THE VICAR S VOICE. Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness... - Luke 4:1

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1 S T. N I C H O L A S E P I S C O P A L C H U R C H ST. NICK S NEWS Join us on the Journey! V O L U M E 9, I S S U E 3 THE VICAR S VOICE M A R C H Wandering in the Wilderness Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness... - Luke 4:1 Wandering in the wilderness is a reoccurring theme in the broader scriptural narrative. In the beginning it seems as though the world is synonymous with wilderness, with the waters moving back to give way to the earth. Abram is called into the wilderness to sacrifice his only son. Joseph was abandoned in the wilderness and left to die. Moses leads thousands of Israelites out of captivity and into the dessert wilderness. Wilderness holds danger and mystery. Sometimes wilderness leads us to new places as well. In fact, many of the aforementioned stories lead our Biblical ancestors into better circumstances. Our gospels tell us of Jesus being led into the wilderness following his baptism. It is a time that Jesus prepares himself for ministry. It is a time when we believe He is particularly close to God, in prayer and solitude. We are told that He faces great temptations, yet perseveres as an example for us. Perhaps we could all use some time in the wilderness. Sometimes it is difficult to commune with God with the distractions of the world around us. Even the wilderness has become more elusive as more things fill our earth and compete for our attention. Do you have a place where you feel more able to pray? A place where you feel close to God? Maybe it s a favorite chair in the back yard (where you can t hear the phone), the beach, or even church. Sometimes our wilderness isn t a specific place at all. Riding my bicycle has been one of the places I feel close to God. Riding allows me to occupy my body and free my mind of chores and to-do lists. While riding I often find myself praying, not just because of close encounters with larger vehicles, but because I m not busy doing a bunch of other things. I hope that you have a place like this for yourself. If not, perhaps you can commit to seeking one out between now and Easter. Even with places I can access regularly, I yearn for deeper wilderness experiences from time to time. Full days at the beach, camping trips or generally getting away from our regular schedule can allow us to connect with God in more profound ways. Perhaps your Lenten disciplines have helped you to deepen your connection already. Good practices help us to cope with the busyness and recognize the things that distract us from God. Often these challenges remain present, they are difficult if not impossible to remove. The good news is that as we seek God, so God seeks us. Be ready, to meet God, whether in the wilderness or around the next corner. Wilderness is not a luxury but a necessity of the human spirit. - Edward Abbey Blessings, Father Paul

2 V O L U M E 9, I S S U E 3 P A G E 2 St. Nick s Ministers: Vicar: Father Paul Klitzke vicar@stnickschurch.org Bishop s Warden: Bob Windisch Bishop s Committee: Tammy Bruce Cathee Portillo Treasurer: Doug Brown Kidzone Leaders: Kerry Shiroma Deanna Sivik Kidzone Aides: Pualei Chee Diocesan Youth Director Hired By Canon Liz Beasley EDU-678 / EDGE Sarah Klitzke Nursery: Celeste Ortiz Newsletter: Bob Windisch gigatt99@hawaiiantel.net Photography: Dave Jones Sarah Klitzke Kevin Shin Bob Windisch The Office of the Bishop has hired Sarah Klitzke to be the half-time Youth Director for the Diocese. Among her qualifications, Sarah brings to the position four years as a youth minister for a large church in Anchorage, Alaska, plus years of experience with youth church camps in Alaska and Wisconsin. Sarah came to Hawaii in 2010 when her husband, the Rev. Paul Klitzke, was appointed the Vicar of St. Nicholas Episcopal Church, Kapolei. She is also a Registered Nurse and a founding member of Aloha City Rollers, a roller derby team in West Oahu. She began her responsibilities on February 20. The Position Description for the Youth Director, which has been posted on the diocesan web site, includes the following responsibilities: Plan/oversee 3 inter-island youth events per year Serve as a resource to help plan/oversee events on Neighbor Islands Coordinate monthly O'ahu gatherings for youth Maintain a database of youth and youth leaders in the Diocese Assist with planning youth-related trips outside the Diocese Sarah may be reached at the Office of the Bishop by or by phone at , ext. 309; or from Neighbor Islands, , ext Welcome, Sarah! OUR MISSION St. Nicholas is a joyful church intent upon finding God in ourselves and others through fellowship, teaching, reaching out, and growing disciples of Christ. We have a special love for youth and children, and we invite you to join us on our spiritual journey. St. Nicholas Vision: St. Nicholas is a place that is welcoming to all and offers: Programs to encourage fellowship and teach lessons of the Bible Outreach to the community through servant evangelism Worship styles that are liturgical and incorporate contemporary influences Vital ministries for youth and children in a safe and inclusive environment that fosters spiritual growth

