One Small Act

What was I thinking? (Here I go again!)  In January of 1989 I decided to fly from our Lancaster, PA home to Illinois with my less than 2 year old little girl.  Cliff wasn't able to take off work, but I wanted to see my family. Alana and I kissed Cliff good-bye and boarded a plane.  Central Illinois  in January. Yeah.
BRRRR SHIVER SHIVER BRRRR! 

Anyway, I tend to be confident, sometimes overly so, and positive, so I was ready for the challenges of traveling 790 miles with my little daughter. I love adventures, right?  The first leg of the journey went smoothly; Alana cooperated beautifully on the 9am flight which was smooth and without incident.  I visualized the hand of God holding the plane while lovely little butterflies flew alongside. I was smiling and serene, enjoying the chitchat with my fellow journeymen about my beautiful, big-eyed, well-behaved daughter. We landed in St. Louis, disembarked, and quickly found our connector to Peoria.  So far, so good.  Settling into our seat, I smiled while visions of Mom's BBQ danced in my wee little brain.The timing of this trip was working out perfectly! We should arrive at Grandpa and Grandma's in time for a late lunch and naps.
But we sat. We waited.  Alana squirmed. We sat some more. She squirmed even more.  (It is a known fact that Moser-Wenger children do not sleep anywhere but beds. Even a teeny provocation keeps them awake regardless of how exhausted they might be.) Sigh or rather, S I G H!

Then came "the voice."  No, not that of musical entertainers, but rather the calm, bass tones of the pilot.
"This is your captain speaking. There will be what we hope is a short delay. There seems to be an electrical issue with the plane."

OK, then. Part of my prayer had been for safety, so the fact that this problem was discovered before we were at a cruising altitude of 30,000 feet was a good thing, right?  I attempted to keep the positive speech circulating through my neurons as the challenge to cajole and distract an active toddler became more difficult. After an hour of 1000 years, the voice returned, "I'm sorry to tell you, folks, that we have to cancel this flight. See our friendly customer representatives at the desk to help you make a different connection. Have a nice day."

Have a nice day? Really? I gathered up my daughter and the kitchen sink. Following the advice of the voice, we waited in line for the next available customer representative who said, "Oh, you're in luck! There is a small plane leaving in 20 minutes for Peoria."   YES! We zipped across the airport (Ok, it was more like tripped, struggled, and slogged) to where the puddle jumpers were lodged and plopped ourselves in the ugly over sized seats to wait. Within a short time, boarding began. As Alana and I approached the impassive attendant she said, "It looks like this flight is overbooked. You'll have to catch a different flight. Sorry."

Do you know how in the second paragraph I said I tend to be overly confident and positive; that I was ready to handle the challenges of travel? Well, with Ms.Indifferent's utterance, any confidence and positivity I had remaining vanished into the stark reality of being a young mom who was feeling vulnerable, a little scared, and was travelling alone with a tired and hungry toddler. Bravado lasts only so long.  (Oh, in case you've forgotten, there is no such thing as a cell phone yet.) 

Alana with 2 of her Illinois Cousins

With a trembling voice and eyes welling with tears, I said, "But, I HAVE to go on this plane."
And that's when it happened. 
A business man in front of me turned around and said, "She can have my seat." He and his briefcase quickly scooted out of line, and I barely got out the magic words before he disappeared.

Wow.There was so much power and grace in those words and sacrifice, and yet that stranger had no idea of the beautiful gift he had just presented to us. Our life journeys have many challenges and difficulties, and I recognize this experience was very minor in the big scheme of life. For me, though, it serves as a reminder of the difference one small act, one caring sentence, one merciful moment, one kind word, one bowl of rice, one cup of clean water, one shared blanket, one open door, one umbrella, one sweet smile, one, yes, One! can do to bring healing to the world. 

As we enter this time of Advent, I challenge you to be alert, expectant, and active as God provides opportunities for us to share light and salt with those around us. Perhaps someday a woman or man will be writing about the action YOU took in offering one small act.

