As we neared our destination, the roads became increasingly slick, upwards, and curvy. Our group of young people and their multi-aged leaders were en route to "Hilltop Haven" for a weekend of connecting with one another and our Creator. The lane leading to the cabin required a hairpin turn onto the icy upward slope, and the minivan loaded with luggage gunned it to get a running start. The youth, Cliff, and I watched from the road in the 15 passenger tanker.  The steep embankment on the "road" side of the lane allowed us a view through the winter trees. (Yep, steep embankment on one side of the glacier-like lane...) Nope; didn't make it. The headlights stopped moving.

A section of the lane plateaued, so we decided to at the very least to make an attempt at getting to that area. Cliff expertly maneuvered our tank into position and hit the accelerator onto the frozen waterfall. Some 30 yards (I really have no idea of the distance; I'm guessing!) behind the minivan, we slid to a stop and parked our van. The van in front of us was not only stopped but also wedged crookedly. Yikes!

I turned to the kids. "Grab your stuff. We're going to have to hoof it to the cabin from here. Be careful!"
Someone called out, "Can't we just sleep in here?"

With some of the youth wearing sneakers and moccasins rather than boots, the real fun began: the upward trek on a slab of ice carrying luggage, food, and sleeping gear. At one point my feet lost the workable snowy edge, and I found myself sliding backwards. Nathan offered a stabilizing hand, and I got back on course. Various lights from either phones, headlamps, or flashlights provided assistance for those of us without any illumination. The sound of a dropped 2-liter of root beer as it rolled and rolled and rolled and rolled provided laughter and warning lest "bowling for teens" became a new game.

Bruises, skinned knees, and ripped jeans resulted; I think all but 4 of us fell at some point. But helping and encouraging each other, we made it, AND I heard NO complaints from the youth.

As I've had time this week to reflect on our experience, I've thought about how this adventure is like life.

• We offer each other encouragement and aid
• We walk together 
• We keep positive attitudes
• We wait for each other
• We help each other up when we fall down
• The right shoes are important
• We may get bruised and bleed a little
• We share our light
• We help carry one another's stuff
• We prioritize what we really need to carry

But the very first thing?

• We have to get out of the van

Brother Mick is back from his adventure in Argentina, and he will be sharing a word he has titled, "Fluctuating Faith." "Our journey through faith is seldom as rock solid and consistent as we may hope it to be or even say that it is." His text for the morning is Matthew 17 which tells of Jesus along with Peter, James, and John climbing the high mountain where Jesus is transfigured before them. 

The worship service begins at 10:15 AM with Sunday school at 9 AM. 

There will be an adult elective class on "Spiritual Formation" beginning Sunday  and offered through the spring. Merv and Jan Stoltzfus, Joanne Dietzel, and Jane Hoober Peifer will bring leadership to these sessions which are based on a curriculum developed by Kairos: School of Spiritual Formation. Merv and Jan said that each class will "stand alone," so don't let inability to commit to all classes deter your attendance at one or more! 

Sunday School singing at 9:50AM will occur next week, March 9, rather than this Sunday. 

Our new friends from Burma/Myanmar hope to be present on Sunday. Be prepared to smile, nod, and communicate creatively!  

There is a basket under the mailboxes to collect new flat sheets and/or blankets for MCC to distribute in areas of need.Mennonite Central Committee

Have Hope! Warm days WILL come again! 

Prayer for today:  God of love and grace, thank you for each person reading this. Reveal your presence today in thought or heart, and remind each one of the treasure he/she is to you. You are always with us, even when we don't feel you. Help us to perceive you and realize we are yours. Grant us courage to "get out of the van" and walk in your Presence and with one another in life. Jesus, you've shown us how to love each other; help us to do so.  Spirit, you are within us; awaken us to your wisdom and direction.  In the life changes we face, you are ever-present. Thank you, Lord God.  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

Ridgeview Mennonite Church

"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

"Bad Mommy Moments" 

 

Those of you who are parents know what I'm talking about; if you become a parent, you'll eventually understand. Our oldest daughter was just a sweet, little six year old, and we had just moved to our home in the woods with the long, long, lane.  While she was at school, the weather turned frightful-- snow, sleet, and a cold wind. (Kinda like many days this winter.) An early school dismissal was ordered.  Since she was riding the school bus, I guesstimated the time she would arrive, and my intention was to be waiting in the warm, navy-blue mini-van at the bus stop. Did you know that the bus drivers don't necessarily wait for the said departure time from the school, but they leave whenever they are ready even if it is an hour before the scheduled release time? I was in the kitchen when I heard Bo, our big yellow lab who was in the garage, give a sudden string of deep woof, woof, woofs!  I went to the garage and found my little girl standing in the garage, crying, looking like a crystallized cherub, so startled by the dog that her boots became wet inside as well as out!

