The Sudbrock Scoop

The night of St. Nick

Alles gute zum Nikolaus!

On December 6, the Germans celebrate a festival of giving in the spirit of St. Nick. The children clean and polish their shoes and place them outside of their door in hopes that when St. Nick comes by, he will notice what good children they are and reward them with a small gift and some candy.

On Wednesday night, Dec. 6th, the Baptisten Bibel Gemeinde had its annual ladies' Christmas Craft night at the church. We started out with a candlelight time of devotion, cake and coffee and followed up with a Christmas craft.

I was so excited about the lesson God gave me for the evening. Since it was Nikolaus Tag in German, I used the story of St. Nick and how he supposedly slipped coins through the window of a poor and needy nobleman like a thief in the night. As we celebrate Advent and await the celebration of the first coming of Christ, we need to keep in mind that there is someone besides Nickolaus who will come like a thief in the night and change the world forever - Jesus Christ. I had been struggling over what to present that night and the Lord opened my mind so completely the morning of the meeting and filled it with His inspiration.

We had 10 ladies in attendance - Two first time visitors and a third who has been to activities but has always managed to avoid the Devotion time and sermons. Well, last night she hid behind someone so that she didn't have to make eye contact, but sure enough, she heard the message and was obviously under conviction. Please pray for my good friend AZ.

It was such a blessing to see God's answer to prayer. We sent invitations out to about 30 women. Then, counted up those who would be there and those who might be there and set up a table that could seat as many as 18 people, but only set it for 10 with the extra plates on hand in case others showed up. We bought enough crafts for at least 15 people. We had exactly 10 ladies show up and 4 children - who watched a movie in the other room during the first half of the evening. The planning went well and I had been praying for at least 10 women!

Using cork, we made tee lights that look like gingerbread cookies. What a blessing the evening was. One of our first-time visitors will be back this weekend for a children's craft and fun day and the other first-timer told me to be sure and send her an invitation any time we are doing any special activities.

It was a good evening. As we prepare to celebrate the first coming of Christ as a babe, my prayer is that these 10 women are all ready for the second coming of Christ as Lord, Savior and King! May we all keep watch for him as the nobleman did for St Nick.

Thanks again for your prayers.

Chelli