News from Nick Logo
October 8, 2014
The Vicar's Corner
Harry was a man who lived life to the fullest.  11 years of sobriety: he truly was provided the opportunity for a "new lease on life" and he seized the gift.  I had the honor of anointing Harry about a month or so ago while he was still recuperating at Alexian Brothers Hospital.  There were several others in the room...we all prayed together as I placed the Holy Oil upon his forehead and his hands.  I whispered in his ear that the community of St. Nicholas was praying for him.  Though he never opened his eyes the whole time, a huge smile came across his face that lit up the entire space.  The Spirit certainly and most definitely was active, moving and stirring about. 

Last Wednesday, I attended Harry's Memorial Service.  The room was filled, overflowing in fact.  Some of Harry's favorite music was played, his sisters and friends spoke eloquently and touchingly and in the end, we formed a very large circle and prayed the Serenity Prayer.  Plenty of tears were shed...tears of sadness and grief.  But also tears brought on through much needed laughter and rejoicing as we were regaled with stories and adventures of Harry. 

As I made my way around the room, what I heard so often was the profound influence St. Nicholas had upon Harry and all the members of the Support Groups who call this place "their home."   His two sisters both spoke to the fact that without AA and the good people of St. Nicholas, Harry would never had recovered and never reestablished a healthy relationship with his daughters and family.  They thanked St. Nicholas...both the physical structure for being here and the people who make up the community of this diverse, dedicated and blessedly loving house of worship. 

You see, my dear friends, St. Nicholas is not just a place we gather to pray, to sing and to 'practice' our faith.  Quite honestly, we could worship just about anyplace (heaven forbid).  But we choose wisely and we raise our voices in prayer, in song, in rejoicing, in grieving, in the evening and in the morning right here at 1072 Ridge Avenue.  We are home to our sisters and brothers who have sought healing and recovery from vices that all but destroyed their lives. We are home to our sisters and brothers who require our assistance in feeding and sustaining their human needs.  We are disciples of Christ...21st Century apostles, all of whom are commissioned to bring about the Good News of Jesus Christ.

What lay before us in our Stewardship Drive and Capital Campaign are challenges that I am confident we can meet "head on" with success and accomplishment.  It is daunting to say the least.  Yet, we are resilient and we are all committed to this place, to our church, to our home...to our St. Nicholas.  And as we continue to rebuild this house, know how many will continue to be blessed and strengthened through this place!  That is certainly good news, for all of us who love St. Nicholas Church and all who will come to know this place for all the many gifts our church provides.

Amen.

-Manny
Contemporary Issues Discussion Group
Next topic: Marriage
wedding-rings.jpg The Contemporary Issues Discussion Group, having just concluded its discussion of Justice, Law and the Church, will next discuss the topic of Marriage.  For your planning purposes we will meet on the second Sunday of October (this Sunday the 12th) and November (the 9th) and will skip our December meeting.

All are welcome to join us in the Noah's Ark space following the 10AM service.
A Letter of Thanks
From our friends at Christus Victor and the P.A.D.S. folks
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Summer Supper Wrap Up

 

Thanks for everyone's participation in the Summer Suppers at Christus Victor this summer.  

 

We were part of a 12-church partnership in providing meals for the homeless as well as others in the community that could use a helping hand. We also had direct help from Queen of the Rosary and St. Nicholas Episcopal Church when they took over two of our Suppers, providing both the food and the volunteers for the nights. It was fun for me to work with them and experience their enthusiasm in this ministry. The other two Suppers were provided by our own CV pads volunteers and they did their usual great job!

 

Over all the 12 sites, we had 2033 guests walk thru our doors (CV had 101 over the 4 Suppers we hosted) to enjoy a nice home cooked meal and the fellowship time that occurred along with it. It appears that most, if not all sites are requesting to stay onboard for next year....and Christus Victor will as well. It was a good and worthwhile experience and one that merits repeating.

 

-Ann DeBartolo  

Oktoberfest in Mt. Prospect on October 11th
Let's get our lederhosen on and celebrate!
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OKTOBERFEST!!!

