St. Nicholas' Gathering Area

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

 

March 1-7, 2012 


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Upcoming Events
 

Anointing/Healing - led by Revs. Fran & Tony Begonja

Saturdays, March 3, 10, 17, & 24

4:30 pm Worship Service

Sundays, March 11 & 25

10 am Worship Service

 

Book Discussion  - The Power and the Glory by Graham Greene

Saturday, March 3

9:30 am - Panera's

90 Biesterfield Road, EGV

 

Meditation Prayer

led by Manny Borg

Sundays, March 4, 11 & 18

Following 10 am Worship Service

 

Children's Liturgy &

Celebration Weekend

Saturday, March 3, 4:30 pm

Sunday, March 4, 10:00 am

 

Food Pantry

Wednesdays

March 7, 21 & 28

4:30-6:30 pm

 

Bishop's Committee Meeting

Sunday, March 11

8:15 - 9:45 am

 

Children Gather at Sharing Table

Sundays, March 11 & 25

10 am

 

Noah's Ark Area - Reading of Children's Gospel

Sunday, March 18

During 10 am Worship Service

 

Executive Committee Meeting

Wednesday, March 21

6:45 pm

 

Fr. Dru Green -

Presider & Preacher

Saturday, March 24, 4:30 pm

Sunday, March 25, 10:00 am

(Manny will be at St. Bede's for this, the second pulpit swap in preparation for the people of St. Bede's merging with St. Nicholas)

 

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.  

 

 

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
+Our Comfort Zone
+Our Lenten Journey
+Mrs. Jean Nordberg - Rest in Peace
+Join us for Meditation Prayer on Sundays
+A Prayer for a Holy Lent
+Chrism Day - March 3
+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.


Our Comfort Zone...
Children's Sunday

 

For the first time ever, I watched the entire Academy Awards show last Sunday evening. I've never seen that much glitter or glam in one place. The conversations about the dresses and gowns did afford me the time to switch channels to ESPN and catch up on some hockey scores, as I have more in common with that than what famous designer created which evening gown. Quite honestly, I could go a full life time without watching the Academy Awards again. Now, know this, I don't begrudge anyone from enjoying life in the manner they see fit, assuming they aren't hurting anyone else in the process. At the risk of generalizing, most people who make up this world we know as the "film industry" march to a different drummer than yours truly. I would be uncomfortable and out of place in that kind of Red Carpet environment. Again, others are better fit for such a life style and this is perfectly fine for me.   I know where I fit and where my comfort zone is and perhaps others would not be comfortable in my little world. And that is perfectly fine and understood.

 

Lent is, if you will, a 'comfort zone' for me. This relatively short but powerful period of time is a gift all wrapped up and ready to be opened. And this is one gift I gladly accept. Quiet, meditation, reflective periods where it is only God on whom I focus...could it get any better? For me, time with the Creator is savored, embraced and warmly welcomed. Truth is, I wish for more but am very appreciative for the time I do manage to capture. There is always work to be done: emails, phone calls, letters to write and requests to make, sermons and reflections to ponder and pen, Holy Communion calls and the ever popular and ever scheduled meetings downtown, uptown and points north and west. In the midst of such scheduling--scheduling I know we can all appreciate and resonate with--there is still time for God. There must be time for God. Remember, God makes time for us, every day, every moment and  asks for very little in return. Time set aside to listen to God, to dwell in God's presence and make mental and emotional note of God's will is vital for us, as we continue on this, our spiritual journey.

 

Our participation in the weekend Liturgies, Saturday and/or Sunday is important and a wonderful means of building community while individually, we build our relationship with Jesus our Redeemer. Consider, however, paying a visit to St. Nicholas during the week, too. The church is open every day, from 10am to 1pm, while on Wednesdays the church is open all day, culminating with our 6pm Liturgy or on occasion, Evening Prayer. Stop by, pay a visit and comfort yourself in the silence and peace of our beautiful house of worship. Pray the Stations of the Cross. Meditate near the tabernacle. Or...just sit, in silence and listen to God speak to our heart. Listen...did you hear God?   God is speaking...let's listen, shall we and hear what Our Lord has to say.

