News from St. Nicholas

The sky is the daily bread of the eyes.
— Ralph Waldo Emerson

S u n d a y S c h e d u l e:

9 a.m. — Worship
10 — Church school for all ages
11 — Worship

Church school for children and adults today

Children. Meet today with Tess Setchell.

Youth. Are encouraged to participate with adults in today’s study of David.

Adults. We’ve got two adult ed groups going this morning. Our contemporary issues group continues their study of world religions, focusing now on the varieties of Christianity.

Our second group will continue its examination of the life and significance of David, the shepherd king. Today’s session will offer an overview of his life. Goliath may make an encore appearance, so bring your sling shots. After a two week break, we’ll continue with David on November 11 (“Women in the Davidic Narrative”) and November 18 (“David’s Sexuality: Why It Matters”)

If you have some time, read portions of the story of David, which begins in the middle of the first book of Samuel, and continues through the second book of Samuel and the beginning of the first book of Kings. A good popular treatment of David is found in the book King David, by Jonathan Kirsch.

All teams now meet on the fourth Sunday at 10 a.m., beginning 10.28

We hope this will encourage more parishioners to take an active role in the leadership of our congregation. Next Sunday, please join one of these teams to check out how you can make a difference – Nurturing, Welcoming, Inviting, or Generosity.

Generosity Team begins our annual campaign

Most of you should have received an envelope in the regular mail this week from the Generosity Team inviting you to consider your 2008 pledge to St. Nicholas. More details will be forthcoming on Sundays between now and Sunday, November 18. This team has done some impressive work and I hope everyone will consider carefully the material and information you receive from them.

The election of a new bishop nears…

…and your feedback is important. We will be holding a parish feedback session on Sunday, November 4, so our Convention delegates can hear your impressions and thoughts about the candidates.

Information about the eight candidates is available on the website, www.bishopforchicago.org and at a series of “meet-and-greets” the search committee is holding for the candidates.

Tuesday, October 23, St. Mark’s, 393 N. Main Street, Glen Ellyn

Wednesday, October 24, Church of the Redeemer, 40 Center St., Elgin

Thursday, October 25, Church of the Holy Spirit, 400 E. Westminster Rd, Lake Forest

Friday, October 26, Church of the Transfiguration, 12219 S. 86th Ave., Palos Park
Registration for the weekday events is 5:30 p.m. with program at 6:15

Saturday, October 27, St. Edmund’s, 6105 S. Michigan, Chicago
8:45 a.m. registration, 9:30 program

Sunday, October 28, St. Luke’s, 221 W. 3rd St., Dixon
1:45 p.m. registration, 2:30 program

If you want to go but don’t want to be the only St. Nicholasite in the room, we plan to have people at the events on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Saturday.

…and so does Diocesan Convention

Our annual Diocesan Convention is this Friday, November 9 and Saturday, November 10. Friday includes several morning workshops and an afternoon business session. Saturday focuses on the election of a new bishop. We’ve purchased several extra registrations for parishioners who would like to be a part of this important occasion. See Steve, Mary Anne, or Ethan if you would like to attend, or email onebreadonebody@sbcglobal.net

Also, if you would like to help out at Convention, they are seeking volunteers for various liturgical roles (from usher to choir member, and everything in-between). If you’d like to participate, email your intent immediately so we can get the info to planners.

Update on Second Family clothes collection

We are doing well with this collection, especially for the girls. The boys, however, could use some more clothes, especially the oldest one, size men’s XXL. All the kids have winter coats now, except for that child. Money also can be contributed. Makes checks payable to St. Nicholas and note the purpose on the memo line. These are the children in need:

Boy Age 8 Size 7-8 shirt, 9-10 pants
Girl Age 11 Size 9-10
Girl Age 12 Size 12 top, 12 slim pants
Boy Age 13 Size 14 or XL
Boy High School Size XXL

Canned fruit needed for Food Pantry

Help replenish the food pantry by bringing one or more non-perishable items each Sunday. At present, we are out of canned fruit, so that would be especially appreciated.

Bishop’s committee report

With Ethan away, our procedures for our newsletter were not seamless last week and so I failed to include the minutes of last week’s bishop’s committee meeting. So here are two weeks of scintillating details from your governing body!

