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Free Webinar
"Developing Financial Resources
to Sustain Mission"
Save the date for a free Diocese of Atlanta webinar on "Developing Financial Resources to Sustain Mission" from
7 to 8:30 p.m.
Wednesday, Sept. 16
.
Outreach leaders from Emmaus House -- Executive Director Joseph Mole and Director of Development Greg Cole -- will lead the program from the Mission Room at the Cathedral of St. Philip. The program is designed for parish leaders, outreach chairs, and those serving with or directing ministries that require ongoing funding.
Registration information will be posted on the diocesan website soon and in the next Connecting. For more information, contact Chuck Dale
"Developing Financial Resources to Sustain Mission"
Date:
Wednesday, Sept. 16th
Time: 7:00 - 8:30pm
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Excavating the Celtic Inner Landscape
September
20th and
October 4
9:45-10:45am
Join David Johnson and Father Jeff Jackson on an exploration of Celtic spirituality through the work of poet/philosopher John O'Donohue. Learn how to plant and cultivate a rich tradition of beauty, imagination, and friendship into your spiritual life.
Excavating the Celtic Inner Landscape
Date September 13th, 20th and October 4
Time 9:45-10:45am
Location Adult Classrooms
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SNICK Kick-Off Night is Wednesday,
September 23rd from 5:30-7:30pm!
Please make plans to join us as we begin
SNICK
this year. We will have a worship service at
5:30
, followed by dinner, fellowship and a discussion about the general plan for SNICK this year.
After dinner, we will complete a service project together. The project (making care sacks for the members of the homeless population registered with Open Door Community Home in Columbus) will be planned so that kids of all ages may participate. We will be making about 60 sacks and we will need donations of
specific
hygiene items and non-perishable single serving food items.
Please see the sign-up sheet in the Narthex and consider a bringing a donation (you may even have some of the items we need sitting unused on a shelf at your home!).
Thank you for the amazing opportunity to serve the children of St. Nicholas Episcopal Church! I'm so looking forward to the kick-off and a wonderful year for SNICK! -Janna Morris
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SNICK Kick-Off Night
Date: Wednesday, September 23rd
Time: 5:30-7:30 pm
Location: St. Nicholas Classrooms
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It's time to volunteer! If you didn't have time to sign up at the picnic, please look for the sign-up sheets in the narthex. We need your help to make this the best Lobsterfest ever!
Friday, September 25, 2015
6:00pm
at Sweet Home Plantation Pine Mountain
Dinner Ticket Sales ended on September 15th!
Click on the link above
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St. Nicholas Writer's Group
meets on September 27th
At the next meeting of St. Nicholas Writes, the Jackson family will entertain us with their impressions of Britain in a multimedia program entitled
"The Jacksons Write Britain!" The show promises to be a lot of fun and a fitting beginning to our new year. The family's performances will be followed by a refreshment break and then a question period. Our members hope everyone will be able to attend:
9:45-10:45 on Sunday, September 27th, in the adult classrooms. Visitors and guests welcome.
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St. Nicholas Writer's Group
Date September 27th
Time 9:45 - 10:45 am
Location Adult Classrooms
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BLESSING OF ANIMALS
October 4th
Details to follow!
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If anyone is interested in going to the
Springer Opera House
on
Sunday Oct 4th
for a matinee of CHORUS LINE - and getting together for lunch before at the Rankin. Please let Katherine know or sign up on sheet at church. If enough people we may get a group rate.
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"Do all the good you can, in all the ways you can, for all the people you can, in every place you can, as long as you can".
Enjoy the blessings of good stewardship!
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We're setting a place for you...
Mark your calendars!
Sunday, October 18th is the date for this year's
Consecration Sunday.
Please plan to attend two important events: Sunday morning worship at 10:00 a.m. and the Celebration Luncheon immediately following worship that same day -- a meal from a very special caterer in Harris County.