This week Mick will be sharing a message he is calling, "Sign, Sign, Everywhere a Sign" with his exegesis from Luke 21:25-36. "Jesus is the seed of hope in a bright future, a future in which God is made manifest...."  Our formal time of worship starts at 10:15am, and I'll be joining you in the Upper Room after singing in the Rec Room from 9-9:15am.

Here is the link for the bulletin index. http://www.ridgeviewmennonite.net/bulletins/index.php There are so many goings on!  Check them out!



Photo Decoupage Art donated by the Senior High Youth

There is a fellowship meal following the service on Sunday which will give you opportunity to peruse the items for Monday night's church auction.  :) 

 

 

Prayer for today:  He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High, who abides in the shadow of the Almighty, will say to the Lord, "My refuge and my fortress; my God, in whom I trust." Ps 91   

Loving God, you are ever present, ever open, ever inviting, ever caring.  Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.  As we journey on this earth, Lord, show us your presence through one another that your Kingdom will be made known. Come Kingdom of God. Be done will of God, on earth as it is in heaven. In Jesus name. AMEN.

 

Without question or doubt, you are loved by God, and I love you too!

Love and Light,

Carol

 

"Always remember who you are, whose you are, where you are going, and what you believe, because it does make a difference! Oh, and don't forget to attend a church of your choice this weekend."



Tribute to the Turkey

It's that time of year again when those of us preparing for our Thanksgiving feasts visit the grocery store to pick a plump, tender turkey to roast for our guests.  Ahh yes, the turkey. Most of us think of this bird simply as that partially frozen lump with which you have a kitchen wrestling match each November in attempt to get the bird to hand over its giblets. But how many creatures do you know that have both a snood and a wattle?



Dad at the Tremont Turkey Festival, c. 1970's
 

Growing up in the heart of turkey land where our school mascot was a muscular tom, (Lookout, Fisher Bunnies!) I could look out the window of our second story farmhouse and see the ripples of white meat sandwiched between hearty slices of cornfield. Daytime airwaves were filled with descending tones of corporate "blululululus" while nights contained the "BOOMS!" of the gas cannon set to scare off the yipyipyippicoyotes. On occasion there would be a poultry revolt, and we would find the white meat seeking refuge in our front yard, back yard, barn yard, garden, and pasture. Did I mention there were zillions of these birds? (Do you have any idea  the assault on the olfaction such a multitude of uncooked birds provide?)

Each November shortly before the feast, our kind turkey farmer neighbor would bring a megalicious gobbler in the coveted box (To this day, my mom thinks turkey boxes are the best containers ever constructed.) along with a bottle of Mogen David.

Now when I look out our second story window, if I'm lucky, I might see one of the wild turkeys that call our little plot home.   The turkey, more than just a bird, it's a sweet, sweet memory.

PS Although I did not reign as queen at the Tremont Turkey Festival, some of my friends told me I'd always be Queen Turkey to them.  I say that with pride. :) http://www.turkeyfestival.com/

This Sunday we will be sharing our thanks and praise acknowledging the many blessings we share. Brother Mick's message will be based on Hebrews 10:11-25. In his presermon notes Mick says, "...the writer to the Hebrews suggests we are to rather be about the tasking of provoking one another to good deeds and love and fellowship and encouragement." The title is "Practicing Provocation," not something we typically think as a positive thing! http://www.ridgeviewmennonite.net/

Merv will be joining you in the Upper Room at 9am, and the worship service begins at 10:15am.

This past Wednesday evening we had a wonderful time of fellowship and worship with our neighbors from New Holland Spanish Mennonite Church.  I've really got to learn more Spanish!