Minutes of October 10, 2007 meeting
Present: David Taylor, Pat Kalicki, Steve Martz, Manny Borg, Karen Martin, Ethan Jewett , Mary Anne O’Rourke
Absent: Paul Brouillette

There were no official votes or actions. Discussion included the following topics:

Coordinating the opening prayer at our meetings.

Reports on upcoming meeting of the nurturing, welcoming, and generosity teams.

A discussion of our experience of having multiple preachers rather than relying primarily on the vicar to do the bulk of the preaching. Karen nicely summed it up when she said, “The way we are doing it means we get to hear from a lot of the family rather than just the father.” We all agreed with this, and would value your feedback, too.

A discussion of the Sunday Formation schedule, including establishing the fourth Sunday as a regular meeting time for teams, which are also expected to meet at least one other time during each month. The Sunday meeting, we felt, would encourage more widespread involvement.

A discussion of recent contacts with school social workers regarding our Second Family ministry.

Minutes of October 17, 2007 meeting
Present: David Taylor, Pat Kalicki, Steve Martz, Manny Borg, Karen Martin, Paul Brouillette , Mary Anne O’Rourke
Absent: Ethan Jewett

There were no official votes or actions. Following the opening prayer, discussion included the following topics:

Sunday attendance. Concern was expressed at our soft attendance numbers on several recent Sundays. We reviewed several families/persons whose absence had been noted and the reasons each had been unable to be present allayed the concerns.

Generosity Team report. Personal reflections on giving are scheduled for October 28 and November 11. The Team decided these would be best done during the announcements. This drew a skeptical response from Steve, who felt these would be better retooled and delivered as part of the homily, but who accepted the Team’s decision. There also was an extended discussion of the announcements during Sunday liturgies, with general agreement that these should be kept as short as possible and no agreement as to whether they worked best at the middle or end of the liturgy.

Nurturing Team report. Paul met with a representative from the Asbury Court retirement community to discuss beginning a regular liturgical ministry at Asbury. He reported an enthusiastic reception and has tentatively schedule the first liturgy for Saturday, November 17. Details remain to be worked out within the Nurturing Team.

We heard brief updates on contacts with social workers regarding our Second Family program.

We discussed the repair of the copier and the need to clean the carpet.

We heard that Bishop & Trustees had approved our request to improve the windows on the south side of the worship space (facing the school). With the earlier approval of west window replacement, this means most of the windows in the worship space will soon be replaced.

We heard an update on a program for the youth of the parish that will involve exploring prayer and community life in a series of field trips to interesting sites. More details will follow as sites and dates are firmed up.

Couldn’t make it to church this past Sunday?

We missed you, but we realize that not everyone can make it every Sunday. While we can’t bring church to you, we can help you stay connected by offering you the previous week’s homily at http://www.onebreadonebody.org/homilies.htm A reminder to preachers to e-mail Ethan your homily (in Microsoft Word format) by Wednesday after the Sunday that you’ve preached.

And, as always, if you miss because of illness or something similar, let us know by phone that morning, and we will be sure to bring you communion.

Yummy Hour needs you

From the Welcoming Team:

Dear Parishioners of St. Nicholas,

We are seeking volunteers to help provide snacks for the social gatherings after both the 9 and 11 am Liturgies. Cookies, cakes, sweet or savory, and simple is fine, too. Ideally, we ask if the same person(s) covers both the 9 and 11am gatherings. Set up of snacks, regular and decaf coffee and a pot of hot water for tea. Sugar, creamer, cups, napkins and stirs are in the cabinets in the Gathering Space while coffee and coffee pots are in the kitchen space. 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: vanborg@sbcglobal.net

Here’s the schedule to choose from:

October 28 — volunteer in place
9am
11am

November 4 – All Saints’ Sunday
9am Celebration Sunday…cake provided
11am Celebration Sunday…cake provided

November 11
9am
11am

November 18 — volunteer in place
9am
11am

November 25 – volunteer in place
9am
11am

December 2
9am Celebration Sunday…cake provided
11am Celebration Sunday….cake provided

December 9 – St. Nicholas Sunday
9am
11am

December 16
9am
11am

December 23
9am
11am

December 30
9am
11am

If you shop at Amazon…

…be sure to visit it through our web site and part of your purchase will go to our church, thanks to the work of Ginny Gibbs. Go to our web site at onebreadonebody.org. Click on more news and events, which will take you to the blog and then look around until you find and click the Amazon link.