We hope that you will attend worship on Consecration Sunday and consider your financial commitment in the church sanctuary as an act of worship.
In
Christ,
St.
Nicholas Stewardship Committee
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Dear St. Nicholas
Family,
Consecration
Sunday is coming.
Congregations that approach financial stewardship from a biblical perspective do not view the money Christians give to their church merely as a way to pay its bills. Rather, such congregations see financial contributions as a way to help people grow spiritually in their relationship with God by supporting their church's mission and ministry with a percentage of their incomes.
Our congregation's finance committee has selected the New Consecration Sunday Stewardship Program as a way to teach the biblical and spiritual principles of generous giving in our stewardship education emphasis this year.
New Consecration Sunday is based on the biblical philosophy of the need of the giver to give for his or her own spiritual development, rather than on the need of the church to receive. Instead of treating people like members of a social club who should pay dues, we will treat people like followers of Jesus Christ who want
to give unselfishly as an act of discipleship. New Consecration Sunday encourages people toward proportionate and systematic giving in response to the question, "What percentage of my income is God calling me to give?"
During morning worship on Consecration Sunday, October 18th, we are asking our attendees and members to make their financial commitments to our church's missionary, benevolent, and educational ministries in this community and around the world.
Every attendee and member who completes an Estimate of Giving Card does so voluntarily by attending morning worship on Consecration Sunday. We urge people to attend who feel strongly opposed to completing a card. The procedure is done in such a way that no one feels personal embarrassment if he or she chooses not to fill out a card.
We will do no home solicitation to ask people to complete cards. During morning
worship, our guest leader will conduct a brief period of instruction and inspiration, climaxed by members making their commitments as a confidential act of worship.
We will encourage participation in Consecration Sunday events through the Consecration Sunday team and governing board members. Since we will make no follow-up visits to ask people to complete their cards, we will make every effort to inform, inspire, and commit everyone to attend Consecration Sunday worship.
Thanks in advance for your enthusiastic participation in Consecration Sunday events.
Chair, Stewardship Committee
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Save the Date:
Join CVEM for an evening of
"Bluegrass Served Up Family Style"
featuring Columbus' own Debbie Anderson on
Sunday, Oct. 25 from 5 to 7 p.m. at
S
t. Thomas Episcopal Church
.
Tickets will be $20 per person or $50 for a family. This ministry fundraiser includes a celebration of the 20th anniversary of TAP, the Thompson-Pound Art Program, a week-long summer art program for children ages 6-12 recruited from diverse religious and socio-economic backgrounds that teaches tolerance and peace-making. More event details to follow soon. E-mail [email protected] for more information.
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Bluegrass Served Up Family Style
Date: Sunday, October 25th
Time: 5:00- 7:00 pm
Location: St. Thomas Episcopal Church - Columbus, GA
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BackPack Snacks
The Outreach Committee is busy planning more activities to support the project,
BackPack Snacks. Along with three other Harris County Churches, St. Nicholas will be providing nutritional, easy to prepare meals for school children whose meal times are uncertain on the weekends. We will be packing six meals into back packs for four children chosen for the program by the counselor at Park Elementary School. The Vestry has voted to give $300 seed money for this program, but your donations are needed to make it a success.
Before the planned
October 25 fund raiser, more donations are needed to provide meals for four back packs seven times. Donations can be made monetarily by checks made out to St. Nicholas with the notation Back Pack Snacks on the memo line. Food articles can be brought to the church and will be collected and distributed. More breakfast foods are currently needed. Suggestions are small bags or boxes of cereal, individual packets of macaroni and cheese, individual small cans of fruit, granola bars, peanut butter, crackers, pop tarts, individual flavored rice and beef sticks.
Watch for more information about the fund raiser on 25 October and continue to bring donations as this is an on-going project
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Movie on the Green
During the fall, we'd like to have a monthly "Movie on the Green" for us and the local community. We'd show a movie on the front lawn of the church. Everyone would bring their own blanket or camp chair. Once it gets cold, we could move inside.
