Called to Worship. Sent to Witness. Led to Welcome.

From the Associate Rector

Maundy Thursday

This Holy week, I have found myself called back to the American Trappist Monk and theologian, Thomas Merton. I first encountered Merton when a friend gave me a small card with the following prayer from Thoughts on Solitude:

"My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end. Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think that I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so. But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you. And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing. I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire. And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road, though I may know nothing about it. Therefore will I trust you always, though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death. I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and you will never leave me to face my perils alone."

This prayer has long served as a comforting reminder to me that all that we need to bring is the wish to desire and to know God more fully, and God will do the rest. I often think of this within the Maundy Thursday liturgy when we wash each other’s feet. This gesture of tender care embodies the acceptance we experience in Jesus. God’s love presses upon us, behind and before us, in ways we are only beginning to understand (Psalm 139:4); buoyed by this love in the stormy seas of grief and uncertainty, we are tasked with embracing others.

Tonight as we gather for the ritual washing of feet in our Maundy Thursday liturgy, invite God to continually teach you to love the neighbor whose feet you hold. Dusty and calloused as we are, we follow one who has taught us how to live and love even (especially) in the face of death.

Pax et bonum,

Mother Molly+

Holy Week Worship

& Formation Schedule with Links

A NOTE ABOUT PARKING FOR EVENING HOLY WEEK SERVICES

Starting tonight and going through Saturday evening, the opening series of the Greenville Drive's season will be starting each night at 6:45 PM, which is why we moved our Thursday and Friday service start time to 6 PM. But it still means that available parking around the church will be more limited than usual. 

As a result, we encourage as many of you as are able (and have a Saint Andrew's sticker in your window) to park in Saint Andrew's parking spots on the ground floor of the Homewood Suites parking garage across Markley from the church. (Saint Andrew's parishioners with a sticker can park in any of the spots marked "Permit Parking" on the ground floor). Alternatively, you can park in any available street spots.

However, if you park in West End Baptist's lot this week (the one adjacent to the church) and get a parking ticket while attending a Saint Andrew's service (which is less likely to happen if you have a Saint Andrew's sticker in your car window), please take a photo of the ticket and e-mail it to Fr. Gary with an explanation--so that we can reach out to West End Baptist to have it voided.

To add someone to the Parish Prayer List, please contact the office. To add someone to the Daughters of the King prayer list, please e-mail dok@standrewsgreenville.org There is also wooden box in the Narthex where you can fill out prayer cards.

The Daughters will add your names to their prayers. 

4/1 Susan Buck

4/1 Andrew Raines

4/3 Donna King

4/4 Ginger Blankenship

4/4 Isabella Gosnell

4/4 Bob MacElhiney

4/6 Peter McCauley

4/7 Melody Breen

4/7 Grace Culbreath

4/7 Michael Twomey

4/9 David Blauch

4/9 Roy Jordan

4/13 Tony Knox

4/13 Cynthia Boswell

4/13 Austin Cochrane

4/13 August Whitmire

4/14 Freddie Buck

4/15 Patty Slay

4/17 Brian Connaughton

4/17 Mark Johnson

4/18 Katherine Hall

4/18 Thomas Lever

4/22 Steve Fairley

4/25 Liz Henderson

4/26 Nancy Molleson

4/29 Garrison Clark

Announcements

Sign Up for Vigil at the Altar of Repose

The Vigil with the Reserved Sacrament at the Altar of Repose is an opportunity to reflect upon Christ's words to his disciples, "Could you not keep watch with me for one hour?" Following the Maundy Thursday service, the Reserved Sacrament will be kept on an altar downstairs in the Parish Hall until the Good Friday evening service. An officer will be in the parking lot 8 PM - 8 AM to ensure the safety of those coming at night. Please consider signing up for an hour. 

Update on Part-Time Job Opportunities

at Saint Andrew's

Our search for a new Parish Administrator is ongoing. We have also begun a search for an Interim Organist/Choirmaster. If you know of anyone who might be interested in either position, job descriptions can be found on our website via the link below.

A Note on Parish Name Tags

As our parish family continues to grow, we have a wonderful opportunity to extend hospitality in a simple but meaningful way.

If you requested a name tag in the last 2 weeks, it should be ready for you on Sunday. If do not have a name tag, have misplaced yours, or need something changed, please let us know so we can provide one for you. Kindly email our Frances, Director of Communications.

Thank you for helping us build a more connected and hospitable parish!

Catechesis of the Good Shepherd for 3-to-9-Year- Olds | Continues This Sunday | 9:30 AM | The Atrium (upstairs in the Parish Hall)

Please note the adjusted schedule for Catechesis of the Good Shepherd for the next few weeks.

• April 5 - No Class (due to Flowering of the Cross and Digging Up the Alleluias)
• April 12 - Resume normal class schedule

Just Faith Study Group | Monday, April 6 | 6-7 PM | Parish Hall

Join us for Session 3 of our Just Faith meetings nexy Monday, April 6 at 6 PM. A light supper will be provided and to honor your time, we will start and end on time. If you are running a few minutes late, please come on in and join us!

Additional future dates: April 20

If you have any questions or ideas for supporting content, please send them to Anne Kaiser.

