 February 1st, 2015...Super Bowl Sunday...all the hype and build-up; the concern as to whether the footballs will be properly inflated and who will monitor them, the half-time show, the million dollar, thirty-second commercials and oh yes, the two teams that went head-to-head for sixty minutes to take home the Lombardi Trophy. This, my friends, is truly an American experience unlike any thing else.
It never fails to amaze me just how much time, energy and cost goes into this annual sports extravaganza. After all, it is "just" a football game, right? However, it is also a huge, social event that brings together people like no other sporting event. A little history: the first Super Bowl was played in the 94,000 seat Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on January 15, 1967. 61,946 people paid $12.00 (yes...twelve dollars) to see the NFC Champion Green Bay Packers defeat the AFC Champion Kansas City Chiefs by the score of 35 - 10. The half time entertainment consisted of college bands. That was it. Pretty much "low key" compared to today's billion dollar sports spectacle. And, a little more history...there are four teams that have not played in the 'big game.' The Cleveland Browns, Houston Texans, Jacksonville Jaguars and alas, my beloved Detroit Lions. (However, the Lions did win 3 championships before the era of super bowls in 1952, '53 and '57, thank you).
What gives me pause in all this is all the revenue being spent and made. Think of it: the cost of all those commercials, half time entertainment, the pay incentives the winning team receives as well as the "runner up" incentives to the losing team and the television residuals. Imagine if you will, if 25% or 15%, heck, let's make it easier and say 5% of that revenue was directed to caring for the homeless or feeding our hungry citizens or caring for our veterans. Imagine how much good can be done with just a little of that revenue being passed on to where it is needed most. To dream of what could be. Perhaps charities do benefit as a result of this super event...I pray such is the case.
Fortunately, here at St. Nicholas, we do indeed dream big. We are also realists, pragmatists and achievers, too. We think about what we would like to see happen here. We consider, weigh and measure what our realities and limitations are; we put shoulder to the wheel and we do our best at making things happen. Stained glass windows are up. We have much appreciated and needed heat in the church and come summer we will have some refreshingly cool air. Shades are up on the south side windows, too. There is more to come. Super!! We desire much and we have big dreams. We have super enthusiasm, super energy and super people. With us, the sky is the limit, though our finances certainly do place a ceiling on just how much we can undertake.
St. Nicholas was a man of compassion, care and he possessed a super large heart. His name-sake parish does him proud; for we, too, possess a super large heart and our efforts are super in size, in scope and in success. We continue to play the game for there is still much to be accomplished. Let's huddle together, call our play and execute wisely, precisely and with pin-point accuracy, score often and win the game.
By the way, the final score of Sunday's game was 28 - 24 with the Patriots of New England winning their fourth championship. A game-saving interception stopped the Seahawks of Seattle from potentially taking the lead with less than a minute left in the game. And what a great game it was!
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A question was raised at the Annual Meeting about how much money had been contributed by St. Nicholas members and friends in 2014. We are thrilled to report that Capital Campaign donations from our members and friends of St. Nicholas totaled $6,220 in 2014! In addition, the net profit of $1,291 from the Harvest Fair was added to the fund. Also, in January 2015, the profit-to-date from the sale of our choir's Christmas CD was donated to the Capital Fund. This amounted to $1,147.
As stated by Hank in the Building Committee's 2014 Annual Report, Capital work-to-date has included the installation of a new boiler, two air refreshing units, air conditioning in our sanctuary, and improved insulation in the attic of Holy Innocents Hall. In addition, new LED lighting was installed for the parking lot and walkways. The exterior of our facility was transformed through beautiful landscaping and a fresh coat of paint on the exterior of the original building.
Ongoing projects yet to be paid out of the Capital Campaign Fund include the installation of the exterior window shades on the south side of the building, replacement of the west side exit door and glass panel in the sanctuary, and replacement of lighting throughout the facility with LED fixtures.
We continue to gratefully accept donations to the Capital Campaign. Every donation further enables us to be good stewards of our physical plant and allows us to make improvements which will make our facility much more energy efficient, thus saving us money on utilities well into the future. Our building is a vital gift - not only to those who worship here, but to all those who call St. Nicholas their home. Countless lives have been changed by the ministries of St. Nicholas and the Twelve Step Groups whose home is St. Nicholas. There is literally not a day in a typical week when something is not happening in our facility. Thanks be to God.
Interested donors should make checks payable to St. Nicholas Episcopal Church, with "Capital Campaign" on the memo line.
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The stained glass windows were installed on February 3, 2015!
