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The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad,
the desert shall rejoice and blossom;
like the crocus it shall blossom abundantly,
and rejoice with joy and singing. Isaiah 35:1-2
I love so much of the book of Isaiah. I love the visions the writer lays out for what the world will look like when God truly reigns.
The vision of a desert in blossom reminds me of the dry places and deserts I have visited, because they do blossom. The blossoms on a cactus are really beautiful. I especially love the prickly pear cactus. My mother taught us how to eat prickly pears. The skin gets peeled off to reveal a luscious, deep magenta that tastes so sweet. It is also filled with seeds, which are like stones and we were taught to spit them out.
The desert may look dry and barren. It may appear at first like there is little life there. Yet, life flourishes there and when it rains, the desert blooms and fruit is produced.
Sometimes our lives are difficult and challenging. We aren't sure we can make it. Yet, God is always with us and like the wilderness and the desert, we can blossom again.
Blessings as you finish your week.
Love, Rebecca+
Announcements
G.I.F.T.: Growing in Faith Together
Godly Play and rehearsal for the Christmas Pageant are today.
Parlor People
Today, a discussion led by Rebecca - How Much Hope Do You Have?
At Church of the Nativity
December Services
Sunday, December 22, 9:30am – Christmas Pageant followed by decorating of the church and Soup Lunch.
Tuesday, December 24, 4:00pm – Christmas Eve Family Service with Eucharist, St. Stephen’s
10:30pm – Christmas Eve Service with Eucharist at Nativity. Hymns and music from 10:30-11:00pm.
Sunday, December 29, 9:30am - Christmas Lessons and Carols
Upcoming Meetings
Each Sunday, 4pm, Perry County PRIDE
Thursday, December 19, 7 – 10pm, Friends of Newport Board Game Night
Join Us For Breakfast! Wednesdays at 9am.
Women will meet at Newport Family Restaurant this week; Men meet at Espresso Yourself.
Taize’ Tuesdays, 4:45pm.
Twenty minutes of Centering Prayer followed by a Taize’ service.
Wednesday, January 8, Commons activity, Board games and lunch.
See Wendy, Sue or Lynne if you’d like to help.
Community Events and Opportunities for Service
The YWCA Greater Harrisburg is opening a new Supervised Visitation and Exchange Center in
New Bloomfield, Perry County.
They have identified a site in New Bloomfield and are working to gather the items needed to make the center a child-friendly and safe environment. A list of needs is below. Any assistance the community can offer is in getting this vital service ready to open is greatly appreciated.
Couch/loveseat, area rug, table and chairs, refrigerator, microwave, bean bag chairs, toys, toy box, books, puzzles, board games, craft supplies, legos/blocks, game console, pack-n-play, bouncy chair, diapers, wipes, cleaning supplies, paper towels, toilet paper, Lysol wipes, Lysol spray, tissues.
Community Dinner every Thursday, 5:30pm, Family Life Center, Newport.
Sponsored by Newport Assemblies of God. No Dinner December 19 or December 26.
Gifts for Life gives people all over the world the chance to transform their lives in lasting ways.
Visit www.episcopalrelief.org/gifts to send a gift to help fight poverty, hunger and disease worldwide. A catalog is also posted in the undercroft listing the many gifts available.
Food Bank Donations are needed!
For a list of the items needed by the Food Bank, go to their website at http://www.perrycountyfoodbank.org/ and click on their wish list. Canned vegetables, fruit, nut butters and protein are always needed.
Help People in Need when you buy your Groceries!
See Gail Shull or Pat Szabo to purchase cards in various amounts to use at Giant, Mutzabaugh's, or Weis Stores. 5% of the cost of each card stays with the church and is used for outreach and mission projects.
