Santa Lives in My Town

Liz, a friend of mine, grew up in a small, Midwestern farming community. Here, every year, Santa made the rounds--church, 4H, City Hall, Christmas parade, school. He even visited the homes of the neighbor kids. Liz was always amazed that Santa actually knew who she was and even called her by name, asking how that new lamb was getting along or if she like that new play-kitchen set. After a while, Liz decided that Santa may work at the North Pole, but he lived in her town.

As she got older, Liz visited the big city nearby and was surprised to see that Santa had helpers. But how foolish those kids were, thinking that the helpers were the real Santa. They didn't look anything like the real Santa.

When Liz reached a certain age, she discovered the truer identify of Santa. But that really didn't matter, because whether or not he was dressed up, his eyes still twinkled and his kindness never wained.

Liz has fond memories of Santa. Even though her home is far and years away, her recollections of Christmas intertwine with Santa's warmth and care.

When children see us, hopefully they too will see reflections of incarnated Love.

Grace, Kathy

Does Biology Trump Responsibility or My Brain Made Me Do It

Ever wonder where we get the concept of right brain/left brain? Here's a link to find out.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/01/science/telling-the-story-of-the-brains-cacophony-of-competing-voices.html?_r=2&src=dayp&pagewanted=all

Now, why does it matter? Dr. Gazzaniga, the scientist behind right brain/left brain research, argues that ultimately, responsibility is a contract between two people rather than a property of the brain, and determinism has no meaning in this context. Further social constructs like good judgment and free will are even further removed, and trying to define them in terms of biological processes is, in the end, a "fool’s game."

So yes, learning responsibility is best done in a nurturing environment as are the meanings of good judgment and free will.

Thought this was interesting and that you might enjoy it.

Kathy

All Hallows Eve

You probably know that Halloween really began as All Hallows Eve. Some even suggest that the holiday (or holy day) goes back a lot further to pre-Christian times. And like many holidays, the Catholic Church baptized the pagan celebration and gave it a new Christian meaning.

But whatever its origins, Halloween is fun. It's a topsy-turvy time when kids can knock on your door and demand candy, and years ago, threaten you with a trick. Pranks are common and surely a nuance for adults. But Halloween is a time when people can let off steam. And since many of us live a pressure-cooker existence--that's not all bad.

It's also a great time for community outreach. Our church hosted a Fall Festival on Saturday night that featured car trunks full of candy, a bonfire, and other fun stuff for kids. And did the kids turn out! We had over 250 from the surrounding neighborhood--many of whom to do not to any church. And for me, any time a kid can come to the church and see smiling faces, it's a good thing. Jesus calls us to bring little children to Him, and this is an easy and great first step.

Happy Halloween, Kathy

The Gospel According to Indy Food Swap

Food Swaps are becoming common across the country and involve a group of people gathering and exchanging food items that are homemade or homegrown. I attended the second Indy Food Swap last Saturday, held at a United Methodist Church. Thirty-four participants of us were assigned places at a table to display our items. We were allowed twenty minutes to visit each table and see what each person brought. Then the swap began.

I brought whole wheat biscuits, my "signature item." Others brought salsa, cake pops, cookies, various kinds of soups, cookie mix in a glass jar, lots of jams and jellies, candy apples, wine, and many kinds of breads-- pumpkin, banana, poppy seed. The swap was fun as everyone moved back and forth across the room, quickly filling arms and baskets with treasures.

Simultaneously, in the basement, a large group of homeless people were having a free hot meal of homemade tamales. There was also a table filled with various free things such as books, clothing, shoes, and household items.

As I walked around the old four-story church, I sensed God's presence blessing all of the activity, which God had made possible. Many of the homemade items were filled with vegetables harvested from backyard gardens. Those who prepared the meal and were in conversation with the homeless were gladly responding to Jesus' message to "Love one another as I have loved you."

I left the swap with a bag filled with soup, bread, jelly a few cookies, and a soul renewed with God's presence.

God, there are many places where your people can be fed, physically and spiritually. Thank you for this fun opportunity to experience both. Amen.

Jacquie Reed
Fishers, Indiana

Have You Heard the One About...by Len Sweet

Take some time today to laugh out loud.