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Contemporary Issues Discussion Group
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 The Contemporary Issues Discussion Group will meet this Sunday, February 8th, following the 10AM service. We'll continue our discussion of marriage. |
6pm Friday Evenings in Lent
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 The church season of Lent invites us all into deeper, more intimate prayer as individuals and as a community. St. Nicholas invites all to come and join in communal prayer on Friday nights at 6pm, as we gather to pray the Stations of the Cross. This time together provides moments of meditation and shared prayers as we recall the path Jesus took to Golgotha. All are invited. |
5th Annual St. Nick's Chili Supper and Raffle
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Saturday, February 14th, 2015
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Hard to believe but this year will be our 5th Annual Chili Supper and Raffle event. And, we're hoping this is our best one yet! Miss Jessica is hard at work making this year's event better than ever!
Mark your calendars and make sure to get your seats at this year's event scheduled for Saturday night, February 14th at 6PM. Consider attending the 4:30 Saturday service and then, mosey on over to Holy Innocents Hall and join in the fun and a chance at some super-duper prizes.
Just follow your nose to the tantalizing aroma of chili simmering away atop the stove, pick up some raffle tickets, grab a seat and enjoy. Bring the whole family and round up the neighbors and friends...all are welcome.
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Shrove Tuesday, February 17, 2015
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Pancake Supper at St. Nicholas
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 There's nothing like breakfast for dinner, especially when bacon is involved! St. Nicholas will once again host a Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper. Mark your calendar for Tuesday, February 17 at 6:30pm. And remember guys, the men do the cooking and serving. Volunteers are needed to help with food items, cook and clean up. Let's make it another memorable St. Nicholas event. All are welcome. Come and get it! |
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The Community of St. Nicholas is praying
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For Hope, an occasional member of our church choir who is to undergo surgery to repair a birth defect that affects her ability to swallow: pray for a successful surgery and that Hope is up and around very soon, fully healed, happy and ready to sing again.
For those who have been affected by the severe weather throughout the country.
For the homeless, the unemployed, under-employed and over-employed: may they find peace and strength.
For people who are alone, lonely and find life too challenging and demanding: pray for peace of mind, comfort to the soul and the grace and strength to endure.
For the people of the world that are subjected to war and violence on a daily basis: pray peace come to them and stays.
For our beloved pets and all God's creatures that are exposed to the cruel weather of winter: pray they are cared for and protected.
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, Pat Beahr, Joanne Mangiaracina, Kesha, Vernon Forde, Dick and Mary Gans, Eunice Dohra, Bob DeHaven, K.C., Dick Day, Dale Rickey, Paula O' Conner, Jim Laughlin, Jackie, Chris, Cathy Walters, Carrie and any one else in need of our continued prayers and well wishes.
(***written prayer requests)
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Congratulations to our two new Bishop Committee Leaders: Jessica Tamaski our Senior Warden and Penny Mandziara our Junior Warden. Blessings and good luck!
To Thelma Malecek who put her shoulder to the wheel and organized the shelves in the Parish Office and then pitched in to help Manny fold up and tape together a ton of cardboard boxes for recycling. You are a one-woman dynamo.
To "Captain Lou" who plowed our drive, Douglas VanHouten who shoveled the walkways and Jennifer Brundige who shoveled and salted everything down making things safe for all this past Sunday. Great work, good people!
To Jeff Westerheide who picked up donated food from Jewel throughout the month of January for our Food Pantry...and many happy tummies say thank you, too.
To Jack Groat of Little Boots Rodeo who brought much relief to our food pantry with a huge donation of much needed cookies and crackers...thanks a million, Jack.
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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: |
| Wednesday, February 04, 2015 | | AA Meeting | 12:00 PM | | Food Pantry | 4:00 PM | | Choir Rehearsal | 6:45 PM | | Al-Anon Meeting | 7:30 PM | | Thursday, February 05, 2015 | | AA Meeting | 12:00 PM | | GA Meeting | 7:00 PM | | Friday, February 06, 2015 | | Vicar's Day Off | | | AA Meeting | 12:00 PM | | OSL Pizza, Praise & Healing Eucharist - Vigil of Candlemas | 6:00 PM | | OSL Chapter Meeting | 7:00 PM | | Saturday, February 07, 2015 | | AA Meeting | 1:00 PM | | Worship Service | 4:30 PM | | AA Meeting | 7:00 PM | | Sunday, February 08, 2015 | | Bishop's Committee Meeting | 8:15 AM | | Worship Service | 10:00 AM | | Contemporary Issues Discussion Group | 11:30 AM | | AA Meeting | 7:30 PM | | Monday, February 09, 2015 | | AA Meeting | 12:00 PM | | AA Meeting | 7:00 PM | | Tuesday, February 10, 2015 | | Vicar's Day Off | | | AA Meeting | 12:00 PM | | AA Meeting | 7:00 PM | | Wednesday, February 11, 2015 | | AA Meeting | 12:00 PM | | Choir Rehearsal | 6:45 PM | | Al-Anon Meeting | 7:30 PM |
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