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The


Gregorian


Chant

When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby in her womb leaped. She was filled with the Holy Spirit, and sang out exuberantly,


You’re so blessed among women,

  and the babe in your womb, also blessed!

And why am I so blessed that

  the mother of my Lord visits me?

The moment the sound of your

  greeting entered my ears,

The babe in my womb

  skipped like a lamb for sheer joy.

Luke 1:40-44  the MSG


Hello Greatly Beloveds! 


Advent 4, and shortly after that, Christmas is almost upon us. Whether you’re all decorated, shopped, and wrapped for the festivities or still getting stuff done, you’re doing it all in a body that holds the Holy Spirit. Maybe take some time to think about the mystery that Advent and Christmas are not simply events, but they are experiences that are happening inside you, body, mind, and spirit. Happy Advent and Merry Christmas to you and yours!! Here’s an Advent prayer from the book Black Liturgies by Cole Arthur Riley:


God of the womb,


It is not lost on us that you submitted to the body of a woman, trusting in it to protect and grow you. As we remember the nine months you dwelt in the womb, the body of God being nurtured and carried, remind us that our own bodies are worthy of such care and tenderness. May this be a season of sacred pause, as we allow time to be near to our own bodies, to protect and strengthen them. In a world that demands so much of us, remind us that Christ did not come to us in physical independence, allowing the world to take and use him without limitation. Show us the face of the Christ who was gravely dependent, who needed to be held, fed, washed. Who needed to be soothed and rocked to sleep. If we are to honor the divine in us, may it be this divinity—fully embodied, fully dignified in the body. Amen.


Love,

Mother Nikki

CEILIDH: FOLK SERVICE OFFERING TONIGHT


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

Christmas Eve is almost here and we have practices scheduled for the Children's Pageant.


1. Sunday, 12/22, after the 10:30 service, practice with the Band of Believers. This includes a pizza lunch! Please RSVP by Saturday, 12/21, if you will be able to attend so we can plan for enough food. Text Kate Avinger (706) 461-1089, or email Jenifer Borg at jeniferaborg@gmail.com. 

Anyone is welcome even if you didn't RSVP, but you might want to bring a snack with you in case we run out of pizza.


2. For Christmas Eve, please be at the Christian Ed building at 4:00 to dress in costume and practice with the band in the Sanctuary. Please be on time so everyone can get prepared. Any last minute participants are welcome, we have parts for many possible angels, shepherds, sheep and other animals.


We will also practice during Children's Church on the 22nd.

Band of Believers!


Band of Believers! We will practice this Sunday from 9:45-10:30AM in the Children's Chapel. Then we have practice with the children after the 10:30AM service. On Christmas Eve, we have rehearsal at 4PM before the service at 5PM.

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. 

Flower Guild


If anyone is available to help decorate the church on Monday, Dec. 23 @ 10AM, please come help the flower guild! Also, if you have berries on any of your greenery around your house, please bring to the sanctuary!

Christmas Eve Receptions

Christmas Eve is nearly here! What could be better after the Christmas eve services than greeting friends and sharing a lovely treat? If you would like to share a plate of your own special Christmas cookies or savories just pop it on the table in the parish hall before either service! The elves will really appreciate your help!

CHRISTMAS AT ST. GREGORY’S


Tuesday, December 24

4PM Pageant Rehearsal

5PM Children’s Pageant & Holy Eucharist *

Reception

9:30PM Music Prelude *

10PM Festival Eucharist & Choir *

Reception


Wednesday, December 25

10AM Holy Eucharist & Carols *



Sunday, December 29

8AM Holy Eucharist 

10:30AM Holy Eucharist * (no Sunday school; nursery opens at 10AM)


* indicates live streamed services

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.  

Letter from Santa


My dear Gregorians:


A number of years ago, a great American author wrote a poem about me. Part of it went:


You better watch out,

You better not cry,

Better not pout,

I'm telling you why:

Santa Claus is comin' to town.


That’s right! I may be all jolly and given to random bursts of laughter, but I know who’s a Scrooge and who’s a Cratchett—and especially who’s a Tiny Tim. That great poem I mentioned goes on to say:


He's making a list

And checking it twice,

Gonna find out

Who's naughty and who’s given to the Stewardship Drive and the Capital

Campaign


Ho ho ho!


But seriously. I’m sure you already know that the best Christmas presents folks like you can give one other and the wider world are the gifts of friendship, welcome, tolerance, and community—in short, the great gift of love, as your awesome rector is fond of reminding you.


But it doesn’t hurt to help pay the bills through your stewardship pledge and to secure the future through your capital campaign commitment!


I see from the records my elves have shown me that you have already collectively given over $300,000 to each campaign. That’s a great start! I expect you know that your Stewardship pledges pay for your rector and other staff members, for the daily operation of the church, for your many ministries, and for the outreach of the entire Episcopal Church to the rest of the world. Thanks to your pledges, children everywhere will feel your love this holiday season. And I guess you likewise know that your gifts to the capital campaign will enable your facility to continue functioning and even to improve the welcome you offer to the community.


What you’ve done so far is great! But can you keep it up? If you do, who knows how bright the future might be? I’ve been checking my list, and I don’t see a single lump-of-coal recipient among you. Let’s keep it that way! Stay open, stay kind, and stay generous.


I want to wish you all a very merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!


Signed, S. Claus

The North Pole, December 2024

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.


Athens Hockey!


January 11th: Rock Lobsters game benefitting Family Promise - use this link to buy your ticket to the game and $5 will be donated to us for every ticket sold. In addition, during the game, they will be selling foam pucks. At the second intermission, patrons who buy the pucks will throw them on the ice. The puck that gets closest to the target receives prizes such as gift cards to local restaurants! The proceeds from the puck sales go to Family Promise as well. 



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


children all

 

each day shorter

with longer night

as we await

the coming light

 

to wake us from

complacency

to help those who

are not yet free

 

from fear or doubt

or arrogance

for their present

bourn circumstance

 

to love each one

with dignity

to bring us all

to unity



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 Thursdays 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