tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-56538754400363058082024-03-13T06:42:18.247-04:00Saint Andrew BlogTidbits on Life, Spirituality, Our Purpose, Faith, and the Lutheran ChurchTina Levorsehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05201592186167814096noreply@blogger.comBlogger131125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5653875440036305808.post-6623534086382566932016-09-30T20:17:00.000-04:002016-09-30T20:18:50.696-04:00Things Are Getting Ugly...and it's YOUR job to BE LOVE<!--[if !mso]>
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<b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Things Are Getting Ugly… and it’s YOUR job to BE
LOVE</span></i></b>
<br />
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-language: AR-SA; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">This year’s Presidential Election process has become
perhaps one of the most ugly in recent history.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We have a nation divided between 3 camps…those who love our Democratic
candidate and hate the Republican candidate, those who love the Republican
candidate and hate the Democratic candidate, and those who can’t stomach voting
for either one… and there is a large contingent of voters in each camp.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-language: AR-SA; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">This election cycle has brought out very passionate
and polarizing rhetoric, and emotions the depths of which are hard to recall in
the other Presidential Election years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And while that could otherwise be a good thing, the vitriol, hatred,
falsehoods, lies and venom spewing in this election year have turned this
process into a virtual circus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve seen
Facebook comments that civilized people should never utter… <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">because of their political views…</i> and
these have been directed at people who otherwise would call each other friends.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have read stories of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">whole families being torn apart</i> because of the sides being chosen
in this fiasco of politics.</span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-language: AR-SA; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I am concerned for the sanity of our nation as we
march toward Nov. 8.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-language: AR-SA; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">No matter where YOU fall in your political beliefs,
it is IMPERATIVE that you act as Christ would have you do…. Because that is
what separates you, a child of God, from the World that Evil seeks to
rule.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes, vote your conscience and let your vote
speak your mind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But you do NOT have
the right to tear other people down for what they choose to do with their vote.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You are CALLED to speak out against hurtful
words, and violence that some people seem poised to mete out because of a
difference in opinion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You are called to
BE LOVE.</span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-language: AR-SA; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">While the outcome matters, in truth, the “system”
will right itself in time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">What you do and say to others between now
and Nov 8, and in the days and weeks following, will have more direct impact on
your family, friends and neighbors than your vote on Nov 8</i></b>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-language: AR-SA; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Were you kind?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Were you respectful of the views of others?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Did you show love to your neighbor even
though he was going to vote for the other candidate?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Did you speak up to try to calm the situation
when others take the hate too far.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let’s
show the world that in the face of turmoil and dissent, we still love each
other.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u>That </u></i>will make us the greatest nation in the world…where the
rights that so many have fought and died to preserve can be exhibited in peace…
the right to freedom of speech, the right to vote, the right to <b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">peaceably</i></b> assemble, and the right to
worship as we please.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is a great
pride of American democracy that we can peaceably change government leaders
every four years without massive public unrest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Let’s keep it up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">BE LOVE</i></b></span><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></i></b><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;"></span></i></b></div>
Tina Levorsehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05201592186167814096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5653875440036305808.post-73201814829783215342012-03-21T23:09:00.002-04:002012-03-21T23:17:11.931-04:00A letter to Tim Tebow on his recent trade to the Jets<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AJXR1a8eKRw/T2qWvpgw-mI/AAAAAAAAAO0/UpRWwSK-9Vs/s1600/Football.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AJXR1a8eKRw/T2qWvpgw-mI/AAAAAAAAAO0/UpRWwSK-9Vs/s320/Football.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Dear Tim,<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Well, you’ve been traded to the Jets.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Welcome to New Jersey. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You’re in a mission mine field (gold or bombs? It’s hard to tell.)<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Yeah, let’s get a few things straight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">You see, both the <a href="http://www.giants.com/" rel="nofollow">Giants</a> and the <a href="http://www.newyorkjets.com/" rel="nofollow">Jets</a> belong to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">New Jersey</i>, regardless of where their franchises register the moo-lah.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They both practice and play in NJ…so even though they call themselves NY teams, they’re ours.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>New Jerseyans know the difference… and that’s where suburbia lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(And you’ll have to understand that you’ll never win over the southern half of the state, they’re mostly Eagles fans.)<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Speaking of suburbia….did you know that the suburban and metro NY/NJ area is probably one of the biggest mission fields in America?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yeah, you see we’re so caught up in trying to keep up with what we’ve got that the devil has been having an easy time of it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Being a Christian isn’t always easy here…we’re a melting pot of faiths, cultures, politics, social and economic classes, races… you name it… you can find it here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">On the flip side…on the whole, I think we’re a pretty tolerant region considering our diversity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But that tends to lend itself to a laissez-faire attitude of “hey, you do your thing and I’ll do mine” making evangelism a tough sell in this area.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The “Tebow-ing” thing will generate an equal amount of mockery and supporters.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">And it’s not just the fans.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ask Mark Messier or Mike Richter of the Rangers, or Phil Simms or Eli Manning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ask Derek Jeter, Jorge Posada or Alex Rodriguez.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ask Mark Sanchez.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The media is looking to crucify you….when they’re not tearing apart your football skills they’ll mock you for your faith, your personal life or worse, they’ll label you irrelevant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They’ll take you to task like no other media market in the country.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like a dog with a bone, they’re not going to let you get away easy.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Unless you’ve got the stuff to weather us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Because you’re not irrelevant… you are a child of God, just like the rest of us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">And your faith has lit a light that shines on God in the one place a majority of Americans, and New Jerseyans and New Yorkers, will find themselves each Sunday… in the church of the sports arena (or watching it on TV). </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">There’s a song by Ol’ Blue Eyes (if you don’t know who that is, you’d better look it up before you move here) that goes “if I can make it there, I’ll make it anywhere.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you think Denver was tough, you ain’t seen nothin’ yet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Grab your big boy football pads…the hits are going to be hard.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Your proving ground has been set before you… I wonder what plans God has in store for you here.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Good luck.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>Join us for worship anytime:</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>Sundays 8:30 and 10:45 am</strong></span><br />
<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;"><em>St. Andrew Lutheran Church</em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">335 Reynolds Ave., Parsippany, NJ 07054</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">(973) 887-6713</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.elcaandy.org/">www.elcaandy.org</a></span>Tina Levorsehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05201592186167814096noreply@blogger.com1335 Reynolds Ave, Parsippany-Troy Hills, NJ 07054, USA40.843722 -74.4022648.2728394999999963 -134.167889 73.4146045 -14.636639000000002tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5653875440036305808.post-8681625016191728022012-02-25T22:52:00.001-05:002012-02-25T22:57:41.893-05:00Fat Tuesday is Over But the Fun is Just Beginning<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_SJk-6pdkf8/T0msSqgcGNI/AAAAAAAAAOs/tdts9tX8TrA/s1600/Youth+Group+Mardi+Gras+2012+017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_SJk-6pdkf8/T0msSqgcGNI/AAAAAAAAAOs/tdts9tX8TrA/s320/Youth+Group+Mardi+Gras+2012+017.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong><em><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #38761d;">Fat Tuesday is over, but the party is just beginning for 8 Youth and their Chaperones.<o:p></o:p></span></span></em></strong></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">If you joined us for our Mardi Gras party, you know what a great time we had.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">If you missed it, you missed a REALLY terrific party. Really...<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">91 people joined us at St. Andrew on Saturday, Feb. 11, 2012 to help raise funds to send 8 of our “Youts” and their 2 chaperones (Pastor Fred and the Youth Advisor) to the <a href="http://www.elca.org/ELCA/Youth-Gathering.aspx">2012 ELCA Youth Gathering</a> in New Orleans this summer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><strong><span style="color: purple; font-size: x-large;">The kids raised a total of $3555 with your support.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>THANK YOU!</span></strong></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Those 91 people (plus there were many who made donations but did not attend) enjoyed an evening of terrific New Orleans-style food (jambalaya, red beans & rice, gumbo, and of course, King Cake).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had karaoke with some very good voices (and some not so good but good-spirited), masquerade mask crafting, Guitar Hero and Dance-Dance Revolution games, and a very fun Crazy Hat contest.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">But the big fundraiser of the evening was the Silent Auction.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>56 items were up for bid, and there was indeed some very competitive bidding going on for a few of the items. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thank you to some of our local businesses for their support and the items donated for this event:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(So please patronize their business and say “thanks” for supporting St. Andrew’s Youth Group).<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/MoesParsippany">Moe’s Southwest Grill in Parsippany<o:p></o:p></a></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://www.linkedin.com/pub/terry-corigliano/40/522/4a0">Lia Sophia Jewelry (Terri Corigliano)<o:p></o:p></a></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://www.shoprite.com/pd/ShopRite-of-Parsippany/E7F7757">ShopRite of Parsippany<o:p></o:p></a></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Billy-Madeline-Hair-Cutters/143831382315336">Billy & Madeline Haircutters of Whippany<o:p></o:p></a></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://www.jerseymikes.com/">Jersey Mikes Sandwiches of Parsippany<o:p></o:p></a></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://www.morrisbestbuys.com/content/8242/pro-haircutters-morris-plains-nj/">Pro Haricutters of Parsippany<o:p></o:p></a></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://www.olivegarden.com/italian-restaurant/NJ/Rockaway/1638/">Olive Garden of Rockaway<o:p></o:p></a></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://www.njgourmetcafe.com/">Gourmet Café of Parsippany<o:p></o:p></a></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Sweet-Expressions-by-Geri/128773570504982">Sweet Expressions of Denville<o:p></o:p></a></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Delizia-Pizza-Kitchen/121634991183397">Delizia Pizza Kitchen of Boonton<o:p></o:p></a></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://www.denvilledairy.com/">Denville Dairy<o:p></o:p></a></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://parsippany.patch.com/listings/joy-nail">Joy Nails of Parsippany<o:p></o:p></a></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://nationwidebowling.com/Bowling-Booton-New-Jersey.htm">Boonton Lanes<o:p></o:p></a></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://clearviewcinemas.com/cgi-bin/locations.cgi?id=020&flag=diplay_theatre">Clearview Theaters of Parsippany<o:p></o:p></a></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="IT" style="mso-ansi-language: IT;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://www.afpizza.com/parsippany/">Anthony FrancoItalian Restaurant (Parsippany)</a></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="IT" style="mso-ansi-language: IT;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://www.karmasalonandspaonline.com/">Karma Salon &Spa (Lake Hiawatha)</a></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="IT" style="mso-ansi-language: IT;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://www.jigsaw.com/scid5193313/linda_perna.xhtml?ver=5&r=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2Furl%3Fsa%3Dt%26rct%3Dj%26q%3D%26esrc%3Ds%26frm%3D1%26source%3Dweb%26cd%3D1%26ved%3D0CDAQFjAA%26url%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.jigsaw.com%252Fscid5193313%252Flinda_perna.xhtml%26ei%3DLKtJT7nGIKrm0QG61ZiXDg%26usg%3DAFQjCNEXz5IK5BIU14w7PcvP9mnVhLHx7g%26sig2%3DbmG8aERT-K-vl1e-OO7njA">Mary Kay (LindaPerna)</a></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://www.flowersbyrene.com/">Flowers by Rene of Parsippany<o:p></o:p></a></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://trainersedgeinc.com/">Trainer’s Edge (Denville)<o:p></o:p></a></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://dangerfields.reachlocal.net/">Dangerfield’s Comedy Club<o:p></o:p></a></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://www.hotrodsbbq.com/">Hot Rods Restaurant (Wharton)<o:p></o:p></a></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://www.sogo.cc/">Sogo Sushi House Restaurant (Denville)<o:p></o:p></a></span></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Look out New Orleans!…. 36,000 Lutheran Youth are coming to your town in July and things will never be the same… for them … or for you!