Some of you have heard this story before, so I hope you don't mind that I'm sharing it again. 

"You're nuts!" is what I heard, and I got "the look" from others when friends and family discovered I  was going to drive to Illinois from my Lancaster County, PA home with our 3 little girls; Alana almost 6, Korinne almost 3, and Taylor, 14 months.  Cliff wasn't able to get away from work, but I had not been to visit my family since well before Taylor was born, and I was going to take the minivan and go, just me and 3 little girls. Yeah, I had the usual questions bouncing around my brain, afterall the journey was a minimum of 13 hours drive time not counting stopage.  What if we had car trouble or an accident?  What if I got sleepy? How am I going to entertain the girls?   How am I going to go to the bathroom?  What if one of the kids gets sick?  But I was determined.

As I finalized my plans, I began really praying about the trip.  A guest speaker had challenged us to not pray for travelling safety, but rather to pray for an interesting trip that allows us to see Jesus as we go-- or something like that.  I decided a solo trip with 3 little girls would be interesting enough, but I definitely wanted to see Jesus along the way!

Anyway-- it was Sunday morning, the day before my departure, and I brought my plans to my women's Sunday school class.  They prayed for me and committed to be in prayer  for the next 10 days.

A few hours later we were home eating lunch when the phone rang. 
"Carol, this is Joy.  I felt the Spirits's prompting, and I'd like to ride along with you to Illiniois.  I would come back to PA on the bus or train or something once we got there."

And people think I'm crazy? I told her I'd talk it over with Cliff and call her back.  I hung up the phone and started to cry. Now, you need to know I am  fiercely independent person with an  "I can do it myself" attitude. (I once attempted to change a flat tire by myself in the heart of an Indiana winter with 2 feet of snow on the ground; I failed.) I was deeply touched by Joy's offer but thought, I will do this myself-- afterall, won't Jesus be along too? 

Then the quiet voice in my head spoke. I've been praying about this trip, others are praying about this trip, and Joy Lapp, queenmother of small children, has offered to go with me.  God has provided Jesus to travel with me in the human form of Joy! "Why, Carol, are you refusing?"   So I called Joy back and said, "Yes, please!"

The trip took us 18 long hours; one of the girls threw up before we even got to Harrisburg, less than an hour down the road. But we made it. My pride (or was it feelings of unworthiness?) almost prevented me from receiving this amazing gift.  When I got home (which God provided help for too) I found a note in my church mailbox from one of the older saints who knew nothing about the trip dated the day we left for IL.  "Carol, our Sunday school class was encouraged to pray for a young mother this week, and I wanted you to know, I'm praying for you."   Joy and I have since had many amazing adventures together, and she continues to bless my life and the lives of others over and over again by her openess to hearing and obeying the voice of the Spirit.   Love ya, Joy!

This week Brother Mick will be sharing a message he has titled, "No Bootstraps Here" expounding on the unity of our fellowship together and the way we struggle with allowing others to share our burdens.  Philippians 3:4-14 is the sermon text and supporting passages are Isaiah 5:1-7 and Matthew 21:33-46.  We, together with Believers around the globe, will be sharing the bread and cup symbolizing Christ's presence among us and the "One Body" we are through Jesus. 

     In the Upper Room on Sunday, we will watch a video of Shane Hipps speaking at the Mennonite Convention in July.  If you've not heard him before, I think you will be challenged and inspired!
     Congratulations to Eric Yoder who passed all 4 parts of the CPA exam! :)
     Let's keep Craig Stoltzfus in our prayers as he begins a 2 week stint in Alabama with MDS working on repairs from tornado damage.

Brother Mick has knee replacement surgery on Monday. Think he will follow his own advice as he recovers and allow us to be a part of the healing? ;)

My prayer for you today:  Creator God, you are present in the stuff of our lives and invite us to be present with one another as a body, your body; laughing and crying together, helping one another with living and dying.  Open us, Lord, to your Spirit's guidance in our relationships.  Remove our fears, pride, and sense of unworthiness to receive the gifts you offer through your people.  Bless Craig as he serves you with MDS and builds new relationships in Birmingham. Thank you, Lord, for Eric's gift of a sharp mind.  Thank you, Lord, for Joy who embodies your love and service to so many and especially me.  Your word tells us that when we have love for one another, others will know whose we are.  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            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

We have peace because of Christ. He has made the Jews and those who are not Jews one people. He broke down the wall that divided them. Ephesians 2:14
      There was more than one adjustment to make my freshman year at Goshen College http://www.goshen.edu/.  My roommate Julie who was from Salt Lake City and I tiptoed around each other with exaggerated politeness the first few weeks; I struggled to find the balance between studies and fun; and Alice, the girl whose room was next to mine played LOUD reggae music ALL THE TIME!

