We are a worshiping community where everyone matters, everyone is loved, and everyone belongs. Everyone!
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Dear Friends,
Happy and Blessed Epiphany to you!
The Feast of the Epiphany is observed on January 6th. Epiphany means to "reveal" or "show." The Feast of the Epiphany is the day we celebrate the greatest gift God has given us - God incarnate, God made known in Jesus our Lord and Savior.
One of my favorite prayer books is by author John O'Donahue. He is an Irish author, teacher, writer and poet known for sharing Celtic spiritual traditions. In To Bless the Space Between Us he shares many prayers and blessings. One of my favorites is a new year's blessing.
He wrote a blessing for his mother called, Beannacht-for Josie: A Blessing for the New Year. Beannacht is the Gaelic word for blessing. A blessing is a pronouncement of God's Love and Favor to His people. When we bless one another we are recognizing God's love that resides in one another and in the space all around. Anyone can bless. Which is to say, anyone can name God's work and love in and among us. Anyone can ask God to continue His work of sanctification - continue His work of making all of life holy...
I would dare to say we need to continually bless one another. We need to call forth God's work in each other and celebrate it when it happens. We also need to challenge each other to action when our faithfulness is lacking. It seems to me that there are a great many people fearing the world is growing increasingly more hopeless and broken by the minute. But we, as a people of light, embrace Christ's coming into the world and dare to point out this goodness and love that pierces those dark and dimly lit spaces.
Beginning today we enter into the season of Epiphany. Epiphany, where we hear stories that reveal the divinity of Jesus and lead us to celebrate Him as Lord and Saviour. During the season of Epiphany we are invited into intentionally focusing on revealing Jesus to the world and one another. So for you, my dear friends and family at St. Nicks - May God deeply and mightily bless you in this New Year.
A Blessing for the New Year by John O'Donohue
On the day when
The weight deadens
On your shoulders
And you stumble,
May the clay dance
To balance you.
And when your eyes
Freeze behind
The gray window
And the ghost of loss gets into you,
May a flock of colors,
Indigo, red, green
and azure blue,
Come to awaken in you
A meadow of delight.
When the canvas frays
In the curragh of thought
And a stain of ocean
Blackens beneath you,
May there come across the waters
A path of yellow moonlight
To bring you safely home.
May the nourishment of the earth be yours,
May the clarity of light be yours,
May the fluency of the ocean be yours,
May the protection of the ancestors be yours.
And, so may a slow
Wind work these words
Of love around you,
An invisible cloak
To mind your life.
Yours in faith and hope,
Beth+
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Sunday, January 8: Epiphany Sunday
Psalm 72:1-7, 10-14; Ephesians 3:1-12; Matthew 2:1-12
Collect for Epiphany Sunday:
O God, by the leading of a star you manifested your only Son to the peoples of the earth: Lead us, who know you now by faith, to your presence, where we may see your glory face to face; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
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Sunday Worship
Invite your friends, family, and neighbors! All are invited to worship with us.
8:30am - Outdoor Worship
9:30am - Indoor Worship
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Bible Study
Tuesdays, 7-8:15pm
We are continuing our walk through Matthew. Join us for our study and compline afterwards.
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Praying in Color
Wednesdays, 9:30am
This small group meets to study scripture together. If you are interested in a Lectio Divina study that combines art, conversation and study - this group is for you! |
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Holy Hangout
Wednesdays, 4:30-5:30pm
Children and Youth are invited to join Rev. Beth and Mrs. Jena in the sanctuary before Dinner Church on Wednesdays. We will learn and create together as we learn about God, our Episcopal tradition, and all things holy. Join in for a Holy Hangout time with Rev. Beth!
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Dinner Church
Wednesdays, 5:30-7:30pm
Come and join us for conversation, laughter, worship and lots of food!
Next Wednesday, we're having burgers and hot dogs with all the fixin's - just bring your favorite chips, dessert, juice or sodas.
