email.


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.  

Vicky Tavernier and Jenifer Borg currently have an exhibit of new artwork and poems at the Winterville Library that will run until 12/27. The exhibit is entitled "Tide Pools, Rainforests, Deserts, and Fields" and includes work from their book, "What Hides in the Tides" and "Stay a While with a Reptile". They will have a "make and take" at the library on 12/14 from 10:00 - 12:00 where anyone can drop in and make a creation of their own. 

Library hours: Tuesday/Thursday: 3:00 - 7:00PM, Wednesday/Friday/Saturday: 10:00AM-2:00PM.


The Athens Area Emergency Food Bank needs pork 'n beans! Please help us fill the Little Red Wagon!


advent 

 

ordinary

time is now past

as we prepare

for one forecast

 

by recalling

what was to come

when power made

the privileged numb

 

to the humble

and faithful mass

imprisoned in

their lower class

 

who longed to be

set free to love

by someone sent

from god above



alice mohor


For baby boomers and those who love them, Alice Mohor's newest book of poetry, Senior Days, can now be ordered from book sellers (Amazon, Avid, Barnes and Noble) and from the author. ISBN 979-8-9900028-4-5

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.


Room at the Table Welcome to Room at the Table. Single, married, partnered, employed, free-wheeling, joy-loving...all are invited! If you want to take time and get to know more about me and other siblings from our church, over a good meal, if you want to share stories and laughter, join us for lunch! Lunch will be Weds., Dec 11 next month at 12 noon. The group will decide on the restaurant for the following month, at each lunch fellowship.



Ceilidh Folk Service St Gregory's offers a monthly Ceilidh service (pronounced kay-lee) on the 3rd Friday of the month (December 20). 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


Acolyte Sign-Up

Give online
See what's happening on our social sites:
Facebook  Instagram  
St. Gregory the Great Episcopal Church | office@stgregoryathens.org
706.546.7553 | www.stregoryathens.org