Mark 4:35-41

³⁵ As evening came, Jesus said to his disciples, “Let’s cross to the other side of the lake.” ³⁶ So they took Jesus in the boat and started out, leaving the crowds behind (although other boats followed). ³⁷ But soon a fierce storm came up. High waves were breaking into the boat, and it began to fill with water.

³⁸ Jesus was sleeping at the back of the boat with his head on a cushion. The disciples woke him up, shouting, “Teacher, don’t you care that we’re going to drown?”
³⁹ When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Silence! Be still!” Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was a great calm. ⁴⁰ Then he asked them, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?”
⁴¹ The disciples were absolutely terrified. “Who is this man?” they asked each other. “Even the wind and waves obey him!”

As I sit in front of my keyboard trying to decide what to write, I am swept away by a wave of emotion as it seems our Creator is speaking directly to me through these words from Mark.  You see, next week I'm "in charge" of taking a group of mostly young people to Kentucky serving with SWAP (Sharing With Appalachian People). Coordinating travel, snacks, first aid kits, health forms, devotions, money, etc. etc. etc.-- the "to do" list is not short.  I am responsible for the safety and well-being of these teens, and it feels a bit like I'm about to set sail into a territory fraught with unknowns. The youth are counting on me. Their parents are counting on me. My church is counting on me. YIKES!  My stress level has increased with the approaching date, and I suddenly realize I've failed to truly commit this into Jesus' hands and recognize that God is "in charge" not me.  Thank you, Jesus!
"Why are you afraid, Carol?  I am in the boat with you."  (or a 15 passenger van!)
And again I say, "Thank you, Jesus!"

Please pray for our group.  There will be no communique next Friday as I may be on a rooftop. :) 

In his pre-sermon notes, Brother Mick states, "We have become conditioned to think we must exhaust every possible avenue on our own and only when we find ourselves at the end do we turn to God in Christ crying out to be saved. Perhaps if we could hold the available presence of God a little clearer in our minds we would find that we could stop allowing our lives to get out of control before turning to God for help." The Mark passage is the sermon text with adjunct texts being Job 38:1-11 and Psalm 107:1-3, 23-32.

Please join us at 10:15am on Sunday morning for worship.
I'll be in the Upper Room at 9am for conversation and prayer.

You'll find additional details and the prayer corner in the bulletin. http://www.ridgeviewmennonite.net/bulletins/index.php

Today we celebrate the life of our sister Frances. Many of you have been recipients of her prayers, cards, crosses, and love. She once wrote in a note to my daughter Korinne, "Even after I'm gone from earth, you may feel a tickle of a breeze on your cheek, and that will be me thinking of you from heaven."
 Love ya, Love ya, Love ya, Frances!

My prayer for today: Lord, before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting, you are God, our refuge and our hope.  Help us to truly trust in you; to recognize your presence with us; to know that you will not leave us nor forsake us.  We ask that your loving arms of healing and hope would cradle Rose, Craig, Albert, Larry, and the many others who are hurting today.  We pray that your peace and your grace would overflow from us to our neighbors. 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

Spittle foamed at the corner of his mouth while his eyes blinked like hummingbird wings. Laughing at nothing and everything, he joined our small group of mostly teens walking through the park. This man didn't need a kite to fly; he was already in the sky. O Lord, what did I get us into this time?

This was the last night of our challenging week Vive el Llamado!-Live the Call! at the 2007 Mennonite Convention in San Jose, CA where Pat, Arnie, and I along with a small group of high schoolers had been stretched and challenged to take seriously the call to follow Jesus. We had gotten pizza and had an entire pie leftover.  "Should we give this to the men who sleep in the park?" I asked.
So we crossed the street to the small area where every night a men's dormitory appeared. Some of the occupants took slices, while others weren't hungry.  We inadvertently awakened the tall, gangly man who was now tagging our group, bellowing uproariously, and naming Arnie "Coach."  I was suddenly overwhelmed with the foolishness of going to the park and risking the safety of these teens in my care.  "Kiteman" didn't say or do anything threatening, but his behavior unnerved me.  Much more than feeling good because we gave some homeless people pizza, the realization that truly following Christ  means stepping into unknown and even unsafe territory. Are we really ready to "live the call" if it means going into the park at night? Are we truly ready to sign up for this?

Brother Mick's message this week is called, "Foolishness" based on the text in I Corinthians 1: 18-25. The servant leadership and counter-cultural way of Jesus so upset the religion, culture, and politics around him that he allowed himself to be led to the cross.  http://bible.oremus.org/

Please join us for this third Sunday in Lent.

