the prefect’s post st. gregory’s · 2017. 12. 3. · december 2017 the prefect’s post page 3...

The Prefect’s Post S t . G r e g o r y ’ s

E p i s c o p a l

C h u r c h

December 2017

*Mission & Outreach Updates;

*Thanks from Salvation Army

2

Mother Lily’s Message

3

Altar Flower Donation Form

4

*Pointsettia Donations

*Altar Guild

5

Server Schedule 6

Calendar 7

*Donation Thanks

*Heavenly Breads

8

*Open House Invitation

*Bits & Pieces

9

*December’s Birthdays &

Anniversaries

*Bits & Pieces

10

Christmas Eve Service Sunday, December 24th

Carols & Holiday Music begin at

10:30pm The Christ Mass begins at 11pm.

No Christmas Day Service

Fourth Sunday in Advent is

December 24th this year.

There will be ONLY ONE

MORNING SERVICE AT 10am.

Advent Noontime Program Continues

The Wednesday Noon lunch, soup and bread, movie, The Shack, and discussion started on November 28th. Watching

about an half-an-hour of the movie, the 18 in attendance then entered into discussion, led by Mother Lily, on numerous topics, both life and faith-related brought out in the movie’s story. The program will continue on December 6th, 13th and 20th. Even if you missed the initial viewing, please join in for the rest of the ses-sions. It is an inspirational, thought–provoking series.

Thank you all for helping fill the Thanksgiving Pantry shelves at the Salvation Army. Saint Gregory's donations were very generous. It took two separate car trips to bring all the items over! Pantry Co-ordinator Cloey Buzzell thanked us very warmly, pleased to have so much to share with needy families. The Outreach Christmas project will be the Adopt-a-Family Giving Tree. The program provides holiday gifts for the children and grownups of a needy family. This year St. Gregory's will buy for a family truly in need, vetted by the Salvation Army. There is grand-mother, a baby, 6 year old twins, and five other children, ages 8 to

14. The Adopt a Family Christmas tree is now in the Narthex. The Tree has a few gift tags re-maining, (lots of people took tags on Sunday, November 26th!) listing the names and wish list items of each family member. Parishioners are invited to take a tag, purchase a gift and pro-vide a Merry Christmas for someone in need. Adopt a Family Details:

• Be sure to put your name and the gift tag number on the Sign-Out Sheet. That ensures each person gets the items they want.

• The sheet is next to the Tree.

• This year the Salvation Army asks that gifts NOT be wrapped.

• Deadline for returning gifts is December 17.

Volunteers from St. Gregory's will serve at the Community Breakfast, Saturday December 30 at the First Congregational Church on Jefferson. The fun project provides food and fellow-ship for the volunteers, as much as for the breakfast guests. Volunteer hours are 8:15 to 10:30 AM. Contact Jim Horan if you would like to help. Parish youth, ages 12 and up, are welcome to take part. There will be more Breakfast service dates coming up in 2018.

All are welcome to join us at the next Outreach meeting, January 7 after the 10 AM service.

- Jim Horan

Updates

The Prefect’s Post December 2017

Mission & Outreach

“Thank you so very much to St. Gregory’s Episcopal Parish! Your beautiful donation to the Salvation Army of Muskegon’s Food Pantry is greatly appreciated! Your kindness, support &

generosity has made a beautiful difference in the lives we her at The Salvation Army! You have brought so many individuals & families hope & joy for Thanksgiving and the holiday season.

Your contribution will allow families to be able to prepare a meal for Thanksgiving Day! Thank you! Blessings, Cloey & Team.”


Mother Lily’s Message Dear Friends, I was watching a documentary on the Vietnam War last night. The U.S. involvement in that conflict began as early as the 1950’s, during the time when the Korean War was waging. I did not know this. The French were trying to maintain their colonial status in Viet Nam while the western world was concerned about the spread of communism. The U.S. slowly entered the conflict for a variety of reasons and interests. It was a tricky and complicated relationship. As I was watching and listening, I was reminded of what we face in our world today. Coun-tries in civil war over who really belongs, racially, and who really rules as a result. ISIS, as the entity we fear, and its ever-creeping into every sphere of the world. Terrorism that shows up in all nations, both domestic and foreign. Things have not changed much—-just names and places. I am reminded that this has been the case throughout time, throughout history. Where does God fit in all of this? I bet, like me, you ask yourself this from time to time. Jesus also walked the earth during a time of oppression, a time of racial, religious and national strife and suffering. Jesus did not shy away from any of it. Jesus met it head on. He showed us an approach unfamiliar to many of us. We tend to hide our heads in the sand or get so angry we become self-righteous and completely misguided in our perceptions. We forget God’s plan for this world. If we could and would stay focused on God’s plan, we would remain calm and focused; we would stand up and speak up and insist on a world that reflected God. God’s desire for creation is not that it is necessarily going to be perfect, but that it works and strives for justice, peace, equality and solidarity. How are we doing? Are we making God’s presence felt in the world we live in? That is all we are required to do. If we are doing this and having faith that God’s plan will be fulfilled, we will get through these times. Advent is a time of hope. Join me in seeking, finding and maintaining our faith, as well as, feeling the hope which the Son coming to us, brings us.

