Kids B.E.A.T. (led by Dawn Barber) and the Advent Bible Study (led by Deacon Dee) are cancelled due to the snow.
Please take use this sacred snow time to enjoy your family, read the many recent postings on this blog, and say a prayer for those who are homeless or without heat on this snowy night.
Faithfully,
Janet+
Friday, December 19, 2008
Ready?
Dear Friends in Christ -
Today's school closure and pending snow storm has probably already uplifted your heart or put you in a scheduling tail-spin. Or both. I'm often tempted to think that the pressures we face in our daily living and holiday preparations are a "modern" problem. But they're not. We face the same struggles and temptations as our parents and grandparents and great-grandparents. The struggles and temptations are much the same because the human condition is much the same: we all struggle to believe in God, to put Him first, and to live in harmony with each other.
The humbling reality of all this was brought home to me when I read the "Shelton Life" magazine last night. In it were reprinted articles and poems and pictures from the December 14, 1912 edition of "The Shelton Times." The following poem caught my attention - and caused me to smile wryly to myself. I hope it brings a smile to you, too.
Faithfully,
Janet+
THE CHRISTMAS SHOPPER by Wilbur D. Nesbit
The Christmas shopper makes her list
And holds it tightly in her fist
And starts to get her shopping done
She thinks she is the only one
Beginning at this early date
And that her progress will be straight.
She sallies forth with pleasant smiles
But soon is
Jammed up in the aisles,
And when she tries to cleave the fray
She has to wind around this way;
Though earnestly she's on the job,
She bumps into a rushing mob.
By speeding shoppers she is borne
Until her skirt and waist are torn;
She leaves a doll and jumping jack
And has to crowd and struggle back;
She gets home weary, worn and blue -
And finds the cook gone shopping, too!
Today's school closure and pending snow storm has probably already uplifted your heart or put you in a scheduling tail-spin. Or both. I'm often tempted to think that the pressures we face in our daily living and holiday preparations are a "modern" problem. But they're not. We face the same struggles and temptations as our parents and grandparents and great-grandparents. The struggles and temptations are much the same because the human condition is much the same: we all struggle to believe in God, to put Him first, and to live in harmony with each other.
The humbling reality of all this was brought home to me when I read the "Shelton Life" magazine last night. In it were reprinted articles and poems and pictures from the December 14, 1912 edition of "The Shelton Times." The following poem caught my attention - and caused me to smile wryly to myself. I hope it brings a smile to you, too.
Faithfully,
Janet+
THE CHRISTMAS SHOPPER by Wilbur D. Nesbit
The Christmas shopper makes her list
And holds it tightly in her fist
And starts to get her shopping done
She thinks she is the only one
Beginning at this early date
And that her progress will be straight.
She sallies forth with pleasant smiles
But soon is
Jammed up in the aisles,
And when she tries to cleave the fray
She has to wind around this way;
Though earnestly she's on the job,
She bumps into a rushing mob.
By speeding shoppers she is borne
Until her skirt and waist are torn;
She leaves a doll and jumping jack
And has to crowd and struggle back;
She gets home weary, worn and blue -
And finds the cook gone shopping, too!
Thursday, December 18, 2008
An message from "the Frugals"
Dear Friends in Christ -
This morning, I heard a piece on the Today show about "the Frugals," a family that has made good money management a way of life. The mother of the family said something that's sticking with me: "We think that 'new' equals 'love.' It does not."
"The Frugals" website - www.homeeconomiser.com - has dozens of tips for living within our means joyfully.
May this be a Christmas when getting ready for Christmas means more than making enough trips to the mall to buy the stuff people in our lives expect to receive. May we dare to live closer to our own heart-values. May we heed the inner voice that tells us that freedom is found in simplicity and love is found in relationships, with God and with each other.
Faithfully,
Janet+
This morning, I heard a piece on the Today show about "the Frugals," a family that has made good money management a way of life. The mother of the family said something that's sticking with me: "We think that 'new' equals 'love.' It does not."
"The Frugals" website - www.homeeconomiser.com - has dozens of tips for living within our means joyfully.
May this be a Christmas when getting ready for Christmas means more than making enough trips to the mall to buy the stuff people in our lives expect to receive. May we dare to live closer to our own heart-values. May we heed the inner voice that tells us that freedom is found in simplicity and love is found in relationships, with God and with each other.
Faithfully,
Janet+
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
An invitation from God
Dear Child of Mine -
Open your heart and get ready for the love that's coming your way.
Remember, I'm always with you, and my fondest wish is to get to know you better and to be more a part of your life.
I love you.
God
Open your heart and get ready for the love that's coming your way.
Remember, I'm always with you, and my fondest wish is to get to know you better and to be more a part of your life.
I love you.
God
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
A humorous and grace-full invitation to ready-ness
A reflection from http://thejesuswalk.wordpress.com/2008/12/02/is-your-heart-ready-to-receive-him/ (adapted)
A man prayed to God and just wanted to ask a few things.
