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Page 8 March 2008
TOWER CHIMES
The shortest day of the year has passed;
the days are growing longer again.
1 Come and join the joyful dance of life!
Celebrate each moment of increasing light!
2 When the sun comes out after the snow, when the south wind blows the
blizzards away, all of creation creeps out of its caves to soak up the
welcome warmth.
3 All things bright and beautiful, All creatures great and small,
4 All things wise and wonderful...
5 The Lord God made them all.
6 God created their characteristics and personalities;
8 The rain falls, the wind blows, the frost forms its delicate traceries,
just as they should. Rain does not rise, nor frost burst into flames –
they know their form and function; The Lord God made them all.
7 So join the joyful dance of life. The fish of the sea can shimmy;
9 Peaks and ridges march in royal ranks; trees wave and grasses weave;
10 Cattle can stomp and marmots can whistle, Chickens can cheep and
porcupines bristle;
11 The whole earth throbs with the pulse of life; The drums of life pound
their passionate rhythm.
12 Princes and popes, outlaws and outcasts, all races, all colors, all
ages, all species, swirl together like galaxies glowing in a summer night.
13 In God’s great dance of life, there are no wallflowers; Every piece of
creation has a part to play.
14 We humans live and die; our communities come and go, our empires rise
and fall; But God’s great dance of life goes on.
Thank God!
[a paraphrase of Psalm 148: 1-14 by Jim Taylor, in his book Everyday
Psalms from WoodLake Books] |
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WHAT
SABBATICAL?
As we'll be celebrating together on Sunday,
March 9, the book that I wrote while on sabbatical last year is hot off
the press! The title is (and no, it was not my choice the
original title was Blessed to be a Blessing) The Indispensable Guide to
Pastoral Care. The publisher is Pilgrim Press, which for you history
buffs, is the longest continually-operated press in the United States.
Ill share the Acknowledgements with you on the 9th, since our congregation
is acknowledged first and foremost, for your support of me while I was
writing this I am so grateful, still, for the sabbatical time, and
for your care, encouragement, and prayers. (And, if youd like to
order copies for yourself or someone you love (gee, wouldn't they make
wonderful birthday or Christmas gifts), you can call UCC Resources at
1-800-537-3394, or write to them at 230 Sheldon Rd., Berea, OH 44017.)
Celebrate! ...Sharyl
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COLUMBARIUM PROJECT INTEREST??
In the past couple of weeks, you should have received a letter and survey
form, explaining the proposed columbarium project here at the church, and
asking for your feedback about your personal interest in, and use of, such
a facility.
If you have not received
the letter and survey, please call Michelle in the church office
(242-0298) and ask her to send you one promptly. We want everyone’s
feedback on this project, since it affects our whole church.
If you have received the
letter and survey, please return it by March 16 to the church. Or, if you
have questions, please call a Committee member (names below). We
appreciate your thinking about this, and helping us make a decision.
Your Columbarium Exploration
Committee: Don Everhart, Betty Hall, David Hoefer, Carolyn Holmgren, Linda
Randolph, Pastor Sharyl B. Peterson |
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