Dear Friends,

I have a big favor to ask you, on behalf of… yourselves.

As you may have heard, our bishop, the Rt. Rev. John Bryson Chane, will be coming to visit us in just a few short weeks, at our 9:00am service on February 7.  And I want us to be ready!

Episcopal visitations are important moments in the life of any congregation, as the bishop (from the Greek word episcopos or “overseer”) serves as a visible sign of the unity of the church. But such visits are even more important for a relatively new congregation like ours.  We do what we do not just for ourselves but also for our diocese and for the whole Church.  As the first successful new start church in over 40 years, we are helping to lead our whole diocese into its future by building up its faith that innovative congregations like St. Nick’s can not only survive but thrive. 

Our bishop is our link – our messenger – to the rest of the Church.  What he sees on his visits to St. Nick’s he communicates to the Diocesan Council, the Standing Committee, the Convention, and other parishes that he visits.  I want him to take back a great report.  Here is how you can help “write” that report:

• Help us “show up” on February 7.  I’ve been telling the bishop how much we’ve grown in that year (almost 100 new attendees). It would be a wonderful testament to our health as a congregation if our members and friends (FOSNicks) really turned out en mass that day (and it wouldn’t hurt to bring a friend, either).  Click here to RSVP at our new Facebook page.
• Help us “round up” our remaining 2010 Giving Estimates.  So far we have received 70 Giving Estimates for 2010 at an average of $62 per week:  two-thirds of the way to our goal of 105 Giving Estimates at that average. If we could get those additional 35 Giving Estimates in by the time the bishop arrives (the amount you are able to estimate doesn’t matter – some give much more, some give much less, but if everyone gives it all averages out). Vestry members will be making friendly reminder calls to those we haven’t heard from yet.  Please say, “Yes,” when they call.  Or click here to submit an online Giving Estimate now.
• Help us “catch up” our cash flow after the December “white out.”  As you may have noticed in last week’s e-bulletin, the snows of December and the resulting cancelations and attendance drops hit the church’s income hard. If you missed some payments in December, you can still make them now, and boy do we need them.
• Help us “match up” our giving (with employer matching funds).  The tax laws have changed, allowing private employers to match their employees’ contributions to ANY tax exempt organization, including churches.  If your employer offers charitable matching (click here to search or ask your human resources department) and you would like to us it to help St. Nick’s, bring us the forms and we’ll get them completed.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call me. 

I thank you for your faithfulness and generosity: past, present and future.

In Christ’s love,

Ken+