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SEPTEMBER 14, 2023
TRANSFORMING HEARTS AND COMMUNITY THROUGH JESUS' LOVE.
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The Archbishop Desmond Mpilo Tutu (7 October 1931 – 26 December 2021) was a South African Anglican bishop and theologian, best known for his work as an anti-apartheid and human rights activist.
He was Bishop of Johannesburg from 1985 to 1986 and then Archbishop of Cape Town from 1986 to 1996, in both cases being the first black African to hold the position.
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A MESSAGE FROM THE RECTOR
Music Ministry
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Dear Beloved Members,
Over the next months, I look forward to sharing some of the ways God blessed me during sabbatical time. One of those blessings was a prayer that I came across which comes from the late and much beloved Archbishop Desmond Tutu, who in turn adapted it from the English explorer, Sir Francis Drake. It strikes me that this prayer speaks to our congregation's life as we anticipate our Phase 2 renovation and construction project and as we celebrate our 70th Anniversary. As always, God is faithful and challenging—it's the nature of radical discipleship responding to eternal love.
I hope you find it as beautifully moving as I do.
In Christ,
Andrew+
Disturb Us, O Lord
By Archbishop Desmond Tutu,
adapted from a prayer by Sir Francis Drake
Disturb us, O Lord
when we are too well-pleased with ourselves
when our dreams have come true because we dreamed too little,
because we sailed too close to the shore.
Disturb us, O Lord
when with the abundance of things we possess,
we have lost our thirst for the water of life
when, having fallen in love with time,
we have ceased to dream of eternity
and in our efforts to build a new earth,
we have allowed our vision of Heaven to grow dim.
Stir us, O Lord
to dare more boldly, to venture into wider seas
where storms show Thy mastery,
where losing sight of land, we shall find the stars.
In the name of Him who pushed back the horizons of our hopes
and invited the brave to follow.
Amen.
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MAKING A DIFFERENCE
Mark Reino
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St. Gregory's has always been a beacon of faith and community in Boca Raton. This year, as we celebrate our 70th anniversary, we've been blessed to have members of our community step forward in meaningful ways to help us commemorate this important milestone. Among them, Mark Reino, the esteemed owner of Merit Mile – an award-winning integrated advertising, interactive, and PR agency based in Boca Raton – stands out. A selfless member of St. Gregory's, Mark, along with his talented Creative Director, Saul Darville, have gracefully dedicated their expertise to commemorate this special milestone. Their creativity has manifested in the beautiful 70th Anniversary logo, capturing the essence of our church's long-standing legacy. Furthermore, the duo generously designed the 70th-anniversary banner, which Father Andrew proudly unveiled last Sunday, illuminating our Harris Hall sanctuary with the visual testimony of our journey.
It's not merely the design or the aesthetics that merit attention but the selfless spirit with which these contributions were made. Mark donated his and Saul's time, talent, and passion without expecting anything in return. Such acts reaffirm the power of community and the spirit of giving that St. Gregory's has championed for seven decades. As we approach our festive gala on Thursday, November 2nd, we're reminded of the importance of every individual's effort in "Making a Difference" to our beloved community. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Mark for his unwavering support and to Saul for his artistic brilliance. They have truly gone the extra (Merit) Mile and we are forever grateful. Together, they have enriched our celebration, reminding us of the beauty that arises when faith and community intertwine.
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Wisdom School
To learn more about Fr. Ben's Wisdom School, click here.
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Radical Optimism
This 8-week class will meet via Zoom every Wednesday evening at 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm EST from September 13 - November 1, 2023.
Register here.
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The Reality of Being
The Reality of Being will be 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 morning from 10:00 am - 11:30 am EST beginning on October 4, 2023.
If interested, contact Fr. Ben here.
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The Gospel of Thomas
Join Fr. Ben for Coffee with Thomas every Wednesday from 10:00 - 11:00 am EST, beginning Wednesday, August 23, 2023.
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VOIR: A THEOLOGICAL QUARTERLY
Fr. Ben is pleased to announce a new project – VOIR: A THEOLOGICAL QUARTERLY.
“Seeing. One could say that the whole of life lies in seeing.” – Pierre Teilhard de Chardin
How do you see God? Submissions are open for a Winter 2024 publication. Please visit Fr. Ben's letter on the ABOUT page to learn more or click here to support this initiative with your tax-deductible donation.
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WISDOM SCHOOL
Seeing with the Eye of the Heart
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Dear Wisdom students,
If you are looking for something you're trying to find outside of yourself, join me by going within.
