An Invitation to St. Nicholas for Christmas Eve

"Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem,saying, "Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him."  -Matthew 2: 1-6

My Dear Friends,

As children of God, heirs of the Kingdom and sisters and brothers to this child, this King born in Bethlehem, oh so many years ago, we are afforded the pleasure of worshiping and paying homage to Him.  At this joyful season, it is all the more a true joy to come together and celebrate the birth of Our Lord, Jesus the Christ.

It is my distinct and humble honor to serve you as your vicar.  I count myself one tremendously fortunate man to have been bestowed this sacred responsibility, this cherished duty.  Yet, my happiest occasions are when I am surrounded by my St. Nicholas family -- especially at worship.

In a simple manner from my heart to yours, I wish to extend an invitation to join us at the altar...to join us at the stable...to celebrate and herald the coming of our Savior. Come, pray, sing and rejoice together as a family, as a community of loving friends at our St. Nicholas this Christmas Eve.

Your company is warmly welcomed and desired, whether you join in the celebration at 4pm, 9pm or both, know that your company will make for a time of true rejoicing and exaltation. 

Come, let us adore Him.  I will look forward to your company and I dare say, so will Our Lord.  He does so favor our company.

-Manny

All Are Welcome Here*

* There is NO FINE PRINT! When we say, "All are welcome," we mean it.  Join us for a Christmas Eve truly inclusive of all God's people.

Join us at 4PM as we celebrate Christmas Eve with Las Posadas, a celebration revolving around the concept of hospitality.  Las Posadas (Spanish for "The Inns") symbolize Mary and Joseph's long, frustrating search for a place to stay where Jesus could be born.  The tradition reenacts -- with a twist, and a happy ending -- the story told in Luke 2:1-7.  We learn from the Posadas that by welcoming the poor and needy, we are welcoming Jesus in our midst.  (See Matthew 25:40).

All children and youth are encouraged to arrive by 3:40 on Christmas Eve as all will have a part in this service.  Join us for what will certainly become a treasured tradition at St. Nicholas.

Christmas Eve - 9PM

Lessons & Carols with Eucharist

Join us at 9PM Christmas Eve for a Christmas Festival of Lessons & Carols. 

The Festival of Lessons & Carols was introduced in 1918 to bring a more imaginative approach to worship.  The original service was, in fact, adapted from an Order drawn up by E. W. Benson, later Archbishop of Canterbury, for use in a wooden shed, which then served as his cathedral in Truro, at 10PM on Christmas Eve 1880.  Lessons & Carols has been broadcast live from King's College each year by the BBC since the early 1930s.  The strength of the service -- as articulated by Eric Milner-White, the planner of the original service of Lessons & Carols held in 1918 -- is the lessons, which articulate the development of the loving purposes of God . . . as seen "through the windows and the words of the Bible."

This service has become a treasured tradition at St. Nicholas.

St. Nicholas Episcopal Church
1072 Ridge Avenue
Elk Grove Village, IL  60007
847-439-2067
www.StNicholasEpiscopal.org