Hummingbird at rest= 250

Horse= 8-16

Cat= 20-30

Hibernating animals= <6

Dog= 10-34

Adult Human= 8-20

Newborn Human= 30-40

I've cared for babies with rates  > 80 when they were seriously ill and using every muscle in their chests to pull in enough oxygen. By now, you've determined that I'm referencing the number of breaths per minute.

A few years ago I learned that "ruah" (Hebrew) and "pneuma" (Greek) were the words meaning breath or wind which in English we've usually translated from the Biblical texts to mean "Spirit." (Biblical scholars, please weigh in with clarification!)  As one who appreciates poetic and intimate images of God, I value the translation of "breath of God." The intimacy our Creator provides each of us through this "Holy Kiss" is yet another reminder of the life, hope, and treasure of each breathing human being.

Thus says the Lord to these bones: I will cause breath (spirit) to enter you, and you shall live. Ezekiel. 2:5 http://bible.oremus.org/?ql=50866360


This Sunday is Pentecost; the day in the church calendar whereby we remember and celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit upon the followers of Jesus. Brother Nelson will be sharing a message he is calling, "Wishing to See." From dry bones in Ezekiel to the rushing wind and tongues of fire in Acts, the activity of the Breath of God is upon us!  We listen; we wait; we pray. We see; we experience; we're filled. We rejoice; we share; we act.  Come Kingdom of God!

I'll be in the Upper Room this week.  I hope you will join me!
Check out Ridgeview's award winning website. Congratulations again, Morgan!
http://www.ridgeviewmennonite.net/index.php

We remember Catherine Esch's family with love and prayers today as she passed on last evening. A few years ago when Alana was in India, I received a phone call from Catherine at about 9:30pm  with questions about how to follow EMU's http://www.emu.edu/ blog for the India group-- not bad at all for a woman in her 80's! If you knew Catherine, you can imagine the phone call; no identification of caller and none needed; lightning fast speech; great questions; and a story of a relative who was a doctor in India. She will be missed.

You can follow Craig's cancer treatment and response on Caring Bridge. We're praying for you, Craig! http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/craigstoltzfus

Ridgeview's 50th anniversary celebration is June 10.  One of the things I've agreed to do is to pull questions together for a trivia game show.  We'll use the quizzing buzzers and have a good time. Fun!

Vacation Bible school in the park is June 18-21. We need you to help!  Please sign up in the church lobby. If you've not filled out the child protection paperwork, talk to me or Joyce at the church office.

My prayer for today: Breathe on us, breath of God. Come and fill us with your Holy Spirit, your Holy Breath that we may be renewed, transformed, healed, and  invigorated, filled with the flames of agape love to pour out healing and hope on a generation of broken, disgruntled, angry, hungry, and hurting people. May your peace which passes all understanding prevail. 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.  I'm here if you need 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

Pomp and Circumstance

Pomp and Circumstance, mortar boards and tassels, handshakes and diplomas--'tis that time of year again when boys and girls, men and women don shapeless gowns and funny hats to process side by side to Sir Edward Elgar's war march. (There are many "battles" in life, perhaps the music is metaphorical.)  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UEIPBfV5cFc&feature=related

I remember very little about my own graduations although I do recall that as the realization of change and emotion overwhelmed me with tears and hugs, a freshman boy technically a sophOmore (certain readers will understand the "O") with whom I had been in band, sidled over and asked me on a date. I don't think he had learned the importance of timing. :)

My group of Goshen College  http://www.goshen.edu/  mates and I laugh about  one of our good friends correcting the pronunciation of his name during practice altering the way we had always spoken it.  My pinning ceremony for the nursing program remains the most meaningful and memorable.

For one of my daughter's graduations,  the speaker encouraged the students to focus not just on what jobs they want to do but rather on the kind of person they want to be. I like that.

This weekend Travis graduates from Carnegie Melon University, and our high school students are counting the days until their ceremonies. Others of you already received your certificates or will soon do so.  Peace and Joy on the journey, my friends!


Brother Mick will be sharing a message called, "That They May Be One" during the 10:15am worship service based on the text from John 17:6-19.  Jesus prays a powerful prayer for his disciples which calls for believers to be united in their witness and ministry.  Hmmm... How are we doing? I'm looking forward to Mick's exegesis. 

