Gotta Have Faith-Episcopal 101 This Thursday

Episcopal 101 Thursday, June 16 6:30pm

This month’s Episcopal 101 will focus on the concept of faith. How do you get faith? What do you do with it once you get it? Can you increase faith, or does God give you a set amount? Join us as we talk about our faith!

Are you new to St. Nicholas? Are you new to the Episcopal style of faith and worship? Are you a long-time Episcopalian who needs a jumpstart on why we do things the way we do them? Then you need to join our Episcopal 101 class! This monthly class is a perfect place to learn more about our church and what makes us unique as Episcopalians. Each month, we explore different topics that are important to us. If you are thinking about becoming an Episcopalian, this class is very important. If you want more information, please contact Fr. Jeff at fatherjeff@stnicholashamilton.org.

Got Easter Eggs?

It’s almost Easter!

Episcopal 101 Change This Month

Episcopal 101, Tuesday, March 15, 6:30pm: NOTE CHANGE OF NIGHT!

Scripture is vital to who we are as Episcopalians. The Bible is more than just ancient tales, it’s a rich library that tells the story of God interacting with his beloved Creation. In many ways, we are continuing that story today. But it’s important to read the Bible on our journey with God. In this month’s Episcopal 101, we will start by looking at the Old Testament, which for some Christians is a difficult part of the Bible. Fr. Tom Jones will be with us as well to lead the discussion. Episcopal 101 is for all newcomers, long-timers, and anyone who has questions! If you want more information, please contact Fr. Jeff.

Preparing For Lent

Lent is still a few weeks away, but perhaps you’re wondering why this season of the church is so important. Why focus on our sinfulness? Why do we sing such somber music? Why do we give up things for Lent? As you prepare for your own journey through Lent, you won’t want to miss our Adult Forum this Sunday, February 20 at 9:45am for a pre-Lenten session to explore this holy season. Led by Fr. Jeff.

Discover the Holy Family

Join Father Tom in an Advent Adventure

Adult Formation Class beginning November 28, 9:45am

Advent is an exciting season. It spells new beginnings and hope for me. I know that our culture tries to manage two overlaying stories. The story of Santa and the story of the Christ child. I have to struggle sometimes to keep my focus.

Fr. Jeff has invited me to lead the Adult Christian Education in Advent. Beginning on November 28th, we will explore each person from the Holy Family. I would like to peel back the plastic wrap that is often found around this family. What was it like to be an unmarried pregnant teenager? Who was this person, Joseph, and how did he shape the life of the boy Jesus? How important is the creedal statement that we believe in the virgin birth? If it’s that important, why did the Gospel of John and Mark not include it in their account?

This 4-week course will give us all a fresh appreciation of the life and journey of the Holy Family. I will offer my insights for the first 15 minutes and the balance of our time will be open for a healthy discussion.

Advent is the springboard for knowing and experiencing the life, joy and hope of our faith. Join me in this Advent Adventure.

Fr. Tom Jones

Regular Sunday Morning Schedule Returns

This Sunday, August 8, we will return to our regular Sunday morning schedule!

8:30am Holy Eucharist: This service is for our early-risers. Unlike many other church’s early services, though, it is a service of Holy Eucharist with music, although we will occasionally omit a hymn or two based on time. We have almost identical services at St. Nicholas to ensure unity among the members of the church. Just because you get up early doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have the full worship experience!

9:15am Breakfast: Last year, we started a very successful breakfast in between the services. Under the leadership of Sheila Dixon, families can sign up to provide a continental breakfast once every few months. This gives an opportunity for people from both services to gather and catch up with one another. What better way to do so than over food? Jesus did that all the time! So either stay after the early service or come a little early before Christian Formation and the late service to get a light breakfast and some excellent fellowship.

9:45am Christian Formation classes/Choir Warm-Up: We used to call this just “Sunday School,” but then adults starting thinking it was just for kids! Christian formation is a life-long process, and we offer numerous opportunities for children, teenagers, and adults to grow in their faith and get to know one another better!

