November 12, 2026

Dear Friends,

If you ever find yourself looking closely at the walls at St. Nick’s, you might spot a few words peeking through the paint here and there. Turns out, Sharpie is a lot more permanent than I thought. Who knew? Live and learn, right?

When we first moved into the old Front Porch Bar and Grill, there was a mountain of work ahead of us. We took down the bar, pulled out the food booths and water stations, and just about everything needed some kind of repair or a fresh coat of paint. But before we picked up the paintbrushes, we passed out Sharpies. Folks from St. Nick’s, neighbors, friends, even our bishop, all grabbed a marker and wrote prayers, blessings, and favorite scripture verses right onto the walls. Some asked God to help us love and be loved. Others reminded us that God’s love is everlasting and we have a beautifully faithful God.

I found myself thinking about those walls again as we celebrated All Saints’ Day. In the Episcopal Church, we talk about the communion of saints who have gone before us, the saints sitting beside us now, and the saints who haven’t even arrived yet. Every time we gather at Christ’s table, we’re surrounded by a crowd much bigger than what our eyes can see. And here at St. Nick’s, we get a little glimpse of that every time those words peek through the paint. We’re literally sitting in the middle of prayers people wrote for us, even for folks who hadn’t or haven’t walked through our doors yet.

Now it’s our turn to offer that same love to someone else. “We love because he first loved us” (1 John 4:19). That’s where it all begins. God has given us this life and this community, and God keeps giving us the grace to become more generous with both. This is the work we’ve been called to do, and we are called to be a people who love generously. Every Sunday I pray for God to help us grow in faith, hope, and love, and clearly – so very clearly – God is answering this prayer. We are a people always growing in love.

We have been and continue to be a people who love well. On Monday, November 23, at 6 p.m., we’ll pack our first Snacks and Smiles weekend bags for children at Arlon Seay Elementary. Drop off snacks at church or join us to pack. This summer, Crafty Crew and Camp DUO made baby blankets for NICU families, and our children have started leading a No-Littering Ministry. God is so amazing!  All of these ministries meet and uphold the sabbatical themes we embraced this year – Community, Creativity, and Creation Care!

In 2027, we’ll keep growing in community through Dinner Church, Bible studies, Sunday formation, and small groups for all ages. Our updated website, expected by year’s end, will make it easier to get connected. We’ll also deepen local partnerships and strengthen DivorceCare and Beyond St. Nick’s.

We’ll make room for creativity as children and teens bring their ideas to DUO and grow as leaders. In worship, we’ll encourage lay music leaders, try new anthems, and continue Praise on the Porch on third Saturdays at 5 p.m.

We’ll practice creation care by tending the Good News Garden and supporting our children as they lead the No-Littering Ministry. We’ll also explore a playground with sensory play and more places to gather and worship outdoors.

Wow, what a vibrant and loving church we are!

It takes all of us to make these ministries possible. God calls each of us to share what we can. For some, that means giving time or putting a talent to work. For others, it means giving financially. Each of us has a part to play as we build God’s kingdom of love together, right here and now.

As we look ahead to 2027, I invite you to join me in making a giving estimate, also known as a pledge, to our Annual Ministry Fund. Take a moment to thank God for the life you’ve been given and for the people who have helped
you know you are loved. Then pray about what you can give with joy. If you’ve given an estimate before and your circumstances allow, consider increasing your gift. If this is your first estimate, begin with an amount that fits your household.

Your giving estimate helps our Bishop’s Committee plan for the staff, worship, formation, building needs, and outreach that make up our life together. Every giving estimate helps us take another step toward sustaining St. Nick’s ministries through our own giving. We give because God loves us first, and giving is one way we say thank you.

You can pick up your giving estimate card on Sunday or find it online. Return it to the church office, place it in the offertory plate, or mail it to the address below.

St. Nicholas Hill Country Episcopal Church
2265 Bulverde Road
Bulverde, TX 78163

I am deeply thankful for the life we share. I am in absolute awe at what God has done in and through you, the good people of St. Nick’s. I can’t help but wonder who will be sitting within these walls seven years from now. Maybe someone will notice those words of blessing and prayer peeking through the paint and hear the story of the people who prayed for them before they ever arrived. I hope that, in the way we welcome them and care for our neighbors, they’ll know we meant every word.

God’s peace, love, and blessings,

Rev. Beth+