Christmas Eve 2011 

News from Nick:

The Newsletter for the Community of St. Nicholas

 

1072 Ridge Avenue, Elk Grove Village, IL  60007

( 847 ) 439 - 2067
www.StNicholasEpiscopal.org

 

January 19-25, 2012 


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Quick Links...

Upcoming Events
 

Chili Supper

February 18, 2012

 ____________


 Ongoing Events:

  

Worship

 

Wednesdays - 6:00 p.m.

Saturdays - 4:30 p.m.

Sundays - 10:00 a.m. 

 

Food Pantry

1st, 3rd & 4th Wednesdays

4:30-6:30 p.m. 

    

Choir Practice 

Wednesdays, 6:45 p.m.  

(resuming January 25)

 

 

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
+Time...
+Support Our Friends at Lord of Life This Saturday
+Speaking of Chili Suppers . . .
+St. Nicholas' Annual Meeting - February 12, 2012
+Readings for This Weekend's Services
+Shout Outs
+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
Manny

Time...

 

The Christmas season has come and gone. Few reminders remain, aside from all the 'After Christmas sales.' The lights and holiday decorations have been removed, carefully boxed and stored away for next season. Once lively and bedecked evergreen trees now line the curbsides, dried and barren, ready to be hauled away. It's always with a little sadness we say goodbye to this festive, Yuletide season. Yet, we prepare for next year, albeit twelve months in advance. We think about how to improve and enhance what was considered "absolutely perfect," that is our Christmas celebrations at St. Nicholas. We play in our minds where we will put the strands of lights or what music to have at each of our Liturgies. Never too early to plan ahead, as long as we are 'celebrating the feast,' and not just working our way through it in order to get to the next event. These seasons, celebrations and feasts are meant to be savored and enjoyed. It is time given to us to take pause, ponder and rejoice in all that God provides us.

 

I do admit; Christmas has always been a difficult time for me, having lost my Dad and both grandmothers during the Christmas holiday. Yet, I do find great joy and peace in all the church celebrations, the hymns and carols, the wide-eyed children and the warm and loving smiles of the community that gathers. Thank you, St. Nicholas for re-creating the nature of Christmas for this one, solitary man. But again, the holly and ivy have been removed and the Tom and Jerry punch bowls and cups are all put back into their boxes and stored away in the basement closets and storage space. Christmas was...and we now focus on what will be coming up next.

 

The calendar provides us some significant events for which we look forward. This week, we celebrated and paid homage to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.; a champion for civil rights and equality amongst all people. Such a simple dream; that we all live in peace...will we ever get there? Pray, we do. February rolls in and we will be busy. February 12th, Sunday, St. Nicholas holds its Annual Parish Meeting, complete with a pot luck luncheon. Bring your ideas, your voices, your conversations and your casseroles, too. We will meet immediately after the 10am Liturgy. February 14th, the love god Eros, will be busy, casting his arrows of amore. Later that week, the 18th, a Saturday, our Second Annual St. Nicholas Chili Supper is set...and I promise, less chili powder this time as I'll wear my new reading glasses when reading the recipe! The following Wednesday, February 22nd, we enter the most holy of church seasons, Lent; a time that allows and invites us to move "inwards" as we reflect and meditate upon the passion of Christ, as we build enthusiasm and excitement for the great Easter feast. And of course, come May, with great anticipation and excitement, we welcome our sisters and brothers from St. Bede's to their news spiritual home at St. Nicholas. As joyful a time as this will be, undoubtedly experience the pain and sorrow our St. Bede's family will be undergoing, as they say goodbye to their beloved home. God will give us the time to build new relationships and create a new St. Nicholas.

 

St. Mark's Gospel passage used this weekend has Jesus telling his followers that the Kingdom of God is close at hand and we are to be prepared. John the Baptist implored his followers to prepare themselves, for the Messiah is soon to come. We are to pay heed to both St. John the Baptist and to Jesus the Redeemer: for truly the Kingdom of God is close at hand and we are called to help build this kingdom here on earth and truly Jesus will return to us and we are to be prepared for the Messiah's arrival. God gives us time to prepare and to help build God's kingdom.   Let's use it wisely, with love and compassion, in service and in worship, in humility and with pride in our efforts. Time is God's gift to all and it's a gift none of us should ever wish to exchange!

 

-Manny

manny@stnicholasepiscopal.org

  

Support Our Friends at Lord of Life This Saturday!

This Saturday January 21st, Lord of Life Lutheran Church in Schaumburg is hosting their Chili Supper. There will be many door and raffle prizes along with delicious chili. We are all invited to attend this event but we do ask that you RSVP by contacting Jessica Tamaski (tamaskij@dupage.edu or 630-607-2258). Lord of Life has supported our Chili Supper in numerous ways and it would be great if St. Nicholas could do the same.

 

Doors open at 5:30.  Dinner is served at 6.

 

119 West Wise Road

Schaumburg, IL60193

(near the corner of Wise and Roselle Rd.)

 

Speaking of Chili Suppers . . .

Chili SupperWith our own Chili Supper date approaching fast (February 18), we are asking for community members to bring tables and chairs to the church to ensure that we have enough for the number of people we are expecting to attend this event this year. If you are able to loan the church some tables and/or chairs we ask that you place your name on the bottom along with contacting Jessica Tamaski (tamaskij@dupage.edu or 630-607-2258).

 

Also if you have new items that you would like to donate for the use of door/raffle prizes please contact Jessica Tamaski (tamaskij@dupage.edu or (630)607-2258). If you would like to make a cash donation to help offset the costs of the Chili Supper please make checks payable to St. Nicholas and mark Chili Supper in the memo.


Thank you!
St. Nicholas Annual Meeting - February 12
The St. Nicholas Annual Meeting will take place on Sunday, February 12, 2012, following the 10AM liturgy.  If you are able, please bring a dish to share as we'll also enjoy a potluck lunch.

All are most welcome and encouraged to attend this meeting where we'll discuss our shared ministry for 2012 and our budget and finances.  We'll also elect lay leaders.
 
Readings for This Weekend
Shout Outs
Thank you!
To everyone who pitched in and helped take down and store all the Christmas decorations. 

To Clearmont School and our own snow-removers who took care of the season's first significant snow fall.  Let's all hope our winter is light and easy on us all.

To all who contribute to and assist at our food pantry...the generosity of our community goes a very long way in aiding others in our community.
Prayer Requests

Guadalupe Ramirez, grandmother of Benny Delgado, who is in the hospital due to a serious brain illness. 

Barbara Bonkowski, who was recently hospitalized, and is now home.
 
Lauren Wozniak, granddaughter of Eunice Dohra, who is spending a college semester studying in Rome; for her safety and well-being.

Paul Widem, a long-time friend of Nancy Allan, who has been hospitalized for several months; for his recovery and well being.

Joyce Marks and the entire Marks Family:  Joyce is recovering from a serious head surgery.  The Marks Family are dear and long-time friends of Nancy Allan. 
 
For the homeless, the marginalized, the needy and the ostracized; that God provide them strength, peace and security.

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

 

The Martin Family: Karen, Tom and Katie 

 

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

 

Hope Smith

Ethel (Corkey) Stratton, the mother of Hal Stratton, as she continues to recover from surgery and a nasty fall. 

 

Eunice Dohra

Richard and Mary Gans

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

 

Paul Brouillette

  

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