"What is that?" one of the girls asked.   Back in the days when I was still a taxi driver, I was taking Taylor to a birthday party, and Korinne was riding along for something to do.  The windows were down on our red subaru, for the day was sunny and bright.  We had just pulled out of our lane and were driving west on Wallace Road where the name changes to Hill Road when one of the girls asked, "What is that?"  We drove another 50 yards until we got close enough for a good look. Flames were shooting out of  a load of hay on the back of a truck!   I quickly pulled to the side of the country road and called 911. Two men and a small boy were standing next to the truck looking at it helplessly.  Suddenly one of the men jumped back into the truck and began driving it straight toward us.

"What is he doing? What is that idiot doing?"  I began to yell. The extra oxygen from the moving truck caused an incredible flare, and flaming bales began to tumble off of the truck as it sped down the road, lighting the dry grass on both sides of the road. Our car was almost hit!   Now we were surrounded by flames in front of us, next to us, and behind us.  Were we in a disaster movie? This had all the qualifications of one! I couldn't drive either direction to get away, so I pulled into one of the driveways next to the road as far from the flames as I could.  The man drove only about 1/4 mile and stopped so that the tree he now parked under also caught flame. Seeing an outside hose and buckets at the house at which we were parked, we began to fight the fire alongside several other home owners who were present.  The biggest danger seemed to be the area where the fire was creeping into the woods, and two young men appeared with shirts tied around their faces as masks, equipped with shovels and buckets which we helped them to fill with water.  Finally the fire fighters arrived and realized they needed trucks for a quarter mile stretch of road. 

Taylor eventually made it to the birthday party, late and smelling heavily of smoke convincing her friends she wasn't making up this bizarre story.  In an instant, a simple trip turned upside down into an adventure.  I must also confess-- my daughters handled this incident much more calmly than I!

I was so impressed with the way those young men and my daughters assessed the needs and got to work at a solution.  This was one of those times I was reminded that life can change in an instant; that ultimate control for us humans is like sewing with water.
Brother Nelson's message this week is "Encouragement as the World Turns Upside Down." Paul writes in I Thessalonians 1:1-10 a letter to encourage the believers when they were facing tough times.  God is present; God is active; God is the Lord of heavens and earth.  


Linda Miller, wife of Jim Miller the Goshen College professor who was killed last weekend during a home invasion, provided this statement:  "Last Sunday I lost my best friend and partner in parenting. Whenever I think of Jim I see him in heaven, standing without pain and smiling, his pain is over. I am so glad that he is in heaven with our Saviour. The kids and I will miss him terribly, but we know that God is with us and will see us through whatever tough times lie ahead. We will stand together with God trusting His promises. We want to continue to live our lives to reflect God's love and mercy to everyone.

"My life verses apply in this situation as much as they did years ago.

"Romans 12:9-16: Don't just pretend to love others Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection and take delight in honoring each other. Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically. Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble and keep on praying. When God's people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality. Bless those who persecute you. Don't curse them; pray that God will bless them. Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with each other. Don't be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don't think you know it all." 

This is what it's about. I'm  praying, praying, praying the light of the Divine wraps the Miller family and Goshen community in  peace and grace. 

MCC grocery bags are to be filled and returned to the church by Wednesday, October 19.  If you weren't able to pick up a bag but would like to drop some items off at the church, you can do that too.  Here is the list: vegetable oil-32 oz; pasta-2 lbs; raisins-1 lb; white rice-32 oz; 2 cans of meat-tuna, Spam, etc;
1 can tomato sauce-15oz; 2 cans fruit-14-20oz; 2 cans veggies-14-16 oz; 2 cans kidney beans-15.5 oz; 1 box of cereal-15oz; peanut butter-28oz. 


-Jonathan Kreiser had an appendectomy this week. Feel better quickly, Jonathan!
-A special thanks to Tynea and Stephen who inspired me to get up early and sit outside for the sunrise on Monday morning. :)
-Craig is still in Alabama with MDS building homes and relationships.
-Brother Mick is recovering from his knee replacement surgery supposedly at home, but I saw someone who looked a lot like him at the church for a few minutes this week.


The Upper Room will be open this Sunday at 9am.  Conversation and input from a convention speaker video is on the agenda.


