The Spirit of Saint Nicholas
The E-Newsletter from Saint Nicholas Episcopal  Church  
69 Mobley Road, Hamilton, GA 31811
706-628-7272
***UPDATED*** November 2nd - 8th, 2016
 One Sunday Service on November 6th - 10:00am
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.  
Seeking volunteers for Saturday morning, November 5th from 9am - noon 
to spread 100 bales of Pine Straw in the Memory Garden.
Please contact  Bill Caudill

 
One Service on Sunday, November 6th
10:00 am

 
  One Service on Sunday, November 6th
10:00 am

***Don't Forget to Bring Your 2017 Pledge Card if You Haven't Already Turned It In***

As we gather for All Saint's Sunday on November 6, remember a few things:

1. Remember to set your clocks back an hour before you go to bed on Saturday.

2. Remember to prayerfully consider your annual pledge to St. Nicholas and bring your pledge card to church, where we will offer and ask God's blessing over our gifts.

3. Remember that we will have ONE service at 10:00am.

4. Remember that we will have a potluck lunch following the service. Bring a dish to share.

5. Remember that on All Saint's Day, it is our custom to begin the service in the Memory Garden as we remember those who have gone into glory before us.

6. Most importantly...remember that God loves you!




 
Daniel 7: 1-3, 15-18
 

 Ephesians 1:11-23
 
 
 


    A question I get asked often is "Is it OK for Christians to celebrate Halloween?" Absolutely! All Hallow's Eve, as it is traditionally known, is the evening before All Saint's Day, on which Christians have celebrated the lives of those faithful people who have gone before. Ancient Christians believed it was a night where the veil between our reality and the afterlife was thinner than usual, which meant that they believed spirits could come and go as they please. It was also a way for Christians to look at death in the face and laugh, trusting that no evil spirit, no ghost or goblin, not even death itself can conquer the Risen Christ. That's why they dressed up playfully to spook one another, as the ultimate slap in the face to the Evil One. As Christians, we have nothing to fear, so we can celebrate Halloween with integrity, knowing that Christ gives us victory over evil and death. Thanks be to God!

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

Peace,
Jeff+


Fall potluck planned for November 6 to celebrate Stewardship Sunday! Plan to bring a favorite fall dish to
share. 
***Don't Forget to Bring Your 2017 Pledge Card if You Haven't Already Turned It In***

Flag Retirement Ceremony, Sunday, November 13, 11:00am, St. Nicholas Episcopal Church:  
Do you have an American flag that needs to be retired in a respectful way?
If so, St. Nicholas is collecting flags from now until 
November 13 , when we and our Cub Scout Pack 109 will send them off in proper fashion.
You can bring them before the event to the church at 69 Mobley Road, Hamilton, or on the day of the event.
We will honor Veterans at our 
11:00am   service, then process out to retire the flags. 
All are welcome to join us!
Flag Retirement Ceremony  
Date: Sunday, November 13th
Time: 11:00am
Location: St. Nicholas Episcopal Church
 
Mark your calendars for our upcoming Adult Formation offerings:

November 13, 9:45am - Demystifying the Organ with Wyatt Poe

November 20, 9:45am - St. Nicholas Writes

December 4, 9:45am - Demystifying the Organ with Wyatt Poe

December 11, 9:45am - Bishop's Forum with the Rt. Rev. Don Wimberly

December 18, 9:45am - St. Nicholas Writes
 

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

Worship at Historic Zion, November 13, 4:00pm: Come worship with us in our beautiful 168-year-old church in Talbotton. Hope to see you there!

