St. Nicholas and Community Outreach
St. Augustine's Episcopal Church, Rhinelander, Wisconsin, used our St. Nicholas Display and Activity kits to invite the community to learn about St. Nicholas and their church. For the first time ever St. Augustine's took part in the local Christmas tree lighting parade, carrying vinyl banners for the church and display. Parishioners handed out candy croziers and business cards telling about the display.
St. Nicholas provides a winsome welcome—everyone knows his name. And everyone loves St. Nicholas! This good saint is a wonderful way to reach out beyond one's own congregation.
 Sign at the church |
 St. Nicholas before the parade |
Display
The Display Kit was installed in the Guild Hall, fitting into windows. Icons and other St. Nicholas figures from the rector's collection augmented the kit display.
 Opening display |
 Seven of the seventeen display panels |
 Closing panel with St. Nicholas figures |
Activities
Many activities invited participation. Besides the miter-folding, puzzles, and rubbings in the activity kit, people colored small St. Nicholas pictures and a button machine made them into buttons. St. Nicholas gave candy croziers to everyone and chocolate gold coins to put in paper shoes. More activity sheets could be taken home, including coloring pictures and cut-out figures.
Whenever the display was open, Anonymous4's CD of the Legends of St. Nicholas provided approriate music.
 Making paper shoes |
 Making a rubbing |
 Button machine for St. Nicholas buttons |
 Paper miter-folding |
 More activities to take home: coloring pages & cut-out figures |
Publicity Materials
St. Augustine's did a lot to publicize the week. Besides the large vinyl banner, they advertized in the local paper, on an electronic bulletin board, in community print calendars and on television. Door hangers were distributed in the church neighborhood. Business cards, door hangers, and labels were printed with information about both the display and activities and the church. Business cards |
 Two-sided door hangers |
 Labels |
It was such a great experience that plans are in place to do it all again the next year!
Display Kits
Activity Kits
Publicity Materials to use with kits
Door Hangers to customize for your event
Photos and information from St. Augustine's Church, Rhinelander, Wisconsin. Used by permission.