Boomachicka, Boomachicka, Boomachicka.

     The music was probably the most aggravating adaptation for me, and it certainly affected my feelings toward Alice, a sophomore from Belize. Rather than talk to Alice about the music, I was just all annoyed and prickly about it.  


Alice and Miss Ruth

      Shock of shocks when during my sophomore year of study/service in Belize, my host family turned out to be Alice and her mom.  As I settled into my room with Nelda the very first hot, humid evening in Belize City, guess what I heard?  You got it! Boomachicka, Boomachicka, Boomachicka!  On the street next to their home was "Music World" which played loud music all the time.
    Hmmm... had I taken time to talk with and get to know Alice my freshman year and learn about her home


Alice Enjoying a Backrub :)



and her culture and asked about her home in Central America,  I might have discovered that this music was a way for Alice to feel at home and help alleviate homesickness.  I might have discovered that she and I actually had a lot in common;  I might have realized I had a wonderful neighbor and friend in Alice.

     The wall that I built within myself when Alice didn't conform to my way and my expectations needed to come down.  Sadly, I've had other walls that needed to be demolished, and I expect that there will be others in the future.  Open my eyes, Jesus, to see the walls I've built that keep your peace from filling me so that I can be a vessel of peace and reconciliation.


Brother Nelson will be sharing the message this week, "Shocking Hospitality" expounding on passages from Ephesians 2:11-22 and Mark 9:38-41.  Christ offers an invitation to all people to come to the table, yet we continue to build walls that keep out people instead of building bridges of reconciliation.  Back in the day,
Dr. Martin Luther King said something to the effect that Sunday morning  is the most segregated time in America. Come and be challenged to tear down one of those walls that is keeping you from being filled with the peace of Christ which opens us to extend the shocking hospitality of the Divine to others.

In the Upper Room at 9am we will gather to read the scriptures for the morning and discuss them together. Where are the places you've been welcomed?  Where are the places you've been excluded?  Where does the church fit in this? Please join us! (Ask me about an idea I have for Sunday morning service.)


My prayer for you today: Creator God, your peace transcends all understanding. Show us the walls that we've built that keep us from being vessels of your peace and reconciliation.  Our lives are often so busy with our own stuff and ideas that we fail to open ourselves to the wall-breaking work of your love.  Remind each of us of your gentle presence today; that even though we don't always "feel" you, you promise never to leave us nor forsake us, and that is good news in our journeys.  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! If you have a prayer concern or need someone to listen, don't hesitate to contact me! 


Love and Light,
carol
PS  If I have time, I will add photos later today. 

http://www.ridgeviewmennonite.net/

cmw4g@aol.com

"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


 

 The LORD is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love.
 The LORD is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made. Psalm 145:8-9

When I was a little girl, we lived in the green and yellow house right across from the Tremont Elementary School.   I had just learned to ride a two-wheeler starting on the diminutive red bike with training wheels, and then switching to the bigger blue and silver bicycle of my older sisters. I convinced my parents to let me ride alone around the block to the other side of the school; so off I went, a bit wobbly at first but was soon flying like the wind, loving the freedom, and feeling the whoosh of air. I’m sure I had a grin like a big slice of watermelon plastered on my freckled face. 

       When I got to the other side of the grade school, I decided to stop and swing at the empty playground for a few minutes; after all, I was now independent!  I knew where the bike rack was and headed straight for it, not altering my speed, just focusing on the narrow slot on the empty stand.  BAM! I got my parking space and promptly flipped off my bike. I was jarred pretty good, but not really hurt.  I quickly realized I had a problem that was worse, much worse than a few scrapes and bruises.  The bolts on the front tire were wedged between the rungs of the bikerack, and it was stuck.  I couldn’t go for help, my parents may never let me ride alone again! My parents’ permission for me to ride around the block had not included the swings and sliding board. 
     Maybe if I would push on the bike tire with my foot, I’d be able to get it free.  I sat on the ground and put my foot on the wheel and pushed and pulled.  You guessed it! My foot got wedged with the tire between the metal rungs.  Now I was in a pickle. 
Picture this: Kindergartner on the ground- next to the bike that is stuck in the bike rack- foot stuck between the bike tire and the metal bar. I was trapped, and had I been a coyote I would have begun to chew off my foot.

