2016 St. Nicholas Easter Egg Hunt

Adult Formation

Our next Bible Study will be on April 3. Join us for in-depth conversation for long-time and new Bible readers alike. Father Jeff and others lead the discussion. Come grow with us!

Read, Mark, and Inwardly Digest: Bible for Beginners.  Do you want to learn more about the Bible, but don't know where or how to start? Join us Sunday mornings at 9:45am for a weekly discussion group for all levels of Bible readers. Father Jeff and a group of others will lead the class. We will begin with the Gospel of Luke, using a 50-day study called A Journey with Luke by Marek Zabriskie which you can get ahead of time at many book retailers online. This will be our ongoing Adult Formation class until Easter. If you have any questions, contact Father Jeff or Bob Hamilton.

Lego Sunday School Meeting Sunday, 

April 3 at 9:45

 

Worship at historic Zion Episcopal Church

Time:  4:00pm
Location:  Talbotton, GA

All are welcome to join us!

 

Book of Common Prayer (BCP) Class 

starting April 17 at 9:45am:

What is the BCP? Why do we use it? How do we use it? Join us for 4 weeks as Fr. Jeff teaches and answers these questions. 

 

Someone asked me recently about the recent news of the Episcopal Church and its status in the Anglican Communion. Back in January, the archbishops of the Anglican Communion (also known as "primates,") met in England and made a statement asking that the Episcopal Church (USA) "no longer represent us on ecumenical and interfaith bodies, should not be appointed or elected to an internal standing committee and that while participating in the internal bodies of the Anglican Communion, they will not take part in decision making on any issues pertaining to doctrine or polity" for three years. This is in response to the Episcopal Church's General Convention's position on the blessing of same-sex marriage. 

Of course, the media jumped right on this, saying that the Episcopal Church has been "sanctioned," "suspended," or "disciplined." But that's not how our church works. Many people think that we are governed like the Roman Catholics, in which a Pope has ultimate authority and it trickles down from there. But the Anglican Communion is not like that (which is partly why we are not Catholics). The Archbishop of Canterbury, who presides over the meeting of archbishops, is not our version of the Pope, nor do the Anglican primates have any authority to sanction, suspend, or discipline the Episcopal Church in any way. Even their statement ( which you can read here) lacks the words "discipline," "suspension," or "sanction" but recognizes that they are distancing themselves from the Episcopal Church. Be careful what you read in the news.

But what does this mean? The best analogy I have heard to explain this is that of a family. Think of an aunt who hosts the annual family reunion. Families are connected, but often disagree with one another. If you offend your aunt, she may not invite you to the family reunion, but that doesn't mean you're not a part of the family. Nor does that have any bearing on whether your actions were right or wrong, they just offended her enough to not invite you for a few years. Your aunt has no authority over your actions, but she can distance herself if she so chooses. It's painful, but that's life.

Our "primate" and Presiding Bishop Michael Curry responded to the statement by saying, "While I understand that many disagree with us, our decision regarding marriage is based on the belief that the words of the Apostle Paul to the Galatians are true for the church today: All who have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male or female, for all are one in Christ." Our own Diocesan Bishop Robert Wright has also affirmed Presiding Bishop Curry's position, saying: "My statement regarding the Anglican Primates' vote is a very simple one. First, it rarely surprises me when loving like Jesus brings real world consequences. Second, I support our Presiding Bishop wholeheartedly. So, we persist in affirming the dignity of all people and we press on with Jesus." For a full article on the report, check out the  Episcopal News Service.

We can never change other people's actions, so if our Anglican family members decide they want to distance themselves because of our convictions, then they go with our prayers and love in hopes that they may walk alongside us again soon. St. Nicholas and the Diocese of Atlanta will continue to love like Jesus in striving for inclusion of all people around God's table. 

If you have further questions about this or any other topic, please contact me! 

 

 

 

Game Day with Christian Valley

Good Christian Fellowship with Food, Fun and Friends

 

On Saturday, April 16, from 2:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m., St. Nicholas will host a Game Day with our good friends from Christian Valley.  There will be activities for adults and games for children, topped off by a potluck supper.

