Festival of Lessons and Carols!

You are cordially invited to our Festival of Lessons and Carols, December 19, 2010 at 6:00pm!

The choir of St. Nicholas has been working very hard under the tutelage of music director Sam Roney to provide a spiritually enriching and beautiful sound to bring you into the Christmas season. We will hear 9 Lessons from Scripture and many favorite carols, choir anthems, and instrumental music. There will be music for organ, trumpet, and flute.

This is St. Nicholas’ gift to the community, so please invite friends, neighbors, and family to the event.

This Past Weekend In Pics

There was a lot going on at St. Nicholas this past weekend. Luckily, we had some cameras handy and captured some shots.

First, on Thursday evening, Sheila Dixon invited folks over to her house for a delicious dinner and some Lobsterfest preparations. The group made hand fans to hand out at Lobsterfest in case it gets hot, which is has the last few years. It was a great group who engaged in some great conversation as they worked. Many hands make short work, so before we knew it, we were done! Another group wrapped silverware on Saturday at the church, but we didn’t get any pictures of them. There has been a lot of hard work that has gone into Lobsterfest, and one of the best things is the new friendships that have been made! Thanks to Lynn Hall for these pictures, and for everyone who came out to work on the fans and the silverware.

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Hymn Festival With Bruce Neswick

This Sunday, September 12,  2010 at 5:00 PM at Trinity Episcopal Church, 1130 1st Avenue, Columbus, Ga., everyone is invited to a Hymn Festival!

What is a “Hymn Festival?” It is a celebration of the great songs of the Church. (That’s Church with a capital “C” meaning the Church Universal, not one denomination.) In the context of the Nicene Creed Bruce Neswick will take us through the church year - Advent to Pentecost - with scripture readings and hymn elaborations. The congregation will sing everything except two anthems of Bruce’s. The Mass Choir, including our very own St. Nicholas Choir, will add interest with original descants, re-harmonization’s and use of instruments. There will be great old hymns and some new ones that Bruce has written and are in the Episcopal Hymnal.

Bruce Neswick accompanied the St. Bartholomew’s Choir in Legacy. He was at St. Philip’s in Atlanta and now Director of Music at the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine in NYC. He is collegial, charming, has a wonderful fresh harmonic sense, an imaginative improviser and … he can play up a storm. You will love him. This is a great opportunity to see/hear/watch one of the leading Church musicians working today.

Choir Rehearsal Starts Wednesday

Don’t forget! Choir starts up again this Wednesday at 6:30pm, under the direction of St. Nicholas’ Director of Music, Sam Roney. Now’s a great time to jump on board to this wonderful ministry! Come sing a new song to the Lord! For more information, contact Sam at samroney@stnicholashamilton.org.

I’m the TAPlain

Since my involvement in the Thompson-Pound Art Program, I haven’t been really sure about my official title. This year, I was finally dubbed “the TAPlain.”

That’s really what I was…a TAP chaplain. My role was to be present in the midst of the program, helping where I needed to help, guiding where I needed to guide, and shepherding where I need to shepherd. It’s about the easiest and most rewarding job one could have at such a program. Read more

Thank God For Camelbaks!

It’s been a while since I posted about my weekly hikes. With the exception of vacation last week, I have been diligent in my weekly discipline. I still am amazed at the beauty of our Pine Mountain Trail and how much fun it is to hike on it, while at the same time, serving as my de facto labyrinth path on which I pray regularly.

Today I went on the 3 1/2 mile trek around the East End Loop, which starts at the Rocky Point parking lot and includes the White Candle and Beaver Pond Trails. It’s a great hike with a great overlook called “Odie’s Overlook.” This was after an early morning in Columbus at TAP, which I’m doing all week. Today we learned about prayer in the Hindu religion, how to make challah from the Jewish tradition, and banged on drums, as we focus on being “People of Peace.” Even on the first day, you can see the children laughing and playing, creating new relationships and learning about the cultures and traditions of one another. Read more

Pentecost at St. Nicholas

The Holy Spirit was in full sight on May 23, which was Pentecost Sunday. The congregation celebrated by wearing red to commemorate the liturgical color of the day. The choir began the service with the anthem Spirit of the Living God, and later sang Every Time I Feel the Spirit at the Offertory. All the music Sam prepared was great! We brought out our “dove” and “flame” kites which symbolized the Holy Spirit zooming into the presence of the gathered disciples. Bobo Morgan once again hung our gigantic Pentecost banners from the front of the church. After the service, we released red balloons into the sky, as we recalled the Spirit’s guidance as we all go out to spread God’s love into the world. It was a fantastic day!

