Your Week at St. Nick 5 - 11 September 2010
September 2, 2010 by Drucye
Filed under News & Events
Sunday, 5 September
8:30am Holy Eucharist
9:15am Breakfast/Fellowship
9:30am Christian Formation Classes
11:00am Holy Eucharist
Usher/Greeter
8:30am Tom and Sharon Cheatham
11:00am Graham Horne and Jan Pylant
Readers
8:30am Connie Blackmon
11:00am Phebe Robertson/Abbey Avery
LEM
8:30am Connie Blackmon
11:00am Michelle Moody
Altar Guild
Julie Nordin
Flower Guild
Bert Tomlin
Lemonade
Marci Horne
Acolytes
Dalton Avery
Abbey Avery
Libby Horne
Sunday School Teacher
Graham Horne
Tuesday, September 7
6:30pm St. Nicholas Academy:
The Dangerous Act of Worship
Wednesday, 8 September
6:30pm Choir Rehearsal
Thursday, 9 September
6:30pm Lobsterfest Work Session to make fans
at Sheila Dixon’s home. Refreshments served
Saturday, September 11
9:30am-12:00
Lobsterfest Work Session to wrap utensils
at St. Nicholas. Continental breakfast served
Happy Birthday!
September
9/1 Sean Moody
9/1 Larry Correnti
9/2 Drucye Price
9/3 Linda Sawyer
9/8 Sheila Turley
9/8 Clyde Moody
9/21 Joe Torres
9/26 Charlotte Winsness
Happy Anniversary!
September
9/2 Ralph & Camilla Livingston
9/10 Mark & Karen Kurtz
9/30 Doug & Peggy Martin
The Dangerous Act of Worship
September 1, 2010 by fatherjeff
Filed under News & Events
Tuesday Night Adult Education Returns September 7!
In his book, The Dangerous Act of Worship, Mark Labberton asserts that corporate worship shouldn’t merely point us upward toward God, but turn us outward as well, toward our neighbors. He says worship should translate into transformed lives that care for the poor and the oppressed. The Old Testament prophet Micah said to Israel, “What does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8) If worship is the humble walk, where does doing justice and loving mercy fit? What does Sunday worship mean to you come Monday? Let’s talk about it! Mollie Smith will be leading this class on Tuesday nights for 6 weeks starting September 7, at 6:30 pm., to discuss the meaning of worship at St. Nicholas and beyond. You can sign up for the class by visiting www.stnicholashamilton.org/signup or by visiting the bulletin board in the hallway. Copies of the book are $12.00, but are not required to take the class.
Your Week at St. Nick 28 August - 4 September 2010
August 26, 2010 by Drucye
Filed under News & Events
Saturday, 28 August
9:30am Lobsterfest Painting Workshop at St. Nicholas
Sunday, 29 August
8:30am Holy Eucharist/Rev. Donna Gafford preaches/celebrates
9:15am Breakfast/Fellowship
9:30am Christian Formation Classes
11:00am Holy Eucharist/Rev. Donna Gafford preaches/celebrates
Usher/Greeter
8:30am Bobo and Barbara Morgan
11:00am Dave and Sue Halmrast
Readers
8:30am Larry Nordin
11:00am Liz Dixon
LEM
8:30am Katherine Johnson
11:00am Drucye Price
Altar Guild
Liz Dixon
Flower Guild
Linda Sawyer
Lemonade
Peggy Martin
Acolytes
Abby Brown
Sean Moody
Sunday School Teacher
Michelle Moody
Tuesday, August 31
Last day to order CVEM BBQ Butts $20
Wednesday, 1 September
6:30pm Choir Rehearsal
Thursday and Friday, 2 & 3 September
CVEM BBQ Butt pickup at the CVEM House, 1120 Lockwood Ave., Columbus
Happy Birthday!
August
8/31 Nancy Callaway
September
9/1 Sean Moody
9/1 Larry Correnti
9/2 Drucye Price
9/3 Linda Sawyer
9/8 Sheila Turley
9/8 Clyde Moody
9/21 Joe Torres
9/26 Charlotte Winsness
Happy Anniversary!
August
8/29 Gene & Pat Demonet
September
9/2 Ralph & Camilla Livingston
9/10 Mark & Karen Kurtz
9/30 Doug & Peggy Martin
They Said It Couldn’t Be Done
August 18, 2010 by fatherjeff
Filed under The Hiking Priest (Fr. Jeff's Blog)
“They said it couldn’t be done, Christian Valley, but I preached a 10-minute sermon!”