Blessings,

Mother Lily P.S. I would be very interested in hearing your thoughts, regarding the gun violence taking place in some of our places of worship and prayer.


2018 Altar Flower Remembrance Donation

There are two options for floral arrangements:

1- Prepay the church: make your check out to St. Gregory’s for $25 per Sunday, with flower fund on the memo line. The arrangements will be purchased by the Church through LeFleur.

2- Buy your own flowers and use our vase liners. Contact Jocelyn Shaw to pick up the lin-ers. Be sure to have the flowers at the Church by Saturday evening.

Chart of Available Dates

(We do not have flowers for Lent or Advent, and Christmas and Easter flowers

are ordered separately)

Please enter your name, the date on which you wish to have flowers, and the names of the people you are honoring (in Thanksgiving or in Memory)

Turn in this form and your check to Jocelyn Shaw by the end of January (unless you want

flowers in January in which case the deadline is mid-end of December)

Additional forms are available on the Narthex table.

Jan 7 Apr 8 June 3 Aug 5 Oct 7




July 1 Sept 2 Oct 29

Feb 4 May 6 July 8 Sept 9 Nov 4

Feb 11 May 13 July 15 Sept 16 Nov 11

May 20 July 22 Sept 23 Nov 18

May 27 July 29 Sept 30 Nov 25

Your Name Date In Thanksgiving In Memory

(


Altar Guild Christmas Work Bee Have you ever wondered what goes on be-hind the scenes to get ready for Sunday, Wednesday and holiday services? Much of

what you see on the altar, including the bread, wine and linens that are used, are duties that members of the Altar Guild per-form on a weekly rotation of members.

Pre-Christmas and pre-Easter work bees are scheduled to do the extra cleaning required for these special services. Polish-ing the brass and silver, cleaning the sanctuary and enjoying each others’ company while these bi-yearly tasks are complet-ed are just some of the things this small but dedicated group accomplishes. Extra hands are always welcomed. This year work bee will be Saturday, December 16, at 10am in the church/altar guild sac-risty. Come lend a hand and check out what this ministry is all about!

Christmas Poinsettia Altar Flower Donations

Donation checks should be made to St. Gregory’s with “Christmas Flowers” in the memo, and can be attached to this form. Place in the Offering Plate at any service

through December 17th, or they may be sent or dropped off to the Church Office by Wednesday, December 20th. Forms are also available in the Church Narthex.

Names for the Christmas Bulletin

Please list those to be remembered and by whom: In Memory of: Given by: ___________________________ __________________________ ___________________________ __________________________ ___________________________ __________________________ ___________________________ __________________________ In Thanksgiving: Given by: ___________________________ __________________________ ___________________________ __________________________ ___________________________ __________________________ ___________________________ __________________________

Bread and Wine Changes

Beginning with the first Sunday in Ad-vent, we will be using “home-baked” bread at the 10am service which re-places the purchased wafers we have been using. The recipe comes from Pastor Chris Anderson, and it is the same one as was used at Mother Lily’s Ordination service. The Sheffield Tawney Port wine that has been a staple at St. Gregory’s for a number of years, is no longer available at Meijer. Jocelyn Shaw, Altar Guild Directress, is searching for an afforda-ble alternative. During that time, we will be trying various brands. Parish-ioners will be kept informed as the search continues.


