News from St. Nicholas Episcopal Church

Text Week is a great resource for our lectionary readings. Check it out here for resources including essays and commentaries for the Holy Week & Easter lessons.

The Episcopal Church uses the Revised Common Lectionary. When a choice is given for the Old Testament lesson and Psalm, at St. Nicholas we use the first option, or Track 1. More about the Revised Common Lectionary is at this link.

In This Issue

+Holy Week & Easter Service Times

+Upcoming Events

+Prayer Requests

+Upcoming Scripture Readings & Resources

+Did Jesus Sing? - A Reflection from Paul Brouillette

+Food Pantry Needs

+Bishop's Committee News

+Bible Study to Begin the Sunday after Easter

+Thanksgiving for Easter Flower Donors

+St. Nick's Shout-Outs

+Reminders: Pizza, Games and Peeps; Blessing of Easter Food, Easter Egg Hunt

-News from Nick Archive-

Miss an issue of News from Nick? Need to refer to an earlier issue? No problem--issues are archived and available at any time

at this link.

Did Jesus Sing?

Music has always been a part of my life: from grade school music classes, to high school when I sang Gregorian Chant, to college when I picked up the 5-string banjo and guitar and joined a singing group, to major seminary when I was part of a trio that performed a few concerts and played in some coffee houses in and around Chicago.

After ordination I went solo bringing music to the workplace and to the church, delivering "musical devotionals" at national YMCA conferences and other gatherings, and occasionally sharing a song as part of the liturgy at the churches where I served. I used to look forward to singing the exultet every year and loved singing the sursum corda. But now that I have a singing voice that sounds like that of Clint Eastwood, I enjoy just hearing good music, like James Taylor, Fleetwood Mac, and the fantastic sounds from Mary and the choir.

I imagine most people enjoy music of some type or another, whether it means playing a musical instrument, singing, whistling a tune, or just listening. That's why I find it hard to believe Jesus did not enjoy music in one of the forms just named.

But, low and behold, I recently came across an article written by Barbara Brown Taylor, a renowned preacher who teaches at Columbia Theological Seminary, who presented evidence from the gospels of Matthew and Mark that Jesus sang at least once. Check it out: Matthew 26:30 and Mark 14:26. At the last supper, which we celebrate on Maundy Thursday, Jesus and his friends did one last thing together before heading out into the night. "When they had sung the hymn," both gospel writers say, "they went out to the Mount of Olives."

A rabbi confirmed that it was probably the Hallel - Psalms 113 through 118 - sung during evening prayers on the first night of Passover. That same hymn is still sung today as part of the Passover prayers.

It was St. Augustine who said "those who sing pray twice," suggesting there can be thoughts expressed by the music in which a prayer is offered, separate from those expressed by the words of the prayer itself.

As we sing the hymns of sadness and joy during Holy Week and Easter, let us focus on Jesus, as I'm sure he is singing with us.

Peace,

Paul Brouillette

Food Pantry Shopping List

The Holy Innocents Food Pantry at St. Nicholas is in need of the following items:

Rice, Jello, canned spaghetti and ravioli, pasta, tuna fish, canned fruit and canned vegetables.

If you can donate any of these items, kindly place them under the Giving Tree. Thank you!

Bishop's Committee News

So that we can be good and loving neighbors, we are proceeding with plans to build a privacy fence around portions of the patio off of Holy Innocents Hall. We have received multiple estimates and decided on a builder. Hopefully, the privacy fence will be in place by the time the warm weather is here.

The Bishop's and Trustees committee (B&T)is getting three proposals from realtors for the vicarage. We have one already and will have two more this week. Once B&T has determined the realtor, the vicarage will be put on the market. Therefore, over the next couple of weeks there will be a lot of activity moving the Food Pantry.

Pat Kalicki

pat@stnicholasepiscopal.org

Bible Study to Begin after Easter

Bible Study Sundays...we will begin our Bible study after the Sunday morning 10am liturgy on May 1. We will focus on the Gospel for the following week. In preparation for our study on May 1, You will find the May 8 gospel at this link.

Grab a cup of coffee and pastry and bring your imagination. All are welcome!

Thanksgiving for Easter Flower Donors

Easter Flowers given by:

Nancy Allan in memory of Donna Allan Legacy

Simon Bare in memory of his mother, Irene Bare

Audrey Cannon in thanksgiving

Michael Craig and Sean Khor in memory of Aunt Har and Grandfather Al

Vernon Forde & Erlene Lee-Forde in thanksgiving for Charles Lee, father of Erlene

Jennifer and Brandon Garcia in memory of Paul and Thelma Dimmitt and Rose Ramos

Bob & Pat Kalicki in memory of Melissa Jean Kalicki, Casmir Kalicki, Kathryn Kalicki, Ken Kalicki, and Ray Hall

Laura Lampe in memory of her mom, Evelyn Lampe and in thanksgiving for continued good health of her dad, Nester Lampe

Steve Raftery & Hal Stratton in memory of William & Corris Raftery, Herman & Mary Myers, Alphonse & Johanna Meyer, Harold & Catherine Hart, and Thomas & Gladys Stratton

Manny Borg & Douglas VanHouten in memory of Martha & Charles Borg and in thanksgiving for the wedding of Cheryl VanHouten & Mike Storey

Tameica Williams in thanksgiving for the Williams Family

St. Nick's Shout-Outs

Thank you! Thanks to:

Paul Brouillette, for sharing a wonderful reflection in this issue of News from Nick.

Mary Fletcher-Gomez, Hal Stratton and the choir, for the hours and hours of hard work they've lovingly devoted in preparation for Holy Week and Easter services.

All who are acolyting, singing, playing, decorating, baking bread, and reading the lessons & prayers of the people for our Holy Week & Easter services.

Tim Black, for planing the back door so that it again opens and closes easily.

Audrey Cannon & Katie Black for polishing the brass bells and candle lighters this week. They look amazing!

The people of St. Simon's, Arlington Heights for their generous donation toward our food pantry. We are grateful for this partnership!

All who contributed to the Flower Fund so that our worship space may be filled with color for Easter.

In thanksgiving to those, who behind the scenes, do so much to keep St. Nicholas moving forward and onward.

Reminders

Remember to "Like Nick" on FaceBook!

Pizza and Peeps and Games! Oh, my! The next Game Night at the church is tentatively planned for Thursday April 28 at 6pm. If there is enough interest (at least 4 attending), GAME ON.

If you'd like to attend, join the St Nicholas Community Meetup group (link below) and RSVP. Pizza will be consumed, and any surviving Peeps will meet their doom. We'll have Blokus, Scrabble, and several other games to play.

If you're not attending, join the Meetup Group anyway, or share links to it on Facebook!

http://www.meetup.com/St-Nicholas-Community/

____________

Blessing of Easter food and baskets on Holy Saturday, April 23, come anytime between 11am and 2pm. How wonderful...sharing not just dinner, but blessed food with family and friends. A new tradition for all of us to celebrate at St. Nicholas.

_____________

Easter Egg Hunt...Easter Sunday morning after the 10am Liturgy. Weather permitting, the hunt will take place outside. Remember...look for the golden egg! Children of all ages and those who are young at heart are welcomed!

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.