Those were the exuberant words of Pastor Eric Seldon, who is the minister of Christian Valley Church in Cataula, who preached at both services at St. Nicholas on Sunday. While he was talking about his sermon length, I couldn’t help but think that there was much more that happened on Sunday that “they said couldn’t be done.”
I have written before about our relationship with Christian Valley and how we are seeking to create a bond of friendship between two very different congregations. One is predominantly African-American, one is predominantly Caucasian. One worships formally and traditionally, one worships with a much more contemporary spin. One has a preacher that preaches 10 to 15 minutes long, one has a preacher that preaches 30-45 minutes long.
As Pastor Eric mentioned in his sermon, in the South, Sunday mornings are the most segregated hours of the week. Yet, we have been called to take the “road less traveled” and join together on occasion to begin a process of relationship of understanding. One might worry that we’re trying to assimilate their church or that they are trying to assimilate ours. But that’s not the intention. It’s to engage fully in mission with one another. Mission, at it’s core, means engaging in relationship with one another. Christian Valley has a gift to give St. Nicholas. St. Nicholas has a gift to give Christian Valley. Despite our cultural, ecclesial, or liturgical differences, we lift those differences up and share them with one another to learn, and grow, and love one another. Who else is doing that in Harris County?
I said in both services yesterday that the Kingdom of God was indeed present. We all recited the Nicene Creed, as varied Christians throughout history have done before as a way to unite us in common worship. I looked out and saw the beauty of diversity in the faces of God’s created people! At the 8:30 service, we had 64 attendees, most of whom were Christian Valley members who came early, and then went to worship at their own 10 o’clock service. At 11:00, we had 97 people packed into the pews! It was a sight to behold!
Deacon Terrance Blue from Christian Valley led the Inspirational Choir in two songs at the two services, Souled Out and God Is. At the 11:00 service, everyone was on their feet clapping, dancing, and singing. If you wonder what eternity might be like, it might look a bit like that.
The number of e-mails and comments about our services have been overwhelmingly positive. As one St. Nicholas member said, “I thought to myself, this is the way the world can put aside bigotry and hatred…I have always been proud to be Episcopalian, but this morning went beyond mere pride to show me the way the world could ‘live as one.’”
I am supremely thankful to Pastor Eric, Garvin Gourie, and the rest of Christian Valley who made the day possible. I am overwhelmingly proud of the people of St. Nicholas, who welcomed new friends with open arms. Pastor Eric said how warm everyone felt there with us.
So it was a step in the right direction. I have never been more sure of that. I don’t know what God has in store for St. Nicholas & Christian Valley, but if it’s anything like yesterday’s worship, then the Kingdom of God is truly at hand.
My only disappointment in the day was that we didn’t get any pictures! Our regular photographer, Lynn Hall, was in bed with the flu, bless her heart, and I forgot to get someone else to take pictures! So even though the day wasn’t captured on camera, it certainly was graphed into the hearts and minds of all who were present.
They said it couldn’t be done…
Your Week at St. Nick 22 - 28 August 2010
August 18, 2010 by Drucye
Filed under News & Events
Sunday, 22 August
8:30am Holy Eucharist
9:15am Breakfast/Fellowship
9:30am Christian Formation Classes
11:00am Holy Eucharist
Usher/Greeter
8:30am Bobo and Barbara Morgan
11:00am John and Charlotte Winsness
Readers
8:30am Connie Blackmon
11:00am Phebe Robertson/Abby Brown
LEM
8:30am Connie Blackmon
11:00am Drucye Price
Altar Guild
Carolyn Cox/Charlotte Winsness
Flower Guild
Suzy Eidson
Lemonade
Anne Simpson
Acolytes
Abby Brown
Davis Yarbrough
Jamie Lynn Yarbrough
Sunday School Teacher
Marci Horne
Wednesday, 25 August
4:00om Finance Committee Meeting
6:30pm Choir Rehearsal
Thursday, 26 August
6:30pm Vestry Meeting
Friday, 27 August - Sunday, 29 August
Youth Retreat at Camp Mickell
Saturday, 28August
9:30am Lobsterfest Painting Workshop
Happy Birthday!
August
8/6 Cory Butzon
8/14 Rev. Tom Jones
8/18 Tony Cox
8/31 Nancy Callaway
Happy Anniversary!
August
8/3 Chris & Andy Butzon
8/16 Kenny & Lynn Hall
8/18 Jeff & Molly Jackson
8/29 Gene & Pat Demonet
Your Week at St. Nick 15 - 21 August 2010
August 12, 2010 by Drucye
Filed under News & Events
Sunday, 15 August
8:30am Holy Eucharist/Flag Dedication/Guest Preacher Eric Seldon
9:15am Breakfast/Fellowship
9:30am Christian Formation Classes
11:00am Holy Eucharist/Guest Preacher Eric Seldon
Usher/Greeter
8:30am Bobo and Barbara Morgan
11:00am John and Charlotte Winsness
Readers
8:30am Larry Nordin
11:00am John Brent/Ivy Martin
LEM
8:30am Katherine Johnson
11:00am Nick Simpson
Altar Guild
Linda Sawyer/Bert Tomlin
Flower Guild
Sharon Cheatham
Lemonade
Gina Durham
Acolytes
Cody Durham
Ivy Martin
Madison Martin
Sunday School Teacher
Graham Horne
Wednesday, 18 August
4:00om Finance Committee Meeting
6:30pm Choir Rehearsal
Thursday, 19 August
6:30pm Episcopal 101
Saturday, 21August
9:30am Lobsterfest Committee Meeting
Happy Birthday!
August
8/6 Cory Butzon
8/14 Rev. Tom Jones
8/18 Tony Cox
8/31 Nancy Callaway
Happy Anniversary!
August
8/3 Chris & Andy Butzon
8/16 Kenny & Lynn Hall
8/18 Jeff & Molly Jackson
8/29 Gene & Pat Demonet
Flag Dedication
August 10, 2010 by fatherjeff
Filed under News & Events

Our flags have arrived!
Thanks to many generous donations from St. Nicholas members, we now have an Episcopal flag and an American flag on display in the narthex of the church. They are 3 x 5 flags on some snazzy poles and in some beautiful stands. They look really nice and everyone who has seen them in the narthex thus far has said they are really glad we went with the nicest flags we could get.
This Sunday, August 15, at the 8:30 service, we will dedicate the two flags during the Prayers of the People. We can only dedicate them once, so we hope that those of you who made these flags possible will be able to come to the early service.
Pulpit Swap!
August 9, 2010 by fatherjeff
Filed under News & Events
This Sunday, August 15, we will have a guest preacher, as the second part of our “pulpit swap” with Christian Valley Church in Cataula. Back in June, I was invited to preach at Christian Valley as a way to introduce St. Nicholas to their congregation and vice versa. On Sunday, we will have Pastor Eric Seldon with us preaching at both services.
Our relationship with Christian Valley began over a year ago when a member of their church, Garvin Gourie, wanted to explore teaming with a predominantly white congregation in order to show unity between our churches in this county. Sunday mornings are the most segregated hours of the week in the South, and Garvin’s vision led to our conversations. We are certainly not seeking to assimilate one another, but want to establish a relationship to learn about one another, experience our differing cultures, and worship together.
In our conversations over the last year, Pastor Eric, Garvin, Graham Horne, and I have discussed doing some outreach projects together, including promoting the Ferst Foundation’s Childhood Literacy Program. Katherine Johnson and Connie Blackmon, members of St. Nicholas who are greatly involved with the literacy program, have worked with us to think about some ways we can promote this program in our congregations and join together to get children signed up for it.
Christian Valley’s choir will also be with us on Sunday to share their gift of music. We will also show them how we celebrate Eucharist, and share our gifts of music as well!
It will be a fantastic Sunday, so please come and introduce yourself to our friends from Christian Valley!
Regular Sunday Morning Schedule Returns
August 5, 2010 by fatherjeff
Filed under News & Events
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!
Your Week at St. Nick 8 - 14 August 2010
August 5, 2010 by Drucye
Filed under News & Events
Sunday, 8 August Sunday School Roundup Sunday
8:30am Holy Eucharist
9:15am Continental Breakfast
9:30am Christian Formation Classes
11:00am Holy Eucharist and Blessing of the Backpacks
11:45am Roundup Sunday Refreshments
Usher/Greeter
8:30am Tom and Sharon Cheatham
11:00am Graham Horne and Jan Pylant
Readers
8:30am Connie Blackmon
11:00am Michelle Moody/Samantha Dixon
LEM
8:30am Connie Blackmon
11:00am Michelle Mooday
Altar Guild
Liz Dixon
Flower Guild
Linda Sawyer
Lemonade
Sheila Dixon
Acolytes
Ansley Butzon
Samantha Dixon
Wednesday, 11 August
6:30pm Choir Rehearsal
Saturday, 14 August
9:30am - 12:00pm
Lobsterfest Painting Workshop
Happy Birthday!
August
8/6 Cory Butzon
8/14 Rev. Tom Jones
8/18 Tony Cox
8/31 Nancy Callaway
Happy Anniversary!
August
8/3 Chris & Andy Butzon
8/16 Kenny & Lynn Hall
8/16 Jeff & Molly Jackson
8/29 Gene & Pat Demonet



