None of us ever knows what a New Year will bring, and I am sure 2011 will bring its share of welcome and unwelcome surprises. But I have a very good feeling that 2011 is going to be a really good one at St. Nicholas.

2010 certainly had its moments. I was struck most by the number of deaths. Not so much in the parish directly, but loved ones of parishioners. I went to more wakes and funerals outside St. Nicholas than I have in any previous year. The Christmas Eve death of Carrie Loos’ dad seemed like an exclamation point to all the other deaths of 2010.

There was a lot of grieving here last year.

It was as well a difficult one for us financially, and our attendance also dropped from the previous year.

At the same time, we launched a really good new liturgy, saw our ministry continue to expand, and had a couple of wonderful rummage sales.

Then, Christmas Eve at St. Nicholas brought a wonderful spirit — and the highest attendance ever. It is the energy of that night that fuels my hope and optimism for 2011.

St. Nicholas is a remarkable congregation, with a spirit unlike any other. We will have our ups and downs. That’s just part of life. But I think the trajectory here is upward bound, and I’m betting by the end of 2011, everyone will agree this New Year, though full of surprises, was a remarkable one for St. Nicholas.

Happy New Year,

Steve