      I began to cry.  A teenage boy was riding past on the street. He could have laughed at my predicament.  He could have ignored me, not wanting to become involved; he could have waved his friends over to laugh at me. He could have scolded me for my stupidity.  But he came over to this silly little girl and got down on his knees beside me.  I don’t remember him saying anything at all to me, but he carefully and gently dislodged my foot and then removed the bike from the rack.  I don’t even know if I said, “Thank You" to my rescuer.

If anyone from Tremont reads this and knows who my savior was, I'd sure love to say thanks!  :) (I'm also not sure if I ever told my family this story!)

Our scripture passages this week are Psalm 145:1-9; Jonah 3:10-4:11; and Matthew 20:1-16.  I am preaching this week, (please pray for me!) and my focus will be on "God is Love" as the starting place for our faith, moving us beyond tolerance to true compassion for each other.  I've been thinking about this quote from Henri Nouwen, “The word “faith” is often understood as accepting something you can’t understand…However, when Jesus talks about faith, he means first of all to trust unreservedly that you are loved (by God) so that you can abandon every false way of obtaining love.”  Show Me the Way, p. 84.  I hope you can join us!

The Upper Room will be hosting Sarah and Jason Rohrer this week. It won't be long and it will be Sarah, Jason, and Baby Rohrer!   I hope to join the group as well.  Is there anyone who can bring a snack?

Brother Mick is heading to Michigan on Saturday for a week of golf and fun (hopefully!) before his upcoming knee replacement surgery. He will be back in PA preaching on World Communion Sunday, Oct. 2 before he goes under the knife on October 3.

My prayer for you this week:  Creator God, you are ever merciful, compassionate, and slow to anger.  We thank you, and we rest in that love today.  As you love us, give us the courage to love others.  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
http://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

Many of you from the Lancaster county area no doubt remember the notorious and vicious murder of a young woman by Lisa M. Lambert.  During one of the many debacles of her post trial and incarceration when she was in the news, my then 8 year old daughter was reading an article about her in the newspaper.  She looked up at me and said, "Mommy, doesn't everyone deserve a second chance?" http://www.nytimes.com/1998/08/25/us/national-news-briefs-conviction-is-upheld-for-killer-of-love-rival.html?ref=lisamichellelambert





Whoa-- how do you explain this to an 8 year old? This was a vicious and violent crime! We talked about justice and consequences being an important part of life. Even so, she was adamant that Jesus said to forgive and give more chances. As I think about our Creator's love and open-armed chances for us, I am  relieved, (and sometimes irritated!) that we are loved and forgiven so undeservedly and completely. If God stopped in his love at justice, we would all be condemned!  Forgiveness and Grace.  Grace and Forgiveness-- not because of who we are or what we do but because of who God is and what God is about.  Thank you, Jesus.  Now the hard part.  Becoming more like Jesus.  What would that mean for me if I would come face to face with this vicious murderer?  I wonder how Jesus approaches her.

This week Brother Mick will be challenging us to think about Jesus' words in Matthew 18 about forgiveness, even more that that I suspect we'll be challenged to live forgiveness and grace.  Ours is a world that embraces the myth of redemptive violence but is longing for, yes, yearning for healing and hope. We can say, "That's too hard; Jesus didn't really mean for us to live that way."   Ahhh... the foolishness of God!  All over the world innocent lives are lost by the violence of human kind.  This weekend we are especially remembering the attacks on that day in September 10 years ago when so many innocent people died.  Yet, I am not convinced that retaliation is the answer.  In fact, I would say violence begets violence begets violence begets violence....  I know we don't all agree on this, and I'd be glad to listen to your perspective if you want to talk about it.

As a reader of fiction, I am often touched by the truth found on the pages. For those of us who are JRR Tolkien geeks, you may remember the conversation between Gandalf and Frodo with regards to Gollum and Bilbo, "He deserves death." (Frodo about Gollum)   "Deserves it!  I daresay he does.  Many that live deserve death. And some that die deserve life.  Can you give it to them?  Then do not be too eager to deal out death in judgement.  For even the very wise cannot see all ends."  (Gandalf) p. 60  Fellowship of the Ring   And yes, these books contain many elements of the myth of redemptive violence, yet there is an underlying message of  self-sacrifice and servant hood. OK.... I could go on and on.  Perhaps some of us should get together for a book discussion of these classics! The movie quotes it almost exactly. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qTlwkg25rsE

I hope you've not had too much damage from flooding.  Be safe!