One bread, one body

Nice beginning to the monthly children’s liturgy — even though we didn’t have many children – or adults – in church this past Sunday. (Every now and then we hit an attendance blip that perplexes me. Was it the Bears? The weather? Do people secretly coordinate their travel plans to be away the same weekend?)

Despite our occasional blip, I am gratified that new people continue to check us out – and more often than not, return the next week. I am very optimistic that we have a bright future ahead. This past weekend was especially nice because in addition to new guests, a couple of people I hadn’t seen in church for a while – and of whom I am very fond – returned. I hope they will find what they are seeking in our midst rather than someone else’s.

At the children’s liturgy I was struck especially at the reaction to the opening hymn. I said later to Mary that I can’t remember when I’ve seen so many smiles on so many faces as I did during “He’s got the whole word in his hands.” Do we sing louder and sound better when we smile? I don’t know. But it seemed like it – and you sounded great. Keep smiling…..and singing!

Lots of love,
— Steve

And, now, from the how-not-to-advertise-your-church department…

Checking out other church web sites is a bit of a pastime for me, and I howled at reasons # 8 & 7 for visiting this Pennsylvania church. I guess if you’re named Calvary, you’ve got to go with what fits. But I’m glad that isn’t our name.

Top 10 Reasons to Come to Calvary Episcopal Church

10. Our church is one of the best kept secrets of Delaware County.

9. We have a beautiful church with some of the finest stained glass windows
in Delaware County.

8. We have a beautiful and peaceful cemetery.

7. We can take care of all of your needs from cradle to grave…

Come to think of it, # 10 isn’t such a good sign, either. Just why is Calvary “one of the best kept secrets?” Churches are secrets only when their members don’t talk about them. I hope St. Nicholas is not a well-kept secret! (also submitted by Father Steve)

Our schedule this week

Sunday, October 21

Worship at 9 & 11 a.m.
Formation for all ages at 10
AA meets at 7:30 p.m.

Monday

AA meets at noon
AA meets at 7 p.m.

Tuesday

AA meets at noon
AA meets at 7 p.m.

Wednesday

Bishop’s committee meets at 11 a.m.
AA meets at noon
Choir meets at 7 p.m.

Thursday

AA meets at noon
GA meets at 7 p.m.

Friday

AA meets at noon

Saturday

AA meets at 1 p.m.
AA meets at 8:30 p.m.

Sunday, October 28

Worship at 9 & 11
Formation for all ages

One Bread, One Body
News from St. Nicholas

10.7.07

Happiness makes up in height
for what it lacks in depth.
— Robert Frost

Recovery Sunday picnic a big success

This past Sunday was a wonderful celebration of the AA groups at St. Nicholas and of all people in recovery as 50-plus St. Nicholasites were joined by more than 100 members of AA. Thanks to Neal Setchell for laboring over the grill, to Ken Tamaski for bringing and setting up his wonderful tent, to David Taylor for leading the 12-step adult ed, to Cyndi Beck for preaching, and to Bill and Cyndi for their offertory duet, and to each one of you who brought food and a wonderful spirit to help make this first annual event a big success. Next year’s will be even bigger and better!

Today is Blessing of the Animals Sunday – with Pet Fair

Please bring your pet(s) or, if you lack a pet, a cuddly stuffed animal to our annual Blessing of the Animals. We’ll be blessing animals at both liturgies.

And if that’s not enough, from noon to 2 p.m. we’ll be holding our first Pet Fair. This will feature several additional animal opportunities, most notably adoptables.

Church school for children and adults today

Children.

Our church school program has begun and this year we will have Sunday morning church school for preschool and elementary age children. Because of space constraints, we will not run a Sunday morning junior high or senior high program this year – but we look forward to doing so next year in the new building. However, junior and senior high youth are encouraged to participate in the adult ed programs on Sunday mornings.

Youth.

We are planning what we trust will be a quite interesting alternative approach for our junior and senior high kids that we think will be really interesting – and totally unexpected. Stay tuned for more info soon.

Adults.

We’ve got two adult ed groups going this morning. Our contemporary issues group continues their study of world religions.

Our second group offers the debut of our new first-Sunday-of-each-month series on Celebrating our Anglican Tradition. Ethan will lead this group today and will focus on Anglican history and provide an overview of Anglicanism today. This new series will provide newcomers to the Episcopal Church a way to learn a bit more about the denomination each month.

