Giving Thanks: Perhaps The World Ends Here

Posted on November 22, 2012 by ginny

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

Nick At A Glance: A Few Reminders

Posted on November 15, 2012 by News From Nick

We ask that you prayerfully consider making a financial pledge to St. Nicholas for 2013. So that we may budget according to our resources, we’d be most grateful if you could turn in a pledge form by December 1, 2012.
Healing Liturgy Weekend, Nov. 17 & 18. The Revs. Tony and Fran Begonja will share their healing ministry with all who wish to receive a blessing and healing prayer.
Children’s Formation after 10am Liturgy, November 18, 2012 in the Sacristy, the room adjacent to the office. Adults are welcome to come, share and learn of our program, too.
Meeting for all who are to be Confirmed or Received into the Church on November 18, 2012 after the 10am Liturgy. We will gather in the church for what I promise will be a very brief meeting.
Mark your calendar for our Thanksgiving Eve service.

via News from St. Nicholas Episcopal Church

A Visit TO St Nicholas: Assisting Bishop C. Christopher Epting Visits Sunday 02DEC (with CAKE!)

Posted on November 15, 2012 by ginny

To help us celebrate the Feast of St Nicholas, assisting Bishop of Chicago C. Christopher Epting will visit. All are welcome! We’ll even have a special cake from Jarosch Bakery at Coffee Hour after the service.

Reminder: a meeting for all those being confirmed or received into the Episcopal Church is scheduled this Sunday, November 18 following the 10am worship service.

Here is some interesting information about Bishop Epting.

Bishop C. Christopher Epting joined the Diocese of Chicago as assisting bishop in January 2012. He was elected Bishop of the Diocese of Iowa in 1988 and appointed as the Presiding Bishop’s deputy for ecumenical and interfaith relations in 2001. Retiring after nine years as ecumenical officer for The Episcopal Church, Bishop Epting served for two years as the interim dean of Trinity Cathedral in Davenport, Iowa.

Bishop Epting has served on The Episcopal Church’s Executive Council and its National and International Concerns Committee, as liaison from the House of Bishops to the National Episcopal Cursillo Committee, and on the General Convention’s Evangelism Commission. Ecumenically, he has served as president of Ecumenical Ministries of Iowa (the state Council of Churches there) and on the Governing Board of the National Council of Churches and the Central Committee of the World Council of Churches. He was chair of the Episcopal Church’s delegation to the drafting committee of "Called to Common Mission," a document which resulted in full communion between the Episcopal Church and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. He currently serves on the House of Bishops’ Committee on the Religious Life and as bishop visitor for the Community of Celebration and the Community of the Transfiguration.

Bishop Epting is a graduate of Seabury Western Theological Seminary and received a Masters in Sacred Theology from the General Theological Seminary for his work in Spiritual Direction. He resides in Davenport, Iowa with his wife Susanne Watson Epting, who is a deacon in the Episcopal Church.