Connect here.
In Christ,
Fr. Ben+
FALL / 2023 OFFERINGS
Click here to learn more about Fr. Ben's Fall offerings:
Radical Optimism, The Reality of Being, and Coffee with Thomas.
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A MESSAGE FROM TIM
Music Ministry
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What a joy it was to welcome back Fr. Sherman on Sunday, and to the 10 am worship The Choir of St. Gregory’s! They sounded wonderful and I’m so thankful for their dedication and commitment to excellence in all they do!
This Sunday, we read in Matthew’s Gospel about Jesus’ teachings on love and forgiveness… “forgive your brother or sister from your heart.” The anthem will be “My Eyes for Beauty Pine” by Herbert Howells utilizing a text by Robert Bridges with these words…“Tis Love, ‘tis heavenly Love. And every gentle heart that burns with true desire, is lit from eyes that mirror part of that celestial fire.” May we find inspiration to love and forgive one another from the heart, with true desire, seeing God in the eyes of all.
If anyone would like to audition for The Choir of St. Gregory’s or if you have a child in grades 3-8 interested in singing with the Choristers, please contact me at tbrumfield@st-gregorys.com. I will be in communication with parents about new beginnings with our Choristers as we resume rehearsals next week!
With blessings,
Tim
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ST. GREGORY'S
CHILDREN'S CHOIR RESUMES
Contact Tim Brumfield to participate!
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I’m pleased to announce that our children’s choir, the Choristers, will resume this month! After a two-year hiatus due to the Covid era, I’m happy to be able to work with our children once again! If you have a child in grades 3 -7 who is interested in singing, please email me at tbrumfield@st-gregorys.com.
And, if you are a teen in grades 8-12 and interested in being part of the church’s choral program, please email me. I would love to speak further with you!
Music is the language of the soul!
Blessings to all,
-Tim
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CHILDREN, YOUTH, AND FAMILIES | | |
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Teach children in the way they should go and when they are old, they will still not depart from it.
- Proverbs 22.6
There is still time to enroll for Fall!
Our online registration is open!
Click here to register online.
For more information,
please contact:
ANITA SHERMAN anitasherman561@gmail.com
or
KRISTEN CHANEY
kchaney@st-gregorys.com.
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CHILDREN, YOUTH, AND FAMILIES
A Place to Belong
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Sunday, September 17
Regular Sunday School, Upper Room Time,
and Confirmation Classes resume!
Confirmation - 9:10am;
Conference Room
3yrs - 5th grade - 9:45am;
Designated Rooms
Middle/High School - 9:45am;
Upper Room Time;
Youth Room
Don't Forget!
Parents Meeting - 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM; Youth Room
Lunch will be provided.
All children and youth are welcome to attend as well.
Next Sunday, September 24
Beach Eucharist - 6:30 am
South Beach Park
(at Palmetto Park Rd and A1A in Boca)
9:10 am - Confirmation Class (Conference Room)
9:45 am - 3yrs - 5th grade (Designated Rooms)
9:45 am - Upper Room Time for middle and high school (Youth Room)
Sunday, October 1
Boca Raton Interfaith Youth Association (BRIYA)
Celebrate Sukkot at B'nai Torah
2:30 PM - 4:00 PM
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The B'nai Torah Congregation is located at 6261 SW 18th Street, Boca Raton. | |
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BOCA RATON INTERFAITH
YOUTH ASSOCIATION (BRIYA)
Celebrate Sukkot at B'nai Torah
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Youth grades 6 through 12 are warmly invited to participate in this enriching cultural and spiritual event. The Sukkot celebration will be held at B'nai Torah Congregation on Sunday, October 1, from 2:30 PM to 4:00 PM.
This is a unique opportunity for our young members to deepen their understanding of the Festival of Sukkot through hands-on activities. Enjoy apple cider and donut making, partake in the Lulav Shake, and delight in crafting edible sukkot. Additionally, there will be a variety of Sukkot-themed crafts to engage with. Please dress modestly, covering shoulders and wearing long pants and wear your BRIYA shirt if you have one. Please RSVP to Gena Vallee at GVallee@St-Gregorys.com to confirm your attendance. We look forward to seeing you there!
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GODLY PLAY
We Have An Exciting Fall Planned!
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So many thought-provoking events are happening with Godly Play this fall! Click here to view our September newsletter and learn about ways to connect and engage.
Don't miss a minute of information about Godly Play! Click here to register for our newsletter!