Three-week series on David begins next Sunday

Besides our new first-Sunday offering, we are also going to look each month at a different figure from the Hebrew Scriptures, or Old Testament. On October 14, 21, and 28, Steve will lead us in an examination of David, the shepherd king. The October 14 class will be intergenerational – all parishioners of all ages are invited to participate.

Couldn’t make it to church this past Sunday?

We missed you, but we realize that not everyone can make it every Sunday. While we can’t bring church to you, we can help you stay connected by offering you the previous week’s homily at http://www.onebreadonebody.org/homilies.htm A reminder to preachers to e-mail Ethan your homily (in Microsoft Word format) by Wednesday after the Sunday that you’ve preached.

And, as always, if you miss because of illness or something similar, let us know by phone that morning, and we will be sure to bring you communion.

Children’s Mass next week

On the second Sunday of each month, we are going to transform the later liturgy into something of a “Children’s Chapel,” offering that liturgy on that Sunday particularly for children. We’ll be asking children and youth to be involved in the liturgy in almost all ways that day, and for the adults to bring their inner child to church that day. This is one way to make palpable our intent to be a church that welcomes and fully includes children,

A Bishop for Chicago

Your feedback is important. I would be grateful if you would find the time to visit the website, www.bishopforchicago.org, where you will find material from each of the eight candidates for bishop. I would be even more grateful if you would read all that material and then attend a feedback session on Sunday, November 4, so our Convention delegates can hear your impressions and thoughts about the candidates. The material is also available at church.

And I would be ecstatic if you could find the time to attend one of the “meet-and-greets” the search committee is holding for the candidates. Then your feedback would also reflect a “flesh-and-blood” experience of the candidates, who may speak to you in one way on paper and another in person. The full schedule is:

Tuesday, October 23,
St. Mark’s, 393 N. Main Street, Glen Ellyn

Wednesday, October 24,
Church of the Redeemer, 40 Center St., Elgin

Thursday, October 25,
Church of the Holy Spirit, 400 E. Westminster Rd, Lake Forest

Friday, October 26,
Church of the Transfiguration, 12219 S. 86th Ave., Palos Park

Registration for the weekday events is 5:30 p.m. with program at 6:15

Saturday, October 27,
St. Edmund’s, 6105 S. Michigan, Chicago
8:45 a.m. registration, 9:30 program

Sunday, October 28, St. Luke’s, 221 W. 3rd St., Dixon
1:45 p.m. registration, 2:30 program

Logo, anyone?

OK. We’ve go ourselves a name. That’s a big step in identity formation. We know who we are. Now we want to begin communicating who we are to others – and one important tool in this communication is a LOGO. But we need your help. We’d like everyone in the parish to begin thinking – and praying about a symbol that might convey clearly who we are. You can sketch it if you want. Or if you feel artistically challenged, put it into words. You can give your ideas to Steve or anyone on the bishop’s committee. You also can email them to onebreadonebody@sbcglobal.net. Thanks!

Opportunity to serve soup and the poor

We have the opportunity to serve dinner to the homeless and poor at the Franciscan Outreach Soup Kitchen, 1645 W. LeMoyne in Chicago. This ministry is run by our own Manny Borg. Two dates have been reserved for a group from St. Nicholas. The next trip has been scheduled for Saturday, October 13, followed by Saturday, November 10. We are planning to car pool from church, leaving around 3:30 p.m. There will be a sign-up sheet at the entrance to the worship space. If you would like to participate or have any questions, please see Manny or Mary Anne O’Rourke – or email Mary Anne at mor1313@yahoo.com

Second Family Ministry: clothes needed

We have received a request from a family with five children for help with winter clothes. The clothing can be new or used if the items are clean and in good shape. This family has requested help previously from Holy Innocents and they now are turning to our combined congregation. Please be generous. Here is the information about these children.

Boy Age 8 Size 7-8 shirt, 9-10 pants
Girl Age 11 Size 9-10
Girl Age 12 Size 12 top, 12 slim pants
Boy Age 13 Size 14 or XL
Boy High School Size XXL

Food pantry items we now need include…

Help replenish the food pantry by bringing one or more non-perishable items each Sunday and placing them on or beneath the table just inside the worship space. Items that we particularly need for the pantry are juice, sugar, laundry detergent, paper products (toilet paper, paper towels, tissue).

