AN IMPORTANT VIDEO MESSAGE FROM FATHER ANDREW

In today's video Fr Andrew invites you to join him for a glorious service this Sunday on the last Sunday of the Epiphany. Father Andrew also warmly invites you to join us next Tuesday for the popular Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper on Tuesday evening at 6:00 PM in Harris Hall followed by games and fun for the whole family. The evening closes out with the burning of the palms.

On Ash Wednesday, February 14th, please join us in the Sanctuary at 7 AM, Noon, and 6:30 PM services. The 6:30 PM Ash Wednesday service includes a very special Godly Play lesson on the Mystery of Easter - which is perfect for families! Or, please join us at 9 AM for Ashes-to-Go at South Beach Park (at A1A and Palmetto Park Road), at 11:30 AM at Mizner Park, or at 3 PM at Whole Foods (Glades Road, just east of I95). Blessings to all!

MAKING A DIFFERENCE

Rise and Shine

Rise and Shine, the monthly family service, returned last Sunday to Harris Hall, attended by about sixty parents and children.

The Epiphany theme was Three Moments in the Kingdom of God: from Creation to Redemption, Jesus opened the way, showing us what the pattern of life united to God is like, to Parousia, when Jesus will return in glory and God’s love and light will fill all of us and the whole of creation. Come, Lord Jesus!

The Choristers beautifully sang “Blessed are the Pure in Heart” for the Offertory.

PRECIDING BISHOP CURRY CONTINUES TO RECUPERATE AT HOME

Presiding bishop continues to recuperate at home, resumes some light-duty work

By ENS Staff

Presiding Bishop Michael Curry has authorized the Rt. Rev. Mary Gray-Reeves, vice president of the House of Bishops, to perform some of his ecclesiastical duties until he can resume a full work schedule. Click here to read the full story.

THE REALITY OF BEING

“I have the power to rise above myself and to see myself freely … to be seen. My thought has the power to be free. But for this it must rid itself of all associations that hold it captive, passive. It must cut the threads that bind it to the world of images, of forms. It must free itself from the the constant attraction of the feeling. It must feel its power to resist this attraction, to see it gradually rising above it. In this movement, the thought becomes active. It becomes active in purifying himself, and acquires an aim, a unique aim: to think ‘I,’ to realize who I am, to enter into this mystery. This look from Above both situates me and liberates me. […] So my struggle is a struggle against the passivity of my ordinary thought, a struggle to let go of the illusion of my ordinary ‘I.’ […] It is terrible to realize suddenly that one has been living without one’s own independent thought, living without intelligence, without anything that sees what is real, and therefore without any relation with the world Above. Then I may understand that it is in my essence that I rejoin the one who sees. […] And through this detachment, we join the sensation of eternity.”

- Jeanne de Salzmann

This Week, our group work continued within The Reality of Being.

When rejoining the one who sees, we join the sensation of eternity. The objective state of eternity is the finest sign of incarnation - where we meet in the density of ourselves with the Spirit. We have been working with this alchemy for several weeks now. Holding witness to what is active and what is passive. Standing in-between. Watching the circuit of the central nervous system breathing in and breathing out. Inhaling Lord. Exhaling have mercy. While also inhaling I and exhaling am. This is the canon of the heart. The act of seeing.

Let’s continue with pp. 283 - 284, (section 136), A look from Above. Diving into St. Paul’s lament:

“For what I want to do, I do not do.

But what I hate, I do.

”

Feeling and sensation are given by nature. First, we have to see that. And when we see this objective truth through the harmony of active and passive states, we voluntarily activate the seat of the will. When we activate this seat of paradox, a new current of consciousness flows in known as liberation. A more intense energy appears, as if from another level.

So, let us then move to the chapter, From Another Level, pp. 194 - 200, (sections 91 - 94). Pay special attention to the exercise of prayer. While she uses the phrase “divided attention,” we know that true attention cannot be divided. But her larger point here, and the point of many mystics when they write about divided attention, seems to actually be the practice of self-witnessing in real-time that gathers attention into one unified field of relationality. Many become one when you breathe into your atmosphere and see.

