I was happily cleaning my windows on Monday whilst listening to Fresh Air when my doorbell rang. I had not heard a car arrive, and if you've ever been to our home, you know that we live a bit off of the beaten path so folks on our doorstep are unusual.

A middle-aged woman was standing there and handed me a document showing her identification as an agent of the National Circulating Co., Inc. Also included was a physical description; her height, weight, and hair-- 5'6," 180 pounds, brown hair cut in a modified mullet. Ok, the license didn't say it was cut in a mullet, but it was. She said she has two learning challenged brothers and is working to raise money by selling magazines to attend college so she can become a teacher of kids like her brothers. If she sells a certain number of magazines in a specific time frame, she will earn a bonus $1000.

I did the usual thing we do with strangers-- stood there in the doorway guarding the entrance to my inner sanctum while she stood on the porch giving her spiel. Suspicious thoughts raced through my brain; "Is she really who she says she is? What kind of person goes door to door selling
magazines? I wonder if she has some scheme to rob me? Is there someone hiding in the bushes?"
You know though, I've been trying to live my faith more intentionally; trying to see the beauty and God-spark in all people; trying to value "people connections" no matter how small and seemingly insignificant; trying to recognize opportunity when it knocks. For many of you, this was a no-brainer, and while I was thinking these cynical and skeptical thoughts you already had her sitting at your kitchen table. I eventually got there.
"I'm not really in the market for any magazines," I said, "but if you'd like to sit down for a few minutes for something to drink, you would be welcome."
She had walked up our long lane, and she had more walking to do, so yes, she would appreciate that.

For the next hour we sat at my kitchen table and discussed James Patterson books, apocalyptic literature, Amish, Mennonites, her home state of Indiana, and Goshen College. http://www.goshen.edu/ She carried extensive knowledge on many subjects. The time passed quickly and amicably, and the detour from routine was worth it on many levels even though I'll be working on cleaning windows today.

A committee I am on was recently discussing hospitality and what that means as a church. A few of us had read Michele Hershberger's book  Christian View of Hospitality; Expecting Surprises and had been challenged to think and act outside of our comfort zones as we opened ourselves to God's plan and purpose in relationship. (Here's a clip of Michele talking about hospitality.)
https://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=432952019459

Oh, yeah, ummmmm.....  I will start receiving "Vegetarian Times" in the near future.

This Sunday is designated by MCUSA as Heritage Sunday, and I am grateful for the heritage of hospitality that flows through the Christ-centered tradition of our Anabaptist
church, welcoming the stranger and alien, feeding and clothing the hungry, and yet at times we've let power and fear corrupt our faith. Let not my desire for power nor my fear get in the way of your call to this everyday purposeful living, Lord!

http://www.mcc.org/ (Mennonite Central Committee)
http://www.mds.mennonite.net/home/ (Mennonite Disaster Service)

Brother Mick is preaching this Sunday from II Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18; Luke 18:9-14 in a message called, "This Is Us." Mick says, "I would like to spend some time thinking about both the positives and negatives of carrying a spiritual heritage such as Anabaptism. Clearly many would see a celebration of heritage as little more than a mirror image of the Pharisee from today's gospel; chest pounding and braggadocio about who he is as compared to others."
Our worship service begins at 10:15 AM with the Christian Formation hour at 9 AM. Young adults will again meet with the senior high youth as we continue the "Jesus Is___" study. I'll be your teacher this week. :)

Progresso soup is being collected for the food pac program which provides weekend food bags for children with limited resources. If you'd like to help pack the food bags, stop by the church on Wednesdays at noon.

On Wednesday, October 30 for our family night activites, persons from Habecker Mennonite Church http://habeckerchurch.com/ will join the adults to share their experiences in sponsoring refugees. Join us for the meal at 6:15 PM with the session beginning at 7 PM.

Ridgeview hopes to be welcoming a refugee family soon. Stay tuned for details!

