Following Christ as we welcome, nurture, love and feed all God's children.

The Shamrock

September 7, 2016

KICK OFF SUNDAY THIS SUNDAY!

Fall Christian Formation begins on September 11 from 9:00-10:15. Children and youth will meet in their classrooms noted below and adults are invited to meet in the Parish Hall for light refreshments and a presentation on Sunday offerings by Adult Christian Formation Leaders

The commissioning of Sunday school teachers will happen at the 10:30 a.m. service!

Bring some food to share as we will have a potluck in the Parish Hall following the 10:30 service.

Children - classes will resume on September 11 with Kick off Sunday.

nursery, room 6 for children ages four and under. (The older threes and Pre K

                 children  will have a story and activity)

Room 4 A children in kindergarten, first and second grades

Room 9      children in third and fourth grades

Room 3    new CLUB 56 for children in fifth and sixth grades. (This is a part

                of the J2A program.) - The Journey Begins!

Youth - classes will resume on September 11 with Kick off Sunday.

Room 12 Rite 13 (7th & 8th grades) - Rites of Passage
Room 7 J2A (9th & 10th grades)
Room 14 YEA (11th & 12th grades) - Young Episcopal Adults

Adults - all are invited to gather in the parish hall on Sept. 11 for a presentation.

Kick Off Sunday Potluck: Sept. 11! 'KICK OFF' Sunday - Dear friends we will have a Potluck Parish Lunch after the 10:30 service, in the hall. Soft drinks and Entrees provided. Please bring your favorite Side/Salad dish and/or dessert to share.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

After the Gift: Discerning the next steps for St. Patrick's.

Dear Friends:

We are having a town-hall meeting on Sunday, September 18, following the 10:30 liturgy. The meeting will be held in the Nave. We hope you will join us. It is important to have your voice heard as we discern our future. As you may know, in the past 2 years we have significantly increased our staff to include a full time Associate Rector, a quarter-time Priest Associate, a half-time Youth Minister and a half-time Director of Children's Ministry. All of these positions are funded by gifts-a large bequest and a couple of directed gifts. In about a year, all of these gifts will come to an end. It has been a wonderful experience to have this robust staff. It is our work, as a parish, to discern where we wish to go from here, after the gift.

At the town hall meeting, which will last about 45 minutes, we will collect information from you about what your hopes and dreams are as we move forward. It is vital to have as many voices heard as possible, so please make time for this important work of the parish.

Peace and all good,

The clergy, staff and vestry of St. Patricks

Liturgy Teams: Each Sunday, members of the liturgy team, including the Altar Guild, Acolytes and Eucharistic minister, carry out the meaningful work of preparing our place of worship, and serving in worship. It takes about 20 people on the liturgy team to make the 10:30 worship service happen!

Have you considered joining a liturgy team? Here are some reasons God may be calling you to this ministry:

You will be joining a host of other individuals who week by week create our services of worship, including choir members, readers, ushers, greeters and coffee hour hosts. By being part of the liturgical ministry team, you will be making a valuable offering to our community's
worship life. Serving also helps us grow spiritually.

We are currently seeking folks to serve on the Altar Guild, acolyte team and as Eucharistic Ministers (those who serve the chalice). If you feel God is calling you to any of these ministries, please contact Mother Sarah, who will help connect you to these wonderful teams!

New Fall Office Hours: Beginning September 1 the office will be closed on Thursdays and Fridays. Regular office hours will resume in January 2017.

Home Group Openings: Thinking About Joining a Home Group? Our home group, based in Gwinnett County, has openings for 4 new people. We are committed to growing spiritually through reading, prayer and fellowship. If you are interested, please contact Wayne Ware at wsquared1@gmail.com, or call 404-213-8566.

COME SEE THE COURTYARD

Come see the beautiful additions to the courtyard!

Thank you to Brian Toms and the Children in the Peace, Pajamas and Patrick program!

ANAM CARA OFFERINGS

Upcoming Events:

Anam Cara Yoga

Class Schedule:

Mondays noon (all levels)- A basics class grounded in a meditative spirit.

Thursdays 7 p.m. (all levls) - Good Night Yoga - stretch, strengthen and unwind your way into a restful night's sleep.
Fridays noon (all levels) - Yin: Fewer poses held for extended lengths of time, allowing the stretches to move more deeply into our joints, soft tissue and fascia.

Cost:

Drop in - $12

Monthly, once a week - $36

Monthly, twice a week - $64

Monthly, three times a week - $84

Scholarships joyously available. Please speak with Julia ahead of time.

Private and semi-private yoga sessions are also available. Please speak with Julia.

Centering Prayer:

Centering Prayer meets on Mondays at 1:15 pm in the library. Please contact Rev. Julia Rusling (rev.julia@stpat.net) with questions.

Over the next several months we will be using ThomasMerton's book, New Seeds of Contemplation, to enrich our study and practice. Even if you cannot join us on Mondays, please join us in exploring how Merton's writing may be of support to you in your contemplative journey.

Caroline Marbury Bright, mother of Chris Bright:

A service in memory of and in thanksgiving for her will be held on Saturday, September 10, at 11:00 AM at Grace Episcopal Church, 103 Darby Avenue, Sheffield, Alabama.

THANK YOU

I am beyond grateful for those of you who came to Decatur to Bill's funeral. It was really overwhelming and so reassuring to know that so many still count themselves as our friends. I depend on your prayers and support in the hard times ahead. - Barbara Allen

LOOKING AHEAD

Click here to see full calendar

September 10 at Cathedral of St. Philip	Acolyte Festival
September 10, 7-9 pm, parlor	Chalice, Cheese, and Danna Faulds
September 11	Kick Off Sunday and Potluck
September 13	Golf Tournament at Rivermont
September 18	Town Hall Meeting
October 22	Quiet Day: Working with our Fears
Ongoing: second Sunday of every month, 12:15 pm, room 8	Stephen Ministry meeting
Ongoing: third Sunday of every month, 12:15 pm, room 8	Vestry Meeting

INCOME SUMMARY

Actual Income (adjusted) - YTD*	Budgeted Income - YTD	Year to Date Difference: Actual - Budgeted	Projected Year End Difference	Projected Year End Difference (% of Annual Budget)
$328,287	$330,383	($2,096)	($3,028)	-0.6%

* : pre-payments of pledge values have been annualized

STEPHEN MINISTRY

Need a confidential companion who will listen? Ask Fr Dick (fr.dick@stpat.net) about Stephen Ministry.

OUTREACH

Malachi's is open each Wednesday - lunch at 11:30 a.m. Free grocery shopping from 1 -3 p.m.
Click here to learn more.

St. Patrick's Episcopal Church | StPat.net | 770.455.6523

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