3 P A G E 3 V O L U M E 9, I S S U E 3 Faithful Financial Giving Submitted by Deidre Harris For many of us, giving our income to the church on a regular basis is easier said than done. I am of course, speaking about myself, and my ongoing journey with the spiritual aspects of faithful financial giving. Not an easy road by any means, yet an important one. So, as I was rereading the 40 Day Spiritual Journey to a more Generous Life (our biblical study from last year), I came across some words of inspiration that have been helpful in my journey and will hopefully be helpful in yours. It will bring God s wisdom and order to your finances. If I get dressed in the morning and get the first button out of place on my shirt, all the rest of the buttons will be messed up. When it comes to finances, the first button to get in place is your giving. When you get this area in order, everything else follows. Giving is also the only known antidote for affluenza (the desire for more things) that permeates our world today. Scriptures: Matthew 6:19, 24-34; Luke 12:16-21; I Timothy 6:6-10, 17-19; Ecclesiastes 5:10. It will allow you to experience God s creative provisions. One of the most amazing things about learning to faithfully give to the Lord is the joy so many people have experienced in receiving unexpected blessings in their lives. When you acknowledge God s ownership through your generous giving, you begin to experience His creative provisions in amazing ways. Scriptures: I Kings 17; Proverbs 3:9-10; Malachi 3:7-15; Haggai 1:4-11, 2:15-19; Luke 6:38; Deuteronomy 28; Philippians 4:15-19; Mark 12: It will encourage your spiritual growth and trust in God. There will be times when you will decide to be a faithful giver of what is in your hand, even if you have no idea how you will make it through the coming day, week, or month. But by going ahead and giving to God, your trust in the Lord will grow and you will grow in your ability to see Him provide. Scriptures: Deuteronomy 14:23; Proverbs 3:5-6; Malachi 3:8-10; Haggai 1:4-11; 2:15-19; Corinthians 8:5. God bless our journey to faithful giving (excerpt, 40 Day Spiritual Journey to a More Generous Life, Brian Kluth) ST. NICK S NEWS BACK TO THE FUTURE! Bob Windisch Editor For over 8 years St. Nicholas Episcopal Church has published St. Nick s News, our church newsletter. Over the years we have weathered many changes to our publication but continued to produce what we feel is a quality newsletter. In January, The Post Office informed us that our method of mailing our newsletter is no longer acceptable and we would have to make substantial changes. Unfortunately, these changes would result in a production cost increase of nearly 60%. Sadly, we decided that we could no longer print and mail hard copies of the St. Nick s News. Starting with the March issue we will be publishing our newsletter electronically. If you would like to continue receiving our newsletter through please respond with your current address to: gigatt99@hawaiiantel.net OR info@stnickschurch.org. The newsletter will be ed on or about the last day of each month. Conversely, if you do not want to receive the newsletter by please send me a message and I will remove you from my list. Our newsletter will also be available on-line on our website: There will be printed copies available at church on Sundays for those without access to a computer or .

4 V O L U M E 9, I S S U E 3 P A G E 4 Feeding the Homeless: The Living Christ Feeding Ministry From Dot Shigemura On Sunday, February 10, several folks gathered at the home of Dot Shigemura to help prepare a meal for St Timothy s Living Christ Feeding Ministry. Every Tuesday night volunteers from St. Tim s head down to the beaches around Pearl City and feed the folks who are living on the beaches and parks in that area. Rae Costa of St. Tim s had approached Dot and asked if St. Nick s would be interested in helping to prepare a meal or two throughout the year for their program. A sign up sheet went out, and a group was formed! The group met and decided on a menu and a plan of attack: pulled pork, rice, green salad, and rice krispie treats for dessert. Dot would pick up the pork and get it going in the crock pots; Armstrong Produce (Dot s husband) would donate the salad; Diana Worth would pick up the rice krispie ingredients; Bob Holden would pick up the rice; Bob & would bring snacks for the group to munch on and Flossie Kramer would make sure the Windisch s arrived on time. Once all had arrived, everyone was set to a task: the two Bobs and Flossie were given the cooked pork to pull apart and shred all 60 lbs of it although it was suspected that the Bobs may have done a bit of sampling! Diana and Luella took on the task of making multiple, BIG, batches of rice krispie treats and Dot kept the kitchen clear by getting the dirty pots and pans cleaned and out of the way. Everyone pitched in when it came time to cut and wrap the dessert. It was a busy and fun three hours and more than once was overheard: Hey, too much laughter over there get back to work!. The food was carefully wrapped and stored in Dot s refrigerator, and on Tuesday, Bob and Luella drove it over to St. Timothy s. The crew at St. Tim s was thrilled with the meal it was very well received by all the people at the beach. Before leaving Dot s home, the group discussed how often they felt St. Nicholas could help out with this ministry, and also talked about other menu ideas. The group loved being able to help another church with their outreach efforts, and thoroughly enjoyed themselves in the time that was spent together. With that input, St. Nick s will do this two more times this year: in June and September. Be on the lookout for the June sign up sheet, and if you have any menu ideas, talk to anyone mentioned in this article! Hello, My Name Is... Don't forget to make, and wear, a nametag at service on Sundays! Not only does that help the guest who may be joining us for the first time, it also helps the "regulars" who may know your face and where you sit, but can't quite recall your name. Thank you! HAVING A PARTY? BABY S FIRST LUAU? NEED ONO GOOD FOOD? Linda Carlin, Proprietor Lanie s Lunch Wagon Campbell Industrial Park WE CATER TOO!

