We are a worshiping community where everyone matters, everyone is loved, and everyone belongs. Everyone!
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Dear Friends,
One of the beauties of the Episcopal Church is that we are united through our worship and our mission to love and serve everyone we meet. Yet we are diverse in how these calls to ministry get lived out.
Holy Week is one of those times churches celebrate and often nuance their worship services according to their own church cultures and traditions. For some, Good Friday is celebrated with a three-hour time of devotion with meditations on the seven last words of Christ. Other churches mark the day with stations of the cross or a Good Friday service with solemn readings of the Passion narrative and veneration of the cross. All of these practices are beautiful expressions of faithfulness and devotion.
As I look back at the various churches I have served, I am comforted by the similarities in worship and yet celebrate the differences. In my first parish in Dallas, the foot washing on Maundy Thursday was small and symbolically celebrated by a few church leaders. The stripping of the altar, however, was a significant portion of the service. A great many servers and congregants took part in clearing away altar linens and vessels, and they also washed the altar, tabernacle, and adjacent areas.
At my internship parish in seminary, the foot washing was a significant part of the service. Many, if not all, parishioners would partake in the foot washing ceremony. The custom was to wash one another's feet regardless of age. There were six stations where parishioners could wash one another's feet. As one parishioner would get up from the chair the priests and altar servers would help them kneel to wash another parishioner's feet. Everyone working in a ministry of service to and with one another – handing out towels, changing out water, and assisting people into chairs. Two totally different experiences, yet both beautiful expressions of faith and devotion during our holiest week of the year.
One of the most meaningful parts of these worship experiences was the participation of all the people gathered. There was a palpable sense of unity and devotion to Jesus on these nights. In all the Gospels, Jesus calls the disciples, and calls us, to follow him. John's Gospel is the only one with the foot washing. We are specifically given an example in John 13:12-14 (CEB): After he washed the disciples’ feet, he put on his robes and returned to his place at the table. He said to them, “Do you know what I’ve done for you? You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and you speak correctly, because I am. If I, your Lord and teacher, have washed your feet, you too must wash each other’s feet. While we could take this literally, and do on Maundy Thursday, we can also see this as a call to discipleship. "You must wash each other's feet" is a way of Christ calling us to follow him and live like him.
This Holy Week and Easter we are given opportunity, yet again, to rededicate ourselves to Jesus Christ. When each individual takes on the personal responsibility to live, love, and serve just like Christ, somehow, we are unified as his Body. When we all take seriously our call to discipleship, the whole church (all of God's people) becomes more of what it is meant to be – unified through our diverse gifts, service, love, and care. Perhaps the greatest gift to ourselves and the world is that all that we offer are beautiful expressions of faithfulness and devotion.
God’s Peace, Love, and Blessings,
Beth+
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Face Painters are wanted for this next Musik in the Park on April 16th. We are gathering to listen to great music, meet our neighbors, and offer face paint to any kids (or those young at heart) beginning at 6pm. We will also have Easter tattoos for the kiddos.
Let Rev. Beth know if you are coming and join in on the fun! Oh – and pets are always welcome!!!
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Teaming Up With Cake Llama |
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We are so excited to be teaming up with Cake Llama, our baker extraordinaire! Cake Llama has a Bread Program where they give away bread, peanut butter and jelly or honey to those in need. You can learn more about it on the Cake Llama website.
If you would like to participate in this endeavor, please bring jars of peanut butter and jelly to the church and place in the basket marked Cake Llama Bread Program.
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As we pray for an end to violence and for those fleeing Ukraine, please also pray for Episcopal Relief & Development and other ecumenical agencies working to respond to the current crisis.
Please consider partnering with Episcopal Relief & Development who is providing cash, blankets, hygiene supplies and other needed items. As a reminder, in-kind donations and traveling to the affected areas to help are discouraged by Episcopal Relief & Development and other international organizations responding at this time. Visit episcopalrelief.org for more information.
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Dinner Church
Tonight!, 5:30-7:30pm
Join us tonight, April 6, for our last Lenten soup and salad night.
Come for a time of prayer and friendship. Invite a friend, family or nieghbors and come join us!
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Men's Lunch Small Group
Thursdays, 11:30am
Stop by a local eatery to pick up lunch or have some leftovers from Dinner Church and come to St. Nick's for Bible study and fellowship.
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Women's Bible Study
Thursdays, 1pm
Women's Bible Study via Zoom. We study and discuss the upcoming Sunday's Gospel reading.
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Lenten Centering Prayer Groups
Wednesdays, 9:30-10:30am
Thursdays, 6:30-7:30pm
Saturdays 10-11am
St. Nicholas invites you to participate in the ancient practice of Centering Prayer. Join us for the last sessions of our 6-part series focusing on deepening our spiritual life by opening our hearts to God's presence and love.
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Work Day
Saturday, April 9, 11am
Come on out on Saturday and help with some of these tasks:
- Clean out fridge
- Clean out freezer
- Change burnt-out spotlights
- Add corners to stage
- Fill holes under outside chapel foundation
- Remove weeds
- Pick up utility flags
- Remove piles
- Mop floors
- Wipe down tables and chairs
- Clean windows
- Clean kitchen
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Palm Sunday Worship
All are invited to worship with us.
8:30am - Outdoor Worship
9:30am - Indoor Worship
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Bible Journal Small Group
No Bible Journaling Mondays April 11 or 18. We will return on the 25th.
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Dinner Church
No Dinner Church Wednesdays, April 13 or 20th. We will return on the 27th.
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Men's Lunch Group
No Men's Group Thursday April 14th - See you at St. Nick's on the 21st
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Women's Bible Study
No Bible Study Thursday April 14th or 21st - See you on zoom on the 28th
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Holy Week and Easter Worship Services |
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April 10, Palm Sunday
Worship at 8:30am and 9:30am
April 14, Maundy Thursday
Worship at 6:30pm
April 15, Good Friday
Worship at noon and 6:30pm
April 17, Easter Sunday
Easter Sunrise Worship at 7:30am
Easter Worship at 9:30am
Easter Potluck and Easter Egg Hunt at 10:30am
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Church Administration and Volunteer Information |
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Help with the Easter Egg Hunt! |
After our 9:30am worship on Easter Sunday we will have an Easter Potluck and Easter Egg Hunt. Wednesday, April 13th, is the last day to drop off your eggs. You can bring them to the sanctuary and put them in the basket marked Easter Donations.
Thank you to all who gave monetary donations for the Cheer team – we were able to support them and are looking forward to receiving our eggs from Team Fuel.
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Don’t forget that you can find St. Nick’s on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram and Twitter. We have ministry offerings for all ages including reminders and thanksgivings of past events, invitations to upcoming events, learning opportunities, worship, and stations of the cross.
You can also like, follow, and share to help spread the love and joy found at St. Nick’s!
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2265 Bulverde Rd.
Bulverde, TX 78163
Phone: 214-213-0739
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