The Prefect s Post It s Annual Meeting Time!! Sunday, 17, 2018 is the date for this year s annual meeting. Brunch will begin immediately following the 10am service, the only service that day, and will be served by Vestry members. The traditional Bloody Mary and Mimosa Bar will also be available along with other beverages. To donate a breakfast casserole or other items, contact Linda Scheerer or Marti Johnson. As the meal ends, the short business meeting will begin. Informational booklets will contain summary reports from Mother Lily, the wardens, and various committees along with the 2018 budget. Elections for vestry representatives and convention delegates & alternates will be held. 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 2018 *Mission and Outreach *Cancellation Info *Altar Flower Donation *Mother Lily s Message *Birthdays/ Anniversary 2 3 Server Schedule 4 Calendar 5 Nominations Needed for Vestry Members and Convention Delegates Nominations for vestry members and convention delegates are now being accepted for elections at the Annual Meeting. As per our Bylaws, a vestry member s term is 3 years. A total of five, full or partial-term vacancies on the vestry are available. The partial terms have resulted from resignations. Currently, one person has volunteered to run. Please consider this ministry to St. Gregory s. The 2018 Convention will be a two-day event, November 2 & 3 in Lansing. More details will be forthcoming. We will need to elect one delegate and one alternate from parish members; one delegate & one alternate will be elected from the vestry. To nominate someone (or yourself!) to serve on the vestry or as a convention delegate or alternate, please give the nominee s name to either Mother Lily, Linda Scheerer, Senior Warden, or any vestry member. Names will be placed on the appropriate ballot for the elections. It would be preferable to have all nominations prior to the meeting; however, if there is not a full slate for either the vestry or delegates, names will be accepted from the floor at the annual meeting. Annual Meeting Reports Due All Committee Reports for the Annual Meeting Booklet must be submitted to Marti Johnson in the Office on or before, 15th. If you hold a leadership or liaison position of any kind, a yearly summary of the committee s activity must be given. The booklet will also contain the 2017 Budget as well as other important information. Booklets will be distributed at the meeting. Reports are due from: Senior & Junior Wardens; Treasurer/Accountant; Mission & Outreach; Christian Education; Worship Committee; Passion Narrative; Altar Guild; Parish Life; Courtyard Committee; Office Manager. Reports can be emailed to Marti at: martilee26@yahoo.com Or to the Church Office at: stgregsoffice@gmail.com *Christmas Eve pictures 6
Page 2 The Prefect s Post 2018 Mission & Outreach Updates Mission and Outreach is making plans for 2018 The Christmas Adopt-a-Family program was a big success, with many, many generous donations from parishioners. Our 'adopted family' received lots of toys, games, videos and clothes for the 8 children involved. Besides the gifts, there were several bags of household items for the needy family. Cloey Buzzell, project coordinator at the Salvation Army, was genuinely excited to see so many things coming in from St. Greg's. (Picture insert) By the time you read this St. Gregory's will have served at the December 30 Community Breakfast. A magic show for kids is planned that day, so a big crowd is expected. Seven Gregorians have volunteered to serve and should have a busy, fun morning. The next Outreach Meeting is 7 after the 10am service. Everyone is invited to join us and help plan for 2018. Two projects are in the works. In February we will prepare a meal with residents at Step Up House. The Step-Up program helps foster care graduates prepare for independent living. And during Lent there will be a special, all-ages fundraiser... details to be announced later. Our slogan for this right now is Be an E-Pig-scopalian. If you come to the 7 meeting, perhaps you can help us find a better catch phrase!- Jim Horan 2018 Altar Flower Remembrance Donation There are two options for floral arrangements: 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 Le Fleur. Buy your own flowers and use our vase liners. Contact Jocelyn Shaw to pick up the liners. Be sure to have the flowers at the Church by Saturday evening. Many dates are still available. Contact Jocelyn Shaw, Altar Guild Directress, or the Office to select the dates for your remembrance. Flowers may be given in Thanksgiving or in Memory of loved ones. Forms are available on the Narthex table. Service Cancellations In the event of extreme weather and/or hazardous road and parking lot conditions which will cause the cancellation of services, meetings or events at St. Gregory s, the information will be: Sent out by email; Posted on WZZM TV13 & WOTV8 and WOTV4; If in doubt, Call Mthr. Lily. If Mona Shores Schools are closed due to weather &/or road conditions, the Office & Building will also be closed.
