Hello parishioners - hope everyone is staying warm and safe! Once again, we've got lots of new announcements below for the new year, so please do take a quick glance. Have a good weekend, see you Sunday! -Astrid
ANNUAL ECUMENICAL MARTIN LUTHER KING JR SERVICE Celebrate Martin Luther King weekend in a meaningful, inspiring way by heading to the annual MLK service on Sunday January 18 at 4 pm Bethel Missionary Baptist Church. This is really a community highlight, always thought-provoking and up lifting. Don't miss it!
PARISH ANNUAL MEETING & POTLUCK JANUARY 25 AT THE YACHT CLUB Mark your calendars now for our annual meeting, at which we'll discuss the past and upcoming year and various matters of church "business" - our budget, our new and off-going vestry members, our capital campaign survey results, preparation for the bishop's visitation in March, and so on. All are encouraged to be there, even if you just started attending St. Nick's. Potluck sign up sheets will be circulated in church starting January 11.
SAVE THE DATE: PARISH FUNDRAISER LUNCH FEBRUARY 8 AT OUTBACK STEAKHOUSE Stay tuned for more information about our next fundraiser, a lunch out together after church. Meantime, please save the date.
ADULT EDUCATION NEXT SUNDAY JANUARY 18 Stick around after the service next Sunday as Astrid and Kristin Catalano, undertaker at the local funeral home in Wappingers Falls, discuss - and perhaps debate a bit - what makes a "good funeral." We'll base our discussion on the book "The Good Funeral" by priest Thomas Long and undertaker Thomas Lynch, though you do not need to read the book to take part in and enjoy the discussion.
LOOKING AHEAD: MONTHLY BOOK GROUP CONTINUES LATE JANUARY Our book group for winter will meet on the LAST Weds of each month, January - March, at 7:00 pm in the undercroft. This year's books: "Citizen" by Claudia Rankine (January 28), "Unapologetic: Why, in Spite of Everything, Christianity Makes Surprising Emotional Sense" by Francis Spufford (February 25), and "Losing Your Faith, Finding Your Soul" by the Rev. David Anderson (March 25).
LOOKING AHEAD: ADULT CONFIRMATION INFORMATIONAL MEETING IN PREPARATION FOR BISHOP'S VISIT ON SUNDAY FEBRUARY 1 The suffragan bishop of New York, Alan Shin, is visiting St. Nick's on Sunday March 22, and we are looking to gather a group of adults wishing to be confirmed in the Episcopal Church. You'll be in good company: several of our vestry members are joining the ranks of the about-to-be-confirmed. To prepare, we will be having a brief informational meeting after the 10 am service on Sunday, February 1.
CIVIL RIGHTS YOUTH PILGRIMAGE - SOME FURTHER INFORMATION The planning for the August youth pilgrimage with the Episcopal churches in Millbrook and Highland Falls is now underway. This year's dates are Thursday August 13 - Saturday August 15, and the cost is only $150 (it's partly funded by the diocese). There will be an orientation meeting in July, and also a general information meeting before then with Mother Storm, for those kids from St. Nick's who are interested in learning more. Meantime, please contact Astrid right away if you think a teenager in your household might be interested.
SOME LEISURE READING FOR YOU! RESULTS OF OUR PARISH SURVEY The Episcopal Church Foundation has tallied our results, and yes, we got excellent feedback - over 50% of households surveyed replied, which is much higher than their average response rate from churches. Good job! If you want to read all or part of the 33-page report, it is now available to everyone HERE. The vestry will discuss the results in January as well as Episcopal Church Foundation's recommendations, making the appropriate adjustments to our goals based on your feedback.
REMEMBER OUR COFFEE HOUR SIGN-UP SHEET The sign-up sheet for coffee hours through February 15 is HERE, and you can also sign up in the undercroft. The coffee is already made for you - all you have to do is bring some snacks (and you can keep it simple as you like).
THE "EVERYTHING ROTA" The rota through February 15 is available HERE.
NEW! DIRECTORY AS A PDF! The parish directory is now available at this linkto those who would like an electronic copy.
WHO'S ON THIS SUNDAY
9 am
Reader - Adam V.