Prayer for today: Then the King will say to those at his right hand, "Come, ...for I was hungry and you gave me food; I was thirsty, and you gave me drink; I was a stranger and you welcomed me; I was naked and you clothed me; I was in prison and you came to me."
       Hospitable God, grant us courage to be more like You. Open our eyes to see You in the stranger and to respond with loving kindness.  Today, Lord, some of us are physically hurting, some of us are facing loss, some of us are exhausted from parenting, working, and trials, some of us are cynical and hardened by the tough stuff in our lives. Would you reveal your love,healing,and grace to us in unexpected and gentle ways? Come Kingdom of God. Be done will of God, here on earth as it is in heaven.  In Jesus name. AMEN. 

There will be no communique next week as I will be visiting my wonderful family! By thy rivers gently flowing Illinois! Illinois! O'er thy prairies verdant growing.....  

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

Love and Light,
Carol

(PS For a closer look at the photos, click on them!) 

http://www.ridgeviewmennonite.net/

"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

This is another of those mornings where the words just don't want to come. What to write? What to write?  I decided to work backwards, starting with the prayer at the end and work up hoping that by the time I got to my opening, I would be inspired as I have found that a change in the routine stimulates ideas. :) Here I am at the opening....

I am a believer that we are all created to be "creatives," after all, we are created in the image of the Ultimate Artist. I know that there are many studies "out there" on brains and creative process, and I've not read very many of them.  Here are a few of my unresearched, "This I believe" statements on the subject. (Thanks Edward R. Murrow, for this phrase. I'll have to put my statements into essay form on another day.)

• We are created in the image of the Ultimate Creator.
• Children are masters of creativity and imagination.
• Sadly, as we grow up to fit into the "I'm a grown up now box," creativity is often stifled. I remember a few years ago a guest teacher for the Christian formation hour invited the adults to take crayons and paper and draw something related to the topic. You would have thought people were sitting in dentist chairs by their responses. 
• Creativity involves discipline, action, and practice. 
• Creativity can be useful in many life areas. I've been told that my husband is able to transform soccer practice making fitness, skill, and aspiration fun. Oh yeah! For those of you who say, "But it is supposed to be work and unpleasant,"  I say, "why can't we make work fun?"   Cliff has certainly been successful with this creative model!
• Creativity embraces mystery and imagination. 
• You are creative.  If you don't believe me, call me. We'll talk! 

I am really looking forward to hearing Brother Jon Hoover, who is an associate professor of Islamic studies at the University of Nottingham in England as well as someone who grew up at Ridgeview. Jon will bring not only his expertise in religious studies, but also his life experience of living in the Middle East for many years as he tackles the difficult passage of Ezekiel 6:1-14 where God punishes people so that they know God is God. Yikes! This passage seems quite foreign to my understanding of God.  Jon is calling his message "Knowing that the Lord is Lord." Please join us! The service begins at 10:15 AM. 

The young adults will continue to meet with the senior high youth for a few more weeks at 9 AM. Joy will be facilitating this week.  (Doesn't that sound wonderful?  "Joy" should be facilitating all our activities!") 

Congratulations to Tynea and Michael and the rest of the family on the the birth of Adelyn Shay. I can't wait for a snuggle! I'll be calling. :) 

Creator God, you are our keeper and our shade; our protector and constant comfort.  Though the mountains shake and the hills be removed, still your love for us will never fail. Lord, what does this mean when times are tough? When disaster and pain  strike, what then?  Life is difficult, and there is so much injustice. What then, Lord? Let our mustard seed faith hold on to You; to know in our heads and hearts that you will never leave us nor forsake us.  Grant us courage to act in loving You and loving our neighbors. Come Kingdom of God. Be done will of God, here 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

(PS For a closer look at the photos, click on them!) 

http://www.ridgeviewmennonite.net/

"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

Hmmmm....

Things that make you go hmmmmmm.....

