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In This Issue:
Advent Luncheon Series
Other Events During Advent
Children's Events During Advent
Trimming the Tree at St. Thomas
Flower and Music Dedications for Christmas
Learn how to Become an Usher!
Foyers Starts in January
Integrity Christmas Party on December 16
Thank You, Donors!
Vestry Elections to Occur on December 11
Mark Your Calendar for Christmas Services
A Message from Fr. Hahn |
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Greetings!
Please enjoy this week's edition of Spiritual Adventures. Please check your e-mail each week to read more of the news and events happening at St. Thomas Episcopal Church. We wish you a hopeful and expectant Advent. |
"Expressions of Hope" Advent Luncheon Series Continues on Monday, December 12 & 19
 "Expressions of Hope" Advent Luncheon Series - Mondays, 12:00 to 1:00 pm, on December 5, 12, & 19, in All Saints' Hall.
+ December 12: Sounds of Hope - Don Tipton and members of the Columbus Jazz Society
+ December 19: Images of Hope - Ms. Michele McCrillis, CSU, Associate Professor of Art History |
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Continue to Observe Advent and Prepare for Christmas
 + The Greening of the Church, Saturday, December 17, at 10:00 am. All are welcome to lend helping hands in decorating the church.
+ Advent Lessons and Carols, Sunday, December 18, at 10:30 am.
+ The Feast of St. Thomas and Holy Baptism, Wednesday, December 21, at 5:30 pm, followed by Wassail and a special dinner hosted by the Parish Life Committee. The cost of the meal is only $5 per plate. Diners are asked to bring their favorite festive dessert to share. Our regular weekly diners may sign up for this dinner at Wednesday supper on December 14. All others may contact the church office to sign up. After Wassail and dinner, all are invited to join in trimming the tree in the Nave. |
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EPISCOKIDS! - Children's Events during Advent
 + Sunday, December 11: "Polar Express Pajama Party" with the Youth Kids! Wear your jammies to church and join us for lunch in All Saints Hall following the 10:30 worship service. We will then carpool to the IMAX theatre at the National Infantry Museum. We will be attending the 1:15 showtime. We have set up a group rate for $9.00 per person. This will be the price of admission to the movie and include a snack pack (small popcorn and a medium drink). Make your reservations for each attendee (child, youth, or adult) with Erin Redden or Brantley Ford by Wednesday, December 7.
+ Sunday, December 18: The Children's Choir will be singing in the Advent Lessons and Carols during the 10:30 worship service. This is a special event that you will not want to miss! The kids will be singing "Arise and Shine" and "The Lion and the Lamb".
+ Wednesday, December 21: Children's Choir practice, Wassail Celebration (a family event), and trimming the tree. Continue reading this e-newsletter to read more about these parish events.
+ Saturday, December 24: Christmas Eve Family Service/Children's Christmas Pageant at 5:30pm. All children who want to participate can do so, and no practice for the pageant is necessary. The Children's Choir will be singing at this time. This is a special time for our church and you will not want to miss our celebration of the birth of Jesus!
Submitted by Erin Redden, Director of Children's Christian Education and Children's Choir |
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Trimming the Tree at St. Thomas - Wednesday, December 21
 Time: 6:30 - 8:30 pm
Location: St. Thomas Episcopal Church, Nave
Hosted by: Erin Redden
More Info: Parishioners, friends, and family of all ages are invited to trim the Christmas tree in the Nave. Cookies, coffee, and warm cider will add to the good cheer. You don't have to be an interior decorator to help. It's such a large task that every pair of hands is welcome. This year we will be decorating the tree with fresh fruit as we have done in years past. We will need lots of commitment to make this a reality. Thank you!
Submitted by Erin Redden, Director of Children's Christian Education. |
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Altar Flower and Music Dedications for Christmas
 Christmas is the perfect time to make a dedication in honor or in memory of a loved one. You are invited to make this dedication with a gift to our Altar Flower Fund or Music Fund. For Christmas, the Flower Guild is offering a lower minimum for Altar Flower dedications, at the rate of $25 per every four honorees named. There is no minimum nor maximum for dedications to the Music Fund. Please contact the church office to make a dedication to either fund. The deadline is Monday, December 19. Thank you. |
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Calling All Ushers!
 Greg Herring and Julie Chandler are now co-chairs of the new usher program. We are hoping to get a group of about 16 ushers to participate. This would mean a commitment of once a month or so. Please contact Greg (greg@wgherring.com) or Julie (julierema@gmail.com) if you would like to be an usher, continue as an usher, or if we can count on you as an alternate. You may also indicate if you are willing to usher for funerals and special occasions. Thank you for your service!
