tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-44708943287336099212024-03-21T12:46:24.113-07:00AdventAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15766459650578309096noreply@blogger.comBlogger106125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4470894328733609921.post-15980549342560296352018-12-24T03:00:00.000-08:002018-12-24T03:00:20.962-08:00Rest - December 24, 2018<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img height="292" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/deE7CaIUGIbsGAu-ZjO-fVjh607dCeRkYbD0D-WXKGQ_lwKMHQjrFUmCbPTi-mtPRn14bu8fzZvSgC-3S6Y5Wc80c3oCBgpcKnSYHjISd6kY9ASWLdOX4QcqUHuTBRooRJdq-2OI" style="border: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; transform: rotate(0rad);" width="400" /></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.wikiart.org/en/le-nain-brothers/nativity-with-the-torch" style="text-align: start; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">https://www.wikiart.org/en/le-nain-brothers/nativity-with-the-torch</span></span></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-40deff31-7fff-e36f-b2d7-20693f80e8ae" style="font-weight: normal;"></b></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">“Now as they went on their way, he entered a certain village, where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. She had a sister named Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to what he was saying. But Martha was distracted by her many tasks; so she came to him and asked, ‘Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her then to help me.’ But the Lord answered her, ‘Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; there is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her.’”</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">-Luke 10:38-42</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"></b><br /><b style="font-weight: normal;"></b></span>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It is just about Christmas now. There may be a temptation, a habit, or an expectation to be busy or “distracted by many tasks”— cooking, cleaning, going to see family or friends, giving gifts, receiving gifts, perhaps hosting guests, deciding what movie to watch.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Given that, it might be worth pausing to remember that, in some fundamental way, Christmas is about rest. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Rest</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, because the word of Christmas is "</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">born to you this day is a Savior</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">." There isn't anything we can do to bring this about; it is pure gift, all from God’s side. We can only receive it.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Receive the truth that God is perfectly joined with our creaturely existence. The fact that what we are, who we are — precisely in our unfinished, frail humanity — has been embraced and even assumed by the true object and fulfillment of our deepest longings. As Richard Rohr has said,"Incarnation is already redemption." In Christmas, we can see that we are always and already held by God as the infant Jesus is held in his mother’s arms.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The question is: will we become still enough to </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">truly</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> recognize this, to feel it, to let this mystery work its way ever deeper into our lives? For this to happen, we must rest. We must become still, like the holy family on the first Christmas. On this day, even if we must be a little like Martha, distracted by many tasks, let us remember that Jesus also calls us to be like her sister Mary, who sits at his feet and listens to what he is saying. After all, Jesus is the true guest and gift of Christmas and we welcome him first of all by resting and preparing room in our hearts to receive him who has already been given.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Post by John Kennedy</span></span></div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15766459650578309096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4470894328733609921.post-78346364310912339742018-12-23T03:00:00.000-08:002018-12-23T03:00:05.010-08:00Go - December 23, 2018<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Go!</span></span></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-23ed95cc-7fff-a355-bf9b-2dedc37bb504" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">“Magnificat anima mea Dominum”</span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="The Visitation.jpg" height="369" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/x6BSqHVASY4ibygvOuxNCFDNvJ4aG-j95SBiXsmZJcnoXkakAn-IZ2T68NmkaUtiWwVjAB4AhTDHXga0Sr_lajsSDkYK4HNDjv5EcUFJjWIvddQ7LQUanzb-KnacCxi687F0PhEh6peZt7Kikw" style="border: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; transform: rotate(0rad);" width="274" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-be80e9db-7fff-5888-cb4f-e096dd2c687f"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">“The Visitation,” accessed December 18, 2018, http://artimage.princeton.edu/files/ProductionJpegs/y1994-17.jpg.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We are the bearers of Christ’s love for the world.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">A love that compels us to get up and do!</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">How can we love our neighbor if we do not go to them?</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">How can we be filled with Christ’s love and sit still?</span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">If Christ’s love is in us, sitting still is the last thing we can do! We must go!</span></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The love like no other, the love only present when God joins us, stirs our soul.</span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">As the incarnate God approaches, oh so close, our soul leaps!</span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">As John leapt in Elizabeth’s womb at the approach of Mary.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The infinite love of God is so close, we become restless.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We must go!</span></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We must go, and proclaim this blessed news!</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We must go, and serve the poor and homeless!</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We must go, and feed those who hunger!</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We must go, and clothe the naked!</span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We must go, to embrace the stranger!</span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We must go, and give voice to the voiceless!</span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We must go, and be present to the very least!</span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We must go, and stand for those on the margins!</span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We must go, in love as Christ loved us.</span></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Is it daunting to go into the world with the love of Christ? Yes.</span></span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">But we will go, for Christ goes with us.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Post by Mike Corey</span></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15766459650578309096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4470894328733609921.post-19580593762921609342018-12-22T03:00:00.000-08:002018-12-22T03:00:03.815-08:00Bless - December 22, 2018<b id="docs-internal-guid-bd1aabd8-7fff-695f-a5c0-41a1c58aad71" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sculpture at Holy Cross Monastery, Hyde Park, NY, photo by author</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> One of the core values of the ECCT is to “Try On”; so last year, I spent a semester experimenting with the devotional life of the Rosary. Every Thursday, I joined the Berkeley “Rosary train” and prayed with a handful of my peers. One week, I almost did not go, but I felt a nudge from the Holy Spirit, and I sensed God saying that there was a gift in the experience for me. So I went. While I was praying, I came to understand that Mary’s blessing is for all of us, especially for us women. I began to think about all the women in my family history and all the hardships these women have faced. They are the unsung heroines of my family who were and are the strong glue that held and holds my family together. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 0pt 18pt; text-indent: -18pt;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> So I began to get a little creative. For each “Hail Mary”, I dedicated my prayer to a woman in my family. Hail mother, hail sister, hail daughter… “full of grace, the Lord is with you.” Already I could sense transformational power taking place. I was choosing life, not death. “Blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus.” When I prayed this prayer, it meant for me, I bless your children, your future children, the fruit of your faith, and all the fruitful potential that God has endowed in you; I bless it and I bless you. “Pray for us sinners…” This came to be a prayer of forgiveness- forgiveness for these women…for their sins known and unknown. I forgave myself for my sins against them, and I asked Jesus to forgive and redeem all of us from the consequences of the sins and the mistakes that have been made. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> </span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; padding: 0pt 0pt 0pt 18pt; text-indent: -18pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> There are fifty -three chances to “Hail Mary” in the standard Rosary recitation, so I dedicated the entire semester to blessing and forgiving each woman in my family many times over, to set them free, to set myself free, and to make space for new possibilities of Grace in our family line. This Advent, I invite us to explore how we may bless the women in our immediate and extended families. Imagine what breakthrough we may experience in their lives, in the memory of their lives, in our own lives, and in our society by creating a culture of blessing and praise for the women whom God has placed around us. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Hail Mary</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Hail Mary, full of grace.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Lord is with thee.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Blessed art thou among women,</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Holy Mary, Mother of God,</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">pray for us sinners,</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">now and at the hour of our death. Amen.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Post by Tara Shepley</span><br /><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15766459650578309096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4470894328733609921.post-83928369486331852872018-12-21T03:00:00.000-08:002018-12-21T03:00:01.490-08:00Pray - December 21, 2018<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Prayer</span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Image result for BLACK WOMEN PRAYING ON THE FLOOR" height="333" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/V1boW44XboQ_121tCEZJk7c7_8ZTzj7uitlmwm3-iEw-BBnfwX91O2JmiFlRbJ3t2JRyhPMLL_1S0sokxoQCoqtlIhbhzv9TxF3By_LLT_9kfciIY3BXapGul1fGYrgkVoxDemYQDREMBnZ1ow" style="border: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; transform: rotate(0rad);" width="600" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Copyright majivecka</span></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> </span></span></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-92e2ba8e-7fff-5c81-85d8-8e7c616b3aef" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Look.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> It’s happening again. </span></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">My heart begins to race.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Each beat becomes louder than the first. </span></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It’s a feeling of fear. </span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">They say that fear is not of God (1 John 14), but today the fear comes from my heart. </span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">And, I am afraid. </span></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I am uncertain of when my heart will fail, and I cannot guarantee that the flames of my soul (Matthew 6:22-23) will withstand the rising tides. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Will you come to my aid (Isaiah 35:40)? And if You come, will I let You in? </span></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> It is happening again. My heart is racing. The tears begin to flow, warming my face and making their way to the floor.</span></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I’m so afraid. </span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Afraid, that others may see my tears and afraid of having to retell and reimage the memory of what has led me here.