Electives continue during the 9-10am education hour.  In the 1990 hall Brother Mick will be sharing a study called, "The Heart of Mennonite Worship."  The International lesson will be taught by someone.... and I'll be facilitating discussion on Barbara Taylor Brown's book An Altar in the World, chapters 4 and 5 in the King's Daughters classroom.

Wednesday, March 14 is the final "Family Night Activities" with dinner beginning at 6:15p.  The youngsters will have their carnival; remember those days? The adults will be discussing "Caring as Community in Times of Loss" led by Brothers Mick and Nelson. 
http://www.ridgeviewmennonite.net/
If you are one of those people who enjoy scrapbooking or looking through photos, on Wednesday, March 21 at 6:30pm, people will be gathering to work on albums for the 50th anniversary celebration (which is on June 10.)

Last evening five of us visited Albert and Frances at Manor Care. Frances was having a really good evening, was alert and talkative.  Sharing her famous Italian gravy recipe, we listened, Heidi recorded, and Albert prompted, as Frances talked nonstop for at least 20 minutes describing the ingredients and process while her small hands formed the meatballs in the air.  Heidi is hoping to put the recipe into a format that will work for  Ridgeview's 50th Anniversary Cookbook.  From authentic Italian cooking (we also heard from Frances the shortcomings of Rachel Ray!) to traditional PA Dutch cooking, this collection is sure to be the best!  Send me your recipes asap so that we can get them into the cookbook. Yes, these cookbooks will be available for anyone to purchase! :)

My prayer for today:  The heavens declare your glory, O God, and the skies proclaim the work of your hands.  You are our Rock and our Redeemer.  In your life, Jesus, you showed us a way to live that is counter to the world's way of selfishness, exploitation, violence, and power.  Grant us courage and strength to respond to the world in sharing, loving, peaceful, life giving ways. Some of us or our loved ones are hurting physically, emotionally, mentally, or spiritually today-- cover us with your light and love; fill us with your healing and hope. As we struggle with joblessness, illness, pain, and loneliness, remind us that you never leave us nor forsake us.  Thank you, Compassionate 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

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

Gloria in Excelsis Deo

 

Photo credit- Jim Lapp


 I wish you could have seen her face.  Joy and light emanated from this dear friend as she lay against the bed, oxygen prongs in place, and although was struggling with the "timeline" of reality and her very breath, she sang wholeheartedly the  "Glooooooooooooooooooooooria" in Angels We Have Heard On High with those of us who were caroling to her Wednesday night. I was reminded of the power and blessing of music, the power and blessing of this tradition, and the power and blessing of a relationship with our Lord. 

 Music is a gift that permeates our hearts and souls unlike any mere spoken word. Forgotten memories awaken as familiar melodies are rendered taking us to other times and places. Although we may no longer be able to create beautiful sound, music can incite our very souls to sing. Joy. Praise. Hope. Love. Peace.

I used to make caroling a priority during the Advent season, singing with various groups several times each season. Busyness has distracted me. I'm not a great singer, but I can hold a tune, and I certainly know Christmas songs. If you think of it next year, keep me accountable.  Ask me, "Carol, how many times are you caroling this year?" or better yet, ask if you can join me! This tradition is one that certainly blesses all the participants and truly is worship. I hope when I am 90 years old someone comes to sing for me!

My dear sister Frances has lived her life in relationship with her Lord even spending time in the convent as a teen considering if her call was to dedicate her life as a nun to her Jesus (I use the possessive pronoun "her" Lord, "her" Jesus as that is how she discusses her relationship with God.) She is very human and like all of us has struggled with living out this relationship in ways that honor God. Yet the depth of joy that radiated from her on Wednesday was more than the music; her very soul was praising the Lord  with all her being and the glory of God radiated from her face.

"Rejoice in the Lord!The fullness of time has come.  As the earth brings forth its shoots, so God sent the Son, born into the human condition, to set us free to live as beloved children.  The unexpected has happened. We belong to God."

Brother Mick will be sharing the message, "This Is Real Life" from Luke 2:1-7 reminding us of the harsh reality to which Jesus was born, yet with him the glimmer of light and hope of all.  There will be no Sunday school classes, so the service will begin at 10:15am with coffee, cookies, and fellowship time beginning at 9:30am.  

Christmas Eve service will begin at 7pm here at Ridgeview Mennonite Church, 3723 Ridge Road, Gordonville PA. http://www.ridgeviewmennonite.net/ 

My prayer for today:  Creator of the stars and sun, you are the one true light. You are the one hope. You are the living joy, the heart's home, the breathing love. You call each of us by name to dwell with you. O God, powerful and mighty, you became one of us that we could gaze into your eyes and know life and true love. Thank you. Bless each reader with a reminder of your loving presence today and always.  Peace. Love. Life. Joy. 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