 

FOCUS Thanksgiving Food Drive

We are getting ready for our annual Thanksgiving Food Drive and can use your help in many different areas.  
Last year we helped 300 families and expect to help at least that many this year.  
Monetary donations are always welcome since we can purchase food at Feeding the Valley for $0.19 a pound.   
Items that we have not been able to purchase, but need, are canned tuna and soups.  
We also need plastic bags (Kroger, Wal-Mart) doubled, and we need volunteers.  
On Friday, Nov. 18 we will be preparing the bags so we'll need volunteers to man tables and fill bags.  
On Saturday, Nov. 19 our clients will be picking up their food and we can use volunteers to help carry the groceries out to cars.  
If you can help please contact Judy Westbrook at jrw5@bellsouth.net, be sure to include Focus on the subject line or call her at 706-663-4505 or call 

Thank you.  
Your support makes it possible for us to help the needy of Harris County.
Julie Nordin
Food Bank, Chairman


 
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
 
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.    



YOUTH WORKER FALL UPDATE

Happening | November 11-13
This is our high school retreat at Camp Mikell. This is a renewal weekend centered around unconditional love and community. High schoolers lead the weekend for high schoolers. Adults just come up to chaperone. High schoolers can register for the weekend  here.

Youth Lock-In @ Annual Council | November 18-19
Our annual lock-In takes places on the  Friday Night of Council. We get together to do service work, play games, and worship. We end the lock-in the following day by leading opening prayer  on Saturdaymorning. Youth and adults can register for the lock-in  here.

atlSERVE (Mission Weeks) | June 25-30, July 9-14
These are our service and mission outreach weeks in Atlanta for our middle and high schoolers. The high school week is  June 25-30 and the middle school week is  July 9-14. We have many service partners including meal delivery, facilitating a VBS, sorting donations, working in gardens, serving in soup lines, and joining the homeless in morning prayer. These weeks are about learning how to serve and be served by others. Last year, we had over 90 youth attend our mission weeks. There are opportunities for adult leaders (that could be you) to help lead the week. There are leadership opportunities for high schoolers to help lead the middle school week. Mark your calendar, and please let your youth know! Register for high school  here and middle school  here.

Applications

Provincial Youth Networking Meeting | December 1-4
Every year our Province gets together, 19 dioceses, to discuss youth ministry, network, and plan a youth event for the entire Province to participate in. Youth and Youth Workers from all over the Province attend the event. We want 3-4 youth to attend this year's meeting. It will be at the Lake Logan Conference Center in the Diocese of Western Carolina. No cost; we just need youth that are passionate about serving one another and the larger youth community.  Apply here.

DYC Staff | December 10-11
This is an opportunity for our high school youth to lead a retreat for middle and high schoolers. The retreat is at Camp Mikell from  January 6-8. Staff training is at Mikell from  December 10-11Apply here.

Youth Leadership Initiative | June 2-4
This is a weekend Leadership Retreat for rising seniors and those just graduated. Bishop Wright, Mary Hooper, and I will lead a weekend centered around teaching our youth what it looks like to lead as Jesus calls us to.  Apply here.

EYE 2017 | July 10-14
This is the National Youth Event held every 3 years that brings almost every diocese and over 2,000 young people together for a 4-day event. This year, it is at the University of Central Oklahoma. Many subjects are covered and youth get a real opportunity learn, grow, and build community with young Episcopalians across the faith. Many parishes are contributing a full scholarship for one of their own youth to attend. Please  contact me if you would like to sponsor one of your youth. We also have partial and full scholarships for at least 10. Youth can apply  here.

If you have any questions about these events or applications, please contact me directly! 
Thank you for participating in our Diocesan Youth Ministries!

Peace,

 
 
 


OCTOBER 2016
Almighty God, who...dost promise that when two or three are gathered together in thy Name thou wilt grant their requests; fulfill now, O Lord, the desires and petitions of thy servants, as may be most expedient for them.
         
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.


please contact Marci Horne for changes

Stewards of the Month
 
 
Kin & Beth Brown
    
Scott and Rebecca Crowley
 
Dave and Sue Halmrast 
 
Bob and Patty Hamilton 
 
David and Katherine Johnson
   
Steve Morse and William Morgan

During the month of October several members of our parish opened their homes for cottage meetings.  
These were a part of  the stewardship program at St Nicholas. The cottage meetings were a place to fellowship and talk about our common life together at St Nicholas.  
For opening their homes to the church community, the Vestry has nominated these couples as Stewards of the month.
 

