Four Stewards of the Month for February!
The Vestry would like to honor Chris and Sheila Dixon as Stewards of the Month for February for purchasing fresh oysters for our Mardi Gras celebration on February 17. We thank you for your generosity.
We also honor their friends, Skeeter and Denese Cotton, for preparing delicious jambalaya at the celebration. Their contributions and dedication greatly contributed to the success of this annual St. Nicholas event.
Stewardship Quote of the Month: But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to make this freewill offering? For all things come from you, and of your own have we given you. (1 Chronicles 29:14)
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Results of our Visioning Survey
During the fall, we conducted town hall meetings and a survey to identify and prioritize current and future works that will fulfill our vision over the next three years. Comments clustered into the following areas:
1. Growing our child/youth programming
2. Creating spiritual growth groups
3. Establishing fellowship groups
4. Enhancing/Increasing our outreach to the community
5. Getting the word out about us and drawing the community to us
Numerous ideas were offered in each of the five areas, which the survey helped prioritize.
The survey results were discussed in the February vestry meeting. Our plan is for each committee to review and discuss the survey results and include in their goals/plans those initiatives that impact their committee's area of responsibility. The committees will report back to the vestry which initiatives they will address this year.
You proposed such a wonderful variety of ideas that our church committees will be considering for implementation! If you had an idea that you are willing to help bring to fruition, please let the committee chair know so they can make sure it is included in the year's plan.
If you would like to see the actual survey results, I have provided them. For each of the five questions, there is a bar graph so you can see which ideas garnered the most support. Under the graph, each idea is listed with the actual percent of votes that it received
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2015 Lenten Meditations
Our resident writing group, St. Nicholas Writes, led by Dianne Armstrong, has written a series of Lenten meditations for us to enjoy each day of Lent. | | We must apologize and make a correction: Susan Wiley was the author of the reading, Judas' Cry, published on Saturday, February 21. |
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Come hear our Lenten Speakers and enjoy Soup/Sandwich Suppers each Wednesday evening February 25 through March 25.
Wednesday Evenings
Family-Friendly Service at 5:30pm
followed by dinner for all,
SNICK program for children,
Lenten series program for adults
February 25 Dianne Armstrong, Reflections from the St. Nicholas Writers Group
Brief Introductory Remarks by Dianne Armstrong 6:45: David Johnson: Ash Wednesday 6:50: Barbara Morgan: The Wind 6:55: John Winsness: The Blind Man 7:00: Bob Hamilton: Passion for God 7:05: Susan Wiley: Lenten Musings 7:10: Mallon Faircloth: What Matters 7:15: Gabe Clouser: Rising from the Dead 7:20: Audience Response 7:30: Program Ends. March 4 Author, David Johnson, discusses his latest book, On Becoming.
March 11 "Draw the Circle Wider" Katherine Johnson and Nick Simpson
March 18 "Liturgy That Takes Its Time" with Stuart Higginbotham
March 25 "The Sabbatical Agenda" with Father Jeff Jackson
Ruby Miller (706-594-4805) and Carolyn Jacik (706-577-7667)
are coordinating the food preparation.
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Family Worship at St. Nicholas
Starting Wednesday, February 25 at 5:30pm, Please join us weekly for child-friendly and child-led worship each Wednesday night. Abbreviated in order to introduce children to worship and including a mix of traditional and contemporary music, this service of Holy Eucharist will inspire you. Following the service, we will have dinner at 6:15pm, followed by our speaker series for adults and our SNICK program for kids. All are welcome! Come join us! For more information, contact Father Jeff Jackson at 706 628-7272. | |
Event Details Heading
Date February 25
Time 5:30 pm
Location St. Nicholas
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 Adult Formation March 8
Have you ever sent or received a love letter? If you received or sent one while in grade school or high school, it brought about a range of emotions whether you liked or didn't like the person.
What in the world does this have to do with church? This is a church-wide event that you don't want to miss. Plan to attend St Nicholas on March 8th at 9:45 am in the Adult Forum Classrooms. Hear some love stories from Bill Caudill, Annie Simpson, Drucye Cox, and more. Wow, talk about LOVE, Annie will have some of her World Famous Biscuits and coffee. | |
Date March 8
Time 9:45am
Location Adult Formation Classrooms
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Calling all Parishioners interested in a rewarding and new challenge for 2015!
Our SNICK program has grown immensely over the past few years and we are in desperate need of NEW FACES AND IDEAS! While Fr. Jeff and Molly have been excellent leaders for this program, it is time to branch out!! We need new faces, new ideas and new ways to gladden the hearts of these children and teach them about our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Currently the St. Nicholas Children's Committee is looking for members who are willing to help develop a new curriculum and who can meet with our SNICK participants on Wednesday evenings. I am asking that each of you prayerfully consider playing a role in our SNICK program. Remember no role is too big or small! Please contact Beth Evans for more information about ways to get involved!