5 P A G E 5 V O L U M E 9, I S S U E 3 Relay for Life April 19-20, PM 7AM From St. Nicholas is entering a team in the Relay for Life at Waipahu High School. The name of the team is Nick s Nikes and I would love to have you join us. The theme this year is Hollywood. We can decorate our tent(s) and/or our team or ourselves. Get those creative juices flowing; what ideas do you have? Besides the Hollywood theme there will be a Elvis contest open to all. There is also a Miss To Wong Foo live audition for males only. What is a Relay Event *Organized, overnight community fundraising walk *Teams of people camp out around a track *Members of each team take turns walking around the track *Food, games and activities provide entertainment and build camaraderie *Family-friendly environment for the entire community Because it s a team event, individual participants are not required to be there the entire time. But it's so much fun, you'll find it hard to leave! Almost all of us have been touched by cancer in some way, so we've decided to make a difference by walking and raising money in the American Cancer Society Relay For Life event. At the event, our team will camp out overnight and take turns walking around the track to raise money and awareness to help the American Cancer Society in the world s largest fight for more birthdays. Our team is doing our part to make sure that cancer never steals another year of anyone s life. Please join our team, or make a donation, because saving lives from cancer starts one team, one participant, and one dollar at a time. See or go to Events on our St. Nicks website to find a link to our team page. Luminaria Ceremony: 10:00-11:00 PM Friday The Luminaria Ceremony is a time to remember people we have lost to cancer, to support people who currently have cancer, and to honor people who have fought cancer in the past. The power of this ceremony lies in providing an opportunity for people to work through grief and find hope. Lumaninaria may be purchased on line or from Luella for $5. Just for the Nick s Nikes Team members or plan to be members: Relay Bucks$ Relay Buck$ have no monetary value; however, they will help elevate our team in the campsite selection order. Since campsite selection will be based on the amount of TOTAL team donations added to Relay Buck$ submitted this year, these Relay Buck$ will add $100 to our team s donation totals for campsite selection day and may allow our team captain to choose our campsite before other teams. WAYS TO EARN MORE RELAYBUCK$ by March 11, cut-off date to determine Campsite Selection Order Receive one Relay Buck$ for: Every survivor registered online on your team Every 2 caregivers registered online Every 5 team members registered online Every 5 luminaria donations credited to your team Let s go team!!