GOAL Justice Nehemiah Action Rally | Thursday, April 9 | 6:30 PM | First Baptist Church of Greenville (847 Cleveland St)

GOAL Justice’s 2026 focus continues on affordable housing and mental health specifically: evictions and teen bullying and suicides. Every month 1200 evictions, which often become a permanent record, are filed in Greenville County making our community one of the highest eviction rates nationally. We have a 655 to 1 student ratio for school counselors to students compared to the national average of 1 to 300. 

Simply by showing up, you will demonstrate to the elected officials the importance of these issues and you will make a difference in our community. The power of your presence is significant. When an elected official looks across 1500 people in First Baptist Church, they know we care.

Please join me and other committed Saint Andrews parishioners on Thursday, April 9 at First Baptist Church of Greenville for the Nehemiah Action Rally at 6:30 PM. Doors open at 6:00 and the inspiring session ends at 8:00 PM.

If you have any questions, please reach out to Anne Kaiser.

Rebuild Upstate Work Day | Saturday, April 11 | 8:30-5:00

Seeking Volunteers: Please consider being part of our next Rebuild project team! Rebuild Upstate envisions a future where everyone has the opportunity to live a life of dignity in a safe home environment in order to maintain and foster strong, sustainable communities. They provide a skilled Team Leader and supplies, and we provide the labor. The Saint Andrew’s team will work hard while serving God and showing love to our neighbors. 

View this video for an overview of a build day:

Registering now will help Rebuild match us with a project perfect for our volunteer team. Email Ellen Mays (ellen.mays@yahoo.com) with any questions or to share your excitement about our partnership with Rebuild Upstate.

Second Sunday Harvest | April 12

Our goal for April's offering is 50 cans of fruit and baked beans, a specific request from United Ministries.

April Youth Group | Hike at Conestee Nature Preserve (840 Mauldin Road, Greenville SC) | Sunday, April 19 | 5 to 7 PM

This month, our youth and their friends in fifth grade through high school will gather at Conestee Nature Preserve, where we will celebrate the mass over the course of a hike—concluding with a time of food and fellowship. We will meet up at 5 PM at the Pavilion by the Playground at the Main Entrance (at 840 Mauldin Road). Please RSVP to formation@standrewsgreenville.org.

Newcomers’ Gathering | Sunday, April 26 | 5-7 PM | At the Rector’s House

All newcomers, both recent visitors and new members, are invited to a casual get together with the vestry, our clergy, and leaders of various church ministries, on the evening of Sunday, April 26, at the Eichelbergers’ house.

Episcopal Church Women (ECW) Marian Tea | Saturday, May 2 | 2:00 PM | Parish Hall

All are welcome to join us for this special event! The Rev’d Canon Lee Ann Tolzmann will be our speaker. The Marian Tea is sponsored by Saint Andrew’s Episcopal Church Women. You can signup for an individual ticket, or for a table (seats 6-8). Saint Andrew’s ECW will also host a representative of Greenville’s Gift at the Marian Tea, and all monetary donations at the event will go towards the efforts of this charity. Physical donations in the form of clothing, preferably new newborn to one year sized, blankets, and bibs will be collected to help their goal of supporting the newest members of the Greenville community in need.

New Saint Andrew’s Parish Directory Available

The 125th Anniversary Edition of Saint Andrew’s Parish Directory now available. Please let us know if you have not gotten your copy yet! You can pick up one per household from the Parish Office.

Coffee Hour

Volunteers Needed!

Please consider volunteering to assist with refreshments and set up for our coffee hour fellowship following the 10:30 AM Mass. A sign up sheet can be found on the “Welcome” bulletin board in the Parish Hall or online at the link below.

Several St. Andrew’s parishioners recently attended a special community lecture hosted by John Nolan, owner of Greenville History & Culinary Tours and President of the Greenville County Historical Society. These parishioners are all Certified Tourism Ambassadors through Visit Greenville. Held at Avenue in downtown Greenville, the event brought guests together for an afternoon of connection and conversation, followed by an engaging presentation exploring Greenville’s past, present, and future. 

Invitation to Submit Future Parishioner Postings ...

If you have news of important milestones or work that you would like to share with the parish, please let us know!

From Our Bishop...

From the Diocese...

PLEASE NOTE: The Diocese just announced a Six Month Delay for the Diocesan Day of Discernment (previously set for March 14)

NEW DATE IS SEPTEMBER 12

(Sorry for any inconvenience caused for those who plan to attend.)

From Project Host...

From GOAL Justice ...

Altar Guild Volunteers Needed

The Altar Guild is currently looking for people who may be interested in serving with them. If you are interested, or have questions, please reach out to Lesley Moore or Linda Fitzsimmons.  

Choir | Rehearsal on Sundays at 9:30 AM 

We are always seeking additional volunteers for the Saint Andrew’s choir, which currently gathers on Sunday mornings at 9:30 AM (and not on Wednesday evenings) to prepare the music for the 10:30 mass. This more limited time commitment provides an excellent opportunity for prospective new members to “try us out.” If you have questions, contact the Parish Office—or just show up on Sunday morning!

Volunteers Needed

Feed Thy Neighbor

Founded in 2010, Feed Thy Neighbor is a cooperative effort of the Episcopal community in Greenville. Parish volunteers from Saint Andrew’s, St. Peter’s, St. James, and Christ Church feed the hungry each Saturday from 7:30 to 8:30 AM. We are seeking volunteers to help serve and clean up. Please contact the office if you would like to volunteer: office@standrewsgreenville.org.