Called to Worship. Sent to Witness. Led to Welcome.
| |
|
“Listening to God with Children”
Catechesis of the Good Shepherd for 3-to-9 Year Olds
in Saint Andrew’s Atrium
The most important thing that happens in the atrium (or in our lives, for that matter) is that, together with children, we grow in our knowledge of Jesus, the Christ, the Good Shepherd, and in his love for us, and that we grow always more capable of responding to that love.
– Rebekah Rojcewicz (“Foreword: An American Experience of the Catechesis” in Sofia Cavalletti’s The Religious Potential of the Child)
| |
Some of the Catechesis materials that were lovingly and prayerfully painted and assembled by parishioner and artist Joyce Ford. | |
Children of the parish at work on their mats in the Atrium. | |
|
The phrase, “Listening to God with Children,” is also the title of a book by Gianna Gobbi, who worked for many years with Maria Montessori (originator the educational system bearing her name) before later working with Sofia Cavalletti in developing the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd children’s formation program based on many of the principles that she had first learned from Montessori. That phrase also offers a succinct summary of what we do in the Atrium – the space where, starting this weekend, Catechesis of the Good Shepherd will once again be taking place upstairs in the Parish Hall at Saint Andrew’s on Sunday mornings at 9:30 AM.
As catechists (the adults who oversee the class—me, Cheryl Banks, and Phil & Larie Buck), we are there not as instructors—but rather as facilitators and mediators—providing and cultivating a space where the children of our parish are invited to deepen their encounter with God—a space where we can listen to God with those children. Thus, Catechesis of the Good Shepherd has been described as a means by which we can experience “the meeting of two mysteries: the mystery of God and the mystery of the child.”
This past Easter Season, when we did a trial run of Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, we had about five children who regularly participated, and it was a delight to be able to introduce them to the Atrium space that we had prepared for them—and to see what they noticed—to get to experience their curiosity in that time. We were blessed to be able to listen for God with them, and we look forward to many more such encounters in the weeks ahead.
Grace & Peace,
Fr. Gary+
| |
Worship & Formation Schedule with Links | |
|
Sunday, September 8 - Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost
8:30 AM Low Mass, Rite II
9:30 AM Catechesis of the Good Shepherd & Lectionary-Based Study
10:30 AM Sung High Mass, Rite I
(livestream available again!)
Tuesday, September 10
8:30 AM Morning Prayer, Rite I
4:00 PM Clergy-Led Bible Study
Wednesday, September 11 - Holy Cross Day (observed)
5:30 PM Healing Mass, Rite II
6:30 PM Supper Class
Thursday, September 12
8:30 AM Morning Prayer, Rite I
10 AM Centering Prayer
| |
Prayer Requests & Resources | |
The following people have been commended
to the prayers of the parish:
| Beth, Bob, Brian, Caitlin, Charlie, Chuck, Cleve, Dave, Debbi, Denise, Dick, Don, Duane, Ellen, Emily, Felix, Holly, Jennie, Jim, Jodi, Joyce, Lauren, Leigh Ann, Lucy, Margaret Lee, Marvin, Mary, Mary Ann, Millie, Nancy, Patt, Shawn, Sylvia, Teresa, Wade, Weesie | |
|
To add someone to the Parish Prayer List, please contact the office.
To add someone to the Daughters of the King prayer list, please e-mail dok@standrewsgreenville.org
There is also wooden box in the Narthex where you can fill out prayer cards.
The Daughters will add your names to their prayers.