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Come and see what all the excitement is about:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Worship: Sundays at 8:30 and 10:45 am</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;"><strong>St. Andrew Lutheran Church</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">335 Reynolds Ave., Parsippany, NJ 07054</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">(973) 887-6713</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://www.elcaandy.org/">www.elcaAndy.org</a></span>Tina Levorsehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05201592186167814096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5653875440036305808.post-74273380195226081902012-02-10T22:02:00.000-05:002012-02-10T22:02:24.498-05:00We're Having a Party!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-z3ibfJt_G88/TzXaMwo7m2I/AAAAAAAAAOk/MemdkBnRBZ8/s1600/Gathering2012_CWTS_Logo_sidebar.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-z3ibfJt_G88/TzXaMwo7m2I/AAAAAAAAAOk/MemdkBnRBZ8/s1600/Gathering2012_CWTS_Logo_sidebar.gif" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong><em><span style="color: lime;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="background-color: #8e7cc3;">We’re having a party!<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></em></strong></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Of course we are… we’re St. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Andrew.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Join us tomorrow, <span style="color: #351c75;"><em>Sat. , Feb. 11 at 6 pm</em></span> (the snow is supposed to be long over by then) for a Mardi Gras FUNdraising party to support the Senior High Youth Group.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Your admission ticket (a heart-felt donation of your choice) will help send 8 youth and 2 chaperones to New Orleans this summer for the <a href="http://www.elca.org/ELCA/Youth-Gathering.aspx">2012 ELCA Youth Gathering</a>. Tickets are available at the door.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">There will be delicious New Orleans style foods and King Cake for dessert.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There will be karaoke and dancing, a Mardi Gras craft and trivia contest, a crazy hat contest …<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">And….<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">A FANTASTIC Silent Auction with almost 50 items available for your bidding pleasure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Your ticket number is your bidding number.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong><em><span style="font-size: large;">Why trudge out on a cold February evening?</span></em></strong><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">First … you need to get out… we are not bears and we don’t hibernate… we are social beings and we always have fun together at St. Andrew.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Second … this is a great way to treat your Valentine to an evening out and help out the Youth at the same time.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Third… you don’t get King Cake every day.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Fourth… your winning bid on that oh-so-special-item would make a great and unique Valentine’s gift, while support the Youth at the same time.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Are you sensing a trend here?<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">FUN and FUNdraising in dreary February….<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">It’s time to get out of the house.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="background-color: #8e7cc3; color: lime; font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-large;"><strong>Join us for Mardi Gras!</strong></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Tomorrow, Sat., Feb. 11 from 6-10 pm</span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;"><strong>St. Andrew Lutheran Church</strong></span></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">335 Reynolds Ave., Parsippany, NJ 07054</span></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">(973) 887-6713</span></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://www.elcaandy.org/">www.elcaAndy.org</a></span></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div>Tina Levorsehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05201592186167814096noreply@blogger.com0335 Reynolds Ave, Parsippany-Troy Hills, NJ 07054, USA40.843722 -74.4022648.2728394999999963 -134.167889 73.4146045 -14.636639000000002tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5653875440036305808.post-39488011457430755142012-01-22T15:27:00.000-05:002012-01-22T15:27:40.279-05:00Football and Faith<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kfsQbYUC11U/TxxwwPnnLiI/AAAAAAAAAOc/CcF7f8EnF_U/s1600/toon100.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="295" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kfsQbYUC11U/TxxwwPnnLiI/AAAAAAAAAOc/CcF7f8EnF_U/s320/toon100.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal">Okay, so today is a football playoffs Sunday... not quite the Super Bowl but still high up on the chart of “where are all the people this Sunday morning?”<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Some people have argued that sports have become the religion of America and sporting venues the new cathedrals of our generation. Perhaps in some way that is true. Considering all the <a href="http://tebowing.com/">Tebowmania</a> this year, I’ve been wondering about it. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I’m happy to note that St. Andrew was fairly full this morning. If the Giants were playing the 3 o’clock game, might there might have been a few less? Hmmmmm.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">To our credit, we seem to be able to pull a fair number of attendees for our annual congregational meeting which always seems to fall on Super Bowl Sunday, even though we have a fair number of football fans on the Church Council. Maybe it’s because we entice them in with lunch, and then the specter of the ULTIMATE football game keeps the meeting short. A 6:30 pm kickoff time doesn’t hurt either. I’ve always been somewhat proud of us that we put the business of the church as a top priority and recognize that we can do both… have an early afternoon congregational meeting and still leave time for football. If the Super Bowl was being held in Giants Stadium (ooops, sorry Jet fans, MetLife Stadium…or better yet, let’s just call it the Meadowlands and leave the corporate sponsors out of it), then perhaps there might be some squawking about the changing the meeting date.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Since the Broncos and <a href="http://www.timtebow.com/">Tim Tebow </a>are now officially out of contention for the Super Bowl, it is interesting to reflect on the hype that surrounded that team’s quarterback. Was God granting success to the Broncos because of the faith of Tim Tebow? Doubtful. I don’t think God plays favorites in the football arena. Plus, there are plenty of other faithful athletes, but none so recently under the national media microscope.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">But I do think God was/is there.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">If the people will not go to the Church, then perhaps God has come to the people in the place they deem worthy to worship? If we remove God from schools, government, work places, public places and our everyday lives, then perhaps He has chosen sports as the place to walk among us?<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><i><b><span style="color: blue; font-size: x-large;">God will not be silenced.</span></b></i><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>He equips the called and gives them voice.</i></b> </span> Through the acts of a faithful football quarterback, the eyes of a nation have been focused on the heart of an athlete… an athlete equipped with the quirky athleticism that makes secular football professionals wonder if something divine isn’t happening, and makes a nation remember that the God of all creation will find a way to walk among us and grab our attention… even when our worship has been misdirected.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p><br />
</o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p>(Psssst..... Go <span style="color: blue;">Giants!</span>) </o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Come and worship with us on Sundays: 8:30 & 10:45 am</i></span><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Christian Education: 9:45 am<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;">St. Andrew Lutheran Church </span></b><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">335 Reynolds Ave.</div><div class="MsoNormal">Parsippany, NJ 07054</div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.elcaandy.org/">www.elcaAndy.org</a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div>Tina Levorsehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05201592186167814096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5653875440036305808.post-31327993821697072242012-01-11T20:58:00.000-05:002012-01-11T20:58:22.357-05:00Today is Human Trafficking Awareness Day<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M_y5KcBFVEI/Tw4-LnicZSI/AAAAAAAAAOM/1u41eWA2a8Y/s1600/gal51c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M_y5KcBFVEI/Tw4-LnicZSI/AAAAAAAAAOM/1u41eWA2a8Y/s320/gal51c.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>Today is January 11, 2012 and a day set aside by the U.S. Congress to pay attention to the horror of human trafficking. I received an e-mail today through our web site from <a href="http://www.sheissafe.org/">She Is Safe. (www.SheIsSafe.org)</a> They have produced a very nice video to introduce people to the problem. It is nicely and tastefully done. Check it out here: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ughWb-W7OI&feature=youtu.be">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ughWb-W7OI&feature=youtu.be</a> I don't know much about this organization so proceed with care if you decide to donate to them, but the video is a great opportunity to begin the discussion of what we can do to help stop the practice of human trafficking.<br />
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The<a href="http://www.elca.org/Our-Faith-In-Action/Justice/Justice-for-Women/Social-Issues/Human-Trafficking.aspx"> ELCA</a> (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America) web site also provides information about how the church can respond to this crime against humanity and offers links to several web sites where additional information can be gathered or where you can donate to help support the efforts of these organizations. For more information go to:<br />
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The Polaris Project <a href="http://www.polarisproject.org/">http://www.polarisproject.org/</a><br />
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Cherish Our Children <a href="http://cherishourchildren.ctsmemberconnect.net/home-ctrl.do">http://cherishourchildren.ctsmemberconnect.net/home-ctrl.do</a><br />
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The U.S. State Department <a href="http://www.state.gov/g/tip/">http://www.state.gov/g/tip/</a><br />
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It is so incredibly heart-breaking to think that this crime is growing and is found nearly everywhere, even here in the United States. The State Department web site notes that UNICEF claims that nearly 2 million children worldwide are subject to prostitution in the global commercial sex trade. 2 MILLION! And that is only the children...<br />
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<b><i><span style="font-size: large;">What can you do?</span></i></b> Learn about the problem. Talk about the problem. Seek to support those organizations making a difference. Pray.<br />
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<b><i><span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;">Have you ever encountered a person who was subject to human trafficking? How did you react? What did you do? What should the Church do? And what should our local churches do?</span></i></b><br />
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<b><i><span style="color: #990000;">Would you want to be involved in a study of the subject? Leave a comment below.</span></i></b><br />
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<b><i>Join us for worship: </i></b><b><i>8:30 & 10:45 am</i></b><br />
<b><i>Christian Education: 9:45 am</i></b><br />
<b><i><span style="font-size: large;">St. Andrew Lutheran Church</span></i></b><br />
<b><i>335 Reynolds Ave., Parsippany, NJ 07054</i></b><br />
<b><i>(973) 887-6713</i></b><br />
<b><i><a href="http://www.elcaandy.org/">www.elcaAndy.org</a></i></b><br />
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</i></b>Tina Levorsehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05201592186167814096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5653875440036305808.post-77486161758610752212012-01-03T11:09:00.000-05:002012-01-03T11:09:54.659-05:00Epiphany - Light Comes to a Weary World<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KS4O3dri3ic/TwMoKSitrfI/AAAAAAAAAOE/s8B5iTB5IBs/s1600/can001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KS4O3dri3ic/TwMoKSitrfI/AAAAAAAAAOE/s8B5iTB5IBs/s320/can001.jpg" width="257" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">The craziness and excesses of the holiday are over.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Winter is settling in and we seem to want nothing more than to stay home and curl up in bed or by the fire.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You know the snow is coming soon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The days are short and the nights are soooo long.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We wake up in darkness and come home from our daily travels in darkness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sometimes we are cooped up in a cubicle with no window, to top it all off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Blah,” we say, “What good comes of January?”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">It is during the winter, when the snow covers the ground, that roots and seeds that were tucked into the frozen/thawing/frozen ground are insulated and watered by the snow pack and begin to do their molecular thing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Energy is drawn up from roots.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Flower and leaf buds get their cells together in preparation for the wonder of spring.</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Nature is busy on a molecular level…. And so are we.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">God’s work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our Hands</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Our hearts and minds have been fed with a heavenly gift, the birth of a Savior.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The seeds of love have been sown.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The stirrings of hearts reaching out to others in a burst of December altruism have put roots into our souls, yearning that it might always feel this way.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">January is a recovery time, a planning time, a nurturing time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our January calendar is relatively simple… the cleaning up of holiday decorations, the continuation of our regular worship and education programs, and the preparations and planning for a new season… Lent and then Easter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Already February is full of fun and spiritual events.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">So while Epiphany might seem dark, light dawns in our hearts and minds as the seeds of what has been planted in us begin to germinate.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">What will become of the seeds planted in you this year?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Will you nurture them with worship and community in Christ?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Will you feed them with Word and Sacrament?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or will you curl up and leave them dormant within you, just waiting to burst forth with the joy of a God who loves you so much that He would send His Only Son to live within you?<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Make your New Year’s Resolution to be a plan to GROW your spirit and plant your roots firmly in a relationship with God and your fellow believers at St. Andrew.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">(come back tomorrow to read some New Year’s Resolutions)<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">We are called to let our light shine!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hide it under a bushel?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>NO!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><strong><em><span style="color: #741b47; font-size: large;">How do you plan to let your "God light" shine this year?</span></em></strong></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Join us for worship on Sundays @ 8:30 and 10:45 am.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Christian Education at 9:45 am</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><strong><em>St. Andrew Lutheran Church</em></strong></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><strong><em>335 Reynolds Ave., Parsippany, NJ 07054</em></strong></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.elcaandy.org/"><strong><em>www.elcaAndy.org</em></strong></a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