The Upper Room will be open at 9am. 

"Guess Who's Coming to Dinner?" lunch tickets will be available after the service. This is a great way to get to better know some of our church family!  The ticket will provide directions and anything else you may need to know.

For those of you joining our SWAP team http://swap.mcc.org/ this summer, there is a meeting on Wednesday, May 23 at 6pm. 

Mark your calendars for Ridgeview's 50th Anniversary celebration on June 10. You are ALL invited to attend.

Please continue to be in prayer for Craig.  He is in round 3 of chemotherapy treatments and is feeling "icky" today.

A prayer for today: Transforming God, create in us clean hearts and renew our spirits. We praise you, and we thank you for being our God.  Remind us of your constant, loving presence.  For those who are battling illness today, grant healing and hope. For those struggling with emotional and mental anguish, grant healing and hope. For those in places of conflict and war, grant healing and hope. Come and fill us with your Holy Spirit that we may be your vessels of healing and hope to an aching and discordant world.  We celebrate with those who are rejoicing in graduations, new births, and growing relationships, and we ask that you would bless them. 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

Unlovable

Kennedy Center Ceiling

As  21 year old nursing students at Goshen College (http://www.goshen.edu/), my friend Beth and I were accepted at a summer program in Washington DC to work at Children's Hospital National Medical Center as child care technicians (CCT). (The movie version would probably have been called "Country Girls' Adventure in the Big City")
Learning to use public transportation was crucial since we didn't have a car, and learn it, we did. People were mostly friendly and helpful, and being a racial minority was an important growth experience.  Only once did I get on an express bus by mistake which took me way past my designated stop. Oh well, I needed a long walk....

CCT's worked all three shifts, so public transportation during the hours of darkness added stress and challenge especially as we had to change buses in an unsavory neighborhood. One night as Beth and I waited for the second bus to pick us up on a lonely corner across from a bar, a man sauntered into view, shadow boxing, talking to unseen entities, dancing, and moving closer and closer.  Chalk it up to my country girl ignorance, I  was stupidly holding my bus transfer slip in my hand and had my stethoscope draped around my neck. This guy came up and plucked the transfer right out of my hand and reached for my 'scope which I grasped tightly. We made zero attempts to engage him in conversation but passively tried to ignore him while silently praying for the bus to come quickly. (Probably something like, "BUS GET HERE! BUS GET HERE! BUS GET HERE! PLEASE, GOD!)
The bus arrived, but of course, the guy had MY bus pass and got on with us.  The seat immediately behind the driver was open, and we scooted into it like lambs to their mama.  The harassment escalated with verbal remarks and leering. A grimy hand reached out toward Beth's leg, and she hollered "Don't touch me!"
Now the driver got involved, and two men began yelling at each other. Thankfully the hospital came into view, and Beth and I quickly exited the bus with the driver continuing to engage the obnoxious, horrible man.

I called him worse things in my journal of which the last line in my writing reads, "God is certainly marvelous if he can love such scum." 

Recently I was grumbling to Brother Nelson about someone I know who is difficult, controlling, and unpleasant to be around.  His gentle response was something like, "As hard as it is, aren't those the people who usually need the most love?"

God is, indeed, marvelous. When people say, "But for the grace of God, there go I." I now think, "There is the grace of God. For God's love is marvelous and encompassing. Lord, as I accept that love for myself, let me love others as you love." 

In his presermon notes, Brother Mick says,

"The concept of love seems to be a very natural and appropriate one for Mother’s Day. Yet again, I am reminded that the sentimental, familial kind of love that we refer to when thinking of our mothers can be very different from the difficult kind of “loving someone unlovable” love we are called to as God’s people. The writer of I John would suggest that we start the process of really loving as God has called us to by first and foremost loving God. When we love God and obey God’s commandments, the writer says, then we will know that we are God’s children."  The sermon text is I John 5:1-6 with adjunct texts being Psalm 98 and Acts 10: 44-48, and the message is titled, "When We Love God."