This has nothing to do with Sunday's message, but I've just become a 'great aunt' twice in a few short weeks, and then there's all this ice and snow. Memories awaken! The good news is, in spite of my "mommy flubs" my daughters have grown into amazing young women, and if Alana has children she'll be able to say to them, "Well, when I was a kid, I had to walk through ice and snow up a long, long, lane..." 

(Sometime ask me about the lane, a bicycle, the eldest daughter, and a groundhog....) 

Brother Nelson will be sharing a message he is calling, "Beyond Our Capacity." Scriptures are Matthew 5:38-48, I Corinthians 3:10-11, Psalm 119:33-40, Leviticus 19: 1-2. God has called God’s people to show graciousness to each other, the neighbor, the stranger, and even to love the enemy.  With all these categories we could get caught trying to figure out just exactly where one fits into the scheme and thereby try to understand the nature of our relationship.  The irony is that when we are loving the enemy we are in fact living in ways that ignore the categories we could develop. In the OT God’s people were called to be holy; Matthew records Jesus saying, “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” These standards seem beyond us, and they are.  Our only hope to meet these lofty expectations is to be a people built on the foundation of Jesus Christ." 

The worship service begins at 10:15 AM with classes for all ages designed for sharing, learning, and 'discipling' at 9 AM.  I will not be present as I'll be with the senior high youth enjoying the beauty of PA mountains.

Here is this week's bulletin detailing many opportunities for growth and service: Bulletin
If this loaded correctly, here are some pics from 2009 Mountain Retreat.

Prayer for today:  God of mystery and light, touch our lives today that we might experience you in new and transforming ways.  Our journeys are all different, yet you travel with us.  Open our eyes to recognize you. Peace, Hope, Love, Grace, Joy, Light-- envelop us in your Presence--Immanuel-- with us, never to leave us nor forsake us.  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

Ridgeview Mennonite Church

"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

When Korinne and Taylor were in middle school, one of their soccer coaches said to me about them, “Your girls have such internal motivation on the field. I wish I knew how to create and teach that!”

My response was, “Well, they love the game." 

As I've thought more about that, I would now say it this way, "As they love the one who shared his passion and excitement for soccer (their dad!), so they learned to love the game he loves, and therefore, they do not require external motivations. In fact, I think it is fair to say that although some of those external methods such as running laps, yelling, cursing coaches, and punitive actions for losses can get results, those approaches can suck the joy right out of the game they love.  


I hope I'm expressing this clearly, because I think this is a great life metaphor. 

As we experience the love and passion our Lord has for our lives and those around us, so we learn to love each other and live our lives with the sacrificial love of Jesus as we accept this love for ourselves. Following Jesus is, therefore, not a set of a set of punitive rules, but rather an active, internal response to relationship resulting in joy despite some loss. 

Does that make sense? I'm not sure if I expressed that as clearly in words as what I visualize in my mind! Our scripture passages for Sunday point us toward committing our lives to God and following God's ways. Jesus takes us from the box of laws that were to help us be close to God, to a relationship that directs our path. Our scriptures are Deuteronomy 30:15-20, Matthew 5:21-37, I Corinthians 3:1-9, and Psalm 119:1-8. The message is titled, "'Follow' is an Action Word," and I'm preaching. Please pray for me! Classes for all ages begin at 9 AM, and the worship service is at 10:15 AM. 

I think Mick and Michelle's flight out of NYC took off yesterday. I've not heard if they made it all the way to Argentina or not.  Do you think we can assume that no news is good news?

Let's see, what am I doing today...

     -blogging
     -shoveling
     -laundry
     -shoveling
     -grocery shopping
     -shoveling
     -shoveling
     -shoveling

I am grateful for our neighbor with the GIANT snowblower on his tractor that found its way back to our house last night bringing 'hurrahs' from Cliff and I and terror to our critters! Thanks, Mel!





Prayer for today:  God of love, beauty and creativity, open our eyes to see You, experience You, hear You, and sense You. Let your love draw us into meaningful relationships with You that change not only our lives but the lives of those around us. 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! Happy Valentine's Day! 

Love and Light,
Carol

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