Attention meets intention through the eye of the heart - the sensation of eternity - becoming icons of God.

This is an ongoing group which meets on Zoom every Wednesday morning at 10:00 am - 11:30 am ET.

Zoom link here. Your desire is your compass.

Meeting ID: 854 5001 9587 Passcode: 1+1=3

Bless you,

Benjamin

NEW CLASS STARTING SOON!

The Cloud of Unknowing with Fr. Ben+

Fr. Ben will be starting another fascinating spiritual exploration beginning soon. The book being used for this series is The Cloud of Unknowing: With the Book of Privy Counsel.

About the book:

This anonymous fourteenth-century text is the glory of English mysticism and one of the most practical and useful guides to finding union with God ever written. Carmen Acevedo Butcher’s new translation is the first to bring the text into a modern English idiom—while remaining strictly faithful to the meaning of the original Middle English.

The Cloud of Unknowing consists of a series of letters written by a monk to his student or disciple, instructing him (or her) in the way of Divine union. Its theology is presented in a way that is remarkably easy to understand, as well as practical, providing advice on prayer and contemplation that anyone can use. Previous translations of the Cloud have tended to veil its intimate, even friendly tone under medieval-sounding language. Carmen Butcher has boldly brought the text into language as appealing to modern ears as it was to its original readers more than five hundred years ago.

Also included in the volume is the companion work attributed to the same anonymous author, The Book of Privy Counsel, which contains further advice for approaching God in a way that emphasizes real experience rather than human knowledge. Please email Fr. Ben for more information and to register.

A MESSAGE FROM TIM

Bravo to the Choristers this past Sunday! They sounded wonderful and I want to congratulate all the children as well as their parents who make the effort each week to have them at rehearsals. My thanks also to Emily Carter for her excellent direction and help with this wonderful group of young musicians. It is a true joy to work with these children each week.  

As we finish out the season of Epiphany this Sunday, we will hear the Choir of St. Gregory’s sing Christ Whose Glory Fills the Skies by T. Frederick H. Candlyn (1892-1964) who was an English-born organist, composer, and choirmaster who spent most of his professional career working in Episcopal churches in the USA. Born in 1892 in Cheshire, he became organist and choirmaster at St. Paul’s Church in Albany, NY and served there for 28 years apart from a two-year period between 1917-19 when he served in WWI. He later served as organist/choirmaster at New York City’s St. Thomas Episcopal Church Fifth Ave. from 1943-54.

The choir will also sing Holy is the True Light by Sir William Henry Harris (1883-1973), one of the Anglican Church’s most celebrated composers. Not only did Sir Harris serve in many parishes and cathedrals throughout England, including Christ Church, Oxford, and Lichfield Cathedral, he also served as organist at St. George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle, where he was a music instructor to Their Royal Highnesses Princess Elizabeth (Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II) and Princess Margaret Rose. Lessons took place in the castle’s Red Drawing Room where the two sisters would sing alongside senior choristers of the chapel and choir members from the Grenadier Guards. Sir Harris also served as professor at the Royal College of Music. 

As you listen to these two incredibly beautiful anthems on Sunday, I hope you’re not only inspired by the music and texts as they reflect the story of Christ on the Mountain being the true light of the world, but also the historical significance of these two great composers/organists of our church. How fortunate we are to have such a legacy of faith from these two men who literally devoted their lives to creating music for their church and whose influence was felt throughout the world.

I’ll see you on Sunday!



Blessings,

Tim

SERAPHIC FIRE IN CONCERT AT

ST. GREGORY'S

Sunday, February 25 at 4:00 PM

Enlightenment Festival: A Visit with Haydn

Patrick Dupre Quigley, Conductor

A special visit to the Esterházy palace by war hero Admiral Lord Nelson and his mistress, Lady Emma Hamilton, inspired this concert of works by Haydn. Amateur soprano and scandalous socialite Lady Hamilton struck up a friendship with Haydn and they performed together multiple times during her stay at Esterházy. The palace’s resident composer, Haydn provided entertainment for the diplomatic visit with the premier of the Te Deum for the Empress Marie Therese and two works dedicated to Lord Nelson: Missa in angustiis (later coined the “Nelson” Mass) and the song “The Battle of the Nile,” with Emma singing. Step back in time to relive the political and social intrigue of Haydn’s time in a concert for chorus and chamber orchestra that will make you feel like you’ve stepped into a salon at the Austrian palace.

