We are a JOYOUS Community of faith!
Dear Friends, 

The other day I was at the store and overheard a discussion between a husband and wife. One was complaining about tiresome Christmas music and the other was making a passionate argument about the need for joyous Christmas music this year. As I stood in line, listening to their enthusiastic debate, I was struck by a weird revelation about the importance of Christmas music.  

As I shared with you, I didn’t grow up in the church. At. All. My first worship experience was at the age of 14, and it was frightening. We never went to church – no Christmas or Easter services, no attending funerals or weddings, no just popping in out to curiosity. No church. At. All. 

But yet, I experienced God.  

I experienced God through the love of others, in the beauty of nature, and yearly through Christmas music. Hearing Silent Night, Joy to the World, and O Holy Night (to name a few) helped me to learn a story that I would otherwise not know. I was and am struck at the importance of these Christmas songs and hymns that we hear and tire of so easily. 

Without these yearly tunes, how will people not in our churches hear the story of Jesus Christ? How will people know that God so loved the world that he came down as an infant born in humility to come and turn the world upside down through love and grace and forgiveness? 

“He who sings, prays twice” is a saying attributed to St. Augustine. Of course, there is a lot of debate as to whether he actually wrote this, and a lot of debate around its meaning… I take it to mean, those who sing put themselves in the posture of being open and vulnerable to have a conversation with the Lord. And through this singing, a deep personal and prayerful connection is made. Christmas hymns played as songs on the radio, or through a playlist or music app like Spotify or Pandora are prayers to the Lord. These songs are ways people come to know God.  

I would not have known the Christmas story if it were not for these hymns played on the radio or offered on Christmas specials through the T.V. My worldview was expanded through Christmas music. Come to think of it, every time I sang along to Away in the Manger, I was indeed praying. I was praying and I didn’t even know it!  

Away in a manger, no crib for a bed,
The little Lord Jesus laid down his sweet head.
The stars in the sky looked down where he lay,
The little Lord Jesus asleep in the hay.

The cattle are lowing, the baby awakes,
But little Lord Jesus no crying he makes.
I love Thee, Lord Jesus, look down from the sky
And stay by my cradle til morning is nigh.

Be near me, Lord Jesus, I ask Thee to stay
Close by me forever, and love me, I pray.
Bless all the dear children in thy tender care,
And take us to heaven, to live with Thee there.

That last verse is such a great prayer!  
Be near me, Lord Jesus, I ask Thee to stay
Close by me forever, and love me, I pray.
Bless all the dear children in thy tender care,
And take us to heaven, to live with Thee there. 

I am filled with gratitude for the power of prayer through song! I am thankful that our Lord heard my prayer and has, through the years, drawn me close as I asked and prayed in my youth. And this is only one example! Think of what we are praying when we sing along to Angels We Have Heard on High or God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen!  

I hope and I pray that as we encounter Christmas, we can all take the posture of being open and vulnerable to have new conversations with our Lord. I hope and pray that we can feel a deep personal and prayerful connection to God in Christ. I also hope and pray that we are moved to share God’s story with those who do not yet know it. I hope we share God’s story through our music and hymns, but also by telling others of the love and joy we have found in God through our time together at St. Nicholas.

There are a great many people who need to know God’s story of Grace, Love, and Forgiveness. I hope and pray we can all live God’s story out loud – whether it’s through song, word, or deed. And as I share this, it occurs to me, the next time I overhear a passionate debate about Christmas music, I just may need to speak God’s story and say, I was a life changed and transformed by that music – maybe yours is too!

God’s Peace, Love, and Blessings, 
Beth+
Bishop Reed's Christmas Message


You can read Bishop Reed's Christmas Message on the Diocese of West Texas blog.
Serving Our Community
Comal County Sheriff's Office Gifts
Tomorrow - December 22, 9am
We are taking our mugs to the Comal County Sheriff Department! If you are coming, remember to meet at St. Nicholas at 9:00am to load mugs and caravan to New Braunfels. Afterward, we will be having lunch together at Krause’s Café.  

We will have old school paper maps, but you can also plug in the Sheriff’s Office at the Jail at:
3000 S. IH 35
New Braunfels, TX 78130
into your GPS. 
Looking forward to our time together!
Share Center
Baby Items Needed
Thank you to everyone who has been giving to The Share Center. The Share Center (sexual health and reproductive education) is an organization in our community whose mission is to serve the needs of those facing unplanned pregnancies, requiring sexual health services & education or those seeking to learn more about parenting.  

We have been collecting newborn lotion, Size 5 and 6 diapers, and rattles/toys/teethers. We will be collecting these items for them the whole month of December. You can place them in the big black and white box shaped like a present near the Prayer Wall.
Disaster Relief through Episcopal Relief and Development
The tornadoes that swept the mid-Mississippi Valley were devastating, killing at least 90 people and leaving thousands without infrastructure or homes. We are choosing to help by supporting ERD (Episcopal Relief and Development) efforts to provide relief and support. You can make a donation to ERD disaster relief on their website.
  
In addition to monetary help, please join us in lifting these communities up in prayer: 
 
God… Draw near to us in this time of sorrow and anguish, comfort those who mourn, strengthen those who are weary, encourage those in despair, and lead us all to fullness of life; through the same Jesus Christ, our Savior and Redeemer, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever. Amen
–Holy Women, Holy Men: Celebrating the Saints, Church Publishing: New York, page 733

O God, our times are in your hand.  In the midst of uncertainty lead us by your never-failing grace as we seek to be agents of healing and hope. Walk with us through difficult times; watch over us in danger; and give to us a spirit of love and compassion for those who suffer and mourn. And finally remind us that you have promised never to leave us so that even in the valley of the shadow of death your love may be felt, through Jesus Christ our Lord. AMEN.
–The Rev. Lyndon Harris, from the Episcopal Diocese of New York disaster preparedness plan

You can also add your own prayers and petition on our Prayer wall in the sanctuary.
This Week (And Next) at ST. NICK'S
This Friday, December 24
6pm

All are invited to our Christmas Eve worship at 6pm. We will have beautiful music, presents for those joining us, our creative Poinsettia display, and candlelight with the classic hymn Silent Night. We are looking forward to worshiping together and celebrating the birth of Jesus on this holy night.
Sunday Worship
December 26

All are invited to worship with us. 

There will be no 8:30am this next Sunday, but you can join us for our 9:30am indoor worship, in person or livestreamed on YouTube, our website, or our Facebook page.
Small Groups and Weekly Activities
Small Groups and weekly activities will take a Christmas break and resume the week of January 12th.
Church Administration and Volunteer Information
Volunteer Helpers Sunday AM
St. Nick’s is a multigenerational Community of Faith. All ages are welcome to serve as greeters, altar guild helpers, and readers. If your child or youth has an interest in serving and helping at St. Nick’s, please click on the link below and sign up for a Sunday. Let us empower our children to be ministers and grow in faith through service to our Lord.
2265 Bulverde Rd.
Bulverde, TX 78163
Phone: 214-213-0739
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