just a short note this week; the only "stuff" that's been happening is in the office getting ready for the upcoming holidays. always fun, but such a busy-ness that almost becomes overwhelming. oh well ... guess it goes with the territory! had chapel yesterday and today (4 sessions total) with the school kids - boy is that every a lot of unbridled energy when Christmas comes! I feel for the teachers - I feel it's my duty to get them all wound up and then release them back to their classrooms! Hah
We did a 'neat' mission project for November this year, we tied it together with our 3rd Grade Bible Recipients (a Milestone when 3rd Graders receive their first "whole" Bible from the congregation) - don't know if you have heard to the group "Faith Comes by Hearing" - but I've worked with them for many years - they provide audio dramatized Scriptures for kids and adults and all kinds of other situations. This fall they were promoting "BibleSticks" (mp3 players) Bible Stick mp3s for military servicewomen and men, so we made it a special project. Each family has "Blessing Boxes" in their homes for special mission projects (ala LWML mite-boxes) and we typically choose a project every three months. Then we have a special ingathering for the mission. Usually a project that does "well" receives $200-350.00 - the Bibles garnered over $1350 in one month! That provides about 60 mp3s to service-people everywhere! Chaplains request them and we provide the opportunity. I played a part of the Gospel lesson one Sunday for worship, and people were really impressed! Anyway - a great mission service project if your group is interested.
We're getting ready for the big Christmas Kick-off weekend with the concerts - will be a pleasure to listen and get into the spirit. Last night - I just remembered - Karina and I served meals at the Transition House (St. Vincent's Hospital provides the food, and 3 of us take it downtown and serve it - we do it every first Tuesday) and the chef prepared us (warned?) that one of the dishes - Shrimp and Broccoli and Bitter Melon would have a unique flavor ... well, from all the men we served (about 80) NOT ONE came back for seconds on the dish! So we felt as servers we should oughta taste the dish and see if there was any reason for their seeming 'shunning' of the meal. I tried it and said - "oh - that's really different"; Karina spit hers out; and Angus said, "that's terrible!" We know why there were no seconds asked for! If you ever have a chance to use bitter melon in any dish - think twice and just say no!
Had a lot of responses for Sunday's sermon on repentance and forgiveness. I had used the story of the prison revolt in 1989 - when it was still fresh in my mind; it took me a while to go through my old files and find the story again ... but what a powerful story. I hope you have a chance to hear it. and be blessed by it.
can't think of much else for now - have Leader Team in about 30 minutes, so will call it quits.
we love ya.
Karina and Dan
Had a lot of responses for Sunday's sermon on repentance and forgiveness. I had used the story of the prison revolt in 1989 - when it was still fresh in my mind; it took me a while to go through my old files and find the story again ... but what a powerful story. I hope you have a chance to hear it. and be blessed by it.
can't think of much else for now - have Leader Team in about 30 minutes, so will call it quits.
we love ya.
Karina and Dan
Well, I did listen to your sermon last night and commented in last week's blog...but to reiterate...it was outstanding. I did not remember the prison revolt, but appreciated hearing the story. I just plain liked the whole theme, presentation, simplicity and straightforwardness. (All of those are meant to be complementary---if you wonder!)
ReplyDeleteInteresting story about the meal you served too. :) I'm afraid I would have done a Karina too.
We caroled tonight at WEL-Life and Hilltop (not Memory Cove though). Residents sing w/ us and that is so warming.
Thanks again for Sunday's msg.
Judy -
ReplyDeletethanks for the sermon comments; as I said - back in 1989 it was a powerful story also! Fun to hear about the caroling - we haven't done that for so many years, I'd forgotten how fun it was! I saw your note on the last post AFTER I posted this one ... oops.
oh well, Karina's soon to get back from choir - I'm watching Harry's Law. talk to you later.
d
dan: we are totally blown away by the power of your sermons. yes, can well hear you indicate that was a saturday night special. but get real! that sermon was the result of much deep thinking, long churning for composition, and a wondrous proclamation of christ's eternal love for us but, yes, a call to repentance for us to receive such love.
ReplyDeletewe love you - may you continue in the preparation of challenges for us to be and remain closer to our lord and savior. + + + (and that's not dit dit dit!)
bro m
Mark - I'm humbled by your comments. thank you. and I appreciate your "hearing" what I was trying to proclaim! It's funny, sometimes I get a comment for "whatever they heard me say" and I think to myself, that isn't what I was trying to say; now what do I do? (For the record, I say 'thank-you' and go back and listen again myself - and oftentimes STILL wonder how they heard what I don't think I said? although once in a while I hear what they thought they heard, too - and thank God for His Spirit - that the HS isn't limited to my understanding or proclamation! Guess that's what makes preaching transcendent. (I think that's the word I'm looking for)
ReplyDeleteJesus is coming!
love ya.
d