Memorial Day in America was celebrated a mere week or so ago.   We honor our fallen soldiers who paid the greatest price in protecting and defending our freedom and liberty.  Yet, as a nation, we have some rather strange methods of celebrating this "national feast."  Turn on the TV or listen to the radio and you'll see and hear commercials advertising store-wide sales, 50% off all merchandise, sales on bedding and bathroom towels, 2-for-1 bargains at local restaurants.  The list goes on and on.  What is seemingly harder to come by are the old fashioned "community picnics" on the Village Green or gatherings on the town square where religious leaders share prayers for the dearly departed and how their memories will live on for ever in the hearts of a grateful nation.  Certainly, some places still have parades and gatherings to commemorate our war dead.  Yet, these events pale in comparison to what once was.  America has changed.  America will continue to change.  Some things will cling on to life, desperately holding tight to remain a relevant thread in the fabric that is our nation and her history.  

Memorial Day in our neighborhood was rather low-key.  Our neighbors who live on the block behind our home invited us for an early morning coffee and doughnut run.  The place was packed.  The line extended outside the doors to the sidewalk that ran parallel to the parking lot.  Parents in their sweatpants and tee-shirts, kids still in their PJ's, most standing silent with only a few who would venture into a conversation with someone standing in front of or behind them.  I said hello to any and all who were near to me.  They looked, smiled and said hello back, though they did hesitate before they responded.  Were they surprised?  Was a 'good morning,' such an "out of the blue" greeting or was it just too early?  Mind you, it was after 8am; so the day was well underway.  America has changed.  America will continue to change.  And some things will cling on to life, desperately holding tight to remain a relevant thread in the fabric that is our nation.

Driving home from the doughnut shop, still sipping on a piping hot cup of black decaf, my mind drifted to my church, this church, our St. Nicholas.  I thought of how we act when some one new joins us for worship:  there are hearty greetings, warm welcomes and wishful sentiments for their continued happiness and well-being.  We talk to one another.  We enjoy the company of one another.  We pray for one another.  We genuinely love, unconditionally and freely.  For example, last Sunday as I was in the kitchen having a conversation with our two guests and former parishioners from Texas, I heard some pretty intense laughter from the Hall.  I wondered what was going on.  So I peeked in and there at a very crowded table were our parishioners having a good time sharing stories, telling tales and recalling past experiences.  The laughter made me laugh.  The laughter made me smile.  The laughter made me so very proud and honored and blessed to be part of this wonderful community of faith.   Our church has evolved.  Our church will certainly continue to evolve.  Our church will cling to life in all its sacredness, holding tight to remnants of what once was as we look forward to what will be and what is yet to come.  We will continue to piece and weave all the threads together that will continue to form the fabric that will further fashion our St. Nicholas Church.    

A church must look to her past in order to build for her future.  All the while, we continue to celebrate our faith, rejoice in our God and commune with one another as a family and as friends.  What a joy it all is.  Thanks for letting me be part of this joyful place and thank you for sharing so much of yourselves. God bless us, one and all.    

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:  Holly, Karen, Sharon, Vivian, Jill, Vernon, Connie Nicholson, Marica Kizior, Joanne Mangiaracina, Fran Baylor, Kesha, Mary Gans, Eunice Dohra, K.C., Emily & Dick Day, Dale Rickey, Paula O'Conner,  Stanko Begonja, Phil Cooper, Tim Laughlin, Jackie, Chris, Cathy Walters, Carrie, Tim, Pat and any one else in need of our continued prayers and well wishes.