</span></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">My heart beats further intensify, and finally, I like my tears I fall to the floor: First, on my knees as my face pressed against the floor. Some call it an act of veneration or of prostration but my momma nini calls it an act of total praise in honor to the One who loves and knows my name (Isaiah 43:1). My name is Shancia Ralna Jarrett and His Name is Jesus Christ. Emmanuel, I pour out my all to you. </span></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The season of Advent celebrates and remembers the arrival of Our Lord Jesus Christ. Some commemorate Advent by reflecting on the wisdom and the blessings of God’s peace, hope, joy, and love, as displayed through the Life of Christ. It may sound foolish or peculiar to know that the God Himself or God in flesh had to descend from heaven and teach us how to love: how to love God and one another. Yet, it was necessary, because we may be our worst enemies. Many people throughout the world are victims of inhumane brutalities and acts of hatred such as violence, anti-Semitism, racism, homophobia, and extreme cases of poverty. These are human actions which lead to sin and the destruction of the body and soul. In times of fear, some people can only call on the Almighty name of Jesus Christ in the midst of fear and suffering. </span></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I have discovered that Perfect Love is about acknowledging, believing, and acting in the Good News of Christ. One of the ways in which I do so is through prayer. </span></span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">No matter what happens I pray. I invite you to spend even a minute in prayer, a honest reflection or reciting the collect for the Fourth Sunday of Advent: “Purify our conscience, Almighty God, by your daily visitation, that your Son Jesus Christ, at his coming, may find in us a mansion prepared for himself; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Amen</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.” BCP.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Post by Shancia Jarrett</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15766459650578309096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4470894328733609921.post-40098464814930381632018-12-20T03:00:00.000-08:002018-12-20T03:00:05.042-08:00Worship - December 20, 2019<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="400" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/GyTMX3xi39NcaNpqxRqtHm8ABIVjzCvjTHOZp-M2GqwR1Z78XnwDzeR0kZU0BwSQw04VBomZ_dD-xhV5ASMKTzo2NsZ0OYLiuwlr5xgXAuwcGAtJR2SQMTUhBe5Vg1re3S42AZfuXQBy9pc1uw" style="border: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; transform: rotate(0rad);" width="280" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: xx-small;">Photo by Bill Burkhart</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: xx-small;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-377c81f8-7fff-fc73-4b13-bcee10c4d0b7"></span></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I am made whole by worship. I want worship to be as widely available as possible. Maybe we should open thumbnail-sized churches like little lending libraries and give ourselves away. Our resources are secure because they are not monetary. They are a treasure beyond price: a story that reframes the meaning of our lives. Take. Eat.</span></span></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-632dd6a2-7fff-0b19-8b42-71f435322839" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Worship.</span></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /><i><br /></i></span></b><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Holy Sonnets: Batter my heart, three-person'd God</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Batter my heart, three-person'd God, for you </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">As yet but knock, breathe, shine, and seek to mend; </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">That I may rise and stand, o'erthrow me, and bend </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Your force to break, blow, burn, and make me new. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I, like an usurp'd town to another due, </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Labor to admit you, but oh, to no end; </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Reason, your viceroy in me, me should defend, </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">But is captiv'd, and proves weak or untrue. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Yet dearly I love you, and would be lov'd fain, </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">But am betroth'd unto your enemy; </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Divorce me, untie or break that knot again, </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Take me to you, imprison me, for I, </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Except you enthrall me, never shall be free, </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Nor ever chaste, except you ravish me. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #494949; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">By John Donne</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Use your own words. Tell the story. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Post by Mary Barnett</span></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15766459650578309096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4470894328733609921.post-86948331898273224812018-12-19T03:00:00.000-08:002018-12-19T03:00:04.792-08:00Learn - December 19, 2019<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img alt="C:\Users\dylan\Desktop\Trinity picture-Advent Learning Blog.jpg" height="233" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/9JtKFPtPWcu3I0s8_6uLFnwpI2zQGMUVEYgFcUbyRK-US5mf5_H0XnKBKlvvRLPTUFU8JNqpSynruERdzXEv3PUgbsDj0XVnt2BlXOJdoWrWGo7r7UsTJfzpCDGRZQHEsCDQGInYO-X4QiEFXQ" style="border: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; transform: rotate(0rad);" width="400" /></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo by Dylan Mello</span><br /></span><div style="text-align: left;">
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<span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Each year Advent provides me with a lesson in learning. Often times, I am guilty of rushing for things. Hustling to get to places on time, trying to receive some instant feedback, or wanting to satisfy a particular need immediately, but this season always teaches me a lesson in waiting. I seem to just get a bit consumed and can begin to lose focus. However, every year this reminder in preparation and waiting has helped me in my everyday life. This waiting period promises that a way is being prepared for us.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Slowing down and allowing ourselves to be open to learning about what awaits us is important. It provides an opportunity to listen patiently within ourselves, take in our surroundings, and discern where we need to be. When I allow myself to slow down, a whole new vision begins to grow. I love what we can be taught from this season. The changes we can strive to make, even though difficult, are positive, fruitful effects. The readings we hear each week are one way that I have been able to learn to ground myself. Finding a local Advent Compline has been a way to teach me ways to access what God may be calling me for. This stillness in darkness provides a strong way. I feel that I’ve learned the more work we put in and trust during this season of waiting, we will find the coming joy that has been prepared. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> As another Advent season winds down, I am grateful for the opportunity to learn through a continual learning of myself, others, and my relationship with God. It is a blessed Advent season and I pray that we feel the presence of God throughout this season and the Christmastide. </span></div>
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<span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Post by Dylan Mello</span></span></div>
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<span id="docs-internal-guid-e6864636-7fff-ed16-4e0d-46c5e20cd564"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15766459650578309096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4470894328733609921.post-38749964143619133562018-12-18T03:00:00.000-08:002018-12-18T03:00:03.676-08:00Turn - December 18, 2018<a class="gie-single" href="http://www.gettyimages.com/detail/841868454" id="wGrTQJ_fQo1ju95TvPQDIw" style="border: none; color: #a7a7a7; display: inline-block; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Embed from Getty Images</a><script>window.gie=window.gie||function(c){(gie.q=gie.q||[]).push(c)};gie(function(){gie.widgets.load({id:'wGrTQJ_fQo1ju95TvPQDIw',sig:'N1_PVNXnaHyQBu_r_7JsW60jScH6YkOMPcm5u-pl2mY=',w:'481px',h:'359px',items:'841868454',caption: true ,tld:'com',is360: false })});</script><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embed-cdn.gettyimages.com/widgets.js"></script>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Turn to the Lord, repent of your sins, transform your lives, be prepared for the coming of the Messiah. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">That who will be born in every heart repented and transformed. That is the Advent season, an invitation to wait, to prepare the way to receive Love in each one of us.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">And thus, allow our life to be transformed. Turning to God and His commandments, leaving aside the things that perishes us and dedicate our lives to the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">What does it mean to turn to God? It means to take a turn from where we are to the face of God, the one who lives in our neighbor. That homeless person, that immigrant, that junkie, the elderly, the sick, that outcast, that single mom who must face the monthly expenses and who barely manages to.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">To get to see all of that we must be transformed by that God made Man, Jesus Christ, the Emanuel. The one who once turned tables at the entrance to the temple, showing us the right way to do our Father's will.</span></span></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-d6d63fd7-7fff-ce5a-b126-02ece21d6a74" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Since I decided to follow Christ, my life is no longer the same, even if I wanted it to be the same, it couldn’t be, because light has nothing to do with the darkness. To walk in the same way of the Lord transforms us so we can see the big picture, it is a new birth in the spiritual life.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">My fourth grandson Eli, who was born this week, is proof of God's love, a seed of hope that God has with humanity. He knows we can do it. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Let us take that example of Jesus of bravery and authority in ourselves and turn to the way of the good, of the way of love. Amen.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Post by Roxana Videla Olivares</span></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15766459650578309096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4470894328733609921.post-27443870149692932792018-12-17T03:00:00.000-08:002018-12-17T03:00:05.380-08:00The Way of Love - December 17, 2018<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">John 3:16</span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Copyright 212 west: the spoken life</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="text-indent: 36pt;">During the season of Advent, our Presiding Bishop Michael Curry has invited us to reflect on the way of love. For many of us, there are numerous paths to love. Some have found love through the sacred acts of prayer, blessings, learning, and worship while others discovered love through the movements of turning, going, and rest. Collectively, these expressions of love or the various ways to love have a purpose. In Luke 10:27, Our Lord Jesus Christ reminds us of the purpose of our love. The purpose or the object of Christian love allows us to, “ Love the Lord our God with all our hearts and with all our souls and with all our strength and with all our minds '; and to 'Love our neighbor as Ourselves.” Love, according to Christ, embodies an inclusive communal experience between the Divine and humanity. In loving God with our very being: hearts, minds, souls and strength, we become conduits of the divine character of God. As written by the evangelist in John 4:7-21, “God is love” and those who love God and their neighbors translate the divine will of God. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We, despite the harsh realities of human experiences, are beautifully and wonderfully made in the image of God through His love and grace to be beacons of love as revealed in the Gospels and through the Scriptures. As we celebrate the coming and birth of Our Lord Jesus Christ, lets us remember to share our love with God and with our neighbors. Since the Creation of the world, God has shared His Love with humanity. Do you remember? It occurred through the breath of life and it was reaffirmed through the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. In the words of A.J. Russell, I proclaim that “I am Love because God is Love,” because I am made in the image of God and I am willing to testify of my Love. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Oh, what a blessing and joy to receive and give love.