To do this we'd need wholesome popular videos either donated or loaned by the congregation; a volunteer each month to set up and take down the equipment (computer, projector and screen); volunteers to bag popcorn; and volunteers to help post advertisements around the area.
If you are interested in helping to organize this family fun or would like to do some of the specific duties listed above, please let Sheri Cody know.
If you miss her at church you can reach her @ Sheri Cody
or
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Please look for these cards to place in the alms basin if you are enrolled in electronic giving. Father Jeff will bless these along with the other offerings given each Sunday.
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Steward of the Month
The best way to describe Katherine Johnson's activities during Fr. Jeff's sabbatical is WOW. "Ask Fr. Jeff" rapidly became, "Ask Katherine" as she quickly took over most of the responsibilities of our Rector in his absence.
She never faltered, she never failed, she was somehow always there. Like many of you I grew to love and respect Katherine even more during this time of Sabbatical and now that she has time to accept it, the Vestry has unanimously voted her Steward of the Month. Thank you Katherine for all that you do and what you have come to mean to all of us at St. Nicholas.
Well done, good and faithful Servant!
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"Sharing our gifts with others brings satisfaction, peace and joy to the giver's heart. St. Paul once remarked: " . . . we must help the weak, and keep in mind the words of the Lord Jesus who himself said, "It is more blessed to give than to receive."
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 Lay Ministry Opportunities
There are many lay ministry opportunities at
St. Nicholas. Each person has unique talents to share. Think about your place to joyfully plug into
St Nicholas.
A few ideas are: Flower Guild, Greeter, Ushers, Teacher, Special Event Volunteer, Grounds, Choir, Lay Eucharistic Minister........
More opportunities will be listed next week. But begin to think about it. Tailor your lay ministry to your time.
Most of all, do remember to worship at St Nicholas.
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Lectionary Readings
If you would like to see the readings for Sunday,
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In Thanksgiving
For Sue Halmrast and Patsy Downs for decorating our
Narthex sitting area.
For those who are ill, recovering or needing special prayers:
Members of St Nicholas:
Bruce Clouser
Chris Butzon
Ashley and Nate Taylor
Bill Caudill
Dorothy Webster
Garrett Hinnant
Larry Hinnant
Bob Hamilton
Bill Batastini
Shelley Butzon
Kay Faircloth
Dave Halmrast
Family members of members of the community:
James Daniels
Jack Whitley
Ron Anderson
Clara Butzon
The Harris Family
Jameson Miers
Julie Raines
Paul Jones
LaDean Hall
Leanne Croft
Robin Zion
Jimmy Dorminy
Jimmi Ann Moore
Erin Kavanaugh Kirkley
Prayers for those in grief:
For the Hubbard and Martin Families on the death of
Andi Hubbard.
For the Haynes and Tomlin Families on the death of
Eddie Haynes
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.
For those with unspoken prayer requests.
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Birthdays and Anniversaries
September Birthdays
1 Sean Moody
2 Drucye Cox
3 Linda Sawyer
5 Jessica Cody
6 Susan Batastini
8 Lynn Norris
8 Sheila Turley
11 Garbrielle Clouser
12 Chris Dixon
17 Mary Davis
19 June Nowell
21 Joe Torres
23 Sammy Hubbard
26 Charlotte Winsness
29 Amy Buchanan
30 Bill Caudill
2 Bob & Janice Murphy
3 Doug Jr. & Peggy Martin
25 Geoff & Phebe Callaway
Robertson
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Confirmations
The next confirmation service will be on
December 13 at 4:00pm
at the Cathedral of St. Philip in Atlanta. If you would like to be confirmed, received, or reaffirmed, please let Fr. Jeff know so he can plan future classes.
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Confirmations
Date: Sunday, December 13th
Time: 4:00pm
Location: Cathedral of St. Philip - Atlanta
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As stewards, we are accountable to God for our time, talent and treasure. We return to the Lord, the giver of all our gifts, a truly grateful first share of our time, talent and treasure.
