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The Spirit of Saint Nicholas
The E-Newsletter from Saint Nicholas Episcopal Church
69 Mobley Road, Hamilton, GA 31811
Sunday Services 8:30 and 11:00am
SNICK - Wednesdays 5:30
(led by Children of St. Nick - followed by dinner)
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What a great time at Mardi Gras at St. Nicholas!
The Saint Nicholas 2017 Mardi Gras was a fun night full of joyous celebration and great food. Thanks to every one who attended, brought their favorite Cajun specialties, donated their time, money, and many talents . Highlighted by the celebratory atmosphere staged by our own Steve Morse, this special night was a time of great blessing and community.
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St. Nicholas' mission is to be an example of Christ's love
for all people.
Our vision is to be the center of nourishment in mind, body, and spirit
for all people in our community.
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From Fr. Jeff:
"Happy are they whose transgressions are forgiven, and whose sin is put away!" Psalm 32. Have you ever asked for forgiveness for something you did, but once you confessed, you felt worse about it? That's not how confession and forgiveness is supposed to work. Instead, when we receive forgiveness, we're supposed to feel a deep and abiding joy, knowing that there is nothing we can do that will separate us from God's love. Oftentimes, even though God has forgiven us, we haven't forgiven ourselves, so hang on to the guilt and shame. Today is the day to begin to let go of those things and rest in the joy that you are made in God's image and at your core, you are God's beloved child. It may not take a moment or a day, but a season to fully realize that joy, but begin by making a list of the things that drag you down and offer them to God, trusting that God will fully forgive you and put your sin away.
*If you would like to receive messages like this in text form from Fr. Jeff every week, text "Add me" to
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"To answer before listening - that is folly and shame"
Yesterday, I visited with someone I have never met before. I sat on the front porch and listened for 3 hours to a very active elderly man as he told me the story of his life.
He spent his career as an over-the-road truck driver, often being away from home for 2 weeks at a time.
He gave grateful praise to his family for their tolerance of his lifestyle.
He described in great detail his spiritual journey, his church life, and his honest and generous nature. He spoke candidly about his health conditions, painful arthritis, and beating prostate cancer.
He admitted his great love of sweets after meals (he offered me peach cobbler to accompany the glass of sweet tea I was drinking). He has never been a smoker or a drinker. He has been married to his first wife for 50+ years.
He told me his views on the deplorable state of our world political stage with the gaping holes in the floor. He went into great detail to describe why he thinks mankind is in its End Times and the coming of the Rapture. He is experienced, intelligent, thoughtful, considerate; highly unusual qualities these days.
Then my wife called me for dinner, and I had to go back to reality. But in those three hours I gave him an attentive ear and developed a powerful bond with my new trucker friend. I am blessed for knowing him.
- Chris Butzon
Do you have a story of your experience with 40acts this Lent? Send it to us!
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Episcopal 101 Class
For those with questions about the Episcopal Church, those who are seeking membership, or those who just need a refresher, Episcopal 101 is a safe place to explore your faith.
We will meet next on:
March 5th
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READING MATERIALS FOR LENT
Books for the Adult Forum Class
"A JOURNEY WITH MATTHEW "
have been ordered.
They will be available at the Adult Forum Class beginning March 5th.
They are $12.00 each.
***Daily Meditations for Lent -
Booklets will be available to St Nicholas Families.
The booklet includes 40 daily readings based on
Matthew 25.
They are $4.00 each.
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All are welcome to come for good food and fellowship as we grow together as a congregation.
Sunday March 12th @ 12:45pm at the Country Store on Highway 27!
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Instructed Eucharist
March 12 & 19:
Are you curious about how we worship as Episcopalians? Why do we kneel and stand so much?
Why do we read so many things from the Bible?
What does "Eucharist" even mean?
During Lent, Fr. Jeff will lead two weeks of an instructed Eucharist in lieu of his sermon, where he'll go through and explain our rich worship tradition.
It would be a great time to introduce a friend to
St. Nicholas!
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SNICK's Feed My Lambs Breakfast Fundraiser!