Bishop’s committee report

Minutes of October 3, 2007 meeting

Present: David Taylor, Pat Kalicki, Steve Martz, Paul Brouillette, Mary Anne O’Rourke
Absent: Manny Borg, Karen Martin, Ethan Jewett

There were no official votes or actions. Discussion included the following topics:

Constructing a shed rather than a garage as part of the building addition. A shed would be less expensive and would meet our needs as well.
United Thank Offering representative will visit us on December 16.
Ideas for proceeding toward the development of a logo.
We confirmed a decision to hold a Thanksgiving liturgy, although Mary will be unavailable to play.
We talked about several matters related to signage, including lighting the existing signage, adding the web site address, and the use of banners.

Yummy Hour needs you

From the Welcoming Team:

Dear Parishioners of St. Nicholas,
We are seeking volunteers to help provide snacks for the social gatherings after both the 9 and 11 am Liturgies. Cookies, cakes, sweet or savory, and simple is fine, too. Ideally, we ask if the same person(s) covers both the 9 and 11 am gatherings. Set up of snacks, regular and decaf coffee and a pot of hot water for tea. Sugar, creamer, cups, napkins and stirs are in the cabinets in the Gathering Space while coffee and coffee pots are in the kitchen space. Let’s all get involved!

There is a sign up sheet in the church – AND you can sign up online by picking one of these available dates and times and emailing your choice to Manny: vanborg@sbcglobal.net

Here’s the schedule to choose from:

October 7
9am Celebration Sunday…cake provided
11am Celebration Sunday…cake provided

October 14
9am
11am

October 21
9am
11am

October 28
9am
11am

November 4 – All Saints’ Sunday
9am Celebration Sunday…cake provided
11am Celebration Sunday…cake provided

November 11
9am
11am

November 18
9am
11am

November 25
9am
11am

December 2
9am Celebration Sunday…cake provided
11am Celebration Sunday….cake provided

December 9 – St. Nicholas Sunday
9am
11am

December 16
9am
11am

December 23
9am
11am

December 30
9am
11am

If you shop at Amazon…

…be sure to visit it through our web site and part of your purchase will go to our church, thanks to the work of Ginny Gibbs. Go to our web site at onebreadonebody.org. Click on more news and events, which will take you to the blog and then look around until you find and click the Amazon link.

Does anyone know of a good used car?

I know of someone looking for a good used car for under $2,000. She would like something that is mechanically sound. If you know of such a car, respond to me (Steve) at 1bread1body@sbcglobal.net

One bread, one body

I was thrilled by our first annual Recovery Sunday. Although we are merely the hosts – it is the leaders and members of AA who do the actual ministry – I was reminded again on Sunday what incredible, life-changing work goes on within the walls of St. Nicholas. How important it is that we celebrate this, and the people whose lives are changed by the work of AA and other 12-step groups. I was particularly appreciative of Cyndi’s preaching. As I said at one point on Sunday, the joy for me of having so much lay preaching at St. Nicholas is that it opens up for all to share the depth of spirituality that we have as a community. And Cyndi’s fine homily brought home to many the beauty and depth of a spirituality centered in the 12 steps.

This past Sunday was the first of several annual celebrations and observances of the different human journeys represented within our community. What a great way this was to begin these celebrations.

Lots of love,
— Steve

Our schedule this week

Sunday, October 7

BLESSING OF THE ANIMALS SUNDAY
Worship at 9 & 11 a.m. – pets invited
Adult and children’s ed at 10
Pet Fair noon to 2 p.m.
AA meets at 7:30 p.m.

Monday

AA meets at noon
AA meets at 7 p.m.

Tuesday

AA meets at noon
AA meets at 7 p.m.

Wednesday

Bishop’s committee meets at 11 a.m.
AA meets at noon

Thursday

AA meets at noon
GA meets at 7 p.m.

Friday

AA meets at noon

Saturday

AA meets at 1 p.m.
Soup Kitchen trip, 3:30 p.m.
AA meets at 8:30 p.m.

