I grew up in a small Midwest village http://www.tremontil.com/index.html where the majority of kids with whom I marched to "Pomp and Circumstance" were also present when we gawked at the second grade teacher crying on the playground asphalt after she broke her ankle playing the dangerous sport of tetherball, giggled when 'you know who' kissed a girl at the Lakeview planetarium, and visited the sewage treatment plant on a thrilling fifth grade fieldtrip. While walking uptown over school lunch to Duke's for the world's best hot fudge sundae, we watched in horror when one of our classmates was hit by a vehicle, and some of us got in trouble for shooting water with the air pistons in eighth grade science class. We knew one another forever; our parents knew each other for an eternity.
Imagine our guffaws when one of our high school classmates got a speeding ticket en route to pick up his girlfriend only to be welcomed to her house with a call from one of his parents saying, "Do you have something to tell me?" Keep in mind that our communication device(singular), aka the telephone, was attached to our kitchen walls. OH, wait, some of us did have the CB radio. Anyway, I don't know exactly what his mom/dad said, but I imagine it was something like that.  (Feel free to remind me of the details if you read this. You know who you are.)  :)  Word got around, not always accurately, but it spread like wildfire without tweets and texts.

This week Brother Mick's message is called, "Speaking the Party Line" with scripture text from Luke 4:14-22. Jesus read and spoke in his neighborhood church. There is a bit of excitement, and I imagine some hometown pride. "Isn't this Joseph's son?" There is good news!  Good news for all! The worship service begins at 10:15am, and I'll join you in the Upper Room at 9am. http://www.ridgeviewmennonite.net/

Sunday, Feb. 3 the senior high youth will host the annual Amish Wedding Feast fundraising event in the 1990 hall following the service. Yum YUM! Please come to eat plenty and give generously.  The funds are needed to take us to the Mennonite Convention in Phoenix.

If you are considering baptism, let me know. A "discovery class" is being offered for late winter and early spring.

A prayer for today: The heavens are telling the glory of God; and the firmament proclaims God's handiwork. Day to day pours forth speech, and night to night declares knowledge. Ps 19:1-2 
Creator God, thank you for your presence with us. You never leave us nor forsake us. Let our lives declare Your glory by the way we treat each other. Let your Spirit fruit be sweet and ripe within us, and let us share that love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control with all of creation.  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

"Would you two grow up?"
You are probably thinking that once upon a time in my exasperation as a mom to young children, this was something I spouted off to them  followed by the directive to "sit on the step until you can get along." You would be wrong.  This is a question (more like an order!) that one of our daughters directs to Cliff and me (still!) on those occasions of childish bickering between husband and wife.  Properly chastised, we kiss and make up. Well.... sometimes not that quickly! ;)

This week's scripture passage is John 2:1-11 where Mary and Jesus interact during the wedding at Cana, and we get a miniscule glimpse of the human relationship between mother and son.  Brother Mick's message is called, "A Sign of What's to Come," and he'll examine not only the family interactions, but also ask the question, "How do we embody Jesus' example of boundless grace and extravagent generosity in our lives?" The worship service begins at 10:15am. Brother Nelson will be joining you in the Upper Room at 9am. I hope you can join us!
Ridgeview details at http://www.ridgeviewmennonite.net/

I would be remiss if I didn't acknowledge Dr. Martin Luther King's life and influence as we commemorate his vision next week. Here is a quote from Dr. King's "Loving Your Enemies" sermon delivered on Nov. 7, 1957. Was MLK a Mennonite? :)
"Men must see that force begets force, hate begets hate, toughness begets toughness. And it is all a descending spiral,ultimately ending in destruction for all and everybody. Somebody must have sense enough and morality enough to cut off the chain of hate and the chain of evil in the universe. And you do that by love."  And to that I shout out "AMEN!"

Quizzing kicks off on Sunday evening at Lancaster Mennonite School. http://lancastermennonite.org/
The scripture material this year is drawn from the life of David. 

Couples, there is a Valentine Banquet on Feb. 9, 6pm at church. Yummy food and fun entertainment is the agenda for the evening! Let me know if you plan to attend so that I can sign you up. :)

Those of you who look forward to the delicious Amish turkey dinner (Tynea!)  fundraising event provided by the senior high youth, mark your calendars for Feb. 3!  This year's funds will help to carry the youth to Phoenix for the Mennonite Convention.

A prayer for today: Your steadfast love, O Lord, extends to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds.With you is the fountain of life; in your light do we see light. Ps 36:5/9   Loving God, we rest and receive your light and love today. Open our eyes to see each other as your beautiful creation. Open our ears today to hear your whisper. Open our hearts today to love each other as brothers and sisters. Open our hands today to serve one another with grace and mercy. 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!  Don't hesitate to contact me.

