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In This Issue:
Advent Lessons & Carols - This Sunday!
Advent Luncheon Series
Other Events During Advent
Holiday Music Preview
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
Mark Your Calendar for Christmas Services
Thank You, Donors!
News from Financial Administration |
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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. |
| Advent Lessons & Carols - This Sunday, December 18!
Advent Lessons & Carols is this Sunday, December 18, at 10:30 am. Bring your friends and family so they can experience a sample of the beauty and spirituality of Episcopalian Advent. Lessons & Carols is a special worship service featuring music and scriptural readings that reflect the hopefulness of Advent and prepare us to celebrate Christmas!
Read more about Lessons & Carols in the Holiday Music Preview in this e-newsletter (below). |
"Expressions of Hope" Advent Luncheon Series Concludes on Monday, December 19
 "Expressions of Hope" Advent Luncheon Series - Mondays, 12:00 to 1:00 pm, on December 5, 12, & 19, in All Saints' Hall.
+ 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 Bowl 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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Advent, St. Thomas Day, and Christmas Eve Music Preview
 + December 18, 10:30 am, Lessons and Carols: Children's choir; "O come, Emmanuel" by Philip Brunelle; "Lo, how a rose e'er blooming" by Praetorious; and "How beautiful are the feet" by Stainer; world premier of a handbell piece commissioned by the St. Thomas Ringers on the hymntune St. Thomas; "All God's Angels" written by Peggy Pritchett and performed by her children, Debbie Anderson and Tony and Tim Pritchett.
+ December 21, 5:30 pm, St. Thomas Day, Baptism, and Eucharist: "Prayer for St. Thomas" written by the English composer Philip Wilby for our choir.
+ December 24, 10:30 pm, Christmas Eve: "Christmas Cantate" by Corelli; "Tomorrow shall be my dancing day" by Gardner; "St. Joannis missa brevis" by Haydn; "O holy night" by Adams. All pieces will be accompanied by strings, trumpet, and organ.
Submitted by Rick McKnight, Organist and Choirmaster. |
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EPISCOKIDS! - Children's Events during Advent
 + 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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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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Thank You, Donors!
At this time, we would like to thank the following donors for their contributions to specific ministries:
Choir Trip - Jan Pittman;
Youth - Jan Pittman;
Music - Max & Ann Burr, Jack & Nicole Ceccato, Donna Sharp;
WNN - Paul & Jo Cates;
Vestry Discretionary in memory of Joanne Barlow - John & Vicky Partin, Michael & Allison Owen, Judy Harding;
African Mission - Dennis & Karen Cook, Joan Redmond;
Property - Neal Fenter, for his donation of flowers to the flowerbeds
Thank you all for your generosity during this blessed season of giving!
Submitted by Financial Administration. |
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News from Financial Administration
November Income Data:
Total Expected Income = $335,550.25
Total Budgeted Income = $317,115.17
Total Income Received = $308,031.52
Parishioners, please remember that in order to be credited to the 2011 tax year, all gifts or pledge payments must be received in the office by noon on Friday, December 30, or postmarked no later than Saturday, December 31, 2011. Any gifts or pledges received in the offering plate on Sunday, January 1, 2012, will be credited to 2012 even if they are dated December 31. Thank you for your cooperation.
Submitted by Financial Administration. |
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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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