Sunday, October 14

Worship at 9 & 11
Church School for all ages at 10

You know of the disease called “sleeping sickness.”
There also exists a sleeping sickness of the soul.
Its most dangerous aspect is that one is unaware of its coming.
That is why you have to be careful.
As soon as you notice the slightest sign of indifference,
the moment you become aware of the loss of a certain seriousness,
of longing, of enthusiasm and zest, take it as a warning.
Your soul suffers if you live superficially. — Albert Schweitzer

Today is Participate! Sunday

What this means is that during our church school time at 10 a.m. we are going to invite children and adults to spend some time exploring ways to participate in our weekly worship. We’ll have brief introductions and training for these liturgical ministries:

• Choir
• Readers and intercessors (leading the prayers of the people)
• Acolytes
• Greeters
• Altar guild
• Gift-bearers (bringing the bread and wine to the altar)
• Chalice-bearers (helping out with communion)

We hope everyone will pick at least one of these ways to become involved. Church works best – and is more fun — when we all help out.

In late October or early November, we’ll have another Participate Sunday – this one focused on mission and outreach.

Recovery Sunday is next Sunday, September 30

Our first Recovery Sunday – a time to celebrate the women and men who participate in the 12-step groups — and all in recovery – is coming up. Be sure to be there for adult ed as well as worship, as we’ll have special guest speakers. And especially importantly, join us for the picnic after the 11 a.m. liturgy, when we’ll meet and greet and feed the people whose lives we are celebrating. AND BRING FOOD for the picnic at noon!

Blessing of the Animals – and Pet Fair on October 7

Talk to your pet and let him or her know we’ve got a special day coming up. And we are going to break new ground, as the day will be extended to include not only the blessing at both liturgies, but also an Animal Fair from noon-2, featuring adoptables and more.

Labyrinth Walk

This Friday night, September 21, 7-9 p.m. If you’ve never walked the Labyrinth, come try it. It’s a great tool for meditation, a wonderful opportunity to s l o w d o w n. . . .

Any ideas for a logo?

OK. We’ve got ourselves a name. That’s a big step in identity formation. We know who we are. Now we want to begin communicating who we are to others – and one important tool in this communication is a LOGO. But we need your help. We’d like everyone in the parish to begin thinking – and praying about a symbol that might convey clearly who we are. You can sketch it if you want. Or if you feel artistically challenged, put it into words. You can give your ideas to Steve or anyone on the bishop’s committee. You also can email them to onebreadonebody@sbcglobal.net. Thanks!

Building update

Following two good meetings last week, it appears that all systems are go – finally! – for our addition. While we had to make some significant compromises in several room sizes – my fault for asking in the first place only for the space I felt we needed (I should have added 10-15 per cent) – we are going to get a building that will make possible major growth for our parish. Our Diocese is putting a great deal of faith in us and I am confident we are going to reward that faith.

What will happen next is that the architect will come up with final drawings, and the builder will price out that plan to make sure it comes in at or below budget. Once the drawings are done, we will apply for a permit. If all continues to go well, we should be able to break ground before Christmas – and that would be a great present for everyone.

An Evening of Romance?

Picture yourself sitting at a dinner table with your loved one, spending that long awaited time set aside just for the two of you. A special sit-down dinner at the church with candle light, and special music for the evening. You will have conversation designed to foster deeper intimacy to bring you back to cherish your relationship. Interested? Please respond by clicking on this link marriageromance@yahoo.com to let us know if you’d be interested in an event like this.

Second Family Ministry

We have received a request from a family with five children for help with winter clothes. The clothing can be new or used if the items are clean and in good shape. This family has requested help previously from Holy Innocents and they now are turning to our combined congregation. Please be generous. Here is the information about these children.

Boy Age 8 Size 7-8 shirt, 9-10 pants
Girl Age 11 Size 9-10
Girl Age 12 Size 12 top, 12 slim pants
Boy Age 13 Size 14 or XL
Boy High School Size XXL

Our ad in Windy City Times is up

Our ad on the web site of Windy City Times, one of the gay newspapers for Chicago, is now up. You can see it by visiting www.wctimes.com Be sure to visit it and tell us what you think! When you click on the ad, it will take you into a special page on our web site. This present copy takes advantage of the nomination of Tracey Lind, a partnered lesbian, for bishop of Chicago, and is one of several ad copies we will run during the next 26 weeks.

We’ve agreed in the bishop’s committee to do some targeted advertising aimed at gay and lesbian people during this program year. We don’t know how successful we will be, but the advertising is relatively inexpensive, the vehicle (the Windy City Times web site) is readily available, and the campaign offers us an opportunity to develop our message and skills with one group and then transfer what we learn to our other target groups. Because our own web site is such an important part of our current evangelism, the web-to-web tie-in is nice. It also allows us to track the response to our ad.