You will want to be there....
Why: Help Mary's Meals fight global hunger
When: Sunday, March 19th, 9:30 a.m. (between services)
Where: St. Nicholas Episcopal Church
What: Eat pancakes, learn about fighting hunger, make a difference!
How: $5.00 per meal, families pay no more than $20. Every $20 we receive feeds one child for a year
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Baptisms, Confirmations, & Receptions:
The next opportunity for folks to be confirmed or received into the Episcopal church from other denominations is
Sunday, March 19 at 4:00pm at our service at historic
Zion in Talbotton, where
Bishop Don Wimberly
will preach and preside.
If you or someone you know would like to be baptized, the next opportunity will be on Easter Sunday, April 16 at the Easter Vigil. If you are interested, please talk to Father Jeff.
ZION CHURCH WORSHIP SERVICE - March 19
An opportunity to worship at historic Zion Church, built as an Episcopal church in the 1840s, will be offered at
4 p.m.
Sunday, March 19, in Talbotton.
On the N
ational Register of Historic Places, Zion's building has been spared modernization. It is a rare Gothic American parish church constructed of old growth timber.
Assisting Bishop Don Wimberly of the Diocese of Atlanta will be the celebrant and preacher. Several people will be confirmed or received.
A reception will follow the service and there will be an opportunity to have a guided tour and hear the rich history of the church.
Zion Church is located at 100 Main Street in Talbotton on U.S. 80.
Contact Father Jeff Jackson at
(706) 761-0115
for further information. Non-perishable food will be collected for Talbotton families in need.
All are welcomed - Invite a friend.
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Advocating for Social Justice
Harris Co. Citizens for Social Justice, has invited a speaker for the group's first meeting, which will be at
St. Nicholas on
Sunday, March 19 at 3:00
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The speaker will be Shirley Banks whose background is in education and advocacy in both non-profit and university settings.
She holds a Master of Theological Studies degree and currently conducts retreats, chairs an adult education program, and leads Justice, Freedom, & Peace: Activists Episcopalians in Decatur, GA.
She will talk about organizing communities for cultural change and mobilizing for social justice.
Following her talk there will be a networking/brainstorming session.
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St. Nicholas Men's Group
will meet Tuesday March 21, 2017, 6:30 pm at the Oyster House, Highway 27 in
Pine Mountain.
If you have not joined us in the past, please consider coming to join the fellowship and share your presence with us. We always have a great time. And, oh yeah, bring a friend.
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Journey to Adulthood
Our new youth program continues with our Rite 13 class (grades 6 & up) at 9:45 in the Classrooms, led by leaders
Sheri Cody, John Brent,
Jennifer Milton, and
Bob Hamilton.
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Kathy McMurtry Ashley Taylor
Stewards of the Month
Kathy McMurtry
Ashley Taylor
This month's Steward of the Month goes to Kathy McMurtry and
Ashley Taylor. Kathy and Ashley lead our youngest members in the SNICK, Jr. class
on Wednesday
nights.
Kathy and Ashley are here every week making sure that SNICK runs well. In addition to leading the class, they are also helping behind the scenes, helping to prepare meals and serve them to the children, helping to set up or take down something, arranging costumes for the Christmas pageant, and much more.
They give their time so generously and we are so grateful for their ministry at St. Nicholas.
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Bright Way Services
Worship services continue at Bright Way Personal Care Home
in Pine Mountain. Other
Lay Eucharistic Visitors are needed for this ministry.
Contact
Bert
if you would like to participate.
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Lectionary Readings
If you would like to see the readings for Sunday,
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For those who are ill, recovering or needing special prayers:
Members of St Nicholas:
Mabry Collins
Cecelia Rood
Michelle Moody
Bill Eidson
Dave Halmrast
Nate Taylor
Family members and friends of the Community:
Ann Carolyn King
Trish Davis
Denson Franklin
Fred Young
McCullohs Family
Brightway Patients & Staff
Dexter Crotts
Gay Shephard
Kelly & Simon Graham
Penelope Elliston
Russ Fackler
Paige Buchanan
Heather Partin
Barbara Hamilton
Doug Brown
Cameron Clark
Danny Hatchell
Clara Butzon
Prayers for all our veterans, those currently
serving their country
away from home,
for their safe return and for their families
who wait for them.