I look forward to seeing you in the Upper Room this week at 9am. The worship service begins at 10:15am. http://www.ridgeviewmennonite.net/ 

My prayer for today:

Lord God, today we rest in your peace and love even when we are exhausted from finals, nighttime feedings, difficult coworkers, illness, and tough job stuff.  Today, Lord, we cling to you for comfort and safety for though the mountains tremble and the oceans roar, your love for us in unending even as we are deemed unlovable by people. Remind us that we are a family, united as your children, and that your neighborhood knows no borders. Instill in us a desire to offer hospitality and kindness to strangers and share extravagantly with those in need. I pray that each of us reading this, Jesus, will experience you in new, refreshing ways today. 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! You can always contact me if you need to talk.

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

"Well, we walked right past the advisors' room so we thought they knew we were going back out on the boardwalk." 

That is one of the  excuses we heard 20+ years ago after having a group of students (13 of 20) break curfew on a weekend youth group beach trip. I remember sitting on the porch of the hotel with my co-advisor Janet and waiting while the guilty ones filed back into the hotel at midnight, 1am, 1:30am.... When daylight arrived, we sat in a circle with the guilty ones, and each was to share his/her rationale for breaking the rule. "Well, I just thought we had to be back by 11:30p and let you know we were here;  I didn't know we had to STAY in our rooms."  and of course, "Well, since JoeBob was going out, I thought it must be ok for me to go out too."



Dave, the Sandman

  The second to the last boy to share was the oldest student along.  He had graduated from high school and was now 18 years old.   "I'm used to coming here with just my friends and really didn't consider that when I'm here with you, you are responsible for me. I'm sorry. I was wrong. I shouldn't have gone out." 

Everyone, leaders and youth alike were stunned. This young man actually recognized and acknowledged the connection and his part as one of the branches!

After a long silent pause the final student, a freshman, said, "Yeah, I guess that goes for me too. I shouldn't have gone out.  I'm sorry." 

As the others had shared their feeble excuses it was like hot air blowing up a balloon, getting bigger and bigger and bigger... but when this youth apologized it was as if the air was released from the balloon.  I wonder what would have happened had he started the circle?  The power of positive leadership in community is tremendous; in much the same way, the power of negativity in community is influential. 
Responsibility.  Forgiveness.  Grace.  Our responses as we live in community with one another matter. As branches of the true vine, what should be the voice of influence and nourishment for us? We are called to live in relationship with Jesus and with the potpourri of branches in God's kingdom.

This week is designated "Many Peoples Sunday" by Mennonite Church USA.  The voices around us offer lame excuses of exclusion and privilege counter to the call of Jesus.
Brother Mick will pick up the vine metaphor as he shares his message during the 10:15am worship service, "Costly Connections" with the sermon text from John 15:1-17. http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+15&version=NIV

It seems appropriate that on "Many Peoples Sunday" we will share a Haitian meal together following the service. This is a fundraiser for the New World School in Haiti.

AnotherFUNdraiserwill happen later in the day on Sunday as the senior high youth share music, skits, and more at a Coffee House from 6-8pm.  Delicious desserts and coffee will be served.

Etta will be in the Upper Room this week.  We need to schedule a time to give that room a good cleaning.  Anyone willing?

Be sure to check the bulletin for the additional news and opportunities. http://www.ridgeviewmennonite.net/

For those of you still testing--I'm praying! 
For those of you facing challenges, physical, spiritual, emotional--I'm  praying!
For those of you looking for employment--I'm  praying!

My prayer for today:  Creator God, You are the true vine. Help us to love one another, for love is of You, and everyone that loves is born of You and knows You. You are our source of hope, love, life, peace, and joy.  Come and fill us with your Holy Spirit that your nourishing fruit will be made available to all. 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! You can always contact me if you need to talk.

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

(15ish years ago) "If any of you have any shoes or boots your kids have outgrown, my little ones could really use them on the cold and snowy days this winter. There are children in my class that don't have boots and in fact, have holes in their shoes." My friend Joy was a teacher of small children in Wonder Club, a Water Street Ministry for those "without."



Boots in abundance of another variety

 In my world of abundance, I hadn't given a second thought to the box, umm, boxes of children's clothing and boots waiting in my basement. Waiting for just what? I sorted through them and gave the "good stuff" to Joy. 

