The Day after Christmas - December 26

I encourage all to join in our alternative options for celebrating Christmas:

December 27 Worship is Canceled

We encourage all to attend a 5:00 pm interfaith service at St. Matthias Episcopal Church (1 Dundee St.) focused on the plight of immigrants. Also at St. Matthias that day:

3:15-4:45 conversation with Rabbi Robert Cabelli on "Understanding the Wailing Wall and Public Lament through the lens of Jewish faith and the Hebrew Scriptures."

After the worship service, a silent march to the Asheville/Buncombe Detention Center for a prayer vigil, then followed by a Feast of Thanksgiving at First Congregational Church (20 Oak St.).

Rabbi Cabelli will also speak on Saturday evening, Dec. 27, on "Understanding immigration through the lens of Exodus, the Jewish faith and Hebrew Scripture" (also at St. Matthias).

Our next time together is January 3: Theme: "Resolutions vs. Being Resolute".

Fourth Sunday in Advent - December 20, 2009

 This Sunday, the 4th Sunday of Advent, the scriptures take us to a favorite passage of The Circle of Mercy, "The Magnificat of Mary". Here it is:

Luke 1:46-55 (The Message)

 ^46-55And Mary said,
   I'm bursting with God-news;
      I'm dancing the song of my Savior God.
      God took one good look at me, and look what happened—
      I'm the most fortunate woman on earth!
   What God has done for me will never be forgotten,
      the God whose very name is holy, set apart from all others.
   His mercy flows in wave after wave
      on those who are in awe before him.
   He bared his arm and showed his strength,
      scattered the bluffing braggarts.
   He knocked tyrants off their high horses,
      pulled victims out of the mud.
   The starving poor sat down to a banquet;
      the callous rich were left out in the cold.
   He embraced his chosen child, Israel;
      he remembered and piled on the mercies, piled them high.
   It's exactly what he promised,
      beginning with Abraham and right up to now.

This Sunday's Advent theme is PEACE. Here's the fun-work, and it will involve talking (interviewing) an adult, like one of your parents, a teacher ... hey, you can even call or email me.

May I suggest the following questions for the interview?

1. What is the most fun part of the Christmas season to you? ... shopping? decorations? church? family time? something else? Why do you like this? Tell me a story, please.

2. What is your favorite Christmas song or carol, and why? Can you tell a story about how that music really affected you in your life?

3. What is your favorite Christmas memory while growing up? Where were you? What happened? Did it change you or anyone?

4. Finally, this week's Advent Candle represents PEACE. What does this candle of peace remind you of, or give you hope for? Telling a story would be just fine. 

Have a good week, guys.  

Pictures from the Cookie-palooza 12/13/09

The CircleofMercYouth gathered at my place today to bake/decorate cookies for prisoners at a nearby prison. The pictures get pretty interesting.

Peace to you, too!  Um, TWO!

 

 Some of the handiwork:

Some of these are meals in themselves (Calories, at least!) ... some of them are multiple-days' worth of some RDAs.





How does a Cross-pattern make these taste?

And now, for something different...

Some group pix.

That's all, folks. As you can see, this is a pretty buttoned-down, kinda boring group ... (NOT!)


Marc

Third Sunday in ADVENT - Cookie-palooza!!

The church has only one oven. :(


So, we are spreading out the cooking, and the fun. Please join in the fun at my place starting at 3:00.


What to bring?


1. uncooked brownies, cookies or cookie bars. If you want to do your mixing here, I should have "some" mixing bowls, but not enough for all. (BTW, bring your recipes so we'll know how long to cook, etc!)
2. Icing, decorations, sprinkles for the cooked items in #1. We will start decorating at my home and continue what we need to do at the Circle. At the Circle, there will be more folks decorating, and we can join them when ready.
3. Extra cooking pans or cookie sheets, muffin tins, etc.
4. Cookie containers that will contain your cookies/brownies that you do not expect to return to you.
5. Your iPod.


Questions? Email or call!

Second Sunday in Advent - Baptist Retirement Home Visit

This Sunday we have the first of two Sunday afternoons we shall spend beyond the church/classroom walls.


This Sunday at 2:30, please meet at The Baptist Retirement Home here in Asheville <-- click there.


Bring any small musical instruments, willingness to engage folks there, and your smiles!


Next Sunday, the Cookiepalooza; details next week in this space!


Marc