Called to Worship. Sent to Witness. Led to Welcome.
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Offering a Word of Gratitude as We Prepare to
Commence Our Annual Pledge Campaign This Sunday
Before outlining our plan for this year's Annual Pledge Campaign, I wanted to first express my deepest gratitude for how you, as parishioners, have faithfully supported this parish over the course of this most unusual year.
Month after month, I have been delightfully astounded and humbled by your faithful generosity in the midst of uncertain times. It has only reinforced my sense of having been called to an incredibly special place when I was chosen to be your rector. (As an aside, I celebrated my fourth anniversary as the rector of Saint Andrew's on October 10th of this past week! What a blessing!)
Thank you therefore for your continued generosity and your faithfulness to Saint Andrew's and to our common mission. I have no doubt that, as we move forward, that faithfulness will bear much fruit in the months and years ahead -- especially once we are able to move beyond the present limitations and challenges presented by the coronavirus pandemic.
So ... this coming Sunday, we will be kicking off the Annual Pledge Campaign as we hand out pledge packets to members attending our 8:30 and 10:30 services. Then, over the following week, we will mail out packets to anyone who wasn't able to receive them at church. As an added bonus, anyone who has not yet received one of the new printed directories will receive one along with their pledge packet.
This year's campaign will continue for five weeks before wrapping up on Sunday, November 22. (And, if you are wondering, we decided to start the campaign earlier than we have in recent years in hopes of getting the campaign wrapped up before we enter Advent, which also allows the campaign to conclude before the Thanksgiving holiday. It is my hope that we can continue this new timetable in future years as well.)
I am grateful to this year's Annual Pledge Campaign Committee -- Bambi Martin (Chair), Doug Barrett, J.J. Andrighetti, Scott Chastain, Patty Slay, and Riley Owens -- for the leadership role that they are taking in this process.
In the weeks ahead, we will be working with the entire parish to obtain financial pledges through this campaign--so that, in December, the vestry can begin putting together a realistic parish budget for 2021.
As we prepare for this stewardship season, I hope that each of you will begin prayerfully considering how you can give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, but rather joyfully and abundantly to Saint Andrew's in 2021!
Even in the midst of present challenges, these are exciting times at Saint Andrew's, and I am joyfully anticipating the ministry that we have before us in 2021. What a blessing we have to be able to offer our gifts in service to the continuing revelation of God's love here at Saint Andrew's!
Grace and Peace,
Fr. Gary+
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Sign Up for 10:30 AM Mass
on Sundays through October!
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We now are able to accommodate up to 15 people in the church for mass--and, as a result, are offering 8 open slots for sign up for each Sunday 10:30 AM Mass. Please note that we no longer require people to sign up for the Wednesday Night Healing Mass (since we have not, in recent years, had more than fifteen people attend that mass).
Also, if you are currently uncomfortable coming to a "public" service or want to receive eucharist but don't want to go inside the church, just let Father Gary know, and he is happy to schedule a time to say mass that will work better for you (either inside the church or in the churchyard).
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Wednesday, October 14, 2020 - Feast of Teresa of Avila (observed)
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Sunday, October 18, 2020 - Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost
8:30 AM Morning Prayer, Rite II (church courtyard)
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Wednesday, October 21, 2020 - Feast of James of Jerusalem, Brother of our Lord Jesus Christ (observed)
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The following people have been commended
to the prayers of the parish:
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Barbara, Bill, Broughton, Carl, Chuck, Corinne, Dick, Eddie, Ena, Erica, Erin, George, Ginger, Hannah, Jane, Jim, Jodi, Ken, Lee, Leigh Ann, Margaret Lee, Mary, Nancy, Ray, Sandy, Sarah, Steve, Wade, Weesie, Winnie, Yvonne |
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To add someone to the Daughters of the King prayer list, please e-mail
daughters1913@gmail.com. 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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10/17 Charles Duncan
10/18 Wade Cleveland
10/19 Omar Mirabal
10/20 Aedan Honohan
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Project Host Community Dinner To-Go
Sponsored by Saint Andrew's
Thursday, October 15 | 5-7 PM
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Our Mission and Outreach Team has directed funds to Project Host to sponsor their next community dinner. The menu will include Beer Cheese Soup, Pretzel, Bratwurst or Mushroom Schnitzel, German Potato Salad, Slaw, and Fried Apple Hand Pie with Cinnamon Ice Cream. $20 per person.
As a sponsor, we need 5-10 volunteers to assist with handing out pre-ordered meals. Masks are required and COVID-19 protocols will be followed.
Ways you can help:
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Annual Giving Kick-Off | Sunday, October 18
This Sunday, we will kick off our 5-week Annual Pledge Campaign. Please begin to discern how you will commit to support the ongoing mission of Saint Andrew’s in 2021.
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Vestry Meeting | Sunday, October 18
12:30 PM | Via Zoom
Our monthly vestry meeting will take place this Sunday via Zoom following the 10:30 AM Low Mass. A Zoom link will be sent out to the Vestry.
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Quarterly Planning Meeting
Wednesday, October 28 | Noon
Our next quarterly planning meeting with the leaders of all parish ministries will meet via Zoom on Wednesday, October 28, at noon. (Please note that we had, at one point, discussed moving it to October 21 but have since decided to continue our regular pattern of holding it on the final Wednesday of the month.)
