St. Nicholas CommunityNews from Nick:

The Newsletter for the Community of St. Nicholas

 

1072 Ridge Avenue, Elk Grove Village, IL  60007

( 847 ) 439 - 2067

 

www.StNicholasEpiscopal.org

     

 

October 27-November 2, 2011 


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Upcoming Events
 

Worship

Saturdays - 4:30 pm

Sundays - 10:00 am

 

Food Pantry

1st, 3rd & 4th Wednesdays

4:30-6:00 pm

     

Choir Practice 

Every Wednesday, 6:45 pm 

 

Wednesday Evening Eucharists

Every Wednesday at 6 pm thru May 30, 2012 

 

Getting Involved
St. Nicholas is not a building, it's a community that belongs to all of us.  All are encouraged to participate to the fullest extent.  Below are some of the ways you can get involved, along with contact persons.  There are sign-up sheets on the bulletin boards above the drinking fountain at St. Nicholas.  Please take time to sign up. 

Acolytes (who assist at the Altar at our services)
Contact Pat Kalicki
Acolytes

Altar Guild
(care for and prepare the materials used in our worship services)
Contact Katie Black or Audrey Cannon

Book Discussion Group 

Bread Bakers
(who make fresh, homemade bread for our Saturday & Sunday Eucharists)

Buildings & Grounds
Contact Bob Kalicki

Children's Formation Program
Contact Manny Borg, Val Gruenwald, John Knepper or Jan Tossman 
Children's Programs

Choir
(whose members sing at Sunday services and rehearse each Wednesday at 6:45pm)
Choir Easter 2011

Cleaning
(our members dust, vacuum, mop, clean our kitchen & bathrooms and wash windows) so that more of our resources can be used for mission & ministry)
Sign up at this link or on the bulletin board at church

Community Outreach Team
Contact Jan Tossman
Welcome!

Holy Innocents Food Pantry

Intercessors
(those who lead the prayers of the people at our services)
Contact Pat Kalicki

Lectors
(those who proclaim the biblical readings at our services)
 

Lectionary

Contact Pat Kalicki

 

Liturgy Planning Team
Contact Manny Borg

Music for Saturday Liturgy
Contact Hal Stratton

Newsletter
(weekly News from Nick
email)

Oblation Bearers
(those who bring the gifts of bread, wine, juice, money, donations to our food pantry to the altar during our services)
Contact Pat Kalicki

Stewardship

Website
Contact Ginny Gibbs

Contact Us...

Manny Easter 2011

Steve Raftery, Jr. Warden

Paul
Paul Brouillette, Assisting Pastor

Mary at organ
Mary Fletcher-Gomez, Organist/Choirmaster
News From Our Diocese
We encourage you to sign up for our diocese's new email newsletter to keep up with news and events from the larger community.

Click here to sign up.

 

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.

In This Issue
+Reminder: 2012 Pledge Campaign
+Teach Our Children Well
+Dominick's E-Scrip: Please Renew Registration of Your Dominick's Fresh Values Card Today!
+Bishop's Committee News
+All Saints Celebrations
+Thanksgiving for Healing Ministry
+Flower Fund
+Arts, Crafts & Vendor Show in EGV
Shout Outs
+Midweek Eucharist
+Upcoming Scripture Readings & Resources
+Prayer Requests

-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.


2012 Pledge Campaign Reminder
Pledge 2012Reminder: We hope you are considering your pledge to St. Nicholas for 2012.  As we wrote earlier, our hope is for every household at St. Nicholas to submit a pledge form for 2012 by November 20 so that we may plan for next year's budget.

Pledge forms are at this link and on the shelf just outside the worship space.

We are most grateful for the many ways all the members of the Community of St. Nicholas support our mission and ministries.

Of course, we are always seeking your gift of time and talent as well.  Please take a look at the Getting Involved column at left and see if there is a ministry you feel called to share in.

More information may be found at this link.
 
