Called to Worship. Sent to Witness. Led to Welcome. | | |
Beginning My Tenth Year as Your Rector
in Hope & Anticipation
For most of today, I have been thinking that this was the ninth anniversary of my first day serving as the Rector of Saint Andrew’s – so that, tomorrow, I would be entering my tenth year. However, as I sat down to write this reflection, I looked back at the calendar on my computer and realized that I had been mistaken all day long.
My first day at Saint Andrew’s – when, as Rector, I climbed the stairs in the Parish Hall for the first time – was actually Monday, October 10, 2016. The date that I was recalling – October 16, 2016 – was actually my first Sunday leading worship at Saint Andrew’s. (What a glorious – and nerve-wracking – experience that was!) So, contrary to what I had been thinking all day, I am now almost a week into my tenth year as your priest!
These types of milestones – not unlike the milestone of 125 years of existence that this parish has been celebrating – are not determinative in and of themselves. However, like birthdays and anniversaries, they offer us the opportunity to reflect on the past, to be grateful for the many blessings that have brought us to the present, and to consider how we might honor those blessings going forward.
For me, it provides a chance to express my gratitude for what an honor and privilege it is to get to serve God and God’s people in this place. And to express my hope that I will be able to do so for many more years.
Moreover, as we continue our Annual Pledge Campaign, we have the opportunity to express our gratitude through the generous and sacrificial offerings that we pledge to our common mission and ministry – promising to share our resources so that, through our common labor, we can continue to make God’s abundant and life-giving love known to the world around us.
As we plan for the next year, I am hopeful that this will be one in which Saint Andrew’s continues to grow in surprising and grace-filled ways. Moreover, as we prepare for my upcoming time of sabbatical in mid-2026, it is my hope that, through our planning and generous giving, we will be able to budget for additional priestly leadership that can join in the faithful labor of caring for God’s people in this place.
Through discernment with our vestry and other parish leaders, we have begun to plan for the possibility of a second full-time priest being called to Saint Andrew’s before I start my sabbatical next summer—and then having that individual continue through – and after – that time. In particular, we are envisioning someone whose experience in children, youth, and other formational ministries would build upon and broaden our parish life. I invite your prayers for our continued discernment in this regard. For me, it is an incredibly exciting time to consider the possibilities ahead!
Thank you for all the ways that you share of your selves, your time, and your resources in support of our common calling – as we continue to see how God, “working in us, can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine” (Ephesians 3:20).
Grace & Peace,
Fr. Gary+
| | Worship & Formation Schedule with Links | | |
Sunday, October 19 - The Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost
Rev. Fr. Trey Garland, guest preacher (and celebrant at 10:30)
8:30 AM Low Mass, Rite II
9:30 AM Catechesis of the Good Shepherd
10:30 AM Sung High Mass, Rite I, with Baptism (livestream available)
Tuesday, October 21
4:00 PM Clergy-Led Bible Study
Wednesday, October 22 - Saint James of Jerusalem, Brother of our Lord (observed)
5:30 PM Healing Mass, Rite II, followed by Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament
Saturday, October 25
11:00 AM Requiem Mass for Charles Warder
| | Prayer Requests & Resources | |
The following people have been commended
to the prayers of the parish:
| Bob, Brian, Charlie, Chuck, Deirdre, Dick, Don, Esley, Jane, Jim, Jodi, Joyce, Karen, Lyra, Margaret Lee, Margaret, Marvin, Mary, Nancy, Patt, Robin, Shawn, Sylvia, Terry, Theresa, Tom, Tristan, Wade, and Winona | | |
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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10/1 Haven Brunson
10/1 Lesley Moore
10/1 Julia Steele
10/3 Harris Banks
10/5 Jennie Batte
10/6 Bill Merkt
10/7 Tim Lewis
10/9 Helen Farmer
10/9 Jackie Roeske
10/11 Nora Santilli
10/12 Bill McCoy
10/12 Larie Buck
10/12 Caitlin Herrington
10/16 Dedra Johnson
10/17 Charlie Duncan
10/17 David Perry
10/18 Wade Cleveland
10/19 Jeff Peer
10/19 Laura Stewart
10/19 Taylor Edmonds
10/20 Aedan Honohan
10/20 Hunter Gower
10/21 Jessica Woods
10/21 Emily Culbreath
10/26 Jerry Batte
10/26 Amanda Abreu
10/27 Erin Culbertson
10/27 Pat Duncan
10/27 Brenda Cale
10/28 Jack Eichelberger
10/30 Ethan Andrighetti
10/30 Jack Martin
10/30 Ryan Clark
| | 2026 Annual Pledge Campaign Update | | |
We are in the second week of our 6-week Annual Pledge Campaign, which began on October 5. As of yesterday, we had received 22 pledges and total amount pledged is $81,103.00.
