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

     

 

December 1-7, 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
+The Reign of Christ
+Episcopal Church 101 Continues This Sunday
+Christmas at St. Nicholas
+2012 Pledge Drive Update
+Shout Outs
+New Socks for New Friends
+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

As we continue our conversation about Stewardship, we need to Mannyremind ourselves of the importance of how we can all contribute "time, talent and treasure" to make sure our community of St. Nicholas continues to grow stronger and self-sustaining.  As a means to this effort, I felt it wise to print and share the wonderful sermon preached by Fr. Jim Steen about this very matter in the hopes that those who were not able to be with us in church can also benefit from his uplifting message.  Stewardship is ownership...let's all commit ourselves to being fully engaged in the day to day ministries of our community of faith and seeing to it we help move our church forward and onward, with God's help and the assistance and love of each member who calls St. Nicholas 'my home.'   Here is Jim's sermon: 

 

The Reign of Christ - Year A

St. Nicholas, Elk Grove Village  

S. James Steen

Matthew 25:31-46  

November 19, 2011

 

In 1885 Leo Tolstoy wrote a story about a cobbler named Martin, a good, honest, and respected man who experienced more than his share of pain during his life. Over time, all of his elder children died; then his wife died, too, leaving him with a three-year old son. Martin loved the boy and sacrificed a great deal to provide him with a home. Then, just as the child reached an age when he could be a support and a joy to Martin, he, too, contracted a raging fever and died. That was too much for Martin. He became bitter and murmured against God; and he rejected the Church. Would you blame him?

 

One day an elderly religious pilgrim from Martin's native village happened by, and Martin poured out his heart to the holy man. He reproached God, cursed his fate, and told the man that he only prayed to die. The monk showed Martin no sympathy. He chastised him, saying that the reason he was miserable was that his goal in life was his own happiness, rather than living for God. When Martin asked him how to do this, how to live for God, he told him to buy a book of the Gospels where he could learn from Jesus.

 

Probably more from desperation than anything else, Martin bought the book and began reading it, only occasionally at first, then more and more. Eventually, he wanted to read the Gospels constantly and he found that they were changing him. As he read, over time he began to feel different: happier, even joyful. He was especially moved by the story of Simon the Pharisee, who failed to show hospitality to Jesus, and by passages urging generosity like the one where Jesus says, "From anyone who takes away your coat do not withhold even your shirt. Give to everyone who begs from you; and if anyone takes away your goods, do not ask for them again." It became clear to Martin that living for God meant showing hospitality to the stranger and becoming what some might call foolishly generous. He came to understand that living this Gospel of Christ wasn't just a matter of dabbling in generous hospitality; it was something to which he would have to dedicate his life.

 

One night Martin had an odd dream or vision and heard a voice say, "Martin, Martin! Look out into the street to-morrow, for I shall come." After waking up the next morning, he wasn't quite sure that the vision was real, but he couldn't get it out of his mind, either. While mending boots and looking out the window, during the day Martin saw three people in serious need, and he invited each of them into his house. The first, an old man weary from shoveling snow, he invited in and slaked his thirst with tea and fed his soul with the Gospel's message of love.

 

Next he saved a woman and her baby when he brought them in out of the bitter cold and gave them food, warm clothes, and money. Finally, he saved a juvenile thief from an old woman's wrath and ended up converting her to forgiveness and turning the two into friends in the process.

 

After the last of these encounters, Martin went back into the house and, after finishing his work, he opened the Bible and began reading the passage to which the book fell open: "for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing." And at the bottom of the page he read, "Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me." And Martin understood that his dream had come true; and that the Savior really had come to him that day, and he had welcomed him.

 

As Martin discovered, opportunities to show such generosity are all around us. So are opportunities to find the joy that comes with generosity.

 

You might think that generosity is something we either have or we don't have. I've learned that, as with so many other qualities that we admire, that isn't necessarily true. Looking back at growing up in my family, I'm aware that my mother was always generous. I suspect that there had so much generosity in her family that, being raised with parents who were lavish with their love - they actually didn't have much money - she never learned how to be stingy.

 

To give you some idea of who true this was, when my son, Jeremy turned 16, my parents gave him a mustang. It wasn't that they were wealthy, just very generous. Jeremy was a good kid and a jock, the sort who gave his parents little to worry about during those turbulent adolescent years. However, armed with his driver's license and his new car, he had a date one night that he had to impress; so he let her drive his new car and in short order she totaled it. I was fit to be tied. How could Jeremy have used such poor judgment? The girl didn't even have a driver's license.

