The Illinois heartland was my home. Cliff hailed from eastern Pennsylvania. We met at Goshen College http://www.goshen.edu/ in northern Indiana introduced by our mutual friend, Kristal. :)  Travel and week long stays with each other and, by default, our families was required in order to spend time together outside of school.

My first Christmas with Cliff's family was as his girlfriend not yet fiance'. Yep, awkward, intrusive, embarrassed-- you can imagine it. I was not looking forward to the family gift giving time; I was prepared to fade into the background as much as possible after receiving the presumed token gift.  What a shock when gift after gift was pulled from under the tree for me including a tan, solar pocket calculator from older brother Gerald which he chose himself! (OK, I've just dated this story!) The generous abundance and hospitality shared with me by the Wenger family that Christmas and many hence, created an atmosphere of acceptance, delight, and joy! 



Photo credit: Korinne Wenger-- Honduras

 This Sunday Brother Mick's message is "Twelve Baskets Full" recounting the overabundance of food after Jesus provided for the hungry people with loaves and fish in John 6:1-21. http://bible.oremus.org/. Although we don't know what happened to the overflowing baskets of pan y pescado, Mick will guide us in exploring some of the options.  http://www.ridgeviewmennonite.net/

Boston get ready! Alana and Michael are en route to their new apartment as they will be attending grad school at Emerson this fall.


Items for our August and September ingathering include 6 oz. toothpaste, bath towels, bar soap, and gently or new t-shirts (ladies medium or large; men's large) of any color which will be made into bags-- the food pac program will utilize these items when school resumes.  There are baskets in the foyer for which to place these things.

Prayer for today: Lord God, as we experience shifts and changes in our lives, help us to recognize the constancy of your love.  As we experience the storms and clouds of life, bless us with the light that is you. As we face doubts and indecision, guide us with your Spirit.  As we recognize your presence in all aspects of our life, help us to respond in humbleness and joy. Lord, fill us with your healing and hope that your mercy and grace will overflow, and the Good News that is you will cover a hungry world today. 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

(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

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
    

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