God will not and can not be denied. Try as some may to prevent the mere utterance of God, the Creator is far more powerful and will always, ALWAYS prevail.
This was shared with me by a good friend. As if urging on a favorite team, I cheered with glee and joy. Thus without any reservations or doubts, I knew I had to share it with my St. Nicholas family.
So now enjoy and take heart in this story of faith and conviction:
They walked in tandem, each of the ninety-two students filing into the already crowded auditorium. With their rich maroon gowns flowing and the traditional caps, they looked almost as grown up as they felt.
Dads swallowed hard behind broad smiles, and moms freely brushed away tears.
This class would NOT pray during the commencements, not by choice, but because of a recent court ruling prohibiting it...
The principal and several students were careful to stay within the guidelines allowed by the ruling. They gave inspirational speeches, but no one mentioned divine guidance and no one asked for blessings on the graduates or their families.
The speeches were nice, but they were routine until the final speech which received a standing ovation.
A solitary student walked proudly to the microphone. He stood still and silent for just a moment, and then, it happened.
All 92 students, every single one of them suddenly SNEEZED!!!
The student on stage simple looked up at the audience and said,
'GOD BLESS YOU.'
...and he walked off stage.
The audience exploded into applause. This graduating class had found a unique way to invoke God's blessing on their future with or without the court's approval.
This is a true story: it happened at Eastern Shore District High School in Musquodoboit Harbour, Nova Scotia, Canada.
God bless us all.
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Calling all St. Nicholas Parish Family Members
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Come and Get It...It's Parish Picnic Time!
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 Saturday, July 19th is our annual St. Nicholas Parish Picnic. From roughly 12 noon to 4pm, we'll have food, games and fun on the front lawn, culminating with our 4:30 liturgy. Weather permitting, we'll worship outdoors. St. Nicholas will supply the hot dogs and hamburgers. We ask volunteers and donors to bring side dishes, buns, snacks and some sweet treats, too. Please sign up at this link, or on the sign-up sheet posted in the gathering space at church. Please let us know how many will be attending and what you'll bring to share. In advance, thank you one and all. God bless us. |
We pray for our dearly departed
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 "The Jesus spoke again unto them, saying, 'I am the light of the world; they who follow me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.'" -John 8: 12 Ethel "Corkey" Stratton Visitation:
Thursday, July 10, 3 - 9PM
1199 S. Arlington Heights Rd.
Elk Grove Village, IL 60007
846-640-0566
Memorial Mass:
Friday, July 11, 10AM
St. Nicholas Episcopal Church
1072 Ridge Avenue
Elk Grove Village, IL 60007
847-439-2067
Interment:
Immediately following the 10AM Mass
All Saints Cemetery (new section)
Des Plaines, IL
(River Road) Dan Wilson, OSL Visitation:
Saturday, July 12th, 9AM
Funeral: 10AM
408 N. Sheridan Road, Waukegan, IL 60086 Ed Zemola Visitation:
Sunday, July 20th,2 - 4PM
Memorial Service:
Sunday, July 20th, 4PM
1199 S Arlington Heights Rd
Elk Grove Village, IL 60007
846-640-0566
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Wedding Bells Will Start to Ring...
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Congratulations and God bless those soon to wed
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Rebecca L. Haagsma
&
Paul V. Swanson, Jr.
Sunday, July 20, 2014
Jean FitzPatrick
&
Deacon Tom Smith
Saturday, July 26, 2014
St. James Episcopal Church
516 Washington St.
West Dundee, IL
"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails."
1 Cor. 13: 4-7
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The Community of St. Nicholas is praying
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 For the repose of the soul of Mrs. Ethel "Corkey" Stratton, mother of Hal Stratton and mother-in-law of Steve Raftery: Ethel, after a long and painful battle has finally won eternal victory and peace with Christ Jesus our Lord. Pray for Bud, Ethel's husband, Hal, Steve and the extended family and friends who mourn and grieve.