I was further humbled at her report. "Oh, Carol, when Tazzie (not her real name) saw the pink boots, she was so excited that she claimed she would never, ever take them off. She kept them on all day."

As I've chewed on this story, I realized those boxes of usable boots, shoes, and clothing are rather a metaphor for my life. I no doubt have containers of good gifts from God to share with others that remain on the shelf because I'm too fear-full or selfish or lazy or busy or ignorant or narrow-minded or stubborn or judgmental or hate-full or indifferent....
One of our scripture passages for Sunday morning is I John 3:16-24 "Dear children, let's not merely say that we love each other..." http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20John%203:16-24&version=NLT  Come Kingdom of God! As I allow your grace to flow through me, grant me courage to open the box of gifts you've provided me that I might serve you and my neighbor with the Love that is You.

Brother Nelson will be sharing "Joining What God Started" with additional texts from Psalm 23 and John 10:11-18, those images of God as a loving shepherd caring for the stupid and smelly sheep. (These are my adjectives from what I recall in helping my cousin with his 4-H sheep.) In Acts 4, Peter and John continue Jesus' work of healing and serving. Are we listening, Brothers and Sisters?  We are called to believe and to love! The service begins at 10:15am.

I will be joining you in the Upper Room at 9am this Sunday.

I'm continuing to pray for those of you with ongoing health issues and tough life stuff! Don't hesitate to call/text me.

Be sure to check out the bulletin: http://www.ridgeviewmennonite.net/bulletins/index.php
There are lots of great opportunities and information for you.  A few highlights:
-We are still gathering toothpastes as a "special" for the Food Pac program.
-The senior high youth invite you to a coffee house on May 6.
-The fellowship meal on May 6 immediately after church will be a Haitian meal with proceeds benefiting the New World School in Haiti.

Taylor and her group arrived safely in Dulles last weekend! :)  

Thanks flying out to Rebecca and JR for helping the senior high to mulch the church grounds. :)

Some of you have finished your college finals, and some of you are still anticipating them. I'm praying for you! Be safe in your travels!
Laura Glick will be participating in Eastern Mennonite University's program to the US/Mexico border from May 3-24.https://emu.edu/crosscultural/programs/u-s-mexico-border-2012/ This cross-cultural experience will focus on "Gender, Migration, and Humane Treatment in the Borderlands."  We'll be praying for you, Laura, as you face challenges in physicality, spirituality, emotions, and thought.

I am going to borrow the prayer from my first blog post albeit with a few alterations for today:

Creator God—You make all things new!  Praise and Glory to you!Open our hearts to receive transformation—to become the persons you designed us to be—that as we walk this life with the swirling chaos and hailstorms of pain and loss that accompanies the journey, your craftsmanship will be completed, and we will be as healing balms to those in pain; sips of cool water, refreshing and joyful, to the thirsty; wise and stable grandmothers to the lost—that the healing and hope; the light and the love that is YOU,will flow through us drawing together all of your children. 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

There are people in this world who suffer greater than I can imagine through war, rape, and maiming-- those horrors we do to one another in the name of country and yes, even our God. Then there is suffering from natural disasters, diseases, broken relationships, and poverty. sigh. I've not been truly tested.  

I remember back in the early 90's being with a group of women at a mountain cabin for what was supposed to be an uplifting weekend, but just days before our gathering an incredible tragedy happened in our community; a teenager brutally killed his family. We questioned and cried while heaviness and darkness settled upon us. At some point someone made the suggestion to sing.  And we did. 

As our voices lifted in vocal communion, prayer, and praise, joy and light were found in the midst of the ugliness and pain. We are quick to say, "God is good." when things are going well.  What do we say when things are not so great?
"Answer me when I call to you, O my righteous God.  Give me relief from my distress; be merciful to me and hear my prayer." Psalm 4:1
God is merciful; our resurrected Lord understands and will not leave us nor forsake us. Rejoice and be glad for you are loved beyond measure.