</span></span></div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15766459650578309096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4470894328733609921.post-2289652958608794852018-12-16T03:00:00.000-08:002018-12-16T03:00:02.497-08:00Rest - December 16, 2018<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="/Users/tarashepley/Desktop/IMG_5263.jpg" height="369" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/3ja7IuPDTWtECAdJXH9ttrKm-JRipc5CnKywx7THJhedzetvxAsQF6UnZbC6ixReY-Xyk59fcK-7UOBvjwjenqkB2IXG3fdqzFB3fVUlLvTo6tM7aZuhHvtjPxo1dqDJs1943-jwa6fGQtIveQ" style="border: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; transform: rotate(0rad);" width="330" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Kathy Brown, 1982</span></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-dd219bc3-7fff-5286-3677-a6c77efc8b03"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">“God hugs you.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">You are encircled by the arms</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">of the mystery of God. “</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">-Hildegard of Bingen</span></span></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-8d48305b-7fff-a083-6dac-b3ded8591175" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When I first joined the Episcopal Church in 1993, I was in the early phases of my adult relationship with our Living and Loving God, and so much of that relationship was new. Every Sunday night the church offered a healing prayer service and I often attended. Many times, the people who prayed for me had this overwhelming sense of how much God loved me, but I couldn’t receive it. They were nice words and thoughts, but the experience of God’s love did not penetrate my heart, although I wanted it to. One night, the prayer team felt compelled to give me a copy of this picture to keep for myself and to meditate on the image of being encircled by the arms of Jesus. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What I love about this picture, is the calm, restful expression of the lamb. That lamb looks as if it knows deep in itself that all is well. It is safe and there is nothing to worry about, because Jesus the Good shepherd is here. I know that face. I know that feeling. This is the feeling that I had as a child when I was being held in the comforting arms of my dad. My dad had big puffy hands and strong arms that padded life with love and protection. When I was encircled in my dad’s embrace, I did not have a care in the world, because I knew that I was unconditionally loved, not theoretically, not poetically, but every bit of me- body, mind, and soul was enveloped in and by love. Is this what abiding means? </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Eventually, over the last twenty-five years, the love of God has seeped into the little openings of my heart, and sometimes it has burst forth like a surging waterfall, that utterly overwhelms me, heals me, and often moves me to tears, laughter, and silent awe. I love Jesus, and there is no greater rest than to surrender all my cares and worries to Jesus- to allow myself to simply rest, knowing that Jesus is providing for my every need because of his love on the cross. This Advent, I invite us to lean into Jesus’ arms. He is friend, brother, lover of our souls, our constant companion, the fullest expression of the Father, savior and redeemer of the world. God desires each one us personally, and has gone to great lengths to secure an intimate and personal relationship with each one of us through his Son and his Spirit. This Advent, I invite us to imagine what rest and surrender might look like as we are encircled in God’s love. </span></span></div>
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<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Post by Tara Shepley</span> </span></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15766459650578309096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4470894328733609921.post-72116907606599405162018-12-15T03:00:00.000-08:002018-12-15T03:00:04.955-08:00Go - December 15, 2017<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img height="419" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/RBBKM_QsPw7pohTEapJRe59qO1iFWkBAsL4e8g5l-Sy7izPBk9KpSi6zW53XjyBkOit_9NzU6S3gfTCPQ1n44pEGy-aXxPpIbU6Ce4KITUc0iMVUfkoTMyR6VK9OQDm7brEVSP87WWLFOekAog" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="330" /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #23221f; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Mark 16:15</span></span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">As this Advent season continues, I am finding myself increasingly thirsting for the time and space to slow everything down. At times it seems as though the speed at which the hours, days and weeks are barreling past me with all of the wonders, commitments, bright lights and holiday celebrations that accompany them, makes it exceedingly easy to get caught up in that flurry of excitement and activity and neglect to take the time to reflect on the magnitude of the moment toward which we are all racing. That singular point in time at which the world would change forever.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">But even as these thoughts of regret and loss flow through my mind, I am also reflecting this year on the fact that perhaps there is something else that can be learned this Advent. I am struck this year by the fact that as much as I am seeking the peace and quiet reflection that the birth of our Savior commands I am also mindful of the need to seize the opportunity to live into the invitation to GO! We all need time to slow down this Advent and ensure that our hearts and mind are properly positioned so that we might receive the greatest gift of all on Christmas morning. But I believe it is also incumbent upon us not to let that be the end of the story.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">As children of God we are not called to sit and wait forever. It is on each of us to live our lives in the manner that Jesus has taught us. To honor Christ, we must lead a life that touches others with that same loving humility that Jesus did. It would be truly a lost opportunity for us to wait in the wings, keeping the wondrous gift of Jesus to ourselves, while at the same time failing to share Jesus’ love and forgiveness with everyone we meet. It is our call as Christians to live into our role as apostles and go out into the world wherever that call may take us to spread the Good News!</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So as we wait this Advent, let’s not be merely interested observers. Let’s be the horses in the starting gate. Let’s store the energy of the peace and reflection that Advent affords to all of us so that when the light of Christ shines on Christmas Day we can become the beacons which reflect throughout the world with all the love and mercy that Jesus would have us do.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Post by Michael Southwick</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15766459650578309096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4470894328733609921.post-57482830215905107982018-12-14T03:00:00.000-08:002018-12-14T03:00:13.241-08:00Bless - December 14, 2018<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://cdn.cnn.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/171213180354-sandy-hook-victims-graphic-super-169.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="800" height="180" src="https://cdn.cnn.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/171213180354-sandy-hook-victims-graphic-super-169.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo from CNN.com</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">This season of Advent is one of my favorites of the liturgical year and one of the favorites of almost all the families of this part of the world, since in addition to preparing for Christmas, the tree is bought, the house is decorated and the purchase of gifts for friends and family. It can be a time of stress and at the same time one of happiness since we want to show our love to others with a gift.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">During this time six years ago, a tragedy took place that tore at our souls, the killing of mostly children and some adults at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, CT.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">How can one forget that day? The uncertainty, the fear and the sadness that invaded our homes. To find hope, rebirth, understanding, after such tragedy without God would be impossible.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">We asked ourselves where God was at that moment? How did he allow that to happen? Maybe we were even angry with Him.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">How to bless God in those moments of difficulty, of impotence? How can we do it? How would those parents or children who had lost their relatives that day on December 14, one so close to Christmas?</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I can only say that those innocent children were welcomed into the arms of our Lord Jesus Christ, and they are surely praising Hosanna in the highest next to the angels in heaven.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Whenever we experience happy things or sad and tragic events, we should bless the Lord and have a psalm, hymn or prayer that helps us to be very connected spiritually with our God.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">We should trust that He, the creator of everything we see and do not see, loves us and awaits us with open arms even if we do not understand why things happen</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">My favorite psalm in these times of sorrow is Psalm 103-1: 2</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">"Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits "...</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">This psalm fills my soul with tenderness and although I am sad or angry or happy, it does me good and I know that God loves me.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">In this Advent we must be prepared with His word by incorporating it into our everyday lives, so that by blessing others, we obtain our own blessings. Amen. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Post byRoxana Videla Olivares</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Esta estacion de adviento es una de mis favoritas del año liturgico y una de las favoritas de casi todas las familias de esta parte del mundo, ya que ademas de prepararnos para la navidad, se compra el arbol, se decora la casa y se hace la compra de los regalos para amigos y familiares. Es una epoca de cierto estres y a la vez de felicidad ya que queremos demostrar nuestro amor a los demas con un presente.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">En medio de todo este clima, hace seis años atras sucedio una tragedia que nos desgarro el alma, la matanza de los niños y algunas personas mayores en la escuela elemental Sandy Hook, en Newtown CT.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Como olvidar ese dia, la incertumbre, el miedo y la tristeza que invadio nuestros hogares. Como encontrar en medio de todo eso la esperanza, el renacer, el entendimiento, sin Dios seria imposible.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Nos preguntamos donde estaba Dios en ese momento, como permitio que eso sucediera, nos enojamos quiza con El. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Como bendecir a Dios en esos momentos de dificultad, de impotencia?, como podemos hacerlo?, como lo harian esos padres o hijos que habian perdido a sus familiares? ese dia 14 de diciembre, tan cercano a la Navidad, dia de alegria y reuniones familiares.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Solo puedo decir que esos niños inocentes fueron recibidos en los brazos de nuestro Señor Jesucristo, y seguramente estan alabando Hossana en la alturas! junto a los angeles en el cielo.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Cada vez que nos sucedan cosas alegres o muy tristes y tragicas bendigamos al Señor, tengamos un salmo o himno u oracion que nos ayude a estar muy conectados espiritualmente con nuestro Dios.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">El creador de todo lo que vemos y no vemos y que aunque no entendamos por que suceden las cosas confiemos en que El nos ama y nos espera con los brazos abiertos.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Mi salmo favorito en estos casos es el 103-1:2</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">“Bendice alma mia al Señor, y bendiga todo mi ser su santo nombre. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Bendice, alma mia, al Señor y no olvides ninguno de sus beneficios”…</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Eso llena mi alma de ternura y aunque este triste o enojada o feliz, me hace bien y se que a Dios le agrada.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">En este adviento estemos preparados con su palabra incorparada cada dia en nuestras vidas, de manera que bendiciendo obtengamos bendicion.</span></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15766459650578309096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4470894328733609921.post-73275639707024387942018-12-13T03:00:00.000-08:002018-12-13T03:00:08.913-08:00Worship - December 13, 2018<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="C:\Users\dylan\Desktop\Lessons and Carols Old Trinity.jpg" height="441" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/88R6781o3dsj3QU6VoB_z9UCuDFmvBdPGyGy2k7OjT6HosyRnQN11Z01gLiMJ9FW8YTNd5LR0Y3MWSpCzay73Sfz_txzDepwAJiPzMNwkhvOCWTp31gXIQtvhaWR777FWzBzbL4G7mnuZ4B0rA" style="border: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; transform: rotate(0rad);" width="330" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Photo by Dylan Mello</span></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The advent season has always held a special place for me when it comes to worship. The ability to have reflection time and expectation has really grabbed a hold on me as each annual Advent season approaches. Every year, I love waiting to hear and sing the specific hymns of Advent. The anticipation we experience each week in our services as we await the joy of Christmas brings me a sense of awe and wonder. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> The main highlight of my worshipping experience is the Advent Lessons and Carols. No matter what church I’ve been in, each special service fills me with a feeling that is hard to describe. A building filled with fellow worshippers exploring the meaning of the season is quite a sensation. Personally, this worship experience allows me to let go, listen to themes, the words, and attempt to find the message in front of us. A particular anthem, “Veni Domine”, stands out to me at this time of year. The translated words are such, “Come, Lord, and do not delay. Visit us with your peace so that we can rejoice in your presence with hearts made pure. Come, Lord, and as a mother consoles her children, so shall you comfort us, and we shall see you and our hearts will rejoice.” I can’t help but see the imagery of these lines and how this captures many of the feelings of Advent. I can see Mary holding the newborn Jesus, comforting his hunger, fears, and cries. And so, we turn in the same way to Jesus. We wait for the celebration of his birth to remember how we share and experience this love.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> Advent is a busy season for worshipping. There is much time spent looking ahead to the planning of Christmas and all that entails. I think it is important to slow down and recognize the importance of this waiting. We are waiting to rejoice in the celebration of Jesus and the peace and love that he brings. We can remember why we have four Sundays of the season, why we light the candles each week, and how refocusing our efforts can bring us back to a place of solace.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Post by Dylan Mello</span></span></div>
<span id="docs-internal-guid-981365f1-7fff-0e62-bc4a-d250fabde369"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15766459650578309096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4470894328733609921.post-84988488387166819522018-12-12T03:00:00.000-08:002018-12-12T03:00:11.428-08:00Pray - December 12, 2018<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/0YigWw0wMLI4dN9zZsztmqjgqzxDuuY1RBmLIoq47V_nPgodZrbIHVwwE6_fvAYrU1GJYFy-gZ1pav0lVpJQirnrxts=s400" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="277" data-original-width="400" height="221" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/0YigWw0wMLI4dN9zZsztmqjgqzxDuuY1RBmLIoq47V_nPgodZrbIHVwwE6_fvAYrU1GJYFy-gZ1pav0lVpJQirnrxts=s400" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Photo by Mike Corey</span></td></tr>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I’ve lived away from family for many years, so rare is the Christmas that I get to spend time with them; some years they make the trip to Connecticut, other years we make the trip to the Midwest. Holiday plans take a lot of work – travel, food, gifts, decorations, making the guest room ready, tidying up for company. And then add the usual seasonal issues – endless Christmas music (even though it’s Advent), our stress meeting the stress of others, and perhaps end of year job duties. This is the Advent many of us know; a season to prepare, stress out, and worry that all will be ready; and we tend to put this all on ourselves, and sometimes above what is important.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">As I think of Christmas’ past with family, I recall that all the stuff swirling around – the travel, food, gifts, decorations, guest rooms, and cleanliness of the house are not the things I cherish. It was moments connecting with family and friends, sometimes even strangers…or friends I hadn’t met yet. It was the conversations, the laughter, the joy, the love. It was hearts being open to one another. Sometimes healing happened, other times great thanksgiving, and each time lives were drawn closer together.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We’re in the season of preparing, not just for family and friends, but for Emmanuel, God with us. We busy ourselves with so much. But, in all the busyness, are we taking time to </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">preprayer</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">? Are we taking time each day to pause and make room in our heart for the real blessings of the season? For God, for Christ, for the Spirit, for those we will soon see, and the gifts of joy and love.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Before we know it, we will be in the Christmas season, then Epiphany and so on. The rushing, buying, traveling, cleaning, decorating are not the things that will be cherished between us and our loved ones; it will be those moments when we connect in love with those in our lives with whom God has blessed us. The moments of God with us as we are with one another.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">God wants a connection with us too, beyond Advent wreaths, calendars, and hymns. God wants a connection that opens our heart for the love of Christ soon to be with us. God wants us to stop the rushing for just a moment and share our laughter, joy, thanksgivings, concerns, worries, stress; all that lights up our heart…and that clutters our heart.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-726ff41b-7fff-0b6c-4e29-65fdda55b1f4"></span></span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">As we recall the true blessings of this season we find with one another, may we also take time to prepare through prayer with God so we are ready for the greatest gift of all, the love of Christ.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Post by Mike Corey</span></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15766459650578309096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4470894328733609921.post-74984993456240468382018-12-11T03:00:00.000-08:002018-12-11T06:53:31.942-08:00Learn - December 11, 2018<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKCOIRRZhEXHYUyARjAJIluO0dw8Cw2_zOVWw8y1VNH0nBrVVNfo8FYPXcXofRKD8p6MvS2dJADvtl-j_s9Ca_nV-nL5HegGgE4TcK1PTscs1EXOVngJp-SFZHnDwjl-NVSsLsuP4F07U/s1600/Scan201501090004.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="311" data-original-width="240" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKCOIRRZhEXHYUyARjAJIluO0dw8Cw2_zOVWw8y1VNH0nBrVVNfo8FYPXcXofRKD8p6MvS2dJADvtl-j_s9Ca_nV-nL5HegGgE4TcK1PTscs1EXOVngJp-SFZHnDwjl-NVSsLsuP4F07U/s400/Scan201501090004.jpeg" width="308" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Photo by Bill Burkhart</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I’ve been in school for the last 6 years. Occasionally I try to convince myself that it would be better (easier, more fun, less controversial) to return to being </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">spiritual but not religious</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> rather than a practicing Christian. I have failed miserably. Entering into a tradition of prayer, Bible reading, church-going and communion has changed not only me but the very context of my life. It has changed </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">what frames my life</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> in ways that simply being open and available for spontaneous spiritual experience could not. (Come to think of it, I </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">should</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> re-center myself around a regular yoga practice. I really should. I know I’d be happier, healthier, more in tune with myself </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">and </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">spiritually </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">revitalized</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> if I did. But Christianity is something else again.) Practicing Christianity has given me not just a newly refurbished or reinforced center but </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">a new story.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Who I am and who I am meant to be is re-shaped by this story and yet, oddly I feel </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">more like myself</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> as a result. I am not simply re-centered but </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">reframed</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> in something greater than myself that simultaneously makes me more available. </span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Participating in this story requires first of all </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">a suspension of disbelief.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> This is the open attitude Aristotle recommended </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">for appreciating a play</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. And guess what: I’m good at that. I </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">like </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">plays! But it turns out, I am not just </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">watching</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> this play. I am</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> in </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">it</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> This requires an act of the imagination and an embrace of risk </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">more</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> than an act of faith. To tell the truth, it’s more like my experiences in improv dance and comedy than my childhood experiences of “going to church”. I have chosen to live my life within the framework of a passion play whose story I won’t ever completely understand and whose ending I can’t control. My </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">particular</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> lines have not yet been written. I will have to figure them out as I go along but they require that I be authentic. Playing my part makes meaning for me </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">and</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> other people so it is important that I tell the truth. Other texts and other plays are always involved. Christianity isn’t the only drama that matters. But it is the story I have chosen and that has chosen me.</span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I suppose in a way I am </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">still spiritual but not religious</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> in the sense that </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">being </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">religious</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">is not my goal. Living in the story of Jesus is. If anything, this commitment has made my critique of religion much </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">sharper.</span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> My participation is a choice. After all, I could always leave the stage. The play is the thing. But it is my job to make it matter that I stay.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">*</span></span></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-e5627dd3-7fff-eb81-9a4d-62aedeb9870a" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">What story shapes your life?</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">How are you shaped by the stories you tell yourself or the stories other people tell about you?</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Do you think of yourself as smart and successful? </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">As lost and confused? </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">As victim or victimizer? </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">As privileged or oppressed? </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Take a moment.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Tell the truth.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Pause</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> *</span></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Now, consider this: would you be interested in backing up and finding yourself in a larger story?</span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> A story where it is revealed that you are</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> always</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> both? </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> *</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I kill Jesus every day. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">And I await his resurrection.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">This is the story of hope because it is true.</span></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> *</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Learn</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(for the practically inclined)</span></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Open your BCP. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Don’t have one?</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Borrow one from church next week and bring it home with you.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">(If asked what you are doing with a BCP under your arm, you can blame me.)</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Or find it online here: https://www.bcponline.org</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Find Daily Office Lectionary in sidebar menu and click on it</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">(p. 937 in actual Book)</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Now Click on Advent</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Scroll down to week of 2 Advent, Year 1</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">That’s today.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Find Tuesday </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Read one of these</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Psalm 26 and 28</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Isaiah 5:13-17</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I Thessalonians 5:1-11</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Luke 21:29-38</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">A link to the Bible is right there! </span></span></div>
