ALTAR GUILD
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The Altar Guild is directed by the Altar Guild Directress and consists of women of the parish. Its purpose is to insure the Altar is completely dressed and ready for any and all services; such as, regular Sunday services, Baptisms, Weddings and Funerals, etc. The Altar Guild performs their duties in a reverent manner, working in teams of two. Training sessions are held periodically as a refresher. The Altar Guild is responsible for the cleaning of the Sanctuary and the Sacristy and the Rector's vestments. The Altar and Credence Table are dressed on Saturday mornings with the proper linens and serving pieces. Our Ministry is always open. If you are interested in joining us, Click here to send an email Sally Douds, Directress |
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BIBLE STUDY
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The Wednesday Bible Study is held in the Parish Hall at 11am. It has become one of the most heavily attended functions at the church. Questions are encouraged and lively discussions often ensue. Topical subjects often extend over several weeks or months. New members are welcome. A Holy Eucharist and Healing Service follow at noon. |
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BOOK PLATES |
Every hymnal currently in the pews has a memorial dedication on the inside front
cover. There are 35 new hymnals, now in reserve, which are not dedicated
books. Many of the prayer books in the rear pews and all of those in
reserve have not been dedicated. The books in reserve are used on festival
days when seating is expanded into the Narthex.
It is a custom in our church to have every prayer book and hymnal dedicated to
the memory of, or in honor of, a loved one. If you would like to purchase
a memorial book plate for $15, the Memorial Committee will ask a calligrapher to
fashion your book plate before it is attached to one of our books. Please
make checks payable to St. George Episcopal Church, and in the memo section
indicate that this is for a prayer book or hymnal in memory of (and include the
name of the person to be memorialized). These checks may be put in the
collection plate, or left in the office.
Click Here
to send an email.
BROTHERHOOD OF ST. ANDREW
The Brotherhood of St. Andrew is a missionary and evangelism ministry of the
Episcopal Church and Anglican Communion. It is the oldest evangelistic ministry
of the Episcopal Church. Our goal is to bring men and boys to Jesus Christ. The St.
George Episcopal Church Chapter of the Brotherhood of St. Andrew meets twice
monthly at 6:30 P.M. in the Parish Hall of the Church. Meetings are opened with
a hymn, prayers and Bible readings, followed by a short discussion of the
readings by brothers and clergy. This is followed by a business meeting and
Treasurer’s Report. Each
meeting has an educational or entertainment program. The meeting is closed with
general and intercessory prayers and a benediction. The
Brotherhood initiated a Shrove Tuesday Pancake Dinner in 2006 which has become
an annual event. Money raised supports their outreach programs. Join the men as
they prepare pancakes and sausages on bar-b-que grills. For
information regarding the Brotherhood of St. Andrew or to express an interest in
membership in this group,
Click Here
to send an email.
St George is utilizing the talents of our
members, some of whom are already performing this function. The Care Givers is
organizing these efforts making obtaining temporary assistance more
streamlined. You can help! If you are interested in providing a ride to
doctor's appointments, picking up prescriptions, sitting with someone to give
the caregiver a break, or other such helpful tasks on a
temporary basis for a parishioner who is unable at the time to
handle these items, contact the
Church
office 750-1010. If you need some assistance, contact the
office 750-1010. Requests will be worked as best as possible based on the
volunteers available, the task to be done, and the time. We will do our best to
help you.
The purpose of
this ministry is to help parishioners who are not able to help themselves. We do
this in many ways.
A. Visitations to
homes, hospitals and nursing homes.
B. Provide
transportation when necessary.
C. Cards are sent
and flowers from the altar are delivered to the sick and shut-ins.
D. The Daughters
of the King arrange for receptions at funerals when needed.
E. The
Brotherhood of St. Andrew can help with small home care projects. You
are welcome to join us, to do so,
Click Here
to send an email.
