There are 2 AA meetings today at St Nicholas, as well as the regular 4:30pm Saturday Evening Eucharist.
You are welcome – you are ALWAYS welcome – at St Nicholas.
As I am sure you all are aware, St. Nicholas maintains a food pantry. Currently, the pantry is stocked by generous donations from the congregation, Little Boots Foundation, La Preferida, the people of St. Simon’s in Arlington Heights, a vending company and a Food Depository in Romeoville.
We are grateful for everything that we receive and are able to make available for those in need in the community. As noted in the News from Nick each week, the Pantry is open on the First, Third and Fourth Wednesdays from 4:30 to 6:30 pm. When guests come to the pantry, they are allowed to help themselves to the items they will use. Except for a few items (cereal, tuna, canned meats) we usually do not limit the amount of one item they may take. They are asked to be respectful of the fact there are other guests who use the pantry. We do limit them to three bags of groceries per visit. Yes, this way does cause shortages of some items, and creates an overabundance of other items. If we have an overabundance, we share with other pantries and the community.
One question we have received at times is how do we know the people who use the pantry are in need, and the answer we give is “It is between them and God.” We feel that we are filling a need for those who may be working, thus not qualify for aid elsewhere, but are having trouble making ends meet.
We are seeking ideas on where we might be able to obtain food and other non perishable items for the pantry and how to get the word out about the pantry.
However, our main goal for this, is to find out how you, the Congregation, would like to see the food pantry run. Do you have ideas on how to help out the community more than we currently do? Would you prefer to see us do things differently? If we did something differently, would you help out more? Currently there is a core of 5 volunteers who run the pantry.
Please help us help others.
Scott Cummings
From this week’s newsletter – an important note on commitment, support, and serving.
Life is quite exciting at St. Nicholas! New ministries have begun and new people are participating in ongoing ministries. In addition to your time, talent, love and energy, we hope that you’ll contribute your monetary resources, which, in addition to your other valued gifts, enable us to continue to change lives–our own and those of others who are part of the St. Nicholas Community. As we continue to stress, that community includes those who worship at St. Nicholas, but also those who rely on our community for the many support groups hosted by St. Nicholas which are vital to their lives. Our community includes our guests who come to our food pantry, and those who seek a welcome and warm embrace as they drop by during the week.
We are most grateful for the many ways all the members of the Community of St. Nicholas support, enhance and give life to our mission and ministries.
We hope you are considering your pledge to St. Nicholas for 2012. As we wrote earlier, our hope is for every household at St. Nicholas to submit a pledge form for 2012 by November 20 so that we may plan for next year’s budget.
Pledge forms are at this link and on the shelf just outside the worship space.
Of course, we are always seeking your gift of time and talent as well. Please take a look at the "Serving" page of our website and see if there is a ministry you feel called to share in.
More information may be found at this link.