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<a href="https://quod.lib.umich.edu/cgi/r/rsv/rsv-idx?type=DIV1&byte=4782437" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">https://quod.lib.umich.edu/cgi/r/rsv/rsv-idx?type=DIV1&byte=4782437</span></span></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Ponder, wander, free associate.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">There is no official interpretation.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Just a doorway to reflection.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The BCP is a tool for prayer and faith exploration FOR YOU at home alone </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">not just a means of making community in church </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">or a complicated service manual for priests. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">This is what I have learned.</span></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Steal this book.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Make it yours.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Amen.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Post by Mary Barnett</span></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15766459650578309096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4470894328733609921.post-33722594951137662922018-12-10T03:00:00.000-08:002018-12-10T03:00:09.811-08:00Turn - December 10, 2018<span id="docs-internal-guid-7fed5afb-7fff-9ea6-45de-91f962a3cfe0"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img height="416" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/eZ7-hNZQTvotNXm1bU20c1oOorZPZgydIBooClYdZxmkzaZSEbTkVaDMUpnM286hf1aU51At4dCdJ4Ls0Q4z_L3b0Mm2e6eUs4_FGcTMc0MorSJQvyPAQeXtjPg9opnSk9sPPnEZ9ELswhh9TQ" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="624" /></span></span><br />
<span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span>
<span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">"Turn to Me and be saved, all the ends of the earth; For I am God, and there is no other.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Isaiah 45:22</span></span></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-d7f2c652-7fff-ce70-3ca2-e19e77217c02" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Another advent is well underway. Our annual reminder that once again it is our turn to wait. Of course all through the year we wait on many things. We wait for buses. We wait for news to arrive by any number of different means of communication. We wait for someone to do something for us or evaluate us in some way. We wait for medical results, for the work day to be done, or school to be over. I think it’s safe to say that each day, at least once, we find that it is our turn to wait for something.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">But Advent is different. It is during this wondrous season, while we wait our turn to celebrate the joyous birth of the Christ Child, that we are afforded the precious opportunity, if we are willing to take advantage of it, to reflect on the magnitude of the event for which we all are waiting. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I believe that the season of Advent is an invitation to all of us to turn away from the chaos swirling around us at every turn and make the most important turn of all. The turn that we are all called to make. The turn for which we were all created by God our Father. Simply put, we must turn back toward Him. Advent represents an extraordinary gift which enables us to remember that if we refocus our efforts and intentionally turn back toward Christ we will be better able to live more fully into the role of apostles that we were meant to fulfill.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">There is perhaps no better place to start living into this invitation than Advent as we wait expectantly for that moment in the manager when the wait was finally over and the world can turn, along with Mary and Joseph, to face the challenges ahead with the confidence and strength afforded to each of us by the birth of Christ. It will be there, cradled in the loving comfort of the palm of God’s hand, that we will never again feel the need to turn away from anything because we will have everything that we need.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">It’s our turn. It’s the world’s turn. And no matter how often we may veer off course or how many wrong turns we may make we must now dedicate ourselves to making that last turn and knowing that we are almost home. My prayer for all of us this season is that we will remember the gift that Advent provides and do everything in our power to right the ship, </span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">re-calibrate</span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> our compasses, and turn back toward the light of Christ.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We have a bit more waiting to do this year. And while we wait, there is work to be done.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Peace to all.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Post by Michael Southwick</span></span></div>
<br /><br /><br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15766459650578309096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4470894328733609921.post-50602431480747174612018-12-09T03:00:00.000-08:002018-12-09T03:00:07.148-08:00Way of Love - December 9<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="415" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/3JQJkQtKX8-FxCvwATrLEmDqu1Sp3FbSTCiXXUABlTNfBoeqpoVbFHp0wH6vIAbmVEopJ6Q7CRlk_pXI0eefCf2Pw3V9uphLOfy6KokjPAYwEku7UCOcyl9KwExdftX0TZbqg6h2" style="border: none; font-size: 14.6667px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; transform: rotate(0rad);" width="624" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://pixabay.com/en/stained-glass-spiral-circle-pattern-1181864/" style="text-align: start; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">https://pixabay.com/en/stained-glass-spiral-circle-pattern-1181864/</span></span></a></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Advent is a paradox. It is said to be a time of preparation for the coming of Christ into our world and into our lives, and yet, of course, we only observe Advent because Christ has </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">already</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> come. The Word of God was formed in the womb of his mother Mary and “born in human likeness” (Philippians 2:7). The light of the world is already shining brightly. Yes, Advent points forward to the definitive coming of Christ, but, equally, it draws our attention to what already is.</span></span></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-131c0f2e-7fff-64e0-340d-734281da966d" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So, if we take seriously that Christ has already come, then what are we preparing for? It must be a preparation of </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">ourselves</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> to behold and respond to what is already present, available, and shining brightly. Advent calls us to train our perception to witness Christ and the way of love that he is already working in the world around us and calling us into. Advent is a challenge to learn, again and again, how to see.</span></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This is important, because the de facto mode of seeing and being in the world is too often not the way of love. The way of love, the way of Christ, will always be countercultural even as it is in harmony with our inmost being, as it is created in the image of God.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As one of my favorite movies, </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Tree of Life</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, puts it:</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">"The nuns taught us there are two ways through life: the way of Nature and the way of Grace. You have to choose which one you'll follow.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Grace doesn't try to please itself. Accepts being slighted, forgotten, disliked. Accepts insults and injuries.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Nature only wants to please itself. Get others to please it too. Likes to lord it over them. To have its own way. It finds reasons to be unhappy when all the world is shining around it. And love is smiling through all things."</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The way of Nature as it's described here is blind. Blind to the glory shining in all the world, blind to the love smiling through all things. And so, estranged from the grace pervading all things, estranged from the source of life and goodness and joy, it hardens, becomes brittle, insists on its own way.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Jesus was a healer of the blind. Throughout the Gospels, he repeatedly restores their sight. At the beginning of his ministry, he announces that he has been sent to "proclaim... recovery of sight to the blind” (Luke 4:18). </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">How can Jesus, the one “who </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">is</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and who was and who is to come," (Revelation 1:4) open my eyes, open our eyes, this Advent? What blind spots does he want to heal in us so that we can see, more and more, the light of Christ shining in the world? What dust on the window of our souls does he want to clear away so that we, like Mary the Mother of God, might be places where the way of love radiates into the world?</span></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15766459650578309096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4470894328733609921.post-83890612248480214072018-12-08T03:00:00.000-08:002018-12-08T03:00:04.899-08:00Rest<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="C:\Users\dylan\AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge_8wekyb3d8bbwe\TempState\Downloads\IMG_0839 (3).jpg" height="239" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/1nC9EV8KWiUdoXy0r1w4EZBQi5gKSPlLSI972phKJg8WKqeH6KH31ErwcODrUN1PRwXRMqwBldi1yBaQpzYtf1tcoYwTEqeTX98keohynEwpzY6kA6cCIWzY1BqMDb7lrMuFAacRZhpJZVrHDg" style="border: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; transform: rotate(0rad);" width="624" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Photo by Dylan Mello</span></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">As we settle in after our first week of advent, and look forward to our upcoming week, rest is important to remember. As the world is flashing by us, and another week approaches, we can reflect, and we can look forward. Rest is a way to turn as we progress. We can look at our first week of the season and we can think about the next. We can shut out the busyness, the commercials, and the crowds, even if only momentarily. The peace that this baby, born in Bethlehem, brings us allows us to continue. We are renewed. We become refreshed. The preparation of advent is brought forth by rest and we can comfort ourselves in its peace. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Post by Dylan Mello</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15766459650578309096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4470894328733609921.post-54559319578114682152018-12-07T03:00:00.000-08:002018-12-07T03:00:07.694-08:00Go - Went<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Memories of the Past</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Lord, my eyes are always ever before me.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">There is never a point in time when my eyes have caught a glimpse of the past. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">They are forever positioned forward and gaze towards the present things which are. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Did You intentionally fixate my eyes in this manner, Lord? </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It seems strange, that the positioning of my eyes symbolically represents my anticipated hope of being with You, Lord.