All the April showers have given us an early gift. An abundance of blooming flowers and budding trees usher in the new month of May. The colors and scents are heavenly. Thank you, Lord, for your bounteous gifts and accept our humble appreciation for all that you have given us.

 

Now May is almost upon us. With the coming of another new month, undoubtedly new opportunities and new challenges will present themselves. As a community of faith we will certainly be anxious and ready to take part in all that is ahead of us.    

 

First on our list of May activities will be the Prayer Breakfast to celebrate National Prayer Day on Thursday, May 3rd. This interfaith event will convene at 7am for breakfast, followed by an ecumenical prayer service at 7:45 in the sanctuary of Christus Victor Evangelical Lutheran Church on Arlington Heights Road, just south of Biesterfield. A nominal cost of $10.00 is asked. Please see me for tickets. I was asked to be one of the prayer presenters. Certainly, I accepted the request with eagerness. What an honor to represent St. Nicholas and the Episcopal Diocese of Chicago. Please, pray I do us all proud and well.  

 

Next on our list of activities will be celebrating the 10am Sunday Liturgy at St. Bede's Church on May 6th. The Liturgy will be followed by a family breakfast for all. If you have not signed up indicating you will be attending, please do so ASAP. The sign-up sheet is on the Welcoming Table located in the Gathering Space. Do note: there will be no 10am Sunday Liturgy at St. Nicholas on May 6th. We will however celebrate the 4:30 Saturday afternoon Liturgy on May 5th for those who can not attend the all community Liturgy Sunday morning.

 

Of course, let's not forget Mother's Day on Sunday, May 13th. Let us pay homage and show our love to our Moms. I invite one and all to bring a framed photo of your Mom to place on a table that will be stationed near the Women of Faith wall at the entrance of the worship space. We will keep the photos up throughout the entire month of May, the month traditionally celebrating Mary, the Mother of Jesus. What a joy to know our Mom's are "close by" and perhaps that is as it ought to be.

 

Lastly, we celebrate Memorial Day on Monday, May 28th. This uniquely, American holiday, once called Decoration Day, encourages all Americans to fly the U.S. flag as we honor those who died in our nation's service. This holiday is more than just the start of the summer vacation season. It is that, but more importantly, we remember, in prayer and in celebration the women and men who made the greatest of sacrifices defending our country's freedom and liberty.

 

May: it is a short word but a month full of events and activities. Let's celebrate and enjoy and let's do so as a family, united in faith, friendship and in the Redeemer, Jesus our Lord.

 

Amen.

 

-Manny 

manny@stnicholasepiscopal.org

 

National Day of Prayer is scheduled for Thursday, May 3rd.  Elk Grove Village will celebrate this joyful day with a Prayer Breakfast at one of our neighboring churches, Christus Victor Evangelical Lutheran Church.  The day begins with breakfast at 7am to be followed with a Prayer Service at 7:45 in the Sanctuary.  Members of the clergy and representatives from Alexian Hospital and Village's Social Services will lead the community in prayer.  All are cordially and warmly invited to come and celebrate.  Tickets are available at a nominal cost of $10.00.  Please see Manny if you are interested in attending. 

All are invited to help celebrate our 20th year of serivce at a Volunteer Recognition Luncheon to be held on Sunday, April 29th, from 2pm to 4pm. The gathering will be held at Christus Victor Evangelical Lutheran Church. Fun, games, raffles prizes and a Split the Pot raffle, too. Invite friends and family to come and enjoy. Please RSVP to Ann DeBartolo by April 23, 2012.  You can reach Ann at 847-364-1085 and/or at pighvn1@aol.com.  P.A.D.S., on a seasonal basis, serves the homeless and needy in the northwest suburbs and has sites throughout the Village at a number of houses of worship. 

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