The Spirit of Saint Nicholas
The E-Newsletter from Saint Nicholas Episcopal  Church  
69 Mobley Road, Hamilton, GA 31811
706-628-7272
March 1st - 7th, 2017
Sunday Services 8:30 and 11:00am 
SNICK -  Wednesdays 5:30 
(led by Children of St. Nick - followed by dinner)



Ash Wednesday, March 1
Mark your calendars for the first day of Lent. 
We will gather to worship at 6:30pm. 
 

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.  
Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7
 
Romans 5:12-19
         
 
  • Matthew 4:1-11
  



From Fr. Jeff:

Are you carrying around some baggage? Not the physical kind. The spiritual kind. Perhaps you have done some things you're not proud of. Perhaps there was a moment where you weren't your best self. Perhaps you've developed an unhealthy habit. Perhaps someone has done something to you and that action is dragging you down. Here's a true statement: every single human being has baggage of some kind. You're not unique in whatever it is you're carrying. In my Christian tradition, the Episcopal Church, we share our burdens with our pastors. We don't do this to feel guiltier than we already are, but to release those heavy loads without judgment. The pastor's role is to listen, pray, and assure you of God's forgiveness and love. If you are still carrying some baggage, and you're ready to let it go, know that I am available to listen. This week in particular, I will be available from 1:00-5:00pm in the sanctuary of St. Nicholas to listen, but I'm also available any time you need it. Know that you are loved and that you are forgiven.  
Let go of that baggage.

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

Peace,  Jeff

 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 
For more information, see Fr. Jeff.

 
READING MATERIALS FOR LENT
Books for the Adult Forum Class 
"A JOURNEY WITH MATHEW "
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 
Mathew 25.   
They are $4.00 each.
 

Click on Title or either of the red links for more information
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!

 
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

 

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.

 















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.

 

please contact Marci Horne for changes

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



 
Stewards of the Month
Kathy McMurtry 
Ashley Taylor (photo unavailable)
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.

 


         
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.


 
Lectionary Readings 

If you would like to see the readings for Sunday, 

                        


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

  Members of St Nicholas:

Mabry Collins
Cecelia Rood
Michelle Moody
Bill Eidson
Phebe Robertson
Dave Halmrast
Nate Taylor


 
Family members and friends of the Community:


Fred Young
McCullohs Family
 Brightway Patients & Staff
Dexter Crotts
Gay Shephard
Kelly & Simon Graham
Penelope Elliston
Russ Fackler
Paige Buchanan
Joseph Green
Mark Daniel
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.
 

 
  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
 
In This Issue

From Fr. Jeff

Episcopal 101

Adult Forum Books for Lent

Camp Mikell Spring Folk School

Instructed Eucharist

SNICK Fundraiser

Zion Worship

Men's Group Dinner

Lay Ministry

Journey to Adulthood

Steward of the Month

Vestry Minutes

Bright Way Ministries

Sunday School Schedule
 
Lectionary Readings
 
Prayers
 
Birthdays & Anniversaries



Links (in alphabetical order)
 
















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.

Like us on Facebook
 
Follow us on Twitter



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 [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.

 

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]

  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 [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.  

 



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.


Hunger Walk

St. Nicholas, we need YOU!!  
We challenge ourselves to love as Jesus loved. 
We challenge the world to love as Jesus loved. 
We invite you to join our team for the 2017 Hunger Walk/Run. 
Our Rite 13 youth will be going to Atlanta to walk in the 2017 Hunger Walk.  
WE WANT YOU TO GO WITH US!!!
Sunday, March 5th
12:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Turner Field
Atlanta, Georgia
Support Episcopal Charities Foundation and participate in this year's Hunger Walk/Run along with the people and parishes of the Diocese of Atlanta. 
This 5K event raises funds and awareness for hunger relief every spring. 
Whether you choose to walk or run, you'll join thousands coming together to support our neighbors in need and celebrate the work that's being done. 
For more details and to register, contact Sheri Cody
or at  706-594-0482.
Check out the video on  youtube.com titled Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta Hunger Walk. 



Diocese of Atlanta Young Adult Retreat



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


Puttin' On The Dog





March 13th


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
Walk in Joy:
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
 

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+