Ministry Opportunity Spotlight
Help “Bag” Our Neighbors on April 27!
This week we are asking you to help distribute bags for the Second Family program. This can be done after either liturgy, but we need wide participation to ensure success. We will distribute bags today, asking our neighbors to fill them with non-perishable foods, and then return next week to pick them up. Contact Mary Anne O’Rourke at mor1313@yahoo.com
Bishop’s Committee Report
Meeting of April 16
Present: Manny Borg, Dave Fleer, Ethan Jewett, Pat Kalicki, David Taylor, Paul Brouillette, Steve Martz
Excused: Karen Martin,
One official action was taken: a resolution to authorize spending up to $75 for printing a brochure for our Second Family program passed unanimously.
The remainder of the meeting was devoted to a discussion of the contours of the grant request we will make to the Congregations Commission as part of their Incentive Grant program. We identified four areas where additional funding would prove helpful. We eliminated two of those – expansion of our food pantry and our Asbury Court ministry – because we felt we could fund those from our existing budget. The discussion finally centered on mailing and advertising on the one hand, and audiovisual equipment on the other hand. We felt both would contribute significantly to our growth. In the end, we agreed to submit a proposal centered on evangelism that would include funds to allow us to make an initial foray into audiovisual use during some worship and also at other times and a pilot testing of various means of advertising to reach our neighbors.
Schedule of Upcoming Events
Wednesday, April 23
Bishop’s Committee meets at 11 a.m.
AA meets at noon
O’Rourke discernment committee
meets at 6:30 p.m.
Choir rehearsal at 7 p.m.
Thursday, April 24
AA meets at noon
GA meets at 7 p.m.
Friday, April 25
AA meets at noon
LGBTQ Meetup, “For the Bible Tells Me So,”
at 7 p.m.
Saturday, April 26
AA meets at 1 p.m.
AA meets at 8:30 p.m.
Sunday, April 27
Worship at 9 & 11 a.m.
Church school for children at 10 a.m.
Contemporary issues adult education group at 10 a.m.
Bishop’s Committee retreat
from 12:30 – 3:30 p.m.
Food Pantry bag distribution after each liturgy
Monday, April 28
AA meets at noon
AA meets at 7 p.m.
Tuesday, April 29
AA meets at noon
AA meets at 7 p.m.
Wednesday, April 30
Bishop’s Committee meets at 11 a.m.
AA meets at noon
Choir rehearsal at 7 p.m.
Thursday, May 1
AA meets at noon
GA meets at 7 p.m.
Friday, May 2
AA meets at noon
Saturday, May 3
AA meets at 1 p.m.
AA meets at 8:30 p.m.
Sunday, May 4
Worship at 9 & 11 a.m.
Church school for children at 10 a.m.
Celebration Sunday social hour
for adults at 10 a.m.
Food Pantry bag collection after each liturgy
Movable Feast Grand Finale
On Sunday, May 18, we will gather after the 11 a.m. liturgy for a potluck to mark the end of the Spring Movable Feast series. You are invited to this feast, whether or not you participated in a Movable Feast group. During the feast, we also will be holding a parish meeting, so please plan to be there.
Help Drive a Parishioner to Church
Laura Lampe is coordinating rides for Eunice Dohra, a parishioner who uses a wheelchair. Please volunteer to be an occasional part of this important ministry of hospitality. Eunice will be grateful – and so will Laura and I. Contact Laura at stdonatus@comcast.net
Soup Kitchen Trip is This Saturday, April 26
We will be leaving St. Nicholas between 3:45 and 4 p.m. to serve dinner to the homeless at 1645 W. LeMoyne in Chicago. The soup kitchen is at 1645 W. LeMoyne in Chicago and is run by our own Manny Borg. There’s a sign-up sheet in church or you can contact Manny (vanborg@sbcglobal.net) or Mary Anne O’Rourke (mor1313@yahoo.com).
Easter Donations – Last Weeks!
Your generosity – in so many forms – makes possible our growth and outreach. Easter is one of two times each year when we ask those who are able to make as significant an extra contribution as possible. If you are able, Easter envelopes will be available throughout the Easter season (until May 11) at church or by request to 1bread1body@sbcglobal.net
Help with Yummy Hour
The Welcoming Team is seeking volunteers to help provide snacks for the social gatherings after both the 9 and 11 a.m. liturgies. Let’s all get involved! There is a sign up sheet in the church – AND you can sign up online by picking one of the available dates and emailing your choice to Manny at vanborg@sbcglobal.net
Here’s the schedule to choose from:
April 20 – Treats provided by Claudia Boyle
April 27 – volunteers needed
May 4 – Celebration Sunday, cake provided
May 11 – volunteers needed
May 18 – Parish Pot Luck/Movable Feast
May 25 – volunteers needed
LGBTQ Spirituality Meetup
“For the Bible Tells Me So”
Open to the Whole St. Nicholas Community
This Friday, April 25 at 7 p.m. we will be conducting a screening and discussion of the 2007 award- winning documentary, “For the Bible Tells Me So.” [editor’s note: how did it go?]
There was so much interest from the wider congregation to view the film with the LGBTQ meetup group, that we have decided to open the screening to all members of the St. Nicholas community. Thanks to our straight allies for their support!
The following is a synopsis from the film’s website:
“Through the experiences of five very normal, very Christian, very American families – including those of former House Majority Leader Richard Gephardt and Episcopal Bishop Gene Robinson – we discover how insightful people of faith handle the realization of having a gay child. Informed by such respected voices as Bishop Desmond Tutu, Harvard’s Peter Gomes, Orthodox Rabbi Steve Greenberg and Reverend Jimmy Creech, For the Bible Tells Me So offers healing, clarity and understanding to anyone caught in the crosshairs of scripture and sexual identity.”
One Bread, One Body
Pasta with the Pastor
Last week I mentioned the conference with church growth guru,
Kennon Callahan and promised to share some of the ideas it stimulated for me. Here’s one: Callahan talks about the importance of everyday pastoral care or “shepherding.” Because our community emphasizes shared leadership, that shepherding comes not only from me, but from many directions.I’d like to see us increase the amount of “shepherding” we do – and I’m determined to increase the amount I do. At bottom, it is one of the principal ways we celebrate the lives of each member of this community, and I’m sure you’ve heard me say many times that celebration is essential in our life together.
With these things in mind, I am going to begin hosting a small group of parishioners for a potluck each month. What I have in mind is a group of no more than six adults – plus any and all children and youth connected to them – coming to my home for a pasta dinner. I’ll provide the pasta; you bring the drinks, dessert, and salad or bread. I am going to put a sign-up list at church and encourage you to form your own groups.
I’m proposing the Second Saturday of each month, 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. (or, if that’s not kid-friendly enough, we can always start earlier). I encourage those who have been in the church for more than two years not to sign up until 2009. This will help me go deeper with newer people first. We’ll start May 10, and meet continuously with an occasional break here and there for vacations and the like.
I am really looking forward to this new opportunity for connection and celebration.
Lots of love,
