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On December 1, Savior hosted its annual Advent retreat — on of three such retreats Savior holds each year. This retreat focused on the theme of Watching for Christ’s Advent through two movements: the movement of longing and the the movement of joy.
To access Pastor Sandy Richter’s materials that guide us through these two movements, click here.
Deb Nickerson wears many hats at Savior: she is currently the senior warden on the vestry; she coordinates Prayers of the People, church safety, and the nursery schedule; she serves on the worship team and altar cleanup crew; and — if that weren't enough! — she also leads a small group and preaches occasionally. Today, we have the chance to learn a little more about Deb:
Where are you from, and where do you live now?
I grew up in Maine, so I love lobsters, salty air and sailboats. I still have extended family in Maine, but my father lives in Florida with his wife, and my brother lives in NC with his wife and kids.
I’ve lived in Illinois with only slight interruption since 1987. I currently live in Wheaton with a grumpy old man cat, Moses. He is 13 years old.
I have been blessed to have my cousin, Erika, move to town in the past year, with her husband Andy and their two kids, Thad (5) and Amelia (3). I enjoy playing auntie to Thad and Amelia whenever I can!
What do you do when you’re not at church?
I am a psychologist with a small private practice, Nickerson & Associates, PC, just down the road from the church. We specialize in breaking the cycle of sexual violence, working with people who have sexual behavior problems, as well as survivors of trauma.
I love to work out and have coffee with my friends at the Wheaton Sport Center. I enjoy wine and food! In the summer, I grow herbs and flowers. I also enjoy traveling to spend time with family and friends. Last year I traveled to Paris to visit Dr. Alan Savage, and a few years before that I traveled to Spain to visit my friend who is in ministry outside of Madrid. This summer, I traveled to an exotic location — Red Wing, Minnesota where I saw the largest boot in the world!
Favorite quote:
“Be kind, for everyone you meet is facing a great battle.” Philo of Alexandria
How can people get involved in the ministries you lead?
In terms of nursery, it is vital to provide a safe place for our smallest Friends of the Savior at our church. Since I work in my practice with so many who were not kept safe as children, this ministry has a special place in my heart. So, I coordinate the schedule for our nursery workers and have responsibilities to maintain safety practices for childcare at Savior. We are always searching for additional folks to help with childcare.
The Prayers of the People are an opportunity to lead our parish in praying for our church and our world. It is my job to gather the concerns, requests, and needs of our people and compile them into a prayer for each Saturday service. If anyone is interested in leading the prayers, I would welcome more participation.
Our Women’s prayer group has met for about 10 years, one Sunday morning a month. We have about a dozen women who join in my living room to study Christian writings and scripture, and to support each other in prayer. Every fall, we retreat together to enhance our spiritual lives and deepen our friendship connection. This group is open to more members who are interested.
If anyone is interested in any of these ministries, please contact me at drdebnick@gmail.com.
As we near Thanksgiving, Karen and I feel especially thankful for all of you.
Our C4SO dean, Patrick Wildman, commented recently, “I tell our younger pastors, ‘Look for a church that not only wants to be cared for by you, but that is willing to care for you when you need it.” We have found that at Savior. A healthy church has a kind of mutuality, the give-and-take that you see in a strong family.
Last month I was telling a friend, who’s worked for years on church staffs, about how well the people of Savior have cared for Karen and me during her long stretch of pain and surgeries. He said in reply, “I’ve been on staff at two churches, and I’ve never gotten what you’re talking about.”
Thank you for your care for us.
Today’s post comes from Erin Pacheco, Savior’s Music Director:
Advent is almost upon us.
This is my favorite part of the church year. There is something frantic about the commercialization of Christmas — its many layers of consumption and overconsumption, its demands upon our time and money, the way it is seemingly thrust upon us earlier every year. There is a restlessness to the way our culture anticipates and celebrates Christmas. It is easy to get caught up in the rush and desire for all that is shiny and yummy and happy. It is easy to mistake this for joy.
Advent as liturgical practice and as frame of mind invites us into a different way of being this time of year. Advent help us detox from commercial Christmas so that we might better celebrate the coming of Christ.
Advent is the beginning of the liturgical Cycle of Light. Through Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany, appropriately set in these longest, darkest days of the year, we will remember that Jesus is the light of the world.
A people walking in darkness have seen a great light.
A light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of God is upon you.
We will light candles. And while they are lit, we will sing:
The Lord is my light, my light and salvation; in God I trust, in God I trust.
We will not pretend that it isn’t dark. We will not try to cover up our sadness with tinsel and shiny paper. We will be who we are: exiles longing for home, longing for shalom, longing for God with us.
O come, O come Immanuel and ransom captive Israel that mourns in lonely exile here.
Come thou long-expected Jesus, born to set thy people free.
We will spend some time here. Even though Christmas carols have already been on the radio for weeks, in worship we won’t jump right into singing the manger scene and the angels’ songs just because it is December. Israel waited centuries for the coming of Messiah. So we too will wait — whether with eager hope or agonized cries of how long? — for his coming.
And when we pray for the needs of the world, we will join in the cry of the church through the ages:
Kyrie eleison. Christe eleison.
“Lord have mercy. Christ have mercy.”
Singing the Kyrie in Advent, as we do in Lent, highlights our need for a Savior. All is not the way it’s supposed to be. Just beneath the surface of the season’s festivities lie a host of hurts and griefs and anxieties.
Come, Lord Jesus, come.
Advent makes space for our whole selves. Even as the prevailing culture rushes toward Christmas, in Advent, there is a quieting. A centering. A small but real hope, growing with the light of each additional candle, that love really is coming to set things right. To make all things new.
My heart will sing of the day you bring; let the fires of your justice burn.
Wipe away all tears for the dawn draws near and the world is about to turn.
This is the start of the story, the start of the church year. In Advent we begin again to tell the story of our salvation. The story of our need and God’s gracious response. The story that begins in darkness and ends in resurrection light. A great reversal is coming. A baby is coming. A king is coming. And all will be well.
As we pray at the Easter Vigil —
O God of unchangeable power and eternal light:
Look favorably on your whole Church, that wonderful and sacred mystery;
by the effectual working of your providence, carry out in tranquility the plan of salvation;
Let the whole world see and know that things which were cast down are being raised up,
and things which had grown old are being made new,
and that all things are being brought to their perfection by him through whom all things were made, your Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
At our All-Church Prayer Gathering last Wednesday, we prayed for specific needs of Church of the Savior using the guide below. Whether you were there at the gathering or not, this list may be helpful as you prayer for our community.
Loving God:
For divine favor on our Apostles’ Creed sermon series and for blessing on our Advent and Christmas Eve worship
Thanks to God for the many new children and youth! (On average, 10 more each week than last year at this time). Favor on our Staff and adults who lead them in worship and care for them.
Wisdom for the Vestry as they consider the best ways to accommodate our growing attendance; and as they draft the 2019 Savior budget
Loving Others:
Daily grace for our sick and suffering; take a moment to name those who come to mind
“Show us the people and places you would have us serve” and give wisdom to Christine & Luke Wulbecker as they lead us in local compassion ministries
For those struggling in their faith, that God would draw them close and speak to their hearts
Loving Life:
Thanks to God for the unity we enjoy and that we would continue in that blessing
Blessings on the Gingerbread Nativities on December 8