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</div>Tina Levorsehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05201592186167814096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5653875440036305808.post-73534752095643447272011-12-09T22:50:00.000-05:002011-12-09T22:50:08.753-05:0022nd Annual Live Nativity<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xNKlVjGOQHg/TuLW244g-FI/AAAAAAAAAN4/is2ls_IlTXA/s1600/luke216_1281c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xNKlVjGOQHg/TuLW244g-FI/AAAAAAAAAN4/is2ls_IlTXA/s320/luke216_1281c.jpg" width="220" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Join us tomorrow and Sunday, Dec . 10 & 11 for our annual Live Nativity, 4:30 - 8:00 pm</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Admission is FREE! Refreshments are served. We are handicap accessible.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Every 15 minutes or so, a continuous reading of the Nativity story is revealed beneath a deep starry night sky over a stable in Bethlehem. Angels will announce the birth of the Savior. Shepherds and kings will travel to Bethlehem to find the new infant king. What will you find there?</span><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">It’s easy to feel lost at this time of year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Aside from being overwhelmed by all the secularism that drowns out the whole reason we celebrate Christmas at all, recent years have battered our sense of direction, leaving us wondering if we are on the right path, feeling lost.</span><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">But…</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> Because we are children of God, we have been given the greatest gift of all time - the gift of Jesus, God’s Son, our Savior.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Because of this gift, we have hope.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And that hope shines like a Star over a stable in Bethlehem.<o:p></o:p></i></b></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">In the stable, you will find what your heart seeks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In an infant king, God’s Son born in a stable, we meet the Good Shepherd who guides our ways and shows us the path to a relationship with God that is full of peace and joy and love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In this stable we find that we are not lost, but found, loved and cherished…because we, too, are children of God, the sheep of His fold. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">The wise men appeared to King Herod and asked, “Where is He who has been born King? For we saw His star and have come to worship Him.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even the wise men were searching for something…someone…that would answer their prayers and guide their paths.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They found Him in the stable.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">At Easter, we look within the empty tomb, feeling lost, knowing that our Lord has died.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But the angels ask, “Whom do you seek?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is not here, He is risen!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the Easter Resurrection our feeling of being lost is replaced with the joy of being found, claimed by God and deemed worthy of His love.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"><v:shapetype coordsize="21600,21600" filled="f" id="_x0000_t75" o:preferrelative="t" o:spt="75" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" stroked="f"> <v:stroke joinstyle="miter"> <v:formulas> <v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"> <v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0"> <v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"> <v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2"> <v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"> <v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"> <v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1"> <v:f eqn="prod @6 1 2"> <v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"> <v:f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"> <v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"> <v:f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"> </v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:formulas> <v:path gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect" o:extrusionok="f"> <o:lock aspectratio="t" v:ext="edit"> </o:lock></v:path></v:stroke></v:shapetype><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_4" o:spid="_x0000_s1026" style="height: 70.5pt; left: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 1.1pt; position: absolute; text-align: left; visibility: visible; width: 108.35pt; z-index: 251663360;" type="#_x0000_t75"> <v:imagedata o:title="" src="file:///C:\Users\Tina\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image001.wmz"> <w:wrap type="square"> </w:wrap></v:imagedata></v:shape><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Be like sheep, follow the sound of your Shepherd’s voice and wander into the stable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Grasp the gift within… the love of God incarnate in His Son, Jesus, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Immanuel</i>, God with us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our God is a God of abundance, and there is love and hope enough for all the lost and all the found.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">See you in the stable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span lang="IT" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: IT; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Baaaa-baaaa-baaa.</span><br />
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<span lang="IT" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: IT; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">St. Andrew Lutheran Church</span><br />
<span lang="IT" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: IT; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">335 Reynolds Ave.</span><br />
<span lang="IT" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: IT; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Parsippany, NJ 07054</span><br />
<span lang="IT" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: IT; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">(973) 887-6713</span>Tina Levorsehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05201592186167814096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5653875440036305808.post-5300685230070368002011-09-18T11:45:00.000-04:002011-09-18T11:45:09.752-04:00Getting what we deserve is a matter of perspective<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-e40zI--FzZ4/TnYQs1WDxtI/AAAAAAAAAN0/Xe94iCHEMTg/s1600/photo21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-e40zI--FzZ4/TnYQs1WDxtI/AAAAAAAAAN0/Xe94iCHEMTg/s320/photo21.jpg" width="214" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">A lot of how we feel about life, our relationships, and what is “fair” has more to do with one word than most people give credit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><em>Perspective.<o:p></o:p></em></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Today, in worship, we heard the story of the generous vineyard owner who paid all his workers the same day’s salary whether they were hired at the start of the day or at five o’clock.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Matthew 20:1-16)<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Whoa, this is an emotionally charged story for me!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It really messes with my sense of what is just or fair. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Yet what is just and fair is really a matter of perspective.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Whose perspective is truly more just and fair?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mine, based on the equity of work performed vs. pay?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or God’s, based on the solution of daily bread for all?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In this story, the vineyard owner calls to task all who question his generosity to do what he wants with what is his.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Did we not agree, at the start of the day, to the wages we were paid?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So what have we to complain about that the Lord saw to it that no one was left without the means to feed his family at the end of the day, regardless of the amount of work they did?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the Lord’s perspective, everyone worked and everyone will be paid.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No one deserves more or less than another.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">As Pastor Fred reminded us this morning, when we pray for God to “give us today our daily bread,” we are not asking for daily bread for 5 days, but for today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If we trust in God to provide for our needs, we do not need to fear what is just payment… we all will have what we need.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The justice in this story, seen from the perspective of the owner of the vineyard, is a hard pill to swallow.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">And yet, it is just this kind of story which can help us to see <strong><em><span style="font-size: large;">how abundant God’s love is</span></em></strong>.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">For <strong><em>we will all find ourselves in the position of the five o’clock worker at some point in our lives…</em></strong>hoping for work and wages to make ends meet (or asking forgiveness, or some other venue in which we have been less than successful) and being given the riches of God’s Grace, completely and unabashedly undeserved, yet freely given to us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Human beings too easily fall prey to sin and selfishness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are incapable of creating a society where we can accept the perspective of the generous vineyard owner as a way of doing business.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It is only in God’s house, where that perspective can reign and prosper.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In that, this story gives us a glimpse of the glory of what God’s heaven is like, and what we have been promised for our eternal life with God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It calls us up short for all the times we think we know what is right and wrong, and points out a different perspective of what is justice for all.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It’s all a matter of perspective.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mine might prosper me now, but God’s will prosper all for eternity.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;"><em><strong>What do you think of this story? Have you witnessed God's Grace in ways that initially seemed unfair to you? Leave a comment and tell us your story of seeing God's abundance and generosity in action.</strong></em></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It’s probably a good thing God doesn’t give us what we deserve.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Amen.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong><em>Join us for worship on Sundays at 8:30 & 10:45 am.</em></strong></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Christian Education at 9:45 am</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>St. Andrew Lutheran Church</strong></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">335 Reynolds Ave., Parsippany, NJ 07054</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://www.elcaandy.org/">www.elcaandy.org</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div>Tina Levorsehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05201592186167814096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5653875440036305808.post-52942810028137682852011-09-11T16:21:00.000-04:002011-09-11T16:21:21.568-04:00On 9-11 God will not be silenced<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KQBX0YLUvuE/Tm0XCPgWy9I/AAAAAAAAANw/mISjJVBU0vg/s1600/010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KQBX0YLUvuE/Tm0XCPgWy9I/AAAAAAAAANw/mISjJVBU0vg/s320/010.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Today is September 11, 2011.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The 10<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup> Anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks on America.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It also happens to be Holy Cross Sunday in the Lutheran Church.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I have been listening to various radio shows, television broadcasts, and reading various news productions and blogs in recent weeks, with an ear for where God is being fit into this anniversary remembrance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It seems many people in the news production arena have forgotten to where many people, including the news media, turned for comfort, inner calm, and hope in the days following the attacks.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">What did you hear on 9/11/01?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Please pray for…. God bless America… Our thoughts and prayers go out to… Thank God for first responders….<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pray for the safety of….<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">To whom were people being asked to pray?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Who was being asked to bless our nation?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The one God who is the Father of Christianity, Judaism and Islam.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">And yet, this anniversary celebration was to be put together with a secular bent?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mayor Bloomberg has deemed no prayers will be offered at the 9-11 Memorial in NYC.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Shame on those who would claim God has no place in remembrance… our sorrows, our hopes, our forgiveness, our anger, our <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">prayers</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We could call on him then… but not now?<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Good sense prevailed in some places.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>President Obama read from Psalms.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Other mentions of prayer and God and faith are spilling into the news feeds I am finding for today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God will not be silenced.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">As Jesus rode into Jerusalem in the week before His crucifixion, the crowd of people shouted: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Luke 19:38-40)<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><em>“Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples.” But Jesus answered, <o:p></o:p></em></span></div><em> </em><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><em><strong>“I tell you, if these become silent, the stones will cry out!”<o:p></o:p></strong></em></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">God will not be silenced.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The actions of the faithful speak louder than the rhetoric of politicians.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">St. Andrew is participating in the <a href="http://www.parsippanylibrary.org/">Parsippany Library 9/11Tribute Exhibit</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We picked up our twin towers plywood cutout and decorated it with crosses, Jewish stars, and a crescent moon and star.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is mostly filled with crosses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The only statistics I could find regarding the breakdown of the faiths of those who perished on 9/11/01 indicated that although no religious denomination records have been kept (I find this incredulous), it appears that about 500 were Jewish and about 2 dozen were Muslim.