My prayer for you today:
There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God.  Nations are in an uproar, kingdoms fall; you lift your voice and the earth melts.  Lord Almighty, You are with us. You are our fortress.  Let us be still.  Let us wait.  Let us watch.  Let us listen.  You are God.  Reveal yourself, Creator God, to the readers today.  Grant us each an awareness of your love and mercy.  Fill and cover us with your healing light and love. Let us be part of the healing of the world through You.  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!  Don't hesitate to contact 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

   The Lord always keeps his promises;
      he is gracious in all he does.
 The Lord helps the fallen
      and lifts those bent beneath their loads. Psalm 145:13b-14

"Oh, Mommy!  I love you!" exclaimed my 5 year old as she hugged my waist while I washed dishes.
 "I love you too," I responded turning and squatting so I could be eye level with her. 
"You know, Mommy, if you hadn't married Daddy, I wouldn't be here," she said with her little arms wrapped around my neck.
Hmmmm, where is this going? "That's right, Honey."
"And if you would have married another man and breeded with him, I wouldn't be here then, either." 
Oh, she was so serious, so sincere.  Oh, she was watching waaay to much "Animal Planet!"

I've spent my adult life in various settings working with infants, children, and teens.  What delight! Children that haven't been "broken"  by fractured adults aren't afraid to look you in the eyes when you're in the grocery store.  They aren't afraid to give you a hug. They aren't afraid to climb into your lap and snuggle. (This is why our laps become bigger as we have children-more room is needed!) :) They aren't afraid to cry when they are hurting. They know that mommy will not hold it against them when they puke all over her.  They know they can run to daddy when they are frightened. (I recall a little girl who practically climbed up her daddy while at the Phila Zoo when the lion roared not 10 feet away!) They know mommy or daddy will carry them into their beds when they fall asleep in their carseats. When they have a bad dream, they crawl into the parents' bed. They can dance in the rain, roll in the grass, eat a dripping ice cream cone, laugh out loud at the butterfly perched on grandma's head, tussle with daddy, cry when their friend is crying, and be themselves, silly, creative, inquisitive, vulnerable,and emotional.  

This week Brother Mick is preaching from Matthew 11:16-19; 25-30 and has titled his message, "You're Being Childish."  Childish behavior is more of a vice than a virtue, but there are many childlike qualities and attitudes that we should embrace.  Matthew reports in v.25  "At that time Jesus prayed this prayer: “O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, thank you for hiding these things from those who think themselves wise and clever, and for revealing them to the childlike."   There is an "AhhHa!" moment when we read the familiar 28-30 in the light of the trust and vulnerability of a child :  'Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰ For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”'    The image of running to daddy for rest and help is natural, expected, trustworthy, and beautiful.
Kelsey, you know what I mean when I sigh deeply and say, "Oh, Daddy!"  :)

At 9am we will be gathering in the Upstairs room, and I am planning on joining you this week.  I look forward to seeing you! 
Please pray for Julie, Nathan, Sarah, and I as we head to Pittsburgh for the Mennonite Convention.  Julie will be attending some of the Young Adult sessions, and Sarah, Nathan, and I will be shepherding the senior high youth. There will be others from Ridgeview and with Ridgeview connections present.  I'm looking forward to seeing some of you there, particularly my eldest daughter and her hubby! :) 

My prayer for you today: Creator God, you call us to your lap, healing us, teaching us, carrying us. "Oh, Daddy!"  we cry and will be answered, for Jesus, you have shown us the love of our Creator for us.  We are called your children!  Thank you!  Help us, Lord, to gain understanding, to gain childlike trust, to be vulnerable so that our souls learn to acknowlege and be aware of your presence within and all around us. As we are healed by your grace and love, let your healing and hope flow through us to the world.  Come kingdom of God. Be done will of God, here on earth as it is in heaven. AMEN 

I hope to at least post a "Hello from Pittsburgh" note next Friday.  If you don't hear from me, well, breathe an extra prayer for me! :)
 
Without question or doubt, you are love 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

Called to Worship

 A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of him and that followed were shouting,
‘Hosanna to the Son of David!
 Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!
Hosanna in the highest heaven!’

Good morning, Friends!

On November 18, 2001 the Wenger household crawled out of beds at 4:30 in the morning, putting on sweatpants and winter coats, went out into the cold, clear night where we stretched out together on our giant, heavy, Time Out Auction comforter aka "Nessie" which was spread out on the driveway.  Side by side, packed tight and cozy like a book of matches and covered with blankets, we reclined to stare up at the night sky. Our eyes beheld the glory of the heavens!  The show had already begun as the Leonid Meteor Shower sent streaks of bright shiny lights across the sky-- one right after another, sometimes several at once. Teeny, tiny fragments, some as small as grains of sand, (so the science tells us) became incredible blazes of glory as they ignited and flashed.   For 45 minutes we oohed; we ahhhed; we giggled; and yes, we worshiped together as these beacons blazed.
 

The heavens are telling the glory of God; and the firmament proclaims his handiwork.

Day to day pours forth speech, and night to night declares knowledge.