 

-Manny

[email protected]

Our Lenten Journey

newWe have begun our spiritual journey through the six weeks of the Lenten season: an exercise into deeper prayer, meditation and reflection.  We welcome Jesus into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday April 1st; continue with Holy Week starting Monday, April 2nd and the holiest and highest of all Church feasts of the Triduum beginning with Maundy Thursday, April 5th, Good Friday on April 6th and of course, Holy Saturday and the glorious Easter Vigil on April 6th.  The Liturgy times for all services are as follows:

Palm Sunday, April 1st, 10am.  (There is no 4:30 Saturday afternoon Liturgy on March 31st)
Maundy Thursday, April 5th, 7pm
Good Friday, April 6th, 7pm
Holy Saturday...the Blessing of Easter Foods, from 12noon till 3pm in the church
Holy Saturday and the great Easter Vigil, 8pm

Please, come, journey and celebrate these most holy of days and enjoy the grace and spirit this beautiful Church season offers.
Mrs. Jean Nordberg, Rest in Peace
With heavy heart, we share the news that Mrs. Jean Nordberg, mother of Penny Mandziara of St. Bede's has passed away.  Jean died Sunday, February 26 at the blessed age of 86. 

Visitation is Friday, March 2 from 5 to 7pm at St. Bede's Church with a Memorial Mass at 7pm.  We invite the St. Nicholas community to come and celebrate the life of Jean Nordberg. 

St. Bede's is located at 5N047 Rt. 83 in Bensenville, 1-1/2 miles north of I-290.
Meditation Prayer on Sundays - Please Join Us!

rSundays in Lent, after the 10am Liturgy, Mediation Prayer will be offered.  Christian mediation has many forms and paths.  We will take time to silence ourselves, focus and take a quiet journey, all the while drawing closer to God in the inner-solitude of our being.  We will meet in the church near the baptistry area and Manny will lead.  All are welcomed and encouraged to be part of this Lenten Meditation Prayer experience.
A Prayer for a Holy Lent

 

Let us worship the God who calls us.

Let us bring our sacrifices of praise.

Let us declare the wonders of God.

 

We come from the broken places of the world,

gathering the shards of harried lives,

bringing our offerings of tears and joy.

 

We gather as the ever-broken,

ever-risen Body of Christ,

our lives poured out for the healing of the world,

our lives made new in the promises of God.

 

Let us build an altar

from the fragments of these broken times;

let us cry out for those who have no voice;

let us work with what we have

to help bring healing, justice and mercy

to those whose lives are filled with fear and suffering,

and let us know that God is with us

even in the dark of doubt. Amen.

                 

-Seekers Church: A Christian Community, 2001

 

Chrism Day - March 3
Chrism Oil

Join Bishop Lee at St. Paul and the Redeemer in Hyde Park.

 

All people of the diocese are invited to join Bishop Lee on Saturday, March 3 from 9 am-12:30 pm at St. Paul and the Redeemer for Chrism Day.

 

Our diocesan Chrism Mass is a time when we gather to prepare for the Paschal Holy Days. In this growing tradition, everyone is invited: lay persons, priests, deacons, and especially those who are candidates for baptism at Easter as well as their sponsors, parents and godparents. As always, ample amounts of Chrism will be available for use in the parish throughout the year.

 

The day begins with a program for children and adults and culminates at 11 am with the Chrism Mass, where we will pray together especially for those who are candidates for baptism at Easter. Bishop Lee will lay hands on the candidates with the blessings provided in the Book of Occasional Services for those making the catechumenal journey.

 

If you would like to attend the day's events, please contact Manny

 

Readings for This Weekend
Shout Outs
Thanks to:

Fran Begonja, for skillfully and graciously sewing the hem on Manny's well-tattered alb.

Audrey Cannon and Katie Black for the unselfish and dedicated work they do in keeping the altar cloths and linens so well kept.

Prayer Requests 

Repose of the soul of Mrs. Jean Nordberg, mother of Penny Mandziara of St. Bede's.  

Nephew to Fr. Jim Swarthout, Trent, who broke his neck and is in very serious condition.

Pernell, a friend from Lord of Life Evangelical Lutheran Church in Schaumburg, who is undergoing stem cell treatment...for his continued recovery and well being. 
 
Mr. Thomas Black, father to our Tim Black, who is undergoing medical testing; for his well being and positive tests results.

Donna Tamaski, as she begins her physical therapy...patience, healing and relief from her pain.
 
Leah, mother-in-law of Ginny.

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

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.