As I'm tapping letters on this keyboard, the song "Bubbling Over" popped into my head and I thought to myself, "Hmmm... Self, the bubbles are like happiness, fleeting and fragile while the bubble solution is like the joy that comes from our Lord, substantial and viscous."  Our joy comes from the Lord! Sing Praises!

"Incredible Joy" is what Brother Mick has titled this week's message as we continue to live the joy that comes from our resurrected Lord. No matter the circumstances, Jesus can be found; our healer, comforter, peace, and joy. Luke 24:36-48 is the text for the morning, and I invite you to meditate on Jesus first words in this passage to his disciples, "Peace be with you" as you face the challenges in this day.

Etta will join you in the Upper Room at 9am, and the worship service begins at 10:15am on Sunday.
The senior high youth group is mulching the church grounds on Wednesday evening.  We can always use more hands!
http://www.ridgeviewmennonite.net/

OH! and I'm praying for those of you taking finals!  Breathe deeply, study, get some sleep!, and eat nutriously! 

This mama's heart is glad as Taylor returns from her cross-cultural semester in Guatemala and Mexico with Eastern Mennonite University.  http://www.emu.edu/crosscultural/  The opportunity to build relationships and experience cultures other than one's own is, in my opinion and own experience, an incredible way to expand one's understanding of God and our world. Taylor has stories to share; perhaps I can convince her to be a guest writer for the communique! :)




Taylor and Laura- Mayan Ruins (Photo by Heather)

My prayer for today: Merciful and ever-present God, we praise you and thank you for being our God.
As we learn to trust you, as we spend time in meditation with you, as we live in community with one another, fill us with the viscous joy that clings to our souls and will bubble over to others as your love completes us.  For the travelers among us, grant safety and presence; for the ill among us, grant healing and hope; for the frightened among us, grant peace and light; for the comfortable among us, prod us to understanding and action; for the broken among us, grant transformation and renewal. 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

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

"Mom, my knee hurts," my twelve year said on a cool spring day. 
"Ok," I replied. 
Did I ask when it started hurting? Did I ask if she injured it?  Did I ask her to describe the hurt? Did I ask any questions at all? Did I take time to examine it?  The answer to all of those questions is NO! 
A few days later the weather warmed up, and my daughter came down the stairs wearing shorts.
"Hhhhhhhhhhuu!" I sucked in my breath.  "What happened to your knee?"
"I told you!" she said in a rightfully accusatory voice. 
"I know, but I didn't know!" Her knee was at least double the size it should have been! 
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"I did tell you! You didn't believe me!" 

It turned out that our daughter had lyme disease caused by one of the zillion little creatures with more than 4 legs we have living in our back yard. She was successfully treated, and the elephant knee which was her only symptom returned to normal size. My daughter was not one to exaggerate pain, bumps, or bruises. Why didn't I believe her until I saw it for myself? Why had I been so busy as not to notice her limping, her expressions, the subtle differences that I'm sure were there had I been truly paying attention. sigh "Bad Mommy Moment # 357.  
Oh, and if anyone needs any tick removal assistance, you know where I live!

Brother Mick has titled his message "Sensory Deprivation" with the sermon text from I John 1:1-2:2. In his presermon notes Mick writes, "We are a people who want to experience things first hand to know for ourselves that thus and so is true."  God's presence with us is so very real, but it is not tangible in the touch the nailholes with our own hands kind of way. We must listen and hear. We must be aware. We must open our eyes and see. 
We'll be back in the Upper Room on Sunday! I hope you can join me at 9am.  The worship service begins at 10:15am.
Oh, we are collecting toothbrushes and paste to put with the children's food pacs. The baskets in which to place them are in the lobby.
http://www.ridgeviewmennonite.net/

There continues to be so much pain and suffering in our world. Locally with the loss of a sweet toddler, friends and loved ones young and old dealing with cancer and other health issues, hunger and strife around the world, racism and violence-- sigh-- we all need Jesus.

My prayer for today:  You are Light. Through you and in you, we truly see.  We see ourselves. We see each other. We see creation. We see our paths. We see truth, and hope, and love, and life.  We see YOU. As we are more deeply and fully aware of you, Divine, let our actions and words, our hearts and minds reflect your light as bright shining stars, offering peace, hope, joy, and comfort to all. 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