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Yet, my memories, on the other hand, provide a bridge to the past. A bridge which vividly captivates the stories of my youth, the times of loving joy, and even those memories of grief, loss, and pain. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Today marks the 77th anniversary of Pearl Harbor and America’s entry into World War II. I invite you to reflect on the past, rather than the present fixation of our eyes. Let us meditate on the legacy of the Pearl Harbor. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img alt="Related image" height="280" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/WaSVsKVmHbHopYxxmTrux7Vsu0t-MHQUs3FWxWBxnDCUDrmbvTEjnGW8vjStn1a0b88FcxBdkoW0TZlUq2weMy70O053xDDcJgw8ASzyIDgRj8UUsP-HbOVy58r-Lh4QiJ_iqqC2" style="border: none; transform: rotate(0rad);" width="536" /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">The Pearl Harbor Memorial Bridge (Connecticut) rests on the Quinnipiac River. It is more commonly known as the Q bridge. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">(Courtesy of New Haven Register)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">On December 7, 1941, America </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">went </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">to war. The American government was placed in an uncompromising battle against the Axis forces (Germany and Japanese forces), as a result of a surprise military attack led by Japanese forces. In his declaration of war, President Franklin D. Roosevelt proclaimed that December 7 will a date in which Americans “live in infamy” due to the severe casualties of American troops in Pearl Harbor. More than two thousand soldiers were killed and another 1,178 were injured as a result of the bombings. The memories of war are complicated: survivors share stories of their victories, fears, and the horrors in which they have seen. However, the testimonies of the victims of war remain unheard. The Church is called to bear witness of Christ’s love and presence throughout history, even in times of war. Today, we pray for the soldiers of Pearl Harbor with confidence in the Lord and of His promises of salvation and deliverance from the horrors of war. We pray especially for those heroes who went to be with our Lord on December 7, 1941, and entered into His rest. We also commend our America leaders who made a courageous decision to protect its people and to liberate the innocent victims of the Holocaust, by declaring war against Japan and its Nazi allies. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15766459650578309096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4470894328733609921.post-21236846758179515862018-12-06T03:00:00.000-08:002018-12-06T03:00:06.554-08:00Bless<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/nQ-_tyUAt4w" width="560"></iframe><br />
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<b id="docs-internal-guid-dd9d045c-7fff-36d3-f326-b64ecbafc410" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">When I knew that I had to write in this blog, I was very happy to have this opportunity. It is a great blessing to be part of this family that is our Episcopal Church, an inclusive church that is willing to do everything in its power and commit to the social problems that may arise along the path that we have to travel every day. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">During this time of Advent, let us prepare the way, the way of love, which is God made man: Jesus, the one who lives among us and who accompanies us every day.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Let's not forget to bless in any way we can, whether praying, accompanying, visiting, giving, praising, working, cooking, singing and enjoying every moment in family or in solitude, recognizing that the Lord is always with us, and through His Holy Spirit helps us discern and act as He pleases.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I remember once, when I was part of the choir of the church, and in this time of Advent, we should sing an appropriate hymn and we did not know the music of that hymn, “Preparen el camino” so, during practice, I invented the melody, and the accompanying guitarist complemented my voice well. Then the choir learned, since it was very simple.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Sometime later, checking on YouTube, I searched the name of the hymn and to my surprise, it was sung in the same way that I had sung it. I understood that only with the help of the Holy Spirit of our Lord Jesus Christ can things be done that way and that maybe we all live by these ways but not many want to share for fear of being mocked.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I invite you in this season of Advent to recognize that each day is a blessing and that we should share it with others, that is the wisest way to please our Heavenly Father, and why should we please Him? Because as beloved and grateful children we must live in harmony with what we believe. And if we say that we follow Jesus, we must bless our fellowmen. Amen.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Cuando supe que tenia que escribir en este blog, me senti muy feliz de tener esta oportunidad. Es una gran bendicion ser parte de esta familia que es nuestra iglesia episcopal, una iglesia inclusiva que esta dispuesta a hacer todo lo que este a su alcance y comprometerse con los problemas sociales que puedan surgir a lo largo del camino que nos toca transitar cada dia.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Durante este tiempo de adviento, preparemos el camino, el camino del amor, el cual es Dios hecho hombre: Jesus, ese que habito entre nosotros y que cada dia nos acompaña. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">No nos olvidemos de bendecir en la manera que podamos, ya sea orando, acompañando, visitando, regalando, alabando, trabajando, cocinando, cantando y disfrutando cada momento en familia o en soledad, reconociendo que el Señor esta siempre con nosotros, y a traves de su Espiritu Santo, nos ayuda a discernir y a accionar como a El le agrada.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Recuerdo una vez, cuando formaba parte del coro de la iglesia, y en esta epoca de Adviento, debiamos cantar un himno adecuado y no sabiamos la musica de ese himno, “Preparen el camino” asi es que, en la practica, invente la melodia, y el guitarrista acompaño muy bien mi voz. Luego el coro aprendio, ya que era muy simple. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Tiempo despues, chequeando en youtube, puse el nombre del himno y para mi sorpresa, se cantaba de la misma manera que yo la habia cantado. Comprendi que solo con la ayuda del Espiritu Santo de nuestro Señor Jesucristo se pueden hacer cosas asi y mas, y que quiza todos vivimos pero que no muchos quieren compartir por temor a ser burlados.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Yo los invito en este tiempo de adviento a reconocer que cada dia en una bendicion y que deberiamos compartirla con otros, esa es la manera mas sabia de agradar a nuestro Padre Celestial, y por que deberiamos agradarle? Porque como hijos amados y agradecidos debemos vivir en armonia con lo que creemos. Y si decimos que seguimos a Cristo debemos bendecir a nuestros semejantes. Amen.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15766459650578309096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4470894328733609921.post-83956766158988619782018-12-05T03:00:00.000-08:002018-12-05T03:00:10.003-08:00Worship<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="File:ABEL - Figure Kneeling in Prayer.jpg" height="283" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1e/ABEL_-_Figure_Kneeling_in_Prayer.jpg/800px-ABEL_-_Figure_Kneeling_in_Prayer.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">What is worship? Is it something you do in a group about once a week, usually on a Sunday? Is it a style of music, as indicated by playlists on iTunes with titles like "Praise and Worship”? Is it something you can do for a little while and then… stop? There is something unsatisfying to me about looking at it that way. Perhaps worship is something both more basic and holistic.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">According to Andrew McGowan, Dean of Berkeley Divinity School and historian of early Christianity, the scriptural and ancient Christian idea of worship was about “obedience or service, not gatherings, nor beliefs, nor song, nor ritual, except within that wider whole.”**</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> This is more like it. In the Bible, such obedience and service is often performed with the body, specifically in the acts of bowing and prostration. See, for instance, Genesis 24 where a man "bowed his head and worshipped the Lord" or Matthew 28, where the disciples saw the risen Christ and "worshipped him.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The simple act of kneeling, bowing or prostration not only expresses a life of worship; they are means by which we might be so formed into obedient servants of God. This has certainly been true for me. I have often found myself sensing my imperfect love and wavering dedication, longing for grace to make up the difference between where I am and where Christ calls me to be. At such times, if I am simple or just weary enough to actually do it, it is the act of lying prostrate on the hardwood floor of my bedroom and letting my heart pour through my lips, my desire to be nothing so that Christ may be all in me, that begins to close this gap. This physical expression of humility actually begets humility. In it, I dimly mirror the self-emptying Christ who became a lowly servant for our sake. I begin (begin) to resemble him more, and to resemble Christ is salvation.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Maybe getting down low on the floor to see the humble Jesus is where God is calling you to worship this Advent season. It’s where you will find me. It is through such acts that we prepare room in our hearts and in our lives for him to be born.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">*<span style="text-align: center;">https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:ABEL_-_Figure_Kneeling_in_Prayer.jpg</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">**<span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Andrew McGowan, </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ancient Christian Worship: Early Church Practices In Social, Historical, and Theological Perspective</span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2014), 3.</span></span><br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15766459650578309096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4470894328733609921.post-18685037956109307292018-12-04T03:00:00.000-08:002018-12-04T03:00:12.454-08:00Pray<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img height="294" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/5LDVu4UyyhQ0AiCcKc5dTdXQob_XD3z5z_YpO2uvQs193XaiTecROhVJOoYDyQdon_smyWc3bAzFnwlHTyMTbfrRvUQ8Ch4s5etUqehZv1dHd_HUkAdFPq-8CiPXFMjp1Yi1TTCI7XhxygPG4Q" style="border: none; transform: rotate(0rad);" width="442" /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Colossians 4:2</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It sounds so easy. So natural. So undeniably right. And yet sometimes it escapes us. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">What does it mean to pray? There have been times in my life when I considered prayer to be those inescapable moments when I turned to God to ask for something to happen (or not) or for something that I thought was missing to be provided.; to fulfill some tangible need that I thought I was lacking. Other times, I have turned to prayer when I felt there was no place else to go. Over time I have come to understand prayer as those increasingly frequent conversations I have with God when I can step out of all of the self-imposed human limitations that I so frequently rely upon to guard me from daily turmoil, noise and distress and simply be my true self, in front of God who created me, and fold into the one relationship for which I was formed to be a part. No pretenses or assumptions. Just my own stark humility in the face of the One who loves me unconditionally. And it is through these prayers that I seek not tangible things but a better understanding of what God needs me to do.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">There are countless verses in the Holy Scripture through which we learn that Jesus himself frequently found a way to remove himself from the enormous tension and noise swirling around him to go off alone, simply to pray to God the Father. It was in these times we can imagine that Jesus found himself closest to God and it was through these encounters that He found the strength, the resolve, and the call to move on.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I believe especially during this time of Advent, taking the time to pray through this lens is especially important not only in order to live into the invitation extended to us by our Presiding Bishop, but more importantly to intentionally come into conversation with God so that we might better understand the magnitude of that for which we are all anxiously awaiting – the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">During Advent I frequently find myself wondering about the avalanche of prayers that Mary and Joseph must have made as their wait for the baby’s arrival loomed closer and closer. Theirs was obviously a remarkable testament to faith and belief that God would provide against all the anxiety and uncertainty of what was to come. We can imagine their prayers not only for safe travel and protection but also for God’s love and support to guide them through the unknown and to ultimately better understand the journey that was leading them to Bethlehem. And soon their wait would yield the most unimaginably wonderful gift of all.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">My prayer for all of us this Advent is that we find time among the tumult to be with God, in all our unguarded humanity, and fill ourselves with the strength we need to face the enormous challenges that await. And while we wait, we pray.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Post by Michael Southwick</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15766459650578309096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4470894328733609921.post-46021600048461430422018-12-03T03:00:00.000-08:002018-12-03T03:00:10.054-08:00Learn<div style="text-align: center;">