Ice cream and games at Rick and Gwen's tonight around 6:30! :)

We will be back in Sunday school this week starting at 9am.  Etta will be joining the young adults in the Upper Room which the last I checked is almost enclosed; it may even be finished by now!  I plan to be at the daughters' soccer tournament at Mary Washington this weekend, so I won't be there to see you.

The church picnic is at 5pm at the Intercourse park on Sunday.  "Minute to Win It"  games will be the fun of the night, and of course delicious food.  BBQ chicken will be provided, and you should bring a covered dish to share:  A-L  dessert; M-Z  side dish or salad.  Yummy!

My prayer for you today:

Creator God, you are our lifegiver, our hope, our peace, our light-- As you are to us, let us be to others. Mercy, grace, and peace rest upon the readers today, Lord.  Come Kingdom of God, be done will of God, on earth as it is in heaven.  In the name of Jesus. AMEN

Without doubt or question, you are loved by God, and I love you too.  Coffee anyone? :)

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

Our 16 hour power outage this week plus communicating with my sister reminded me of this little event from our childhood in Central Illinois.

"Someone's coming!  What should we do?"

My younger sister and I were playing with the kitties in the big old white barn. Earlier, we'd awakened to our mom telling us the power was off; we'd all overslept and she was late for work, so we were to stay home since we'd missed the school bus, and she didn't have time to wait for my 3 sisters and me to get ready.

Now someone was coming and would find out we weren't in school.  Mary Jo and I were both the kind of people who could be made to feel guilty with a single hairy eyeball, and if someone would think we were playing hooky, well.... without even a whisper to one another, we intuitively knew we needed to take cover.

"Quick! Let's hide in the tack room." 

Our tack room was a small room joining the center area of the barn where we kept our saddles and other equine equipment.  Lassie, (Clever, I know), our golden/collie mix was with us, so

we pulled her into the dirty, dark room next to the metal box mouse trap, and laid low.  My Uncle Charles was here to work on the tractor which was parked right outside the tack room door. We held onto Lassie and listened to my Uncle talk to himself.
After an eternity my older sister called us from the house, "Carol, Mary Jo!  Come here!" 
What to do? What to do?   Lassie decided for us, scrambling to her feet and pushing open the door.  We got up and followed her.  "Hey, I didn't know you girls were in there, " my uncle said in surprise. 
"Yep, we're here. Bye!"  and we dashed for the big old farm house.


When my sister and I were talking about power this week, she also mentioned what comes to her mind is the hymn "I Sing The Mighty Power Of God." Ahhh... now that is power that doesn't go out!

This week Brother Mick is preaching a message he is titling "I.O.U." in which we will be encouraged to "consciously be aware that we always 'owe' one another love." What an impact this gospel good news would have if wewould all live it.  Passages are Romans 13:8-14; Ezekiel 33: 7-11; Matthew 18:15-20.
Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. Romans 13:8

You are invited to bring a symbol of your work this Sunday for Labor Day. 

The last I heard, the affordable housing discussion was rescheduled forTuesday, Sept. 6 @ 7pm.  If you are planning to attend, you may want to check with the church, Tony Gehman, or me to make sure it is happening!

Have you had a chance to schedule your photo for the directory?  The dates for pictures are Sept 19-21 at the church.  If you are not going to be able to come for a photo, please send a jpeg photo to me or to the church office asap!  Thanks!


Plans are developing for a baptism preparation class this fall.  If you have interest in joining, I'd be glad to talk to you about it.
OH, ask me about the guy from National Geographic who stopped at the church Thursday! :)


My prayer for you today: Creator God, you tell us that love if the fullfillment of the law.  You tell us to put aside the deeds of darkness and be adorned with light. When we walk in love and light, we step into the unfolding your Kingdom which continues to unfold. Grant us courage and faith to follow.  May it be so.  Come Kingdom of God. Be done will of God, on earth as it is in heaven. AMEN


Without question or doubt, you are loved by God, and I love you too! Feel free to contact me.
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