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Feast of the Epiphany and Burning of the Greens
Did you know?
The Epiphany is the manifestation of Christ to the peoples of the earth. The winter solstice was kept on Jan. 6 at some places during the first centuries of the Christian Era. In opposition to pagan festivals, Christians chose this day to celebrate the various manifestations, or "epiphanies," of Jesus' divinity. These showings of his divinity included his birth, the coming of the Magi, his baptism, and the Wedding at Cana where he miraculously changed water into wine. The day was called "The Feast of Lights." Celebration of the Son of God replaced celebration of the sun. Baptisms were done, and a season of preparation was instituted. It was later called Advent.
The solstice was kept on Dec. 25 by the fourth century. Jesus' birth was celebrated on this day in both eastern and western churches. The western church commemorated the coming of the Magi on Jan. 6. The eastern church continued to celebrate the Baptism of our Lord and the Wedding at Cana on Jan. 6. In the east the day was called "Theophany" (manifestation of God).
The coming of the Magi is celebrated on the Feast of the Epiphany, Jan. 6, in the BCP. The Baptism of our Lord is celebrated on the First Sunday after the Epiphany.
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Baptism
Sage is marked as Christ's own forever!
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Our youth attended DYC this past weekend!
Senior DYC Staff: Autumn
Participants: Jillian, Bailey, Liam, and Reece
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"
I am about to do a new thing;
now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?"
(Isaiah 43.19)
Sometimes things stay the same. Sometimes they change. But of one thing we may be assured: if the Holy Spirit is involved, things are going to change. It's simply one of the truths of life in the Spirit. God is constantly proclaiming or whispering or nudging us a little bit or a lot saying---- "Stay awake! I am about to do something new!" And that, my beloved Brothers and Sisters, is the journey of transformation.
One of the places we are seeing this movement and nudging of the Spirit at St. Patrick's is in the strengthening of our One Body---- the building of bonds of affection and mutual ministry between our Sunday ("St. Patrick's") and Wednesday ("Malachi's") congregations. This is important, holy, and exciting work!
What does this mean? And what does it look like?
It means that in the hopes of a faithful and living response to these whisperings and nudgings of the Spirit we are going to run a great experiment:
- The Wednesday 12:15 p.m. service of Holy Eucharist with Healing will transform into a ministry of healing prayer offered in the Nave on Wednesdays, 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., with our Malachi community. Join us to offer prayer for and with our fellow Brothers and Sisters (roughly similar to our Sunday morning prayer ministry by the Baptismal Window). Also, why not join another of God's beloved children for a great Malachi's lunch
- Thursday mornings at 7:30 a.m. we will offer a service of Holy Eucharist with Healing in the chapel. Following the service those who desire will make the sacred pilgrimage over to Panera in Dunwoody for the eighth sacrament of a shared cup of coffee. We are excited to be able to offer an early morning Eucharist for folks before heading off for the work day, as well as the opportunity of simple, wonderful fellowship.
- Wednesday evening programming will shift to Thursday evenings. In recognition and celebration of the very full day so many St. Pat's folks share in ministry on Wednesdays, this move to Thursday evenings will, we hope, honor the importance of rest after a full day's work. It will also enable our beloved choir members to join us for midweek evening programming, without interfering with choir rehearsals.
So here we go! Our daytime shifts begin next week---Healing Prayer in the Nave on Wednesday, January 17, 11:30 a.m
(with no 12:15 Eucharist in the Chapel), and Holy Eucharist with Healing in the Chapel on Thursday, January 18, at 7:30 a.m.
Our Thursday night program begins a week later, on January 25 at 7 p.m., when we will join together for an intimate, candlelit Holy Eucharist, with a communal breaking open of the parables of Jesus.
Please do join us for these opportunities to walk in love with God and one another, as the Spirit continues Her great work of transformation among us.
As always, you are in our hearts and in our prayers.