"Methodism is at its best when its humor is at its highest. When a politician asked a retired bishop for some advice, the bishop told the politician to go out into the rain and lift his head heavenward. 'It will bring a revelation to you,' the bishop promised. The next day the politician reported back: 'I followed your advice, bishop, and no revelation came. Only water pouring down my neck. I felt like a fool.' 'Well,' the bishop said,'isn’t that quite a revelation for the first try?'”

From Len Sweet's forthcoming book, The Greatest Story Never Told: Revive Us Again.

Grace, Kathy

New Life for an Old Robe?

Last spring, Mike, my husband, purchased a new white robe to wear each Sunday. He brought his old robe home and I stuffed it into a box in the garage.

Last weekend I cleaned the garage -- a semi-annual project-- and I found his robe. I washed it. After it dried, I held the cloth close to my heart, thinking about all of the Sunday services, weddings, funerals, baptisms, communions that the robe witnessed. I just couldn't throw it away.

I thought perhaps I might make baptismal outfits for grandchildren yet to be born (our two daughters aren't even interested in marriage at ages 32 and 25), but there isn't enough fabric. I remember the last time he purchased a new robe, I cut twenty-- 4 inch squares, pieced to a little quilt and used it as a prayer cloth when I prayed for Mike.

Since I still have and use the prayer quilt, I need to find another idea. Any thoughts?

God, there are times when objects or clothing become holy because of their use in your kingdom. Guide my hands and thoughts how to preserve in a meaningful way the robe that Mike wore for over twenty years. Amen.

Jacquie Reed,
Fishers, Indiana

My favorite account of Jesus feeding the thousands is in John, chapter 6, verses 1-13 because of verses 12 and 13: "When they were all full, he said to his disciples, 'Gather the pieces left over; let us not waste a bit.' So they gathered them all and filled twelve baskets with the pieces left over from the five barley loaves which the people had eaten."

John's gospel is the only account that mentions gathering the "leftovers." Jesus realized that the pieces were just as valuable as the loaves. Putting all of the pieces together enabled even more people to receive nourishment.

I was reminded of this story a few weeks ago. I have quilted for many years, and quilting is a way that I pray. I decided to go through my pile of unfinished projects, leftovers from finished projects, as well as pieces of fabric representing experiments of a particular technique. There was definitely a diverse collection of fabric, embroidery, applique, and a few pieces of paper that I used with fabric. I really did not want to throw away any of these pieces because each represented prayer as well as an image of my faith walk during the past several years.

Just like the crumbs of bread, my pieces were sacred because of the way God was part of the creation. So I randomly began to sew everything together. I disregarded color, pattern, as well as the expectation of making something that "looked nice." I gathered (and sewed) much like the disciples. I ended with a new quilt top, one that will continue to feed my heart and soul as I pray and finish the project.

Jesus gave us a model to value pieces as well as wholeness.

Thank you God for those pieces of who we are that when put together make us whole in you and in ourselves. Amen.

Jacquie Reed, Fishers, Indiana

Tennessee Conference Ministers Mates' Retreat

Dear Spouses of the UM Tennessee Conference,

Please put this on your calendar: Retreat at Beersheba Springs, March 19-21, 2010. Theme this year is "Behind the Parsonage Door." The retreat will be led by Kathy Armistead and Christine Archer, both veteran spouses and counselors. First time attendees are free. For more information contact: Rita Collett at rcollett@gbod.org

If you would like your spouse/family events listed here, please feel free to email the information to spouseconnect@gmail.com and we'll post for you.

We are all in this together.

Grace, Kathy

Live Stress Free

Dear Friends, Want to get away and let all that stress go? Visit Faith Mayton at
www.tender-touch-therapies.com
Her blog is tendertouchtherapies.blogspot.com

Laugh out Loud Funny

Dear Friends, Need a good laugh? Check these out from YouTube. A couple were played at our Spouse lunch at Annual Conference.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TyNyHLCppMA&feature=channel_page

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-vLYpeGI1Mc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iY4khRpG8O8&feature=PlayList&p=34DDC09D3971E030&index=0&playnext=1




In fun, Kathy

Kathy is an editor at a religous publishing house.