In Peace,
Beth Evans
251-363-0911
[email protected]
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Date Every Wednesday evening
Time 5:30pm
Location St. Nicholas classroom
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The St. Nicholas
Columbus Book Study Group
meets each Tuesday
at 12:00 noon
at Trinity Episcopal Church
1st Ave., Columbus
In the Library on the second floor
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Second Saturdays
continue at St. Nicholas
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Safeguarding God's Children
Safeguarding God's People St. Nicholas is blessed to have people who want to continue to make this place safe. Our Vestry members, program leaders, Sunday School teachers, and many others have been responsible to take the Safeguarding courses offered by the diocese. This is intended for all leaders of the church, not just those who work with youth and children. Please pass this invitation on to anyone in the parish you think needs to complete the Safeguarding courses. The more people who take it, the safer our congregation will be from sexual predators or sexual harassment.
We are also blessed to have some options. First, if you or others wish to complete the courses online in your own time, please let me know and I will set you up with how to do that. Or, you can attend the workshops listed below, which will happen at St. Nicholas on March 14. You can register by contacting Deborah Silver, who will be facilitating the courses.
Safeguarding God's Children
For those who work with children:
HAMILTON | Saturday, March 14, 9:30 to 12:30.
St. Nicholas Episcopal Church.
Register: [email protected]
Safeguarding God's People
For those who work with adults:
HAMILTON | Saturday, March 14, 1 to 4 p.m.
St. Nicholas Episcopal Church
Register [email protected]
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 Get to know your parish family...
Charlotte Winsness has volunteered to compile biographies of our members and presents the first article for your enjoyment.
Ron and Mary Davis
Ron and Mary are pictured with two of their grandchildren, Jackson and Isabella.
The Davises have lived in Ellerslie for the past nine years. Although they have lived many different places, they consider the Columbus area their home.
They have four children and five grandchildren. They feel blessed to have all of them live in the Columbus area.
Ron was born and raised in Swainsboro, GA. He retired from the Army with 24 years of service and currently works at AFLAC.
Mary was born in Colorado Springs, CO. She worked civil service for 13 years and for the last eight years before retirement, she worked for the Muscogee County School District.
The military has been a big part of their lives. Ron and Mary met while they both worked at Fort Benning and have been married 35 years this August.
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Volunteer Schedule for February
February Volunteer Schedule Volunteer Schedule for March
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Lectionary Readings
If you would like to see the readings for Sunday,
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Prayers 
If you would like to have a name placed on this prayer list, please email [email protected] or call Katherine Johnson, 706-628-5676, Pastoral Care Committee.
Persons must give permission to be placed on this list. Names will remain on the prayer list for one month unless otherwise contacted.
Prayers of Thanksgiving
For St Nicholas Church.
For the members of St. Nicholas and their care for church and community.
For those who are ill, recovering, or needing special prayers
Ashley and Nate Taylor
Nick Simpson's Mother
Jack Whitley
Don Baldwin
Jim Nemchak
Tina Miller
Jamie Forestal
Gail Jackson
Ron Anderson
Clara Butzon
The Harris Family
Jessica McComb
Liz Dixon
Jeff Cody
Garrett Hinnant
Janice Murphy
Dorothy Webster (In Hughston Rehab Center Phenix City - would like visitors)
Doug Martin
Jameson Miers
Andi Smith
John Halmrast
Michael Butler
Andy Hubbard
Anthony Cox
For those who are in mourning
The Nordin Family on the death of Larry's Mother.
The Butzon Family on the death of Chris' Mother
The Tomlin Family on the death of Bert's brother
For the Hammonds Family on the death of Melissa's Grandmother
For the Tranmer Family on the death of Alyssa's Father.
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
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
1 Anne Simpson
3 Marilyn Vida
5 Chris Price
6 Ansley Butzon Shelley Butzon
11 Julie Nordin Wesley Brown
12 Sidney Evans
14 Jan Pylant
18 Bill Eidson
19 June Wood
22 Terry Caudill
24 Beth Brown
25 Kay Faircloth Rebecca Crowley
28 Caroline Queener
31 Peggy Martin
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!
FEBRUARY
26 Barbara & Bill Bradley
MARCH
18 Kenny & Terri Townsend
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Men's Group Dinner
The St. Nicholas Men's Group will continue to meet on the third Tuesday of every month for dinner beginning again in March.
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FOCUS is conducting a shoe drive, collecting gently worn shoes to help support micro enterprise programs in impoverished nations such as Haiti, Ghana and Nicarauga. The shoes are sent to people who go through a free training program teaching them how to run their own business selling shoes.
Please bring the shoes to FOCUS in Hamilton. This shoe drive will also help fund the FOCUS Food Bank.
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In This Issue
Steward of the Month
Visioning Survey Results
Lenten Meditations
Lenten Evenings
Family Worship at St. Nicholas
Adult Formation
Message from Children's Committee
SNICK
Book Study Group
Second Saturdays
Safeguarding God's Children
Get to Know Your Parish Family
Volunteer Schedule
Lectionary Readings
Prayers
Birthdays & Anniversaries
Men's Group Dinner
FOCUS Shoe Drive
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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 bi-weekly by
St. Nicholas Episcopal Church.
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Church Directory Being Updated
Patty Hamilton is getting 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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Thank you, St. Nicholas family, for your active involvement in our parish.
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