The Spirit of Saint Nicholas
The E-Newsletter from Saint Nicholas Episcopal  Church  
69 Mobley Road, Hamilton, GA 31811
706-628-7272
January 4th - 10th, 2017
Sunday Services 8:30 and 11:00am 
SNICK -  Wednesdays 5:30 
(led by Children of St. Nick - followed by dinner)





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.  

First Sunday after the Epiphany

 
The St. Nicholas Annual Meeting is  on Sunday  at  9:45am
We will elect new Vestry members and give thanks to those who have served. If you know of someone who we need to include specifically in our thanksgivings, please let Fr. Jeff know. 
This is the time where we gather as a church family to listen and to share.
Isaiah 42:1-9
  

 
Matthew 3:13-17
         
 


From Fr. Jeff

Happy New Year! 
This is the time of year where we think of fresh starts and new beginnings. 
We resolve to eat healthier, exercise more, pray harder, attend church regularly, be a better person, make wiser decisions, or perhaps something really hard like learning to forgive someone. 
All of that is fine, but consider this: There is nothing you can do in 2017 that will make God love you any more or less than God already does. God's resolution every year and every moment is to love you unconditionally, no matter what resolutions you make or keep or don't keep. If we can start our year with that understanding that we are infinitely loved, then perhaps everything else will take care of itself. 

*If you would like to receive messages like this in text form from Fr. Jeff every week, text "Add me" to 

Peace,
Jeff+
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. 
For more information, contact Sheri Cody





 

Zion Episcopal Church
 

Click on the link above to go to the website to read about the history of and view incredible photos taken of Zion Episcopal Church.
 
Vestry Nominations 
  
It is time to nominate new Vestry members!

 Kin Brown, Sheri Cody, Nick Simpson and Katherine Johnson are rotating off of Vestry this year.   

A Vestry person must be a confirmed member and 18 years or older. Preferably they should be a pledging member and at St Nicholas for one year. 
The last two requirements can be waived by Vestry vote.    
Terms are three years.  Believe it or not the three years pass quickly.
   
Many gifts are needed to lead and serve  St. Nicholas.   
A primary qualification is the desire to be with a great group of Christian people who work by consensus and productive brainstorming.   
The people remaining on the Vestry are Rebecca Crowley, Sue Halmrast, Martha Dimon, Steve Morse, Bill Caudill, Bob Hamilton and Phebe Robertson.    
Talk with Fr Jeff or any Vestry person if you want to explore the possibility of  serving on Vestry.    


2017 Vestry Nominees:
(click on name for bio)






Steward of the Month
Beth Brown
Beth is a Vice President of Synovus Trust Company in Columbus.  She and her husband, Kin, a member of the Vestry, have been loyal and faithful members of St. Nicholas for many years.  
Beth successfully chaired the 2017 St. Nicholas Stewardship effort.  Stewardship continues to be one of the most important missions in our church with the goal of creating a balanced budget each year.  
Beth brought many new and imaginative ideas to the 2017 program including the creation of a setting to allow our congregation to better connect with one another.  Beth suggested having small informal lunches, "cottage meetings" for eight to 12 church members.  
The goal was to discuss ideas concerning church missions while creating an atmosphere allowing better connecting between fellow St. Nicholas members.  
Beth's leadership during this whole process is greatly appreciated.
 




         
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.


Worship Ministers Needed : 
There are several opportunities to serve in our worship at St. Nicholas. If you are looking to deepen your spiritual life by being an Acolyte, Altar Guild Member, Flower Guild Member, Greeter, Lay Eucharistic Minister, Lay Reader, or Usher at either 8:30 and 11:00 services, please contact Worship Committee chair Chris Butzon

please contact Marci Horne for changes


 
Lectionary Readings 

If you would like to see the readings for Sunday, 

Religion is not a method, it is a life, a higher and supernatural life, mystical in its root and practical in its fruits; a communion with God, a calm and deep enthusiasm, a love which radiates, a force which acts, a happiness which overflows.
                        


For those who are ill, recovering or needing special prayers:

  Members of St Nicholas:

Dave Halmrast
Nate Taylor
Clara Butzon
Cecelia Rood
Sarah Barr
Bill Eidson



 
Family members and friends of the Community:

Gay Shephard
Kelly & Simon Graham
Russ Fackler
Paige Buchanan
Penelope Elliston
Joseph Green
Mark Daniel
Heather Partin
Barbara Hamilton
Doug Brown
Cameron Clark
Gene Wells
Danny Hatchell


In Thanksgiving For:

Our St. Nicholas Parish Life Ministries


    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.
 
 

January Birthdays
 
  6   Dianne Armstrong
10   Barrett Smith
       Noah Horne
14   Dave Gustashaw
19   Madison Martin
22   Graham Horne
  Tom Cheatham
24    Marci Horne
30   Margaret Zachry
31   Justin Hubbard

January Anniversaries

 1   Nick & Anne Simpson

 
In This Issue


Annual Meeting

From Fr. Jeff

Journey to Adulthood

Zion Episcopal Church

Vestry Nominations

Steward of the Month

Vestry Minutes

Bright Way Ministries

Lay Ministry Schedule

Lay Ministry Opportunities

Sunday School Schedule
 
Lectionary Readings
 
Prayers
 
Birthdays & Anniversaries



Links (in alphabetical order)
 














Zion Episcopal, Talbotton(Go Fund Me)

CONTACT
  
Deadline for submitting news items is noon Monday.

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The Spirit of St. Nicholas 
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St. Nicholas Episcopal Church.

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Than

Thank you, St. Nicholas family, for your active involvement in our parish. 




If you or family members will be in a play, concert, sports or school activity please send the information to the church contact@stnicholashamilton.org 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.

 

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 contact@stnicholashamilton.org

  1. Please include:your names and the names of your minor children,
  2. address,
  3. email addresses,
  4. phone numbers (cell and home),
  5. 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 contact@stnicholashamilton.org.


 



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.  

 



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.



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.
Click here for details 
 

GoFundMe Campaign for Zion Church



For our next phase of fundraising for historic  Zion Episcopal Church  
in Talbotton, Georgia , we have set up a
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.