December Servers December

3

Advent 1

8 & 10am

December

10

Advent 2

8 & 10am

December

17

Advent 3

8 & 10am

Guitar at 10

December

24

Advent 4

10am ONLY

December

31

Lessons &

Carols

10 am

ONLY

December

24

Christmas

Eve

11pm

LEM LEM LEM LEM LEM

Shelby Schweri

David Wells Linda Scheerer

Lou Manak Lou Manak Linda Scheerer

Reader Reader Reader Reader Reader

Dean Huff Barb Huff Youth? Jim Horan

Altar Guild Altar Guild Altar Guild

Altar Guild Altar Guild

Marti Johnson Marge Collinge & Tracy Damm

Jeff Closz Jocelyn Shaw

Marti Johnson

Fellowship Fellowship Fellowship Fellowship Fellowship

McCleary’s Bobby Kurien Michelle Bourdon

Volunteers Needed

Lillian & Shelby Schweri

Eucharistic Visitor

Eucharistic Visitor

Eucharistic Visitor

Eucharistic Visitor

Eucharistic Visitor

Linda Scheerer Stu Smith Linda Scheerer

Stu Smith Linda Scheerer

Sunday School

Teacher

Sunday School

Teacher

Sunday School

Teacher

Sunday School

Teacher

Sunday School

Teacher

Robin Bazzett Heidi Jackson No Class; chil-dren take part

in service

Shelby Schweri No Class

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Heavenly Breads

Pastor Chris Anderson is promoting the Annual Swedish Bread Sale sponsored by

and Center for Holocaust & Genocide Studies. The various types of breads and

cookies are described in the flyer and all sound so yummy it’s hard not to order

something! Pick up a flyer on the Narthex table, check it out and place an order,

just in time for Holiday gatherings. Pick up is convenient at St. Luke’s Lutheran

Church, Norton and Roosevelt Roads. Email ordering: http://holidaybreads.chgs-

muskegon.org.

sends our thanks and gratitude for these recent donations.

November 14, 2017 Dear Fellow Christians: My name is Paul Sorenson. I am Norma [Sorenson] Kersman’s son. My mom passed away recently. She and my dad were founding members of St. Gregory’s, and our family attended there throughout my childhood. I was confirmed there and served as a acolyte. Both my mom and I have had fond memories of those years. We both moved away many years ago, but my mom always wanted to make a final gift to the church. She designated in her will a specific bequest to the church, and in my capacity as her per-sonal representative, I have enclosed a check in that amount. I know that you will use these funds in Christ’s service. Blessings, Paul T. Sorenson

The Vestry gratefully acknowledged and accepted Norma’s gift the November meeting. Since there was no specific fund designation, the check’s amount was placed in the general fund.

A donation for the upkeep of the Memorial Garden/Courtyard has

been graciously made by Don Novak, husband of the late Gyneth

Nevins Novak. Gyneth’s parents, George and Marge Nevins, were char-

ter members of St. Gregory’s. Gyneth was an active choir and youth

group member until she graduated from Muskegon High School in

1964. The Vestry acknowledged the gift at the November meeting.



You are invited to a

Christmas Open House

At the Marx’s

Friday, December 15 from 4 –7pm

4824 Michillinda Drive, Whitehall, MI 49461

Directions from the South: Take Seaway/Shoreline Drive through town across the Causeway to Whitehall Road. Continue North on Whitehall Rd. to Michillinda Drive (about 6 miles). Turn left (west) on Michillinda

and travel 4 miles. Look for a flag/sign on the right by the driveway. Stay to the right on the shared drive

ending at Mthr. Lily & Bob’s house.

Bits & Pieces

Christmas Eve Service

We are looking for anyone that would like to participate in the 11pm service on December 24th.

Please see Linda Scheerer if you would like to participate in one of the many roles for the glorious service to celebrate the Birth of Jesus.

Annual Meeting

As in the past, we will be serving brunch at the Annual Meeting on January 21st following the 10am service. If anyone is interested in making a breakfast casserole, quiche or breakfast bread/muffins, please see Marti Johnson or Linda Scheerer.

Year End Reports

Please submit all year end reports to Marti Johnson no later than January 15th so that they can be put into a booklet for the Annual Meeting on January 21st.

1200 Seminole Rd.

Norton Shores, MI 49441

231-780-2955

Find us on Face book

Connect with us on our website:

www.stgregorysmuskegon.org

Email: [email protected]

The Episcopal Church Welcomes You!

December Celebrations !

Birthdays 1- Heidi Jackson 3 - Lynne Gill 4– Nancy Wells 4– Josh Ledesma 15– Marc Lakatos 26– Alister Jackson 27– Eligia Reyna 31– Mike Olthoff

3– Lynne & Barb Gill 27– William & Ellen Hanichen

Anniversaries

Coming Up…

Saturday, December 16 Altar Guild Christmas Workbee, 10am

-------------------- Sunday, December 17

Vestry Meeting, 11:30am -------------------------------------

Sunday, December 24 Fourth Sunday of Advent

10am Service ONLY +++++++++++++

Christmas Eve Service 10:30PM-Carols 11PM-Eucharist

----------------------- Sunday, December 31

New Year’s Eve Day Lessons & Carols 10am service only

-------------------------------- Sunday, January 21

Annual Meeting & Brunch One service at 10am

the prefect’s post st. gregory’s · 2017. 12. 3. · december 2017 the prefect’s post page 3...

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