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"If you love a flower, don't pick it up.
Because if you pick it up it dies
and it ceases to be what you love.
So if you love a flower, let it be.
Love is not about possession.
Love is about appreciation."
Osho
Might not the same be said about family? Love the family we have: our flesh and blood family and the family we have become at St. Nicholas Church. Both are precious, sacred gifts that flourish best when fully appreciated, engaged, and special times spent with.
Family can no longer be statistically simplified to a mother, a father and the two and a half children that comprised the typical, American home for so many, many generations. Family has blossomed and grown into so much more. The nuclear family has come of age. It is not "black and white" anymore, but glorious hues that form a rainbow of diversity and a universal flavor to the definition of what a family today can be.
My eight sisters and brothers, Mom, Dad and I all lived and loved under one roof for many, many years. There were the occasional times of tension, grief and pain and the overwhelming and too numerous to count times of thunderous joy. The memories of those family times are more precious to me than any material possession I currently own. I would no sooner trade one such sacred recollection than I would deny my love for Christ Jesus our Lord. I admit that perhaps I do yearn for those youthful days too often: my Mom and Dad nearby and my siblings and I playing in the backyard on the old, metal swing set my Dad bought from Sears. Our dog Prince running around the yard, dashing under the upward swing and then, finding shelter under the slide and out of the midday heat and sun. The neighbor's doing their gardening and the kids from the block over playing baseball in the alley. I can almost hear the guys yelling out, "Hey, if it goes in Manny's yard, it's a homer and you have to go get the ball, 'cause they have a big dog." The church bell of the parish church across the street rings loud and clear on the quarter hour. Mom's home made and from scratch baked pasta in the oven and her famous and also made from scratch Strawberry Shortcake for dessert. My Dad, sitting on the back porch tuning the old Philco radio to 760 AM so he can listen to the baseball game, the Detroit Tiger's taking on some worthy opponent at the old ballpark, now only a memory, Tiger Stadium which stood at the corner of Michigan and Trumbull Avenues. I close my eyes and I can see it all; from the rose bushes that lined the fences, the bird baths that hosted our winged friends and the beauty of a family, together, on a summer evening. I breathe in and I can smell the pasta baking inside the house, the sweet smell of freshly cut grass and the honeysuckle flowers that were so neatly arranged in my Mom's gardens. It all fades to black as reality sets in. But, my memories are alive and in full, glorious color. I thank the Good Lord for this and all that is in my life.
As I said earlier, it is true that I do reminisce quite a bit: looking back at what were such wonderful times with the people I cherished. Love will do that: make us yearn for what was to be yet again. We, none of us, can go back. Yet, we can relive our cherished memories by living fully today and creating new memories for our children and those who are to follow us. We create a legacy by being fully engaged and part of our church, the faith family God has made gift to us here at St. Nicholas. The church family I am blessed to be part of today is just as cherished and loved. You are are all a blessing to me. Thank you.
Throughout the month of July we will celebrate the wondrous and varied nature of family. I invite and encourage all to bring pictures of our families to adorn the back altar. We shall honor our families in prayers and song. And, come Saturday, July 16th, we'll gather on the front lawn and have ourselves a family picnic with lots of food, fun, faith and of course, family.
Amen.
-Manny
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Let's celebrate the whole month long
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 Throughout the entire month of July, we at St. Nicholas will celebrate The Family. Please bring in a family picture or two: those old black and white ones and the newer, color prints, as well. We shall place the pictures on the back altar for the entire community to enjoy. The more pictures the better! There's plenty of room for all of us. On Saturday July 16th, we'll gather for our annual Family Picnic and, weather permitting, an Outdoor Liturgy at 4:30pm. Sign up sheet is posted in the Gathering Space. Sign up to bring a shared dish, your energy and let's have ourselves a good time. |
Let's look at some pictures!
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 There is a simple joy of looking at old photos from years gone by: recollections that jog our memories and bring warm smiles to our faces and hearts. We've unearthed some photo albums of St. Bede's and we'll have them available for the community to enjoy. Stick around after the weekend Services throughout the month of July, grab some coffee and pastry and relive those wonderful times of family and friends. |
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Planning Our Future Together!
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Church Assessment Tool (CAT)
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 We are inviting you to complete the Church Assessment Tool (CAT), an on-line instrument that will help our Bishops Committee gauge the strength, vitality, and trends in our faith community. The information gained from this assessment will be valuable in helping the leaders of our congregation as they make decisions about the future of St. Nicholas Episcopal Church. Hopefully, all members have received an email with a unique link to the CAT. We are asking you to go online by clicking on the link provided in that email and tell us about your experiences in and priorities for our church. Please do not discuss the survey or your answers with others as this may influence their answers. If you need a paper copy, please click here to contact our Bishops Committee Recording Secretary, Hal Stratton, and he will provide one for you - along with a self-addressed stamped envelope to return the completed assessment directly to his attention here at St. Nicholas. Please know that all answers are strictly anonymous. We have no way of matching any assessment to a particular person, so please feel free to candidly share your perceptions, opinions and experiences. Our future together is dependent on your participation and honest answers. If you have questions, please contact Hal Stratton at hstratton@strattery.com or at 847-301-7027. Many thanks, The St. Nicholas Bishops Committee Katie Black, Claudia Boyle, Val Gruenwald, Kristin Jacobs, Pat Kalicki, Laura Lampe, Thelma Malecek, Neal Setchell, Hal Stratton (Recording Secretary), Jessica Tamaski (Sr Warden), Penny Mandziara (Jr Warden), and the Rev. Manuel Borg (Vicar) |
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Start Saving Clean Newspaper and Bags...