Tony is coordinating a group to do Sandy clean up on the coast either Dec. 1 or 8th.  If you are 18 or older and would be interested in assisting this work with Mennonite Disaster Service, let me know as soon as possible. http://mds.mennonite.net/

Last week's poverty simulation was very meaningful.  Many of us were stretched out of our comfort zones as we faced not only challenging tasks for that hour and a half, but also the confrontation of our own preconceived notions. Keep working in us and through us, Jesus!

Prayer for today: Make a joyful noise to the Lord. Serve the Lord with gladness. Come into God's presence with singing.  Loving God, we thank you for your amazing grace and mercy.  Let us bring our thanks and praise to you today and always. Would we still be thankful, Lord, if we didn't have so much? I hope so, Lord!  Come and fill us with your Spirit that we might respond to others with your light and love.  Come Kingdom of God. Be done will of God, on earth as it is in heaven. In Jesus name. AMEN.

Without question or doubt, you are loved by God, and I love you too!

Love and Light,
Carol

"Always remember who you are, whose you are, where you are going, and what you believe, because it does make a difference! Oh, and don't forget to attend a church of your choice this weekend."

Marshmallows on a String

I was recently preparing  for a game which required securing marshmallows onto a long thread. The game players then place the string in the mouth, and when "go" is shouted, each tries to get the marshmallow into the mouth without the use of hands.  Needless to say, it's pretty funny to watch and absolutely amazing what people can do!  Anyway, as I was preparing the gamepieces, I was finding it really time consuming to get the strings with the marshmallows exactly the same length. (If  I had done a little thinking first or had asked Nathan to do it, it wouldn't have been that difficult.) HOWEVER, I didn't think first, so here I am with a time crunch when BAM! The thought hit me. (This happens quite a bit when you work with young people, but it isn't quite as painful as when you're clotheslined playing flying Dutchman.)

Here's the thought, "Life is like marshmallows on uneven strings." 
 

"HUH?" you say.

Allow me to explain. Life starts with our strings of different length making the acquisition of the "marshmallow" more attainable for some than others. Our strings have things like stable family life or lack thereof, health or lack thereof, education or lack thereof, wealth or lack thereof, access to clean water or lack thereof.... Are you getting the picture?  Thinking we all have the exact same potentiality to get the marshmallow to the mouth is just not reasonable. So should we simply work for our own marshmallow and not worry about those whose marshmallows are dragging on the floor? (or even those whose marshmallow falls off before we even start? Sorry, Adam!)

The scriptures say lots and lots about how we should relate to the poor, the sick, the hungry, the widow,  the thirsty, and the stranger; those whose strings are looooong.  This week our focus at Ridgeview will be on poverty as Saturday afternoon 1-5pm we work together to fill MCC kits,http://www.mcc.org/ and on Sunday morning beginning with a continental breakfast at 8:30am we will all engage in a poverty simulation in the 1990 hall. As far as I know there will not be any marshmallows on strings involved.

Mick's message during formal worship will be based on Jesus' parable about sheep and goats in Matthew 25:31-46.  http://bible.oremus.org/ In his presermon notes Mick says this, "Ultimately, it's not a matter of purity or theological correctness that Jesus points to when judgment happens. Rather it is our willingness or unwillingness to act when confronted with the needs around us...."

Squirming yet?  Lord, open our ears to hear, our hearts to receive, and ourselves to act!

Rather than meet in the Upper Room, we'll be in the 1990 hall at 8:30am for coffee and donuts so that we can then be given our roles for the simulation.  All are welcome! This should prove to be a fun way to learn important truths.

