Called to Worship. Sent to Witness. Led to Welcome. | | From a Member of Saint Andrew's | | |
Practicing Wonder
In the book This Here Flesh, by Cole Arthur Riley, the author opens with, “Have you ever stood in the presence of a tree and listened to the wind pass through its leaves? The roots and body stand defiant and unmoved. But listen. The branches stretch out their tongues and whisper shhhhh.” As a creature who prefers to be outside I love to do this and it always leads to wonder.
Wonder, I wonder what wonder really is? I wonder if we have spaces that allow or even encourage time to wonder? I wonder how you would feel to sit quietly in a space carefully curated for your eyes and ears and hands? A space for you to come so close to God and for God to come so close to you, that it feels safe to wonder who He/She really is? I wonder what that may have been like if you were a child? It does exist, it is any version of Maria Montessori and Sofia Cavaletti’s desire to teach children in this way; about who and whose they really are. Jesus and the Young Child, Godly Play and Catechesis of the Good Shepherd are all methods of creating space for wonder for children. As you may know, we have an Atrium dedicated to Catechesis of the Good Shepherd. A space dedicated to giving children a place to wonder. Before we enter the Atrium we take our shoes off and stand quietly in a line to get ready to enter our sacred space. We do not need to say shhhhh, it comes naturally. The anticipation of being outside and waiting to be welcomed into a sacred space is Holy ground, (Exodus 3:5) Where do you find that Holy ground, that preparation time to enter sacred space? How do you enter sacred space? That sacred space could be anywhere, but the preparation to enter is just as important as entering. If you are not ready to come close to God, you won’t hear or feel his presence. (Jeremiah 29:13)
One of the kinds of stories we tell in the Atrium are the parables of Jesus. Before telling a parable, I love to use the words and movements of Jerome Berryman, creator of Godly Play. I show the box, which has a lid. I say, I wonder what this could be? This is a parable. It looks like a gift, and it is. It is a gift that was given to you, not because it is your birthday or Christmas, just because you were born. Jesus gave you this gift. It is also in a beautiful box, so whatever is inside must be precious, more precious than gold or silver. It has a lid, and when we knock on it, we find sometimes it does not open for us, and that is ok. We just keep coming back to the parable until it does open.” As we are in the great green growing Sundays after Pentecost, we hear Jesus’ parables in the Gospel readings. I invite you to imagine each one in the manner described above. Wonder about them, and keep coming back to them.
Recently, I spent time visiting with Chuck Evans, an Anglican Superhero in my book. We chatted about keeping our liturgy and traditions alive and I reflected with him that we are doing that with our children in Catechesis, we are doing that in a sacred space designed for the youngest to be safe to wonder and know that we are coming so close to God and God is coming so close to us. God is within us as we wonder!
Prepare to enter a sacred space and spend time wondering there about the mysteries and beauty of God’s presence within you. If you desire to know more about our Atrium, please ask, we’d love to share it with you!
– Cheryl Banks
| | Worship & Formation Schedule with Links | | |
Sunday, July 26 - The Ninth Sunday after Pentecost
8:30 AM Low Mass, Rite II
10:30 AM Sung High Mass, Rite I (livestream available)
Wednesday, July 29 - The Feast of Mary and Martha of Bethany
5:30 PM Healing Mass, Rite II
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| Prayer Requests & Resources | |
The following people have been commended
to the prayers of the parish:
| Bob, Brian, Charlie, Chuck, Cleve, Don, Doug, Holly, Jim, Jodi, Joe, John, Joyce, Lyra, Margaret Lee, Margaret, Marvin, Mary, Nancy, Patt, Shawn, Sylvia, Ted, Terry, Theresa, Wade, and Will | | |
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.
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7/27 Cindy Henry
7/27 Emily Shields
7/27 John Siegel
7/27 Anna Whitmire
7/28 Johnny Buck
7/28 Mary Jo Totman
7/29 Quincy Buck
August Birthdays:
8/2 Lenderman Rhodes
8/4 Nancy Barutio
8/4 Andrew Honohan
8/4 Anne Kaiser
8/7 Leigh Randall
8/7 Hampton Shields
8/13 Ava Honohan
8/15 John Bennett
8/16 Mary Patterson Fenn
8/18 Jimmy Worley
8/20 Virginia Eichelberger
8/21 J.J. Andrighetti
8/21 Theo Woodard
8/22 Chuck Evans
8/22 Meg Woodard
8/24 Gwynne Armstrong
8/24 Asher Boswell
8/24 Kevin Moore
8/25 Russell Conner
8/26 Frances Twomey
8/28 Millicent Apperson
8/28 Jane Babb
8/30 Angie Honohan
8/31 Cheryl Fairley
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Guest Organist at 10:30 AM Mass
We welcome Ray Bennett as our guest organist for Sunday's 10:30 Mass. Thank you, Ray, for sharing your gifts with the Parish!
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Clergy Schedule
Mtr. Lee Ann Tolzmann will be preaching in both masses this Sunday. Mtr. Lee Ann+ will also be preaching and celebrating at our Wednesday Healing masses on August 5 and August 12 at 5:30 p.m. We are grateful to Mtr. Lee Ann for her continued leadership in our worship life!
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Quarterly Planning Lunch Meeting | Wednesday, July 29 | Noon | Parish Hall
Our next Quarterly Planning Meeting with leaders of various parish ministries will take place in the parish hall on Wednesday, July 29 at noon. Please join us as we look ahead to the coming season of worship and ministry at Saint Andrew’s, and as we prepare for exciting things to come.
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Summer Family Social | Sunday, August 2 | 4-6 PM | Parish Hall
Join us on August 2 for a Summer Social with ECW and Mission & Outreach. Bring a snack, dessert, or appetizer to share as we play games and fellowship with one another. All donations will go to the Mission & Outreach committee. Contact Marion Reeves, ECW President, with any questions.