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Rosary | Via Zoom
Wednesday, October 21 | 5:30 PM
We have returned to our regular practice of saying the Rosary together on the third Wednesday of the month--with the only difference being that, for now, are gathering via Zoom.
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Outdoor Youth Group!
Sunday, October 25 | 5 – 7 PM
Continuing this month, Saint Andrew’s youth and their friends in elementary through high school will have the opportunity to gather outside for a time of fun and fellowship on the fourth Sunday evening of each month. This month, Jamie and Sarah Hinds will lead the gathering in the church courtyard. Halloween costumes encouraged! Please RSVP to formation@standrewsgreenville.org by Wednesday, October 21.
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Parish Hall Renovation Update
This initial phase of the Parish Hall renovation is almost complete! The new door from the courtyard is being installed as this e-mail is being distributed – and, beyond that, the work is basically complete. Next week, the tables, chairs, and other items moved into storage will be moved back in to the parish hall. We also have a small group of parishioners who are working on a plan for how the room can be redecorated into a more welcoming space. Thanks to our senior warden, Riley Owens, for overseeing the renovation. If you would like to make a financial donation to support this effort, we would welcome that!
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All Saints Sunday | November 1
Opportunity for Holy Baptism
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. If there is anyone desiring to be baptized or to have a child baptized – or just wants to explore the possibility, please speak with or e-mail Father Gary.
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All Souls Requiem Mass | Monday, November 2 | 12 Noon
We will celebrate the Feast of All Souls with Remembrance of the Faithful Departed. The Book of Remembrance can be found in the narthex. Please add names of those who have died in the past year and anyone else you wish to remember.
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Feast of Saint Andrew | Sunday, November 15
Parish Annual Meeting via Zoom | Noon
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As has been the custom at Saint Andrew's, we will celebrate the Feast of Saint Andrew, our patronal saint, on the same Sunday that we hold our Parish Annual Meeting. With that said, given ongoing concerns about the coronavirus pandemic, we will be holding our meeting in a most "uncustomary" way. We are planning for the meeting to be held via Zoom, though we may have some ability for a limited number of individuals to be present in the parish hall if they are unable to participate online. The Diocesan staff has reviewed our parish's bylaws (along with many others) to confirm that noting in them precludes a virtual meeting and has been providing assistance with putting together a plan for a smooth meeting and voting process. More details on the process will be made available in the weeks ahead.
Although the means of our meeting will be be different, we will still review the accomplishments of the past year, plan for the upcoming year, and elect new vestry members and diocesan convention delegates. Please begin considering who you would like to see serving in those leadership roles. More details on the nomination process in the following announcement.
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Nominations for Vestry & Diocesan Delegate & Alternate
As we prepare for our Parish Annual Meeting this year, please prayerfully consider who in the parish might offer leadership in the following positions:
- 3 Vestry positions for full 3 year terms;
- 1 Diocesan Convention Delegate for a 4 year term; and
- 1 Diocesan Convention Alternate for a 4 year term.
Our three outgoing vestry members, Joseph Austin, Hamilton Parks, and Riley Owens, constitute the Nominating Committee – so please let one of them know if you have suggestions for those positions.
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 must make a financial pledge for the next calendar year. In addition, an outgoing vestry member who has served a full (three-year) term is not eligible to serve on the vestry for one year following the completion of that term, and there may not be more than one member of a household serving on the Vestry at any given time.
Qualifications for Diocesan Convention Delegate or Alternate: Under our parish by-laws, to be considered for Diocesan Convention Delegate or Alternate, an individual must be a confirmed adult (18 years or older) 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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Worship Schedule & Protocol
Here is a brief overview of our current schedule and related protocol:
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All Services - Face Masks & Six Foot Social Distancing by Household Required
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8:30 AM Sunday - Morning Prayer (Rite II) (Holy Eucharist on First Sunday of the Month) - Outside, In-Person Only, No Sign Up Required - This shorter, less formal service takes place outside in front of the columbarium courtyard. You are welcome to bring your own water or coffee to this service. In case of inclement weather on Sunday morning (defined as raining hard enough that most folks would not want to be outside), this service will be cancelled.
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10:30 AM Sunday - Low Mass (Rite I) - In-Church, In-Person Limited to Fifteen People, Sign Up Required, Also Live-Streamed - The limit on in-person attendance has now been increased from ten to fifteen people — with approximately seven of those spots already allocated (priest, organist, choir member, subdeacon, lector, altar guild member, usher). You can sign up for the eight remaining spots here: standrewsgreenville.org/signup
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6:30 PM Wednesday - Healing Mass (Rite II) - In-Church, In-Person Limited to Fifteen People, No Sign Up Required, Also Live-Streamed - This service is also limited to fifteen people — with three of those spots already allocated (priest, server/lector, altar guild). Given that we have not, in recent years, had more than fifteen people attend this service, we are no longer requiring sign up for Wednesday night mass.
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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 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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During the COVID-19 pandemic, FTN continues to serve a hot breakfast to those who are the most vulnerable in our community every Saturday of the month. Saint Andrew's parishioners handle the third Saturday of each month, and Christ Church, Saint James, and Saint Peter's handle the other Saturdays--with volunteers from the Roe Cassidy Law Firm serving whenever there is a fifth Saturday in a month. Though it's not the usual hot breakfast under current circumstances, our guests continue to be very appreciative.
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