Jonanthan Blunk, age 26

Alexander J. Boik, age 18

Jessie Childress, age 29

Gordon Cowden, age 51

Jessica Ghawi, age 24

John Larimer, age 27

Matt McQuinn, age 27

Micayla Medek, age 23

Veronica Moser-Sullivan, age 6

Alex Sullivan, age 27

Alexander C. Teves, age 24

Rebecca Wingo, age 32

 

These are the names and ages of the victims of the Aurora, Colorado movie house shooting. Another senseless, horrific act committed against innocent women, men and children. It is unlikely any of these victims knew the man who opened fire. Certainly, they did nothing wrong; they had committed no crime to warrant such punishment. They simply went to a movie...and it cost them their life. Is this the price of freedom?   We ask, "What has our society come to?" "Where has our civility gone?" "How can this happen...again?" These acts are called "random," but sadly, these acts have become far too common-place. And we will have psychologists and therapists, politicians, televangelists and the like who will dissect this story and explain why and how these things happen.   And yet, these victims, these innocent fellow citizens will be laid to rest and with them, their hopes and aspirations, while their loved ones mourn and grieve and ask, repeatedly, "why?"

 

We all have a role to play in these acts.   This is our role now: to pray. We are to pray to our Lord, the God of Life and Light and ask for strength to endure these trying times. We are to pray for guidance and counsel. We are to pray for acceptance. And, as difficult as it may be, we are to pray for forgiveness: that we have it within ourselves, as Christian people who are afforded and blessed with the Sacrament of Reconciliation, in kind, forgive the man who perpetrated this heinous and cowardice act.  

 

The community of St. Nicholas is a richly, blessed people, staunchly entrenched in our faith and belief that God will see us through even the darkest and harshest of times.   We are a people that know God is with us and when we pray, God listens and responds in a divinely designed time and manner. This is our strength and this moment is a perfect time to put that strength of faith to good use.

 

My prayer is that when these senseless acts do occur, we are shocked and repulsed. I pray that that we never, NEVER become so immune to such acts that we are indifferent and feel nothing. I pray that our elected officials will take a long and serious look at the matter of gun usage in this country.  Above all, I pray that these murderous acts never happen again. I pray that we never have to hear of any more such violence and killings. Certainly, these are prayers we can all offer up. And perhaps these prayers, with God's grace and blessings and with humankind agreeing will be answered in such a manner we can all celebrate and rejoice there in.

 

 -Manny 

manny@stnicholasepiscopal.org

Come one, come all.  In August, we will have three scheduled, community gatherings.  On August 3rd, Friday night, 6:30pm, we will have another Movie Night.  This month's feature film, the 1966 hit, "The Trouble With Angels," starring Rosaline Russell.  Bring along some pop and munchies, your favorite sandwich and pizza will be provided.  The movie is rated "G" for General Audience and is certainly a fun, family feature. 

On August 17 and 18, a Friday and Saturday, we will hold our annual St. Nicholas Rummage Sale.  We will definitely need "all hands on deck" for this event.   Start gathering your unwanted items to bring in.  Ideally, we ask donations to be brought in starting around August 1st.  Holy Innocents Hall will be the site for the sale, which also spills out into the Gathering Space and into the office area.  We will start setting up the Hall on Monday,
August 13th.  Plan ahead to see if you have any time to help set up, assist at the sale and to help clear things out on Saturday afternoon.  4:30 Liturgy follows immediately after.

On August 31st, Friday night, 6:30pm, we will have a Crafts and Games Night.  Bring your favorite craft to work on and perhaps teach others.  Bring your domino set to play "train."  Depending if we have enough material, we can make more Prayer Blankets.  Or, just bring along some munchies to share as we play, chit-chat and enjoy the company of one another.  Coffee and cookies will be available, and if you'd like bring along some pizza, that's fine, too.

Sign-up sheets will be posted to get an idea of how many to expect for the social gatherings and a volunteer sheet will be posted for the rummage sale.  Remember, all are welcome. 

 

When I was a child, attending a newly established St. Nicholas Church with my family, a family friend and fellow member, Lois Smith, served as our church Historian. Working with the clergy of the church, Lois kept a record of Births, Baptisms, Confirmations, Marriages and Funerals of all of our members in a handwritten journal. Today, the whereabouts of these early records at St. Nicholas are something of a mystery, however, Manny and the Bishop's Committee have recently undertaken to resume the creation and maintenance of a Parish Registry. The Registry has both practical value as a record of vital statistics of our members, and will also become an historical record in the evolution of our community of faith.

 

To gather this information, we have created a Family Registry form, containing a place to record sacramental information for every member of a household, as well as helpful contact information. We ask all of our parishioners to fill one out by any of several methods - they are available at the welcome table in the church, or you can download a form at this link, complete it online or print and complete by hand. Completed forms can be e-mailed to Bob DeHaven at bob@stnicholasepiscopal.org or you may leave it with Manny, Pat, Bob DeHaven or anyone on the Bishop's Committee.

 

Thank you for your help in creating this record of our community and ministry!

 

- Bob DeHaven

Thanks to:

 

Sarah Reed, 96, mother of Thelma Malecek, who is in the hospital, for her recovery and for peace and endurance to her family.

 

Family and friends of Joanne: Melissa, who is suffering from M.S.; Don who is experiencing back pain; Steve who is experiencing anxiety and the effects of a stroke and Doug and his struggles with alcohol.   

 

Connie Kuffel, a niece of Marilyn, who is battling cancer again and is now undergoing chemotherapy, for her full and lasting recovery. 

 

Pamela Joy DeHaven, who recently underwent extensive surgery, that she regain full health and strength.

 

In thanksgiving and in joy for the successful leg surgery Maria Phetkhamphou experienced and that her therapy and recovery are equally successful   

 

Rachel: the sister of a friend of Donna Tamaski, who died in a head-on accident and Rachel's son who was seriously injured.  May Rachel rest in the full peace of Christ.  

 

Hope Smith, whose cancer has reappeared: for strength, peace and guidance. 

 

Bishop James Allan, Nancy Allan's late husband's cousin, who is seriously ill.

  

Our sisters and brothers at St. Bede's Church, that they know of our joy at having them join our family.      

 

Kathy Seghers, sister to our Jennifer Garcia.  Kathy is now home. Pray for her full recovery. 

 

Nathile Paul, Vernon Forde's sister.  Ms. Paul is recuperating from surgery.   

 

The Martin Family: Karen, Tom and Katie 

  

Ethel (Corkey) Stratton, the mother of Hal Stratton 

 

 

Paul Brouillette

  

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