6 V O L U M E 9, I S S U E 3 MARCH 2013 P A G E 6 March Palm Sunday 29 Good Friday 7pm 31 Easter Greeter 8:30 10:00 Jeff Harris/ Jenn Connell Jeff Harris/ Jenn Connell Jeff Harris/ Jenn Connell Jeff Harris/ Jenn Connell Dot Shigemura All Greeters Chalice Bearer 8:30 10:00 Sarah Klitzke Shauna Jones S. Klitzke & K. Scripture Reader Prayer Reader Announcements KidZone Teachers/ Helper EDGE/ EDU-678 8:30 Alice Signaigo Terry Akana Alice Signaigo Terry Akana Alice Signaigo 10:00 Christine Connell Shauna Jones Bob Windisch Cathe Portillo Deidre Harris 8:30 Bob Holden Alice Signaigo Terry Akana Bob Holden Terry Akana 10:00 Ariel Villanueva, Dot Shigemura Bob Windisch Dot Shigemura 8:30 Bob Holden Alice Signaigo Bob Holden 10:00 Deidre Harris Bob Windisch Bob Holden Dot Shigemura Martin Naranjo 10:00 Deanna Sivik & TBD Deanna Sivik & TBD Deanna Sivik & TBD Deanna Sivik & TBD ICE CREAM 10:00 SUNDAY Sarah Klitzke Sarah Klitzke Sarah Klitzke Sarah Klitzke Counters 10:00 Bob Windisch/ Bob Holden Shauna Jones/ Dot Shigemura Grace Peacock/ Heather Jablonski Bob Windisch/ Mike Coullahan Bob Holden/ Dot Shigemura Grace Peacock/ Shauna Jones Projector Programmer 10:00 Austin Sivik Diana Worth Dot Shigemura Rose Shin Sound System 8:30 Kevin Shin Kevin Shin Kevin Shin Kevin Shin Kevin Shin Kevin Shin 10:00 Dustin Stacy Dot Shigemura Bob Windisch Dot Shigemura Bob Windisch Bob Windisch Trailer Pick Up: Trailer Return: Darrell Snyder Mario Portillo Ariel Villanueva Darrell Snyder Mario Portillo Darrell Snyder Tammy & Bill Bruce Ice Cream: Jeff Harris Ice Cream Sponsored by Doug Brown mahalo! Music setup Music break If you can help, come anytime by 7:30am thank you! Please help us break down after the 10:00 am service. Mahalo nui loa! Altar Guild Onemalu Monday Readers Cathe Portillo, Terry Akana, Kerry Shiroma, Holiday na tbd Calendar Sunday, Mar 3, HI-5 Recyclables & Food Drive Sunday Thursday, Mar 14, 7:00 PM, Bishop s Committee meeting, Vicar s Office, Kapolei Sunday, Mar 17, after 10:00 AM pack-up, Ministry Team Meeting over lunch, IPA Sunday, Mar 24, Palm Sunday Friday, Mar 29, Good Friday Service 7:00 PM (set up begins at 5pm) Saturday, Mar 30, Holy Saturday cleaning of IPA, 12:00 PM - 6:00 PM Sunday, Mar 31, Easter Services, 10:00 AM followed by potluck brunch and Hometown Nazareth

7 PAGE 7 VOLUME 9, ISSUE 3 EDGE Youth Group Calendar 2013 Feel the power of being on the EDGE! March 3rd: - Serving Others. EDGE will be serving dinner at the Institute for Human Services (IHS) Homeless Shelter for Women and Families in Honolulu then joining Holy Ground service at St. Peter s for Stations of the Cross and dinner. We will leave from Kapolei McDonald s at 3pm and will return to Kapolei at 8pm. You must sign up with Sarah prior to pick up if you would like to help at IHS because there is a permission slip that must be signed by a parent/guardian. Backwards dinner provided after worship. There is great joy in eating your ice cream first! Sunday, March 10th- EDGE Youth will attend HOLY GROUND service at St. Peter s, Honolulu. Meet at Kapolei McDonald s at 4:30. Return at 7:30. Pizza party after service! EDGE March 17th- Serving Others. We will be serving dinner at the Institute for Human Services (IHS) Homeless Shelter for Women and Families in Honolulu then joining Holy Ground service at St. Peter s. Irish-themed potluck dinner for St. Patrick's day. Corned beef will be served. We will leave from Kapolei McDonald s at 3pm and will return back to Kapolei at 8pm. You must have a signed permission slip from your parents or guardian if you would like to attend this event. March 24th- HOLY GROUND service at St. Peter s, Honolulu. Meet at Kapolei McDonald s at 4:30. Return at 7:30. Dinner provided. March 31st- EASTER SUNDAY. Hometown Nazareth and Egg Hunt at St. Nicholas. Help hide eggs and teach the children of the church about what life was like in Jesus s time with stories and crafts. More information available soon. No afternoon EDGE on this day. EDGE: Scenes from the purple dinner and Holy Ground at St. Peter s.

8 SUNDAY SERVICES 8:30 AM & 10:00 AM Palm Sunday March 24 Good Friday and Stations of the Cross March 29-7:00 PM Clean Up the Church Saturday, March 30 - from Noon to 6:00 PM St. Nicholas Episcopal Church 909 Haumea St. (at IPA) Kapolei, HI Bring your friends and family! Easter Sunday March 31 Easter Egg Hunt & Hometown Nazareth And on the third day... Phone: info@stnickschurch.org Website: JOIN US ON THE JOURNEY!