 

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

 



Flames of Comfort

A few years ago when I went with the youth on our annual winter weekend to a mountain cabin, I was awake (as is not unusual for me at these events) at 3am.  Amazingly, quietness reigned at that moment, and a couch was open so I curled up with my bible and journal in front of the wood stove. I don't know about you, but sometimes those sleepless nights really bare the soul. Now, I'm not kidding on this next part but as I read, wrote, and prayed feeling rather lonely and vulnerable, I asked God to remind me of God's presence.  Seriously, this happened.  Within moments of my prayer, the wood stove which contained coals, popped and began dancing in flames. Yep, a divine coincidence that the log Jim had placed on the coals a bit earlier ignited at just that moment. I feel really silly at times sharing these types of stories, yet I am a believer that God is the supreme worker of coincidence, and I was comforted.

Flames,  water, clouds--God's presence was made known and is made known through pillars of fire, in burning bushes, fiery furnaces, and through parting waters.  The senior high youth watched a bit of The Radicals on Wednesday evening including the martyrdom of Michael Sattler who was tortured and burned for his beliefs. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NjJBEGcllE4 His wife Margaretha was drowned for her faith. Is it not a comfort that God's presence would be in the flames and in the water with them and with all of us at those times?

This week Mick's message is called "Through Fire and Water" with his text from Luke 3:15-22 telling of Jesus' baptism and drawing on Isaiah 43:1-7.  "Fear not, for I have redeemed you, O Israel: I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the Lord your God..." Is 43:1-3a
I will join you in the Upper Room at 9am, and our worship time begins at 10:15am.
http://www.ridgeviewmennonite.net/

I look forward to hearing from those of you attending the music and worship leaders retreat at Laurelville this weekend! http://www.laurelville.org/ 

A "Discovery Class" for persons contemplating baptism will be offered this winter and early spring. If you are interested, let me know!

Our ingathering for this month is Progresso Soup, enough to fill the 88 food pacs we share with children in need in the Pequea Valley School district each week.

Prayer for today: The voice of the Lord is upon the waters; the God of glory thunders, the Lord, upon many waters. The voice of the Lord is powerful, the voice of the Lord is full of majesty. Ps 29:3-4

Let us hear your voice today, Loving God, whispering your words of comforting presence to us in water and flame. 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

Sky Dancers

Yesterday while on my way to the grocery store just past Ranck's United Methodist Church, the mundane suddenly became extraordinary.  Out of the corner of my eye I saw them, sky dancing in perfect harmony. Setting the fourways, I pulled my subie onto the shoulder, and for about four minutes I stepped into a John Denver song where the air was still and clear, the sky was blue, and beauty was the spoken language. A pair of bald eagles were sky dancing over the fields; synchronized, dipping, soaring, twirling, mirror images of one another. I gazed until they flew beyond my sight, and then I continued with my daily tasks. What took less than 5 minutes filled me with awe, joy, thanksgiving, and inspiration affecting my actions and attitude for the rest of the day.(Sadly, I didn't capture any pictures!)
The heavens are telling the glory of God; and the firmament proclaims God's handiwork. Day to day pours forth speech, and night to night declares knowledge. There is no speech, nor are there words; the voice is not heard; yet their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. Ps19:1-4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uXcSJnDoAAg  For those of you too young to know who John Denver is, here he is singing "Eagle and the Hawk." :)

This week as we celebrate the manifestation of the Christ to the Magi, open your eyes and see! There are epiphanies, those understandings and manifestations of God, all around, perhaps even dancing in the sky! Brother Mick's message this week is called "Real Gifts to Give" with the scripture text from Matthew 2:1-12 exploring what insights and challenges this story has to share. The worship service begins at 10:15a with the Christian formation hour from 9-10a for which Brother Mick will be joining you in the Upper Room. There will be singing in the Rec room from 9-9:15a.
Here is a link to this week's bulletin for more info. http://www.ridgeviewmennonite.net/bulletins/current.pdf

What a joy it was to see some of you I hadn't seen for quite some time!  A special thanks to Rick and Gwen for hosting a fun Christmas party. :) Peace and blessings to those of you who are returning to classes, work, and training this week. Keep in touch!

Prayer for today: You make springs gush forth in the valleys; they flow between the hills, they give drink to every beast of the field; the wild donkeys quench their thirst. By them the birds of the air have their habitation; they sing among the branches. From your lofty abode you water the mountains; the earth is satisfied with the fruit of your work. Ps 104:10-13
We praise you, Creator God. Open our senses to your Presence.  Open our hearts to your love.  Open our minds to your thoughts. Open our arms to draw those who are in need, lonely, hungry, and hurting to your merciful embrace. 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