Christmas evokes thoughts of shopping, presents, cookies, Christmas Carols, Baby Jesus born in Bethlehem, stockings, Christmas trees, Santa Claus, concerts, parties, seeing family, holly, decorations, favorite foods, cards and snow. Each year we hope for a picture-perfect Christmas with pretty white snowflakes falling from the sky.
Yet, Jesus was born in a warm climate amidst palm trees and people wearing sandals.
“Hot, hot burning up” could describe much of the summer here in Minnesota. But this week it has been the kids’ favorite song at Knights of North Castle Vacation Bible School. You may have fond memories of VBS from your own childhood or serving as a volunteer leader.
“Earth and all stars, loud rushing planets…” is a hymn that I like. The end of our “On Earth” series coincided with the culmination of our first ever Serve & Learn Week. An intergenerational group of people spent the week focusing on loving our neighbors and caring for creation.
Last year I got a hammock – I’d seen people with these nylon hammocks that you can hang between two trees but I’d never tried one. I didn’t know if I was capable of making knots that would hold me and pictured myself falling to the ground. Well, I discovered that you don’t have to tie any knots and they are quite easy to hang. Now “hammocking” is one of the most restorative things that I do.
As we’re coming to the end of a holiday weekend, the words “Oh beautiful for spacious skies, for amber waves of grain” echo in my head. This year is so much different from the 4th of July last year. This year we are much more comfortable around other people and have reason to celebrate as…