Choir
St. George Episcopal Church has a volunteer choir. The choir
sings Sundays from September through June, plus special services during Holy
Week, Easter, and Christmas, sometimes including "Nine Lessons and Carols."
The choir practices on Wednesdays at 6 p.m., in the church; and
again on Sunday mornings at 9:15 a.m., just before the 10 a.m. service.
This church has an organ programmed just for St. George, a
Johannus Rembrandt 3000 AGO, a state of the art instrument.
The choir is always seeking new voices, and encourages anyone who
enjoys "making a joyful noise unto the Lord" to join the choir. For
information, call the office 750-1010 or
Click Here
to send an email.
All the happenings
of each year are maintained in a year book and the year 2004 was highlighted by
the installation of our beautiful stained glass windows. For more see menu
items "Our History Plus".
The CURSILLO
movement is one of the renewal programs within the Catholic and Episcopal
Church. Initially developed in Spain, on the island of Majorca, after the
Spanish civil war, the three-day weekend retreat is patterned after the
pilgrimage known as The Way of Saint James.
Since the autumn
of 1998, the Cursillo group of St. George has been meeting monthly. Anyone is
welcome to attend any of these meetings to learn more. Watch the bulletin for
date and time. We meet on the first Saturday of each month at 6:00 P.M. in the
Parish Hall for a pot-luck supper.
To become a
Cursillista, one has to participate in a three-day weekend, a life-changing
experience.
There is nothing Secretive about Cursillo, just lots of
great surprises. For more information regarding Cursillo,
Click
Here
to send an email.
The Daughters of
the King is an international Episcopal ministry of women organized as a
religious order. Each Daughter takes a lifetime vow to live by the Rule of the
Order. Our rule of life requires the discipline of daily prayer, service and
evangelism.
After completing
several weeks of study, the new Daughters are admitted to the order at a regular
Sunday service.
As a service to our parishioners, we have organized receptions for several
funerals. We also are available when our priest hosts the Deanery meetings at
St. George
We are always happy to have new women join us in this
ministry. For more information or when the next study course is scheduled,
Click Here
to send an email. To Contact us:
Click Here
or
call 750-1010
and visit the Central Florida ECW website:
www.ecwcentralfl.org
The Episcopal
Computer Club is run by a member at home on Monday Mornings 9-12. It is to
answer questions, chat about computer topics, and assist you in using your
system. Classes can be arranged on specific topics, such as calendars, slide
shows, how to burn a CD, etc. The instructor has taught at several community
colleges, The Villages Lifelong Learning College, as well as The Villages
Computer Club.
For more information, contact
ECC
The Financial
Committee was established September 2002. The Committee consists of seven
members, including our Treasurer, and meets monthly.
The Committee acts
as an Advisory Group, assisting our Treasurer on financial decisions, thus
reporting to the Vestry.
Two vases of
flowers are placed on the Altar on Sundays, except during Lent. Parishioners are
encouraged to sponsor the flowers in honor of special days such as birthdays,
anniversaries, memorials, etc. A sign-up sheet is available in the Parish
Hall for members to select a date. The cost is $25 per vase and a check for the
total amount should be placed in the offering plate. The flowers may be taken
home by the sponsor after the 10AM service or taken to parishioners who are in
the hospital or ill at home.
GENTLEMEN OF ST GEORGE
You are invited to join in a review and discussion of the Lessons for the coming
Sunday. Larry has shared this study for several years prior to joining St.
George and found the experience both stimulating and rewarding. The
meeting will be held in the Conference Room on Mondays from 9:00AM-10:00AM.
Coffee and donuts will be provided. If you are interested, please contact
Larry Moore, 288-0956, so he knows how many to prepare for.
The noon Wednesday Healing Service, begun by Fr
Hugh, is a warm and vibrant service to which everyone is welcome, members and
visitors alike. It is an informal Holy Communion service. The teaching is always
on some aspect of the healing love and power of Christ. After receiving
communion there is an opportunity to be prayed for. Or, if you would like to
pray for someone else, we would be glad to do that with you.
