We Have a Vicar! Good News from St. Nicholas Episcopal Church

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More information is forthcoming, such as a date for a formal installation, but the wonderful news is officially official.

The full text of the announcement, which was made at Sunday’s service just before the final dismissal, is on the linked page.

Very cleverly, Senior Warden slipped Father Manny’s new title into the bulletin, a fun fact that was previously blogged, tweeted, and Facebooked.

For the past eleven months, our congregation has been in a Transition, following the resignation of Steve Martz as our Vicar. To some in the congregation, it may feel like this has been a long process. The reorganization that took place in our Diocesan Pastoral Center created a speed bump for our process in the summer, which we successfully overcame and moved forward.

Link: We Have a Vicar! Good News from St. Nicholas Episcopal Church

UPDATED: Top Ten Reasons Men Give For Not Going To Church.

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This is an old post from before the merger between Holy Innocents and St Nicholas, but it still gets “hits” and is worth repeating in the days before Super Bowl Sunday..

The following list is courtesy of the Rev. Steven C. Rice, St. Michael’s Episcopal Church, Waynesboro GA. Do you know someone who gives one of these reasons?

The following list comes from a book reviewed in the Augusta Chronicle on June 18. The book is called (not surprisingly) “Why Men Hate Going to Church” by David Murrow. The Top Ten…Letterman style:

10. I don’t have time
9. Church just doesn’t work for me
8. It’s boring
7. It’s irrelevant to my life
6. I don’t like the pastor
5. I don’t want to talk about it
4. It’s too long
3. They ask for money too much
2. It’s for wimps
1. There are too many hypocrites there

Now, if we were to install a drive-through window along one side of the church, with salvation Happy Meals to go (large drink extra), we might be on to something, because that would neutralize answers 10, 8, 4, 3, and 1 for certain and might take care of some of the others, too.

UPDATED to add: With Father Manny now on board, we can probably take reasons 6 and 8 off, especially if you are a football fan. The vicar of St Nicholas is a fervent sports fan and has the Giants up by 3 in the Super Bowl.

There was talk of hauling the big screen TV out and getting the Pre-game festivities on for coffee hour, though cooler heads may have prevailed.

OFFICIAL! Father Manny Is Our New Vicar!!

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Bulletin showing Father Manny's title changed to "Vicar"

It was announced today – the timing was rather sly as Hal Stratton stepped up just as the normal “let us go out into the world” prayer concluded and before Father Manny could begin the second, “during this time of transition” prayer we’ve adopted during our interim (between pastors) period. Senior Warden Pat Kalicki was already in place, as she acts as crucifer and acolyte most Sundays.

We did not say that transitional prayer, because Hal announced that the Search Committee’s hard work had finally been brought to an end (after explaining why it was a lengthy process). Then Pat was able to conclude with the official announcement that Father Manuel Borg has been called by St Nicholas Episcopal Church, and he has accepted the call.

Papers have been signed, all that remains is for Father Manny to have a sit-down with Bishop Jeffrey Lee.

Pat had been clever enough to slip a spoiler announcement onto the cover of the bulletin; as recently as last night’s Saturday Eucharist service, the bulletins gave Father Manny’s title as “Transitional Minister.” Only a couple of people noticed this morning, but the announcement was a resounding and joyful surprise to almost everybody.

And there was much rejoicing (also, not a little whooping and applauding).

It’s been a long process, but we’re looking forward, literally, with Father Manny as our vicar.

(updated to fix a couple of issues with the text and image)
tags: StNickEpiscopal Episcopal Church