Category Archives: Inviting

Evangelism for shy persons who are Episcopalian; it’s easy to invite someone!

Easter Videos Just In Time for Advent… Watch For “Christmas Wishes” To Come!

Posted on by
Reply

Our Video page will be updated on a much more regular basis, thanks to the work of videographer Carol Payne. We have channels at YouTube, and also at Vimeo.

First up: Father Paul T Brouillette preaching at Easter Sunday 2010 (based on his reference to Father Steve Martz, who can be heard laughing in the background).

Father Paul ran many races, but sadly his race against a long-standing illness ended this year. We miss him and his talents greatly at St Nicholas. Not only was he a great and thought-provoking preacher, he was a talented guitar and banjo player. He was accustomed to singing the Exultet at the Easter Vigil (the Saturday night service that is the main celebration of Easter at St Nicholas) together with a few choir members. And he was also the featured guitar player at the singing of “Silent Night” at the end of every Christmas Eve service for the last few years. This year will be the first year without him. We hope his family and friends find comfort in this video, which they may not have known existed.

This next video shows Father Manny at the altar, doing the Eucharist (communion) part of the service on Easter Sunday 2012. That was Manny’s second Easter Sunday at St Nicholas, but his first as the vicar and not interim minister.

Father Manny welcomes ALL to the altar. He’s assisted by Valerie Gruenwald and her daughter Rose, who looked very beautiful in her Easter Sunday dress. As you can tell by the soundtrack, a lot of families with young children attend this service.

Look for more frequent uploads and updates – there are more videos with music, and “Christmas Wishes” videos from St Nicholas parishioners.

Giving Thanks: Perhaps The World Ends Here

Posted on by
Reply

In case you were listening to NPR’s Thanksgiving Day programming earlier today when this poem was read over the air… Father Manny added it to his weekly newsletter message yesterday, it must be “trending.”

Perhaps the World Ends Here
By Joy Harjo

The world begins at a kitchen table. No matter what, we must eat to live.

The gifts of earth are brought and prepared, set on the table. So it has been since creation, and it will go on.

We chase chickens or dogs away from it. Babies teethe at the corners. They scrape their knees under it.

It is here that children are given instructions on what it means to be human. We make men at it, we make women.
At this table we gossip, recall enemies and the ghosts of lovers.

Our dreams drink coffee with us as they put their arms around our children. They laugh with us at our poor falling-down selves and as we put ourselves back together once again at the table.
This table has been a house in the rain, an umbrella in the sun.

Wars have begun and ended at this table. It is a place to hide in the shadow of terror. A place to celebrate the terrible victory.
We have given birth on this table and have prepared our parents for burial here.

At this table we sing with joy, with sorrow. We pray of suffering and remorse. We give thanks.
Perhaps the world will end at the kitchen table, while we are laughing and crying, eating of the last sweet bite.

“Perhaps the World Ends Here,” from The Woman Who Fell From the Sky, by Joy Harjo 1994

What a gift it is to be invited and share in the meal at the Table of Life and receive the full and living presence of Jesus, our Most Holy Redeemer. We are graced and blessed with life that is divine. Our hearts and souls take flight and we are lifted up. Each time we come forward, extend our hands and say “Amen,” we profess our belief in the gift afforded us; Jesus Christ. Let us rejoice and be glad in what we are given. We have much for which to be grateful.

To the community of St. Nicholas, to all our family and friends, a most joyful and blessed Thanksgiving. May God bless and keep us safe, secure and ever in His grace, care and love.

-Manny