| Seventh Sunday of Easter |
May 20, 2012 |
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Spiritual Adventures at
St. Thomas Episcopal Church
News and Events
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Dear St. Thomas friends,
Please enjoy this issue of our E-NEWSLETTER! Please check your e-mail each week to read our news and events. To read more information, you can now find us on Facebook! We wish you a joyous and blessed Easter Season! |
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 Dear Friends,What an honor it is for our sister and friend, Sandy McCann, to be honored and named Canon of the Diocese of Central Tanganyika. For those of you who do not know, Sandy and her husband Martin are longtime St. Thomas members who have served as Episcopal missionaries in Tanzania for eight years. Sandy is development officer for Msalato Theological College, where she also teaches; Martin has established and runs a pathology lab. I was privileged to join Bishop Neil in Sandy's ordination in Dodoma in 2005, at which time I presented a gift from St. Thomas which funded satellite Internet access to the college.
Since then, we have been blessed by our connections to Tanzania - Bishop Mdimi has visited us numerous times; the Rev. Moses Matonya - now principal of the College - spent a year at St. Thomas as theologian-in-residence; and the Rev. Darius Sudayi was a part of our parish while a student at Columbus State University for three years. Many parishioners have visited Sandy and Martin in past years.
We have ongoing projects to build a well in the village of Ikoa, and provide a graduate fellowship to Fr. Matoya.
Join me as we give thanks to God for the many ways that God has connected us in joy and service to the wider world.
You can read the Episcopal News Service story here.
Doug+
Photo courtesy of of Episcopal News Service (Bishop Mdimi greets Sandy) |
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 Bishop candidates This Sunday we will postpone our "Practicing Resurrection Series" and instead watch the six brief videos which introduce the candidates for the 10th Bishop of Atlanta. The election is less than three weeks away, and this will be your opportunity to meet some of the talented people of our Church who have been involved in this process. We will begin at 9:30 a.m. promptly.
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Last Sunday for choir
The St. Thomas Choir, under the the direction of Rick McKnight, is traveling to the Big Apple where they'll be in concert. Sunday marks the last one to hear them before their journey. Our prayers go with these valuable and talented members of our church.
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Financial update:
Income through April
Expected Income = $127,439.53
Budgeted Income = $120,584.96
Income Received = $134,371.06
We give thanks to God for these gifts. Please continue your faithful generosity through the summer months.
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Vestry Update
May 14 meeting highlights:
Received Financial highlights (above)
- Completed parish pledges to Infusion Youth Project and Diocesan Church of the Common Ground ($1000 each); parishioners had given $1640 to these ministries
- Received the beautiful piece of furniture commissioned (and now fully funded) in honor of Findley Williamson; heard plans for a June 10 breakfast and commissioning. This piece will be in between the parish office and parish hall;
- Heard property report on gas line problem in the in kitchen; are moving toward solution
- Heard preview of Choir New York, Cathedral of John the Divine, trip
- Watched video introductions of Diocese Bishop candidates; received walkabout and June 2 election previews
- Heard update on Day School and Parish Office personnel changes, as well as plans for summer staff reviews
- Met with the leaders, parents and teens of the Infusion Teen Ministry
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Vacation Bible School 2012
Registration forms are now available for Vacation Bible School 2012, to be held 8:45 a.m.-noon June 18-22. The theme this year is "Wade in the Water", in which children will "dive into" our Faith and Scripture! This week-long theme will include Bible stories such as Noah's Ark, Jonah and the Whale, Jesus Walks on Water, the Woman at the Well, and will also include teachings about Baptism. Click here to register online today!
And, we are still looking for adult volunteers to help with VBS this year. These adults will help shepherd children around to the different areas throughout the morning. We also are looking for people to volunteer to bring supplies, adult volunteer snacks and drinks and make monetary donations to help pay for water inflatables on the last day of VBS.
