Please give a big round of applause to the children of St. Andrew’s for their rendition of The Christmas Story by Sandra McNiff. Thank you to Pam Smith for her hard work with the children over the last month.
It’s difficult to narrow down the highlight of the show – Angel Gabriel with over-sized lyre, shirtless baby Jesus with wooden toy, laughing wise-women, Mom with oven mitts, the ...
Continue Reading → ShareMy Lenten reflection includes a poem (no great surprise there – it is the comic relief) and a wish.
First, the wish: I wish all of us peace. Peace is such a big word. It invokes, among other large things, the end of war. It is for me, at least, a kind utter calm I imagine for myself and the world, some kind of tranquility that seems always on the horizon, but is somehow unattainable. Even sleep sometimes won’t give me ...
Continue Reading → ShareContinue Reading → ShareMany thanks for the birthday wishes today.As I sit at home this afternoon watching the snow fall, I keep thinking about the children decorating the Jesse tree last Sunday, and Bill’s short theology lesson about the Jesse tree during today’s service. One thing that keeps resonating with me is STORIES. The ornaments that hang on the Jesse tree represent so many stories — the history of Jesus’ ancestors. The parabales we hear every ...
Jenny’s devotion yesterday brought my son, Matthew’s, stroke to my mind. He had been on life support (for 9 days) and had hundred’s of mini-strokes when he was put on the life support. He was 14 years old and had a heart transplant on December 3, 1990. After the transplant he was in a coma until January 19, 1991. The doctors gave me no hope that Matthew would ever be able to live life as ...
Continue Reading → ShareTen years ago we were anticipating the birth of our first grandchild who was born on Christmas day. We all wait with hopeful and sometimes fearful anticipation for the birth of a new baby. Perhaps it is in part because we know that a baby will bring change into our lives in a way that nothing else can. Welcoming a new child into our family or community means we embrace the change in our lives that baby’s ...
Continue Reading → ShareHello St. Andrew’s Family,
While attending a religious retreat back in my high school days (many year ago), a friend of mine explained to the group how music had inspired her throughout her life. Even without the word “God” or “Jesus” in the lyrics, she could substitute a few words so the lyrics became spiritual to her. I don’t listen to much music, but I do love to read and listen to books on CD.
I recently ...
Continue Reading → ShareTuesday, December 7th
Many mornings I read the Morning Resolve on the forwardmovement.org Web site. It is a wonderful way to begin the day with a positive outlook. Among many positive affirmations, I resolve to practice the habit of holy silence. Silence can be awfully noisy these days. Our electronic miracles enable us to communicate loudly without sound. Web sites and handheld devices allow us to have an extra busy brain.
What is holy silence? The place ...
Continue Reading → ShareToday at Saint Andrew’s, the children placed hand-made ornaments on our Jesse Tree. [flickr album=72157625412655519 num=10 size=Thumbnail]
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