Stay Straight & Peddle Hard

On Tuesday afternoon, Molly and the kids sat on the front porch. Our oldest, Tai, was sitting with her reading a book. Tai was also watching the neighborhood kids ride their bikes up and down Hill Street. Suddenly, Tai said, “Mom, I’m ready to start learning to ride a bike.” Read more

Palm Sunday & Holy Week at St. Nicholas

Join us on Sunday morning, April 17, for ONE SERVICE at 10:00am as we kick off our Holy Week with the Celebration of Holy Eucharist and the Blessing of the Palms for Palm Sunday. Palm Sunday, also known as Passion Sunday, is the day that we celebrate Christ’s triumphant entry into Jerusalem, and like those who ushered Jesus in on that very day, so too do we wave our palm leaves and sing our “Hosannas” to celebrate our Lord and King.

“Hosanna” (pronounced “ho-SAHN-a,” not “hose-anna”) in the Hebrew language means “O save now!” and we invite Christ to come and do that for us again as he has done so many times before. However, Palm Sunday is not without it’s mystery. While we are jubilant in our praises during the Liturgy of the Palms, after our procession, we enter into the church to hear once again the Passion of our Lord.

There is a tension between celebrating Jesus in one moment, and then shouting “Crucify him!” in the next breath. Thus is our human condition as we start Holy Week. Before we arrive at the beauty of Easter, we must walk once again with Jesus to the cross. We invite you to experience that tension and engage that holy mystery. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!

Monday, April 18: Holy Eucharist at 6:30pm with acoustic music by Fr. Jeff.

Tuesday, April 19: Holy Eucharist at 6:30pm with acoustic music by Fr. Jeff.

Wednesday, April 20: Stations of the Cross at 6:30pm led by the Acolytes of St. Nicholas

Thursday, April 21: Maundy Thursday Holy Eucharist at 6:30pm with Footwashing and the Stripping of the Altar

Friday, April 22: Good Friday Eucharist from the Reserved Sacrament at 6:30pm

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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

VBS Was Spicy Hot!

Most of the time, a weekday at St. Nicholas is pretty quiet. Dorothy may be there a few times a week tending to the books. I’m in and out depending on what I’ve got going on. Every once in a while, if I’m sitting in my office someone will pop in and sit down and chat. I’m an extrovert (you didn’t notice?), and find that many of my days at St. Nicholas are pretty introverted, so I love having visitors. Read more

Take Up Your Stick & Follow Me

Today, I completed my third (or is it fourth?) journey on the Pine Mountain Trail. The trail furthest east, in Meriweather County, is off of Highway 85/alt. 27 at the WJSP Tower near Warm Springs. This is one of my favorite trails, as it has a number of waterfalls and lots of rocks to crawl on. The pinnacle of my trek today was the Cascade Falls, which pours into a very cold pool, which is always good to dip your feet into on a blazing hot day.

But I came across something really neat as I approached the trail today. At the trail head, leaning against the stone markers that stand guard, were a collection of walking sticks. Obviously, these were left by fellow hikers, who know darn well that you’re better off with a stick in your hand on this trail. Not only for hiking up some steep hills and shimmying up rocks, but also for protection, lest you come across a rattlesnake, which has been known to happen on this trail.

What an act of hospitality! It gives you that sense of camaraderie with hikers that have come before you, and when you leave a stick for the next person, it connects you with those who will come after you. In leaving a walking stick at the trailhead, you not only make the journey easier for folks, but you also help them learn from the dangers you have come across in your journey. Read more

Hiking Priest’s Movie Review: Avatar

Last Sunday night, I took the Youth Group to see the new movie Avatar. James Cameron’s 3-D, sci-fi epic, Avatar is a special effects masterpiece, 15 years in the making. The computer-generated images are a visual delight, unlike anything I’ve ever seen before (and I’ve seen a lot of science fiction). While the special effects are multi-layered and intricate, so too, are the themes and messages inherent in the film.

Much of what I heard about Avatar was mixed. While friends and critics hailed the stunning visuals of the film, almost everyone was critical about the plot of the movie. “It’s Dances With Wolves with Smurfs,” was one comment. “How can James Cameron make so much money by stealing Disney’s Pocahontas?” One person even went so far as to mark up the plot of the Disney cartoon and replace it with names from Avatar. Spoiler warning! Read more

What Jesus is NOT…

Ok, just so you all know, I can be pretty irreverent sometimes. I like to think I’m a tasteful irreverent reverend. I find religious humor to be hilarious. When the Church can laugh at itself, then that’s a good sign that we’re healthy and doing God’s will. So, from time to time, I may post something I find for a good laugh.

Back a few years ago, my good friend Jody Grant showed me these series of short videos at a Happening weekend in the Diocese of Georgia. These were done by a church for a class they were teaching on misconceptions of Jesus. These satirical portrayals are supposed to convey how people typically view Jesus, although no one would DARE admit it.

First up…Jesus & the Disciples and a lesson on friendship:

Jesus & the “Rules” of Christianity:

Jesus & Sin:

And my personal favorite–Jesus in the Temple:

Enjoy!