• Nursery: Infants to 3-year-olds can enjoy some play time in the nursery, tended by the wonderful Kim Stokes. There are toys, videos, and books for our youngest members, and Ms. Kim will also take children out to the playground if the weather cooperates. Kim is available to watch children from Breakfast until after the 11:00 service.

• Sunday School: 3-to-9-year-olds are invited for a fun-filled class with games, crafts, and biblical learning. They are met each week in the Sunday School room by one of many teachers who help kids know that God loves them and cares for them. The children have Sunday School until just before the 11:00 service, at which point parents can gather them to sit with them in church, or they may sit on the front row with a “Shepherd” for worship. Either way, we believe that having children in church is vitally important to their faith development, so be sure to teach your child how to worship. It’s OK to take them out if they get fussy and bring them back when they calm down. If you have questions or need some help, please contact Fr. Jeff. If you’re interested in becoming a Sunday School teacher, contact Michelle Moody. This Sunday will be our Sunday School kick-off, with special snacks for our kids!

• Teen Class: Youth who are 10-years-old and up are invited to join Terri and Kenny Townsend and Heather Roper for a class just for them. They’ll talk about issues and challenges that are pertinent to their lives as well as have fun. This semester, the Teen Class will be focusing on prayer, and why it’s important (or is it?), and what ways Christians can pray. Usually, this class meets in Fr. Jeff’s office, but this Sunday, the group will meet from 9:15 to 10:30 at the home of Fr. Jeff and Molly Jackson (323 Hill Street, Hamilton) for their own breakfast and catching-up time.

• Adult Class: Everyone else, young adults and up, are invited to meet in the left ante room (left of the altar) for biblical and theological reflection. This year, we will do a series of classes in “blocks.” The first block will be taught by Fr. Jeff and is called “Faith & Finances.” We’ll meet for 5 weeks on this topic, ranging from “What Happened to the Economy?” to “Unemployment” to “Helping Your Family Through Family Stress.” So grab a cup of coffee and come as we talk about issues that matter and how our faith can help guide us through.
• Choir Warm-Up: In the nave, our Music Director Sam Roney meets with the choir to warm up for the music at the 11:00 service. Regular choir rehearsal is on Wednesdays at 6:30pm, but even if you can’t make that rehearsal, Sam welcomes you to come and sing with the choir. This group is always laughing as well as singing because Sam keeps choir fun, and worshipful. If you’d like to learn more about singing in the choir, contact Sam.

11:00am Holy Eucharist: This service is for our late-risers (although we hope that you’ll come for breakfast and Christian formation)! This is a full worship service, at which the Choir processes and leads the singing, our acolytes process in with crosses, torches, and other implements, children are invited to sit on the front row, and youth and adult readers read the lessons. Quite often, Fr. Jeff will gather the children together for a brief children’s sermon. After the 11:00 service, there are refreshments served for more fellowship.

So it’s a full morning of worship, education, and fellowship at St. Nicholas! Now’s a good time to jump back in if you’ve been gone, or if you haven’t visited with us before! It’s a new beginning!

Join Me At TAP!

As some of you know, I am involved with the Thompson-Pound Art Program (TAP), a program sponsored by CVEM (Chattahoochee Valley Episcopal Ministries) for children ages 6 through 11. It brings children from different economic, social, and religious backgrounds to give them an experience of learning from those different from them in hopes to build a more peaceful future. It’s all art-related, including crafts, music, dance/movement, etc. and is a TON of fun. The groups of children rotate through various stations throughout the day and all learn a lot and have a great time.

Contemplating Children & the Shepherd

Last weekend, a group of us from St. Nicholas went up to Atlanta for the annual Ministry Fair. The Ministry Fair is a wonderful resource to all of us in the Diocese of Atlanta. There are a host of workshops ranging from spirituality to finances, from adult education to children’s curricula.

One of the workshops I went to was on a program called Catechesis of the Good Shepherd. I went primarily as a parent more than a priest, but found this program stimulated both natures. I tried to get a program like this going at my last parish, but was not successful in getting people around the vision. At the time, I also didn’t have children, so my interest level might not have been at it’s highest. Read more