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ST. GREGORY'S WELCOME BACK PICNIC
Thank you to everyone
who made the day so special!
| During last Sunday's Welcome Back Picnic, St. Gregory's congregation celebrated the return of Father Andrew and Anita from their Sabbatical and the kick-off of our Fall Sunday School, Confirmation, Adult Formation, and spirituality classes. We'd like to extend a very special thank you to St. Gregory's Brothers for the scrumptious food and to everyone who attended and organized this joyous gathering. Your presence and efforts made it a very fun and memorable day for all. | | | |
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ST. GREGORY'S LUNCH BUNCHERS
Thank you to everyone
who joined us yesterday!
| Yesterday, St. Gregory's "Lunch Bunchers" met at the Capital Grille for a delightful lunch and fellowship. The restaurant's serene ambiance, exceptional service, and excellent cuisine made for another memorable outing. The next Lunch Bunch meetup will take place on October 11th. For more information about the Lunch Bunchers, please email Andrea Chang at Chang0113@aol.com | | | |
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PARKING AT ST. GREGORY'S
Mobile Parking App Launched
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St Gregory's mobile parking app, ParkPoolr has launched!
The signage has been installed, and the app is up and running. This is a great opportunity to generate more revenue from our parking lot, especially during evenings and Mizner Park special events. Parking decals for St. Gregory’s Episcopal Church members will be available after the 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. services on Sunday, September 10.
There will always be ample priority parking for parishioners, as the parking lot will be closed to the public during church events. Feel free to contact Bill Lintz, Scott Wing, or Kristen Chaney with any questions.
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RENOVATION OF THE SANCTUARY | | | |
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CONSTRUCTION UPDATE
Sanctuary Renovation Is Progressing Well
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The renovation work in the church sanctuary continues to progress at a good pace!
As you can see in the latest photos, the crew is still laying floor tiles, and it appears they have installed at least 50% of the beautiful new flooring. Construction is still progressing within budget. Great news! Stay tuned!
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KNITTERS MEETING
Monday, September 18th at 10:00 AM
| The Knitters Ministry will resume meetings on Monday, September 18th at 10:00 AM in the conference room. The Knitters meet the first monday of each month unless there is a holiday on that date. Please join us. Knitters of all levels are warmly encouraged to participate in this fun and important ministry. | | | |
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ECW FALL KICKOFF MEETING
DATE CHANGE
Thursday, September 21st at 2:00 PM
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Join us for the ECW Fall Kickoff meeting on Thursday, September 21st at 2:00pm in the 2nd floor conference room. Plans for the ECW’s upcoming fundraising events will be discussed along with warm fellowship and light refreshments. All are welcome! If you have any questions, please email Karen Guzik at karenguzik@aol.com.
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YOGAMASS IS BACK!
Saturday, September 23 at 4:00 PM
| Bring your friends, family, and neighbors for this incredible experience! On Saturday, September 23rd at 4:00 PM, St. Gregory's invites everyone to experience the unique blend of spirituality and physical wellness that is our popular YogaMass. YogaMass offers a holistic approach to well-being and spiritual connection rooted in Christ's love. Whether you're a seasoned yogi or new to both practices, join us for this refreshing and uplifting session that nourishes both body and soul. Please bring your friends and family - everyone is welcome! Also pbring your mat, and water, and wear comfortable clothes. Namaste. | | | |
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SUNRISE BEACH EUCHARIST
Sunday, September 24 at 6:30 AM
| On Sunday, September 24 at 6:30 AM, St. Gregory's cordially invites everyone to join us for a serene Sunrise Beach Eucharist service at South Beach Park in Boca Raton (located at A1A and Palmetto Park . As the sun paints the morning sky, join us by the shore for this beloved service, offering a unique blend of nature's beauty and spiritual communion. Bring your friends and family - everyone is welcome. We look forward to sharing this very special service with you. | | | |
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BLESSING OF THE PETS
Saturday, October 7 at 11:00 AM
| Everyone is invited! On Saturday, October 7th, join us for our annual Blessing of the Pets at 11:00 AM. A cherished tradition and one of our community's most anticipated events of the year, this special gathering celebrates our furry, feathered, and finned friends. Whether they bark, meow, chirp, or swim, all pets are welcome. Come join us for this heartwarming occasion and share in the joy and unity it brings to our community. Additional (free) parking is available in the Mizner Park garage. | | | |
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SAVE THE DATE
St. Gregory's Platinum Anniversary Gala
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Mark your calendars for an evening of elegance and celebration! Join us for St. Gregory's Platinum Anniversary Gala on Thursday, November 2nd, from 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm at Lakeside Terrace located at 7880 Glades Road in Boca Raton.
