Traveling by air these days is not much fun.  Complicate the matter with the flu and you've got the makings of a trip from Hades. Blessedly, I survived the flights to and from Denver: the overbooking and delays, the gentlemen in the row ahead of me who chose to share his phone conversation with the whole plane, even after he was told to please turn off his phone, the lukewarm coffee...and to think, I'd prefer to travel by air.  Go figure.

The wedding was beautiful...bride and groom, Cheryl and Mike, were a most beautiful and charming couple.  With my energy level so low, I sort of hid away through part of the reception, choosing to sit quietly, away from the crowd in order to cough and wheeze in private.  I would not have missed the wedding for anything, but I'm glad to be home and am itching to get back to work at church again.

Please take this in the manner it is intended...but it is my hope we all put this "itch" to work for our church...to be part of the "team," active members of the community of St. Nicholas.  We all have a share in the life of this church.  If we desire to see St. Nicholas thrive and grow, to move forward while maintaining our traditions as we reverently and with joy worship our God, we must roll up our sleeves and be part of the lasting solution.  We've made great strides forward and there is a renewed enthusiasm and energy stirring in our community.  There are opportunities galore for everyone...our rummage sale later this summer will require lots of help, Bible Study after the 10am Sunday Liturgy is a wonderful time to reflect on scripture while strengthening our ties with one another, food pantry every first and third Wednesdays of the month is alive and well and help is needed to organize and clean the shelves periodically, the garden will be planted soon and I'm sure Bill Barlow would welcome some green thumb assistance, there's always room in the choir for another voice or two, children's formation is welcoming additional creative assistance, readers and acolytes for worship are needed weekly, the Saturday afternoon Liturgy is searching for occasional help with playing the piano or organ and the Giving Tree provides plenty of sharing opportunities to help maintain our facility and programs.   There's lots going on and it is our hope we continue to grow.  While life in a parish slows down some with the onset of the summer months, our doors remain open.   We are open for business.  Life continues even with the summer heat! 

We are blessed to have such a wonderful place to worship, a marvelous facility that is abuzz with activity 7 days a week.  Yet, we must all keep scratching that itch...doing what we can, when we can, to ensure that St. Nicholas remains a vibrant house of worship and a center of activity that welcomes all.  We've many hands...so let's keep scratching, doing our share to make sure we build and maintain the best Community of St. Nicholas possible.     

Peace to all,

-Manny    

manny@stnicholasepiscopal.org 

Thanks to:

Eve Gatwood,  Eason Williams,  Bill Kubovy and Bob Kalicki, who endured heavy rains and sticky heat in moving the food pantry over to its new space in Holy Innocents Hall...so many benefit from this tremendous ministry!