"Oh, you better watch out, you better not cry, you better not pout, I'm telling you why . . ." today is the feast day of Nicholas, Bishop of Myra, who died in about 342 A.D. St. Nicholas is one of those saints about which we hear a lot but know a little. He is especially popular in England where four hundred churches are named in his honor.
What we do know of St. Nicholas is that he suffered torture and imprisonment before Christianity became legal in the Roman Empire. We know St. Nicholas best as "Santa Claus" who brings gifts to children. We can thank the Dutch Colonialists who settled New York for bringing the concept of Santa Claus to America.
One other thing about St. Nicholas - and because my two oldest brothers served in the U. S. Navy it's one of my favorite things -- Nicholas is the patron saint of sailors. We have a lot of sailors around Camden County, especially those connected with the Kings Bay Submarine Base. If you or someone you love is a sailor, remember St. Nicholas on his special day - December 6.
"Almighty God, in your love you gave your servant Nicholas of Myra a perpetual name for deeds of kindness both on land and sea: Grant, we pray, that your church may never cease to work for the happiness of children, the safety of sailors, the relief of the poor, and the help of those tossed by tempests of doubt or grief; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen."
In peace,
Linda+
The Rev. Linda McCloud
Pastor
The Episcopal Church of Our Savior at Honey Creek
http://www.oursaviorhoneycreek.org/
http://oursaviorhoneycreek.blogspot.com/
912-267-0333
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