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m guessing the rest were Christians (and/or atheists).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">So on this Holy Cross Sunday, when Lutherans celebrate the faith, hope and love of Jesus, may we all remember and honor those who died on Sept. 11, 2001.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">And, may we be not afraid to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">speak</i> of that faith, hope and love… for <strong>God will not be silenced</strong>. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Not by terrorists, …<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">and not by a media machine or government leadership more concerned with being politically correct than morally straight.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Come join us for worship. <o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Sundays @ 8:30 and 10:45 am.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">St. Andrew Lutheran Church<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">335 Reynolds Ave.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Parsippany, NJ<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>07054<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">(973) 887-6713<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<a href="http://www.elcaandy.org/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">www.elcaAndy.org</span></a><o:p></o:p>Tina Levorsehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05201592186167814096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5653875440036305808.post-9576124697496347052011-09-10T13:41:00.000-04:002011-09-10T13:41:00.894-04:00What will tomorrow bring?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mbXrCPS0XXA/Tmug4K1VhEI/AAAAAAAAANs/4BciTSHLKp8/s1600/969765-chipmunk4_large.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mbXrCPS0XXA/Tmug4K1VhEI/AAAAAAAAANs/4BciTSHLKp8/s320/969765-chipmunk4_large.jpg" width="250" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Today is September 10, 2011. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Tomorrow is 9/11/11.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ten years after the terrorist attacks on America.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><em>What will tomorrow bring?<o:p></o:p></em></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It’s tempting to dwell on the emotions, loss and grief associated with our remembrance of 9/11/01. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s also tempting to get caught up in the fear of ‘credible threats’ that our security forces have said warrant our extra vigilance.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In the big picture, September 11 is just another day in our lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the microcosm of our lives, it is a day we will never forget, and shouldn’t forget.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our lives were forever changed on that day. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Jesus has some significant words for us on the subject of worrying…Matthew 6:25-34<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">25</span></sup></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? <sup>26</sup> Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? <sup>27</sup> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? <o:p></o:p></b></span></i></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">28</span></sup></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. <sup>29</sup> Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. <sup>30</sup> If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? <sup>31</sup> So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ <sup>32</sup> For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. <sup>33</sup> But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. <sup>34</sup> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.</b> <o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">As I write this there is a chipmunk sitting outside my window on my picnic table bench, munching on a nut. He knows nothing about what tomorrow means to Americans.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He only knows that this is the season of harvest… yippee, the acorns are beginning to fall! God provides for His creation.</span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Some things will forever remind us of the events of 9/11/01.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For me, every time I see a sunny, bright blue sky (Crayola Sky Blue) with large white clouds and feel the cool September air against my skin, I am reminded of that day, forever seared into my memory with the scars of smoke plumes drifting across that same blue sky, and with the loss and grief of so many people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We are changed forever, but yet we are still the same children of God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is because God never stops loving His children, we can go forward into each new day without worry and fear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are called to live with hope and love.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I think it is an interesting thing to note that the 10<sup>th</sup> anniversary of this date falls on a Sunday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Church (large C) is calling for us to think on this day as an opportunity to work toward forgiveness and peace.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Imagine the world-wide possibilities if everyone attended worship tomorrow morning and heard the calling for forgiveness and peace, instead of worrying about the things that cause us fear.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Those people whom we loved and lost on 9/11/01 would certainly want us to remember and honor them, but they also would not want us to live in worry and fear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We can honor them best by living lives free of fear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Jesus gives us the antidote for the affliction of worry…<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Trust in God.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I hope to see you in church tomorrow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/St.Andrew.Lutheran.Church.NJ">St. Andrew</a> worships at 8:30 and 10:45 am.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are located at 335 Reynolds Ave. in Parsippany, NJ<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>07054.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(973) 887-6713.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Come and see our community tribute tower display and help us share the news that we are ALL children of God.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>Tina Levorsehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05201592186167814096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5653875440036305808.post-23814278406343675042011-09-01T21:01:00.001-04:002011-09-01T21:13:56.059-04:0011 Things I am Thankful for after Hurricane Irene<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YgLAKCu0qaw/TmAqwFw_8yI/AAAAAAAAANo/ENPzvOT8jdU/s1600/thankful_3323c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="288" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YgLAKCu0qaw/TmAqwFw_8yI/AAAAAAAAANo/ENPzvOT8jdU/s320/thankful_3323c.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It’s been a wild year, weather-wise, in the U.S. , especially in the Northeast.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had an unusual amount of snow and ice at the beginning of the year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had an unusually wet spring and summer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The ground is saturated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had a 5.8 magnitude earthquake centered in Virginia but felt up and down the east coast.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And now, we’ve had a hurricane….correction, tropical storm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>71 mph instead of 75 mph sustained winds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hurricane Irene.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">St. Andrew cancelled worship services to ensure everyone was safely home during what was forecasted to be the windiest and most intense period of the storm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now we know that, although the winds knocked down a lot of trees and power lines, it was the flooding from the incredible volume of rain that has done the most damage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Whole communities are underwater with flood waters from swollen rivers at 4-12 feet above flood stage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Once again, I reflect upon all that I am thankful for and on the blessings which I have been granted.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">1.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I am thankful that I was raised by parents who trusted in God to provide for our every need.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I learned at an early age, when hot dog soup was a frequent dinner while my father was out of work, that “we can’t worry about everything.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God will provide what we really need and we just have to work hard for the rest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We just have to have faith in Him.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This mindset has helped me not to panic about events over which I have no control.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">2.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I am thankful that God has gifted people with hearts for public service.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How different our recovery from this storm, and other disasters, if not for the dedication of firefighters, police, emergency medical technicians and ambulance drivers, electric and utility company personnel, disaster relief workers, military and National Guard men and women, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>food pantry workers and emergency management personnel?<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">3.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I am thankful that God has given us the scientists and technology to improve our weather forecasting models.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The weather tracking systems apparently accurately predicted the track and intensity of this latest storm to within 10 miles along the NJ coast, enabling people to get to safer locations. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">4.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I am thankful for the safety of my family and the comforts of my home…the electricity, flush toilets and hot showers, the gas stove and hot water heater, the refrigeration, the television, the telephone and Internet communications.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">5.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I am thankful for the crickets that chirp outside my windows.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I could not hear them over the roar of generators during the past few days.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">6.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I am thankful for neighbors who shared their electricity and generator power with those who did not have it.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">7.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I am thankful for neighbors who offer the use of their freezers (to save us money and wasted food) and Internet to those who didn’t have them. </span></div><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">8.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I am thankful for people who cared enough to check in on us and offer whatever we needed.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">9.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I am thankful that I listened to my gut/smarts/Holy Spirit and refused to buy a cheaper home in a flood zone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The anxiety, devastation and repair costs would never be compensated by the difference in the home price, no matter that “it hasn’t flooded here in 15 years.” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I pray for the people who have lost so much due to the flooding and hope they are helped to find ways to put their lives back together. (Click here to see how you can help: <a href="http://www.northjersey.com/community/announcements/128816103_Donations_being_accepted_for_Lake_Hiawatha_relief_effort.html">Lake Hiawatha/Parsippany flood relief.)</a></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">10.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I am thankful that everyone I know has weathered this storm without a loss of life or injury, and I pray for those who have lost loved ones or suffered injuries in the chaos. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">11.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I am thankful <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>that the 10 mighty oak trees that surround my home remained rooted to the ground and denied the urge to drop any limbs on my house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are beautiful, tall and provide an abundance of cool shade for my home, but even they might not be able to stand up to the forces of Mother Nature when she decides it’s pruning time.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">T</span></o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">here is a multitude more things for which I am thankful and about which I feel blessed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These are some that I have pondered today.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://www.elcaandy.org/">Join us for worship</a> this Sunday at 9:30 am (Labor Day weekend) and say “thanks” for your own blessings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We resume two worship services on Sept. 11, with worship at 8:30 and 10:45 am.<o:p></o:p></span></div>Tina Levorsehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05201592186167814096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5653875440036305808.post-87210232372497259372011-08-24T18:29:00.000-04:002011-08-24T18:29:17.800-04:00An empty nest communion table<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lx0bmTHN3SY/TlV6G0YuHaI/AAAAAAAAANk/AUND9td6EXk/s1600/empty+nest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lx0bmTHN3SY/TlV6G0YuHaI/AAAAAAAAANk/AUND9td6EXk/s320/empty+nest.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I had another small taste of what empty nest syndrome must be like.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We took my daughter back to college on Monday and my son was in Wildwood with the <a href="http://www.elcaandy.org/">St. Andrew Youth Group</a> for a few days.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For a span of about 18 hours I was child-less. It's not the first time. I've certainly been without them around for longer periods of time. It just is always a surprise, at first.</span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">On the one hand I felt as if I should be dancing around singing “hallelujah” and on the other it was rather lonely…just me and the dog and the hubby.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Until the hubby went to work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then it was just me and the dog.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">An amazing amount of picking up can be done, with no one to disturb the progress and mess it back up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Piles of back to school “stuff” vacated my dining room table.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hooray!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There also will be less laundry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hooray! However, even though she wasn’t home for dinner all that often this summer, my daughter’s presence at the dinner table always made me feel as if our family was finally whole.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">There’s something about being together around a meal that makes life seem complete and all is right with the world, even when the world outside is going crazy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> The mother hen has all her chicks in sight and knows everyone is safe.</span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">For our family, we have always made it a priority to have dinner together as often as possible, so the presence of the entire family for dinner just feels right.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The silly jokes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The sharing of stories.