Click
Here
to send an email to Father Hugh.
St. George
provides Worship Service to the residents of the Village of Homewood, an
assisted living home. These services occur on a regular rotation with other
churches in the area, approximately every 6th week.
The main ministry
of the Lay Eucharistic Ministers continues to be that described in Canon Laws.
One of our duties
is to bring the Holy Eucharist to the sick and shut-ins. In order to do this
singular duty, we need the help of everyone in the church to identify those
persons who are in need of this service.
In addition to our
duties of Home Communion, we continue to serve on the Altar in various functions
in all of our services. We have two (2) teams who rotate in these two LEM
duties.
Meetings are held quarterly to discuss the items of mutual concern in our duties
and to determine how we can better perform in this important area of our
worship. If you have any questions or are interested in serving in this
capacity, please contact our church office at 750-1010 or
Click Here
to send an email.
The Memorial Garden Committee oversees and coordinates the Garden’s daily
operation and maintenance .
Anyone wishing
additional information on the Garden’s sales or operation may contact the church
office at 750-1010 or
Click Here
to send an email.
The Council’s
mission is to greet and welcome guests and visitors to St. George by helping
them to adjust to a new church, find a new family of friends, and a home to
worship our Lord Jesus Christ.
We rely on the
church members to identify newcomers and introduce themselves and make sure that
visitors sign the register in the Narthex. This extension of the welcoming hand
of fellowship has earned a unique status for St. George. We are known as one of
the friendliest churches in the community.
Anyone interested
in being part of a rewarding, hardworking group with a fun mission are welcome
to join us. Contact
the church office at 750-1010 or
Click Here
to send an email.
St. George’s
office is open Monday through Thursday, 9am to 1pm. The office is closed
on Fridays.
If you are
interested in helping or have a skill that might be helpful, let us know and
we’ll find a job for you, whether it is a one-time need or ongoing. Contact
the church office at 750-1010 or
Click Here
to send an email.
Dick Griffith
attends and photographs most of St. George functions. The photographs are posted on
the Parish Hall bulletin boards and on the
internet.
Individual photos of new parishioners are taken at the Newcomers socials and
posted on the bulletin board. Many of the photos taken have been used by the
Publicity Ministry and published in The Villages Daily Sun. Contact
Dick for
more information.
Paul tells the
Thessalonians to pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17), and that is what
eighteen members of St. George do. We are known as the “Prayer Warriors”.
When you or
someone you know or love has a need for prayer, call the church office at
750-1010. We
will pass the name along to the appropriate person on the Prayer Warrior list. This prayer request will
be passed on down the list and within a few hours, eighteen people are passing
that need to the Lord. This is the Prayer Chain.
We welcome anyone
who would like to be a part of this ministry. If you would like more information
or want to become a Prayer Warrior, please email our Pastoral Care Assistant at
kathysprague@gmail.com
Publicity for St.
George Episcopal Church involves spreading the news of our church to a wider
audience than is reached by our church newsletter, “Saints Alive.” We have been
doing that through the local media, primarily The Villages” Media Group DAILY
SUN, VNN, and WVLG and the Diocese of Central Florida’s EPISCOPALIAN .
Saints Alive is the parish monthly
newsletter. It is available on the website a week or more before it is mailed.
Parishioners are encouraged to utilize the online version (which can be printed)
and to remove their names from the mailed copy list by contacting the office
(750-1010), thus
saving money for the parish. It is mailed bulk mail rate during the first week of the
month. The newsletter is compiled by the
editors, with submissions from parishioners and church ministries.
The deadline for copy is the 15th of every month. Copy should be dropped in the Saints Alive
mailbox in the Chair Closet in the Narthex, or email
the church office by
Clicking Here
Members
volunteer to serve in these positions and anyone is welcome to add their name to
the list.
