The Start of the Holiday Season

For me, the official start of the holiday season is the annual wreath party at my church.  Since I was a small child, this has always been one of my favorite days of the holiday season.  My sisters, friends and I would wear the red wreath party t-shirts and serve homemade cookies and cranberry tea to congregation and community members attending the party. 

After we had fulfilled out duties, Nancy Price, the wonderful woman who started and led this wonderful tradition at our church, would patiently teach us kids to make a wreath of our own to take home.  At the time, I think I found this more tiresome and boring and probably took making a wreath with Nancy for granted, but now I am thankful that I know how and refuse to purchase a wreath. 

As the years passed, my sisters and friends stopped participating as much but I still loved the wreath party and would rearrange my travel plans as life took me to different states just so I could be home for this special time.  There were many years I didn't make a wreath but that was fine because I was happy just spending time with the other volunteers and talking to participants.

The party has changed in the last few years...

...the red t-shirts aren't so red anymore and are getting vintage...

...not as many people are interesting in making a wreath when they can buy one (we used to fill three rooms with participants and have four sessions, we are down to one now)

...Nancy, who ran the wreath party, has passed and we miss her terribly...

 ...but the spirit of the holiday season and Nancy's presence is still very much alive as we sip our cranberry tea, eat delicious cookies, listen to holiday tunes and make beautiful, handmade wreaths. 

I haven't had time to make a wreath these last two years, so last night I made one for the back door of our apartment.  It was the first time I had made a wreath since Nancy died.  The first time I had made a wreath without help from all the wreath "pros."  And the first time I made one the hard way.  It's not the best looking wreath but I made it myself.

I know some of the other kids, who are all now adults, have made wreaths for their own homes and I hope Nancy is smiling down us and is proud that we are all carrying on her wonderful tradition.

Using My Time and Talents

As if it isn't enough that I spend 40+ hours of my week surrounded by books at work or that I am constantly rearranging my bookshelves at home, I have spent the last year using my time and talents to reorganize the church library.  It has been a long process that came to a culmination last night at the Bethlehem Fallies, a slideshow presentation and fall festival.

I was charged last summer with the task of reorganizing the library by the evangelism committee.  And to be honest, it was a much bigger task than I ever expected.  Realizing that I wouldn't be able to do this by myself, I quickly put together a committee of faithful volunteers to help me with the project. I all of them I great deal of gratitude for assisting with this project.

Our first step was to get rid of books!  My favorite part actually!!  Together we spent an afternoon last fall weeding the collection.  We were able to get rid of an entire trunk full of books.  Now, I'm sure you can imagine the condition of the majority of these church library books - old, vintage looking, yellowing covers, etc., which to a young librarian like myself means TRASHED!

Then my volunteers and I organized the books into categories and did away with the old Dewey Decimal System.  Really?  Who wants to use that in the church library?  Then we labeled the books.  I made shelf strips and some small displays.  I also pulled together a donation list, which brings us to our debut of rave reviews last night at the Bethlehem Fallies.

I am blessed that I had the opportunity to assist the church in this often forgotten ministry but still needed none the less.  The church library often provides resources not found in the public library, those niche to the church, religion and their beliefs.  In addition, it is the archive for a very fundamental institution in the community. 

So my gift to Bethlehem, a church that has been the pillar of my faith journey, an organized library using my time and talents.

And here my friends...the final pictures of what I have been doing the last year.

On a side note, I found some real gems while cleaning the library this weekend.  Pictures of my sisters and best friends over the years at camp, church picnics and other youth group activities.  Priceless.

Go be a light in the world.

Twelve years ago I had the opportunity to attend the Southwestern Pennsylvania Lutheran Synod Assembly as part of the Youth Convo.  It was an amazing experience.  I learned about how the church worked, served at worship, paged during business sessions, met new friends, grew in faith and of course had lots of fun.  The weekend had such an impact on my life for three years that I wrote about it for my college application essays.

Then it became a memory...

...until last year.

Eleven years after I attended my first Youth Convo, I returned as one of the leaders. It was a new experience but just as special as being a participant.  On Wednesday I left for my second year as a Youth Convo leader.  Last year was at Cal U and this year back at Thiel.  Being back at Thiel, brought back so many memories of my time at Youth Convo.

It was during this time that I truly realized the importance of faith in my life and my role as a member of the Lutheran church and my home congregation, as well.  I met other young people, who became dear friends and one my boyfriend.  I prayed; sang; played a lot of truth or dare and four square; learned about the church; and came to the conclusion that I would never attend college at Thiel!

(Twelve years later and we were still laughing as hard at lunch as we were when we were teens.)

As one of the leaders, I could not have been more proud of the 20 young adults who represented their churches at Youth Convo this year.  And for the first time, they were able to attend as voting members!  It wonderful to see a new generation so interested in the internal workings of the Lutheran church.  It was a privilege to watch them learn and grow in their faith.  They were an inspiration.

Happy Palm Sunday!

I love Palm Sunday! I think it may be my favorite festival day of the church year. And for one reason:

THE PALMS!

The rest of the choir hates it and my dad hates it but I absolutely love it. It's like the Hallelujah Chorus, once you sing it, you never forget it. It makes a great shower song too! And it definitely takes some adrenaline to get though but it is so beautiful, especially when the sopranos take the descant.

I also like singing "All Glory, Laud and Honor" but "The Palms" is the main reason I love Palm Sunday. This year I got smart and recorded it during church, so I don't have to wait until next year to hear it again!