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The gentle corrections and guidance of wisdom dispersed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The love shared.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The hopes shared.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The hurts shared. The dreams shared.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The forgiveness granted. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When someone is missing, something is lacking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When two kids are missing, well… hello empty nest.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">When I think about our family dinner table, it leads me also to thinking about the family of God and our table of Holy Communion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How God must pine for his children when they skip a Sunday meal, or two, or a month’s worth, or a year’s worth, or many years’ worth!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">With each meal of Holy Communion our hearts are opened to that two-way conversation with God that grants forgiveness, knows all our fears and hurts, joys and silliness, sins and anger.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In that Holy Communion meal that we share, we are loved, forgiven and welcomed into a whole continuum of believers that make up the eternal family of God, of which we are made a member in our Baptism.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The communion table brings us together as a family in Christ, a congregation family to love and support each other.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think when we stray away from the table, God must suffer some of that empty nest syndrome too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For if He knows the number of hairs on our heads and the days of our lives, how can He not feel the loss of our presence as we wander the world in search of the things we think we need when He can, and will, provide for our every need?</span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">God forgives the piles of “crap” in our lives.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">He doesn’t mind the dirty laundry.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">He just wants us to share in His Holy Communion meal and join the family at the table.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Like every other parent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">God IS love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Love is at the table.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Come and taste.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Join us for worship through Labor Day, one service at 9:30 am</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">B</span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">eginning Sept. 11, we offer two worship services at 8:30 & 10:45 am.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://www.elcaandy.org/">www.elcaAndy.org</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div>Tina Levorsehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05201592186167814096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5653875440036305808.post-81828399067016702742011-08-12T15:19:00.000-04:002011-08-12T15:19:45.107-04:00Friendships Left Behind and Forgiveness<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-E2jdeFRdLRw/TkV8P9h1j7I/AAAAAAAAANg/i_sXII1L60w/s1600/020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-E2jdeFRdLRw/TkV8P9h1j7I/AAAAAAAAANg/i_sXII1L60w/s320/020.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My hubby with Ellis Island and Statue of Liberty in the background<br />
Could I leave him behind? Or let him go on ahead without me?</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: Calibri;">As y</span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">ou may have guessed by now, I was quite impressed with our visit to <a href="http://www.nps.gov/elis/index.htm">Ellis Island</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Read previous posts <a href="http://elcaandy.blogspot.com/2011/07/ellis-island-faith-and-adversity.html">here</a> and <a href="http://elcaandy.blogspot.com/2011/08/ellis-island-immigrant-vs-refugee.html">here</a>.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve been thinking a lot about what it would have been like to go through that experience and wondering if I would have had the faith to trust God to provide the better future these immigrants sought, and if I would have been able to leave everyone I loved behind.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The primary feeling that I think I would have been going through would have been loss…loss of home and homeland, loss of friends, loss of family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think that maybe that’s because I’m blessed to have a beautiful home, a wonderful country (even considering the flaws), dear friends, and a devoted family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For me to leave all this behind would be devastating to me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Yet millions of people did just this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Their lives must have been so challenging and lacking hope to embark upon a journey to America, leaving everything behind, in search of a brighter future, hoping and trusting in God to find something better.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How lucky we are/I am.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Their primary feelings had to have been one of hope in order to get through this challenging experience.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Yet, no matter how much hope for the future they might have had, parting from family and friends could not have been easy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The chance of ever again seeing the people left behind was very small.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This thought makes me wonder how easily we sometimes dismiss a friendship because of some temporarily hurtful slight; or how often we distance ourselves from a family member because he/she hurt our feelings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If we were faced with the prospect of never seeing that person again, would those hurts matter so much?<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Sometimes we find ourselves in exactly this situation, when we lose someone we love unexpectedly in their death.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How often have we heard people say, “I never got to say I was sorry” or “I never told him I forgive him” or “I didn’t get to say goodbye” or “I should have told her I loved her.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I wonder if this doesn’t happen sometimes as a way of reminding us to mend our hearts and watch our words, to heal old wounds and let go of old hurts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I imagine that faced with the prospect of parting company forever, there were many friendship healed of brokenness and many family fractures mended.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">However, I am also fairly certain there were those who would not forgive and left for America carrying that hurt with them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I imagine that carrying those unforgiven hurts around their whole life may have caused much bitterness, heartache and soul-searching. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am certain there were more than a few people who wished, at some point during their lives, that they had made amends or offered forgiveness before leaving for America.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We know that anger, resentment, and holding on to old hurts can eat away at our souls, our health and our mental well-being.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It is forgiveness which offers freedom, wellness and wholeness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus taught us this as He called out to His Father on the cross, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Luke 23:34<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong><em>In the ultimate act of love, Jesus forgave us ALL our sins… all the hurtful ways we push God away… and died to set us free from the bondage that sin causes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are given that reminder every Sunday in worship.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></em></strong></span></div><strong><em> </em></strong><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;"><strong><em>Let us not forget to forgive others, as we have been forgiven.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Amen.</em></strong></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong><em>Come worship with us this Summer @ 9:30 am on Sundays (through Labor Day).</em></strong></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://www.elcaandy.org/"><strong><em>www.elcaAndy.org</em></strong></a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div>Tina Levorsehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05201592186167814096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5653875440036305808.post-44834183561343603112011-08-03T21:55:00.000-04:002011-08-03T21:55:05.892-04:00Ellis Island - Immigrant vs. Refugee<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Wu1eoe_M7tE/Tjn7raj5HLI/AAAAAAAAANU/v4ov4HwR_5s/s1600/038.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Wu1eoe_M7tE/Tjn7raj5HLI/AAAAAAAAANU/v4ov4HwR_5s/s320/038.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">To find a better place. Both the immigrant and the refugee put their faith in God toward this goal. </span><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This past Saturday I visited with friends at their home on Fire Island off Long Island (NY).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a great day and when we were in line waiting for the ferry to take us back to our cars, one of our group commented that we “looked like a bunch of refugees.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There we were, sunburned, flip-flopped, carrying our minimum amount of “bare necessities” for a day at the beach and a day of visiting… chairs, coolers, umbrellas, beach bags, back packs, a cake carrier, etc.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I guess we might have looked a little tired, windblown or partied-out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Certainly a far cry from looking like a refugee, we did look somewhat less put-together than our Sunday best.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(But at <a href="http://www.elcaandy.org/">St. Andrew</a> we’re not necessarily known for wearing our “Sunday best” anyway, so that’s par for the course I guess.)<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We laughed at the analogy, but considering my recent visit to Ellis Island, it got me to thinking.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">How many people who traveled through Ellis Island were not just immigrants but akin to refugees? Maybe they didn’t fit the strict definition of refugee, but many were fleeing the poverty, limited chance to prosper, or political hostilities of their home countries.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">They came with just the bare necessities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And $25 (if they had that at all.)<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Yet, for all the hardships these immigrants faced in their journey to come to America, they had the hope of the promise of America. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They had faith in God to lead them to a better place. The Statue of Liberty bears a plaque with the sonnet “The New Colossus” by Emma Lazarus which reads, in part, <o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Give me your tired, your poor,<br />
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,<br />
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.<br />
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,<br />
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In America there was hope for the future.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The choice was America.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Refugees don’t often have choices.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are running for their lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They also place their hope and faith in God to lead them to a better place.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The United States has an “Asylum and Refugee Policy” that, as of 1999 allowed up to 78,000 refugees to obtain asylum here annually.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Today’s global conflicts and political uprisings are numerous.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>People cry out for freedom all around the globe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>According to <a href="http://www.voanews.com/policy/editorials/africa/UN-Refugee-Convention-At-60-126459268.html">The Voice of America</a><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">, there are currently about 15 million refugees worldwide.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The <a href="http://www.state.gov/g/prm/protracted/">U.S. State Department</a> identifies six “protracted refugee situations.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">1.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Liberians in West Africa<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">2.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Somalis in Kenya<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">3.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Croatians and Bosnians in Serbia<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">4.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Afghans in Pakistan<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">5.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Bhutanese in Nepal<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">6.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Burmese in Thailand <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Since 1939, <a href="http://www.lirs.org/site/c.nhLPJ0PMKuG/b.5542953/k.1C70/About_LIRS.htm">Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service</a> has helped migrants and refugees to find hope and a future in American communities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By 2008, LIRS had helped to resettle over 315,000 refugees.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Next time we think we look like refugees as we trudge our few “necessities” back from a day at the beach, I bet we’ll all think twice about what that really means.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><br />
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><strong><em><span style="color: blue;">Thank you God for all the blessings we have in the freedom and prosperity that comes with the birthright of being an American.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thank you, even more, for the people who fight the legal, economic and political battles on behalf of those who flee oppression and for those who help to make refugees feel welcome once they are granted the asylum they so desperately seek. Amen.</span></em></strong></span><br />
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><strong><em><span style="font-size: large;">Join us for worship this Summer at 9:30 am on Sundays.</span></em></strong></span><br />
