Father John Writes |
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The Parish Church Can Refresh Our Souls!
The pandemic has highlighted many questions for me. How important is spending time with people? (It turns out that it is necessary for my sanity.) What is the most important thing I can do for Jesus in Dahlonega? (I think it is serving my neighbor and also providing spiritual support to the unchurched.). One other questions I have pondered is "What does it mean to be part of St. Elizabeth's Church?"
It seems to me I participate in my parish church by rote. I am reminded of the judge who was trying to save a marriage. The man wanted a divorce because his wife insisted on cutting off the bottom two inches of the bacon before she cooked it. The judge thought, "We should be able to fix this." He asked, "Why do you do that?" The woman replied, "My mother always did." They found her mother and asked her. She said, "Well my mother always did." Then they found the mother's mother, asked the question, and she said, "Why? Because the pan was too short!"
The pandemic asks me to step back and ask what are the very basic things we do as a parish church that nurture our souls?. The most important thing we do, in my opinion, is worship. Worship is not a nice entertaining way to spend an hour. It is the way we say "I love you" to God. It is maintenance for the most important relationship in our lives. The service itself is designed to renew and instruct us in a healthy spiritual life. It includes praise, reflection, encounter, communion, petition, forgiveness, and fellowship. It is without any doubt the most important hour of any week.
The second thing we do is engage in service, enrichment, and fellowship activities together. We come up with new ideas, continue proven ones, reflect and serve and play together. In order to do these things we need to communicate. Our Thursday Update is the lifeblood of our communication, especially during the pandemic, and it is important to open and peruse it to the end each week.
To help it serve the important function it needs to serve, it would be helpful to hear what things you might like to see in the Update. We have tried to make it easier to find the "new" news by putting it at the top. Also we have been requested to include the prayer list and the celebrations calendar. Both of those are included this week. The Thursday update is a key part of being a parishioner at St. Elizabeth's.
To be a member of the church, a parishioner technically, by the book, is actually quite simple. Yet with a little investment by being faithful to worship and staying plugged in to the happenings of our parish there is opportunity for true soul renewal. The parish church is almost a two thousand year old institution. It is here because people have found it incredibly helpful over the centuries. Yes it changes, it goes through pandemics and other crises, yet investing in it always has and will continue to be a source of great blessing.
Have a blessed week,
Father John+
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Sign up for Lenten Daily Prayer
Do you want support as you seek to pray? Are you willing to support others? Consider being part of the Lenten Daily Prayer Group. Individually we will use the book “Celtic Benediction” by John Phillip Newell daily and then gather Tuesday evenings on Zoom as a group to share our experiences. We chose this book because it draws on the poetry and the celebration of nature and natural rhythms characteristic of Celtic Spirituality. The prayers are simple, beautiful, and do not require an enormous commitment of time.
Group Meetings are February 23, March 2, 9, 16 and 23rd 7:00 to 7:30 PM
Sign up by February 16th in order to get the book which we will provide.
On Zoom (Sign up to receive Sign in information)
To learn more and to sign up go to https://bit.ly/lentendailyprayer
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F E B R U A R Y | M A R C H | A P R I L
F O R W A R D D A Y b y D A Y
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Thank You to everyone who attended our Annual Meeting Last Week.
Congratulations to Janet Barger, Bill Miller and Melissa Lach
who are now vestry members.
Thank You to Lara Lowman and Lynda Duke who roll off of Vestry. |
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Spotlight on Nature
by Rosalie Jensen
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Amazing Agility
T he Oatland Island Wildlife Center is located between Savannah and Tybee Island. With both wild and domesticated animals in designated areas along easy walking trails, this inviting nature preserve has interesting, safe areas for all members of the family. On one of our visits, we photographed this Sandhill Crane, which seems to have twisted its neck at an impossible angle in order to clean its feathers. Thanks, Rosalie.
St. Elizabeth's Episcopal Church is a NWF Certified Wildlife Habitat
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Alice King, Sue Spence, Devon Olivia Rooney, Davis Burns, Pam Stimers, Elise Sullens, Jackie Peabody, Paul Hamm, Rosa St. Claire, Pat Hughes, Pete Pratt, Henry Grimes, Angie Elmore, Terry McLendon, Jenna Brown, Christy Lowe, Keegan Plumley, Ginger Macheski, Christina Callender, Robert Wright, Richard Lutz, David Baker, Dorothy Crowe, Margaret Skelly, Sharon Hall, Judy Miller, Joy Schyler, Vicky Schyler, Ricie Eubanks, Wilma Bammer, Ken Dusen, Ruth Purcell, Bill Vogt, Randy Pruitt, Skipper Gholston, Kathy Gholston, Nancita Palomos Knuckles, Elizabeth O’Neal, Wynell Pace, Bob Shields, Susan Shields, and Paul Roberts.