Fr. Dick and Mo. Julia
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Adult Formation in Epiphany
The Jesus Movement and The Episcopal Way: 1/7-28, 9:15 AM
Our Adult Inquirers Class
Led by Fr. Dick
During the season of Epiphany, adult seekers and those who wish to be received or confirmed into the Episcopal Church at the Bishop's Visitation on 2/4 should join us for a study of Presiding Bishop Curry's book, Following The Way Of Jesus.We will end our class with participation at the Annual Meeting on 1/28, which is St. Patrick's local expression of the worldwide Jesus Movement.
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Annual Meeting and Call for Vestry Nominations
Vestry Elections are coming up on
Sunday, January 28
as part of our Annual Meeting. We will be electing four new vestry members for the 2018-2021 term, as well as a youth vestry member for a one year term.
Nomination forms and qualification details are available at the volunteer desk in the church office or as a PDF
here.
The deadline to submit a nomination form is Sunday, January 14 at noon. Nomination forms must be accompanied by a photo of the nominee. Please email the photo and completed form to Cowen Harter by the January 14 deadline.
Eligibility for the office of vestry member is determined by: Constitution and Canons of the Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Atlanta, Canon 31, Section 6.(d).(1).
"Those qualified for election to the office of Vestry Member shall be as follows: Any confirmed communicant in good standing of the Parish who is not less than eighteen years of age, a regular attendant at the services of the Church in the year preceding election, and known by the Treasurer to have made and fulfilled a stated financial commitment for church support in the year preceding election."
To nominate someone for the office of vestry member, as well as to be eligible to vote in the election, you must be: "confirmed communicant(s)(sic) in good standing not less than sixteen years of age as certified by the Rector or Vicar or the Vestry. Those voters so qualified and being present at the meeting shall constitute a quorum." Canon 31, Section 4.
Candidates please note the following dates:
1/28: Annual Meeting 9-12:30; vestry meeting 6:00 p.m.; staff/vestry dinner,
7-8:30 p.m. (all candidates are invited and welcome to attend the dinner)
2/23-25: Vestry Retreat, Camp Hinton, Hayesville, NC
(also our Parish Sabbath Weekend dates
4/27-29, Forrest Hills Mountain Resort, Dahlonega, GA)
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Final Call
If you have not submitted your pledge for 2018, please do so as we are in need of wrapping up the financials for our upcoming Annual Meeting. If you are still in need of a pledge card, please stop by the office to pick one up or download one
here
.
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St. Patrick's Happenings and Other Tid Bits
Have you ever wondered where you can find paper/hard copies of parish-wide information? In case you were wondering, it can be found on the information table in the narthex. On this table you will find copies of the following:
1. The We
ekly Shamrock
2. Visitor Information Card
3. Pledge Card
4. Synthesis CE - A Lectionary Study Guide following the Revised Common Lectionary
5. And Much More!!!
Please stop by and check it out!
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Save the Dates:
- Parent and Children's Brunch, Saturday, January 20 (10 am - 12 noon)
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SUNDAY
Our nursery is available at 8:45 am. All children/youth classes begin promptly at 9:00 am. Adult formation classes begin promptly at 9:15 am.
CHILDREN/YOUTH CHRISTIAN FORMATION OFFERINGS:
- The Nursery - Room 6
- The Alleluia Class (Kindergarten-2nd Grades) - Room 4A
- The Agape Class (3rd-5th Grades) - Room 7
- The Rites of Passage Class (Rite 13: 6th-7th Grades) - Room 12
- J2A Class (8th-9th Grades) - Room 3
- YEA (10th-12th Grades) - Room 14
ADULT CHRISTIAN FORMATION OFFERINGS:
- Rector's Forum - Parlor: Join us for a lively discussion. The topic changes weekly.
- Scripture Study with Marigold Watson - Room 8: Getting Personal with Scripture.
- Art Community - Room 15: Doing Art Looking Up. Book making and Visio Divina, along with other opportunities.
- Dreams - Library - Room 2: Listening to God
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