January 27, 2012

You will know the Truth and the Truth will set you free.

(But first, it will really tick you off...)

By The Rev. Ken Howard, Rector

It bears reminding ourselves, from time to time, that at St. Nicholas Church our understanding of Christian community is that it is grounded in two things: Love and Truth. The Love and the Truth that is Christ and is given freely to us by Christ, and the love and the truth the Christ's Love and Truth that in turn empowers us to freely share with each other.

January 20, 2012

Creating Christian Community – An Invitation

Thursday's in Feb & Mar, 7:30-9:30pm

By The Rev. Ken Howard, Rector

If you have been in Church the last few Sundays, you have probably heard me refer to our upcoming Lenten Adult Spiritual Formation program, entitled Creating Christian Community. Perhaps you are wondering if the program is for you. Well…

January 13, 2012

You Can't Take All Out of Call

By The Rev. Ken Howard, Rector

All of the scriptures appointed for this Sunday - one way or another - are about being called by God. The Hebrew Scripture lesson is about the call of the prophet Samuel. The Gospel is about the calling of the disciple Nathaniel. The Epistle is about how we live out our call. The Psalm is about how God accompanies us in our call.

December 23, 2011

The 'Voice' of One Coughing in the Wilderness

A Message from Fr. Ken

A preacher without a voice is a cruel irony: at best a living paradox, at worst an oxymoron, a contradiction in terms.

December 20, 2011

Your Giving Estimate Is Important! Every Estimate Counts!

Final 2012 Giving Campaign Appeal from the Stewardship Chair

By David Maglot, Stewardship Chair

As we approach the end to our 2012 Giving Campaign, we want to be sure everyone understands that each and every giving estimate is important, regardless of size. To the bankers and diocesan finance people, the more giving estimates the congregation makes, the more stable and reliable we are considered to be. To your Vestry and leadership your giving estimate, regardless of size, is even more important. The reason is that the very act of making a giving estimate is an act of faith and faithfulness: your faith in what God is trying to accomplish through St. Nick's and faithfulness along with your fellow St. Nick's community members in doing what you are able to do to make God's vision for us a reality.

December 16, 2011

Building a Home for God

By The Rev. Ken Howard, Rector

This Sunday I will be preaching from both ends of the Bible at once: from the Second Book of Samuel in the Hebrew Scriptures and from the Gospel according to Luke in the New Testament. In their own way, both are about building a home for God.

December 14, 2011

St. Nick's Needs Your Giving Estimate

By David Maglott, Stewardship Chair

First, let me say "Thank You!" to the Vestry and the rest of the roughly three-dozen households that have already submitted their giving estimates for 2012. Giving estimates from Vestry members total more than $92,000: almost 15% higher than their 2011 estimates. Total estimated giving from all households stands at $196,400: an almost 6% increase over the same estimates for 2011. The average giving estimate so far is more than $110 per week. Everyone seems to be responding generously and faithfully. This is good news.

December 11, 2011

St. Nick's Needs You!

There's still time to submit your giving estimate for 2012

At St. Nick's everyone can make a difference!

December 9, 2011

Our Position-Sharing Experiment with Ascension, Gaithersburg

A Message from Fr. Ken

As you may have heard, we recently began a three-month position-sharing experiment with Ascension Parish, Gaithersburg, in which we will share the services of our Parish Administrator, Sharon Barbee. The reason I am writing this email is to fill you in on what our agreement with Ascension entails, why I approved it, what needs to happen for this position-sharing experiment to be successful, and how you can help.

December 1, 2011

December @ Saint Nicks

(lots of love to share)

December is our special month! Come join us...