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 January
Birthdays:
1 P. Roberts
2 D. Hunt
4 H. Grimes
6 S. Ryerson
8 R. Channell
12 A. Greene
16 B. Hunt
21 D. Jones
24 W. Peabody
30 J. Ritch
30 P. Ackermann
31 D. Woodall |
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 January
Anniversaries:
1 R. Jensen & M. Saunders
1 A & R. Ballew
13 L. Davidson & J. Wall
27 H. & D. Connolly
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Thanks to Julie, Paul and all the members of the Choir!
For their committed enthusiasm to delight us and the Lord with beautiful hymns and music!
NOTE: Please email us to recommend someone to thank in our Parish.
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Worship in the Coming Weeks
Making our Worship Vibrant and Joyful!
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Sunday Worship is on YouTube Each Week. The Service is available every Sunday after 9:50 am. Like all our parish videos, it can be found on our YouTube channel https://bit.ly/steyoutube.
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NOA needs: ● Canned goods ● Bedding sheets ● Towels ● Wash clothes ● Toilet paper ● Paper towels ● Antiseptic wipes
• Anyone wishing to continue to donate items for NOA may feel free to drop off such items at:
c/o Betty & Shirley: 26 Blue Ridge Overlook Drive, Dahlonega, GA 30533
• Please call Betty first at 706-344-7100 to let us know you are coming so the garage door will be open.
• There is a plastic bin along the left hand wall of the garage for you to put things for NOA in.
Thank you so much for thinking of others in these difficult times. --- Betty Greene ---
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Community Helping Place of Dahlonega Dental Clinic needs:
● Dental floss ● Toothpaste for sensitive teeth ●
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Community Helping Place of Dahlonega needs:
● Jelly ● Spaghetti sauce ● Canned meat ● Oatmeal/grits ● Egg cartons
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Events in the Weeks Ahead...
Ongoing Items and the Weekly Schedule
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NOV | DEC | JAN 2020-2021
T I D I N G S
You can go online and view TIDINGS. Please click on the link below:
https://stelizabethepiscopal.com/news/
To submit articles for the FEB | MAR | APR | TIDINGS please email: Tidings@stelizabethepiscopal.com or call Margo for information.
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Regrettably Distribution of Communion has Been Suspended ...
due to a high incidence of COVID infection in our area. We cannot say when we will begin again, especially with the advent of the British variation. The decision will be based on public health advice, scientific observation, and an abundance of caution. Pray that God will remind us that loving one another right now means not getting together.
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Search for a Relevant Faith
A group for spiritual renewal
Most of us began following a spiritual path (though we call it "going to church") because we were told it was a good thing to do. While many people have stopped practicing any faith, we are still here. This group will offer a forum and resources to explore why we are still here: ways faith enriches life, reasons a spiritual path might still be relevant in 2020. What is it about this path and about Jesus that attracts us? Are their aspects of this path that are unhelpful? What do we do about those? The group will also serve as an introduction to the Episcopal Church, preparation for Confirmation, Reception or Renewal of Baptismal Vows. The intention is to truly honor any who seriously wonder whether a life of faith still matters in 2020. If you are interested please send an email to the parish office or leave a telephone message there. (706) 864-5423 or stelizabethdahlonega@gmail.com. |
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It is never too late to make a 2021 Pledge Online
It is safe and confidential. Go to this Link:
https://stelizabethepiscopal.com/pledge/
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New Cards! Buy a Card to Support our Certified Backyard Habitat
Elaine Clark and Rosalie Jensen have donated handmade cards to be sold in the nave to benefit the Certified Backyard Habitat. Each card is approximately 5" x 7" and includes an envelope. Suggested contribution per card $5.
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In Thanksgiving to Julie & the Choir...
Saint Elizabeth's Episcopal Church's Artists & Photographers are donating the proceeds from the sale of their work displayed in the Art Gallery at the Boyd Hall to St. Elizabeth's Music Fund ● Thank you for your support! Please, make check payable to: St. Elizabeth's Episcopal Church, and write MUSIC FUND in the memo line
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WEEKLY SUNDAY SERVICE WATCH PARTY
Moving to 9:30 AM
Join us, while at the comfort of your home and watch Sunday service together!
ZOOM meeting: https://zoom.us/j/525158989
WEEKLY SUNDAY COFFEE HOUR
Sundays at 10:45 am
Come see how others in the Parish are doing!
ZOOM meeting: https://zoom.us/j/525158989
WEEKLY THURSDAY FEMALES AT BIBLE STUDY - FABS
Thursdays at 11 am
All welcome to FABS in these extraordinary!
ZOOM meeting: https://zoom.us/j/315535123
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Need volunteer READERS for Sunday Service
We will love it if you read to us in a Sunday Service! Please contact Fr. John at 914-512-8156 or email us at: stelizabethdahlonega@gmail.com. Your "virtual" presence at a service video/recording it's a way to visit each other while staying apart. Thank you.
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Parish Office hours during pandemic
The Parish office is open on Monday from 9 am to 1 pm. We recommend to call before you visit since we are keeping up with the restrictions on limited amount of people at the premises. Wednesdays and Thursdays the parish administrator works for home. Thank you.
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