Happy Friday!
Wisdom literature in the Bible tells us that “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven….”
And it is STILL time to worship outdoors in God’s cathedral! Whoo hoo! Unfortunately, the virus case numbers are still far past our threshold* for safe indoor services of worship. Outside and masked is the safe way to go. Soooo…bring your sunglasses and bug spray, wear cool, comfy clothes (I hear God likes t-shirts and shorts), grab a hand fan and join us on Sundays at 8 and 10:30am. 8am is for those who prefer early services without song, and 10:30 has hymns and choir. And at both services, we’ve got big fans, shade trees, and Jesus! Come join us!
Peace and love,
Mother Nikki+
*50 cases per 7 days
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The Rite of Christian Burial
The Rite of Christian Burial for Carl Hoveland will be held in our sanctuary on Saturday, August 28 @ 5PM.
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Stewardship Message
We are celebrating the 50th anniversary of our founding, so I will be pulling stories out of our first years for your enjoyment, and to encourage your lively stewardship this Fall. As you will see, we had the idea that giving glory to God and employing our talents and treasure doing His work was fun, and we have continued in that way for 50 years.
A Bite of History
On April 18, 1971, the Reverend Raby Edwards delivered a sermon that summarized his first year serving Emmanuel Church. In it, he listed a number of things he hoped to accomplish, one of which was the establishment of a new Episcopal church in the county. My wife and I looked at each other and wordlessly agreed that we wanted to do this. By the end of the service we had rounded up some like-minded souls: the Burtons, Kuhns, Ellises and Schramms. We later met at the home of Lee and Linda Schramm to discuss the idea.
Somehow I was elected to call Raby and tell him what were doing. He suggested that we meet with members of Emmanuel. That began a long process of discussions to outline our purpose and gather together other members. On October 17, I wrote the first newsletter announcing that we had submitted a proposal to Emmanuel's vestry, and they had forwarded it to the Bishop with recommendation for approval. That letter also announced the first service, to include a covered dish supper. It ended with “Thanks be to God; we are on our way.”
So there you have it. At our first meeting we enjoyed fellowship over a meal that we had prepared and shared with each other. We still do that; it is one of the enduring traditions which is baked into who we are. That was also our first act of stewardship: prepare food to share with each other. God willing and the pesky pandemic notwithstanding, we will get back to it.
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Peter Rice
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2022 Vestry
The Vestry Nominating Committee met for the first time last week. The Committee is developing a list of potential nominees, and using your recommendations and the recommendations from the current Vestry the Nominating Committee will assemble a slate of five eligible candidates whose term on the Vestry begins in 2022. The slate will be will presented to the congregation before the end of the year, and the congregation will vote on the slate at the Annual Meeting in January, 2022. As specified in our ByLaws, the slate of five candidates will be elected collectively, not as individuals, so the election isn’t competitive.
Do you know you can self-nominate to be considered for membership on the Vestry? You also can nominate other parishioners—with their permission—to be considered for the Vestry.
Eligible candidates for membership on the Vestry, as stipulated in our parish ByLaws, must
- be confirmed communicants in good standing in the parish,
- be at least 18 years old,
- regularly attend church services,
- and have made and fulfilled a financial commitment to the church in the past year.
To submit your name or that of others for membership on the Vestry, simply send the names to a member of the Nominating Committee: Kelly Black, Chair (kjblack@gmail.com); Julie Worley (juliemarie.worley@gmail.com); Jane Hudson (janeghudson@gmail.com); Nikki Mathis (rector@stgregoryathens.org; Roger Schwenke (roger.schwenke@gmail.com); or Susanne Burton (attorneysfb@windstream.net). Remember, before you submit others’ name for in nomination, you must have gotten the go ahead from them to do so.
Please send us your nominations for membership on the Vestry.
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HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO US!
On Saturday, September 11 at 4:30PM, we will have a Founder’s Hymn Sing. That will be an evening of food, fun, and fellowship as we sing and hear the stories of St. Gregory the Great’s beginning, honoring our founders and church elders.
Also, the very next day, September 12, at 10am, +Bishop Robert Wright will be with us at our ONE service on that day, for baptism, confirmation, followed by a boxed lunch and our anniversary celebration.
In order to help us plan accordingly, please let us know if you plan on attending the 50th Anniversary party (we only need a count for Sunday) by clicking here! Please also note any dietary restrictions!
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CONFIRMATION, REAFFIRMATION AND RECEPTION CLASSES
Confirmation class continues!! Please come join us after the 10:30AM service this Sunday, August, 29.
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CHILDREN'S CHURCH!