Server - Jen
10 am
First Reader - George Hemroth
Second Reader - Needed
Servers - Eden and Paul Conrad
Altar - Leeann
Counters - Paul B. and Jack
Coffee Hour - Edie and Howie
Sunday School - Alex and Derek
ANNUAL ECUMENICAL MARTIN LUTHER KING JR SERVICE Celebrate Martin Luther King weekend in a meaningful, inspiring way by heading to the annual MLK service on Sunday January 18 at 4 pm Bethel Missionary Baptist Church. This is really a community highlight, always thought-provoking and up lifting. Don't miss it!
PARISH ANNUAL MEETING & POTLUCK JANUARY 25 AT THE YACHT CLUB Mark your calendars now for our annual meeting, at which we'll discuss the past and upcoming year and various matters of church "business" - our budget, our new and off-going vestry members, our capital campaign survey results, preparation for the bishop's visitation in March, and so on. All are encouraged to be there, even if you just started attending St. Nick's. Potluck sign up sheets will be circulated in church starting January 11.
SAVE THE DATE: PARISH FUNDRAISER LUNCH FEBRUARY 8 AT OUTBACK STEAKHOUSE Stay tuned for more information about our next fundraiser, a lunch out together after church. Meantime, please save the date.
ADULT EDUCATION NEXT SUNDAY JANUARY 18 Stick around after the service next Sunday as Astrid and Kristin Catalano, undertaker at the local funeral home in Wappingers Falls, discuss - and perhaps debate a bit - what makes a "good funeral." We'll base our discussion on the book "The Good Funeral" by priest Thomas Long and undertaker Thomas Lynch, though you do not need to read the book to take part in and enjoy the discussion.
LOOKING AHEAD: MONTHLY BOOK GROUP CONTINUES LATE JANUARY Our book group for winter will meet on the LAST Weds of each month, January - March, at 7:00 pm in the undercroft. This year's books: "Citizen" by Claudia Rankine (January 28), "Unapologetic: Why, in Spite of Everything, Christianity Makes Surprising Emotional Sense" by Francis Spufford (February 25), and "Losing Your Faith, Finding Your Soul" by the Rev. David Anderson (March 25).
LOOKING AHEAD: ADULT CONFIRMATION INFORMATIONAL MEETING IN PREPARATION FOR BISHOP'S VISIT ON SUNDAY FEBRUARY 1 The suffragan bishop of New York, Alan Shin, is visiting St. Nick's on Sunday March 22, and we are looking to gather a group of adults wishing to be confirmed in the Episcopal Church. You'll be in good company: several of our vestry members are joining the ranks of the about-to-be-confirmed. To prepare, we will be having a brief informational meeting after the 10 am service on Sunday, February 1.
CIVIL RIGHTS YOUTH PILGRIMAGE - SOME FURTHER INFORMATION The planning for the August youth pilgrimage with the Episcopal churches in Millbrook and Highland Falls is now underway. This year's dates are Thursday August 13 - Saturday August 15, and the cost is only $150 (it's partly funded by the diocese). There will be an orientation meeting in July, and also a general information meeting before then with Mother Storm, for those kids from St. Nick's who are interested in learning more. Meantime, please contact Astrid right away if you think a teenager in your household might be interested.
SOME LEISURE READING FOR YOU! RESULTS OF OUR PARISH SURVEY The Episcopal Church Foundation has tallied our results, and yes, we got excellent feedback - over 50% of households surveyed replied, which is much higher than their average response rate from churches. Good job! If you want to read all or part of the 33-page report, it is now available to everyone HERE. The vestry will discuss the results in January as well as Episcopal Church Foundation's recommendations, making the appropriate adjustments to our goals based on your feedback.
REMEMBER OUR COFFEE HOUR SIGN-UP SHEET The sign-up sheet for coffee hours through February 15 is HERE, and you can also sign up in the undercroft. The coffee is already made for you - all you have to do is bring some snacks (and you can keep it simple as you like).
THE "EVERYTHING ROTA" The rota through February 15 is available HERE.
NEW! DIRECTORY AS A PDF! The parish directory is now available at this linkto those who would like an electronic copy.
WHO'S ON THIS SUNDAY
9 am
Reader - Adam V.
Server - Jen
10 am
First Reader - George Hemroth
Second Reader - Needed
Servers - Eden and Paul Conrad
Altar - Leeann
Counters - Paul B. and Jack
Coffee Hour - Edie and Howie
Sunday School - Alex and Derek