Special thanks to Lynn Hall for capturing Pentecost in the pictures below.

Your Week at St. Nick, 7 - 13 March 2010

Sunday, 7 March 2010

The Third Sunday in Lent

8:30am Holy Eucharist

9:30am Breakfast/Fellowship (Breakfast costs only $3!)

9:45am Adult/Youth/Children’s Education

11:00am Holy Eucharist

Usher/Greeter

8:30am Bobo and Barbara Morgan

11:00am John and Charlotte Winsness

Reader

8:30am Halmrast

11:00am P. Martin/Avery

LEM

8:30am L. Dixon

11:00am M. Horne

Altar Guild

Hinnant/Nordin

Flower Guild

Bert Tomlin

Sunday School Teacher

Graham Horne

Cider

L. Dixon

Acolytes

Table

Cody

Crucifer

Cody

Gospel

Cody

Offertory

Austin

Torch

Austin/Ivy

Tuesday, 9 March

6:30pm Lenten Dinner and Speaker

Mary Jane Watkins looks at the development of early Christianity and the interior journey of the women during that time.

Wednesday, 10 March

3:00pm St. Nicholas Quilters

6:30-7:45pm Choir Rehearsal

Thursday, 11 March

6:30-8:00pm

Strategic Planning Committee

Saturday, 13 March

9:30-11:30am Flower Guild Training

1:00pm Web Site Training

Happy Birthday!

3/1       Anne Simpson

3/1       Nan Jones

3/5       Chris Price

3/6       Ansley Butzon

3/6       Shelley Butzon

3/8       Gabe Lane

3/11     Wes Brown

3/11     Julie Nordin

3/13     Mark Kurtz

3/14     Jan Pylant

3/16     Hal Armstrong

3/19     Michael Brooks

3/20     Talbot Brooks

3/24     Beth Brown

3/27     Dave Halmrast

3/31     Peggy Martin

Happy Anniversary!

3/18     Kenny & Terri Townsend

Frozen Ponds

Hiking in the cold…

Last week, I fell off the hiking wagon and decided that studying at Huddle House was a better idea than hiking. This was due to freezing temperatures that I’m sure our northern brothers and sisters would laugh at. Harris County schools closed last Friday due to threats of frost and icy roads. Laugh all you want, but this is Georgia, and that’s just what we do down here.

Before I left, I layered up, as if I was about to embark on some Himalayan expedition. I think I had about four layers before I walked out the door. But I was thankful as the bitter wind stung my face. I was especially thankful for my dear wife who had gotten me new wool hiking socks for Christmas!

I decided to take it a little easy since I was practically trekking the planet Hoth. I did a short section of the Pine Mountain Trail between the Gardens Overlook parking area to Buzzards Roost parking area and back which was about 4 miles. When I left, it was 22 degrees. Read more

Music Notes from Sam

Advent/ Christmas 2009

Happen to miss Christmas Eve and/or Lessons & Carols at St. Nicholas Church? Well, you missed a treat! The music by our new choir, guest singers & special soloists certainly uplifted our High Holy Days worship experiences!  Joyful music of the season soared through our beautifully decorated church.

Thanks to each you who participated in our special services during Advent and Christmas. Your congregational singing brought our music up to an even higher level of celebration! I hope our Allen Organ (“the organ transplant”), will continue to inspire you to sing joyfully in weekly worship!

Please extend a word of thanks to our St. Nicholas Choir members.  Their faithful commitment went above and beyond “the call of duty” during December. Several extra rehearsals were needed to prepare our seasonal music. The choir enthusiastically shared their time and talents in preparation for Christmas 2009. Read more

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