Father Manny’s picture has been around the Internets – even as far as a Parisian stock photo web site. As the images are probably under copyright with the AP and the Daily Herald, the link to the Ash Wednesday photos page is below. Father Manny’s pictures appear as number 2, 5, 13, and 17. His picture was also featured later that week in the “This Week in Pictures” page.
Link: Images: Ash Wednesday in the suburbs – DailyHerald.com
Cary, IL
St. Nicholas Episcopal Church, Elk Grove Village
Contact: Fr. Manuel “Manny” Borg
www.stnicholasepiscopal.orgWhere and when will you offer Ashes to Go?
Father Manny Borg will be at the Cary, IL Metra train station from 7am until about 9am. He says “Look for the short guy in purple.”
Comments: The church in Elk Grove Village will be staffed during the day (which includes the regularly schedule support group meetings). Father Manny will be available to impose ashes and offer a quick prayer with anyone that stops by.
The full Ash Wednesday service will be at 7pm Wednesday, February 13. Stations of the Cross will be Thursdays at 6pm in Lent
At St Nicholas, we’re working on a Strategic Plan, but the core ideas that are aiding growth for us are much like these. It’s good to have them in one place… also, according to comments, it helps if Episcopal priest-blogger Scott Gunn is a guest preacher. St Nicholas is very easily reached from O’Hare!
For me, growth comes down to a passion for sharing the Gospel of Christ. We’re called to share this Good News with which we’ve been entrusted not horde it. And when we share the Gospel — boldly, radically, creatively — the church can’t help but grow!
So if sharing the Gospel is the key to church growth, the next logical question is what does it mean to share the Gospel?
- It means looking outward, rather than exclusively inward.It means reaching out to others — the less fortunate and those in need.
- It means communicating in creative ways beyond the four walls of the church building.
- It means flinging open the doors to welcome people and being intentional about incorporating them into the life of the parish.
- It means thinking entrepreneurially about liturgical alternatives to Sunday morning worship that may look and feel and sound different but still reflect the core values of the community.
- It means preaching engaging sermons that connect and relate rather than judge and deny.
- It means music that uplifts and inspires.It means listening for the still, small voice within rather than cowing to the anxiety-ridden, strident voice without.
- It means leaving room for questions and mystery rather than providing simplistic answers.It means joyfully inviting people to partake in the peace of Christ that passes all understanding.
via Ingredients for Church Growth « Clergy Family Confidential