How far is it to Christmas?

Remember to sign up for the Women's Retreat on January 23 and 24. The info is in my blog of last month. This would be a nice Christmas present for any Christian woman. You do not have to belong to Rockport to come. Love, Diana

How far is it to Christmas day?
The journey's just as long
As taking time to listen
To a joyful angel song.
It's just as far as one can go
In doing a loving deed
That helps someone feel better
Or that meets their special need.
For Christmas is a journey
That the heart makes every year.
It starts right with your family
And those you hold so dear.
It travels on to strangers
'Round the world to everyone
With the message that God loves us
And that's why he's sent his Son!

A Thanksgiving Song

In worship today the sanctuary was filled with music. I have found a song that even I can sing at the Thanksgiving day table. (sung to the tune of "Kum Ba Yah")
For our food, O Lord,
we give thanks.
For our homes,O
Lord, we give thanks.
For our families,
we give thanks.
O Lord,
we give thanks.

For our friends, O
Lord, we give thanks.
For our earth, O
Lord, we give thanks.
For each night and
day, we give thanks. O, Lord,
we give thanks.--Marie Senften

Have a Happy Thanksgiving. Diana

Looking Forward to Thanksgiving

The Pilgrims invited their Native American friends to enjoy Thanksgiving with them. Ninety friends came and stayed for three days. They must have enjoyed the worship, feasting, and merrymaking. The main point to remember in looking forward to Thanksgiving is that the Puritans were willing to pay an enormous price for the privilege of freedom of worship. They were profoundly grateful to God! Here in America, no established church harassed them, no government agency restricted them, and no one ridiculed them. They were free to worship in the manner they chose. And they did just that! On Thanksgiving Day Rockport will be grateful for our abundance,and thankful for our manifold blessings. Let us also be profoundly appreciative of our freedom to worship according to our hearts and minds. Diana

Thanksgiving Kindness

Helen Keller said: "Join the great company of those who make the barren places of life fruitful with kindness." The kindness and teaching of the Native Americans to the Pilgrims allowed the Pilgrims to learn how to live off the land by planting corn, fishing the waters, and hunting the game. At this time of year we must remember how kindness allowed the founding fathers to celebrate the first Thanksgiving.

God is looking for Hands to Use

Some time ago, an Irish physician, Dr. Alexander Irvine, wrote a book dedicated to his saintly mother. It was called My Lady of the Chimney Corner. The lead character in the book, a godly woman named Anna, lived and ministered to others as Dr. Irvine's own mother had done. The book tells of Anna going to the home of a neighbor who had just lost a son in a tragedy at sea. Anna and the bereaving mother visited for awhile, then Anna suggested that they have a prayer together. As their heads bowed, Anna reached out and placed her loving hand on the neighbor's forehead. When the prayer was over, the mourning mother said, "I think I felt His touch upon my brow."
Anna said, "God is everywhere looking for hands to use. Sometimes he takes the hand of a doctor and uses it in healing. Sometimes he takes the hand of a mother to soothe the brow of a fevered child. And sometimes he takes the hand of an old critter like me to bring a bit of help and comfort to a neighbor. But they are all God's hands, and God is everywhere looking for hands to use." Let us say this week, "Here I am Lord" as we sang this Sunday in our hymnal. Diana