DAUGHTERS OF THE KING MEETING

Saturday, February 10 at 10:00 AM

The Order of the Daughters of the King will meet on Saturday, February 10th at 10:00 AM on Zoom.

ALTAR FLOWERS

Sunday, February 11

This Sunday's altar flowers are being given by Grace Pertile in loving memory of her brother John Pertile. If you would like to honor a loved one or a special occasion in this way, please click here to learn more.

NEWCOMERS CLASSES BEGIN

Sunday, February 11

Newcomers classes with Fr. Andrew will begin on Sunday, February 11th following the 10:00 AM service. Newcomers are invited to grab a bite at Brothers Breakfast and then join Father Andrew in St. Mary's Chapel for a tour of the church and an interesting and informative first Newcomers class.

BIG RED BUS BLOOD DRIVE

WILL BE AT ST. GREGORY'S

Sunday, February 11 from 8:00 AM - Noon

Blood is essential to life and cannot be made or manufactured. Generous blood donors are the only source of blood for patients in need of a blood transfusion. If you are able to donate, please consider giving on Sunday, February 11th from 8:00 AM - Noon.

Click here for more information.

Appointments are encouraged, so please visit oneblood.org/donate-now and use sponsor code 7291. ID is required.

THE SURRENDERED HEART OF LENT

St. Gregory's Lenten Offerings

As we embark on the season of Lent next week on Ash Wednesday, February 14th, we invite you to click here to learn more about St. Gregory's Lenten offerings.

ASH WEDNESDAY FAMILY SERVICE

Wednesday, February 14 at 6:30 PM

Bringing your children to Ash Wednesday services might seem a little out of place given the solemn nature. But when children see all the adults they love and respect wearing ashes and they themselves are marked with ashes, they know they belong. They are one of God’s people. Other days they may know that with their minds, but on Ash Wednesday they know it in a powerful way, with their eyes.

At the Ash Wednesday service families will hear the Godly Play lesson on the Mystery of Easter. Sometimes people wonder why this story, usually presented at the beginning of Lent, is called “The Mystery of Easter,” and not “The Mystery of Lent.” The fullest meaning of Lent is that it gives us time to prepare for the great Mystery of Easter, the principal feast of the Christian Church.

Lent is the season when we prepare for Easter. These six weeks are a solemn time, overflowing with meaning, when we view life from the perspective of our existential limits and the sacrifice of Christ. This lesson gives an introduction to the relationship of Lent to the Mystery of Easter as well as how Easter overflows into the season of Easter.

LENTEN RETREAT AT MORIKAMI

Saturday, February 17 at 10:00 PM

Outdoor Congregational Retreat

Saturday, February 17 at 10:00 AM to Noon “Behold, I Make All Things New” Outdoor Congregational Retreat at Morikami Museum and Gardens:

The story of God and humanity begins with the original blessing of life in a garden. Where better to reflect on the beginning and the endpoint for our life with God—the Alpha and Omega—than in a garden! Gathering time at 10:00 am in Morikami Park. Your donation of $20 includes admission to Morikami and the retreat. There will be an option to gather for lunch at the Museum and Gardens. Lunch is not included in the donation.

MOMMY & ME GROUP

Sunday, February 18 at 9:00 AM

This newly formed group will have its first meeting on Sunday, Feb 18 at 9am in the St. Gregory's nursery. Dads are welcome, too! For more information, please contact Margaret O'Connor at [email protected].

FOOD PACKING FOR HAITI

Saturday, March 2

Join our group as we work with other volunteers around our diocese to pack nutritious meals for our partner community in Bondeau, Haiti.

Great way for families to serve together!

Teens -- Earn community service hours!

