Good News from St. Nicholas Episcopal Church February 5, 2017

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1 Good News from St. Nicholas Episcopal Church February 5, 2017 Salt and Light Jesus said, You are the salt of the earth! You are the light of the world! Salt was used in the middle east for two reasons: 1- As a food preserver (lack of refrigeration). We as believers are called to be preservers to the world, by love and good deeds. 2 As a flavor enhancer of the food it seasons. Jesus followers stand out as those who enhance the flavor of life in this world. Fr. Bart & Barbie: Salt and Light!. You are salt and light! Our wonderful music team brings joy and light every Sunday in worship. Happy birthday Janis! On Saturday, January 15 we were blessed by the music and stories from Barbie Plourd s family. We celebrated the life of Marvin Plourd and are so grateful for the joy and light that Barbie has brought us! 1

2 Confirmation at St. Nicholas in 2017 June 11, 2017, Bishop Beisner will be with us. This year s Confirmation class: Jamie Dutro, Shelley Sonnenberg, Marnie Smith, Terrie Smith, Victor Brownmiller, Pat and Dave Cabral, Kevin Peake, Steve Larned and Bob Hooper. All of our candidates we be asking for Confirmation sponsors from our parish congregation. Sponsors spend special one on one time with candidates, sharing their spiritual journeys, getting to know them, and praying for them. Sponsors are present at the time of Confirmation with our Bishop on June 11. Salt and Light! The baptism of Erik Jacob Rhodes Dreyer bring light to the world and joy to all! 2

3 Vestry News Welcome New Vestry: James Rhodes-Dreyer, Kevin Peake and Judy Quick Vestry celebrates another year with Diane Bodine as our Senior Warden. I have some projects I would like to see finished and feel called to serve a second year. Jason Smith from Creative Solutions in Chico will be with us on Feb. 8, to present us a Lease Agreement to purchase solar panels for the parish hall roof. Vestry asked Blanche Yates to head up a Brochure Committee for rental of the hall and kitchen. We will begin accepting rentals in March Vestry Retreat 2017 is planned for March 4 with Archdeacon Gary Brown. We will be studying how to do Learning Conversations with each St. Nicholas Church household. The idea is to find folks passions and interests and gifts and learn how to build better community. Titled Asset Based Community Development. You are Salt and Light 1-I hang out at the Jesus Center on Monday morning. This morning, one of the other volunteers brought over a man in somewhat of a crisis. We talked a bit, and he expressed interest in finding a church and some mental health counseling. Since my Chico church has both (and he is, obviously, in Chico), we exchanged phone numbers and arranged to meet next Sunday for the service and the Shalom mental health clinic in the early afternoon. It remains to be seen if he comes, but at least he knows there are a couple more of us in his corner. Rev. Georgeanne Bennett 2-I wake up every morning knowing something needs to be done for someone! Most recently I have met a gentleman named Mike, he is much older than I, but was looking for a place to have Veterans meetings, turns out he joined De Sabla Guild and will start holding meetings in a Safe place with hot coffee for the Veterans of the Ridge! So I feel like this is going to be a great thing Serving our Vets Coffee for all they have done for my Freedom is a Blessing for all! Nicole Lawhun 3-God gives me chances almost everyday to share my cancer miracle and what God has done for me. He put my vanity in check because I was so afraid of losing my hair. Now He uses my fake hair to start conversations. People are always commenting on my hair, which is my wig. That is always my opening to tell my miracle story. To share how God has blessed me with the miracle of life and health for the past three years. This week I have shared my story with two dear ladies at the store and Dr. Baumgartner during an appointment. I am so blessed and I want to pass that blessing of faith onto others. Patty Nonneman 3

4 Calendar Dates to Look Forward To: February 11 February 20 February 25 Saturday Green Bag Collection Day Monday Youth Event 11 AM Saturday Crab Feed March 1 March 4 Ash Wednesday: 12:00 & 7:00 services Saturday VESTRY Retreat with Archdeacon Gary Brown March 5 Sunday LENT Begins Family Service March 12 Sunday Chili Lunch Cook Off March 25 Saturday Loaves and Fishes Fund Raiser at St. Nicholas Church April 2 Sunday Family Service April 8 Saturday Green Bag Collection Day April 14 Holy Thursday Worship at 7:00 pm April 15 GOOD FRIDAY - Stations of the Cross at Noon 4:00 Stations of the Cross for Youth April 16 Sunday Easter Celebration with Egg Hunt Parish Finances: During the month of January we received donations of $8,202. This is well under the budgeted amount of $9,417, based on pledges received for This deficit, combined with quarterly payments of payroll taxes and property/ liability insurance, required that we transfer $2,500 from our savings reserve. Please check to determine if your donations are current. We are grateful to those who are current and faithfully support our ministry. 4

5 Quiet Discernment: How Can I know God s Will For My Life? Once we receive Christ by faith, we are made God s children (John 1:12), and He desires to lead us in His way (Psalm 143:10). God is not trying to hide His will from us; He wants to reveal it. God Nudges us, He gives us an Intuition or Inner Knowing. We receive answers to prayer. Guidance through listening. We gain a sense of gratitude. Through HIS Holy Word. By being assertive; interviewing people, finding out information, doing research and listening for God s guidance. By looking backwards in our life and see God s has given us direction and been present to us. By observing the sense of purpose God gives our lives. He will continue doing this. Ask God for guidance and listen as He speaks through people. God guides those who seek His will and not their own. 1-Knowing God s will is sometimes difficult because it requires patience. It s natural to want to know all of God s will at once, but that s not how He usually works. He reveals to us a step at a time each move a step of faith and allows us to continue to trust Him. The important thing is that, as we wait for further direction, we are busy doing the good that we know to do (James 4:17). 2-3-If we are walking closely with the Lord and truly desiring His will for our lives, God will place His desires in our hearts. The key is wanting God s will, not our own. Delight yourself in the LORD and He will give you the desires of your heart (Psalm 37:4). 5

6 Youth Snow Day to Stirling City On Sunday, January 22, six youth and four adults headed for Stirling City snow. We made our own sledding hill and had a great time in the snow! Next fun Youth Event is scheduled for Monday, Feb 20th at 11 AM. (President s Day Holiday) This will be a Snow Day or a Sacramento Trip to the Train Museum or Trampoline Park. Please come and join us for this fun event! Nicci Lawhun and family, You are Salt and Light! We are headed to Magalia to deliver Christmas gifts to the trailer park. Nicole Lawhun and her family brought the love of Jesus to 15 families. Thank you Nicci for inspiring us to be salt and light to families in need in Magalia! 6