Next year, once we have the building up and a place to put more kids, we are planning to target families with young children. That likely will be a significantly more expensive campaign.

Food pantry items we now need include…

Help replenish the food pantry by bringing one or more non-perishable items each Sunday and placing them on or beneath the table just inside the worship space. Items that we particularly need for the pantry are juice, sugar, laundry detergent, paper products (toilet paper, paper towels, tissue.

Bishop’s committee report

Minutes of September 12, 2007 meeting
Present:, Manny Borg, David Taylor, Pat Kalicki, Steve Martz, Karen Martin, Paul Brouillette
Absent: Mary Anne O’Rourke, Ethan Jewett

There were no official actions taken. The following topics were discussed –
The Blessing of the Animals
The Welcoming Team’s plan to make the first Sunday of each month “Celebration Sunday” and to encourage wider involvement in the Yummy Hour
The Nurturing Team’s work toward establishing a regular liturgy at the Asbury Court retirement community
The plans for the building addition
PARTICIPATE! Sunday

Team news
Generosity Team. Summary of Sunday, September 16, meeting.

We discussed the notion of growing into increased generosity. As a way to model increased communal generosity, we would like to ask that an outreach component be added to our operating budget. This would be somehow in direct proportion to our income as a community. It was noted that congregations that have strong outreach attract new members. We talked about moving even more fully away from insularity, in recognition that we are a part of something larger. One way to do this is to commit to being generous “outside our own four walls” with our assets. As a concrete sign of this, we decided to hold the Christmas candy sale, but to also give away the profits. This is a move away from arms holding what we have close to us and toward a stance of arms outstretched.

We also discussed timing of annual stewardship efforts. Arrived at the following:
Letter will be mailed on October 14 along with newly designed pledge form that provides opportunity to pledge time, abilities and money toward the mission and ministry of St. Nicholas. It was noted that gifts of time and abilities are just as important as gifts of money. Letter will consist of personal reflections about giving and generosity written by each member of the generosity team. Letter will not mention a monetary goal. Any stated goal will simply be to become even more generous as individuals and as a community. Rather than asking people to give to the budget, we will be asking people to pray about how they might be even more generous with their time, abilities and money. Members will be asked to bring their pledge form to church on commitment Sunday. On that day, instead of our usual collection procedure, members will bring their pledge forms and offerings to the altar. Those not able to be present that day will be encouraged to mail or bring their forms in before that date.

Action items:
a) Team members write a personal reflection
b) Coordinate communications about stewardship thru One Bread, One Body
c) Obtain a list of members from the database. This should include new members (but not first-time visitors—we discussed how shying away from seeking generosity from new members actually serves to alienate them from their new community rather than encourage them to live fully into it). Letters will be hand addressed and personally signed by team members by October 14.
d) Communicate with Welcoming Team about revised collection procedure on Commitment Sunday (November 18)

Following upon the mailed letter, members of St. Nicholas who are not on the generosity team will be invited to speak briefly at services (their remarks will be made available in the edition of One Bread, One Body email which follows their remarks). This serves as a strong symbol that the work of growing in generosity does not belong solely to the members of the team, but to the congregation as a whole.

Action items:
a) Decide which members we’ll ask to speak and assign dates
b) Communicate parameters to speakers (we want folks to share stories about their own experiences around being generous)

We also discussed the purpose of efforts at becoming transparent with our finances. While some members of the team saw the “numbers” as serving as a way for members to learn about where we stand and what we could use in terms of increased giving, others see it as a way of imaging our possibilities. Only when we know what we have, can we think in creative and life-giving ways about using what we have. We discussed the differences in models of “scarcity” and “abundance”.

Finally, Bob mentioned that they still have the guestbook from Holy Innocents. We would like to see contact made with persons who signed the HI guestbook. We would envision inviting them to St. Nicholas to give us a try.

Next meeting: Wednesday, September 26, 6:00 p.m.