STAY TUNED FOR OUR SHIFT TIME! (most likely 9am start)

LOCATION: St. Mark's Episcopal Church, Palm Beach Gardens

Carpooling from St. Gregory's will be available!

ECW THRIFT STORE

REOPENING SOON!

Look forward to shopping in the newly renovated St Gregory’s Thrift Shop - Coming Soon!

SAVE THE DATE FOR

THE ECW TEA

Saturday, April 13 at 2:00 PM

Mark your calendars for a delightful afternoon at St. Gregory's ECW Annual Tea, set to take place on Saturday, April 13th, from 2 PM to 4 PM. This cherished event is the perfect opportunity to enjoy a cozy tea experience while enjoying fellowship. Additional details about the event will be shared soon, so stay tuned!

SAVE THE DATE FOR ST. GREGORY'S DEDICATION AND OPEN HOUSE

Sunday, April 21

Save the date for St. Gregory's dedication service and open house! The service of Rededication will be one of celebration and renewal as we come together to formally bless our beautifully renovated sanctuary and honor all those who have labored on this great project and those who have made it possible through their leadership, sacrifice, and gifts. Invitations to the community at large are being issued including civic leaders, city council members, sister parishes within the Diocese, religious organizations, churches and synagogues, as well as performing arts organizations. 

This monumental service will be in the form of a Choral Evensong with the Choir of St. Gregory’s and guest musicians and will feature the music of Hubert. H. Parry, William Harris, Ralph Vaughan Williams, and a special setting of the Preces and Responses by Tim Brumfield. 

Plan now to attend and be part of this historic service of rededication when we will not only rededicate our beautiful sanctuary and campus, but also rededicate ourselves to the service of God within our community and the world. 

LOOKING AHEAD

Mark Your Calendar

for these Important Dates

Sunday, February 11: Big Red Bus, Blood drive: 8 AM to noon

Brothers Breakfast after both services; Newcomers class after breakfast

Tuesday, February 12: Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper and Burning of the Palms begins at 6 PM

Wednesday, February 14: ASH WEDNESDAY SERVICES: 7 AM, NOON, 6:30 PM. ASHES TO GO: 9 AM - 10:30 AM - South Beach Park Pavillion (In Boca at A), Mizner at Noon, Whole Foods at 2:30 PM.

Sunday, February 18 - Mommy & Me at 9 AM

Monday, February 19 -Presidents Day - BRIYA Trip to Miami (see information below); The church office will be closed for Presidents Day.

Saturday, February 24 - YogaMass in St. Mary's Chapel at 4 PM

Sunday, February 25 - Library Open House at 11 AM , Seraphic Fire in concert at 4 PM

Saturday, March 2 - Food Packing for Haiti at St. Mark's - St. Mark’s Episcopal Church and School Gym

10635 Gardens East Drive, Palm Beach Gardens, FL

Registration fees go toward the cost of raw materials and transportation. Volunteers needed! Carpooling will be offered.

Sunday, March 3 - Rise & Shine Service -10 AM (Harris Hall)

Sunday, March 10 - Visit and Presentation from South Florida Wildlife Center (11:45 AM In the Courtyard)

Sunday, March 17 - Lenten Lunch Youth Group Fundraiser - Following the 10 AM Service in Harris Hall. Youth Volunteers are needed for prep on Saturday and servers/helpers on Sunday. You can earn community service hours for volunteering.

GETTING YOUR

ST. GREGORY'S PARKING PASS

If you have not yet gotten a parking pass, please know that you can pick one up from the ushers on any Sunday morning from now until March 10th. After that date, members must come to the church office and get a parking pass.

NEED A LITTLE EXTRA SPACE OR ASSISTANCE FOR SERVICES?

To ensure our services are accessible and comfortable for everyone, we have now designated spaces specifically for members of our congregation who use mobility devices such as wheelchairs or walkers. These areas are designed to provide extra room, ensuring full participation in our services for everyone. If you require assistance upon arrival, please don't hesitate to ask an usher for help.