Please submit your pledges (by mail, the offering plate, or online) by November 16, and help us reach our goal of 130 pledges and $370,000 in dollars pledged. Thank you to all who have already submitted their pledges!
The buttons below provide links to the digital pledge packet as well one to make your pledge online:
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Upcoming Anniversary Special Events:
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This Sunday, October 19 | At Both Masses | Guest Preacher & Celebrant, The Rev'd Trey Garland, Former Rector
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All Saints Sunday, November 2 | UPDATE: Unfortunately, due to recent health concerns, The Right Rev'd Dorsey Henderson, Former Bishop of Upper South Carolina, is going to have to reschedule his visit to Saint Andrew's to a later date. In the meantime, we will pray that Bishop Henderson's recovery goes well.
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Sunday, November 16 | Feast of Saint Andrew & Annual Parish Meeting
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Baptism | This Sunday, October 19 | 10:30 AM Mass
At the 10:30 AM Mass this coming Sunday, we are delighted to have the opportunity to baptize, through water and the Holy Spirit, Rory Gower, son of Amy and Todd Gower. We are grateful for this opportunity to welcome Rory into Christ’s Body the Church, and we extend a warm welcome to those visiting for this special morning!
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125th Anniversary Guest Preaching Series Continues with Fr. Trey Garland | This Sunday, October 19 | Both Masses
We look forward to having Fr. Trey Garland with us this Sunday, as guest preacher at both masses -- and celebrant at the 10:30 Mass. Fr. Trey served as Rector at Saint Andrew’s from 2008 to 2012. We are grateful for all the gifts in ministry that he has shared with Saint Andrew’s over the years—and we are delighted to welcome him back to the pulpit as we celebrate our 125th anniversary year!
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Vestry Meeting | This Sunday, October 19 | 12:30 PM
Our monthly vestry meeting will take place in the upstairs of the Parish House following Sunday’s 10:30 AM Sung High Mass.
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Catechesis of the Good Shepherd for 3-to-9-Year- Olds | Continues This Sunday | 9:30 AM | The Atrium (upstairs in the Parish Hall)
We have begun our second full academic year of Catechesis of the Good Shepherd — an approach to Christian formation that builds upon Montessori methods of learning. With Catechesis, we seek to nourish and encourage that desire for deeper relationship—drawing forth both joy and wonder in the child. If you have any questions, feel free to speak with Fr. Gary or Cheryl Banks, who are serving as our lead catechists this year.
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Garden Crew | Saturday, October 18 | 9 - 11 AM
Join our Garden Crew this Saturday, October 18, from 9 to 11 AM, for our monthly gathering as we care for the church grounds and do an early fall clean-up. Contact Annette Geraghty with any questions.
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Monthly Youth Gathering | Sunday, October 26
5-7 PM | Parish Hall
Next Sunday, October 26, our students will gather at the parish from 5 to 7 PM for our monthly youth gathering. We will play games, eat dinner, and have a lesson on worship, witness, and welcome - the core elements of the church's mission.
RSVP to formation@standrewsgreenville.org if you plan to join!
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All Saints Sunday | November 2
The Feast of All Saints, on which we celebrate the lives and witness of all the saints of the church, is one of the four feast days that our prayer book designates as “especially appropriate” for Holy Baptism. Please contact Fr. Gary if you have interest in baptism for yourself or a family member.
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All Souls Day | Monday, November 3 | 12 Noon
We will celebrate the Feast of All Souls with Remembrance of the Faithful Departed. Please add the names of those who have died that you wish to remember. You may submit names by writing them in The Book of Remembrance in the narthex, or by submitting them online below.
