Called to Worship. Sent to Witness. Led to Welcome. | | |
(Not) Too Sick to Pray
Well, as some of you may know, I’ve been out sick some this week. And, whenever I am in bed sick – feeling poorly and tired and generally frustrated that my body isn’t allowing me to do all the things that I feel the need to be doing – I often think of the lyrics to a Willie Nelson song, “Too Sick to Pray,” which starts as follows:
I've been too sick to pray, Lord
That's why we ain't talked in a while
It's been some of them days, Lord
I thought I was on my last mile
But I'm feelin' okay, Lord
And I'm glad that I called you today
Never needed you more
I would've called you before
But I've been too sick to pray
I take delight in those lyrics partly because they remind me of my beloved uncle Hugh, who was a Presbyterian minister and one of my favorite theological conversation partners. Later in his life, Uncle Hugh would sometimes reference this song commenting on how, in the midst of his more serious ailments (including, as I recall, a couple of open heart surgeries), he had gained deep appreciation for the sentiment that Willie was expressing.
I also love the familiar, conversational approach taken in the song—which is, in its entirety, a simple prayer addressed to God. Thus, Willie reminds us that the words we choose to pray are not as important as the fact that we choose to pray.
Of course, I have not actually been too sick to pray this week (though I did feel too sick to lead the Healing Mass on Wednesday night – but, thankfully, Mtr. Lindy Bunch of Christ Church agreed to fill in at the last minute). Instead, my prayers have continued – even as my productivity has suffered.
As I type this, I am feeling on the mend and plan to be leading worship on Sunday. (And, just in case anyone is worried, I have taken multiple COVID tests this week, as well as tests for flu, strep, and rhinovirus – all thankfully negative.)
So I’ll conclude as Willie concludes his simple, sung prayer:
Well, I reckon that's all, Lord
That's all I can think of to say
Thank you, my friend
We'll be talkin' again
If I'm not too sick to pray
Grace & Peace,
Fr. Gary+
| | Worship & Formation Schedule with Links | | |
Sunday, September 28 - The Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost
8:30 AM Low Mass, Rite II
9:30 AM Catechesis of the Good Shepherd
10:30 AM Sung High Mass, Rite I, (livestream available)
Tuesday, September 30
4:00 PM Clergy-Led Bible Study
Wednesday, October 1 - Feast of Saint Michael and All Angels (observed)
5:30 PM Healing Mass, Rite II
| | Prayer Requests & Resources | |
The following people have been commended
to the prayers of the parish:
| Bobbie, Bob, Brian, Charles, 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, 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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9/26 Todd Miller
9/27 Judi Gregory
9/27 Earle Gregory
9/27 John Fenn
9/28 Stefan Herr
9/29 Sonya Vehorn
9/30 Lee Gray
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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
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Upcoming Anniversary Special Events:
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Sunday, October 19 | At Both Masses | Guest Preacher & Celebrant, The Rev'd Trey Garland, Former Rector
- All Saints Sunday, November 2 | At Both Masses | Guest Preacher, The Right Rev'd Dorsey Henderson, Former Bishop of Upper South Carolina
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Sunday, November 16 | Feast of Saint Andrew & Annual Parish Meeting
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Project Host BBQ Cook-Off | September 26-27
Join Project Host at Fluor Field this Friday, September 26 (6-10 PM) and Saturday, September 27 (11 AM-2 PM) for their 16th annual BBQ Festival & Cook-Off. Saint Andrew’s is an “Smokehouse Sponsor” sponsor of Project Host’s annual BBQ fund-raiser, and, for the third year in a row, we have entered a cooking team, “Heavenly Que,” led by Father Gary’s brother-in-law, Chris Daughtry. If you are interested in attending and using one of the sponsor wristbands that are allotted to Saint Andrew’s, please contact the parish office.
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September Youth Gathering | Large Episcopal Area Fellowship | This Sunday - September 29 | 4-6 PM
Grace Episcopal Church, Anderson
| Our September Youth Gathering is this Sunday! We will gather at Grace Episcopal Church, (711 S McDuffie St, Anderson, SC) and join up with other Episcopal youth from across the Upstate for a time of fun, food, and fellowship. If you are interested in attending, please RSVP via e-mail to formation@standrewsgreenville.org by noon on Friday. Click below for more details from the e-mail that went out earlier this week to families with youth. | | |
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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Clergy-Led Bible Study
Tuesday September 30 | 4 PM | Parish Hall
Our weekly clergy-led study of Genesis meets on Tuesdays at 4 PM.