| | |
|
|
09/02 Sheri Blackshire
09/03 Laura Rhodes
09/07 West Brunson
09/07 Annette Geraghty
09/07 Alec Honohan
09/10 Robert Boggs
09/15 Jodi Coburn
09/15 Linda Considine
09/15 Daniel Hunt
09/15 Rusty Infinger
09/16 Raekan Smith
09/18 Lollie Harper
09/18 Lucy Walters
09/19 Charles Shields
09/19 Elizabeth Williams
09/20 Weylin Brown
09/20 Jenna Henderson
09/20 June Santilli
09/21 Eliza Eichelberger
09/21 Nicholas Kridler
09/22 Merrie Clark
09/23 Stephen Bolle
09/23 Paul Brunson
09/23 Sebastian Herr
09/23 Jennie LaMonte
09/24 Andrew Ross
09/26 Todd Miller
09/27 John Fenn
09/27 Earle Gregory
09/27 Judi Gregory
09/28 Stefan Herr
09/29 Sonya Vehorn
09/30 Lee Gray
| |
Centering Prayer Workshop
This Saturday, September 7 | 10 AM - 3 PM | Parish Hall
| |
|
At Father Gary’s encouraging, Saint Andrew’s parishioner Cynthia Fore, who is a Spiritual Director and Centering Prayer leader, will be leading a workshop introducing the practice of Centering Prayer with the hopes of starting a regular Centering Prayer group at Saint Andrew’s.
The workshop, which is being facilitated by Contemplative Outreach of Greater Greenville, will provide an overview of the history, practice, and discipline of Centering Prayer grounded in ancient Christian contemplative prayer practices. The cost for the workshop is $25, though, if that presents a hardship for anyone, Fr. Gary is happy to assist. Participants should bring a bag lunch, though drinks will be provided. All are welcome!
| |
Click on Image below to download PDF for more details. | |
Fall Kick-Off for Sunday Morning Formation Offering September 8 | 9:30 AM
This Sunday, we will be restarting our Sunday morning formation offerings, which will include the following:
| |
Saint Andrew’s Book Club
Sunday, September 8
Following the 10:30 service
We will be carpooling to Anne Kaiser’s home at JA Acres Farm in Easley. We will discuss When Cicadas Cry by Carolyn Cleveland. More details will follow. All parishioners and their friends are welcome. Please RSVP to anne@jacresfarm.com.
| |
Eucharistic Visitor Training | Sunday, September 8
1 PM | Parish Hall
Have you ever wondered what’s involved in taking communion from church to parishioners at home, in the hospital, or in a nursing home? The Reverend Deacon Mary Jeffers will be offering a training session for those who would like to receive the training and certification required by the diocese to participate in this ministry. (Those seeking certification will also need to complete the relevant Safe Church training modules, which are available online.) Please sign up as soon as possible so that we can have sufficient materials for everyone.
| |
Second Sunday Harvest for September
Sunday, September 8 At Both Services
As is our custom on the Second Sunday of each month, we will be collecting food and personal hygiene products as well as financial donations designated to United Ministries. This month we are asking for donations of peanut butter. We are halfway to our goal of 50 jars of peanut butter, donations accepted through this Sunday. You may order from Amazon and have items shipped directly to the church by clicking button below.
| |
Clergy-Led Bible Study | Tuesdays | 4 PM | Parish Hall
All are welcome to join us as we continue our journey through Mark’s Gospel.
| |
|
Wednesday Night Supper Class
Patterns of Prayer
4 Week Session on Personal Prayer Practices
6:30 PM | Parish Hall
(following the 5:30 Wednesday Night Healing Mass)
For the month of September, we are in the midst of 4 Wednesday Night Supper Classes exploring a variety of personal prayer practices drawn from Mtr. Julia Gatta’s book Life in Christ. We will explore establishing habits of personal prayer and such varied methods as intercessory prayer, meditation, and praying with icons.
| |
ECW Fall Kick-off | Tuesday, September 10 | 6 PM | Parish Hall
Episcopal Church Women (ECW) is a national organization that brings people of all ages together to be in friendship and fellowship with each other. Through these relationships, the ECW hopes to empower each of us to carry out Christ’s work throughout the world. All women of Saint Andrew’s are invited to join us as we share about the National ECW, review plans for the coming year at Saint Andrew’s, spend time getting to know one another, elect officers, and more! Dinner (Greek Salad with vegetarian options) will be served. If you would like, you may bring a savory appetizer, a sweet treat and/or a sip to share! So that we can plan accordingly, please sign up by Friday, September 6. Sign up through Realm or email Leigh Randall at leighfrandall@gmail.com. If for some reason you are unable to sign up by the deadline, please come anyway! If you have questions, please contact Leigh Randall, Laura Rhodes or Jenny Peer.