 

Starting Friday evening, the men of Christian Valley will be up late smoking and preparing delicious barbequed ribs, chicken, hamburgers and hot dogs. St. Nicholas is asking its fine cooks to prepare tasty complimentary sides, salads and desserts.  What a yummy feast!

 

There will be four square, kickball, corn hole, etc., for the kids and games and activities for adults.  The hope is that this will help to develop friendships and strengthen personal relationships between the members of our churches.  It is in getting to know one another than we learn to love one another.

 

Please sign up, mark your calendar and plan to join us for a good time, and an opportunity to grow in Christ's love.  Signup sheets are in the narthex.  Take a moment and add your name this Sunday.  There is no charge for this event.

 

Vestry Minutes

February Vestry Minutes

 

 

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.

 

Diary of a Country Priest

March Lay Ministry

April Lay Ministry

 

"Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." Matthew 6:21

 

"Always do right - this will gratify some and astonish the rest."

 -MarkTwain (1835-1910)

 

Parish Committees: Who does what around here?

Christ's body is made up of many members and each member has a special gift and purpose. Likewise, the many ministries of St. Nicholas are organized into several committees, so that everyone has an opportunity to serve and so no one person has to bear a ministry alone. Even Jesus sent his disciples out two-by-two, which is a good model for ministry. The Vestry serves as the group that sees the larger vision of the church and equips and supports the other members of the congregation to fulfill their roles as ministers. There are several other areas of ministry, each with a chair, a Vestry liaison, and members who help make the decisions of the Church.

Worship Committee - Chris Butzon, chair; Bob Hamilton, Vestry liaison: This committee works in direct partnership with the Rector and Music Director in planning our worship and getting people involved in the various worship ministries like acolytes, Altar Guild, Flower Guild, Lay Eucharistic Ministers, and Ushers.

Adult Formation Committee - Bob Hamilton, chair & Vestry liaison: This committee plans all of the offerings to help adult Christians grow in their spiritual lives, including our Adult Formation Classes on Sundays, book clubs, fellowship groups, and more.

Children & Youth Committee - June Wood & Helen Varner, co-chairs; Rebecca Crowley, Vestry liaison: This committee plans all our programs and events for children and youth including SNICK, Trunk or Treat, Vacation Bible School, and more. 

Building & Grounds Committee - Bobo Morgan, chair; Bill Caudill & Steve Morse, Vestry liaisons: This committee maintains the physical needs of the church building and the 8 acres of land that we have, including the Memory Garden.

Communications Committee - Scott Crowley, chair; Sheri Cody, Vestry liaison: This committee focuses on the way we communicate outward to the world and inward amongst ourselves in partnership with Theresa Dorminy, our parish administrator, in developing the website, newsletter, and more.

Hospitality Committee - Tom Cheatham, chair; Martha Dimon, Vestry liaison:This committee ensures that St. Nicholas continues to be a friendly place for newcomers and long-timers alike, as well as integrating newcomers into the life of the parish.

Outreach Committee - Kin Brown & Sue Halmrast, co-chairs & Vestry liaisons: This committee works to bring the needs of the world to St. Nicholas and encourage our gifts to serve our local community through partnerships with BackSnacks, FOCUS, CVEM, and more.

Pastoral Care Committee - Cecelia Rood, chair; Katherine Johnson, Vestry liaison: This committee tends to the pastoral needs of our parish by visiting, writing notes, sending meals, making prayer bears and blankets, and more.

Parish Life Committee - Anne Simpson, chair; Phebe Robertson, Vestry liaison: This committee plans all of our fellowship events and meals of the church including Mardi Gras, the Parish Picnic, and more. The Lobsterfest Committee, chaired by Martha Dimon, is a separate committee that falls under the umbrella of Parish Life and they plan our biggest fundraising event of the year.

Finance Committee - Dave Halmrast, Treasurer and chair; Nick Simpson, Vestry liaison: This committee oversees the financial stewardship of the parish on a day-to-day basis, in partnership with our parish administrator Theresa Dorminy. The Stewardship Committee is a subgroup of this committee, which plans our annual stewardship campaign.

Anyone can participate in these committees, so if something interests you, please contact the chair or Vestry liaison of the committee. If you have a question or idea about anything that falls under one of these committees, please let them know as well!