If you would
like to be a part of the Prayer Shawl Ministry here at St. George, come to the
Parish Hall on the third Friday of the month where we knit and crochet shawls
and prayer squares. This is such a rewarding endeavor. For me it is a way to use
my knitting skills and bring comfort and joy to someone who really needs it.
The Solos is open
to all single men and women. No membership fee or formal meetings are involved.
Social activities are planned each month for fellowship with other single
members at the Church.
Some months our
socials have taken place in the Church Parish Hall. These have included pot
luck dinners, game nights, Bingo, in March an Italian dinner for St. Patrick’s
Day and our annual Thanksgiving Dinner in November.
We have taken
advantage of the various activities and restaurants in the area that are close
by: held a Miniature Golf Tournament, been to a Japanese style dinner, attended
the Orange Blossom Opry, ate at Gator Joe’s in Ocklawaha, visited the Oakwood
Grill and Chili’s restaurant. We topped off the year with a Christmas dinner
party with gift exchange held at the Orange Blossom Hills Country Club.
We are encouraging
more membership involvement. Individuals or teams are volunteering to organize
monthly activities for the group.
The membership at
St. George’s is growing each year and the Solos is a great way to meet other
singles. If you are single,
join us for fun and
fellowship.
Contact the church office at 750-1010 or
Click Here
to send an email.
On January 27,
1996 St. George became a Parish, having been a mission for just one year. In
just six years we had our own home.
Since an
overwhelming majority of our Parish is retirees, our needs are considerably
different than most congregations, such as having no need for Sunday School
rooms for children.
For the Annual
Stewardship Drive, we send out letters and pledge cards to each household.
Enthusiasm at St.
George is at the highest level. If you are a Newcomer and would like to
participate in the rewards of giving along with our fellow Parishioners, please
contact the Rector at:
Because there are two services and it
is difficult to see everyone, a Hospitality Time is held between the 8am and
10am services with coffee, juice, and light food brought by members of the
church. Please join us between services and you are welcome to donate cheese,
cookies, muffins, coffee cakes, buns, etc to the church kitchen to help keep the
table interesting.
When the Sunshine
chairman is notified of a parishioner in the hospital, ill or just in need of a
word of cheer, a card is sent. Sympathy cards are also sent to the families of
deceased parishioners.
Should you know of
anyone who needs a bit of sunshine please call our church office 750-1010 or
Click Here
to send an email.
St George always encourages comments and suggestions or if you
noticed a discrepancy. Please contact the office at 750-1010 or
Click Here
to send us an email.
Jim Callahan, Webmaster.
The Guild meets the second Thursday of each month at 2pm (unless otherwise
announced) and is open to
every woman in the church.
Watch the Church Bulletin, Saints Alive Newsletter (print and online) and
Calendar for times. We sponsor several fundraisers annually that enable us to
donate half of the proceeds to St. George and half to Outreach.
We have programs at the meetings ranging from church related
topics to topics of general interest. The monthly program will be noted in the
meeting notices.
Among our activities:
- Guideposts Sweater Project
click here for
Knitting pattern,
click here for Crochet pattern,
click here for Aran knit pattern)
Click
here to email the church project coordinator
Craft Workshops are held in the Parish Hall. See the
Parish Calendar for dates and times.
Yearly Church Events
- Angel Fund... donations for Cherry Lake children
School Supplies, given to the sheriff who coordinates with the school.
-
White Breakfast - gathering to prepare hearts and minds for Lent.
-Treats & Treasures sale – an old fashioned rummage sale with items that can be
hidden treasures.
-Hat
Auction
-Bake
Sales
-Fall
Bazaar & Craft Show
-Share
Christmas program which provides food and gifts for those in need
-Haven
House - a shelter for battered women and their children
-Hospice
-El
Hogar – sponsor a boy through high school in Honduras
-Our Little Roses - sponsor two little girls in
Honduras
-Canine Companions for Independence We have
sponsored several puppies and our first one graduated to work with a young boy. |
