Longing for the Hush

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Longing for the Hush


Earlier and earlier stores press their limits
as traditional holiday music, like Gene Autry and Bing
drift through tinny sounding speakers.
Retailers seek the blackest of black ink for their bottom line—
"Ah, the joyous season of giving!"

In the mist of it all,
cynicism crept in and almost stole from me
the revered moments of hushed, silent bliss
when my heart and God’s connect in this solemn season,
immersed in salvation through the hope of a blanketed savior child.

- Cari Spears


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Are you, too, longing for the hush?

In this busy time of year, perhaps the best gift the church can offer is quiet, slower-paced space and time to rest and reflect. Each Wednesday of Advent, St. Anne's sanctuary will be available as a quiet space for meditation and prayer, from 5:00-9:00 PM beginning December 2. Stop in any time, stay for as long as you'd like. All are welcome.

God Would Kneel Down

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GOD WOULD KNEEL DOWN

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I think God might be a little prejudiced.

For once He asked me to join Him on a walk through this world,

and we gazed into every heart on this earth,
and I noticed He lingered a bit longer

before any face that was weeping,

and before any eyes that were laughing.

And sometimes when we passed
a soul in worship

God too would kneel down.

I have come to learn:
God
adores
His
creation.


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- St. Francis of Assisi

(as translated by Daniel Ladinsky)

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We Are Standing On Holy Ground

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Blessing of the Animals

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God bless the animals.

Let us remember to give thanks for all of the significant animals in our lives, past and present, and for the wonderful lessons we learn from all of your wondrous creatures.

Give us, God, the gentleness of the rabbit,
the working ability of the beaver, the courage of the lion,
the cunning of the fox,
the bravery of the tiger
and the fortitude and resiliency of the coyote.

May we always have the lovely family life of the wolf,
whose members care for one another with sincere devotion.

Grant us the common sense of the horse,
the strength of the ox
and especially, God,
we ask for the humor, comedy and playfulness
of the sea otters and the squirrels.

Bless us each with the mastery of good grooming and relaxation of our cats
and with the loyalty and devotion of our dogs.

Best of all, God, fill us with the sheer joy of the songbirds at dawn,
heralding a new day and forgetting the past.


Help us to awaken to and learn from their wisdom
and their sweetness,
their loyalty
and particularly
their seeming inability to judge human beings unkindly.

Amen.

- by The Rev. Lauren McLaughlin
from the book Blessing the Animals: Prayers and Ceremonies to Celebrate God’s Creatures, Wild and Tame. Edited by Lynn L. Caruso

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Church Bulletin Slip Ups

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Enjoy!

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These sentences actually appeared in a church bulletin or were announced in a church service:


Announcement in the church bulletin for a National Prayer and Fasting Conference. "The cost for attending the Prayer and Fasting Conference includes meals."

Low Self Esteem Support Group will meet Thursday at 7 PM. Please use the back door.

Miss Charlene Mason sang "I will not pass this way again" giving obvious pleasure to the congregation.

"Ladies, don't forget the rummage sale. It's a chance to get rid of those things not worth keeping around the house. Don't forget to bring your husbands."

The peacemaking meeting scheduled for today has been canceled due to a conflict.

Remember in prayer the many who are sick of our community.

The sermon this morning: "Jesus Walks on the Water." The sermon tonight: "Searching for Jesus."

Next Thursday there will be tryouts for the choir. They need all the help they can get.

The Rector will preach his farewell message after which the choir will sing "Break Forth into Joy."

Smile at someone who is hard to love. Say "hell" to someone who doesn't care much about you.

Don't let worry kill you off. Let the Church help.

Irving Benson and Jessie Carter were married on October 24 in the church. So ends a friendship that began in their school days.

At the evening service tonight, the sermon topic will be "What is Hell?" Come early and listen to our choir practice.

Scouts are saving aluminum cans, bottles, and other items to be recycled. Proceeds will be used to cripple children.

For those of you who have children and don't know it, we have a nursery downstairs.

The church will host an evening of fine dining, superb entertainment, and gracious hostility.

Potluck supper Sunday at 5:00 PM.-prayer and medication to follow.

The ladies of the Church have cast off clothing of every kind. They may be seen in the basement on Friday afternoon.

Ladies Bible Study will be held Thursday morning at 10. All ladies are invited to lunch in the Fellowship Hall after the B.S. is done.

Weight Watchers will meet at 7 PM at the First Presbyterian Church. Please use large double door at the side entrance.

The Associate Minister unveiled the church's new tithing campaign slogan last Sunday: "I Upped My Pledge - Up Yours.

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St. Anne's Ministry Fair - September 20th

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Butterflies

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What the caterpillar calls the end of the world

the master calls a butterfly.

Richard Bach

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