February 27th

8^th Sunday after Epiphany A Cycle

Isaiah 49: 8-16a; Psalm 131; 1 Cor. 4: 1-5; Matt. 6: 24-34

Admittedly, we have some issues that will need the attention of everyone.  Bob Kalicki has provided us a clear picture of our financial situation...again we have some work to do, that will take the commitment and determination of the entire community of St. Nicholas.

Along with the presentation of our financial situation, we will talk of the different ministries and activities that are going on at St. Nicholas and again, there will be time for questions and comments to be shared.  This is YOUR opportunity to talk about what may be on your mind, what perhaps we've suppressed and if there's something that we can be doing and are not doing...

My friends, there are no plans on sounding any alarms and there is no intention of raising any white flag of surrender either.  It is the intention and strong desire of our Bishop's Committee that we, the Diocese and the community of St. Nicholas work together, as allies, as sisters and brothers forged with a common faith and a common bond.  In the past, there was, on occasion, an unfortunate undertone of "us versus them" when it came to the Diocese and St. Nicholas.  That will not be the case anymore...we will work together and the only 'us' that matters is the complete US...the Diocese, the good people at St. James Commons, who have been lovingly supportive of all our efforts and and the entire St. Nicholas Community!  In order for these changes to take root and grow, again, we will need the commitment and dedication of the entire community...that is, those of us who worship and celebrate our faith here, those who attend the support groups and those who are educated here and all our friends and neighbors.  We will need time: for the growth we desire does not come about overnight or in a week's time.  Blessedly, God gives us time, however short or long that time is only God knows.  And, let's not underestimate the growth that occurs within ourselves:  granted we talk a great deal about growing and increasing our numbers, let's not overlook the personal, inner and spiritual growth that is going on in all of us, as THIS is vitally important and necessary and undoubtedly will aid us in our efforts not just in our church community, but in our everyday activities with family, friends, at work and in the larger community.

This is a collective effort, this blessed task of rebuilding and reclaiming our church...we embrace the potential that exists and we move forward, not looking in the rearview mirror at "what was" but focusing clearly on what will be!  We succeed as a community and there is no conversation about failing...that's not part of the equation, not for us at the community of St. Nicholas. 

Jesus tells his followers and he is telling us...we need not be afraid.  We need not overly concern ourselves with worry. We need not be vexed with where we will find all we need...GOD PROVIDES IF WE HAVE TRUE FAITH.   However, this does not mean we just let things go to seed, that we don't all get involved because God will take care of it all for us.  This, my friends, is fideism and this is dangerous.  

"Consider the birds of the air, they neither reap nor sow nor gather into barns, yet our Heavenly Father feeds them."  Imagine, my friends, how much our Heavenly Father will feed and care for us who do reap and sow...and do so all in His name...

Every voice matters and every opinion bears weight.  So please, join in the conversation...join in the prayer and be part of the future now being formed in this, the community of St. Nicholas.    

On Ash Wednesday, March 9, we'll be making stone soup and sharing it as a meal at 5:30PM before making our way to the worship space for Ash Wednesday liturgy at 7PM. If you missed last week's News from Nick, click here for the story of Stone Soup and a further explanation. 

On Saturday, March 5 or Sunday, March 6, please bring what you wish to contribute to the stone soup.  Perhaps it's a can of beans, a carrot, some celery, a can of tomatoes, a bay leaf, or some barley.  Perhaps it's some bread or a stick of butter.  Then come back on March 9 at 5:30PM (it's OK to show up later--we're starting at 5:30 so that the choir can have time to warm up before the liturgy) for a simple meal made with all our contributions.   

We have everything we need, as long as we each use our gifts for the building up of our community. 

• Sign up to help clean our facilities.  If we pitch in and share the work, we can avoid hiring a cleaning crew.  
• Invite friends and neighbors to join us at St. Nicholas, particularly for events such as the Chili Supper.  
• Save and bring in your used ink cartridges.  There is a donation box near the Giving Tree.  
• Look for tags on the Giving Tree--there are tags for monetary gifts, as well as in-kind gifts.  We particularly need
  adhesive nametags, half & half for coffee hour, paper towels (roll), copy paper (letter-, legal- and ledger-size), coffee (regular and decaf), HP 95 and HP 98 ink cartridges for the printer. 
• Register your Dominick's Fresh Values Card (see Pat Kalicki for details).  Whenever you use your card, St. Nicholas will receive a percentage of your total purchase.  
• Click the link on our website to enter Amazon.com when you purchase from them so that St. Nicholas will receive a portion of your total purchase.  

The LGBT Spiritual Group will be meeting on Saturday, March 5, at its regular time of 5:45pm. We will only be meeting for about 30 minutes, and then, I'm glad to announce that we will be taking a "field trip", and joining our St. Nicholas' brothers and sisters at the First Annual Chili Dinner. Please come out for a robust spiritual discussion, as well as a great dinner.

-Ken Lopez   

Thanks to:

Michael Craig & Sean Khor for joining the communion bread baker rota, and to all those who make sure we have homemade bread for communion.

Pat and Bob Kalicki for their direction and hard work at our Annual Meeting.

Bob Kalicki and Bill Kubovy for facilitating a great food pick-up this week which will go a long way toward re-stocking our food pantry.

The people of St. Simon's in Arlington Heights for their very generous and ongoing donations to our food pantry. 

Katie Black and Audrey Cannon for donating a new cabinet for our sacristy.

Hal Stratton and Steve Raftery for relocating the vestment cabinet from the sacristy to the robing sacristy.

Tameica Williams for her keen suggestions about reminding the community about additional ways to give to St. Nicholas (see separate article in this issue for some of those ways).

Hal Stratton, who prepares the Saturday Liturgy bulletins.

Denise Butera who lovingly, and with the patience of a saint, copies the Saturday Liturgy bulletins.

News from Nick is published by St. Nicholas Episcopal Church, Elk Grove Village, Illinois each Thursday.

Please submit copy to Douglas by clicking here.  Deadline is Wednesday at noon.