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Bible Journaling
Thursdays, 9:30am
Come and read the passages of the week and journal in your Bible. Color your thoughts as you discuss the scriptures and how to apply them to your life.
Contact Missy Denney for more info at 210-262-3664.
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Men's Lunch Small Group
Thursdays at noon
Our Men's Lunch Group returns this week! Bring your own brown bag lunch, or grab lunch at a local eatery and join in fellowship with other men from our St. Nick's community!
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Women's Bible Study
Thursdays, 1-2pm
Contact Rev. Beth for the zoom link to study this week's Gospel reading. All women are welcome to join in the study.
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Ministry Opportunities at St. Nick's |
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For our baptism this weekend, you can write our sweet young lady, Taryn a note of inspiration, prayer, or a favorite quote. If you are missing this Sunday, you can email a note to her at revbeth@stnickshillcountry.org
We gift a box of love to each baptismal candidate as a tangible reminder that they are part of our family and we are a community of prayer and love.
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Sign-up at this link to help us with Sunday Worship jobs. You can provide goodies for hospitality, be a greeter, reader, altar set-up and av team member. All ages are encouraged to participate in our ministries.
Here is a list of opportunities -
Hospitality - provides food and drinks.
Greeter and Offertory - Greets, helps with nametags, counts donations.
Readers and Chalice - 1st reader reads the scriptures, 2nd reader reads the prayers. If a child is signed up to read, the parent can help with communion or another adult can help.
Audio Team - helps with sound needs.
Video Team - helps with the video and online worship.
Altar Team - helps with set-up and clean-up of 9:30am worship.
January 29th and April 29th are special days. They are 5th Sundays which means they are children and youth led days. Please sign your children/youth up to help with any of the jobs listed above.
As always, you can reach out to Rev. Beth with questions at 214-213-0739 and sign-up here at Sign-up Zone
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Star Words - Beginning Jan. 1st |
The Church Season of Epiphany begins on January 6th. The word epiphany means "to make known" or to "reveal." In the season of Epiphany we will hear about the call of the disciples, our call to be salt and light in the world, we will hear the beatitudes and be reminded of how it is through God and God's love that we grow and transform.
Each Epiphany season we participate in the tradition called “Star Words” as a spiritual and growth practice. Beginning January 1st, there will be baskets of wooden stars and star magnets with words written on them. The word you choose becomes your “Star Word” for the year. Sometimes, people randomly choose the words, and others hunt for just the right word. This is a fun spiritual practice for our community. You can pray your word through the year, offer devotions on our website or social media, reflect on, or journal your word as it guides you throughout your year.
Here are some thoughts on how your word can help form you this coming year:
- If you find a word that is encouraging – how might this word guide you?
- If you find a word that is challenging – how might this word shape you?
- If you find a word that is perfect for you – how can you share this gift with others?
- If you find a word you resist – how might this word teach you?
Whatever your word – pray it, reflect on it, journal it, and talk about it. Share your thoughts with Rev. Beth and our community. Let it shape your life and our community this new year.
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Two Upcoming events for the women of St. Nicks...
1) January 20th - Ladies Night out will be at The Branch off of 46 in Faithville Park. RSVP to Montana at 979-257-0079
and
2) Galentine's Dinner on February 10th at St. Nick's. Come for a celebratory evening of friendship and fun beginning at 6pm.
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Shrove Tuesday & Ash Wednesday |
Two more upcoming events -
1) Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper on February 21st - Our annual Pancake Supper and fun event before Lent. If you would like to help with the supper, decorating, and arranging talent for the night, contact Rev. Beth at 214-213-0739
2) Ash Wednesday Worship -February 22nd - Family Worship at 4:45pm People of all ages are welcome to join us on this day of observance for the beginning of the season of Lent. The imposition of ashes will be given at both services.
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2265 Bulverde Rd.
Bulverde, TX 78163
Phone: 214-213-0739
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