Today's prayer: Blessed be the name of the Lord from this time on and for evermore. From the rising of the sun to its setting the name of the Lord is to be praised.Ps 113 And what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with our God. Micah 6:8

Creator God, you tell us to care for the stranger, feed the hungry, provide for the sick and needy. Boy, do we fail miserably much of the time!  Forgive us, Lord. Grant us courage and strength, and wisdom and mercy as we relate one to another and learn to truly see each other offering ourselves to you as living sacrifices. There are times we are the ones in need; help us to accept graciously. We criticize and judge rather than see each other as your creations. Let us live as transformed mortals created in Christ Jesus for the good works you intended to be our way of life, stepping into your Kingdom way.  Come Kingdom of God. Be done will of God, on earth as it is in heaven. In Jesus name. Amen.

http://www.ridgeviewmennonite.net/
Without question or doubt, you are loved by God, and I love you too!
Love and Light,
Carol

"Always remember who you are, whose you are, where you are going, and what you believe, because it does make a difference! Oh, and don't forget to attend a church of your choice this weekend." 

c 1970's "Hey, batter, batter, batter, batter!"


PV Baseball: Dustin Yoder, 2010

With fingers already disgustingly orange from dipping into the colossal bag of corn curls and a can of Mountain Dew on the bench beside me, I was ready for the game.  My dad played fast pitch softball, and I loved going to his games. As the pitcher, he was the star or the fall guy depending on how the game developed. (Mostly the star! Just ask him how many times he was awarded the mvp on his teams.)  Sitting directly behind the catcher, I could see my dad's intense focus, leaning forward slightly, glove and ball huddled in prayerful conference in front of him as he would stare down the batter. Potential energy became kinetic as Dad whirlwinded his arm and released an amazingly accurate fast moving pitch into the glove of the catcher.
"STRIKE THREE! YOU'RE OUT!" barked the hefty, animated umpire.



My Dad

Focused. Disciplined. Practiced. Excellent. Yep, that was my dad, the pitcher.

I often get annoyed when preachers use sport stories to make points, because I am not particularly into athletics unless someone I know is playing.  (Do we really have to keep score?  Can't we just play for fun?) :) I guess the focus, discipline, and events of games do present many life lessons!

This week Brother Mick's sermon is "Staying On Message" reminding us to stay focused on the central message of Jesus; keeping Jesus the center of our lives.  The text is Mark 12:28-34 where Jesus says, "Love God. Love your neighbor." (and we remember who our neighbor is, right?)
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark%2012:28-34&version=NLT
A few years ago many of us sported the seemingly trite WWJD? (what would Jesus do?) bracelets and T-shirts. I wonder what the world would be like if those of us claiming Jesus as the center of our lives truly engaged that question in our decisions and relationships?

Please join us for worship at Ridgeview Mennonite Church at 10:15am.  Christian Formation classes are at 9:00am. I'll be joining you in the Upper Room at 9.  http://www.ridgeviewmennonite.net/

Most of us in the Lancaster area came through the superstorm relatively unscathed, but many brothers and sisters in other areas are hurting as a result of Hurricane Sandy.
Mennonite Disaster Service is monitoring the effects of the storm and will no doubt be putting together teams in the near future.  http://mds.mennonite.net/ 

December 3 is the church auction.  Be thinking about what you can donate or saving pennies to bid!

For the month of November we will be gathering paper items for The Factory: plates, napkins, bowls, cups, eating utensils, and paper towels.  http://thefactoryministries.com/wordpress/

Saturday Bridge of Hope will be holding their annual kaleidoscope at Ridgeview. http://www.bridgeofhopelcc.org/2012/09/nov-3-kaleidoscope-2012-a-luau-of-hope/

Prayer for today: I lift up my eyes to the hills, From whence does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.Psalm 121:1-2  Creator God, as many in our country and world face devastation today from natural and manmade disasters, we know your light and hope is present.  As your people, let us pour forth from the hills to offer healing and hope, love and respect, peace and kindness to a discordant and hurting world. As votes are cast, regardless of who is elected to the top spot, remind us that You are God and King. Grant us courage to walk your Kingdom way. Come Kingdom of God. Be done will of God on earth as it is in heaven. In Jesus name. AMEN

Without question or doubt, you are loved by God, and I love you too!

Love and Light,
Carol

"Always remember who you are, whose you are, where you are going, and what you believe, because it does make a difference! Oh, and don't forget to attend a church of your choice this weekend." jd