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1 Anne Simpson
6 Ansley Butzon
6 Shelley Butzon
11 Julie Nordin
11Wesley Brown
12 Lauren Finklea
14 Jan Pylant
18 Bill Eidson
19 June Wood
22 Terry Caudill
24 Beth Brown
25 Kay Faircloth
25 Rebecca Crowley
27 Dave Halmrast
28 Caroline Queener
31 Ashley Strong
31 Peggy Martin
18 Kenny & Terri Townsend
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In This Issue
From Fr. Jeff
Stories from 40acts
Flower Arranging Workshop
Episcopal 101
Adult Forum Books for Lent
Camp Mikell Spring Folk School
Lunch Bunch
Instructed Eucharist
SNICK Fundraiser
Zion Worship
Advocating for Social Justice
Men's Group Dinner
Lay Ministry
Journey to Adulthood
Steward of the Month
Vestry Minutes
Bright Way Ministries
Sunday School Schedule
Prayers
Birthdays & Anniversaries
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Links (in alphabetical order)
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CONTACT
Deadline for submitting news items is noon Monday.
Send news and photos to:
The Spirit of St. Nicholas
is published weekly by
St. Nicholas Episcopal Church.
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Thank you, St. Nicholas family, for your active involvement in our parish.
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If you or family members will be in a play, concert, sports or school activity please send the information to the church
[email protected]
to be printed in the newsletter. St Nicholas members can then know what is happening with their church family and perhaps attend some of the functions. Include the event with dates, times and location. This is for children, teens and adults.
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Please help us keep the church directory as up-to-date as possible.
If you have not yet filled out a form, please pick one up in the cloister room and return to the church office. Or you can send your info via email to the Parish Administrator at [email protected]
- Please include:your names and the names of your minor children,
- address,
- email addresses,
- phone numbers (cell and home),
- birthdays and anniversaries.
If you need a new picture or a new name tag, indicate that as well. Feel free to use a favorite picture. Just send it in jpeg form to [email protected].
Mobile App Installation Instructions
Church members can view the St. Nicholas Church Directory from their iPhone, iPad, Android or Kindle Fire by downloading the free Instant Church Directory Members App.
You may search for "Instant Church Directory" in the Apple App Store, Google Play, or Amazon Appstore, or use this link:
After installation, open the Instant Church Directory icon (it looks like a church). It will ask for your email address. If your email address is in our church directory, the program will generate a password for you and email it to you.
This worked great for most, but if you have any problems make sure you first check to see that your email address is in the church directory.
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Please look for these cards in the narthex or in the pews and place them in the alms basin if you give electronically.
Father Jeff will bless them at each service along with the other offerings.
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Electronic Common Prayer
Electronic Common Prayer, Version 2.0
(eCP)
is a brand new update to the first, fully authorized, interactive version of the Book of Common Prayer 1979 of the Episcopal Church USA.
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GoFundMe Campaign for
Zion Church
GoFundMe
campaign.
There is much to be done to help this amazing bit of Georgia history.
Please share this and encourage people to be generous.
For over 160 years, Zion Episcopal Church has watched over the village of Talbotton, GA.
There are not many 160-year-old structures still standing in our country.
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Diocese of Atlanta Young Adult Retreat
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Young Adults from around the Diocese of Atlanta are coming together for the First Young Adult Ministry Retreat to be held at Serenbe Inn on
March 11th
. The retreat will be from
10 AM to 5 PM
. The cost of the retreat is $20.
The Diocese of Atlanta Young Adult Ministry Day Retreat (or YAM Day Retreat) is an intentional retreat for young adults (aged 22-35) to have the opportunity to get away, relax, talk about God, and most importantly, participate in the community of fellow young adults across the Diocese of Atlanta. This first Day Retreat will include lunch, opportunities to sit and chill in some epic rocking chairs, hang out with two different Wallaces (we are a rarity), and go on a farm tour! We pray that you will consider joining us on
March 11th
and participate in the awesome Young Adult community of the Diocese of Atlanta!