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:

Sam Roney
Nate Taylor
Clara Butzon
Chris Butzon

 
Family members and friends of the Community:

Grace Esbstyne
Mark Daniel
Heather Partin
Barbara Hamilton
Doug Brown
Cameron Clark
Gene Wells
Danny Howard
Danny Hatchell
Joseph Green
Vivian
Chris Price

In Thanksgiving For:

Our St. Nicholas Communications 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.
 


 

           

November Birthdays

2 Tai Jackson 
3 Terri Townsend 
9 Jeff Cody 
9 John Blackmon 
13 Lange Taylor 
24 Ella Townsend 
25 Hollie Queener 
30 Connie Blackmon






November Anniversaries

19 Sheila & Chris Dixon 
       26 John & Connie Blackmon


 

Epiphany's Nativities Exhibit

You're Invited To Tour Epiphany's Nativities Exhibit
For the twenty-first holiday season, The Episcopal Church of the Epiphany presents an exhibit of nativity scenes from around the world from Saturday, December 3 through Sunday, December 11. Over the years, the exhibit has grown to over 300 crèches. From the elegant to the eccentric, the birth scenes are sculpted in materials ranging from carved wood to volcanic ash.
In the narthex and gallery, there will be a special exhibit of nativity scenes that highlight the differences between the birth story as told in the Gospels of Luke and Matthew. Each nativity is accompanied by scriptural quotes and hymn texts. Additional birth scenes will be exhibited in the Parish Hall.
Admission: $5.00 for adults; Free for children under 12. For a brochure of times or more information contact Epiphany at  404.373.8338 /  info@epiphany.org or visit  www.epiphany.org.
Schedule
Saturday, December 3, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Sunday, December 4, 2 - 4 p.m.
Monday-Friday, December 5-9, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Saturday, December 10, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Sunday, December 11, 2 - 4 p.m.



 
Bishop Wimberly visits December 11:
We will celebrate 
St. Nicholas Day 
with assisting bishop 
Don Wimberly 
December 11 at 8:30 and 11:00am. 
If you would like to be confirmed, received, or reaffirmed that day, please let Fr. Jeff know. 

 
 
In This Issue

Saturday Work Day

All Saints Day

From Fr. Jeff

Fall Potluck

Flag Retirement Ceremony

FOCUS Thanksgiving Food Drive

Journey to Adulthood

Youth Worker Fall Update

Zion Episcopal Church

Cub Scout Pack 109

Vestry Minutes

Bright Way Ministries

Lay Ministry Schedule

Lay Ministry Opportunities

Steward of the Month
 
Lectionary Readings
 
Prayers
 
Birthdays & Anniversaries

Vestry Nominations



Links (in alphabetical order)
 














Zion Episcopal, Talbotton(Go Fund Me)

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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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.


 
St. Thomas Episcopal Church Episcoparty
St. Thomas Episcopal Church is excited to share our first Episcoparty with you! Please share with your constituents. Banner and flyer attached to this message.
Join us for a fabulous night filled with lots of fun, food, wine & drinks. There will also be a silent auction in which 10% of the proceeds will be donated to Home For Good Columbus. The remaining proceeds will go towards renovations and capital improvements throughout the church.

Be sure and put on your dancing shoes because The Chemistry Project Band will be in attendance. 

Tickets are on sale now $40.00.
Available for purchase Monday-Friday in the church office, Wednesdays before dinner, and Sundays during coffee hour. Cash, check and credit card payments are all accepted. 
Buy tickets online at www.stthomascolumbus.org

This is an opportunity to bid-on early Christmas presents, and spend a week in a villa in Italy, or at the beach on 30A, just to name a few. This is one Episcoparty you don't want to miss! 

So come have a blast! It's going to be ATOMIC!