...and a good time was had by all.  That's how I'd      conclude my story regarding our recent family camping outing in Michigan.  

 

Folks from Virginia, Florida, Toronto and Oshawa, Canada, Metro-Detroit and two, lone souls from Illinois constituted the large, loud and lovable Maltese contingent that descended upon Proud Lake campground.

 

It is a guarantee that when we do gather, there is going to be lots of laughter, enough food to feed the Michigan Wolverine football team, bean and washer toss and domino games and of course, a multitude of stories that invariably begin with "do you remember when..." and end with, "those were such good times."  Good times indeed and we all seem to have the same recollections and reminiscences.  Though, these very same stories did have some variances and personal twists added.  That's the glory of family gatherings and quite frankly, I would not change a thing!   

 

Same goes for the Community of St. Nicholas:  we have our good times and those times that are not so pleasant.  We celebrate the birth of our children and we grieve when we say our final good byes to our dear loved ones who gain their Eternal Reward.  We worship in song and we pray and meditate in silence.  We anoint those who are ailing in body, mind or spirit and we applaud those who are celebrating a particular milestone in life.  We cook chili, roast hot dogs and burgers, on occasion open a bottle of wine or sample a local micro-brew creation.  We give thanks for the comforting heat of a new boiler and the refreshing, cool breeze of a new air conditioning system.  We marvel at newly installed stained glass windows and think how much more "church like" the place looks. It is more than creatively arranged colored glass that has been added...it is our local church history that we have embraced and added to.  We do all this as a community of faith, as a family and as friends.    

 

This weekend we will once again roll up our collective sleeves, smile from ear to ear, don our blue "Follow Me to St. Nicholas" t-shirts, open wide our doors and welcome in those eager shoppers all hunting for bargains and treasures galore.   Come Saturday afternoon when the last shopper has departed and we begin the task of boxing, bagging and piling up what remains (very little we hope) to be picked up Monday morning, we will all realize that, regardless how much we have made, we have already succeeded!  You see, when we gather as a community, as a family, as friends old and young, we have gained much more than any profit from the sale itself.  We have bonded ourselves closer, one to another.  And years from now, we shall gather, reminisce and recall how much work and effort went into the church rummage sale.  And no doubt what will be uttered and repeated often: "those were such good times!"
   

We are asking for your help in publicizing our Rummage Sale. We can have the best items around, and more of them than anyone, but if people don't know about the sale, it is all for naught. So, please consider doing any or all of the following:

Click here to download a flyer. Print it and post it in your workplace, or condo building, or favorite restaurant or grocery store.

Share the information about the sale on our Facebook page with your Facebook friends.

Join the event on our Facebook page, then invite friends!

Share our ad on Craigslist, Gsalr, or Yardsales.net.

 

(***written prayer requests)  

Fresh fruits, veggies, home-made jams, breads and other wonderful things await.  Come and join in the "country fun" at our Village Farmer's Market.