Children's Chapel will meet this Sunday during the 10:30 service, in tents outdoors, weather permitting.
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Help for Haiti
The Right Reverend Robert C. Wright, Bishop of the diocese, issued the following message in response to the devastation.
“Our hearts break for our brothers and sisters in Haiti. So many of us have visited Haiti and been blessed by her faith and resilience. We pray God‘s grace and mercy on her now as she faces the tremendous trials of another earthquake and continued political upheaval. May God have mercy on the nation and people of Haiti.”
Haiti, the most populous of The Episcopal Church’s 109 dioceses, is still recovering from a massive earthquake in 2010, that killed more than 300,000 people, seriously injured more than 250,000, and left 1.3 million homeless.
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Support Episcopal Haitian Ministries:
Episcopal Christ Church in Macon began Haitian Hope in 2006. The nonprofit operates a school that they rebuilt following the 2010 earthquake. The ministry partners with St. Francis Episcopal in Macon and Episcopal Church of the Holy Family in Jasper, Georgia, to support the secondary school. Give here.
Haitian Companions an Episcopal medical ministry, has clinics in areas close to the quake that did not suffer damage, and the group’s country director has been tending to those injured when buildings collapsed. Give here.
Episcopal Relief & Development is working with the Episcopal Diocese of Haiti in building networks of community volunteers equipped with knowledge and skills needed to respond effectively to disasters and assist their communities before, during, and after a disaster. They are supporting long-term partners in Haiti as they respond to the August 2021 earthquake. Give here.
(abridged from Diocese of Atlanta CONNECTING newsletter, August 2021)
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Regathering Committee
** Update: we are gathering outdoors for now
The ReGathering Committee continues to monitor COVID-19 cases in Clarke County. The committee is making contingency plans in case we need to step back. The following plan may be modified as conditions change.
The seven day average for Clarke County is 71 cases per day as of Thursday 26 August 2021.
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Preregistration and assigned seating will no longer be required. Social distancing should continue to be practiced.
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With the rising case load and new seating pattern, starting August 1 we are requesting that everyone regardless of their vaccination status wear a mask at all services.
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** We are requesting that only fully vaccinated individuals attend the 8AM service.
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** Fully vaccinated and those who have not been vaccinated are invited to the 10:30AM service.
** not applicable while we are outdoors.
David Emory Stooksbury
ReGathering Committee Chair
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silver lining
for 18 months
we have all coped
but church is still
not as we hoped
waiting for when
this wave surge ends
we long again
to be with friends
inside our church
with wine and hugs
not in the heat
outside with bugs
but wearing masks
we now may sing
to share the joy
that hymns can bring
alice mohor
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MEAL TRAIN
What is Meal Train?
When a friend is in need, everyone asks "What can I do to help?" The answer is always to provide support through a meal. When many friends provide support through a meal, Meal Train keeps everyone organized.
Click here to sign up for the meal train for Stephen Corn and Dolores Holt.
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St. Gregory's parishioner, Andrew Majsztrik, is having a Grand Opening for his newly named business, Andrew's Farm & Nursery, on Saturday, August 28 from 9AM-5PM.
Come check out his 10,000 trees, shrubs, bedding plants, grasses, mulch, river rocks, topsoil, firewood, and more!
There will be specials that day, including 5% off all inventory, a silent auction, and door prizes!
71 Black Snake Road, Arnoldsville 30619
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Zoom Meeting Opportunities
Parish community offerings via Zoom:
Sunday yoga ! for fall (Aug-Dec), via Zoom, 4:00pm, 30-45 minutes. Chair Yoga taught on the first Sunday of each month. Contact Anna Hiers (aldhiers@gmail.com) for more information. Join Zoom Meeting https://zoom.us/j/97745366532 Meeting ID: 977 4536 6532 Passcode: 3195
Stacie Court hosts "Let's Chat!" for women of the parish. The days and time vary, and not everyone can join every time, but everyone is welcome to join whenever they can! Email Stacie!
Book Club first Friday of the month @ 7PM ongoing for the foreseeable future. Email Lois Alworth if you are interested in participating.
Lectionary Discussion Group via Zoom, every Thursday at 6:00pm. Email Ken Taylor if you are interested in participating.
**Threads of Prayer, 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of the month @ 1PM. Email Annette Bates if you are interested in participating. All knitters and crocheters welcome!
** these groups are now meeting in person
Other groups have been meeting via Zoom as well, so if you've got a group already meeting in Zoom rooms, and want to widen your circle, let Kendall know so we can get the word out there!
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See what's happening on our social sites: |
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