For the repose of the soul of Mr. Dan Wilson, a member of the Order of St. Luke and friend of St. Nicholas: Your earthly suffering has, at long last ceased. Now you dwell in light eternal. May Dan's soul and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.
For the repose of the soul of Mr. Ed Zemola, a very good friend of St. Nicholas: Thank you Ed, for the generosity you had shown our church, your care and consideration and ever-ready smile. Rest in peace, Ed and may you enjoy the riches of Paradise.
For continued recovery and healing for Kathy Barlow who recently underwent surgery: pray Kathy is back to her self very soon.
For continued recovery and healing for John Knepper who underwent shoulder surgery a few months back: pray John is able to regain strength, mobility and sound health.
For Dale Rickey who is back in hospital: pray Dale is restored to sound health and able to get home and live a healthy and sound life again.
For Paula O'Conner, sister of a dear friend of St. Nicholas Carin Lewandowski: Paula had surgery to remove a cancerous tumor from her brain. Let us pray for Paula's continued recovery to lasting good health and strength be granted to her loved ones.
For Jackie, a dear friend of Val and Steve Gruenwald who has undergone very serious cancer surgery: we pray for Jackie's full and lasting recovery and for her husband Harry for his well being at this very difficult time.
For all who seek gainful employment; that they find work that will sustain and nourish.
For those who struggle with depression, anxiety, loneliness and despair: pray for peace in their hearts and souls.
For the homeless throughout the region who struggle to find housing now that the PADS sites are closed for the season: pray all our troubled sisters and brothers find security, safety and shelter.
For all our St. Nicholas community members who are under the weather and in need of healing and prayers: may they find peace and be blessed with sound and better health: Ethel "Corky" Stratton, Connie Nicholson, Joanne Mangiaracina, Vernon Forde, Richard Gans, Eunice Dohra, Anna Hall and any one else in need of our continued prayers and well wishes.
For our military personnel who are overseas and engaged in battle: that they soon return home safe and secure.
For the members of the Support Groups at St. Nicholas who endure, "one day at at time," in their daily battles against addiction.
(**written prayer requests)
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To the Saturday Support Group Members who made a financial donation to St. Nicholas...your kindness is overwhelming. Be assured of our continued prayers and our spiritual support to you all.
To our community members who continue to share and contribute via the Giving Tree...your kindness is repaid one hundred times over.
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Readings for This Weekend
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5th Sunday after Pentecost
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Saturday Lector: Steve Raftery
Sunday Lectors: Bill Barlow, Douglas VanHouten
Sunday Intercessor: Bob DeHaven
Sunday Chalice Bearers: Pat Kalicki, Sandra Glos
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This Week at St. Nicholas
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As a reminder, the full master calendar is always available online at this link. Here is the schedule for the next week: |
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Wednesday, July 09, 2014
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AA Meeting
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12:00 PM
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Al-Anon Meeting
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7:30 PM
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Thursday, July 10, 2014
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AA Meeting
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12:00 PM
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Visitation for Ethel "Corkey" Stratton
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3:00 PM
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GA Meeting
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7:00 PM
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Friday, July 11, 2014
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Vicar's Day Off
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Funeral for Ethel "Corkey" Stratton
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10:00 AM
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AA Meeting
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12:00 PM
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Saturday, July 12, 2014
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AA Meeting
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1:00 PM
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Worship Service
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4:30 PM
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AA Meeting
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7:00 PM
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Sunday, July 13, 2014
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Bishop's Committee Meeting
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8:15 AM
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Worship Service
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10:00 AM
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AA Meeting
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7:30 PM
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Monday, July 14, 2014
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AA Meeting
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12:00 PM
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AA Meeting
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7:00 PM
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Tuesday, July 15, 2014
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Vicar's Day Off
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AA Meeting
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12:00 PM
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AA Meeting
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7:00 PM
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Wednesday, July 16, 2014
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AA Meeting
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12:00 PM
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Food Pantry
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4:00 PM
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Al-Anon Meeting
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7:30 PM
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