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We'll need these for St. Nick's Knacks Rummage Sale
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 In a few weeks, Holy Innocent's Hall will be converted into a huge, "Blue Light Special" sales destination, filled with goodies galore. But, we need clean newspaper for wrapping items as well as plastic or paper bags, too. Please bring in your old newspapers, plastic and paper bags. There will be a box near Manny's office where these items can be placed. Let's make this year's sale even better than last year...and we can do it, too. P.S. Please, no television and computer equipment. These items seldom, if ever sell and are quite difficult to get rid of after the sale. Also, be kind and fold clothes and/or hang up dresses, shirts and blouses. This cuts our work considerable. Again, a million thanks to one and all. |
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Remember St. Nicholas before you click...
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To all who helped out at Little Boots Rodeo last weekend: threats of rain, heat and humid temps did not deter our gallant volunteers from their kindly volunteering. Great job.
To our two young helpers who have been cleaning up and straightening things out in the Hall and other parts of the church. Way to go, guys.
To our church family members who share so much of themselves; their time, talent and treasure to keep St. Nicholas alive and well. You are all amazing.
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The Community of St. Nicholas is praying
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For our dear friends and long-time church members Elaine and Barry Malas who will be relocating to Counsil Bluffs, Iowa. May God bless and keep you safe and secure in your new home. We will miss you.
Congratulations to Jen, daughter of our Mary Beth Jarvis, who gave birth to a beautiful baby boy, Miles, on June 21st. How wonderful. God bless the entire family.
For Danny, his wife Melissa and their son Dan who are undergoing a very trying time with their home and work. Pray for peace, stability and happiness in their lives.
For the families and friends of the Orlando shooting victims who now must bury their loved ones. Pray they find peace and solace in the kindness and prayers of others.
For those who perishes in the savage flooding in West Virginia and those who are now left homeless: Pray for the souls of the departed and pray for those who need aid and assistance.
For those who were killed in the terrorist attacks at the Istanbul, Turkey airport: Pray for the souls of the just and may they rest in Perpetual Light and Peace.
For all our church family and friends who are traveling on holiday and business: Pray good times are had, business is good and destinations are all reached in God's speed and safety.
For our Muslim sisters and brothers who this month celebrate Ramadan: Pray that as they fast, they gain a greater wisdom and inner peace made gift to all by our One, True God.
For Melissa, stepdaughter to our Cyndi DeBock. Melissa is fighting metastatic cancer which has returned at the age of 27. Her sister-in-law has set up a GoFundMe page to help with medical expenses. Click here if you'd like to donate. 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: Pastor Tim Manwell, Jessica Tamaski, Paul Hallman, Patrick Hogan, Anna Marie, Melissa Beck, Michelle Miller, Eloy Madrigal, Courtney Marsh, Amanda and Alex, Ruth, Grandma Shirley, Phyllis Whitmer, Leon Stiles, Cora Lopez, Eddie and Pat Albers, Dick McQuade, Rosario de Vazquez, Rosarini Vazquez, Nora Pun, Carolyn Drolen, Cathy, Mindy Golden, Elaine and Barry Malas, Susan Lackey, Marcia Kizior, Kesha, Eunice Dohra, Bernie, Ron, Dale Rickey, Grant MacDonald, Larry McQuade, and any one else in need of our continued prayers and well wishes.
*** "Pray for my sister who is lost and confused."
Please let Fr. Manny know the current condition of those for whom we are praying and if we wish to keep their names on the prayer list. Thank you.
(***written prayer requests)
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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, June 29, 2016
| AA Meeting | 12:00 PM | | Al-Anon Meeting | 7:30 PM |
Thursday, June 30, 2016 | | AA Meeting | 12:00 PM | | GA Meeting | 7:30 PM |
Friday, July 1, 2016 | | Vicar's Day Off | | | AA Meeting | 12:00 PM |
Saturday, July 2, 2016 | | The Principled Group | 7:30 AM | | AA Meeting | 1:00 PM | | Worship Service | 4:30 PM | | AA Meeting | 7:00 PM |
Sunday, July 3, 2016 | | Worship Service | 10:00 AM | | Adult Bible Study | 11:30 AM | | AA Meeting | 7:30 PM |
Monday, July 4, 2016 | | AA Meeting | 12:00 PM | | AA Meeting | 7:00 PM |
Tuesday, July 5, 2016 | | Vicar's Day Off | | | AA Meeting | 12:00 PM | | AA Meeting | 7:00 PM |
Wednesday, July 6, 2016 | | AA Meeting | 12:00 PM | | Food Pantry | 4:00 PM | | Al-Anon Meeting | 7:30 PM |
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