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><a href="http://www.elcaandy.org/"><strong><em><span style="font-size: large;">www.elcaAndy.org</span></em></strong></a></span>Tina Levorsehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05201592186167814096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5653875440036305808.post-87210181427152105912011-07-27T14:28:00.000-04:002011-07-27T14:28:10.632-04:00Ellis Island - Faith and Adversity<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jL1wmDf1Z7w/TjBYjOo7JLI/AAAAAAAAANQ/5FhUt1TBlzU/s1600/025.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jL1wmDf1Z7w/TjBYjOo7JLI/AAAAAAAAANQ/5FhUt1TBlzU/s320/025.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">My husband and I recently visited <a href="http://www.nps.gov/elis/index.htm">Ellis Island</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve been wanting to go ever since they renovated and re-opened it in 1990.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My children have visited this National Park Service landmark with their respective schools, but as it sometimes goes, we get too busy to enjoy the gems in our own backyard.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This will be the first of several blog posts that stem from this visit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is an incredibly inspiring place and the faith and determination of the people who traveled through its doors are amazing.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We purchased the audio tour because I’ve found that there is usually so much wonderful information on these soundtracks, often including the testimony of actual people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On this audio tour there was the voice of a Russian immigrant who (in the course of the discussion of the inspection of immigrants) said, “if they refused me, there was no way I was going back to Russia.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’d rather throw myself over the side [of the returning ship] and die in the deep of the ocean than return to Russia.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This man’s comment really got me to thinking about how much faith these people must have had, who attempted this journey, and how very deplorable their homeland situation must have been. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They trusted God that America held a promise of a brighter future, and that He would see them safely across the Atlantic to begin a new life.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A National Park Service Ranger who introduced a 45-minute documentary that we watched, helped us to understand how much had to be left behind and what was likely brought forward to the new homeland of these immigrants.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Picture everything of importance that you could carry in one suitcase, one basket, one bedroll, and maybe the equivalent of a backpack.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now walk from Ellis Island at Liberty State Park to Philadelphia.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You’ll quickly determine what REALLY is the most important stuff.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Grandma’s candlesticks? Gone, left on the NJ Turnpike.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The family Bible?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yeah…they probably managed to carry that.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">That would have been the most likely type of experience of many immigrants.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>People walked and carried their most prized possessions for many, many miles from villages and towns all across Europe and Russia to ports with passenger lines to America.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They had to have the fee for their passage and $25 per person to enter America.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It took <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u>years</u></i> to save up that kind of money, so most didn’t have the extra money necessary to get transportation to their port of departure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Ranger told us that some people were so poor they carried empty suitcases so their neighbors wouldn’t know how little they had when they left and the steamer company wouldn’t turn them away for the chance of being turned back at Ellis Island for being so poor as to be “a potential burden on society.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Think about the millions of people who came to this country through Ellis Island.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What a challenge it was!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Think how bad it must have been at home to brave this experience! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The adversity they faced in their flight to a new life! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The scariness of the unknown!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Think of the faith they put in God to get them here safely and to connect with someone who could help them get their feet on the ground and make a future here.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I don’t think most people could have survived this trip and the challenges they faced upon arrival without a deep faith in God.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong><em><span style="color: blue;">I was awed, inspired, and more appreciative of my own country where I can worship as I please.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you haven’t been to Ellis Island, take a vacation day and go. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You’ll need about three hours to tour the Main Building and do it justice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The other buildings are not currently open to the public.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’ve got a national treasure in our own back yard (actually lots of them).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It will stir your soul and deepen your faith.<o:p></o:p></span></em></strong></span></div><strong><em><span style="color: blue;"> </span></em></strong><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong><em><span style="color: blue;">Then come to worship and thank God for all that you have.<o:p></o:p></span></em></strong></span></div><strong><em> </em></strong><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong><em>Summer Worship at St. Andrew, 9:30 am on Sundays</em></strong></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://www.elcaandy.org/"><strong><em>www.elcaAndy.org</em></strong></a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: red; font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;"><strong><em>Do you have a relative who came to America through Ellis Island? What story do they tell you of the adversity they faced in this experience?</em></strong></span></div><br />
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</div>Tina Levorsehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05201592186167814096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5653875440036305808.post-27474265621353276892011-07-24T22:10:00.000-04:002011-07-24T22:10:47.108-04:00Oviraptor & Jesus<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0moyHvXxIHA/TizQAiwKg7I/AAAAAAAAANM/bl6bwG-TnII/s1600/oviraptornest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="263" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0moyHvXxIHA/TizQAiwKg7I/AAAAAAAAANM/bl6bwG-TnII/s320/oviraptornest.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Friday was the fifth and last day of this year’s <a href="http://www.elcaandy.org/">VacationBible School</a> program, “The Great Bibleland Dig”, recycled.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The kids had a great time digging in our archaeological dig site on the “road to Emmaus” to find clues to answer the question, “Who is Jesus?”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">So what did they find?<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">They found a leather sandal, a walking stick and piece of pottery.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">What Bible story do you think we were exploring on Friday?<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In its day, the road to Emmaus was well traveled but full of rocks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was common for people to walk from Jerusalem to Emmaus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many foot weary travelers could have blown out a flip-flop on the trek.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was on this road that two disciples of Jesus were talking about Jesus and the events of Holy Week including His death on the cross.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While walking they met a ‘stranger’ with whom they discussed their hopes and confusion about the things that had happened.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This ‘stranger’ revealed himself to them in the blessing, breaking and sharing of the bread at that night’s dinner, just as Jesus had done during His Last Supper and Passover meal with the disciples.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In that act, the disciples understood who was with them and they ran to tell the others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are also challenged to recognize that Jesus is our SAVIOR, that He is with us always and we are to share that Good News with others.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">At craft time, our junior archaeologists made a beaded cross necklace, a tissue paper mosaic cross which the words “Jesus is our Savior” and a footprint with the “Footprints in the Sand” poem decorated with stickers. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>During snack time, they ate pretzel rods tied together in the shape of a cross with licorice strings, and chocolate chip cookies decorated with a chocolate frosting road and mini-chip rocks. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A cross was added to our archaeology dig journal to remind us that Jesus is our SAVIOR.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">They dug for treasure in our archaeological dig site and found crosses and miniature dinosaurs to take home to remember the day’s lessons.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">During our Activity Center time, we learned about different kinds of bread and talked about what we would put in a time capsule to leave for future archaeologists who want to learn about Jesus.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In the afternoon, each junior archaeologist was given a wooden dinosaur puzzle to remind them of the fun they had this week in VBS.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">They learned about Oviraptor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When archaeologists first discovered Oviraptor fossil remains, they named it Oviraptor or “egg thief” because they thought it was stealing eggs, as many were found over a nest of eggs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Later excavations have shown evidence that Oviraptors were not stealing other dinosaur eggs; they were protecting their own.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oviraptor fossils show parents with wings spread wide to protect their eggs from the falling volcanic ash or mudslides that were rushing down to cover their nests.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In doing so, they were sacrificing themselves in an effort to save their eggs.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Oviraptor and Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sacrificing themselves for others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong><em><span style="color: blue;">Oh how much God loves us… He sent Jesus to us as a GIFT; He gives us Jesus as our FRIEND;<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He gives us Jesus as our TEACHER; He gives us Jesus as our HELPER; and because we still don’t get it, He gives us Jesus as our SAVIOR.<o:p></o:p></span></em></strong></span></div><strong><em><span style="color: blue;"> </span></em></strong><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong><em><span style="color: blue;">It was a week of fun and learning, digging and growing, and singing and crafting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a week of stretching the archaeological facts to bridge dinosaurs and Jesus and the Bible and a whole bunch of fun.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And hopefully, it was a week of memories that will last a lifetime.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></em></strong></span></div><strong><em><span style="color: blue;"> </span></em></strong><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong><em><span style="color: blue;">Amen.<o:p></o:p></span></em></strong></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I remember some of the stories, crafts and songs from when I was a child in Vacation Bible School.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do you?<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">(And now I thank God because it’s over…whew!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve been doing this for a long time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Anyone want to take it on?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Send me a note…)<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong><em>Come and join us for worship on Sundays at 9:30 am through Labor Day.</em></strong><a href="http://www.elcaandy.org/"><strong><em>www.elcaAndy.org</em></strong></a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
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</div>Tina Levorsehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05201592186167814096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5653875440036305808.post-26928617400548419952011-07-23T18:37:00.000-04:002011-07-23T18:37:28.356-04:00Maiasaura & Jesus<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-j_XRK1wRyO8/TitNGBHkhJI/AAAAAAAAANI/_0TDkflxPYg/s1600/Maiasaura_peeblesorum_001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="147" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-j_XRK1wRyO8/TitNGBHkhJI/AAAAAAAAANI/_0TDkflxPYg/s320/Maiasaura_peeblesorum_001.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Thursday was the fourth day of this year’s <a href="http://www.elcaandy.org/">Vacation BibleSchool</a> program, “The Great Bibleland Dig”, recycled.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The kids had a great time digging in our archaeological dig site outside the city of “Jericho” to find clues to answer the question, “Who is Jesus?”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">So what did they find?<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">They found more pieces of clay pottery, a small clay bowl, and several “gold” coins.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">What Bible story do you think we were exploring on Thursday?<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In its day, Jericho was a bustling city of commerce and trade.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a frequent place for beggars to perch near the city gates to ask for the help of strangers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In this day’s Bible story, we learned about the blind beggar, Bartimaeus, whom Jesus healed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bartimaeus would have sat with a bowl to collect the gifts of coin from passersby.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When Jesus HELPed Bartimaeus, he no longer needed to beg and he leapt up saying, “Thank you, thank you” to<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">At craft time, our junior archaeologists made a banner with a cross and helping hands encircling the cross which proclaimed “Jesus is our HELPER”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They also made a “silver” embossed frames with textured items glued beneath the foil.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>During snack time, they ate hand shaped gelatin jigglers and made cracker “hands” by smoothing peanut butter between Ritz crackers and sticking 5 pretzel sticks in the peanut butter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A hand was added to our archaeology dig journal to remind us that Jesus is our HELPER.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">They dug for treasure in our archaeological dig site and found “gold” coins and dinosaur finger puppets to take home to remember today’s lessons.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">During our Activity Center time, we learned about how the images on coins told people who the money belonged to (religious symbols for temple money, Ceasar for Roman coins, U.S. presidents for American coin) and how people used seals to mark their ownership of their belongings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We used rubber stamps shaped like hands to practice stamping, and created our own “seal” with half a potato and some paint.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In the afternoon, each junior archaeologist was given the opportunity to excavate a dinosaur skeleton with a miniature dinosaur archeology kit.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">They learned about Maiasaura.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Archaeologists are continually finding new evidence to suggest that though their brains may have been small and the social skills of dinosaurs very simple, it appears some dinosaurs did indeed rely on others for help.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maiasaura seem to have taken extra care with their young dinosaurs, and the dinosaurs of others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maiasaura was a North American plant-eating duckbilled dinosaur that made its nest within about 30 feet of other Maiasaura nests.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It appears that the young dinosaurs stayed in the nests a long time while their parents went out and brought back vegetation for them to eat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Archaeologists wonder if groups of Maiasaura helped take care of each other’s nests to keep away predators.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Maiasaura and Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Helping others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong><em><span style="color: blue;">This world can be a very tough place to survive, whether you are dinosaur or human.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus showed us how we should be a HELPER to others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In doing so, we can all flourish and grow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Helping others brings us joy in knowing that someone else’s life is a little better because we took some time for them.<o:p></o:p></span></em></strong></span></div><strong><em><span style="color: blue;"> </span></em></strong><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong><em><span style="color: blue;">Amen.<o:p></o:p></span></em></strong></span></div><strong><em> </em></strong><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong><em>Come and join us for worship on Sundays during the Summer at 9:30 am.</em></strong></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://www.elcaandy.org/"><strong><em>www.elcaAndy.org</em></strong></a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