Submitted by Julie Chandler, julierema@gmail.com or 678-596-9951. |
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Foyers Starts in January!
 If you enjoy food and fellowship and would like to get to know other St. Thomas parishioners in smaller groups, then this is for you! We meet in groups of 6-10 people for dinner once a month (dates and locations decided amongst the group members). For those wishing to sign up for the new groups, please call the church office or Julie Chandler at 678-596-9951 by December 18.
Submitted by Julie Chandler. |
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Integrity Christmas Party on December 16
 When: Friday, December 16, 2011, at 6:30 pm Where: the home of BJ Landon & Larry Gammage 1027 Red Maple Way Columbus, GA 31904 We are asking that you bring a side dish (salad, vegetable, casserole, etc.) or a dessert. Integrity will provide the drinks and meat, so we will need to know the number of people attending. Friends and family are welcome to share in our festivities as well. Please RSVP with the amount of people in your party no later than December 13. You may call 706-464-1621, or comment on Facebook under Chattahoochee Valley Integrity Chapter. Thank you!
Submitted by David Kirkland. |
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Thank You, Donors!
 At this time, we would like to thank Bob & Mary Jane Wadkins, Jim & Kristie Sholtis, and John Powell for donations to the Choir Trip Fund, to be applied towards the choir trip to New York City in 2012. Thank you!
Submitted by Financial Administration. |
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Vestry Elections to Occur on December 11
 The Vestry is the governing board of St. Thomas Episcopal Church. It contains nine members fulfilling staggered three-year terms in office, which means that three members leave the Vestry each year, allowing us to elect three NEW members each year. You are eligible to run for election to the Vestry if you are a confirmed member of St. Thomas, and if you made and fulfilled a pledge in 2011.
At present, we have three candidates who have chosen to run. Please read below to learn some biographical information about each candidate:
Candidate Larry Gammage - "St. Thomas has been my church home for more than six years. BJ and I heard that St. Thomas was a very accepting, loving place, even for us. This was verified after the first Sunday that we attended, and I now have a spiritual home that I never thought I would have, which makes it very precious to me. I would like to give back some of what has been given to me. Having retired from a counseling career, I believe my problem-solving skills and communication abilities enable me to assist in decision-making necessary to create a nourishing environment for all the programs at St. Thomas."
Candidate Malinda Shamburger - "I joined the St. Thomas family five years ago. In October, I was confirmed in the Episcopal Church. As a member of St. Thomas, I have served on several committees, Parish Life, Stewardship, and Outreach, just to name a few. Currently, I am the coordinator of VIP and represent St. Thomas on the board at CVEM. Before joining St. Thomas, I held leadership positions at other churches. At Ward Chapel AME, where I was a member prior to joining St. Thomas, I served on the Board of Stewards, which is equivalent to the Episcopal Church's Vestry. St. Thomas is a very important part of my life, and I think that I would not only be a great addition to the Vestry, but the experience will be a great step in my continued development."
Candidate Janet Mapel - |
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Mark Your Calendar for Services on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day
Christmas Eve Services, Saturday, December 24: 5:30 pm and 10:30 pm
Christmas Day Service, Sunday, December 25: 9:00 am only |
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A Message from Fr. Hahn
Dear St. Thomas Friends,
Grace and Peace in the Name of the Coming Lord Jesus!
Kaye and I continue to give thanks for your many emails, notes, and well wishes, and especially for your prayers.
I continue to heal and rest - getting less sore and stronger each day. I am able to take pretty long walks once or twice a day and otherwise get out of the house about once a day. The main challenge is fatigue, and this is getting better every day.
I saw my doctor in Atlanta just before Thanksgiving, and he tells me that all cancer seems to be gone, and that I am recovering from surgery at the pace I am supposed to be. I would like to be on the fast track, but Advent reminds me that this is the time of patient waiting. I see my doctor again after Christmas, at which time we will confirm that there is no evidence of cancer; then we monitor my PSA with a simple blood test every three to six months to assure I stay cancer free.
I plan to be back in worship with you on Sunday, December 11, and gradually be back in the office the week prior to that.
I am grateful for the continued good work of staff and Vestry; I hear very good things about the Sunday services and the rest of our common life, and look forward to being back with you very soon.
Feel free to pass this update on to anyone you wish.
God's Peace,
Come, Lord Jesus!
Fr. Doug+ |
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Office of the Rector, St. Thomas Episcopal Church
2100 Hilton Avenue
Columbus, GA 31906
706-324-4264
office@stthomascolumbus.org
www.stthomascolumbus.org |
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