by the fabulous Nadia Bolz-Weber:
40 Ideas for Keeping Lent Holy
Monday, February 27, 2012
At the Table
- Luke 14:12-14
Monday, February 20, 2012
How Can We Help?
We can help by educating ourselves about these issues. Lord, we pray for these people in captivity.
Amen.
The LaGrange Area League of Women Voters Presents
Amen.
The LaGrange Area League of Women Voters Presents
Combatting 21st Century Slavery: Human Trafficking
Prevention, Intervention & Prosecution
What are the dimensions of the problem?
§ I llinois is considered a major hub for human trafficking,
§ Chicago is designated by the F.B.I. as one of 13 top cities for child prostitution,
§ 12.3 million people are in forced labor and sexual servitude at any given time,
§ Human trafficking ranks as the second largest criminal industry globally, second only to drug smuggling, and equal with the illegal weapons trade.
Take this opportunity to hear from experts about current legislation, education and prosecution efforts underway in Chicago.
Tuesday, February 21, 2012, 7-9 pm
Western Springs Village Hall – Board Room
740 Hillgrove Avenue, Western Springs, IL
Street parking along Hillgrove Ave.
Friday, February 17, 2012
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Ceasefire
At first I thought it was odd that a documentary about gang and youth violence in Chicago would air the evening of Valentine's Day but it makes sense to me that on this day of love we are called to care for those suffering the stress and sorrow of chronic violence. Check out the documentary and I hope in some way you will feel called to love more, the stranger, your spouse, all of our children, one another.
peace to us all.
Frontline Interrupters here.
Happy Love Day
we all might be familiar with a portion of this famous poem but I thought it would be nice to read it in its entirety. xoxo
by Elizabeth Barrett Browning
How do I love thee? Let me count the ways. I love thee to the depth and breadth and height My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight For the ends of Being and ideal Grace. I love thee to the level of everyday's Most quiet need, by sun and candlelight. I love thee freely, as men strive for Right; I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise. I love thee with the passion put to use In my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith. I love thee with a love I seemed to lose With my lost saints,--I love thee with the breath, Smiles, tears, of all my life!--and, if God choose, I shall but love thee better after death.
Monday, February 13, 2012
Nothing Like It
"At some thoughts one stands perplexed, above all at the sight of human sin, and wonders whether to combat it by force or by humble love. Always decide ‘I will combat it by humble love.’ If you resolve on that once and for all, you can conquer the whole world. Loving humility is a terrible force: it is the strongest of all things, and there is nothing else like it.”
- Fyodor Dostoyevsky, from
The Brothers Karamazov
Friday, February 10, 2012
Church Stuff
May the faith that gives us hope, the love that shows the way, and the peace that cheers the heart be ours, this day and every day. Amen. from Prayers of Comfort and Hope
Lend A Hand - Bring A Can. We have delivered over 140 non-perishable items to St. Barbara's Food Pantry in Brookfield. Wonderful! Please continue to bring your donations to the bin in the light court. Many happy bellies will be the result.
The Outreach Committee will be settling a refugee family within the next few weeks. They will need bed frames, small furniture, new linens, household goods, etc.
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Line and Color
For Beauty
Tomorrow I'm going to speak to my son's 4th grade class about Henri Matisse. He is one of my absolute favorite artists for use of color and subject matter with such spirit. I look forward to sharing some of his magic with the children. I have black construction paper and will have the kids use different colored scrap paper to make a picture of cut outs like Matisse did later in life.
Imagine the image above as stained glass windows in a church santcuary - or in your home!
It was a long week. Plans for the weekend?
peace.
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Sleep Challenge
Sleep is a social, physical and spiritual issue. I love that the folks from Race to Nowhere have recognized the necessity of sleep for raising happier and healthier children. Listen up!
Check out more here: sleep challenge
This February, in anticipation of National Sleep Awareness Week (March 5-11), we urge parents, students, teachers and school leaders to experiment with practices that will restore balance to student schedules and encourage healthy sleep.
Take the Sleep Challenge by pledging to take action below and begin to make a difference in your home and community.
-from the site endtherace.org.
Squish
Something to do on a cold February afternoon:
| SLIME | |
2 parts cornstarch 1 part water Food coloring Mix in a large bowl, using your hands. Don't add too much water. Slime should not be runny but can be made to whatever consistency you like best. Pick the color you like your slime to be and use the food coloring. If your slime gets too hard, a small amount of water can be added. | |
Sunday, February 5, 2012
This Moment
They get so big so fast. There will be a time when they say slides are for babies.
These are the days......
paz.
Pray for the Farm Workers
Watch Farmworker Justice on PBS. See more from Religion & Ethics NewsWeekly.
Saturday, February 4, 2012
Rest
“Sabbath observance invites us to stop. It invites us to rest. It asks us to notice that while we rest, the world continues without our help. It invites us to delight in the world’s beauty and abundance.”
- Wendell Berry
Thursday, February 2, 2012
With Her Hands
Every artist dips his brush in his own soul, and paints his own nature into his pictures. ~Henry Ward Beecher
From Jen. A little bit of light shed on her soul. Thank you.
paz.
This Moment
From Jeannette: Here is my "moment" shot. We should probably be doing homework or making dinner, but all three children are happy drawing posters on the packing paper that arrived with my very last Barefoot Books order (I have officially closed that chapter in life for now). We will miss the poster size paper arriving in the boxes of books.
Church News
A few announcements:
- Family Valentine's Day party at church on Feb. 12th at 4 p.m. - Plymouth Fellowship will run games, etc.
- Zumba with Heidi and Danielle on Friday at 6pm, Willowbrook Ballroom, $10/person
- Christian Yoga on Saturday at 9:30am, Plymouth Hall (Church), $10/person
- This Sunday's 9am service will be contemporary, with Spirit Worship Band and film clips, 10:30am service is traditional; theme at both is about Heaven.
This is a wonderful speech by the President - almost a sermon - for the National Prayer Breakfast. Read it here.
Voice for Creation
This video is really disturbing, especially when you see that children witness the cruelty. This might be an area where progressive churches and more conservative churches can come together. Let's hope. paz.
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Antares Institute
Taking Care of You:
We're having a very special event and you're invited! Please join us on February 28, 2012 at 6:00pm as our guest at our Women's Wisdom Group. Join us as Henrietta Hammerlund shares her experience fighting breast cancer with complementary medicine and how Young Living's essential oils helped her on her journey to recovery.
Also, learn about Young Living's essential oils and see how they may benefit you and your families health and happiness.
Call 630.321.2296 for more information or to sign-up today!
Month of Love
This is the month of love so in the name of love let's raise awareness for the millions of women and children who are victims of the growing problem of human trafficking. Yes, it's real and some organizations are heading to Indianapolis for the Superbowl this weekend to educate local business owners on the reality of human slavery within the United States. Apparently, events like the Superbowl are hotbeds of prostitution and human sexual slavery. Didn't know that. Read more here.
Love thy neighbor as thyself......
Paz