 

I knew I had to call my parents and tell them what had happened. I fretted and stewed about it for quite some time. Finally, I called and my mother answered. I told her what had happened, bemoaning Jeremy's poor judgment and the destruction of their gift. In my state of anxiety, I was totally shocked when my mother replied, "Who among us hasn't used poor judgment? I'm sure this will be a great lesson to Jeremy. Now go out and get him another car." That response may seem outrageous to you, as initially it did to me. But upon further reflection, I've come to view this event as a kind of modern day version of the parable of the prodigal son.

 

My father was quite a different story, and you only had to meet his parents to get a sense of why. His mother, especially, clung to whatever she had with such tenacity that she developed the physical appearance of a tight, pinched person. But living with my mother for over sixty years, my father didn't have a chance. I could see this as a child. Little by little, moved by her example and by her not always so gentle prodding, he began to open up and to risk forays into the land of generosity. By the time I was in college, my father was a complete convert, and I was keenly aware of this because I was a beneficiary of his largess.

 

We all have good raw material: We are formed in the image of God. What could be better? But cutting, chiseling, and polishing that raw material is another matter. Like becoming a professional musician, an outstanding athlete, or proficient in prayer, becoming a generous person takes practice. And I am convinced that the more we practice the more proficient we become. As Malcolm Gladwell tells us in his book "Outliers," although different people have innate gifts for different things, what distinguishes the truly great in any field is not how gifted they are but how much they practice becoming more proficient at their craft.

 

This is a stewardship message. There are of course many reasons for us to be generous when it comes to how we use our resources. When it comes to the church, the more generous we are, the more effectively the church can carry out its mission to transform lives. But it isn't all about altruism, and I'm not opposed to a little healthy self interest. Yes, I give to the church because I believe that when the Christian community is at its best, we offer the world a glimpse of the kingdom of God, which is the world's best hope. But I also give because I know that being generous changes me and offers me a glimpse, however fleeting, of what it is to become the person God sees when God looks at me; and that is an experience of pure joy.

 

Amen.

 

-Manny

manny@stnicholasepiscopal.org 

 

Episcopal Church 101

We never stop learning.  There's always some thing new to discover or perhaps 'rediscover' and appreciate in new lights and colors. 

Fourteen of us gathered last Sunday for the beginning of Episcopal Church 101, led by Deacon Tom Smith.

We will continue this program this Sunday, December 4 after the 10am Liturgy.  We'll gather in the Noah's Ark Room.   Bring your coffee, snacks and an open mind and heart as we delve deeper into a better and more enlightened understanding of our Church and our role in this community of faith. 

All are welcome, regardless of whether you were able to attend the first session!
Christmas at St. Nicholas
The Nativity of Christ iconPlease plan to join us on Christmas Eve and / or Christmas Day. All are welcome!  Here is the service schedule:

Christmas Eve

4:30 P.M. A Service for the Young and Young-at-Heart

9:00 P.M. A Festival of Lessons and Carols with Eucharist

Christmas Day

10:00 A.M. Festive Christmas Service

Where better to spend Christmas than at St. Nick's?

2012 Pledge Drive
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 as soon as possible so that we may plan for next year's budget.

As of Sunday, November 27, we have received 21 pledge forms for a total of $37,684.  Our goal is a pledge from every household at St. Nicholas.

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 Outs
Thank you!Thanks to:
Harry the Plumber and Marv for the repair work done to the sinks in the sacristy and boiler room...hello to clean sinks and goodbye to clogged drains and constant dripping!

The Welcoming Committee who continue to do amazing things in an effort to bring the Good News of Christ and St. Nicholas to all people.

Cindy Goodwin and her 'green thumb,' as she keeps our plants looking so good.
New Socks for New Friends...
As the weather gets colder, our efforts to keep warm and dryincreases.  We go to our dresser and get a clean pair of socks, slip them on and we're set.  However, the sad news is so many of our sisters and brothers are not so fortunate.  The community of St. Nicholas, in cooperation with the Episcopal Diocese of Chicago will collect, throughout the winter season, new socks.  Donations can be placed in the basket that will be on display.  The collected socks will be distributed to the needy to help make their winter a bit warmer, dryer and safer.  Your generosity and assistance are deeply appreciated.  God bless us the good people of St. Nicholas, who, as always give from the heart.   
Scripture
Advent Wreath 2008Upcoming Scripture Readings

 

December 3/4 - The Second Sunday in Advent

 

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 repose of the soul of St. Virginia Handrup, SSSF, a life-long friend of Eunice.  Sr. Virginia was killed by a car while crossing a street in Kenosha, Wisconsin.  May she rest in the full peace of Christ.  
 
Alyssa Niemiec , Manny's niece, and 3 other passengers who were involved in a serious, roll-over car accident; for their full and complete recover.
 
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, as she continues to recover from surgery and a nasty fall. 

 

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.