CHILDREN, YOUTH, AND FAMILIES

A Place to Belong

THURSDAY, FEB 8

5:45 pm - Choristers Rehearsal (Choir Room)

SUNDAY, FEB 11

9:10 am: Confirmation Class (Conference Room)

Brothers Breakfast

after the 8:00 am and 10:00 am services

9:30 AM - Nursery Opens for Dropoff

9:45 am - Sunday School - 3yrs - 5th Grade (Designated Rooms)

9:45 am: Youth Upper Room Time (Youth Room)

11:30 AM - Parents Gathering at Brothers Breakfast

THURSDAY, FEB 15

5:45 pm - Choristers Rehearsal (Choir Room)

NEXT SUNDAY, FEB 18

9:10am: Confirmation Class (Conference Room)

9:30am: Nursery opens

9:45am: Youth Upper Room Time (Youth Room)

LOOKING AHEAD - SATURDAY, FEB 24

"LEAP OF FAITH" -- DIOCESAN YOUTH PROGRAM

Challenge Course and Team Building Exercises

Saturday, Jan 24 from 9:30am at the FAU campus

Cost: $15/person, includes snacks

Let Anita know ASAP if you are interested!

PARENTS: We need one or more adult chaperones for this event as Anita will not be available.

BRIYA TRIP TO MIAMI

Monday, February 19th

The trip to Miami includes a visit to the Holocaust Memorial with Holocaust Educator Jack Rosenbaum, Lunch, and a visit to South Pointe Park and Pier. Bus Transportation will be provided.

Grades 6-12 are warmly welcome. Please wear BRIYA (Boca Raton Interfaith Youth Association) shirts. Shirts will be provided to you if you don't have one. No shorts, please.

Please RSVP to Gena Vallee at

[email protected]

or Cathy Berkowitz at

[email protected]

ST. GREGORY'S NURSERY

Open for Dropoff on Sundays at 9:30 AM

Did you know that St. Gregory's nursery is open on Sunday mornings? The beautifully renovated nursery provides childcare during for the 10:00 AM service. Drop off for little ones begins at 9:30 AM.

ADULT FORMATION

Classes and Formation at St. Gregory's

Wednesdays

8:00 AM - Men's Spirituality Hour (Zoom) 

Meeting Link

Father Ben and Father'Andrew's classes will not be held on Ash Wednesday and will resume on Wednesday, February 21st.



10:00 AM - The Reality of Being with Fr. Ben (Zoom) The Reality of Being is an ongoing group, initially composed of the fruit that has fallen out of a three-year Gospel of Thomas circle, and will meet via Zoom every Wednesday from 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM EST. Zoom link here.

Meeting ID: 854 5001 9587 Passcode: 1+1=3

6:00 PM - Rector's Bible Study with Fr. Andrew - Hybrid - On Zoom and In Person (In the Conference Room). Zoom link here Meeting ID: 841 7545 8345 Passcode: 086160

Thursdays

1:00 PM - Women's Bible Study (Youth Room) - For information, contact Evelyn Anderson at [email protected]  or Susan D’Ambrosio, [email protected]

ST. GREGORY'S IS NOW LIVESTREAMING

TO THE HOMEPAGE OF OUR WEBSITE

stgregorysepiscopal.org

If you are unable to join us in person for services on Sunday, please join us online! In addition to livestreaming each Sunday's 10:00 AM Holy Eucharist to our Facebook page, St. Gregory's is now livestreaming the service to our homepage for your convenience. Click here to view the service on our homepage (it is located in the middle of the page) or click here to view it on Facebook.

SPOTLIGHT ON ANDRANOVORY

(An.dra.new.voory)

ANDRANOVORY (An.dra.new.voory) is a parish within Toliara where Bishop Todd McGregor and Rev. Patsy McGregor served for more than ten years. Andranovory is St. Gregory’s Parish Link in Madagascar. What does this mean? Well...we have committed to praying for our brothers and sisters in the parish of Andranovory and in turn they are praying for us! Yes! The Andranovory youth, men’s and women’s groups are all praying for us at St. Gregory’s. And, St. Gregory’s youth, women’s and men’s groups, as well as our corporate prayers, are committed to including our brothers and sisters in Andranovory.

