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You are here:  Ministries >> Parish Life

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Parish Life

St. Gabriel's has a rich and vibrant parish life encompassing a variety of fellowship environments including:

• Sunday Morning Refreshments
  
• Brown-Bag Suppers
• Movie Night with Ms. Nora
• Daughters of the King
• Fall Festival
• Foyer Groups
• Game Night
• Parish Picnics

We also encourage and support other members in their charity fundraisers such as sponsoring a softball team for the Tri-Delta Triple Play tournament fundraiser for St. Jude's Childrens Research Hospital.  We are an active and supportive group.  Click around and see what areas might be of interest and support to you!

Sunday Morning Refreshments

Refreshments are offered after each service every Sunday.  Dozens of members contribute their time and resources to create the bountiful juices, danish, fruit, and other assorted goodies.  If you would like to help with our Sunday fellowship ministry, sign up on the bulletin board located in the hallway near the Parish Hall.  Join us, meet up with your fellow parishioners after your next Sunday service.

Children's Movie Night with Ms. Nora

Our elementary school children thoroughly enjoy gathering with Nora Roe for play and a movie each week as a part of our Wonderful Wednesdays series. 

Fall Festival

St. Gabriel's Fall Festival occurs in October each year and is one of two major fundraisers for the outreach ministries of the church.  The Fall Festival was changed in 2010 to include craft vendors, food vendors, a silent auction, and children's activities.  The 2013 Festival in October promises to create a day of fun, music, laughter, and shopping outdoors in the wonderful fall weather.  For additional details or to learn about volunteer opportunities, please contact Esther Atkinson.

Foyer Groups

Eating!  That's what it's about -- well, at least partially.  Meeting and getting to know new people is also a part of Foyer Groups.  Add your name(s) to the sign-up sheet in the parish Hall in January of the new year.  You will be put in a group of 3 other couples or singles.  Each of the 4 group members will host one simple meal at their home over the next four months.  At the end of that time, you will have 3 sets of news friends and had a lot of fun.

Game Night

Game Night at St. Gabriel's occurs the first Friday of every month.  The cover charge is $5 with anyone under 18 admitted free of charge.  The cover charge provides snacks, drinks, and the evening offers many opportunities for playing games.  Some of the recent games played include:  Canasta, Poker, Backgammon, Dominoes, Dixit, Guillotine, Pandemic, and Euchre.  Game Night is a fundraiser for the choir to help it acquire some of the many items on its wish list, including hand bells and a baby grand piano --- dream big!  Any and all are welcome at Game Night and everyone is encouraged to invite friends and neighbors to attend.

Brown-Bag Suppers

Brown bag suppers are part of our Wonderful Wednesdays Program.  Bring a meal to be enjoyed with other parishioners.  This is a time to catch up with one another and enjoy the grace of a meal shared with others.  Be sure to stay for our Adult Bible Study, Choir Practice, or support our Youth Program which also meets.  All meetings start at 7pm.

Daughters of the King

The Order of the Daughters of the King is an Episcopal Order for women who are communicants of the Episcopal Church, churches who are in communion with it, and churches who are in the historic Episcopate.  The Order's purpose is to bring others into a living, loving relationship with Jesus, our Lord and Savior, and to help strengthen the spiritual life of our parishes and missions.  The requirements for membership in The Order are that a woman be a communicant in the Episcopal Church, be willing to participate in the preparation period, and vow to accept the Rule of Life.  The Rule of Life is made up of two parts:  The Rule of Prayer and the Rule of Service.  Through the Rule of Prayer, daughters promise to pray daily for the spread of Christ's kingdom, for God's blessings on all members of the Order, and for the spiritual growth of their parish.  Additionally, daughters pray for any person requesting prayers on a daily basis by maintaining a prayer list.  Through the Rule of Service, daughters regularly take part in the worship, study, and work of the church, undertake a personal program of evangelism in a conscientious effort to bring others into a personal relationship with Christ, and work with their clergy, as directed, for the spiritual up-building of the parish.  Daughters wear a cross that was designed specifically for the Order that reminds them of their commitment to the Order.  For more information about the Daughters of the King, please contact Nancy Cato.

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Annual Women's Retreat!

The happenings at the annual Women's Retreat are probably the best kept secret in town.  Rumor has it that "what happens at the retreat stays at the retreat."  There are no photos to share, just the comments of what a wonderful time everyone has being together for fun and fellowship.  To get the story of the 2013 retreat, just ask Nancy Cato or any other attendee.  You can't miss the twinkle of the eye attendees return with.

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