e-mmanuel e-letter

December 14, 2023

The Third Sunday of Advent

10:30 Bulletin with Readings ~CLICK HERE

Four of our current Vestry members will be completing their terms at year-end: Hart Roberts, Jerry Sullivan, Katie Terrell and Susan Wilson. A new Vestry class of four members will take office in January for a three-year term. At the 2023 Annual Parish Meeting on January 7, 2024, each voting member of Emmanuel will have an opportunity to vote for new members.

The current Vestry will be nominating a slate for your consideration: Weyman Johnson, Bob Davis, Nancy McDuff, and Eric NeSmith. Each of these persons is actively and widely involved in serving our Parish and brings experience that the Vestry believes will be very beneficial to The Rev. Katie in her first few years here. Weyman, Bob and Nancy have served on our Vestry previously, and Eric served at his former parish in North Carolina. We will be sending out bios on the four candidates in a few weeks.

Right now, we are beginning the open nomination period. If you would like to be considered for the Vestry and want to be included in the voting at this year’s annual meeting, please contact The Rev. Katie no later than Friday, December 15.

According to our Bylaws, a Vestry member must meet the following criteria:

·      They must be at least 18 years of age,

·      They must have made and maintained a financial pledge to the parish in each of the past two years, and

·      They must be a communicant in good standing, which means they are a member of Emmanuel and have received Holy communion at least three times in the preceding year.

We are blessed to have a parish that overflows with talented and dedicated members. Thank you for all that you do for Emmanuel.

The Vestry

See the website at emmanuelathens.org for a complete list of current Vestry members by class year.

December 16, Saturday

5:30 pm Blue Christmas Holy Eucharist (Chapel)

December 17, Sunday

8:30 am Holy Eucharist

9:15 am Coffee Hour

9:30 am Adult Formation, Birth Stories of Jesus, presented by

Edward Bolen (Chapel)

10:15 am Nursery Opens (Upper Level)

10:30 am Lessons & Carols with Holy Eucharist

12:00 pm – 2:00 pm Natural Spirituality (Library)

12:30 pm Holy Eucharist (Spanish)

1:30 pm Choir Practice (Spanish)

4:00 pm Brotherhood of St. Andrew (LL Coventry Classroom)

December 18, Monday

10:00 am Bible Study (LL Coventry)

December 20, Wednesday

12:15 pm Healing Service w/Eucharist (Chapel)

6:00 pm Holy Eucharist (Spanish)

7:00 pm Choir Practice

December 23, Saturday

5:30 pm Holy Eucharist (Chapel)

Christmas Eve, December 24, Sunday

*8:30 am Service Resumes January 13

10:15 am Nursery Open

10:30 am Holy Eucharist (4th Sunday of Advent)

12:30 pm Holy Eucharist (Spanish, 4th Sunday of Advent)

2:45pm Nursery Open

3:00 pm Nativity Pageant & Holy Eucharist

4:45 pm Nursery Open

5:30 pm Holy Eucharist (5:00 pm Prelude)

11:00 pm Holy Eucharist (10:30 Prelude)

Christmas Day, December 25, Monday

10:30 am Holy Eucharist

12:30 pm Holy Eucharist (Spanish)

Parish Office Closed

December 26, Tuesday

Parish Office Closed

December 27, Wednesday

*12:15 pm Healing Service Resumes January 10

Parish Office Closed

December 30, Saturday

*5:30 pm Service Resumes January 6

New Year’s Eve, December 31, Sunday,

*8:30 am Service Resumes January 13

10:30 am Holy Eucharist

12:30 pm Holy Eucharist (Spanish)

New Year’s Day, January 1, Monday

Parish Office Closed

January 3, Wednesday

*12:15 pm Healing Service Resumes January 10

Epiphany, January 6, Saturday

5:30 pm Holy Eucharist & Burning of the Greens

January 7, Sunday

*8:30 am Service Resumes January 13

10:30 am Holy Eucharist

11:30 am Annual Parish Meeting (Common Room)

12:30 pm Holy Eucharist (Spanish)

 *Note changes to service schedule

You may buy tickets online: 

https://www.familypromiseathens.org/donate-now 

Thrift House Volunteer Potluck Lunch

Leah Goodwin, Manager of the Thrift House, and the crew of dedicated volunteers, joined with Emmanuel clergy and staff to celebrate the wonderful outreach mission of the Thrift House. Thank you to all our Thrift House volunteers!

We will be hiring for the Director of Finance the next few weeks. If you know of someone who may be interested in this role, please find the job description HERE.  

Linda Backelant, Carol Bowles, John Brewer, Peggy Christa, Robert Coleman, Mickey Coleman, Kay Coussoule, Bob Cunningham, Christine Dargie, Stephen Dixon, Anna Dyer, Edwin Rosario, Walles Elves, George Erwin, Walker Fielder, Aidan Guzman, Bryan Ferguson, Christy Hall, Charlese Howard, Leandra Hull, Balfour Hunnicutt, Tony Long, Nancy Kenerly, Sandra Ludwig, Michelle Mairesse, Tiara Martin, Michaelyn, Olin McCullough, Charlie Morazan, John Northcutt, The Family of Mary Anne O’Neal, Lou Perno, Megan Phillips, Norma Pylant, Mazarian Quigley, Shannon Rainey, Howard Richards, Amelia Brooks Roy, Ansley Roy, Nick Roy, Scott Shaw, David Smith, Elizabeth Taylor, Jennifer Taylor, Renee Toro, Reynaldo Toro, Betsy Turner, Midge Wade, Veronica White, Peg Wood, JoAnn Yates. 

If you would like to add someone to the prayer list, call the church office or email Anna with the name.

Melissa Marks, Stephen Ingle, Samantha Nickerson, Laura Harrison, Gregory McIntyre, Richard Swann, Douglas Brown, AnnJoye McLeod, Paula Boohaker, Georgia Patterson, Gael Williams, Jason Baglin.

If you, or someone you know, would like to receive the Eucharist at home, please call or email the parish office.

 Items of particular need this week are dry noodles, snacks (pretzels, chips, granola bars) and cold cereal. Donations may be left in the basket in the Narthex. 

The Emmanuel Chapter of the Brotherhood of St. Andrew will meet in the Emmanuel Coventry Room on December 17th at 4 pm. We invite and encourage all the men of Emmanuel to join us in this rewarding ministry, and one may phone Andy Simmonds at (706) 461-3145 for more information.