A Day in the Life...

Wednesday morning, 6:05am, it is still quite dark out.  A thick fog had settled upon the northwest suburbs muting the autumn colors and muffling the sounds of nature.  All was still; the trees were motionless.  Even the birds were nowhere to be seen.  Traffic was heavy headed eastbound.  Not much to do but endure the bumper to bumper situation, remain patient and, well, pray.  I do quite a bit of praying while I drive.  It's not a testament to my driving skills, but rather a practice in which I've engaged for as long as I've been driving.  Praying brings a palpable peace upon me that is far too pleasurable to ignore or do without.  So, I pray.  More heavy traffic.  More prayer. 

St. Alexius Hospital is just off to the left.  I park at the farthest spot from the front door.  I like to walk and quite frankly, my car is safer parked farthest away.  I ask the front desk receptionist how to get to the ICU.  She points to the elevator and says get off on the 3rd floor and turn left.  I find and opt for the stairs and walk the 3 flights, turn left and locate room 364.  I see Erlene in the hallway, talking to the doctor.  She and I embrace and talk about how Vernon is doing and how she's coping.  After donning a blue cover-all and gloves, I go in to see Vernon.  He's not too responsive:  he has tubes here, there, seemingly everywhere.  I hold his hand and gently stroke his head with my other hand.  He tries to talk, but his breathing tube prevents any audibility.  No problem, I share with him that the community is praying for him and for Erlene, that we all miss him and wish him to return to us happy and healthy. Despite the tubes, his smile can not be denied nor missed.  It is contagious.  Erlene smiles, I smile and I have to think that even God is smiling with us at that very moment.  And why not?  We are His children and God loves us with such intensity.

I say my goodbyes to Vernon and Erlene and begin the drive to Elk Grove. 

(Little did I know that this would be my last visit with Vernon.  I will treasure the time spent with him and always remember his most infectious smile.  Rest in Eternal Peace, my dear friend.)

Barrington Road is clearing up by now.  After all, it's after 10am and the morning rush has pretty much ended.  I turn left on Schaumburg Road, past a series of strip malls, schools and churches.  A quick right on Meachem to Biesterfield Road, over and across Rt. 53, past Alexian Brothers Medical Center, the Village City Hall and Police Station, veer left to Jewel and pull up behind the store.  I ring the buzzer once, twice and three times.  Finally, an employee opens up and announces he has "some stuff" for us this week.  8 full boxes of canned goods and staples I carefully load into my car.  The cans and bottles rattle up against one another and I fear something will break and spill onto my fresh and neat car seats.  Fear not.  All went well and nothing broke, spilled or was the cause of all my earlier prayers going out the window with any utterance of disappointment or anger.  Went in through the back door of the church, unlocked the sacristy and greeted Jim who was unpacking all the bread and pastry he had picked up earlier that morning at Panera's.  I took the large cart, down the ramp out the back door and carefully sidled up next to my car.  Unloaded all the cases and heaved the cart into the church, up the ramp and into the Pantry Room.  We unloaded the boxes and began to stock the shelves with the bounty made gift to us.  The bare shelves had life again and the pantry guests would have some selections from which to choose.  How wonderful. 

Back into the church, I prepare for the weekend Services by getting the chalices ready, cutting the altar bread into halves, one set into the freezer again and the other set into the fridge for use this weekend.  Printed the Stewardship inserts that will go into the Worship Programs once they are ready.  Music books are straightened out, the chairs in the church are lined up in order and the funereal candles we used for All Saints Day were lugged back into the storage room.  Checked the Book of the Gospels to be sure the proper passage is readied.  The phone rang three times, solicitors, a neighboring church inquiring where we purchase our altar wine and some one asking about our food pantry requirements.  Haven't had any breakfast but I'm not hungry.  I could, however, use a cup of coffee.  I brew a fresh pot, pour myself a cup and take it outside with me as I walk around the church.  All looks so nice, so clean and well kept.  I smile and again I consider the chances that God is smiling along with me.  And why not? 

It's just after 3pm and already several pantry guests have gathered.  In fact, they've been at the church since 1pm.  They are invited in where coffee and pastry await.  They have been huddled at the table in the Gathering Space, talking, laughing, sharing recipes and stories.  It is a community; a gathering of friends who meet up every 1st and 3rd Wednesday, compliments of the Holy Innocents Food Pantry at St. Nicholas Church.  I look at their faces, those happy and grateful faces and my heart is full with joy and peace.  I smile.  I know that God is smiling with me right then.  And why not? 

