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The E-Newsletter from Saint Nicholas Episcopal Church
69 Mobley Road, Hamilton, GA 31811
November 29th- December 5th, 2017
Sunday Service: 10:00 am
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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.
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Come and join us this Sunday, December 3rd for our last service with Fr. Jeff.
We will have ONE service at 10:00 am
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Dear friends,
This is my last week in the office, and as I sit here at my desk, the sun is going down behind the church. Allen Levi once told me I have the best office view in all of Harris County (he said this when he was probate judge and his office was in the basement of the courthouse). He was definitely right about that.
Saying goodbye is always the hardest part of a relationship. I will always hold you all in my heart, even as I stand from a distance and watch you move into the next chapter of your common life. Some have asked about future weddings, funerals, baptisms, or pastoral conversations. Unfortunately for me, those things will be handled by your future clergy, unless he or she invites me back to participate. But don't look at this like "you're dead to me" (as one person suggested), but that our roles are now changed.
You allowed me to come here with no experience as a rector, and only 5 years of experience as a priest. Looking back, I had no clue what I was doing! You probably knew that better than I did, I suspect, but you never let on. Being at St. Nicholas taught me what it truly means to be a parish priest, with all the joys and laughter and pain and sorrow. I recall having Epiphany parties at our house where we were plastered on the Harris County Journal with our beer bottles and wine glasses. I remember clapping and dancing to the music of Christian Valley's Praise Team. I remember the baby showers you hosted for us. I remember the hugs I received when my father died. I remember sitting at the bedsides of your loved one as they were dying. I remember holding you when you were at the end of your rope. I remember praying with you, disagreeing with you, laughing with you, and serving alongside you.
So many rich memories. Thank you for those.
I can't wait to see what you become. They say that a church is much like a human being in terms of its growth. If that's true, St. Nicholas is only a teenager, still growing, still figuring out who you are, still looking with hope toward who you're called to be. If Beverley was the midwife and nursemaid, perhaps I was the goofy, first-time dad who drove you to practice, trying to mold you into who God is calling you to be. I will always love St. Nicholas. I am so proud of you and grateful for all you have taught me.
Please make plans to join us this Sunday at 10:00am for my final service and stay for brunch afterwards. Many of you have asked for our address in Carrollton. We are lucky that we get to move into a house the church owns while we wait for our house here to sell. The address is 409 Cedar Street, Carrollton, GA 30117. We will be moving on December 21 and I plan for my first service at St. Margaret's to be on Christmas Eve.
Life is short...
Peace,
Jeff+
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Please join us;
ride on the St. Nicholas firetruck!
Saturday, December 3
Pine Mountain Christmas Parade
at 2:00 pm
Hamilton Christmas Parade
at 6:00 pm
Saturday, December 2nd at 2 pm the Christmas parade starts in
Pine Mountain, please dress for the weather and gather at least
30 minutes in advance with our St. Nicholas contingent. We will gather behind the Pine Mountain Fire Department at 301 Chipley Street, Pine Mountain.
And plan, if you can, to continue on (or join in as you can) for the 5
pm Hamilton parade;
gather at 4:30 in the parking lot of the Hamilton Alternative school, 757 Carver Cir, Hamilton.
But....just so you won't have to spend all that between downtime filling Christmas stockings,
plan to gather between parades at St. Nicholas for hot chocolate and
cookies and help trim our Narthex Christmas tree! Maybe even sing (an Advent) carol or two.
Let's get out the holiday gear and stoke up the spirit- see you there!
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Our next lunch bunch will be on December 17 after the 11:00am service at the Piedmont Dining Room at Callaway Garden's Lodge & Spa. No entry fee required! No agenda! Just good food with good people! Come join us!
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St. Nicholas Writes
Our writing group, is available to help any parishioner with a writing task of any kind in individual or small-group conferences. Our members have varied backgrounds and can offer practical, positive advice on how to improve your work. We also give critiques and feedback on academic pieces. The service is free with donations to the church welcome. To take advantage of this service, please email Dianne Armstrong at the address below for a copy of the application for tutoring, to be filled out before your appointment. (
sbdi2@aol.com
).
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Outreach Ministry Opportunties
Mondays at 2:00pm
Holy Eucharist at Harris County Jail,
We are in NEED of 2-3 more volunteers to go with us to the jail, especially on the 3rd, 4th, and 5th Mondays of the month. If you would like to help, please contact Katherine Johnson.
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Gospel of Mark continues!
Our Adult Bible Study class on Mark's Gospel will continue starting December 10 at 9:45am.
We will meet December 17, then take a couple of weeks off for the holidays and resume on January 14. David Johnson will continue leading the discussion.
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Share the Warmth of Christmas
St. Nicholas will be partnering with FOCUS, as we have in years past, to bring the "Warmth of Christmas" to families in need. Money will be collected during Advent to help share the cost of purchasing propane to heat the homes of those who are unable to afford it. Often choices need to be made by these families between having electricity, heating, medicine, food and other necessities.