Mark your calendars for Saturday October 11th- it's time for some St. Nicholas Family Fun!

 

Mt. Prospect's Fall Festival/Oktoberfest is a wonderful annual event with activities for children from 1pm to 4pm and a BIG Oktoberfest party from 4pm to 11pm.

 

Let's get together for brats, schnitzel, German beer, strudel, polkas, sing-along, chicken dancing and some good old "Gemutlichkeit" : )

 

We'll have balloons and/or banners to help you find our "Stammtisch" (special table) and we'll invite our friends from St. John's to join us there.

 

We can meet up at the fest around 6:00pm; there is a sign-up sheet for a carpool that will leave St Nick's after the 4:30 service if anyone is interested.

 

PROST!!
Attention Arts and Craft Enthusiasts
Save October 26th for a fun gathering at St. Martin's Church in Des Plaines
candycane-burst.jpg An invitation to the community of St. Nicholas to come and take part in St. Martin's Holiday Craft Fair.

The event is set for Sunday, October 26th from 12 noon until 4pm.  St. Martin's Episcopal Church is located at 1095 E. Thacker Street, Des Plaines, Illinois.

For additional information, please contact: Darlene Norton  at [email protected] or 630-726-0098.

A good time for the whole family with lots of fun stuff just in time for the upcoming holiday season.
Centering Prayer
Move closer to God in silence and prayer
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For years, Christians from various denominations have engaged in the ancient practice of Centering Prayer.   All are invited to be part of an introductory workshop being held in nearby Western Springs.  If you have an interest and desire in getting to better understand what Centering Prayer is all about, please join in this transformative workshop.

 

Centering Prayer Workshop Offered November 1 in Western Springs

 

Many Episcopalians and other Christians are finding that a method called "Centering Prayer" helps them move toward a closer and more meaningful relationship with God. Centering Prayer is a well-grounded method of silent prayer and meditation that prepares us to experience God's presence within us, closer than breathing, closer than thinking, closer than consciousness itself. Contemplative Outreach, an organization founded in 1984 to serve those interested in Centering Prayer, is offering an introductory workshop on the method on Saturday November 1 in Western Springs, Illinois. Workshops on related topics are also part of the day's agenda, including sessions on the Transformative Power of Dreams, Healing Touch, and "Emptiness" as a posture that helps us be open to the full indwelling of God's presence. All are welcome. For further information or to register, please visit www.centeringprayerchicago.org or contact Phil Jackson, [email protected], (847) 778-1022.

 

 

Background on Centering Prayer

In the early 1970s, Trappist monk and priest Thomas Keating and two other Trappists, Fr. William Meninger and the late Fr. Basil Pennington, worked to bring people living outside monasteries a form of silent prayer now known as Centering Prayer. With roots in the fourteenth century book, The Cloud of Unknowing, this kind of prayer allows people to sit silently and become receptive to God's gift of contemplation.

 

Of course, contemplation has been an important part of Christianity from the beginning. Centering Prayer presents the teachings of earlier times in an updated form. This method of prayer is both a relationship with God and a discipline to foster that relationship.

 

Centering Prayer is not meant to replace other kinds of prayer. Rather, it adds depth of meaning to all prayer and facilitates the movement from more active modes of prayer - verbal, mental or affective prayer - into a receptive prayer of resting in God. Centering Prayer emphasizes prayer as a personal relationship with God and as a movement beyond conversation with Christ to communion with Him.

 

Background on Contemplative Outreach, Chicago

Contemplative Outreach of Chicago has been serving the contemplative community in northeastern Illinois and northwestern Indiana since 1989. We are a chapter of Contemplative Outreach, Ltd., an international spiritual network with offices in Butler, N.J. Our mission is to teach the method of Centering Prayer and to support those whose Spiritual Journey includes a practice of this prayer. The volunteers in our chapter are grounded in contemplative service - "God in us serving God in others."

Prayer Requests
The Community of St. Nicholas is praying
For the repose of the soul of Clarence Nelson, cousin to Ray Malecek.  After a brave battle, our Lord welcomed Clarence home to his Eternal Rest.  Let us pray for those who grieve and mourn, that they may find peace and solace.  May his soul and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.  Amen.