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Monthly Mass at Cascades | Friday, October 3 | 11 AM | Cascades Ballroom
On the first Friday of every month, Fr. Gary presides at a service of Holy Eucharist at Cascades Verdae Retirement Community. If you have friends or family members residing at Cascades who might want to participate, feel free to share this information with them. If you would ever be interested in assisting Fr. Gary with the mass, please let him know.
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Annual Pledge Campaign Kick-Off | Sunday, October 5
On October 5th, we will kick off our 6-week Annual Pledge Campaign, when we ask members of the parish to prayerfully discern and complete a financial pledge card for 2026. Through our pledges, we are able to express our common commitment to support God’s continuing ministry at Saint Andrew’s—and to help the parish to plan financially for the coming year. This year’s campaign, which is chaired by Riley Owens, will conclude at our Annual Parish Meeting on Sunday, November 16. We look forward to this opportunity to share our gifts in ministry together.
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Saint Andrew’s Book Club | October 5 | 1 PM | Parish Hall
Saint Andrew’s Book Club will meet on October 5 in the Parish Hall following coffee hour. This month’s discussion will be on books of members' own choosing by Paulo Coelho. If you would like to learn more about the club, please plan to join the discussion. Alternatively, feel free to speak to or email Annette Geraghty (annv51@yahoo.com).
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Blessing of the Animals Service | Sunday, October 5 | 4 PM | Under the Fir Tree at St. Paul UMC
Sunday, October 5 we will gather at Saint Paul UMC to share in the Blessing of the Animals. St. Paul is just one block down at 1107 S. Main Street. Bring your animal friends!
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Saint Andrew’s Supper Club | Monday, October 13 | 6 PM | Fork and Plough
After a few years hiatus, we are restarting Saint Andrew’s Supper Club. Our first event will be held on Monday, October 13, at Fork and Plough (1629 E North St.) at 6:00 PM. Please RSVP by Thursday, October 9 to office@standrewsgreenville.org or Riley Owens. This event promises to be a lot of fun with great food and fellowship.
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ECW Gathering | Tuesday, October 14 | 6-8 PM | Parish Hall
ECW (Episcopal Church Women) have their monthly meeting on October 14! Join them from 6-8 PM in the Parish Hall for a time of fellowship and learning. More details to come.
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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.
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Family News from the Randalls!
Dan & Leigh Randall are celebrating significant happenings in their family!
| | First, their younger son, Hampton, got engaged to Harper Beard on August 30. | | Second, their older son, Will, and his wife, Anna Grace, welcomed their first child (and Dan & Leigh's first grandchild!), William Ellett “Wells” Randall, into the world on September 20. | | | Congratulations to the Randalls! And thanks be to God for these many grace-filled blessings! | | |
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 | Belief and Anti-Belief | | | |
Fall Updates for Diocesan Youth & Young Adult Ministries | | | | From United Ministries ... | 2025 Pickle For A Purpose - United Ministries | Greenville, SC | Join United Ministries for our pickleball tournament fundraiser where all are invited to join for an evening of fun with a cause. The event will consist of a competitive tournament for those who want to compete for a grand prize, open social play for all ages, raffles for local prizes, delicious food & drink, music, and a whole lot of fun. | | | |
September 2025 Newsletter | 🔥 Friday Night, Sept 26 | 6-10 PM Kick off the fun with the "Anything Butt" competition-where cooks bring their best non-BBQ dishes to the table! Enjoy incredible eats while rocking out toHot Yoga Band , plus a raffle, kids zone, and plenty of festival vibes.*Event Sponsors: Join us for an exclusive VIP party in the 500 Club featuring specialty cocktails, delicious food, and more. | | | | From Centering Prayer and Parishioner Cynthia Fore ... | |
Centering Prayer Workshop | October 11, 2025 |
Holy Trinity Episcopal Church Clemson
This fall, parishioner Cynthia Fore is presenting the "Introduction to Centering Prayer Workshop" at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, Clemson. Additional information and RSVP details can be found below.
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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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