Claimed, gathered and sent

and it's not an oncoming train! This is the last week of the semester and I have one thing left...study for and take one exam!!! Then I have two weeks off! We are going to spend one of them in Rochester with my daughter, granddaughter, and friends. So, Christmas we'll be there. Then we'll go to RI for the New Year to be with Ray's family and our friends there. We absolutely love it here at Gburg, but I am ready for a break from the studies. When we return, I will not be the only one in school. Ray will be starting the Certificate of Theological Studies program, about which we're very excited. flickr picture

The message of today's readings is abundantly clear. Phrases from Isaiah such as, "...bring good news to the oppressed," "...proclaim liberty to captives," and "...proclaim the year of the Lord's favor," are but the beginning of the the proclamation. The testimony continues in 1 Thessalonians with "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances..." And in the Gospel of John we hear of "...the man sent from God, whose name was John." He testified and was a witness of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. This morning as Pr. Steve preached, highlighting these themes, I had this song going through my mind like it was on a loop that constantly replayed. What about us? Are such themes, proclamations, and words only for prophets and apostles to declare? In this world of pain and darkness, we too have good news to share and light to bring. God give us wisdom as to the myriad of ways we can testify to love. Picture...

Abby (L) Amity (R) I've done lots of writing about Abby and Amity and posted pictures of other similar looking dogs. Now that I have a digital camera here they are! Amity & Ray Amity is doing a fine job as a guide dog and Abby is doing a fine job of holding down the rug in retirement and loving the freedom of being fussed over by everyone. For her it's open season for petting. And since being here at seminary where there are lots of dogs, they have boyfriends or should I say dogfriends. The first is Gus, a huge, gentle giant of a Pit Bull. Abby met him first. After Amity joined the family, she liked him also. When the girls see Gus, their whole demeanor changes like teenagers seeing a rock star. Their faces light up, their tales start wagging. It's like they're saying, "He's here!" The problem was, both gi...

Because yesterday was part of Thanksgiving weekend, I did not have teaching parish at Rural Lutheran. I love being involved there, but had forgotten how wonderful it is to simply participate in Sunday worship and not be responsible for anything in the service! I enjoyed sitting with Ray and friends. I have heard how important it is for pastors to intentionally make opportunities for worship and sabbath. Though my responsibilities on Sundays are nothing compared to Rural Pastor's, I'm beginning to have a better understanding of why I keep hearing that. After worship, we went to lunch with a classmate and h er parents. It was so relaxing and enjoyable.--and yummy! The day was then crowned with LTSG's annual Advent Vespers which is a beautiful, amazing service. We had a wonderful ushering in of the Advent season. fllickr and Music Gettysburg! pictures

Not only are we to keep alert for the coming of the Lord , but we need to keep alert to hold up and walk with our brothers and sisters in need. I want to thank Proclaiming Softly for her apt reminder. She issued an urgent prayer request for some missionaries in Nigeria. Having been on the other side of the ocean in Palestine, I learned that just because we don't hear of problems in our news doesn't mean they aren't happening. Please read Mary Beth's blog and pray for this family as well as others that put their lives on the line in service of our God. Lord in your mercy...hear our prayer.

I was moved by this prayer on the ELCA prayer website: Thank you, Lord, for always answering prayer, but not indulging my every petty, private give me. Thank you winnowing and refining, vetoing and delaying, refusing and revising. Thank you for being God and never less, for freeing me for wide horizons, for protecting me from my limited vision and wayward will. Thank you for foiling my every effort to unseat you and make myself king. T hank you for keeping it safe for me to pray. --Gerhard E. Frost From Seasons of a Lifetime: A Treasury of Meditations (Minneapolis: Augsburg Fortress, 1989, p. 118) candle picture

Thanks to Singing Owl for this Friday Five. Ours was spent on campus with the rest of the "remnant" that didn't go away. We gathered in the seminary refectory for a traditional Thanksgiving pot luck dinner. The fellowship and food were wonderful. 1. How do I limit the number to 5???? Anyway, I am first of all thankful for my husband, Ray, and for his supportive patience as I go to seminary. His love and encouragement have enabled me to make this change in our lives. 2. These are of course not in order as far as the amount of thankfulness I have. But my adult children Sarah and Christian are next. They have both grown i nto wonderful people whom I love with all my heart. For them I give thanks. 3. My granddaughter, Grace, a precocious nearly 5 year old. I am grateful for her and her unabashed love for Jesus. She is pr ecious. 4. I'm very thankful for Marisa, my son's fiancee, who has turned his world upside down. He's a different man. 5. And finally, I am tha...