March Outreach Focus - Sock Drive: 

This month, March 2-30, we're collecting socks for our friends who participate in Feed My Lambs. Donations of new, men's athletic-style socks are greatly appreciated and can be placed in the Feed My Lambs bin outside the church. If you prefer to make a monetary donation, you can do so in two ways. You may write a check to St. Gregory's and specify "Sock Drive" in the memo line. You may also make a donation through the parish website and select "Other Designated Gift," including "Sock Drive" in the description. Thank you for your generosity.

Troop 117 Magic Show at St. Gregory's

The Greater Long Beach Area Council Mighty Troop 117 is putting on a Magic Show, featuring "Ring 96," the Seal Beach Magic Club.This event will take place on Saturday, March 22nd at 6:00 PM. $15 General Admission (purchase at the door or in advance on the website), and there will be refreshments for purchase, as well as opportunity drawings. This event is a fundraiser for Eagle Scout Projects,

Roamin’ Gregorians March Outing: 

The Roamin’ Gregorians are planning an outing to the Reagan Library in Simi Valley scheduled for March 29th to see the Dead Sea Scrolls from 8:30 AM to approximately 4:30 PM. Ticket prices are $29.95 for adults, $26.95 for Seniors $22.95 for Youth 11-17, and $19.95 for children ages 3-10. Children ages 2 and under are free. We plan to carpool, so please respond to either Susan or John by March 6th. More information will be forthcoming. If you are interested or have questions, contact Susan Mora at (310) 894-0731 or John Mora at (562) 577-7562.

April Music at Four -

Gamelan Berwarna Warni presents Music from Bali

Our next Music at Four concert will take place on Sunday, April 6th at 4pm. Gamelan Berwarna Warni is an ensemble dedicated to the mesmerizing and intricate sounds of traditional Balinese music. With a deep reverence for the island's rich cultural heritage, the group specializes in the vibrant and hypnotic rhythms of gamelan, a percussion-based orchestra that forms the heart of Balinese music. The ensemble brings together a range of instruments to create a soundscape that is both ethereal and dynamic.

A free-will offering will be received during the concert.

Join us for a reception following the concert in the Parish Hall.

View the 2025 Music at Four Calendar HERE.

Wildfire Relief:  

Those wishing to help provide relief from the Los Angeles fires can make donations to one of the following:

Episcopal Relief and Development, the relief agency of the Episcopal Church, provides funds to help in disaster relief and recovery. They have established a “Wildfire Response Fund” to provide help with the Los Angeles fires. You can make a donation at https://www.episcopalrelief.org/what-you-can-do/give/donate-now/individual-donation/

One Heart & One Spirit Annual Appeal is a relief fund established by the Diocese of Los Angeles. Currently, all money donated to the One Heart & One Spirit Annual Appeal will go to help parishes and families affected by the fires. You can make a donation at https://diocesela.org/annual-appeal/

If you are not comfortable making donations online, you can make a donation to the St. Gregory’s Rector’s Discretionary Fund and the money will be sent to one of the above causes. Make checks payable to “St. Gregory’s Episcopal Church” and put “Rector’s Discretionary Fund” in the memo line. Then give the check directly to Fr. Michael and he will take care of the rest.

Thank you for your generosity.

Easter Flower Donations:

Easter is just weeks away! If you would like to make a donation to help offset the cost of the Easter lilies, you can do so by sending a check to the church with “Easter Flowers” in the memo line. Or you can go through the parish website or the Vanco app and use the Other Designated Gift category (just be sure to put Easter Flowers in the adjacent box). And if you would like to make your donation in Memory of, in Thanksgiving of, or in Honor of someone, you can call the parish office or email Kevin at info@stgregoryschurch.com with the appropriate information. Please get your dedications into the Parish Office by Tuesday, April 15 so we can get them into the Easter bulletin. Lilies will be available for pick-up after Easter. 

Holy Week Passion Narrative Readers: 

On Palm Sunday (April 13) and Good Friday (April 18), we hear the Passion Narrative read in parts. If you are interested in being a reader for one or both of these services, please let Fr. Michael know. Thank you.

Study of the Rule of St. Benedict: 

Have you ever wondered what monastic life is like? Ever been curious why The Rule of Benedict is still important 1500 years after St. Benedict’s life? Would you like to know how Benedictine spirituality can help everyone better live as Christians in today’s world? Then please consider signing up for this year’s book study on The Rule of Benedict: A Spirituality for the 21st Century. Using Sr. Joan Chittister’s commentary on the Rule and its applications for life today, we’ll learn about how a rule of life written in the sixth century can still inform and nurture us today. The class will start on Thursday, April 24 and run through mid-September (exact date to be determined, as we will miss a few Thursdays here and there over the course of the summer). We’ll meet from 6:00 to 7:00 PM in the Parish Hall Conference Room. If you’d prefer a daytime class, we can consider meeting Thursday mornings after the 10:00 Eucharist (let Mother Sharon know if interested in this possibility). If you’re interested in joining the class, please sign up in the narthex so that we can buy the correct number of books.