<span id="docs-internal-guid-9f2a1b28-7fff-f091-5eb5-263907f2d4ba"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img alt="Papa.jpg" height="204" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/oU7I6eaKlP3sFmcQ28RVxkSvcFqmT_rDYCYYhOkTE6_-kl_ml_sv-ahjRdDUJMKTJDH1twkeXI9GDGc_iHnT4jppF3Wq5gxsWqUNgEH792rPUAb7WKUFPgPPyHw6CTEBOzBUbC1-euU60jDpvQ" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="310" /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Growing up I was very close to my Grandfather – Papa, as my sister and I called him. Through a lifetime of experiences, he gained a wisdom that we looked up to, and he freely shared with us. His one-liner bits of wisdom stay with me even today – “</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">One convinced against their will is of the same opinion still” </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">and “</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Better to be thought a fool than to open your mouth and remove all doubt”</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> – were a couple of my favorites. While he would never claim to be the author of many of these one-liners, there was one that I think was born deep in his soul, and he was particularly fond of sharing with my sister and me.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The only way you have wasted the day is by not learning anything”</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Papa did not have the benefit of great, formal educational opportunities; so, he took advantage of being a student of life and supplemented it with a class here or there and countless hours at libraries. His life’s education seemed to mirror one of his favorite authors, Louis L’Amour, chronicled in </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Education of a Wandering Man.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">He understood, and instilled in us, that each second, of each minute, of each hour, of each day is a precious gift from God. We must make the most of it. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The time we are graced with, we must explore it and all that is in it. We need to keep ourselves ready for the Divine presence around us. Give thought and meditate on the trail we have walked with God. As we learn about and from one another, our natural world of which we are all stewards, the vast reaches of God’s creation only visible in our mind’s eye, and God’s Incarnation, God with us, we find that the knowledge we gain serves something greater, love.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Brother Keith Nelson, SSJE reminds us – </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">“In the end, knowledge is not enough. Knowledge – like technology – is like a very good, very capable servant. Love is its true master. Without love, our knowledge is lifeless. In the service of love, it finds its place and purpose.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I think Papa would agree.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">As we learn, chase after knowledge, we gain a new perspective, a deeper understanding of the source of our being – our Creator, Redeemer and the One who loves our soul as though it is the only one in the universe – God; and in this we find love grows, served by our learning, as we walk with God with mind, eyes and heart wide open.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: x-small; white-space: pre-wrap;">Post by Mike Corey</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15766459650578309096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4470894328733609921.post-82143490118148109662018-12-02T03:00:00.000-08:002018-12-02T03:00:05.095-08:00Turn<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">1) </span></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Long ago I </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">trained</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> as a dancer so I</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> leapt </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">at the chance to blog on </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">turning</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. I </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">trained</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> I </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">leapt</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> I</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> turned. </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> My verbs could be an outline of my faith journey. Which is on-going. Which is why I love the seasons of the church year. They keep me turning. And coming back. To learn and leap and turn again.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">2) </span></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">At the time of the year when the world expects us to be most externally focused: parties, presents JOY! </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">turn in</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. Let yourself say no to something. Set aside some time and space. Say Dec 9th. Let </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">yourself</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> be confined. A baby is to be born. Nestle in to the womb of your own sweet soul and wait for it. Maybe the baby who needs to be born is you.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">3) </span></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I remember the first time I went to an Easter vigil service. The one with the fire on the steps and the banging on the door and the literal turning to face the back of the church to denounce sin and then turning back to the altar and to God. I LOVED it. My soul needs this I thought! I need practices that embody a faith I cannot simply understand with my mind. But that matters. And that matters more and more each day if I let myself take in even </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">one iota</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> of the pain and loneliness out there. I need practices and new words to give this faith renewed traction in the </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">world outside</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">the world inside</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> the chambers of my own heart. So my faith doesn’t just stay shut up in the prayer book all week but can walk abroad in the world. I want to learn to ride this faith like I once learned to ride a bicycle, not just on the smooth pavement of a church service but over the thick and stubborn grass in the backyard on a dark November afternoon. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">4) </span></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Resist the spin. Stop being turned by the world. Intentionally turn towards a love that the mind can’t parse, and the world may not recognize</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">but that</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> the body recognizes as living water.</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This at least is what helps </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">me</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> recognize when I am turning in the right direction. My eyes water. Literally. My heart of stone becomes a heart of flesh. This is no small feat. I am a card carrying yankee person, a flinty chip off some old Plymouth block, longing to be reborn as a real live human being. Like the velveteen rabbit. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">5) </span></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">I am less than human frequently. I am also very average. Usually what I need and want in order to be healed is what a whole bunch of people need and want. I’m not very original in my needs.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">6) </span></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Try saying “Jesus, help me.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">7) </span></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">You don’t need to understand exactly what this means to say it. No less than the Archbishop of Canterbury said this week. </span><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> “It is extraordinarily important as Christians that we remember that the definitive revelation of who God is was not in words, but in the word of God </span><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">who we call</span><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Jesus Christ. We can’t pin God down.” There is so much room for the saving grace of individual interpretation and personal spiritual experience in there. So much mystery and ambiguity. So go ahead. Be </span><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">really</span><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> broad-minded. Turn, learn and make a leap of faith. Let God in. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">8) </span></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A hunger so deep and a thirst so specific must have once been satisfied for us to still long for it. There is something eternal and true that we once knew but have forgotten. This is TRUTH with a capital T that we can’t parse intellectually or ever claim </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">to own</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> but that we can sense when we hush the hammering of the world and the clamor inside ourselves and clear a space, a womb and wait for our own quiet annunciation. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">9) </span></span><span style="color: #181818; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Imagine a Carthage sown with salt, and all the sowers gone, and the seeds lain however long in the earth, till there rose finally in vegetable profusion leaves and trees of rime and brine. What flowering would there be in such a garden? Light would force each salt calyx to open in prisms, and to fruit heavily with bright globes of water–-peaches and grapes are little more than that, and where the world was salt there would be greater need of slaking. For need can blossom into all the compensations it requires. To crave and to have are as like as a thing and its shadow. For when does a berry break upon the tongue as sweetly as when one longs to taste it, and when is the taste refracted into so many hues and savors of ripeness and earth, and when do our senses know anything so utterly as when we lack it? And here again is a foreshadowing–-the world will be made whole. For to wish for a hand on one’s hair is all but to feel it. So whatever we may lose, very craving gives it back to us again.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">From Marilynne Robinson “Housekeeping”</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Wait for it.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Post by Mary Barnett</span></span></div>
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<span id="docs-internal-guid-a232b012-7fff-56c1-0ee1-0c1d78f26d8e"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15766459650578309096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4470894328733609921.post-73568469891678498482018-12-01T03:00:00.000-08:002018-12-01T03:00:09.331-08:00The Way of Love<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img alt="../../../var/folders/r9/syx4ldds0md672krp2kk3nqm0000gn/T/com.apple.iChat/Messages/Transfers/Ima" height="400" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/ffVxkj81V5iWvji4YJm90XsC7bhjmbophBeTDbxIYxENz482q3srfiaTdoNitqjxjOB5SLXFNrg-jKHPMZvRm8H7BYUzFh-MhK7dO3-MhZHGqjLITW4ei4DesM1K3u6oloaMyneVduGv2iTWpA" style="border: none; transform: rotate(0rad);" width="281" /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-3ab4ae82-7fff-1d4e-3af5-bf2396a68e87"></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Advent is a time of preparation, but preparation for what? I’d like to invite us to imagine this Advent as a time of preparation for new life within God’s Divine embrace. I believe that God is drawing all of creation to Godself in intimate love, and that relationship with God is the most important relationship we will ever have. Advent offers us an invitation to renew our spiritual lifecycle, to engage in a time to wrestle and to wonder about how our Creator God came to us by choice and by love in Jesus of Nazareth. I hope that Advent will also serve as a time of discipleship. Together, we will encounter John, Zechariah, Elizabeth, and Mary who each respond to God’s invitation to come closer in their own way. May their model encourage us as we choose to press into God’s Kingdom with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength this Advent. As we take our first steps on this journey, we will discover that the pathway is not hidden, it is in plain view and accessible to all, but it does require one crucial first step: to Turn. Tomorrow, we will Turn together and begin our journey on “The Way of Love” with the expectant joy in knowing that Jesus came to redeem us, to reconcile us, and to restore all of creation to its rightful relationship within the Arms of True Love. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: x-small; white-space: normal;">Post by Tara Shepley</span></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15766459650578309096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4470894328733609921.post-56783555298433077242018-11-01T13:18:00.000-07:002018-11-01T13:18:26.159-07:002018 ECCT Advent Bloggers<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Dear ECCT,</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Beginning on December 1, 2018 a colleague group in the ordination process for the priesthood will be offering an Advent Blog reflecting on the themes of the Way of Love:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">WORSHIP</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span id="docs-internal-guid-97e01301-7fff-7eb0-e2d2-6ce814b4cac8"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">GO</span></span></span><br />
