This week I am so thankful for children - for children’s voices, children’s eyes, children’s faces, and children’s ability to help each one of us recognize all over again the wonder in ordinary things.
Last Sunday, our children led us with Mary and Joseph, on a journey of awareness and justice as they traveled from door to door – each closed firmly as they asked for a place - in our Las Posadas pageant. I think each one of us gained a new understanding of exactly what the opposite of the ‘Radical Hospitality’ and ‘Extravagant Welcome’ of the United Church of Christ are all about. Through children telling the stories of the grandchild of a Russian Jew who still has tattoo marks on her arm from a Concentration camp, a child who’s gay uncle who is not welcomed, a child whose family home was lost to flooding in last spring’s Red River valley flood, to the child of commercial corn and soybean farmers - as well as the responding stories in each case of a friend or classmate who closes the door to their situation – we learned why saying and living that “All are Welcome Here” is so vitally important to our faith community.
If you missed the pageant or just want to see it again, Garrett Miedema is creating a CD from the video which will include the background slide show, extra photos, and a soundtrack.
There are many folks to thank for making this pageant possible:
Thank you: to Maya and Max Gerads, Kennedy and Sawyer Miedema, Sydney and Lucas Meyer, Hannah and Grace Peterson, Anna and Anders Rudie, Eric and Marie Ljosenvoor - our outstanding cast.
- to the Pilgrim Choir for the Las Posadas chorus throughout the pageant.
- to Steve Meyer and Toni Beckler for providing the video projector and the pizza meal after Saturday’s rehearsal.
- to Amy and Marty Peterson for providing treat bags for the children.
- to Deb Miedema for taking photos to create keepsake Christmas ornaments.
- to Garrett Miedema and his dad for making the very sturdy door – the only set needed.
- to Gretchen Gardebring for costume changes for the children.
- to all parents for getting your children to rehearsal and the performance on time.
- to everyone in our congregation for expressing your appreciation so profoundly.
- and finally – a huge thanks to Gigi Nauer for writing the script for the pageant, rewriting the lyrics and music to a more familiar carol tune, creating the background photo slide show, and being the music director.
This coming Sunday our worship will be a Service of Healing and Wholeness. Through ritual including lighting candles and special prayers and blessings, we will embrace the dark side of this holy season. Please invite friends and family to come with you to participate in this service of worship.
My prayer for you as we come to the end of this third week of Advent - and as I look outside my window onto a snowy landscape sparkling in the winter sunshine - is that you make time in your busy lives to experience the world anew through new eyes. Look and hear long enough – even if it takes a while - to find the amazing in the ordinary – to realize that city lights are just as beautiful as those on your tree, that the joy of your dog snowdozing is a pure unadulterated joy that has nothing to do with anything but the moment; that the Holy can also be found in ‘Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer”. May your Advent be filled with moments like these.
Blessing to you all ……….. Robin
Last Sunday, our children led us with Mary and Joseph, on a journey of awareness and justice as they traveled from door to door – each closed firmly as they asked for a place - in our Las Posadas pageant. I think each one of us gained a new understanding of exactly what the opposite of the ‘Radical Hospitality’ and ‘Extravagant Welcome’ of the United Church of Christ are all about. Through children telling the stories of the grandchild of a Russian Jew who still has tattoo marks on her arm from a Concentration camp, a child who’s gay uncle who is not welcomed, a child whose family home was lost to flooding in last spring’s Red River valley flood, to the child of commercial corn and soybean farmers - as well as the responding stories in each case of a friend or classmate who closes the door to their situation – we learned why saying and living that “All are Welcome Here” is so vitally important to our faith community.
If you missed the pageant or just want to see it again, Garrett Miedema is creating a CD from the video which will include the background slide show, extra photos, and a soundtrack.
There are many folks to thank for making this pageant possible:
Thank you: to Maya and Max Gerads, Kennedy and Sawyer Miedema, Sydney and Lucas Meyer, Hannah and Grace Peterson, Anna and Anders Rudie, Eric and Marie Ljosenvoor - our outstanding cast.
- to the Pilgrim Choir for the Las Posadas chorus throughout the pageant.
- to Steve Meyer and Toni Beckler for providing the video projector and the pizza meal after Saturday’s rehearsal.
- to Amy and Marty Peterson for providing treat bags for the children.
- to Deb Miedema for taking photos to create keepsake Christmas ornaments.
- to Garrett Miedema and his dad for making the very sturdy door – the only set needed.
- to Gretchen Gardebring for costume changes for the children.
- to all parents for getting your children to rehearsal and the performance on time.
- to everyone in our congregation for expressing your appreciation so profoundly.
- and finally – a huge thanks to Gigi Nauer for writing the script for the pageant, rewriting the lyrics and music to a more familiar carol tune, creating the background photo slide show, and being the music director.
This coming Sunday our worship will be a Service of Healing and Wholeness. Through ritual including lighting candles and special prayers and blessings, we will embrace the dark side of this holy season. Please invite friends and family to come with you to participate in this service of worship.
My prayer for you as we come to the end of this third week of Advent - and as I look outside my window onto a snowy landscape sparkling in the winter sunshine - is that you make time in your busy lives to experience the world anew through new eyes. Look and hear long enough – even if it takes a while - to find the amazing in the ordinary – to realize that city lights are just as beautiful as those on your tree, that the joy of your dog snowdozing is a pure unadulterated joy that has nothing to do with anything but the moment; that the Holy can also be found in ‘Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer”. May your Advent be filled with moments like these.
Blessing to you all ……….. Robin
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