Man: God?
God: Yes?
Man: How long is a million years to you?
God: A minute.
Man: God?
God: Yes?
Man: How much is a million dollars to you?
God: A penny.
Man: God, can I have a penny then?
God: Sure. In a minute.
Our time and His time are different. Our comprehension does not keep up with His Way because He is so great. We never know what He has in store for us, or how it will all work out.
The Gospels speak about the Way, or making the Way for Jesus. We need to be eager for His coming. In the Advent season, we are to prepare ourselves, called to holiness, devotion (it can be any prayer or action of charity), and eager to be closer to God. In everything, we need to be conscious of what we do and put heart into it, lifting it up to God.
Are you ready?
A man prayed to God and just wanted to ask a few things.
Man: God?
God: Yes?
Man: How long is a million years to you?
God: A minute.
Man: God?
God: Yes?
Man: How much is a million dollars to you?
God: A penny.
Man: God, can I have a penny then?
God: Sure. In a minute.
Our time and His time are different. Our comprehension does not keep up with His Way because He is so great. We never know what He has in store for us, or how it will all work out.
The Gospels speak about the Way, or making the Way for Jesus. We need to be eager for His coming. In the Advent season, we are to prepare ourselves, called to holiness, devotion (it can be any prayer or action of charity), and eager to be closer to God. In everything, we need to be conscious of what we do and put heart into it, lifting it up to God.
Are you ready?
Monday, December 15, 2008
Ready?
Dear Friends in Christ -
Each year, my Advent journey is different. This year, the journey has been very reflective and full of listening - listening to God and listening to those around me. It's been a tough year for many, and we come into this season humbled and chastened by many things beyond our control - family issues, health issues, financial issues.
In the midst of all this, I ask God, "How should we respond? How are we to get through this?" And the answer has been, "Stay with me while you wait."
The first week of Advent, the word that guided my times with God was "silence." The second week, it was "wonder." This week, the word is "ready." As in "are you ready?" As in "get ready."
The collect for yesterday's worship was "Stir up your power, O Lord, and with great might come among us; and, because we are sorely hindered by our sins, let your bountiful grace and mercy speedily help and deliver us . . ." In other words, God, we really want you to come and use your power to do amazing things. But we recognize that we're not totally ready. So would you please use your mercy and grace to help us get ready?
In the midst of all the other preparations, may we remember to offer our hearts to God, so that we're ready to receive the greatest gift - the one God has for us.
Faithfully,
Janet+
Each year, my Advent journey is different. This year, the journey has been very reflective and full of listening - listening to God and listening to those around me. It's been a tough year for many, and we come into this season humbled and chastened by many things beyond our control - family issues, health issues, financial issues.
In the midst of all this, I ask God, "How should we respond? How are we to get through this?" And the answer has been, "Stay with me while you wait."
The first week of Advent, the word that guided my times with God was "silence." The second week, it was "wonder." This week, the word is "ready." As in "are you ready?" As in "get ready."
The collect for yesterday's worship was "Stir up your power, O Lord, and with great might come among us; and, because we are sorely hindered by our sins, let your bountiful grace and mercy speedily help and deliver us . . ." In other words, God, we really want you to come and use your power to do amazing things. But we recognize that we're not totally ready. So would you please use your mercy and grace to help us get ready?
In the midst of all the other preparations, may we remember to offer our hearts to God, so that we're ready to receive the greatest gift - the one God has for us.
Faithfully,
Janet+
Sunday, December 14, 2008
The gift
Dear Friends in Christ -
Today we received the most amazing gift. One of the kids of the church and her mom made a birthday present for Jesus. It's a book, and we got to read parts of it during the Children's Moment at the 10:00 a.m. service.
In the book, Olivia tells part of her story: how she came to this country as an orphan, to meet the Mommy that God had prepared especially for her. And then Olivia tells what she does all during the year to help others and to honor Jesus - taking cards to people in nursing homes, giving food to those in need, and enjoying His creation.
May we all take a page out of Olivia's book and honor Jesus at His birthday, by doing the things that make Him happy - caring for others and being thankful for His gifts to us.
Faithfully,
Janet+
Today we received the most amazing gift. One of the kids of the church and her mom made a birthday present for Jesus. It's a book, and we got to read parts of it during the Children's Moment at the 10:00 a.m. service.
In the book, Olivia tells part of her story: how she came to this country as an orphan, to meet the Mommy that God had prepared especially for her. And then Olivia tells what she does all during the year to help others and to honor Jesus - taking cards to people in nursing homes, giving food to those in need, and enjoying His creation.
May we all take a page out of Olivia's book and honor Jesus at His birthday, by doing the things that make Him happy - caring for others and being thankful for His gifts to us.
Faithfully,
Janet+
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