WHY I ATTEND ST. GREGORY'S CHURCH

I began attending St. Gregory’s in the fall of 2019 after coming to Florida to begin caring-giving for my elderly mom. After months of visiting several other churches, I finally decided to visit St. Gregory’s because they had a 6:00 pm service that fit my caregiving schedule.

On my first evening visit, I was moved to see that the Rector was not only greeting everyone by name but was well acquainted with various challenges that families and individuals were facing. He would comment to an attendee that he had just visited their loved one in the hospital or to another that he was praying for their loved one’s upcoming surgery. His interactions were personal, informed, sincere, and meaningful. He seemed like such a true shepherd and so joyful in his role. That demonstration of care was very striking to me, so I decided to return the following week.

It’s now been 2 years, and while I am still struck by the genuine pastoral care shown by Fr. Andrew and Fr. Ben, I’ve come to deeply appreciate several important practices at St. Gregory’s. Here’s one example, which was a surprise to me coming from a non-liturgical background: I discovered that I love following a church calendar, which calls us to a larger, enduring, grace, and hope-filled story. Daily we are catechized by the 6:00 o’clock news to a hopeless, fear-based view of the world and our future. Can you think of a better antithesis to that than what’s in store for us in the fast-approaching Advent and Christmas seasons? We will enter into an aesthetically rich experience of candles, colorful robes, special texts, and joyful hymns, all of which will lead us into hope-filled anticipation of Christ’s coming and the joy of His arrival. And we will be drawn to rest in this amazing truth that we’ll sing on Christmas Day: “the hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.” I long to be shaped by the story of Jesus, and I’m grateful to be part of a church that works to form us into people whose hearts and imaginations are captured and shaped by God’s story. - Mary S.