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

     

 

November 17-23, 2011 


Find us on Facebook 
Quick Links...

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.  Please visit this link on our website for a list of current ministries and contact persons.   There are sign-up sheets on the bulletin boards above the drinking fountain at St. Nicholas.  Please take time to sign up.  
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
+Stewardship = Ownership
+I am St. Nick
+Shout Outs
+Votive Candles Needed...
+Bishop's Committee News
+Thanksgiving Eve Eucharist: Wednesday, November 23
+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.


Reflection from Manny

 

Stewardship = Ownership 

Manny    

No one, especially yours truly enjoys talking about financial matters. I have said this before and undoubtedly will say it again: finances are such a personal and private subject. In a church setting, these conversations are even more intimate. Growing though we are, we remain, and blessedly so, a very close-knit and immensely friendly and loving family of faith. This is our strength: the way we relate to one another. We see, recognize and embrace Christ in each member of our community. The gifs of faith, hope and love, all deeply rooted in our common and collective affection for Jesus our Redeemer. Yes, what blessed and beautiful gifts we do share.

 

In order for us to continue to foster this community of St. Nicholas, the "bricks and mortar," the financial matters of this church must be discussed, dealt with openly, honestly and in a spirit of cooperative assistance. And all this action must be for the "greater good," creating God's Kingdom on earth as we build and "reconstruct" our St. Nicholas Church. Prayer and faith are the foundation of our church...always was and always will be. Yet, there is another equally important facet of this foundation: and that is Stewardship...what we contribute, in time, talent and financially, our treasure, to St. Nicholas.

 

Prayer and faith, indeed, keep us moving forward and onward. But, faith, though we wish it could, does not pay the bills, at least not directly. The generosity and sacrifice of all community members is what, in a pragmatic sense, keeps our lights on and our doors open. Stewardship is ownership of our church: an equal share of this place we all lay claim to. St. Nicholas belongs to all of us!

 

This weekend, we are fortunate to have Fr. Jim Steen with us. Fr. Jim was recently appointed a member of the Executive Team of the Diocese of Chicago. He will be preaching at both weekend Liturgies, speaking directly on the subject of Stewardship, what it means to us and how it affects our church. Fr. Jim will make himself available for questions and answers.

 

My friends, there is no magic wand nor are we expecting any pot of gold at the rainbow's end. What we have is a beautiful and blessed family of faith, a comfortable and pleasant place to worship and the promise of a loving God to never abandon us, as we are always in the palm of His hand. We all make the same commitment to our church, to one another and ultimately to our brother, Jesus...that we shall keep Jesus and one another at the center of our heart and in our daily prayers...and that is as it should be. Stewardship in action and see what amazing things we can do together!

 

-Manny

[email protected] 

 

I am St. Nick
We hope you've taken some time to read the I am St. Nick email sent earlier this week.  And, we hope you're considering submitting your own story about how the community of St. Nicholas touches and changes your life. 

New ministries have begun and new people are participating in ongoing ministries at St. Nicholas.  In addition to your time, talent, love and energy, we hope that you'll contribute your monetary resources, which, in addition to your other valued gifts, enable us to continue to change lives--our own and those of others who are part of the St. Nicholas Community.  As we continue to stress, that community includes those who worship at St. Nicholas, but also those who rely on our community for the many support groups hosted by St. Nicholas which are vital to their lives.  Our community includes our guests who come to our food pantry, and those who seek a welcome and warm embrace as they drop by during the week. 

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

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.

Of course, we are always seeking your gift of time and talent as well.  Please take a look at the "Serving" page of our website and see if there is a ministry you feel called to share in.
 
Shout Out
Thank you!Thanks to:

Random Acres Garden Center for their generous donation of vegetables to our food pantry.

Our dedicated volunteers who helped pick up donated food in Romeoville and move into the storage area...lots of work and all done with happiness and joy.

Our very own Tim "tool man" Black who kept chilly winds and uninvited critters outside the church by caulking badly sealed windows. 

Our dear friend, Carin Lewandowski, a supporter of St. Nicholas and former co-worker with Manny, who donated financial assistance to our food pantry to help provide holiday food for Thanksgiving. 
Votive Candles Needed...

Next time you come across votive candles, please collect and bring to St. Nicholas.  We will be needing and using quite a few during Advent as we intend to "light things up" outside.  Candles can be stored in the sacristy.  Thank you, one and all. 
Bishop's Committee News

We thank Bob DeHaven for presenting a very thoughtful and thorough format for Strategic Planning to the Bishop's Committee Sunday. The Strategic Plan will form a foundation for the Outreach Team's Marketing Plan. We hope to involve several members of St. Nicholas in forming the Strategic Plan and we will be using the data that you have given us in the small group meetings, along with the data you submitted to the CAT survey. We have heard you and want to move forward using many of your ideas.
 
The Diocese of Chicago will be holding their 174th Annual Convention Friday, November 18, and Saturday, November 19, at the Westin Lombard Yorktown Center in Lombard. Attending from St. Nicholas will be Fr. Manny; Cyndi DeBock and Hal Stratton as Delegates; and Steve Raftery and Pat Kalicki as Alternate Delegates.

 

Pat Kalicki

Thanksgiving Eve Eucharist
All are welcome to begin their Thanksgiving celebrations by attending the 6PM Eucharist on Wednesday, November 23. 

A reminder that we celebrate Eucharist each Wednesday at 6PM.  Come enjoy this mid-week community time.
Scripture
Upcoming Scripture Readings

 

November 19/20, 2011 - The Last Sunday after Pentecost: Christ the King  

 

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 quick and complete recovery of Kathy Gilliher.
 
For the repose of the soul of Mr. Raymond R. Raufeisen, father of David Raufeisen.  May his soul and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.
Amen.


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 

 

The Martin Family: Karen, Tom and Katie 

 

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

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 next vicar.