| |
Centering Prayer Group | Starting September 12
Thursdays | 10 AM | In Church | Led by Cynthia Fore
Centering Prayer is a method and a lifestyle of resting in and being present to the Divine Presence of God. Each week we enter into silent prayer, along with Lectio Divina, where we practice in community this form of silence, listening deep within. This method of prayer is designed to facilitate the development of contemplative prayer, opening to God’s presence beyond words.
| |
Newcomer’s Gathering at the Rector’s House
Sunday, September 15 | 5 to 7 PM
| All newcomers, both recent visitors and new members, are invited to a casual get together with the vestry, our clergy, and leaders of various church ministries, at the Eichelbergers’ house. Printed invitations will be available at church. RSVP via the "Sign Up" link below -- or by calling or e-mailing the office at 864-235-5884 or office@standrewsgreenville.org. |
Rebuild Upstate Workday | Saturday, October 26
Volunteers of all ages are needed to team up with Rebuild Upstate to help create and sustain healthy, sustainable home environments for disabled, low-income, and elderly people in the neighborhoods surrounding our church. Sign up link coming soon!
|
Nursery During Worship
Sundays| 10:30 AM Mass
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
We are delighted to be welcoming some of youngest members back to the Saint Andrew's nursery! Each week, in addition to our Nursery Supervisor Jane Babb, we need at least one parish volunteer to serve as our second nursery caregiver. If you have gifts for working with infants and young children – and have “Safe Church” training, we could use your help! (And, if you can volunteer but don't yet have "Safe Church" training, you can complete the training online. Contact the office to get a link to the online training platform.) Please sign up for an upcoming Sunday at www.standrewsgreenville.org/signup
| |
Coffee Hour
Volunteers Needed!
Please consider volunteering to assist with refreshments and set up for our coffee hour fellowship following the 10:30 AM Mass. A sign up sheet can be found on the “Welcome” bulletin board in the Parish Hall or online at the link below.
| | |
|
Note: You need a parking decal to park in the designated lots. They can be found on the shelf to the left of the doors as you exit the church.
| 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 continue to 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.
| |
|
Invitation to Submit Future Parishioner Postings ...
If you have news of important milestones or work that you would like to share with the parish, please let us know!
| |
News from the Wider Church
and from Our Ministry Partners
| |
Notes Along the Way | the Strength to Move Slowly, pt. 2 | When I started trying to teach my son how to do push-ups, he applied what he knew about running and just about everything else and moved fast. To do more, he went as fast as possible and moved as little as possible. | | | |
Your Diocesan Youth Updates | | | |
The CC Pearce Culinary School is at the heart of what we do at Project Host. The program provides a pathway to financial stability for our students and teaches life skills that go beyond securing employment, including healthy cooking and creating meals on a budget. | | | |
GOAL Justice August Newsletter 2024 | | | |
From Greenville Homeless Alliance... | |
GHA Update August 29, 2024 | Thanks to everyone who joined us for the August Advocacy Connection in Fountain Inn. These small pop-up networking events held in municipalities across Greenville County offer stakeholders an opportunity to learn more about current issues impacting homelessness and connect with local elected officials. | | | |
Summer Choir | Rehearsal on Sundays at 9:30 AM
We are always seeking additional volunteers for the Saint Andrew’s choir, which, during the summer, gathers on Sunday mornings at 9:30 AM (and not on Wednesday evenings) to prepare the music for the 10:30 mass. This more limited time commitment provides an excellent opportunity for prospective new members to “try us out.” If you have questions, contact the Parish Office—or just show up on Sunday morning!
| |
|
Volunteers Needed
Feed Thy Neighbor
Founded in 2010, Feed Thy Neighbor is a cooperative effort of the Episcopal community in Greenville. Parish volunteers from Saint Andrew’s, St. Peter’s, St. James, and Christ Church feed the hungry each Saturday from 7:30 to 8:30 AM. We are seeking volunteers to help serve and clean up. Please contact the office if you would like to volunteer: office@standrewsgreenville.org.
| | | | |