Also please feel free to post VBS info on Facebook and publicize to friends and family. Help us get out the word that St. Thomas Episcopal loves their Episcokids and would love to add to the bunch! You can get additional brochures at the church of encourage people to sign up on the Episcokids Website.
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Angels Revealed!
I cannot begin to explain to our church how blessed we are at St. Thomas Episcopal Church to be a part of one big happy family. Over the last several weeks, we have had approximately 35 children who were paired up with adult members of our parish. During that time the adults lifted each child up in prayer and surprised them with treats and goodies to remind each of them that they were members of a bigger church family.
On Sunday, at 9:15 during breakfast, the Guardian Angels will reveal to their Episcokids who they were and explain to them how much each of them are loved. I encourage everyone to be present for this special recognition. While the official event will come to a close, it is my hope that the Angels and Episcokids will continue a relationship and that the bond between them will continue to bloom through their childhood and into their teenage years.
Also, please note: The last official day of Sunday School is this Sunday. During the summer months children are still invited to participate in Children's Chapel during the 10:30 worship service. Ms. Lisa, Ms. Julia, Mr. Isiah, Mr. Perrin and Ms. Marquette will be there to offer a child-friendly look at the Gospel each Sunday.
Submitted by Erin Redden |
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Teacher/Volunteer Recognition
Brantley Ford and I want to acknowledge and thank the following teachers and volunteers this year. Without the commitment of Sunday School teachers, Children's Chapel Leaders and Rockers and Rollers we would not have met the needs of the youth in our parish. Please prayerfully consider volunteering in the upcoming months. We will officially recognize these teachers and volunteers during the 10:30 worship service on Sunday. Please when you see these people, thank them for their continued service.
Erin Redden
Children's Christian Education Director |
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Congratulations, graduates!
During the 10:30 service on Sunday, all graduates from our congregation will be honored. They are: Caroline Cummings (graduating from Columbus High School); Carter Moore (graduating from Columbus High School and going to Young Harris College); Hennsey Ngo (graduating from Brookstone School and will attend the University of Georgia); Elizabeth Olivia Venable (Northside High School and plans to attend Georgia College); and Parker Williams (graduating from Hardaway High School); and Mary Katherine Williamson, granddaughter of Heidi and Finley Williamson (graduating from Parkview High School in Lilburn, Ga. She will go on to Wofford College). We are proud of all of our graduates! Well done! |
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Children's Choir Notes
This Sunday, we will be joining the women from the Adult Choir and ending our year singing "Get On Board Little Children!" This will be a fun way to end the choir year. Please meet Mrs. Erin in the Narthex by 10 a.m. to rehearse.
As always, a big "thank you" to the parents! My Episcokids could not make it each week on their own. I understand that it is a big commitment of your time to make sure the kids are at church each week. Your participation does not go unnoticed and I appreciate each and every one of you!
Erin Redden
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Kids 4 Peace Recruiting Campers
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Wednesday Suppers
Wednesday evening suppers will continue through the summer. Please join us!
Submitted by the Parish Life Committee. |
St. Thomas Readers Book Discussion Group
The St. Thomas Readers Book Group will not meet in May. We will resume meeting in the Fall. However, I am compiling a list of books for Summer reading. Please send any suggestions that you may have to me at janjulau@aol.com. You are welcome to include suggestions for children and young people, as well as for adults. Look for the compiled list in Spiritual Adventures in June.
Submitted by Sonya Boyd. |
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New editor
Allison Kennedy Owen, a member of the parish, is the new editor for Spiritual Adventures, as well as the parish Web site. From 1998-2011, she was the religion reporter for the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer. She is currently a Chaplain Resident at St. Francis Hospital. Allison is married to Michael Owen. They are the parents of two cats, Bisquick and Smoky. |
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St. Thomas Episcopal Church 2100 Hilton Avenue
Columbus, Georgia 31906
Office of the Rector,
St. Thomas Episcopal Church
706-324-4264 office@stthomascolumbus.org
Weekly Services:
Sundays at
8:00 and 10:30
Wednesdays at
5:30 p.m. |
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