• when the Keurig goes on by itself in the middle of the night
• when you find out about the 'weirdness' of the inventor of graham crackers; who would have thunk it?  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graham_cracker (Thanks, Sara, for that one!)
• bad behaving coaches at soccer games
• when your 4 year old says, "You don't need to come in here, Mommy...." 
• when someones says, "I'm sorry, BUT ...." 
• when the ripening fruit disappears from the vine, and the dog smells strangely like tomatoes
• when a 16 year old Pakistani girl has more courage and wisdom than many world leaders and tough guys http://www.businessinsider.com/malala-yousafzai-left-jon-stewart-speechless-2013-10
• when your daughter messages you that she is now exactly half your age :) 
• when the chairs you set up in the rec room are mysteriously removed
• Double Dunker ice cream- no wait, that one is mmmmmmm... not hmmmmm...
• when someones starts a sentence with "I'm not prejudiced or anything, but...." 
• salamanders in the basement..... do they eat spiders? 
• speaking of the basement and arachnids, when you have to set a shoe within grabbing distance of your yoga mat, just in case
• when 10 lepers were cured and only one said thank you (Luke 17:11-19)

Brother Mick's message title this week is "The Tie that Binds," and his scripture is the Luke 17 passage. In his presermon notes he says, "Luke reminds us that we all come before God as persons in need of healing, yet our pride or arrogance, or mistrust of others can often cause us to miss out on such healing due to our own stubbornness."  The worship service begins at 10:15 A.M. with the Christian formation hour from 9-10 A.M.  The young adults will again meet with the senior high youth to continue the "Jesus Is____" series meeting in the newly renovated senior high room!

As we think about saying "thank you," a huge word of appreciation is going out to Vaunda and Erica Siegrist for the hours of time and energy they put into the remake of the senior high space. I only discovered near the end of the project that Red really dislikes painting!

Well, it is time to set out a few more buckets and ready my rowboat. (Any roofers reading this? Call me!)

Prayer for today: We rest in your love and presence today, Gentle God. Help us to know that is enough. 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

(PS For a closer look at the photos, click on them!) 

http://www.ridgeviewmennonite.net/

"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

Acrimonious, belligerent, contentious, divided, enraged, furious, galled, hateful, impassioned, jaded, know-it-alls, lacerated, malcontents, naysayers, oppositional, provocateurs, quarrelsome, rigid, severe, thorny, unyielding, vexing, wearisome, xenophobic, yapping, zelotic _________________________.

I started this diatribe with adjectives to describe our current politicians and quickly realized this list could just as easily characterize the church. GASP!

As we are in the midst of this national political estrangement, perhaps those of us who are believers should examine our attitudes, our Pharisaical ways, and our submission to the Holy Spirit, as we stand with arms crossed and brows furrowed, refusing to join hands and "break bread" with other believers. Much to the consternation of many, the Church is not the same as our nation.  Once again I plead with my sisters and brothers on both sides of the political spectrum to remember our origin and home. Remember the Christ who has brought us together.

Ambassadors, believing, compassionate, devoted, empathetic, forgiving, grace-full, hospitable, illuminated, joyful, kind, loving, mediators, neighborly, obedient, peace-acting, quotable, reliable, serving, transformed, united, veritable, willing, xenagogues, Yule-celebrators, zesty____________________________.

Which list best describes you? me? us?

On Sunday our sister Val will be sharing her difficult journey through brokenness to the healing and hope found in the "Bread and Cup," the life of Jesus. Her title is "Moving Mountains and Dodging Lightning Bolts." Scriptures for the morning are Psalm 37:1-9, II Timothy 1:1-14, Ecclesiastes 3:9-15. We will be joining people around the world breaking bread, pan, ksra, chapatti, naan, brot, as we share in communion on this day designated for the global community of faith reminding us of God's limitless, boundless, incredible love.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4uQCyxBL2O8 Communion scene from the movie, "Places in the Heart"

We'll have singing from 9-9:15 a.m. in the Rec room.  Brother John will teach the combined young adult and senior high class in the Upper Room following our time of joyful noise. :) The worship service will begin at 10:15 a.m. Fellowship time can continue following the service for our annual pig roast. Mmmmm, mmmmm, good!

Prayer for today: Do not worry about the wicked or envy those who do wrong. For like grass, they will soon fade away. Like spring flowers, they soon wither. Trust in the Lord and do good. Psalm 37:1-3a Loving God, help us to put our trust in you.  Gentle God, open our hearts and eyes to see ALL your people and know that your ways are not our ways, and we are called to be transformed to Your likeness. Many times our lives are messy and difficult, yet You do not give up on us. Help us not to give up on each other.  Come Kingdom of God. Be done will of God, here 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

(PS For a closer look at the photos, click on them!) 

http://www.ridgeviewmennonite.net/

"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