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</div>Tina Levorsehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05201592186167814096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5653875440036305808.post-335659352103965222011-07-22T20:27:00.000-04:002011-07-22T20:27:49.082-04:00Pterodactylus and Jesus?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5X9OkzC7T4A/TioVUtvBnXI/AAAAAAAAANE/POIENCOUUrI/s1600/pterodactylus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5X9OkzC7T4A/TioVUtvBnXI/AAAAAAAAANE/POIENCOUUrI/s1600/pterodactylus.jpg" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Wednesday was the third day of this year’s <a href="http://www.elcaandy.org/">Vacation BibleSchool</a> program, “The Great Bibleland Dig”, recycled.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The kids had a great time digging in our archaeological dig site outside the city of “Jerusalem” to find clues to answer the question, “Who is Jesus?”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">So what did they find?<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">They found part of a scroll, a phylactery, a metal plate for burning incense and a piece of pottery inscribed with the words, “Love God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Love people.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">What Bible story do you think we were exploring on Wednesday?<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Jesus frequently encountered the Pharisees when he was near Jerusalem.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many sought to question him, not to learn from him, but to try and trick him into saying something that would go against the teachings of the Torah/Prophets/Old Testament.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Other people would gather around Jesus in the temple to learn from him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His teachings told of a new way to interpret the things they had learned.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For instance, Jesus taught an easy way to keep God’s Commandments, just remember “Love God with all your heart, mind and soul, and love your neighbors as yourself.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">At craft time, our junior archaeologists made personalized pencils wrapped with embroidery floss and beads, and formed clay pots which they will paint later and keep a scroll with the above verse inside.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>During snack time, they ate tortillas filled with either banana or honey butter and tied with a licorice string to remind them of the scrolls that the Israelites used to learn about God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A scroll inscribed with “Jesus is our TEACHER” was added to our archaeology dig journal.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">They dug for treasure in our archaeological dig site and found dinosaur pencils and small plastic dinosaur bookmarks that they could take home to remember today’s lessons.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">During our Activity Center time, we went outside (yes, in the sweltering heat) to do crayon rubbings of our cornerstone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The corner stone of St. Andrew says “Jesus” and we talked about building a church/temple on Jesus, with Jesus being the strongest cornerstone of all.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In the afternoon, each junior archaeologist was given the opportunity to paint some dinosaur watercolor projects and create their own dinosaur scene with a selection of stickers.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">They learned about Pterodactylus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dinosaurs are not noted for being exceptionally smart (at least like we think about being smart), since their brain size seems to indicate brain function primarily ordered for survival.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But it makes you wonder how young Pterodactylus would learn to fly, right?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Didn’t someone have to teach them how to fly and leave the nest?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Survival instincts, trial and error, along with watching other Pterodactylus probably played the majority of what motivated the young to fly from the nest.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Imagine what might have become of dinosaurs if they had the capacity to teach what they learned to future generations?<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Pterodactylus and Jesus… teachers?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Why not?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’re still learning about dinosaurs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Each archaeological discovery teaches us more and more about them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong><em><span style="color: blue;">The more we dig around in the Bible, the more we know about Jesus and our relationship with the God who created and loves us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our journey to knowing God is a life-long lesson with Jesus as our TEACHER and the Bible our schoolbook.<o:p></o:p></span></em></strong></span></div><strong><em><span style="color: blue;"> </span></em></strong><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;"><strong><em>Amen.</em></strong></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong><em>Come and join us for worship this Summer at 9:30 am</em></strong></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://www.elcaandy.org/"><strong><em>www.elcaAndy.org</em></strong></a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div>Tina Levorsehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05201592186167814096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5653875440036305808.post-22053587957666495292011-07-21T14:58:00.000-04:002011-07-21T14:58:10.540-04:00Mapusaurus and Jesus?<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VIfeRWTYjGE/Tih2Vl02BNI/AAAAAAAAANA/fi62k0gahtM/s1600/Mapusaurus_vs__Argentinosaurus_by_PaleoPastori.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="198" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VIfeRWTYjGE/Tih2Vl02BNI/AAAAAAAAANA/fi62k0gahtM/s320/Mapusaurus_vs__Argentinosaurus_by_PaleoPastori.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mapusaurus vs. Argentinosaurus by Paleo Pastori</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Tuesday was the second day of this year’s <a href="http://www.elcaandy.org/">Vacation BibleSchool</a> program, “The Great Bibleland Dig”, recycled.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The kids had a great time digging in our archaeological dig site outside the city of “Bethany” to find clues to answer the question, “Who is Jesus?”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">So what did they find?<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">They found broken clay pottery pieces, a long metal spoon and a “petrified” wooden spoon and some “petrified” olive pits.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">What Bible story do you think we were exploring on Tuesday?<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In Bethany, Jesus liked to call the house of his FRIENDs, Mary and Martha, his home away from home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He visited them often and while there received wonderful hospitality and was greeted by many followers who liked to hear the stories Jesus had to tell about the kingdom of God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Martha is known for being busy with preparations for Jesus’ visit, while Mary is credited with recognizing that taking time out to listen to what Jesus had to say was the more important activity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everyone could help with the chores later.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Our junior archaeologists made placemats and bread baskets in craft time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They ate apple wedges smeared with peanut butter and decorated with white mini-marshmallows to resemble a friend’s smile, and they enjoyed large heart shaped cookies that they could decorate with writing gel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A large red heart was added to our archaeology dig journal to help us remember that Jesus is our FRIEND.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">They dug for treasure in our archaeological dig site and found red wooden hearts and small plastic dinosaurs that they could take home to remember today’s lessons.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">They ground up brown grains of wheat and white grains of barley while learning about how these grains were used in Jesus’ time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They learned about basket weaving and how Mary and Martha would have had to make the baskets to take to market for the items they would buy to serve for dinner…no shopping carts or plastic bags in Jesus’ day.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In the afternoon, each junior archaeologist was given a wooden dinosaur puzzle to work on and/or take home, recreating a dinosaur skeleton.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">They learned about Mapusaurus dinosaurs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They learned that while dinosaurs are not credited with having large enough brains to accommodate social thinking, like friendship, there were some dinosaurs, like Mapusaurus, who did hunt in packs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mapusaurus were meat-eating dinosaurs that traveled in a group of 7-9 dinosaurs in the Patagonia region of Argentina.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mapusarus means “earth lizard.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Don’t you wonder how different dinosaur lives might have been if they could have truly made friends with each other?<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Mapusaurus and Jesus?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yeah, it’s a stretch, but what’s an archaeological dig without some dinosaurs?<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong><em><span style="color: blue;">What’s VBS without some FRIENDs?<o:p></o:p></span></em></strong></span></div><strong><em><span style="color: blue;"> </span></em></strong><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong><em><span style="color: blue;">The best FRIEND we can have is Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He will always be by our side, no matter what.<o:p></o:p></span></em></strong></span></div><strong><em><span style="color: blue;"> </span></em></strong><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;"><strong><em>Amen.</em></strong></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong><em>Come join us for worship this summer at 9:30 am through Labor Day.</em></strong></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://www.elcaandy.org/"><strong><em>www.elcaAndy.org</em></strong></a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div>Tina Levorsehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05201592186167814096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5653875440036305808.post-33890554719514727902011-07-19T17:21:00.000-04:002011-07-19T17:21:03.549-04:00T-Rex and Jesus<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZxXb9cZusso/TiX1I2dLn9I/AAAAAAAAAM8/fp0Aji1SL-M/s1600/trex-online-slot-machine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="299" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZxXb9cZusso/TiX1I2dLn9I/AAAAAAAAAM8/fp0Aji1SL-M/s320/trex-online-slot-machine.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Yesterday was our first day of this year’s <a href="http://www.elcaandy.org/">Vacation BibleSchool</a> program, “The Great Bibleland Dig”, recycled.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The kids had a great time digging in our archaeological dig site outside the city of “Bethlehem” to find clues to answer the question, “Who is Jesus?”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">So what did they find?<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">They found a small bottle, like for perfumes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They found an “ancient” king’s scepter with an “H” inscribed in it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They found a scroll with what appeared to be a star chart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">What Bible story do you think we were exploring today?<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Right, the story of the Wise Men, or Magi, following a star and bringing gifts to the newborn king that prophecies and studies of ancient texts has foretold.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They learned that Jesus was a GIFT from God, to us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They learned that Jesus was not the kind of king people expected.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They expected a political royal to usurp the Roman Empire.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They got a servant king.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">They made a camel picture and Star of Bethlehem during craft time and ate rice krispy treats wrapped with licorice bows resembling gifts.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">They dug for treasure in our archaeological dig site and found nuggets of gold that they could take home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">They ground up spices and herbs to make a sachet while learning about how these things were used in Jesus’ time.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">They colored fuzzy felt dinosaur pictures and learned about another kind of king.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They learned about T-Rex…tyrannosaurus rex.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This dinosaur was so named after the word ‘tyrant.’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He ruled the dinosaur kingdom with fear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was a tyrant dinosaur… a ferocious meat eater indiscriminately slaying any dinosaur to cross his path.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Tyrannosaurus rex and Jesus were completely opposite kinds of kings.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">T-rex promoted a reign of terror.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus promoted a reign of love.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">T-rex was a tyrant king.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus was a servant king.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">And in a little church in Parsippany, a bunch of kids had a ton of fun playing amateur archaeologists while learning about Jesus, with a little dinosaur fun on the side.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong><em><span style="color: blue;">They learned that Jesus is God’s GIFT to us.<o:p></o:p></span></em></strong></span></div><strong><em><span style="color: blue;"> </span></em></strong><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong><em><span style="color: blue;">Amen.<o:p></o:p></span></em></strong></span></div>Tina Levorsehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05201592186167814096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5653875440036305808.post-54136400485764073172011-07-08T18:31:00.000-04:002011-07-08T18:31:08.580-04:00Who Is Jesus?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9JYo1-izHCo/TheEYtv2o9I/AAAAAAAAAM0/-_MczalPtmw/s1600/archaeologist.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9JYo1-izHCo/TheEYtv2o9I/AAAAAAAAAM0/-_MczalPtmw/s1600/archaeologist.gif" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">That question has been bouncing around in my brain for 2 months now as I prepare for our Vacation Bible School program for our <a href="http://www.childrenscircleparsippany.com/">Children’s Circle Summer Camp</a> at <a href="http://www.elcaandy.org/">St. Andrew Lutheran Church.