For our Tony Begonja who is to undergo two cataract surgeries in the next few weeks.  Pray the procedures are successful and Tony's vision is crystal clear and he's up and around in not time at all.

For a community member who is currently experiencing some particularly trying times: Pray for our friend for her well being, for guidance, strength to endure and better times ahead.

For "Brad," a long time Support Group member who has seemingly relapsed in a very serious way:  Pray he find the help he so desperately needs and regains sobriety and well being.

For "Louise," another Support Group member who is to undergo surgery soon:  Pray the procedure is successful, she regain her health and she is up and around very soon.

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: Connie Nicholson, Joanne Mangiaracina, Vernon Forde, Richard and Mary Gans, Eunice Dohra, Anna Hall, Paula O' Conner, Jim Laughlin, Jackie, Chris, Cathy Walters, Ed Baehr, Carrie, June, Harry and any one else in need of our continued prayers and well wishes.

 

For the members of the Support Groups at St. Nicholas who endure, "one day at at time," in their daily battles against addiction.

 

 ***   "Healing prayers for 14 year old Christopher Pacheco."        
 

(**written prayer requests)  

Shout-Outs
Thank you to Connie, Tameica, and Douglas - our "paint committee" for initiating the painting of the exterior of St. Nicholas and the selection of color.  It has certainly brightened up the exterior and looks wonderful.

To the Malecek clan:  Ray, Thelma, Ron and Laura who pulled, poked and prodded enough to uproot the Juniper bushes away from the church.  Great work, folks.  Ever think about forming "The Malecek Dental Team?"

To Barb Bosslet who put 'shoulder to wheel' and removed some rather large and nasty stains from the church carpet.  Great work, Barb...you are a gem. 

To Jess Lindberg who preformed so lovely a solo piece at last Sunday's 10AM Liturgy.  Blessings to you, Jess.

To the person who made gift of a lovely mini-rose plant found in the vicar's office. Alas, I'm not sure who signed the card...please give me a hint, thank you. - Manny
Readings for This Weekend
Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost

Exodus 32:1-14

Psalm 106:1-6, 19-23

Philippians 4:1-9

Matthew 22:1-14

Saturday lector: Cyndi DeBock
Sunday lectors: Katie Black, Jennifer Brundige
Sunday intercessor: Mary Fletcher-Gomez
Sunday chalice bearers: Mindy Golden, LaWayne Williams
This Week at St. Nicholas
As a reminder, the full master calendar is always available online at this link.  Here is the schedule for the next week:
Wednesday, October 08, 2014
AA Meeting12:00 PM  
Choir Rehearsal6:45 PM  
Al-Anon Meeting7:30 PM  

Thursday, October 09, 2014
AA Meeting12:00 PM  
GA Meeting7:00 PM  

Friday, October 10, 2014
Vicar's Day Off 
AA Meeting12:00 PM  

Saturday, October 11, 2014
AA Meeting1:00 PM  
Worship Service4:30 PM  
AA Meeting7:00 PM  

Sunday, October 12, 2014
Bishop's Committee Meeting8:15 AM  
Worship Service10:00 AM  
Contemporary Issues Discussion Group11:30 AM  
AA Meeting7:30 PM  

Monday, October 13, 2014

 
AA Meeting12:00 PM  
AA Meeting7:00 PM  

Tuesday, October 14, 2014
Vicar's Day Off 
AA Meeting12:00 PM  
AA Meeting7:00 PM  

Wednesday, October 15, 2014
AA Meeting12:00 PM  
Food Pantry4:00 PM  
Choir Rehearsal6:45 PM  
Al-Anon Meeting7:30 PM  

We worship together:

Saturdays at 4:30PM
&
Sundays at 10AM
St. Nicholas Episcopal Church
1072 Ridge Avenue
Elk Grove Village, IL  60007
847-439-2067
www.StNicholasEpiscopal.org
Copyright � 2014. All Rights Reserved.