Teach Our Children Well

Manny at Pet Blessing

As Liturgies go, I have found our weekly celebrations to be ever joyful. Whether it be during the "interior" and "preparational" seasons of Advent and Lent, the festive seasons of Christmas and Easter or in the time we refer to as Sundays after Pentecost when the clergy garb is green, there is a vitality and spirit that permeates and is divinely infectious. I feel, well, joyful when we celebrate; when we lift our voices and hearts in prayer, in song, when we break bread and pour the juice that comes from the fruit of the vine...there dwells within me a happiness that is hard to explain, yet should be easily recognized by the smile on my face and should be a sure give-away of the true joy that is alive and well. Certainly, it is my deepest hope that the joy I feel is shared and experienced by every person who worships with us within the sacred walls of our community of St. Nicholas.

 

Last Sunday, we were blessed with special visitors: our sisters and brothers of the Little Bulgarian School. They treated us to wonderful ethnic music and lively and lovely dance. Their youthful and beautiful faces, colorful costumes and electric energy made this humble spectator giddy with happiness and glee. Jesus requested that the children come to him: we took His lead and the children came to us. And we are all the richer for their visit.

  

Our children are the face of our church and the future of our faith community. They are to be a constant reminder of the immense gift they are to us all. Their innocence is a blessing in the midst of such negativity and a world darkened and stained by war, violence and sin. Yet, and in spite of humankind, our world still is a beautiful place. Our children will be entrusted to care for it in spite of the careless treatment the world is often shown.  

 

It is important and essential that we have a program and activities for our young ones. We must provide religious formation in an enjoyable and informative manner; a program that is theirs and only theirs. We have some very dedicated and determined members working very hard to create just such a program. Val Gruenwald, Jan Tassman and John Knepper have done their homework, burned some midnight oil and prayerfully are piecing together a program that will provide for our children. God bless these wonderful people and all of our family members who in the past have been involved in creating, organizing and teaching our children...a great amount of blessings and credit to a great many caring, loving and concerned parish family members.

 

We ask our parents and grandparents and all our members to be mindful of the schedule for our Children's Program: each 1st Sunday of the month will be both Children's Liturgy and Celebration Sunday. We hope that our children will read the Scripture passages, bring forward to the altar the gifts of bread, wine and donations to the food pantry. They will be invited to remain around the altar, if they so wish. And if they are willing and desiring, they will be invited to share in the role of chalice bearer at Holy Communion. The 3rd Sunday of the month, the children will be read the Gospel in wording that is better suited for them. They will rejoin the community and are invited to put their creative energies to work with religious material that challenges, entertains and allows them to put their artistic talents to good use. The other Sundays of the month, the children are welcome to stay at the Sharing Table in the rear of the worship space and work, together, in playful prayer. They have their own space, yet they remain with us, safe and secure.

 

"Let the children come to me..." Jesus still speaks these words and we must respond. In true St. Nicholas fashion, we will make it happen, in a spirit of love, grace and always for the greater glory of God and the love for our children.

 

-Manny

[email protected]  

Dominick's E-Scrip - Renew by November 1
Time is running out to renew with Dominick's!

Dominick's records indicate that as of October 19th, St. Nicholas Episcopal Church has 33 that still need to renew.  In order to continue to earn from  Dominick's Club Card purchases, these families must be renewed by November 1st.  If they do not renew, their contributions to St. Nicholas will STOP.

Please visit
www.escrip.com, and click on the "Yes" button with the checkmark in the lower left part of the screen.  On the next page, go to the bottom and choose "Dominick's" for the type of card and enter your card number.

Each supporter has the potential to earn $50 from Dominick's for each year. 

If you have any questions, please contact Pat Kalicki.
Bishop's Committee News -  
The Bishop's Committee has approved the Parish Profile compiled by the Search Team - Hal, Cyndi, Benny, Katie, Jon, Tess, and Denise.  The Search Team is to be commended for the very professional job and the hard work they put into this project.  It has now been submitted to the Diocese for approval by Bishop Lee.  If (and I'm sure he will) Bishop Lee gives his approval, the Parish Profile will be submitted to the Office of Transition Ministry (OTM) for publication - one step further in the process of calling our future vicar.