Altar Flower Donations:

Need a wonderful way to honor or remember a loved one or friend? Make a flower donation. There is a flower donation chart located on the Narthex wall that you can use to sign up for special dates to donate altar flowers. Simply fill out a donation form attached to the bottom of the chart and return the form to the Parish Office. Payment for flowers can be made by check or online at this link. Make sure you specify your donation is for Altar Flowers. The Altar Guild thanks you.

Episcopal News Updates: 

The Diocese provides weekly email updates to help you keep informed about what’s happening all over our six-county diocese. If you want to receive the Episcopal News, visit https://diocesela.org/episcopal-news/contact/ and enter your email address in the box provided.

Feed My Lambs & Food Bank Needs:

THANK YOU for your generosity and your donations

Here’s the latest news on our parish feeding programs. 

• Feed My Lambs PLEASE NOTE WE HAVE CHANGED THE EGG & COOKIE DROP OFF DAYS. 
• Feed My Lambs relies on your financial support and appreciates all donations. WE ARE IN NEED OF YOUR USED PLASTIC GROCERY SACKS. We use them to pack the lunches, so they need to be clean and in good repair, please. 
• Every month we need: 120 HARDBOILED EGGS; 500 HOMEMADE COOKIES
• Homemade cookies can be brought to church on any Sunday, in ziplock freezer bags, labeled “Feed My Lambs” to the kitchen.
• Hard Boiled Eggs can be brought to church on any Sunday, in a container labeled “Feed My Lambs” to the kitchen. 
• Wednesday, April 2 from 9:00 AM to Noon you can deliver to the office:
• Hardboiled eggs
• Homemade Cookies
• Friday, April 4 from 1:00 to 3:00 PM you can deliver to the kitchen:
• Hardboiled Eggs
• Our Guests always need white athletic socks and belts! Which you can put in the Feed My Lambs bin outside the church on any Sunday.
• Volunteers – If you are interested in helping out Feed My Lambs, contact Tamera Benedict at (tlbenedict4@gmail.com, 562.301.6800).
• Food Bank The Food Bank relies on your financial support and appreciates all donations of
• funds or non-perishable food items. We also can use more volunteers at:
• bagging and distribution the THIRD WEDNESDAY of each month from 8:30 to 11:00 AM
• any other time you may have available and could assist with assembling our bags (e.g. on Sunday before or after service, or any time the office is open for access)

Please contact Kevin in the Parish Office (info@stgregoryschurch.com, 562.420.1311) or Bill Eldon (billeldon@gmail.com, 562.234.9920) for more information about the Food Bank.

Food Bank Business Cards! Help get the word out about the Food Bank by giving a card to someone in need. You'll find a stack on the table in the Narthex. Please take a few to distribute and help advertise this valuable ministry.

Your continued support of our feeding ministries, through product and monetary contributions, is greatly appreciated!

Gratitude for Your Support of the Parish:

We continue to be humbled and so incredibly grateful for your generosity in supporting our parish and its ministries! While you may not be able to drop your donation in a real offering plate, there are still ways you can make sure your donation gets to the parish:

• You can mail your check to the parish office.
• Make donations through our online payment account, accessible through the parish website at http://stgregoryschurch.com/4721-2/.
• Scan the QR code found in the Sunday bulletin.

And again, THANK YOU for your continued support!

Online Parish Directory:

Our online parish directory is at https://www.instantchurchdirectory.com/. This is a secure site and can be accessed using the email address you had published in the parish directory. You can also download the "Instant Church Directory" on your smart phone. Versions are available for Android, iPhone, iPad, and Kindle.

One Body & One Spirit Annual Appeal:

The Diocese has established an ongoing campaign focused on raising funds to assist congregations, schools, affiliated institutions, and their communities who are faced with unprecedented challenges. We are invited to prayerfully consider making a donation to help others in our Diocese who may have unmet needs. More information is available at https://diocesela.org/annual-appeal/. 

Forward Day By Day:

For those who use the "Forward Day by Day" booklet for personal devotions and need the newest edition mailed, please contact Kevin: (562) 420-1311 or info@stgregoryschurch.com   

In Case of Emergency...Notify Your Priest! 

In the event of a hospital stay, illness, death in the family, or other pastoral emergency, please call Father Michael on his cell phone (909-373-6478) any day except Monday, his Sabbath day. Mother Sharon (562-833-3393) covers emergencies on Monday. And PLEASE, no excuses about not wanting to bother me. That’s why we are here – for YOU!

St. Gregory's Food Bank:

Our monthly Food Bank distribution takes place the first Wednesday of every month. This ministry helps us help our neighbors by providing a supplemental source of groceries. We CANNOT do this without your generosity. CLICK HERE for more information.

This month we served 74 people!