Our intent is to form more personal relationships with our brothers and sisters. Fiadanana lives in the Andranovory parish and can introduce us to the culture and people of this area of Madagascar. Nolavy, who is the very first female Malagasy Anglican priest ordained in Madagascar, has already sent us video clips of the Malagasy children demonstrating the pronunciation of Andranovory. We, in turn, will send clips to them to get better acquainted. We will share the fruits of our communications with you. Stay tuned!

We want each of you to become involved in some way. Please add Andranovory to your personal nightly prayers and meditations. If you would like to be involved in sharing video clips or photos, or just want more information about our mission, you may contact Mary Herin at [email protected].

PASTORAL CARE

St. Gregory's Is Here For You.

St. Gregory's provides a variety of support ministries that are here to support you. Our clergy, staff, and Stephen Ministers are here to answer your questions, pray with you, and for your pastoral needs. Contact the church office at 561-395-8285 or by email at [email protected]. Learn more.

PRAYER

Daily Prayer and Prayer Requests

Join us in prayer. Click here to submit your prayer request. To pray for others, click here to view this week's prayer requests. If you'd prefer to receive a daily written prayer, click here to receive each day's word from Daily Prayer (a resource of Forward Movement).

SOUTH FLORIDA HAITI PROJECT

PRAYERS URGENLY NEEDED FOR HAITI

Feb. Prayer Calendar and Quarterly Update

While it seems utterly impossible for the situation in Haiti to get worse... the last 2 months have seen violence and gang activity spreading outside of Port Au Prince causing the inability of travel between Leogane and Bondeau. This affects not only individuals traveling, but movement of all kinds of supplies to as well. All aspects of life have been affected.

Of grave concern is the lack of food for Bondeau. Shelves have been bare in Miragoane... markets are not functioning and wide-scale demonstrations have virtually shut down the country twice in January.

Read more.

VOLUNTEER GRANT WRITERS NEEDED

Make a Difference

with Your Talent for Grant Writing

Volunteer grant writers needed to help our various ministries at St. Gregory's. Do you have experience researching and writing grant proposals to secure funding from The Episcopal Church, other foundations, corporations, and government sources? The focus will be on supporting our many missions, requiring coordination of grant applications, and fostering growth in funding strategies.  This volunteer position offers a chance to contribute significantly to our community-focused ministries and make a real difference in the lives of many. Please contact Kristen Chaney at [email protected]. 

ST. GREGORY'S LOVES COFFEE HOUR!

Join the Tradition of Fellowship by Volunteering

THE ST. GREGORY FAMILY LOVES COFFEE HOUR!  Join the tradition of fellowship by volunteering for our Sunday Coffee Hour, following the 10 AM service. We are currently seeking volunteers to coordinate and serve our fellow parishioners each week (except for the Brothers Breakfast Sunday). If you are interested in being a part of this ministry, please contact Kay Holt at [email protected].

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

Volunteers are needed for various ministries.

Our Lay Eucharistic Visitor volunteer group is looking for members of our St. Gregory’s family to join them as they:

1. Deliver communion and enrich the religious experience of those unable to attend church due to illness or incapacity

2. Visit and spiritually support those in need of the comfort and companionship of St. Gregory’s

3. Maintain contact with those parishioners with whom they are assigned to assure them that they are still a part of our St. Gregory’s community.



If this type of ministry appeals to you, please contact David Cominole 561-376-9056 or email him at [email protected] for more information.

GIVING AT ST. GREGORY'S

Your Support Makes An Impact

Your support of St. Gregory's and our ministries makes our mission of Transforming Hearts and Community Through Jesus' Love a reality. Please click here to give online now. For more information, please email the Church Office or click on these links: Altar Flower Dedications, Capital Campaign, Meals with Meaning, Stewardship, and South Florida Haiti Project.

CONNECT WITH US

Engaging With St. Gregory's

We're grateful that you're part of St. Gregory's growing community! Visit our website at www.stgregorysepiscopal.org for more information or click the links and social media buttons below:

Contact Information

Volunteer Information

Download the St. Gregory's App - iOS, Google Play