2018 The Prefect s Post Page 3 Dear Friends, Mother Lily s Message I must caution myself every time I begin to think about numbers. And, unfortunately, I do think about numbers. Part of the reason why I do is that we do count attendees of services for the purposes of tracking statistics for ourselves and for the Diocese. The other is that I am a creature of habit and numbers have always been the way the church has assessed its health and growth. Growth has always been an obsession of the church; in my lifetime, anyway. Although, numbers do not tell the whole story. It is probably far wiser to look at the health of the church anecdotally. Listening to stories and to what is spiritually taking place for others, as well as recognizing the same within ourselves is far more indicative of what is really happening. It is far more indicative of the mission which God has placed into our hands. I recently read an interview with Mary Parmer (a congregational development coach from Texas) about Spiritual Growth and evangelism. She was asked, Is growth even an appropriate goal for a Christian church? She responded, There has to be spiritual growth before there is numerical growth: when we as Episcopalians can learn to share our faith story with others: when we step out with the courage simply to invite someone to church. If we re able to share our story, but we re not able to listen to someone else s story, we re defeating our purpose. It s listening to other peoples stories. I believe that changing the culture in our church means changing our spiritual insides. I think once we do that, we will see growth. She goes on to say, I believe the Episcopal Church is the best-kept secret. It s a home for many wounded people from other traditions, for those people who feel rejected and scorned in other denominations. She then quoted Presiding Bishop Michael Curry and said, Evangelism is not what other people say it is. Evangelism is sharing the faith that is in you, and listening and learning from the faith that s in someone else. I could not have said it any better than Mary Parmer or the Presiding Bishop. Rather than being obsessed with numbers, I would like our ministry here at St. Gregory s to be a witness to the living out of the Gospel. When the Gospel is so visible and so palpable in us, we can do nothing but exude it and watch its spread to others. I often think to myself: if only they can come to know and feel, what I have come to know and feel! How Blessed that would be! Blessings this Christmas Season and always, Mother Lily+ Birthdays Celebrations! Anniversary 2- Joey Burmeister 1- Rick and Linda Scheerer 11 Rick Scheerer 16 Ella Grimm 18 Dylan Picard 24 Bob Rector
Page 4 The Prefect s Post 2018 Servers 7 8 & 10am Morning Prayer Linda Scheerer, Presider 14 8 & 10am 21 10am ONLY Annual Meeting 28 8 & 10 LEM LEM LEM LEM Linda Scheerer 8am: Lynne Gill Lou Manak 8am: Lynne Gill 10am: David Wells 10am: Shelby Schweri Reader Reader Reader Reader Jim Horan Dean Huff Barb Huff Jim Horan Altar Guild Altar Guild Altar Guild Altar Guild Marge Collinge & Tracy Damm Jeff Closz Jocelyn Shaw Marti Johnson Fellowship Fellowship Fellowship Fellowship Volunteers Needed Volunteers Needed Vestry provides Brunch Volunteers Needed ic ic ic ic Stu Smith Linda Scheerer Stu Smith Linda Scheerer
31 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY Christmas Lessons & Carols with 10am *8 & 10am Morning Prayer; Mission & Outreach after 10am service *8 & 10am 10am ONLY Annual Meeting & Brunch following service Office Closed : Noon to : Noon to : Noon to ; Centering ; Centering ; Centering NO CHOIR REHEARSAL ; Centering Home EucharishThathanj 28 29 30 31 February 1 2 3 *8 & 10:am 2018 : Noon to ; Centering 2018 The Prefect s Post Page 5
Address label 1200 Seminole Rd. Muskegon, MI 49441 231-780-2955 Find us out on Facebook Follow us on Twitter: (StGregsMuskegon) Connect with us on our website: (www.stgregorysmuskegon.org Email the Rector at: AJ.RN.evans@gmail.com The Episcopal Church Welcomes You! Christmas Eve Midnight Christ Mass 2017