Bob Kalicki and Gary Lackey have arrived by now.  We share some stories and chit-chat about this and that.  I fill Bob in on what's going on, about the food we received from Jewel and that all the bread and pastry Panera's gave us is all ready, packaged and available to whomever desires it.  I say my goodbyes to the Pantry Team and to the guests, I grab a couple bottled waters from the fridge, make sure the sacristy is locked up and all is as it should be.  I get into my car which is rather hot and stuffy.  Here it is, November 4th and it feels like it's mid-September.  I love it.  How much longer are we to be blessed with these rather late, Indian Summer style days?  'Embrace and savor them while we can,' I say to myself.  Next week, we could have snow.  What bliss.  I drive the 2 miles to Eunice's home where she awaits my arrival.  As I walk up the drive, a rather friendly squirrel carefully and cautiously crawls over to me.  I keep calling him over and he responds. Darn it, no food to give.  He nibbles at my shoe, looks up and scampers off.  A little touch of nature right at my feet.  I knock and walk in, give Eunice a hug and sit myself down in the wing back chair which is my traditional place.  We talk, laugh and laugh some more.  It's what Eunice and I do when we get together.  I bring her up to speed on what's happening at St. Nicholas.  No, not gossip, but actual concerned conversations.  We talked about Vernon, about how Nancy Allan is doing, about how beautiful the gardens look again in large thanks to Connie Nicholson, Marilyn Brown and Bob Kalicki, too.  We talked like a family would talk about each other...with love and care.  And after the conversations, we pause and prepare for Holy Communion.  I offer a prayer and share Jesus with Eunice.  We are silent for a moment.  Then, we pray the words our Lord and Savior taught us..."Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name..."  I bid my farewell, give Eunice another big hug and find my way to my car.   Fortunately, the two bottles of water are still cool to the touch.  I'll need them as I know traffic headed north will be heavy this time of the day. 

It's 5:30 pm, the sun is preparing for its descent and the sky is a brilliant reddish, orange.  It's autumn's beauty on display.  The birds that were absent earlier this morning are everywhere. My car windows are down and I can hear them overhead.  I see a line of geese headed south in their classic "V" formation.  It's wonderful.  I'm at a red light watching the traffic pass by, watching the birds begin their migratory journey, squinting into that setting sun...and I smile.  Yes, God is smiling, too.  And why not?  

Blessed Veteran's Day to all the women and men who have given of themselves to preserve our freedom and help maintain peace.

Let us pray for those veterans who are in the hospital, those who need constant care and those who sacrificed their lives...God bless us, one and all and God grant us wisdom to always seek peace and refrain from war.

It is so easy to get caught up in all the "necessities" of the holiday season.  There's shopping and visits to be made, cards to write out and homes to decorate. 

However most important is the time we all need to pause, contemplate and give thanks for the countless blessings with which we are made gift. 

Come join us on Wednesday night, November 25th at 6pm for our Thanksgiving Eve Service.  All are welcome.  Come and let us celebrate our faith as we offer a moment of heart-felt thanks.

The Fall 2015 issue of Thrive Magazine may be found at either this link (issu format), or this link (PDF).

Thrive is an occasional publication of the Episcopal Diocese of Chicago, of which St. Nicholas is a member church.

The time goes so quickly.  It's time to elect 3 new members to the Bishop's Committee (the governing board of our church). 

We ask each parish member to consider serving our church as a member of the Bishop's Committee.  We meet every 2nd Sunday of the month at 8:15am.  The service is important and necessary and the rewards are divine.

Please think long and hard about having your name submitted.  We will elect our new members at the Annual Parish Meeting scheduled for Sunday, February 7th, 2016 immediately following the 10am Liturgy.  A "Pot Luck" Lunch is part of the equation, too. 

Fund raisers are necessary entities to any church community.  The Annual Chili Supper and Raffle has been a staple at St. Nicholas for the past 5 years.   We need a chairperson to take charge, get things rolling and make this year's event happen.

If you feel you have the time, the desire and the drive, please contact Senior Warden Jessica Tamaski. 

The Chili Supper is "tentatively scheduled" for Saturday, February 6th, 2016, the last weekend before we begin the Holy Season of Lent on Ash Wednesday the following week.

Thank you, one and all.

It's that time of year; we're making our lists and we're checking them twice.  Here's a little help that is quite nice...

Shop Amazon and a contribution is made to St. Nicholas.  Talk about a "win-win" deal.  However, in order that St. Nicholas is credited with a portion of the sale, you must first go to our webpage, click on the Amazon icon.  Then, shop away.  Access our webpage through:  onebreadonebody.org  or  stnicholasepiscopal.org

Every time someone shops Amazon through St. Nicholas' webpage, an angel gets their wings!

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: Joan DeBock, Ruth Yunker, Courtney Adams, Art Lorenze, Karen, Sharon, Elaine and Barry Malas, Lenny Spirek, Jill, Connie Nicholson, Ron Glos, Marcia Kizior, Joanne Mangiaracina, Fran Baylor, Kesha, Mary Gans, Eunice Dohra, Bertha, Payton, Caleb Roth, Rocco, Ron, Tony Begonja, K.C., Dick Day, Dale Rickey, Phil Cooper, Tim Laughlin, Jackie, Chris, Cathy Walters, Carrie, Tim, Pat, Lenny, Perry, Kathy J. and any one else in need of our continued prayers and well wishes.

As a reminder, the full master calendar is always available online at this link.  Here is the schedule for the next week: