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Spiritual Adventures at
St. Thomas Episcopal Church
July 17, 2011
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Greetings!
Please enjoy this edition of Spiritual Adventures, our weekly e-newsletter. Please check your e-mail each week to read about the news and events in our common life at St. Thomas Episcopal Church. Thank you, and God bless! |
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Diocese Bishop Nominating Committee seeks your Input: Listening Session at Trinity Columbus, July 14 - TONIGHT!
 As part of the process of electing our next Bishop, the Diocese is hosting a series of "listening sessions", designed to get feedback on the hopes of the people for our next Bishop. Some of these are designed for priests only, some for laity only. They are being held throughout the Diocese.
You are invited and encouraged to join this conversation at Trinity Episcopal Church on July 14, at 7:00 p.m. Your input will be very helpful to the Bishop Nominating Committee as it proceeds with the work of bringing a handful of nominees before the Diocese Council next June.
The nominating committee is composed of 10 lay persons and 10 priests from throughout the Diocese. Our regional representatives are Ms. Vicky Partin (Lay), and the Rev. Jeff Jackson of St. Nicholas Hamilton. For more information, see http://www.episcopalatlanta.org/News/newsView.asp?NewsId=409681212. |
You're Invited to the Integrity Summer Social and Potluck - TOMORROW NIGHT!
 The Chattahoochee Valley Chapter of Integrity - the leading grassroots voice for the full inclusion of LGBT persons in the Episcopal Church - will host a Summer Social and Potluck Dinner at St. Thomas Episcopal Church on Friday, July 15, at 6:30 p.m. in All Saints' Hall. Mouth-watering Southern fried chicken and choice of beverage will be provided. Attendees are asked to bring a side dish or dessert. This is an open event to anyone interested in attending. Please RSVP to David Kirkland and Todd Griffin at 706-464-1621.
Submitted by Jackson Griffin. |
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Food, Fun, Fellowship, and More! - Eat, Pray, Learn
 On Wednesday, July 20, we will gather at 6:00 p.m. in All Saints' Hall for "Eat, Pray, Learn", an evening of worship, supper, and fellowship. We will begin with the first part of Evening Prayer and a short presentation on one of the people for whom a day has been set aside on the Church's liturgical calendar. Then while supper is being prepared, the children will have time to play outside while the adults enjoy fellowship inside. After supper, we will conclude with the last part of Evening Prayer. The Parish Life Committee will provide hamburgers and hot dogs. We ask diners to bring a side dish or contribute $5.00 for the meal. Please join us for this family-friendly event! Submitted by the Parish Life Committee. |
Join the "Welcome Team"!
 We are now accepting volunteers to join a new Sunday Service Team at St. Thomas. These volunteers will be staffing a Welcome/Information Table in the Narthex each Sunday morning. The goal of this ministry is to establish personal contact with prospective members, new members, and members who are not very involved but have the potential to become more involved in the parish community. Like our other Service Teams, we are hoping to gain enough volunteers to rotate each Sunday of the month. For the immediate future, the coordinators of this team will be Michael Ankerich and Allison Kennedy. Please contact the church office at office@stthomascolumbus.org or 706-324-4264 to express your interest in volunteering. Thank you! |
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Confirmation Date Set for October 9, 2011
 Have you been Confirmed in the Episcopal Church? The next Confirmations and Baptisms will be held on Sunday, October 9, with the Bishop Keith Whitmore presiding. The next Confirmation classes to prepare for this sacrament will begin in August. If you would like to join these classes, please contact the church office at office@stthomascolumbus.org or 706-324-4264.
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Music Notes
This week, our organist and choirmaster Rick McKnight is attending the Sewanee Church Music Conference at the University of the South. Rick (left) is pictured here with clinician Dr. Dale Adelmann (right), Canon for Music at St. Philip's Cathedral, Atlanta.
Rick made the following comments in a mid-week update: "What a great week already! It is a great experience to be with 150 of my fellow Episcopal musicians in an intense week of rehearsals, lectures, and inspiring services. Dr. Barbara Crafton is our Chaplain, and she is wonderfully inspiring, especially since it's hard to hold the attention of a bunch of organists! World-famous organist Todd Wilson has left us in awe, and Dale Adelmann is proving an inspiring choral clinician. We've enjoyed lots of sessions on Anglican chant, handbells in liturgy, hymn playing, and reading sessions in which the latest music is presented. It is also lovely to be here in the beauty of the University of the South. It feels a bit like Merry Old England! Thank you for allowing me to be a part of it!"
For this Sunday's service, in Rick's absence, we are pleased to welcome former organist and choirmaster and current parishioner, Florence Hiatt, back to the organ console. Thank you, Flo, for your willingness to serve St. Thomas!
Submitted by Rick McKnight.
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Wedding Gift for Ruth Cummings
 St. Thomas Episcopal Church is now collecting contributions for a wedding gift for the Rev. Ruth Cummings, former associate at St. Thomas. Her wedding to the Rev. Benno Pattison will take place on July 26 in Oregon. If you would like to make a contribution to celebrate this joyous event, please contact Erin Redden at episcokids@stthomascolumbus.org. Any amount will be appreciated. Thank you. |
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Farewell Celebration for Fr. Martindale at Trinity
On Sunday, July 31, Trinity Episcopal Church will host a farewell reception to celebrate the ministry of Fr. Rich Martindale (pictured). Fr. Martindale is resigning after almost six years at Trinity. The reception will begin at about 11:30 a.m., following the 10:30 a.m. service. Heavy hors d'oeuvres will be served. All are welcome, no RSVP is required. Trinity Episcopal Church is located at 1130 First Avenue, Columbus, GA, phone 706-322-5569. |
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Spotlight On: New Additions to Sunday Service Teams
St. Thomas parishioners enjoyed an excellent service on Sunday, July 3, which included several new additions to three of our Sunday Service Teams. These new participants are pictured, from left: Taylor Deal and Ramsey Greathouse, Acolytes; Malinda Shamburger, Verger; and Tanya Edwards, Chalice Bearer. They all did a great job!
The Acolytes, Verger, and Chalice Bearer are just a few of the roles to be filled by volunteers each Sunday. If you are not a member of a Sunday Service Team, please consider joining one. These teams offer you the perfect opportunity to explore your talents, find your niche in the church community, make friends with fellow parishioners, and serve the church. All teams arrange their schedules in advance, and most participants serve one Sunday per month in a consistent rotation. For more information, contact the church office at office@stthomascolumbus.org or 706-324-4264.
Photo submitted by Marquette McKnight. |
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