My dear sisters and brothers, all I am able to say, in all humility is Thank You.

For the past few weeks, we have busied ourselves, preparing for our annual St. Nicholas rummage sale.  The many, many hours of labor-- back-breaking at times and always exhausting--finally came to fruition this past Friday and Saturday.  Neither the heat of Friday nor the blackened sky and torrential rains of Saturday kept the avid buyer away.  Certainly, we had hoped for brisker business.  Then again, we were grateful for every one who came through our doors and exited with arms filled with purchases.  We even considered holding the sale an additional weekend, as we still had a large surplus of sellable goods.  Ultimately, the decision was made to share our leftovers with a not-for-profit that cares for battered and abused women and children.  We have been blessed...it is truly fitting and in keeping with our Christian tradition to share with others so they, too, may garner God's blessings.  By 6pm on Saturday evening, Holy Innocents Hall was once again a hall and our worship space blessedly, regained its sacred identity, aside from the gas grill that will soon finds its new home outdoors! 

All of this, my friends, was possible because of the collective use of communal elbow grease, dedication, determination and love shared and put on display for the greater good...that being our Community of St. Nicholas.  In all honesty, there are just so many to thank.  I am so impressed and overcome at how quick the response was to roll up sleeves, put shoulders to the wheel and go about getting things done.  Such efforts must be communal if success is to be achieved.  Success was achieved.  Yet, the greatest achievement was the way everyone present proved to be leaders; doing their job with skill, care and consideration.  If I were wearing a vest, I'd have popped the buttons!  I was so proud of everyone.  There were so many of our community members who gave their all.   Though, to name each and every one would be difficult and I would hate to over look someone. What really touched me was how new members of the community worked side by side with long time members...just like a family; everyone belonged and everyone was welcomed.

As for next year; let's make an even greater effort to attract more volunteers from the community, creating more leaders, more contact with our neighbors and even more success.  This is no mere pipe-dream, either.  Rather, this is the reality that we must embrace, as we continue to strive forward, as we go about building our community of faith and the

manny@stnicholasepiscopal.org 

The garage is up - accomplished in one day!  I guess things go smoothly and efficiently when you know your business.  Now to move things from the vicarage garage to the new one, but we can take our time and not rush!

-Pat

pat@stnicholasepiscopal.org 

Thanks to:

To everyone who contributed to the success of our rummage sale...the effort put forth is  

a true testimony of what the community of St. Nicholas is all about!  God bless us all.