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January 19, 2026

Today is

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

Tuesday, January 20, 6:00pm

Vestry Meeting
Conference room

This Sunday...

Annual Meeting
Sunday, January 25
Immediately Following Service

Vestry Election

       Annually, three members of the Vestry rotate off. Members may serve two consecutive three-year terms (six-year total). Member Nadia Greenidge relocated in August 2025, and Tracy Dickey was appointed to fill the balance of her term. Ruth Schroeder is eligible to stand for a second term and has agreed. Retiring member Nancy Bigwood has served for a total of six years. She may remain off one year and seek re-election. The seat vacancy has been posted for several weeks, and one candidate has announced to seek the seat. His biographical details follow. You can also make additional nominations during the Annual Meeting. If you wish to nominate another candidate or self-nominate, please be certain the nominee is willing and in agreement. 

       William Wardley Birkett, a cradle Episcopalian, son of a cradle Episcopalian has been a solid member of St. Nicholas for over three years. His invitation to join us came from Katy Yankie and Laura Coolger who welcomed him on his first visit. He was church shopping with three options on his list, he stopped here. He has sung in the choir, spoken effectively and passionately about stewardship and, with his neighbor Peggy Slayman, do coffee hour refreshments one Sunday each month. His longer biography states he believes his long and successively responsible positions in the health care industry make his business acumen an asset from a managerial and fiscal perspective and position.

       Biographies of Tracey and Ruth are included in the Annual Meeting package.

PLEDGE UPDATE JANUARY 19, 2026

       Business 101 principle—do not spend more than you earn. The Annual Meeting on January 25th has a three-point agenda

1. State of the Parish.

2. Election of one new Vestry member and election of two current members eligible for a full second term.

3. Ratification and acceptance of the 2026 budget.

       Points one and two are painless and upbeat. Point three is discouraging and under our own rules not approvable. We cannot ratify a deficit (unbalanced) budget. Have you pledged yet?

As of Sunday, January 18th 45 units have
pledged $136,475 - or a shortfall of $15,525. 

       In most business models (and the church is a business) personnel costs are the most significant of expenses. St. Nicholas has four fifteen-hour employees, none with benefits of insurance or pension and none with a salary of over $19,000. Which one of these people can we do without? The utilities, maintenance, and insurance make up the second most significant expense category. In South Florida air conditioning is not optional; even with our reduction in wind insurance we still suffer a $70,000 outlay.

       St. Nicholas is recognized, and I thank you for supporting our outreach ministries.  BUT we need to meet payroll, pay FPL and insurance premiums. 2025 had sixty-six pledges; yesterday was forty-two, five being new in 2026. Are you among the twenty-one missing?

Save the Date...

Accommodations Needed

Two members of our congregation are in need of short-term accommodations.  If you have, or know of,  either a private room with bath or an in-law suite please let Doreen Gauthier know. 

A Little Levity...

Question:

How many Episcopalians does it take to change a lightbulb?
 

Answers: (in ascending order)

2    One to pour wine and one to call the electrician.
10    One to change the bulb and nine to say how much they liked the old one better.
12     One to do the work and eleven to serve on the committee.
 

"Change the lightbulb?! My grandmother gave that lightbulb!"

       You are invited to share your recommendations here in our Weekly eNews for any books, poetry, essays or movies you've found to be inspiring and uplifting. Just the title and a brief summary of what was enlightening, validating and/or comforting. It doesn't have to be full-on dissertation. We're not trying to compete with The New York Times Book Review. Just a friendly exchange of information and insight that was so helpful to you that you want to share it with others.

       Guidelines: In the words of St. Paul, "...whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things." -Philippians 4:8

Please send you recommendations to:
Office@StNicholasFL.org
 

Did you know that you can download thousands of titles of eBooks, audiobook and magazines for free with:

LibbyApp.com

You can download the LibbyApp to your phone or access it with your computer browser.  All you need is a library card from a local library, such as the Doreen Gauthier Lighthouse Point Library, or any of the Broward County branch libraries.  You will need to enter your library card information to gain access to the LibbyApp resources.

Additional Resource Links:

Forward Movement Daily Podcast

Episcopal News Service

EpiscoPols Podcast

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St. Nicholas Episcopal Church
1111 E. Sample Road, Pompano Beach, FL 33064
Phone (954) 942-5887    www.StNicholasFL.org