Please use the "Share the Warmth" envelopes located in the pews to make your contribution to this most worthy cause. Checks should be made out to St. Nicholas with "Share the Warmth" indicated on the memo line. Cards for gifts in memory or honor of someone are available in the narthex.
Long after toys are broken, children and their families will be kept warm through your generous gift.
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Aside from regular services, St. Nicholas is out and about visiting parish members and community.
LEV's visit hospital or home-bound parish members, family members, Bright Way Personal Care Home, and Harris County Jail. Other places would love to have visits from us. There is a big need to bring God's love to the community through Eucharist and pastoral care. LEV's are trained to give Eucharist and provide pastoral care.
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LEV Training
Another wonderful opportunity to show our love and compassion in the community has presented itself and as usual many hands are needed.
Roosevelt Place in Warm Springs currently has seventeen residents and has asked us to bring communion to there staff and residents the third Sunday of each month.
In addition Oak View Nursing Home in Waverly Hall has also invited us to give communion to their residents. They have around 100 residents and we will give communion to them every fourth Tuesday of the month.
Martha Dimon and Bert Tomlin will be taking the lead on visiting these homes and will welcome anyone to join them each month.
The scope is great so please pray about whether you should be a part of this ministry. If you would like to join us please contact the
Martha or
Bert and schedule the necessary training.
You will be much more blessed than the residents of these homes.
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Bright Way Services
"We took church today to Brightway Personal Care Home.
My wonderful friend, Bert Tomlin, gave a beautiful homily on letting go and letting God do what he does.
I love Sundays with these seniors.
Some of them don't know why we are there but they seem to know we love them." ~Linda Sawyer
Contact
Bert if you would like to participate.
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Our choir rehearses on Wednesdays from 6:30-7:30pm.
Choir warm up will be at 10:20am on Sundays.
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Another Chance to Help Our Community
Donate food to fill backpacks. We need nourishing foods such as cheese sticks, applesauce, tuna, granola bars and ravioli. The snacks help ensure that the students - whose families struggle to afford
food - eat well over the weekend.
If you'd like to help out with BackSnacks
Contact Grant Flynn at 706-457-9531 to volunteer.
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1st- Molly Jackson
5th- Barbara Walker
9th- Austin Hubbard & Jeb Brown
10th- Larry Nordin
13th- Chris Butzon
16th- John Winsness & Lynne Taylor
18th- Blanton Whitworth
19th- Samantha Dixon
26th- Sheri Cody
28th- Mike Knoblauch
DECEMBER ANNIVERSARIES
17th-
Erick & Danielle Whitworth
18th-
Dave & Sue Halmrast
26th-
Bill & Suzy Eidson
29th-
John & Rose Brent
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Please take a moment, and say a prayer for...
Bert
Charlene
Brittney
Danielle
Emily
Jacob
Jim & Becky
Haiden
Kin
Wallace & Marianne
Jerry
Diane
Cindy
Arden
Charlotte
Kathryn
Maya
Chris
John
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Lectionary Readings
If you would like to see the readings for Sunday,
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In This Issue
Fr. Jeff
Vestry Minutes
Invitation to Farewell Brunch
Christmas Parades
2017 Christmas Services
Help Zion
Lunch Bunch
Writer's Group
Outreach Opportunities
Gospel of Mark
Share the Warmth
Lay Ministry
LEV Training
Brightway
Choir
BackSnacks
Birthdays & Anniversaries
Prayers
Lectionary Readings
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Links (in alphabetical order)
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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 weekly by
St. Nicholas Episcopal Church.
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And when you do, be sure to subscribe to
Website Updates
.
You will find the block on the bottom of the home page.
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St. Nicholas Vestry 2017
Sue Halmrast,
Senior Warden and Outreach
706-663-9198
Bob Hamilton,
Junior Warden and Hospitality
210-243-9084
Bill Caudill, Building & Grounds
706-628-5792
Drucye Cox, Communications
706-615-6791
Martha Dimon, Stewardship & Finance
706-587-3243
Phebe Robertson, Parish Life
706-681-2964
Steve Morse, Co-Chair Parish Life
706-527-2225
Rebecca Crowley, Children and Youth Formation
706-570-6429
Jennifer Milton, Pastoral Care
706-580-4035
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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
- 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, indi
cate that as well.
Feel free to use a favorite picture. Just send it in jpeg form to contact@stnicholashamilton.org.
Mobile App Installation Instructions
This is a free app that allows members to sync your church's directory to their iPhone, iPad, iPad Mini, Android device or Kindle Fire.
Members will be able to view the church and staff information, as well as search and view family members. Members will also be able to call, email or text if a phone number or email address is available on the church, staff or family details. Any changes that are generated on Instant Church Directory Online will automatically download to each member's devices, ensuring they always have the latest information.
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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.
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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.
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GoFundMe Campaign for
Zion Church
For our next phase of fundraising for historic
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.
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If you or your 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.
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