Pat Kalicki
All Saints Celebrations
allsaints

November 5/6, we will celebrate All Saints' Weekend
; which is one of the seven (7) Principal Feasts of the Episcopal Church and an opportunity for us to renew our Baptismal Covenant. 
As a show of solidarity and support, an invitation to members of the community of St. Nicholas to attend the All Saints 10 am Liturgy at St. Bede's, Bensenville on November 6th.  Please consider spending time in worship with our sisters and brothers at St. Bede's.  Consider this: join us at St. Nicholas on Saturday afternoon November 5th for our 4:30 Liturgy and Sunday, November 6th at St. Bede's for 10 am Liturgy. 
Thanksgiving for Healing Ministry
St. LukeI want to personally thank Fran and Tony Begonja for ministering healing prayers (in honor of Luke, the Physician) to those of us who desired/needed it this weekend.  I felt love and compassion generating from the two of them, as they gently touched and prayed over me.  Coupled with Hal's beautiful music in the background, I was literally overwhelmed with emotion, and felt a stronger connection with God than I have in awhile.  It was not only a moving moment for me, but a beautiful and heart-felt addition to our service.  On behalf of the congregation, I just want to say, Thank You, Fran and Tony, for your very special prayers and significant presence at St. Nick's.     

-
Jan Tossman
Flower Fund
Christmas flowers
 
Chirstmas is a mere two months away and while it may not be what we have on our minds just now, we must be mindful that the holiday season will be upon us before we know it.  Please donate to the Flower Fund and honor a loved member of your family or a friend with a flower or plant to celebrate the feast of Christ's birth.  Whatever funds are recieved will go toward flowers for Christmas with remaining funds to be used at Easter.  Thank you, one and all, for your generosity and kindness.  God bless us all, this community of St. Nicholas.
Christmas presentsArts, Crafts and Vendor Show in the Village...

On Sunday, Nov. 6th, from 10am to 4pm, the Elk Grove Village High School will be hosting their annual Arts, Crafts and Vendor Show.  All are welcome to come, browse and shop.  Perhaps in the market for some hand-made holiday gift?   Admission is $3.00. 
Shout Out
Thank you!Thanks to:

Our Little Bulgarian School for their wonderful presentation last Sunday.  The dancing, music and warm smiles were simply lovely. 
"Blagodarya vi i bog vi blagoslovi"
(Thank you and God bless you)

To Tony and Fran Begonja for sharing their Healing Ministry with us last Saturday at our 4:30 Liturgy.

To our dedicated pantry staff; for your care, consideration and compassion. 

To the Search Committee and Bishop's Committee for their continued hard work in calling forth our next Vicar.

To our Support Groups who do so much, silently and behind the scenes to keep St. Nicholas humming.
Midweek Eucharist
A reminder that we celebrate Eucharist each Wednesday at 6PM.  Come enjoy this mid-week community time.
Scripture
Upcoming Scripture Readings

 

October 30, 2011 - The Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost  

 

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.  

Prayer Requests

For the people of Turkey as they rebuild after a devasting earthquake.

 

Eileen Maher, sister of Mary Beth Jarvis, as she recovers from a stroke.   

 

Homer Blevins, great-uncle to Hal Stratton who passed away last week.

 

Michael Keating 

 

Katie Martin

 

Melissa Coolidge

 

Our sisters and brothers at St. Bede's Church, as they go through the transition of merging with St. Nicholas.  

 

Monica Nave 

 

Hope Smith

Ethel (Corkey) Stratton, the mother of Hal Stratton, for a speedy and full recovery from surgery and a speedy return home. 

 

Eunice Dohra

Marie Butera, mother of Denise Butera, and Anna Stefaniak & Denise Butera 

Audrey Cannon

Godfrey James Catanus, Paul Swanson's friend who is out of coma and in recovery.

Beth Jarvis as she begins the transition of moving away. 

   

Carrie Loos

 

Richard and Mary Gans

 

Paul Brouillette

  

For those in transition: those searching for work, those who are moving and those encountering changes in life.

 

For success and blessings during this time of discernment and search for our new vicar.