Yummy Hour needs you

From the Welcoming Team:

Dear Parishioners of St. Nicholas,
We are seeking volunteers to help provide snacks for the social gatherings after both the 9 and 11 am liturgies. Cookies, cakes, sweet or savory, and simple is fine, too. Ideally, we ask if the same person(s) covers both the 9 and 11am gatherings. Set up of snacks, regular and decaf coffee and a pot of hot water for tea. Sugar, creamer, cups, napkins and stirs are in the cabinets in the Gathering Space while coffee and coffee pots are in the kitchen space. Let’s all get involved!

There is a sign up sheet in the church – AND you can sign up online by picking one of these available dates and times and emailing your choice to Manny: vanborg@sbcglobal.net

Here’s the schedule to choose from:
September 23
9am
11am

September 30
9am
11am

October 7
9am Celebration Sunday…cake provided
11am Celebration Sunday…cake provided

October 14
9am
11am

October 21
9am
11am

October 28
9am
11am

November 4 – All Saints’ Sunday
9am Celebration Sunday…cake provided
11am Celebration Sunday…cake provided

November 11
9am
11am

November 18
9am
11am

November 25
9am
11am

December 2
9am Celebration Sunday…cake provided
11am Celebration Sunday….cake provided

December 9 – St. Nicholas Sunday
9am
11am

December 16
9am
11am

December 23
9am
11am

December 30
9am
11am

If you shop at Amazon…

…be sure to visit it through our web site and part of your purchase will go to our church, thanks to the work of Ginny Gibbs. Go to our web site at onebreadonebody.org. Click on more news and events, which will take you to the blog and then look around until you find and click the Amazon link.

Evangelism conference

I know February 8 and 9 seem a long way away. But I hope a half dozen or more of us will begin thinking about attending the “Magnetic Church Conference” being sponsored those days by our diocesan Evangelism Commission. It will help us learn to reach out more effectively to potential new members and to incorporate them more fully into our community.

The conference begins Friday evening and goes all day Saturday. The Friday session is less important for us, as it focuses on overcoming negative views of evangelism – something that is less an issue in our parish than in many others. Saturday will focus on communication, signage and facilities, and new member ministry. These should be helpful for all of us.

Registration is $40 per person, and the parish can pay for you if necessary. We can go for $35 each if we have a group of four or more and register by January 18, so please let Steve, Mary Anne, or Ethan know if you are
interested.

One bread, one body

Working in any bureaucracy can be frustrating, and church bureaucracies may be especially frustrating. Our work during the past several months on the building addition has been, frankly, exasperating at times. Imagine “Dilbert” from the comic strip in ecclesial drag. Or the television program “The Office” crossed with the vice-president’s office. I’ve purposely kept this process from you because I trusted that in the end we would work it out – and why spread the yuck and muck around?

So I am pleased – no, thrilled – to say we have finally worked it out and are moving forward. There’s a lot of talent involved in this project and we at last seem to have figured out how to use it collaboratively rather than competitively. At two meetings last week, we were able to agree on the footprint of the building addition and 98 per cent of the floor plan. Although it’s not perfect, or all we asked for and really could use, I am certain all of you will be pleased by it. I am.

Barring something completely unforeseen, we will break ground well before Christmas and have our building in place in time for the beginning of the 2008-09 program year. Fittingly, in 2009, we will celebrate the 50th anniversary of both the congregations that make up our new congregation. What a celebration that is going to be!

We’ve got a lot of work to do between now and then, but I think it is going to be fun work. Thanks to each of you for all you are doing. You are the reason this is happening, and the reason we will be able to serve far more people in the coming years. Let’s enjoy this building as it goes up – disruptions and all – and let’s especially enjoy the ministry it will make possible!

Lots of love,
— Steve

Our schedule this week

Sunday, September 23

PARTICIPATE! SUNDAY
Worship at 9 & 11 a.m.
AA meets at 7:30 p.m.

Monday

AA meets at noon
AA meets at 7 p.m.

Tuesday

AA meets at noon
AA meets at 7 p.m.

Wednesday

Bishop’s committee meets at 11 a.m.
AA meets at noon

Thursday

AA meets at noon
GA meets at 7 p.m.

Friday

AA meets at noon

Saturday

AA meets at 1 p.m.
AA meets at 8:30 p.m.

Sunday, September 30

RECOVERY SUNDAY
Worship at 9 & 11
Church School for children and adults; adult ed focuses on the 12 steps

[tags]Chicago, Episcopalian, Anglican, welcoming, church, fun, recovery, pet blessing, AA[/tags]