Martin Luther King Jr. Day

 Monday, Jan. 20 is a national holiday because it is Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Quotes: "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." "Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that." "I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear."

Carter Funeral and Fires

 With heavy hearts we say good-bye to 39th President of the U.S., Jimmy Carter.  We give thanks for his life of faith and service. May we continue to learn from him of how to make a difference in this world.  Also, we have heavy hearts for the people of Southern California living in the midst of catastrophic fires. May we care for each other now and into the future.

Insurrection and Epiphany

 December 7, 9/11, January 6: all days that will live in history. On Dec. 7, 1941 and September 11, 2001, the United States was attacked by outside forces.  On January 6, 2001, people from inside this country attacked the U.S. Capitol. Insurrection! We dare not forget that day or pretend it did not happen.  Epiphany! We who are Christians celebrate the coming of the Wise Men seeking to find the child. There will always be Herods who in fear of losing their power will want to do away with people. We follow the Star and do not help Herod do his awful will.

Nativity Set 35

The final day of Christmas. Monday will be Epiphany.  The light shines in the darkness and the darkness did not overcome it.  

Nativity Set 34

 A nativity set within an egg.  This manger is small, but the message is huge. Christ changes lives, builds us into community--the body of Christ--and is with us in the most difficult of times.

Sunday will be the last of the 12 days of Christmas.

Nativity Sets 31, 32, 33

 

Christmas continues. Winter white. May you all be blessed on this cold winter day.

Nativity Set 29 and 30

January 2. Four days until Epiphany. Because we now live in an apartment, we do not put up a tree, but do enjoy putting all of these nativity sets around every room. When we lived in East Dubuque, Il, there was a tree farm just across the road.  We would cut our own tree and bring it home. One year we did the "traditional Christmas card scene" and took our sled to bring our tree home.  The only problem was that the road was a highway! 

Nativity Set 28

 A Happy New Year.  Burton and I spent New Year's Day together in 1961 when I was in my first call as a deaconess in St. Louis and Burton was in his second year of seminary. On occasion we have been apart on each other's birthday or Christmas, but we have spent every New Year's Day together ever since.  May you be blessed this coming year with health and joy.   

Nativity Sets 25, 26, 27

 The final day of 2024!  Blessings for the New Year.

 

Nativity Sets 23 and 24

 We are in God's hands. Christ is everywhere with us.  We give thanks for the faith and service of Jimmy Carter. 

Nativity Set 22

 Banana Fibre Grass Dolls. We feel connected to the world with our various Nativity sets.  We ARE connected to the world and need to care for people of all nations and to the planet itself.

Nativity Set 20 and 21

 We are on our way to Epiphany, so I will need to post two nativity sets at a time. The light of the Christ Child continues to be with us.