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Time and Talent Spotlights
Over the next few weeks, we’re hoping to spotlight a few of our ministries and members as part of this year’s pledge campaign! Our goal is to put a face and story to the many wonderful opportunities listed on the Time and Talent pledge card.
If you, your family, or your ministry team would be willing to share, we’d love to receive a short note about one (or both) of the following:
- Your involvement in a ministry or mission area and what it has meant to you personally, and/or
- A ministry or mission you’re involved in—what its purpose is and how it serves our parish and community.
Please email these, along with any photos you may have, to Frances Twomey.
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Nominations for Vestry & Diocesan Delegate
As we prepare for our Parish Annual Meeting on Sunday, November 16, please prayerfully consider who might offer leadership in the following positions:
- 3 Vestry positions for full 3 year terms; and
- 1 Diocesan Convention Delegate for 4 year term;
Our outgoing vestry members, Phil Buck, Lee Gray, and Jenny Peer, constitute the Nominating Committee – so please advise them of any suggestions.
Qualifications for Vestry: Under our parish by-laws, to be considered for the Vestry, an individual must be a confirmed adult (18 years or older) member of the congregation and make a financial pledge for the next calendar year. Also, an outgoing vestry member who has served a full (three-year) term is not eligible for one year following the completion of that term, and only one member of a household may serve at any given time.
Qualifications for Convention Delegate: Under our parish by-laws, to be considered for Diocesan Convention Delegate, an individual must be a confirmed adult member of the congregation. In addition, an outgoing delegate who has served a full (four-year) term is not eligible to serve as delegate for one year following the completion of that term.
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Clergy-Led Bible Study
Tuesday October 14 | 4 PM | Parish Hall
Our weekly clergy-led study of Genesis meets on Tuesdays at 4 PM.
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Additional Upcoming Events:
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November 16 | Feast of Saint Andrew (observed) and Annual Parish Meeting (12 PM in the Parish Hall).
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Parish Office Update
With our new parish staff, we have adjusted the Parish Office hours going forward. The regular hours for the Parish Office will be Tuesday to Friday from 9 AM to 2 PM. The Parish Office will be generally closed on Mondays, which is also Fr. Gary’s weekly day off. As a reminder, our new Parish Administrator, Miranda Mason, manages the daily operations of the parish office. She manages finances, facility scheduling, parish records, and most items concerning daily parish operations. She can be reached at office@standrewsgreenville.org. Our new Director of Communications, Frances Twomey, is responsible all parish communications, including the weekly bulletin, The Call, our website, social media, and printed publications. Frances can be reached at info@standrewsgreenville.org.
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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.
| | Photos from Supper Club, October 13 | | |
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
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Notes Along the Way | Inheritance | | | |
Fall Updates for Diocesan Youth & Young Adult Ministries | | | | From United Ministries ... | 2025 Fall Festival - United Ministries | Greenville, SC | Friday, October 24th, 2025 United Ministries Puckett Center 503 Vardry Street, Greenville, SC 29601 The entire Greenville community is invited to United Ministries to enjoy our 2nd annual Community Fall Festival. The event offers families and children free activities to celebrate, including Trunk or Treat, fall themed games, arts and crafts, raffles and prizes, and so much more. | | | |
As we look ahead, we're excited to keep the momentum going with more opportunities to gather around the table. On Wednesday, October 9, we'll partner with Restaurant 17 and Chef Haydn Shaak for a stunning station-style dinner at Hotel Domestique. A few tickets remain for this unforgettable evening in the serene mountain setting-don't miss your chance to join us. | | | |
A Benefit for Soteria CDC | October 23, 2025
Soteria CDC has been advocating for economic and social justice for individuals and families impacted by the criminal justice system for 26 years. Through housing, education, employment, advocacy, and affirmation, Soteria provides support and opportunities for previously incarcerated individuals to thrive. On October 23rd, 2025, Soteria will host their annual fundraiser and celebration. The evening will feature storytelling, art, and music that unite the community in honoring the dignity of reentry, expressing gratitude for those who support their mission, and looking toward the work ahead.
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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 Doug Barrett.
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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!
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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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