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Practicing Prayer and Pilgrimage: Walking the Labyrinth | Saturday, August 8
Please join us on August 8 for a prayer walk at a local labyrinth. This is a wonderful opportunity to practice Father Gary's sabbatical themes of prayer and pilgrimage together. More details about time and location coming soon!
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Save the Date! Blessing of the Backpacks | Sunday, August 9 | Both Masses
Many of our local schools start back on Tuesday, August 11! Students and teachers are encouraged to bring their backpacks to church on Sunday, August 9, so that the students, teachers, and their backpacks can be blessed for the upcoming school year. The blessing will take place in both masses.
| | Updated Clergy-Led Bible Study Start Date
Clergy-Led Bible Study will resume on August 25 and continue weekly on Tuesdays. All are welcome to join us as we continue in the Gospel of Matthew. Signup to receive Bible Study emails!
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Choir Rehearsal Update
Now through Labor Day, Sunday morning choir rehearsals will take place at 9:30 AM in the Parish Hall with the piano. Starting September 13, we will begin rehearsal at 9:00 AM in the Parish Hall before moving to the sanctuary at 9:30 AM for the remaining time. Please make a note of this change.
Additionally, please let Leslie Boyette know if you have a preference on a mid-week rehearsal day. This would begin the week of September 13. Due to other activities going on in the Parish Hall on Wednesday evenings this fall, it may be best to rehearse on another day. If you have a preference, please email Leslie.
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What’s your favorite hymn?!
Do you have a favorite hymn from The Hymnal 1982? For the remainder of the summer, we hope to feature some of your favorite hymns during the 10:30 AM Mass on Sundays. Please email Leslie Boyette the hymn title and hymn number to submit your choice.
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Back to School Supply Drive:
Now until August 2
Saint Andrew’s is once again partnering with Christ Church Episcopal to fill 150 backpacks for students in need of school supplies. We have already surpassed our goal to collect 150 boxes of 24 Count Crayola Crayons! We will continue collecting crayons through Sunday, August 2. If you wish to contribute crayons, please bring boxes to the Parish Hall.
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Save the Date!
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Clergy Schedule | Mtr. Lee Ann Tolzmann will be preaching in both masses on August 9, as well presiding at Wednesday's Healing Masses on August 5 and 12.
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Youth Back to School Bowling Gathering | Sunday, August 23
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Annual Pledge Campaign Kick-off | October 4
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Bishop's Visitation | November 1
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A Note on Parish Name Tags
Another batch of name tags has been placed on the name tag board for this Sunday! If do not have a name tag, have misplaced yours, or need something changed, or if you requested a name tag previously but have not seen it on the board, please let email Frances Twomey, our Director of Communications.
Thank you for helping us build a more connected and hospitable parish!
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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.
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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.
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UPDATED: Parking at Saint Andrew's
For detailed parking instructions, click here.
***PLEASE NOTE - West End Baptist Church, which owns the parking lot around Saint Andrew's, has reduced the parking lot area available on Sundays to the area closer to South Main Street--with the back part of the parking lot (against Rhett Street) no longer available. As a result, please enter the parking lot via South Main Street. The map linked below has been updated to reflect that change.***
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Note: You need a parking decal to park in the designated lots. They can be found on the shelf to the left of the doors as you exit the church.
| Sunday Altar Flower and Presence Candle Dedications | |
On Sundays, we have the opportunity to offer a special dedication of the altar flowers or presence candle in honor, memory, or celebration of loved ones. The cost to the church for altar flowers is now $100 per Sunday, so we are suggesting that donations for dedicating altar flowers be in the range of $50 to $100 to help us cover those costs. The suggested donation for a presence candle dedication is $10.
If you would like to sign up for a Sunday, please see the sign up sheet on the bulletin in the Parish Hall or click on the button below. You may place a check in the offering plate with "Altar Flowers" or "Presence Candle" noted in the memo.
We will continue to only have Altar Flowers if someone has signed up and paid for the arrangements. As a result, we will need to know by the Tuesday prior to the upcoming Sunday if you would like to sign up.
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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!
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News from the Wider Church
and from Our Ministry Partners
| | Notes Along the Way | from the 250th Celebration of Independence Day at the State Capitol | Lord God Almighty, who hast made all the peoples of the earth for thy glory, to serve thee in freedom and in peace: Give to the people of our country a zeal for justice and the strength of forbearance, that we may use our liberty in accordance with thy gracious will; through Jesus Christ our Lord. | | | Living the Reign | Your Diocesan Newsletter | University Hospital in Mirebalais (HUM) shut down. Patients relocated. Doctors relocated. Families relocated. Many went north to Cange in the Central Plateau. In a matter of weeks, a system designed for stability absorbed a surge that would cripple most communities. Patient volumes spiked. Water demand surged. Logistics tightened. Supply chains strained. | | | From Episcopal Relief and Development... | Donate to International Disaster Fund for Venezuela | Give urgent support to families and communities impacted by disasters like the Venezuelan earthquakes by supporting Episcopal Relief & Development's International Disaster Fund. | | | Get Strategies and Workshop Ideas at The Learning Lab | Second Session, August 29! | You and your ministry team are welcome to join the Diocesan House at The Learning Lab - The Episcopal Operating System! Over the course of the next year, we'll provide experts in each field to discuss topics relevant to the operation of every congregation. | | | |
Thank you for standing alongside us this summer. Whether you've volunteered, donated, or simply shared our mission with others, you are helping us build a healthier, stronger Greenville. As we celebrate Independence Day this weekend, we hope you enjoy a safe and happy Fourth of July with your family and friends! | | | |
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.
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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.
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