<o:p></o:p></a></span><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We are resurrecting a Vacation Bible School program from 1999. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The troubled economy is hitting all aspects of the Church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Augsburg Fortress, the publishing house of the ELCA, is cutting all sorts of programming, including the creation of new VBS material, so we’re recycling. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The kids loved it in 1999 and I’m sure they are going to love it again, now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course we’ve made some adaptations as much of the “learner materials” are no longer available, but at least it will cost us less.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">PLUS, what’s an archaeological dig if you don’t find some dinosaurs, right?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(That’s certainly not part of the program, but it’s amazing what a little creativity can bridge together.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’ll<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>just dig a few layers deeper at each site and see what we find.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Bible stories, and the question which they answer, are timeless and unfettered by any economic woes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They answer the question, “Who is Jesus?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>THAT’s something we all want to know, right?<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The challenge of Vacation Bible School is to make the Bible stories fun.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This Vacation Bible School program is themed around an archaeological dig.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’re going to go digging in the Bible to find the answers to the question “Who is Jesus?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We’ll start our archaeological dig at a site where three kings gazed at star maps and found a servant king unlike any before Him, a GIFT from God Himself.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Next we move to an archaeological site near Bethany were we find relics that point to the FRIENDship that Jesus shared with Mary and Martha.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">After that dig, we move to a site where we discover ancient scrolls that TEACHERs in the temples and synagogues might have used.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We move on to an archaeological dig where we find the clues that point to a blind beggar and the HELP that he received from Jesus.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">And lastly, we visit an archaeological dig site that uncovers a rocky road toward Emmaus, site of the SAVIOR’s appearance to two disciples. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Gkpip2g-BW8/TheEzEPcryI/AAAAAAAAAM4/GoyDiTWwkps/s1600/DinosaurDig.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="264" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Gkpip2g-BW8/TheEzEPcryI/AAAAAAAAAM4/GoyDiTWwkps/s320/DinosaurDig.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">So if Jesus is a GIFT, FRIEND, TEACHER, HELPER, and SAVIOR, what do <em>Tyrannosaurus Rex, Mapusaurus,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pteradactylus, Maiasaura,</em> and <em>Oviraptor</em> have to do with Jesus?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You’ll have to check back here during VBS and keep reading to find out.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">If you know a child up to age 10 in need of a Summer Camp experience, why not investigate <a href="http://www.childrenscircleparsippany.com/">Children’s Circle</a> Summer Camp?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can send that child to camp for one week or several.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The week of our VBS program is July 18-22.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">RRRROARRRR!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’re going on a dig!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t forget your canteen!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Call the Children’s Circle director at (973) 884-3652 for information, rates and to visit the Center.<o:p></o:p></span>Tina Levorsehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05201592186167814096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5653875440036305808.post-16823624899142383022011-06-27T23:00:00.000-04:002011-06-27T23:00:24.126-04:00Speaking for yourself<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0N6ZWIuSpgg/TglDrSxmtBI/AAAAAAAAAMw/zfLhD5FQFYw/s1600/sight_3240c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0N6ZWIuSpgg/TglDrSxmtBI/AAAAAAAAAMw/zfLhD5FQFYw/s320/sight_3240c.jpg" width="221" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Yesterday was Confirmation Sunday at <a href="http://www.elcaandy.org/">St. Andrew</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Four of our young people stepped up to a microphone and spoke to our congregation and told us what their faith and their relationship with God means to them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They had the opportunity to speak for themselves and claim the blessings given to them at their baptism.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">If I could pick one unifying message from each of their speeches it would be this:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Each one of them is confident that God will be with them throughout their lives, no matter what.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong><em><span style="color: red;">Hallelujah!<o:p></o:p></span></em></strong></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">All those Sunday School lessons, confirmation classes, Sundays in worship, servant hours and fellowship events have not been wasted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><em>They get it!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They feel it!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They know it in their hearts! <o:p></o:p></em></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">What a glorious reason to celebrate the Affirmation of their Baptisms as they <em>CONFIRMED</em> what their parents had promised for them, on their behalf as infants, when they were too young to ask to become a child of God with their own words.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">They have now claimed for themselves the membership in the body of Christ given to them at their baptisms.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Their membership fee has been paid in full by Jesus Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Congratulations to Ryan, Viviane, Hannah and Andrew.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">May you continue to always feel the Creator’s presence, the love of Jesus Christ and the guidance of the Holy Spirit in your lives, trusting in this faith that you have affirmed as a beloved child of God.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Come worship with us this Summer at 9:30 am on Sundays.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://www.elcaandy.org/">www.elcaAndy.org</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div>Tina Levorsehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05201592186167814096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5653875440036305808.post-19186233824135053472011-06-21T21:56:00.000-04:002011-06-21T21:56:36.352-04:00In God's House There are Many Rooms<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lrbZYMvNi9E/TgFLi2zjuyI/AAAAAAAAAMs/HrWGQQNFQcA/s1600/father_8251cnp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lrbZYMvNi9E/TgFLi2zjuyI/AAAAAAAAAMs/HrWGQQNFQcA/s320/father_8251cnp.jpg" width="320" /></a><strong><em><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Sunda</span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">y was Father’s Day.<o:p></o:p></span></span></em></strong></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">At <a href="http://www.elcaandy.org/">St. Andrew</a> we invite all the men of the congregation forward to be blessed, not just fathers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because many men function in the role of “father” to people other than their own children, or even when they have no children of their own.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Often when I think about Father’s Day, I think about the scripture, “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>John 14:1-3<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">For me, this verse epitomizes how we are supposed to trust in God that He, as our Father, will provide us with a home; a place of shelter, love, and family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the same way, our fathers on earth are charged with the task of providing a home for their children; a place of shelter, love and family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sometimes our biological fathers are not able to fulfill that role and other men (and sometimes women) step in and make sure that we find ourselves in a home, a place of shelter, love and family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Imagine our lives without these fathers and father figures.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Unfortunately there are many children in the world without a father, father figure, or home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>May they take comfort in this Bible passage from John to know that there is one father above all others who will never fail them and who has prepared a place for them where they will find shelter, love and family.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Today I was waiting for a guest to arrive at Newark Airport.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I waited for her arrival, I was watching all the people coming and going through the security gate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was amazed at the variety of people… people of all races and nationalities, ages and occupations… all going through the same gate to sit together on an airplane, just as we will all go through one door into that home God has prepared for ALL of us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What an amazing assortment of humanity!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God does love to use a broad palette in his handiwork!<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong><em>In God’s house there are many rooms… and we will ALL have a place there, even if we did not have one here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Amen.<o:p></o:p></em></strong></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;"><strong><em>Did you grow up with a father figure that provided a home for you?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe you are a man who has helped to provide a home for a child, or has acted as a father figure to a child who has none.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God bless our fathers and the men who father us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>May you continue to seek the wonderful role model that God sets before you….for in you, the children of the world will find shelter, love, and family.</em></strong></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Join us for worship this summer at 9:30 am each Sunday.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://www.elcaandy.org/">www.elcaAndy.org</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div>Tina Levorsehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05201592186167814096noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5653875440036305808.post-38335682131385339482011-06-17T20:17:00.000-04:002011-06-17T20:17:38.925-04:00Building our Houses on Sand<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k7NmrTXOAFY/TfvtI4hqU4I/AAAAAAAAAMk/tWB7hDUxu4U/s1600/sandcastle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k7NmrTXOAFY/TfvtI4hqU4I/AAAAAAAAAMk/tWB7hDUxu4U/s320/sandcastle.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong><span style="color: blue;">Where have you built your house?<o:p></o:p></span></strong></span></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><em>“Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And the rains fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock.<o:p></o:p></em></span></div><em> </em><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><em>Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and it fell – and great was its fall.”</em><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Matthew 7:24-27<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We’ve had quite a sprint of bad weather recently, here in <a href="http://www.elcaandy.org/contact.asp#directions">NJ</a> and more seriously in other parts of the country, and around the globe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Last night we had torrential rain with thunder and lightning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This spring has seen more flood warnings than I’ve remembered in recent history.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Parts of the Midwest are seeing unprecedented flooding along both the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">News reports have shown pictures of humongous swaths of the Midwest and Southern farm and ranch land covered in water for miles on end.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Earlier this year, r</span>ight in our own back yard, the Passaic River was above flood stage for almost a week in parts of Wayne and Fairfield.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It makes you wonder whose bright idea it was to build the homes, now under water, in the flood plain of these rivers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And who would be foolish enough to buy them?<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In fairness, sometimes those homes weren’t in a flood plain to begin with but because of political decisions, flood plains or relief zones are re-mapped and moved.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Again, who thought that was a good idea?<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">But, we really ought not be too critical.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t we also build our houses on sand?<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Maybe not our physical home structures, but certainly our hearts and minds… the home for our spirit.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">How often do we put trust in the media, our government, our jobs, a relationship, or our bank accounts over building a foundation of trust in God?<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">How often do we need to use the crutches of addictions, sensationalism, and other “isms” to prop up our crumbling lives, broken hearts and tortured minds?<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">How often do we step on the shifting sands of human promise instead of putting our feet on the solid rocks of divine promise?<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">By forgetting to trust in God and place our lives in His care, our spirits are beaten by the winds, rains, and floods of our lives, and our hearts and minds become weak.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We easily struggle and fall.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">By placing our confidence in God, our spirits may be beaten by those same winds, rains and floods of our lives, but our hearts and minds will weather those storms.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We will rise against the world that would tear us down, and our spirits will be lifted high and held safe in the arms of a loving and merciful God who asks only for us to look to Him to be that sure foundation.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong><em>May you enjoy your beach vacations this summer; but watch how those sand castles are washed away with one swift wave.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Remember the verses from Matthew and pledge to build your spirit’s foundation on the solid rock of Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Amen.<o:p></o:p></em></strong></span></div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;"><strong><em>In what ways have you built your house on sand?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How can you start rebuilding on the solid rock of Christ?</em></strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Come build up your spirit in God's house at St. Andrew.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Join us for worship on Sundays, 9:30 am during the summer.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://www.elcaandy.org/">www.elcaAndy.org</a></span>Tina Levorsehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05201592186167814096noreply@blogger.com1