I was honored to be invited to the house of a close family friend this evening. The family has a tradition of inviting a select few over every year and reading a special holiday book out loud. I was so blessed to take part in that tradition tonight.
After we were finished reading, some video games were played, ping-pong battles were fought and the adults slowly migrated to the darkened living room to sing carols by candle-light and Christmas tree light. We were accompanied by my father and the eldest son on the guitar, and another dear friend on guitar and drums. It was beautiful and peaceful, even after the adults realized they could google all the different verses of "hark, the herald angels sing" and we could sing them all.
We were there over six hours just enjoying each others company. This family is so special to me - they're truly a breath of fresh air in this crazy Christmas time. Even though it's almost 2am, my heart is light and my spirit rested. I thank God for such relationships --- even when it's not the holiday season.
Saturday, December 22, 2007
Sunday, December 16, 2007
the deep and other such things...
I've talked a lot about the deep lately. The official launch service was the first weekend in December, and we've taken off with a bang! We've averaged anywhere between 40-60 adults at the Sunday gathering, and that's not factoring in the kids and adults having fun upstairs in the kid's ministry.
We meet in a fitness center in their gym and children's areas. It's smack dab in the middle of the community - and that's best since community is our main focus. This Saturday, we went and worked with Toys for Tots to pull 900+ gifts for children in our community. It was so incredible walking into this warehouse that was filled with donated toys. I've never seen so much play-doh in my life!
As part of the deep team, I've committed to sharing about the deep to ten people each week. This is a fun challenge for me! During the TforT event, we were asked to find partners to pull toys with. I partnered with a local doctor who is on the Mission board - and who I also auditioned for a Civic theatre show with! It was really neat to share what we're doing with him.
My involvement at the deep has really grown exciting - I'm going to need a whole post just to explain that!
if you haven't already, check out the deep's website. There's some really cool stuff there!
We meet in a fitness center in their gym and children's areas. It's smack dab in the middle of the community - and that's best since community is our main focus. This Saturday, we went and worked with Toys for Tots to pull 900+ gifts for children in our community. It was so incredible walking into this warehouse that was filled with donated toys. I've never seen so much play-doh in my life!
As part of the deep team, I've committed to sharing about the deep to ten people each week. This is a fun challenge for me! During the TforT event, we were asked to find partners to pull toys with. I partnered with a local doctor who is on the Mission board - and who I also auditioned for a Civic theatre show with! It was really neat to share what we're doing with him.
My involvement at the deep has really grown exciting - I'm going to need a whole post just to explain that!
if you haven't already, check out the deep's website. There's some really cool stuff there!
Friday, December 14, 2007
Snow Angel
Remember how I shared that I went up to Ludington for a day to shoot film? Editing finished today! I'm really pleased with the end results.
Our video is up on YouTube, and I wanted to invite you to take a look. If you like it, leave a comment - short filmmakers are a great resource to our communities. Each scene shot was done with the help of local businesses.
I have some fun stories to share about filming... but I'll save that for next time.
Snow Angel
Our video is up on YouTube, and I wanted to invite you to take a look. If you like it, leave a comment - short filmmakers are a great resource to our communities. Each scene shot was done with the help of local businesses.
I have some fun stories to share about filming... but I'll save that for next time.
Snow Angel
Sunday, December 9, 2007
What's in your worship mix?
Friday, December 7, 2007
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!
I should be grateful that the cold weather waited until December to hit Michigan hard. Last night, we got four inches of snow in a five hour period. Yep, that's lake effect snow for you!
It's been a very busy week for me!
Last Saturday, I spent the day up in Ludington with my friend Trinja. She's a local filmmaker, writing/filming/directing/editing her own films. It's quite impressive, actually. We had such a blast filming. There was winter storm warnings all day, but it was nice enough in the morning for us to shoot me creating snow angels. The way it worked out, I laid in the snow wearing a sweater and jeans for close to ten minutes for her to get the shots she needed. The sacrifices I make for art...
We shot a few other shorts as well. I should have a copy sometime after the 14th, as that's when it will air.
Sunday was the official 'launch' gathering of the deep. Almost one hundred people joined us, including the 20+ kids that were in the kids ministry. That's incredible, and a testimony to the outreach in the community that we've started.
A bunch of us have been hanging out at Pastor Rob's house on Monday nights to watch MNF. The guys talk football, I knit and we have a blast doing it.
This week I finally got my Christmas tree up, after listening to Christmas music for a month now. It's a hand-me-down artificial tree that in the light resembles a Charlie Brown tree. But in the dark with the lights on, it's beautiful! I think we'll be replacing it this year.
I'm still jobless and Jeff works all weekend - so it'll be a weekend full of shoveling out our house, and doing some knitting. My knitting blog has that sort of stuff, if you're interested.
It's been a very busy week for me!
Last Saturday, I spent the day up in Ludington with my friend Trinja. She's a local filmmaker, writing/filming/directing/editing her own films. It's quite impressive, actually. We had such a blast filming. There was winter storm warnings all day, but it was nice enough in the morning for us to shoot me creating snow angels. The way it worked out, I laid in the snow wearing a sweater and jeans for close to ten minutes for her to get the shots she needed. The sacrifices I make for art...
We shot a few other shorts as well. I should have a copy sometime after the 14th, as that's when it will air.
Sunday was the official 'launch' gathering of the deep. Almost one hundred people joined us, including the 20+ kids that were in the kids ministry. That's incredible, and a testimony to the outreach in the community that we've started.
A bunch of us have been hanging out at Pastor Rob's house on Monday nights to watch MNF. The guys talk football, I knit and we have a blast doing it.
This week I finally got my Christmas tree up, after listening to Christmas music for a month now. It's a hand-me-down artificial tree that in the light resembles a Charlie Brown tree. But in the dark with the lights on, it's beautiful! I think we'll be replacing it this year.
I'm still jobless and Jeff works all weekend - so it'll be a weekend full of shoveling out our house, and doing some knitting. My knitting blog has that sort of stuff, if you're interested.
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