This gala promises to be a dazzling tribute to our rich history and vibrant future. Tickets are on sale and offered at early bird pricing through September 30. Click here to purchase your tickets now. Rates increase October 1. We look forward to celebrating with you!
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ST. GREGORY'S
PLATINUM ANNIVERSARY GALA
Supporting The Event
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We are excited to announce our 70th Anniversary Gala! To commemorate this milestone in our history of devotion to God, we will be celebrating with a festive fundraising event on November 2, 2023. We prayerfully ask that you support this important event with contributions, gift certificates, sponsorships, your own creative ideas, as well as donated items for silent and live auctions. All donations are taxdeductible as allowed by law. To donate and celebrate this historic anniversary, please contact:
Arely Castellón-Cox: ACastellon@sparkleteam.com or Carole Boucard: caroleboucard@gmail.com
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SUNDAY "COFFEE HOUR"
Join us in the Courtyard on Sunday!
| Even as we enter the ‘dog days of summer’, we continue to gather in the courtyard to enjoy cool drinks and time with good friends. Unfortunately, we don’t always have a varied assortment of goodies to serve. If you would like to bring some treats please drop them by the kitchen before the 10 AM service (the earlier, the better). Once construction is over and we have moved out of Harris Hall, we will go back to our snack contribution rotation, but until then, please bring something to go with our cold drinks! Thank you. | | | |
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ALTAR FLOWERS
Honoring Loved Ones
| Donations to our flower dedication fund help to offset the cost of altar flowers and are a wonderful way to honor a loved one or an important milestone. Click to learn more. | | |
ST. GREGORY'S LIVESTREAMING | | | |
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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 hompage (it is located in the middle of the page) or click here to view it on Facebook. | | | |
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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 office@st-gregorys.com. Learn more. | | | |
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SEPTEMBER PRAYER CALENDAR
Prayers for Haiti
| Please join us as we lift up the people of Haiti in prayer. Click here to view the September Prayer calendar. | | | |
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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). | | | |
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PRAYERS
For Everyone Affected by Natural Disasters
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Let us pray for those who have lost loved ones, for the first responders and medical professionals, and for all those facing the hardship of rebuilding.
O God, our refuge and strength,
our help in times of trouble.
Have mercy on the lands damaged by hurricanes, fires, earthquakes, and other natural disasters.
Have mercy on the lands where the weather has destroyed livelihoods.
Protect those who evacuate houses,
and strengthen those who rebuild hope
so that entire communities may face the future without fear.
Amen.
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UPCOMING AT ST. GREGORY'S
Important Dates
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Monday, September 18th - Knitters Meeting
Monday, September 18th - Vestry Meeting
Thursday, September 21st - ECW Meeting
Thursday, September 21st - Choir Rehearsal
Saturday, September 23rd - YogaMass
Sunday, September 24th - Sunrise Beach Eucharist
Sunday, October 1st - Newcomers Reception (Rectory)
Saturday, October 7th - Blessing of the Pets
Sunday, October 8th - Newcomers Classes Begin
Thursday, November 2nd - St. Gregory's Platinum Anniversary Gala
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NEWCOMERS BRUNCH
Sunday, October 1 at 11:45 AM
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Explore a deeper relationship with Christ and learn more about St. Gregory's.
If you are new to St. Gregory's, we warmly invite you to join us on Sunday, October 1st for a Newcomers brunch at the Rectory with Fr. Andrew. This is a beautiful way to enter into our community and forge new friendships and a place where surprising grace always happens. For more information, please email the church office at office@st-gregorys.com
Newcomers classes begin Sunday, October 8th.
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NEW TO ST. GREGORY'S?
We are so very glad you're here.
| Welcome! We invite you to explore life at St. Gregory’s by reaching out to our clergy after services, by emailing the church office at office@st-gregorys.com, by calling us at 561-395-8285 or by clicking here to complete our welcome form. Father Andrew will host the next Newcomers gathering on Sunday, October 1st in the Rectory followed by Newcomers classes beginning on Sunday, October 8th. We warmly invite you to attend. God is doing extraordinary things among us and would love for you to be a part of it all. | | |
If you are interested in giving of your time to helping others and making a difference, St. Gregory's and its ministries have many volunteer opportunities available There is truly something for everyone. Learn more. | |
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VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
Volunteers are needed for various ministries.
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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 david.cominole@att.net for more information.
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