There is no speech, nor are there words; their voice is not heard;

yet their voice goes out through all the earth, and their  words to the end of the world.

Ahh, that we would look at one another and exclaim the wonder of our Creator instead of arguing, judging, hurting, belittling, and killing....

Palm Branches will wave this week as our children will begin with the processional.  As I think about the "Triumphal Entry" when Jesus entered Jerusalem riding on the donkey, the people spontaneously honored him. No one ordered the palm branches ahead of time; no one instructed the children where to walk and what to shout. The community had expectations of who this Jesus was and what he was about.  Did Jesus meet those expectations?  Were the same people who shouted "Hosanna" on Palm Sunday the same ones who shouted, "Crucify him!" a few days later?  Brother Nelson will will share exegesis on this Matthew 21 passage in a message entitled "Who Is This?" as well as consider Isaiah 50:4-9; Psalm 31:9-16; and Philippians 2:5-11.

Yesterday our dear sister Minnie passed to her next life while surrounded by family.  My, how that sweet saint blessed my life! I will miss her, and my life is fuller for having known her. (I can close my eyes and see her riding on the back of Jeff's scooter at the church yard sale just a few short years ago.  She was beaming!)

At 9am the Upstairs Room will be ready for you! Hmmm... anyone hungry for a
particular bfk snack?  Let me know and maybe I'll hire the Wenger culinarian to prepare something.  :)

Next Thursday, April 21 at 6:15 pm will be our Maundy Thursday "Love Feast and Foot Washing" here at church.  On Friday, April 22 at 7pm is a Good Friday service.  All are welcome to attend.

My prayer for you today:  Creator God, the sky is yours, for you have made it; the earth is yours, for you have made it; we are yours, for you have made us.  Help us each to recognize your presence.  Help us to realize we are yours.  Help us to accept your love and grace offered to us, for your love endures forever.  Help our lives to overflow in worship and gratitude as we recognize you in the extraordinary and the ordinary moments of our days and in each other. Come kingdom of God. Be done will of God; here on earth as it is in heaven.  In the name of Jesus. Amen.  

Without question or doubt, you are loved by God, and I love you too.  Contact me anytime!
Love and Light!  Carol

"Always remember who you are, whose you are, what you believe, and where you are going, because it does make a difference.  Oh, and don't forget to attend the church of your choosing this week."   jd

Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are?  Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?

Good morning, Friends-- 

     ACCK!  Why won't my eye quit twitching??  In a few days time we were meeting with a counselor to talk about the situation with our "daughter of the heart" and her parents, Cliff's brother and his wife. Jennie had been living with us for several years with the original goal being that she would move back home with her other mom and dad..  However, since she had come to live with us as a sweet, little 9 month old there was no change in the status of care for Jennie.  Cliff and I told her parents that as such, we wanted to change some of the patterns into which we had all fallen. The change was not something they wanted, and they requested we meet with a mediator to talk about this.  Now, my eye was twitching like crazy.  I was trying not to worry, but I was worrying. 
     Finally, the day arrived. As we got up to enter the office of the counselor, I had this "See ya later, Jesus" thought,  but suddenly I was flooded with peace and an "I'm going into the session with you, Daughter.  No waiting room for me!" 

     Jennie is now a beautiful 16 year old girl who lives with her parents and spends lots of time with her "family of the heart." Has this lesson taught me not to worry? Well, it has helped, but I'm not totally cured! If you see my eye doing jumping jacks, feel free to ask me about it!

     "Weaning Ourselves from Worry" is the title of Brother Mick's message this week with scriptures from Isaiah 49:8-16a, Psalm 131, and Matt. 6:24-34. 

Psalm 131 is short but beautiful as it presents an image of peace and trust. 

^\   Lord, my heart is not proud;
      my eyes are not haughty.
   I don’t concern myself with matters too great
      or too awesome for me to grasp.
  Instead, I have calmed and quieted myself,
      like a weaned child who no longer cries for its mother’s milk.
      Yes, like a weaned child is my soul within me.

  O Israel, put your hope in the Lord—
      now and always.

     The young adult class is not planning to meet on Sunday as many of us will be away.  However, you are welcome to hang out upstairs if you are looking for a couch! :)

      My prayer for you today:  Creator God, you are always with us; in waiting rooms, in operating rooms, in the classroom, in the office, in the car, in the home, in the woods, or at the beach.   No matter where we are, there you are.  You will never leave us nor forsake us.  That should be enough.  That is enough.  Help us to comprehend and hold the love you have for each of us in our hearts and minds. Come kingdom of God.  Be done, will of God, here on earth as it is in heaven.  AMEN

Without question or doubt, you are loved by God, and I love you too!  Call me anytime. :) 
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