For more information, check out the Facebook and Instagram pages. @DioAtlYAM
Registration closes
February 22nd
, so register now at:
https://goo.gl/forms/eQx9xtbPApbNSUGQ2
Sincerely,
Sally Paris, Wallace Benton & Maggie Paul
Young Adult Ministry Team
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Puttin' On The Dog
March 13th
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March Workshop: Pathways to Happiness
click to open flyer
Pathways to Happiness
is a 5 part series designed to explore ways to increase our capacity for happiness and joy in our present lifestyles. Through discussion and learning specific techniques, along with mindfulness and mediation practice, an increase in happiness, health and wellbeing will result. Drawing heavily on Native American spiritual practices and belief systems each individual will develop a healthy relationship with their bodies, minds and spirits. Many other spiritual traditions will be incorporated to emphasize that harmony in diversity is an essential part of the pathway to happiness.
Monday March 13 from 6:00pm to 8pm
Walk in Kindness:
This workshop will explore compassion for self and others. Identifying outdated beliefs and habits which undermine our wellbeing, and learning new ways to approach the challenges we face daily will provide a key element to our happiness. Approaching one another and ourselves with kindness can open our hearts and draw us closer to communion with the Divine Essence of Life.
Monday March 20 from 6:00pm to 8pm
Walk in Health:
This workshop will explore our attitudes and beliefs about our bodies. Learning to listen to our bodies is essential for wellbeing. Understanding that the true nature of pain and illness is to teach us to appreciate health is the 1st step towards regaining a healthy body mind relationship. Culturally based attitudes about physical beauty will be challenged by embracing the beauty of our spirits and a natural acceptance of our current physical form as good.
Monday March 27 from 6:00pm to 8pm
Walk in Peace:
This workshop will explore healthy approaches to conflicts, both inner and outer, that create stresses affecting health and happiness. Our internal dialogue with our selves mirrors the dialogue we engage others in. Mindful practice allows us to turn off old reactions and incorporate new responses. Transitioning from fear to love allows us to find unique and creative solutions that are effective to old persistent problems.
Monday April 3 from 6:00pm to 8pm
This workshop will focus on our understanding of the purpose of life, more specifically each participants' unique life perspective. Then viewing ourselves from the perspective of a loving creator, we will redefine or reaffirm our life purpose and to find our Joy. The Divine is expressed through that which brings us Joy. When Joy slips away, our attention is usually focused on non-essential distracting issues. Increased awareness through meditation helps us to connect to the Divine within and the Joy that follows.
Monday April 10 from 6:00pm to 8pm
Walk in Balance:
This workshop will focus on bringing it all together and learning to live in a balanced way. We will explore how extremes of any kind disrupt our natural rhythms and how a lack of compassion for self creates unhappiness. We will become skilled at walking on the high wire with grace and confidence, knowing that each challenge we face only increases our skills and allows us to go higher. We will focus on developing our inner guidance systems essential for happiness to flow in our lives on a daily basis.
Workshops to be held at : 1443 17th Street, Columbus Georgia 31901.
For information and to register call 703-317-2163. Individual workshop fee is $20.00.
Fee for all 5 workshops is $60.00.
Dr. Ona Graham
Workshop Facilitator
A Not for Profit Corporation
"See What Love Can Do" Star Nation Healing Arts.org 400 Brookstone Centre,
Suite 450, Columbus, Georgia 31904-9266 706-656-0987 / 706-317-2163
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A Call to Remembrance
Dear friends,
The Diocese of Atlanta is a leader in addressing issues of race and reconciliation. Through the work of our Beloved Community - Dismantling Racism Commission, there have been several events to remember, mourn, and learn in the effort to bring full reconciliation between all people. There will be such an event in LaGrange on March 18, and I plan to attend. I would welcome anyone to join me.
Peace,
Jeff+
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