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Four Upcoming Retreats for Adults
Looking for a way to deepen your spiritual life? Honey Creek offers retreats that give room for recharging as well as learning more. Here are four upcoming offerings:
Cursillo - October 8-11
Pronounced 'kur-see-yo', this a short course in Christianity taken from the Spanish word meaning 'little' or 'short course'. Cursillo developed after World War II with Roman Catholic men. The short course has now been given to men and women around the world and in the process has assisted generations of Christians to more faithfully follow Jesus in their daily lives. Cursillo begins on a
Thursday evening and ends the following
Sunday evening. During those three days the participants engage in listening to talks given by priests and lay people, and small table discussion, while worshiping and playing together. The next Cursillo weekend will be
October 8-11, 2015, at Honey Creek. You can find out more and register to attend at
cursillo.georgiaepiscopal.org
Women's Retreat - October 16-18
St. Elizabeth's, Richmond Hill will again host a Women's Retreat at Honey Creek. The retreat meets
October 16-18. With the theme "Deeper Into the Heart of God: Place of Freedom" the weekend is dedicated to bringing participants into an ever-deepening love relationship with Jesus. For more information or to register, contact Emily Hubbard at
(912) 856-7902 or email her at
[email protected]
Advent Retreat - December 11-12
In December, the Revs. Dwayne Varas and Lonnie Lacy will lead an Advent Retreat at Honey Creek on following Jesus in the way of St. Ignatius. This retreat will be held
December 11 from
5 p.m. until 5 p.m. on
December 12th.
Click here for a brochure on this retreat.
The rates for the conference including three meals are: Lodge 1 Single $144, Lodge 1 Double $99.50, Lodge 2 Single $133, Lodge 2 Double $94, Cottage $90, and Campers and Commuters $64. Registration information will follow.
Lenten Retreat - February 19-20, 2016
In Lent, the Revs. Liam Collins and Frank Logue will offer a retreat at Honey Creek. The retreat will explore reconciliation, making room for real changes to take place in the lives of retreat participants during the weekend itself. This 2016 Lenten Retreat will meet
February 19 at 5 p.m. and conclude by
2 p.m. on the 20th. The costs will be identical to those for the Advent Retreat above.
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YOUTH FALL RETREAT
New Beginnings Team & Participant registrations are now open! New Beginnings is a spiritual retreat designed for middle school youth. This is a life-changing weekend, and we believe all middle school youth in our diocese should experience it. You can find team registration
here
and participant registration
here
.
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The 2016 Diocesan Youth Mission Trip will be to Birmingham, Alabama. The dates are July 10-15. If your church would like to be a part of it you can RSVP now. Email Youth Missioner, Easton Davis here for more information about the trip.
 ***UPDATE***
We now have 2 Diocesan Mission Trips scheduled for July of 2016. Diocesan Mission Trip Birmingham will now be for high school youth.
The diocese has also partnered with All Saints' Atlanta to provide an Atlanta based mission trip for middle school youth. These mission trips are just the beginning of providing a tailored mission trip experience for all youth of our diocese. Choose your diocese when planning a youth mission trip! Email Youth Missioner, Easton Davis here for more information
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In This Issue
Webinar
Excavating the Celtic Inner Landscape
SNICK Kick-Off Night
Lobsterfest
Writer's Group
Blessing of Animals
Chorus Line
Consecration Sunday October 18th
Bluegrass Family Style
Back Pack Snacks
Movie Nights
Online Giving
Steward of the Month
Lay Ministry Schedule
Lay Ministry Opportunities
Vestry Minutes
FOCUS Food Pantry
Lectionary Readings
Prayers
Birthdays & Anniversaries
Confirmations
Upcoming Retreats for Adults
2016 Youth Mission Trip
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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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Please help Patty Hamilton 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 Patty Hamilton 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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