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<span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">A post will appear each day, so please subscribe to the blog to receive them in your email. Below is a photo and a biography for each person who will be posting. </span></span></span><br />
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<span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Wishing you a blessed Advent,</span></span></span><br />
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<span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Molly James</span></span></span><br />
<span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Dean of Formation</span></span></span><br />
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<span id="docs-internal-guid-29e6174e-7fff-3be9-abd6-7969be2c46b7"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img height="320" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/zeARn0qx9HWoFqZbI1J2tYFB57adGVAOtL06E7Oi0G2pSPzax3z4s4KPdJxE6G-wr_Y8o8lOoZsLQZq7QroD8noW47vXb1xI2RzvIiDomC7wNwRcRBqtJHNbiTpYmoF64z6yIY_t" style="border: none; transform: rotate(0rad);" width="245" /></span></span></span><br />
<span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Mary Barnett</b></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Mary Barnett lives in Branford with her husband Dave and children Sam (17) Ben (14) and Mollie (9). Her first career was in modern dance and theater. She founded </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In Good Company </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">as a home for her own choreography and over fifteen years, produced over 50 guest artists in a popular performance series called </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Dancing Out Loud</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> in New Haven. Then, she fell for writing. Her work has appeared in Tin House, The Christian Century, </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Letters</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and Commonweal. Her desire to embody the way, the truth and the life in words, action and restored relationships has found a true home in the Episcopal church.</span></span></div>
<span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="color: magenta; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></span></span><br />
<span id="docs-internal-guid-86c77edf-7fff-b1df-1fb1-235afd2c464c"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img height="240" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/oaZUHDZX6etM47fGOe9Uab3USFMkYeddjE4X-LXg7HIG02hTG6J7Md5-9T9zNNTY50FBLqHqTy0lcd2EUkD6iH9cGwQDxWOjlv7csb-kPOpizMjZ3UNGHIrduns4mh0bkLwXQQFF" style="border: none; transform: rotate(0rad);" width="320" /></span></span></span><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Mike Corey</span></b><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Mike Corey lives in Colchester with his wife Kate, two dogs Carter and Tater, and their cat Macy. Originally from Indiana he arrived in Connecticut, by way of Mississippi, in 2010. He has worked in the public safety and emergency management field since 2001, and currently works at ARRL as the organization’s emergency preparedness manager. His home parish is St. John’s in West Hartford and he is attending Hartford Seminary where he is in the Masters in Transformative Leadership and Spirituality program.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-190e791c-7fff-2391-bd2b-ed8e3acba755"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img height="364" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-hu4RNMQCfXPeSbkrihPWzHvJEX9tiPe1RX3ecgcXtnGFgNuINRkO_Z0jSRd3WklN-PXLyL4yBm9JfsjbspaypahRiQPfWTUuXrhYzhxBjkQeT0IcjOWwdHFABBcmKyLXPUyhxze" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="243" /></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Shancia Jarrett</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-427dc441-7fff-7428-6fbd-e279ff00f855"></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Shancia Jarrett is a postulant for Holy Orders and a senior at Yale Divinity School. She is a first generation immigrant from Jamaica, West Indies. Shancia is interested in the ethics of housing equality, conflict resolution, and reconciliation. In particular, she is interested in The Episcopal Church's efforts of evangelism and the intersection of leadership and community outreach. To further her understanding of the Anglican Communion, Shancia is currently studying abroad at Westcott House in Cambridge, UK. Beyond her commitments to seminary and the ordination process, Shancia loves spending time with her parents: George and Coleen Jarrett, siblings, and nieces and nephews. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-ddb0d247-7fff-bde8-c1cf-34f4f6797156"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img height="340" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/bwEqSJDc8XyntYsU3MF3zThowCPy2lfGd08GH4ga6Osn44gvuUnemuKi0PgbfsHDN6ukoC7b7eKKo7s9stVntYwyZYTmJMn__LHbIAxwXEAltiAZHhkzwRJMFhwOo0j8-2eVuMTH" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="226" /></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>John Kennedy</b></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-932730f9-7fff-f8d7-6838-9373f777cae6"></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">John is a postulant for Holy Orders in the Episcopal Church in Connecticut and a senior at Berkeley Divinity School at Yale. He enjoys the contemplative tradition of Christianity and wants to invite others into deep ways of intuitive, existential knowing that God is closer to us than we are to our own eyes. He grew up in New Canaan, CT as the son of Eileen and John and older brother of Sarah. Prior to embarking on the path to priesthood, John played and studied and worked in music, picking up the guitar at 13, attending Berklee College of Music as an undergraduate, and working in the commercial music industry in New York City. John has just turned 30 and is feeling OK about it. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-7385046f-7fff-c5c7-1148-5a7c898404ef"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img height="320" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/Rtgrb__mt_9ZcL2QH8nm1Cd82Y32jlwIgvHd7azJHwyDQe7upxcH18dp6OTbd-2YBNR_9J7MMJO4ZGS7_DKxUgE0p-VNQjLq1EEq5hKYPROOB8RB3UihqSRdP0dSBPNB4cJBpU1O" style="border: none; transform: rotate(0rad);" width="240" /></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Dylan Mello</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Dylan Mello lives in Manchester with his wife, Alejandra, and two daughters, Carolyn (3), and Violette (almost 1). Originally from Fairhaven, MA, he has been in Connecticut since 2012, while living previously in Florida and Pennsylvania. He has worked in the field of athletic training since 2009. Dylan’s home parish is St. Mary’s Manchester, while interning at Trinity-Brooklyn. He is completing the hybrid formation program towards the priesthood. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with family and traveling.</span></span></div>
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<span id="docs-internal-guid-3dd28fac-7fff-52da-3d3d-5fdfe1f8de5d"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img alt="A person standing in front of a lake
Description generated with high confidence" height="331" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/BhJTp8xgaYHj3LV-AEq168PHOghanl5KwD0njzzxqe8orrAAOavwQW3ENkLMVpp_6iIkQxOdxOWgmTu-962yUQNCtJ_EPCv9oEYfnTqBnDX0HCnkv8DzM2RdUFTCVhTRup7CQtMwUnx18uCRwA" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="248" /></span></span><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Roxana Videla Olivares</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">My name is Roxana Videla Olivares. I have lived in Meriden, Connecticut since</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">2002. I moved from Argentina with my husband and four children in 2002. I have</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">three grandchildren and one more on the way.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I am a self-employed cleaning houses in the New Haven area.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I am a postulant to priesthood by the grace of God.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I served for sixteen years in All Saints Episcopal Church in Meriden in many ways,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">as a musical director, acolyte, altar guild, senior, junior warden of Vestry, clerk</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">and treasurer.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">My studies are one of my priorities after God and my family. I feel the call to serve</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">my neighbors, especially those who are immigrants because I know what hard is</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">start a new life leaving behind part of your life and family.</span><br />
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<span id="docs-internal-guid-b5cd5b01-7fff-d29f-1e8c-55b1befaff08"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img height="213" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/byPZlWpgqhCG9c__vLb5Ku5gE0fS-6LaOq6ODjVo9a-vEcU5pW5H74qod1_KveFyu_zWv5VDDm2r33HlXlcjaLEdmLm1xAtcGPGNqpajAxqjjEqQ2BbXGxmVFEeGaUqRVmk7_HmF" style="border: none; transform: rotate(0rad);" width="320" /></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Tara Shepley</b></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Tara Shepley lives in Southbury with Joe, her husband of almost twenty-five years. Together, she shares the joy of raising their three children who are in college and beyond: Joe (23), David (21), and Sarah (18). Tara is finishing her senior year at Yale Divinity School/Berkeley in the Masters of Divinity program and is a Postulant for Holy Orders in the Episcopal Church in Connecticut. As a native “Nutmegger”, she enjoys kayaking, sailing, snowshoeing, international travel, spiritual pilgrimages and spending time with her family and their three standard poodles.Tara has a passion for connecting people with God’s intimate love through Jesus Christ with the Holy Spirit.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-f8ca2457-7fff-479c-766c-15562bf93423"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img height="276" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/609812LsWfliq3u89mKLQqd8FMn1cBrq06RRrGHhnq14cHotJUlmGqmnDplNw7YadMPED2lTkZsNcwvb-Uegk3OAU5rYrbuHaErF86d-id8hqA0nsHBD_7PfeGUUFnb1j1c8VvtT" style="border: none; transform: rotate(0rad);" width="207" /></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Michael Southwick</b></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-16dddd32-7fff-9e21-89e1-c75d9b48a6d0"></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Michael Southwick has been a postulant for the priesthood since October, 2016. Michael’s home parish is Christ Church Greenwich where he and his wife Debby have been members for over 25 years. Michael is currently working full time as General Counsel for The Salvation Army, Eastern Territory as he continues discerning his call to the priesthood in the ECCT. Michael completed his parish internship at St. Paul’s Huntington last summer and is currently working on his CPE requirement through a hybrid program that includes classroom work through the Iona Center at Seminary of the Southwest and a practical component working with Greenwich Chaplaincy Services. Following the completion of his CPE training Michael expects to return to the academic components of his process through a mixture of on-line and live classroom studies to supplement the work he has already completed at Berkeley Divinity School where he attended part-time during the 2014-2015 academic year and through other academic means. In his free time Michael enjoys taking walks with his wife, spending time with his family, reading, riding his bike and watching college football.</span></span></div>
<span id="docs-internal-guid-027be4b8-7fff-6c77-46a2-7a6ab2de3c0f"><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15766459650578309096noreply@blogger.com0