We are a worshiping community where everyone matters, everyone is loved, and everyone belongs. Everyone!
Dear Friends,

Do you ever wonder why we do the things we do?

This year, as we enter into the fullness of Spring we will soon enter a church season full of traditions that fulfill our different senses. Through Holy Week and into Easter we engage in traditions that invite us into wondering about our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in new ways. There are many traditions to embrace through Holy Week and Easter.

This year we will have a special Dinner Church remembering the last supper Jesus had with his closest friends. We will have the foot washing and stripping of the altar on Maundy Thursday. On Good Friday we will have a traditional worship service at noon with the veneration of the cross. In addition, on Good Friday we will offer a multi-generational Stations of the cross Open House event beginning at 4:30pm. You can come to walk with Jesus towards the cross and participate in prayerful activities that engage your senses and creativity. Easter Sunday will find us having our 7:30am outdoor Sunrise service and our 9:30am worship with our Easter Egg Hunt, piñatas, cascarones, and pot-luck brunch after church. I also want to highlight Palm Sunday which marks the beginning of Holy Week for us. 

On Palm Sunday we bless palms, remember the procession of Jesus into Jerusalem, and sing the beloved All Glory Laud and Honor. In the Episcopal tradition, it has most recently been called The Sunday of the Passion. There is not much to be found on the custom of folding palm fronds or even the use of them in the liturgy. But we do know that all four Gospels mention the entry into Jerusalem. John's Gospel is the only one that mentions palms specifically. In the Eastern Orthodox tradition palm fronds were knotted on "Lazarus Saturday" the Saturday before Palm Sunday. 

In the Middle Ages, priests blessed palms in which the congregation carried in procession and then later took them home. During worship, people made crosses with their palms, sticks, or string depending on what had been brought to church. These were blessed by the priests and taken home to ward off evil and protect the people for the year. For many of us now, we save the palms to remind us of God’s power. They sit on our desks or bookshelves as a symbol of God’s unending love for us through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. 

The liturgical color for Palm Sunday is red and on April 2nd we will gather as one congregation at 9:30am to hear the liturgy of the palms and the Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ. We will wave our crosses and palm branches and proclaim Jesus as Lord of our Life. As we hear these words in the liturgy, “Let these branches be for us signs of his victory, and grant that we who bear them in his name may ever hail him as our King, and follow him in the way that leads to eternal life…” and as we look to our palm fronds and crosses, may we know more fully that Jesus is indeed with us, he is our redeemer, Lord, and King who loves us beyond measure and is with us always.

God’s Peace, Love, and Blessings,
Beth+
This Week at St. Nick's
Sunday, March 26: The Fifth Sunday in Lent

Sunday Scriptures (click here to see the full Scripture texts): Ezekiel 37:1-14; Psalm 130; Romans 8:6-11; John 11:1-45

Collect for the 5th Sunday in Lent:
Almighty God, you alone can bring into order the unruly wills and affections of sinners: Grant your people grace to love what you command and desire what you promise; that, among the swift and varied changes of the world, our hearts may surely there be fixed where true joys are to be found; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen
Musik in the Park

March 25th at 6:30pm

Join us for music, games, crafts, and free giveaways at Bulverde Community Park.
Youth Event
After 9:30 Worship
Save the Date!
Youth Event
March 26th! All middle school and high school youth are invited to stay after the 9:30am worship for pizza, games, and then travel for ice cream at Confetti and Cream. Bring $10.00 for your Ice Cream/Treats. Let Rev. Beth know if you are attending. You can text her at 214-213-0739.
Women's Ministry Gathering
Monday March 27th - 9:30am
You are invited to a Women's Ministry meeting at St. Nick's to plan a Spring Luncheon event and a Fall learning event.

Saturday April 1st, 10am
Hike and Picnic Lunch at Guadalupe River State Park

For more information or to RSVP contact Montana at 979-257-0079
Work Day
April 1st

Come and help ready our space for Holy Week and Easter. Projects include – cleaning the kitchen, the sanctuary windows, cleaning up the grounds, mowing the yard, filling Easter Eggs, folding palm fronds, and continuing the work on the offices.
Easter!
Join us Easter Sunday - April 9th

We have a joyous morning planned for Easter and hope you make St. Nick's part of your Easter plans! There are LOTS of ways to help, so feel free to pick one or all of them:

DONATIONS: We will be collecting Easter eggs, candy, and Cascarones starting now through April 2nd. PRE-FILLED eggs with wrapped, non-chocolate candy would be appreciated. We also need non-chocolate, individually wrapped candy for the TWO piñatas! We have one piñata for 5th grade and younger and one for our youth 6th grade on up.

VOLUNTEERS: We will be decorating for Easter Saturday morning, April 8th, starting at 10am. We also need volunteers to hide eggs Easter morning before the 9:30 service. Let Dawn Robinson know you are coming to either or both! - dawnzer@gmail.com.

FLOWERS: Everyone will be invited to help flower the cross just before the start of the 9:30 service Easter morning. Feel free to bring flowers to add or share. In addition, this year we are starting a ministry called the St. Cecilia Fund. You can give financially to help purchase Easter flowers in thanksgiving, memory, or honor of someone you love. The funds will go towards flowers and to expand our music ministry. You can fill out a form of thanksgiving beginning this Sunday and write a check or donate to the Music fund at this link here.

BRUNCH POTLUCK: Please bring your most fantabulous brunch dish to share for after the 9:30 service.

Feel free to invite your friends and family to join us on Easter Sunday for either the 7:30am Sunrise service or the 9:30am Worship in our sanctuary. All are welcome to come and join in the joyous celebration of the resurrection of our Lord and Savior!
Holy Week
Sunday April 2nd - 9:30am
One worship at 9:30am - Liturgy of the Palms and reading of The Passion

Wednesday April 5th, 5:30pm
Special Dinner Church - Agape Meal Celebration

Thursday April 6th, 6:30pm
Maundy TShursday Worship

Friday April 7th, Noon
Good Friday Service

Friday April 7th, 4:30pm
Intergenerational and interactive Stations of the Cross Open House
Church and Diocesan Information
Donate Time and Talent to St. Nick's
Donate Your Time and Talent!
If you are interested in donating your time and talent to St. Nick's you can pick up a donation card from the Greeter table or sign up at this link.

You can also connect with Rev. Beth to join some of our new ministries - prayer shawl, congregational care, and youth ministry.
Diocesan Youth Confirmation Retreat
April 21-23
The Bishop's Youth Commission (BYC) is organizing a Confirmation Retreat for diocesan youth, taking place April 21 - 23 at Mustang Island Conference Center. This retreat is for 7th grade through 12th grade youth who are interested in being confirmed. The retreat will introduce Confirmation topics such as Scripture, the Book of Common Prayer, Sacraments, History, Spirituality, and Jesus. There will also be beach time, fellowship, and fun with other diocesan youth.

Summer Camp at Camp Capers
Children and youth ages 8-18 are invited to Camp Capers for a joyous time including kayaking, team-building challenges, a high ropes course, crafts, Bible-based teachings, devotional times, and building life long friendships. If you are interested in learning more or signing up, you can find more information here on the diocesan website.
Thank You!
Thanks to everyone who came to our Adam Names the Animals ArtReach Event. Also, a big thank you to illustrator Mary Kelly for reading and creating with us! The ornaments and art are adorable and as always, our time together was filled with love and joy!
2265 Bulverde Rd.
Bulverde, TX 78163
Phone: 214-213-0739