Tag: advent calendar

Wind Chimes: 9 Dec 2012

The Lord God took the man
and put him in the Garden of Eden
to work it and take care of it.

Genesis 2:15 NIV

The chimes sound of beauty and creativity today, but also of warning and peril. What do you hear?

It’s not the responsibility of the UN, it’s personal

In the poetic language of the King James Version of the Bible we hear that “man” (you and me) is placed in the Garden to till it and keep it. The New International Version speaks of our working and caring for the Garden. Our Episcopal Great Thanksgiving Prayer C suggests “the Garden” is “this fragile earth, our island home.” (BCP, p. 370)

Many among us continue to deny that the climate is changing, and have no problem doing what they have always done. Others accept that the climate of the planet is changing, but leave the solutions to others. In our Anglican way, accepting the challenge of climate change and making the responses needed to “work and care for” the Garden—as our God calls us to do—is personal. It is my responsibility, it is my calling.

The wisdom of the Jewish Talmud, wisdom born long before the Episcopal Church, describes the attitude to be adopted by 21st century people of faith:

“Do not be daunted by the enormity of the world’s grief. Do justice, now. Love mercy, now. Walk humbly, now. You are not obligated to complete the work, but neither are you free to abandon it”

The promises we make in our Baptismal Covenant are personal. We do not speak for the President or the Congress; we do not speak on behalf of the United Nations; we make one promise after another to God and each other beginning with the words, “I will ….” I invite you, and pledge my own efforts, to do the small things in our daily lives that will together add up to something big as we work the Garden and care for the Garden, a divine blessing and responsibility given us at the beginning of time. ~dan

Links to online Advent Calendars

Each of these has a different approach. Find one that helps you “prepare the way.”

Trinity Wall Street Online Advent Calendar

Busted Halo Online Advent Calendar

CREDO Online Advent Calendar

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This fragile earth …

At your command all things came to be: the vast expanse of interstellar space, galaxies, suns, the planets in their courses, and this fragile earth, our island home.
By your will they were created and have their being.

From the primal elements you brought forth the human race, and blessed us with memory, reason, and skill. You made us the rulers of creation. But we turned against you, and betrayed your trust; and we turned against one another.
Have mercy, Lord, for we are sinners in your sight.

From Eucharistic Prayer C in the Book of Common Prayer, p. 370

“Black Friday” began the “Shopping Season” and retailers are relentless in keeping us focused on buying often and buying more. “#GivingTuesday” (11/27/12) was an invitation to give and use our “buying power” in a way that benefits others for more than just a day.

I intend to keep that invitation in front of us throughout the “Shopping Season.” I believe  that It is always the right time to be generous. If you haven’t participated in “#GivingTuesday” how about today? ~dan

Today’s give-a-gift-to-help-others idea:

  • Interfaith Power and Light —  which seeks “to be faithful stewards of Creation by responding to global warming through the promotion of energy conservation, energy efficiency, and renewable energy. This campaign intends to protect the earth’s ecosystems, safeguard the health of all Creation, and ensure sufficient, sustainable energy for all.” (Interfaith Power and Light Mission Statement)

Looking for other give-a-gift-to-help-others ideas?
Go first to Charity Navigator for those ideas
and for an evaluation of how your dollars will be spent

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Image: tcktcktck on Facebook

Wind Chimes: 7 Dec 2012

He shall judge between the nations, and shall arbitrate for many peoples; they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation,
neither shall they learn war any more.

Isaiah 2:4 NRSV

A beautiful day has dawned. The air is mostly still, the chimes almost silent. When I do hear them there is a kind of melancholy to the notes. So much changed in our world only 71 years ago; perhaps the winds of that day are the winds that still move the chimes today. What do you hear?

Peace that passes all understanding

He was 18 years old, a senior in high school. He had a car, a Model A Ford. Driving around Lake Nokomis in Minneapolis, MN with some “buddies,” my father’s world changed in an instant. The United States had been attacked at Pearl Harbor. That day, December 7, 1941, and the next several days were spent with the “adults” in his life talking with him and making decisions for the country (and world) and finally, turning to him, to ask him to be brave and to stand up for those he loved and for his country. And he did. My father enlisted in the Navy and served on the aircraft carrier Lexington in the Pacific until his discharge after the war’s end in 1945. My father is part of the “Greatest Generation.” Thank you, Dad.

On this day (seared into the memory of my parents’ generation) I continue to both work and pray so that we will unlearn war and find and support new, creative, and more constructive ways to establish the Reign of God, a Reign marked by Peace (that passes all understanding) and genuine love of neighbor and God. ~dan

Links to online Advent Calendars

Each of these has a different approach. Find one that helps you “prepare the way.”

Trinity Wall Street Online Advent Calendar

Busted Halo Online Advent Calendar

CREDO Online Advent Calendar

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We remember this day

O God of all generations, we guard in our hearts today the sacred memory of those who gave their lives on that day which will live in infamy. Bless us, O Lord, as we humble ourselves in your presence to remember the men and women of our country who in the day of decision ventured much for the liberties we now enjoy; Guide and direct us in all that we do so that the light and peace of your true freedom may continue to shine brightly to the glory and honor of your Holy Name, and for the welfare of all creation, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Adapted from a prayer by Pastor Ricky Powell and a Thanksgiving for Heroic Service in the BCP, p. 839

“Black Friday” began the “Shopping Season” and retailers are relentless in keeping us focused on buying often and buying more. “#GivingTuesday” (11/27/12) was an invitation to give and use our “buying power” in a way that benefits others for more than just a day.

I intend to keep that invitation in front of us throughout the “Shopping Season.” I believe  that It is always the right time to be generous. If you haven’t participated in “#GivingTuesday” how about today? ~dan

Today’s give-a-gift-to-help-others idea:

  • Wounded Warrior Project — whose purpose is “to raise awareness and enlist the public’s aid for the needs of severely injured service men and women; to help severely injured service members aid and assist each other; and to provide unique, direct programs and services to meet the needs of severely injured service members.” (Wounded Warriors Project Mission Statement)

Looking for other give-a-gift-to-help-others ideas?
Go first to Charity Navigator for those ideas
and for an evaluation of how your dollars will be spent

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Image:

Wind Chimes: 3 Dec 2012

The chimes have begun to ring in the “new (church) year.” What do you hear?

Check out the Advent Calendar from Trinity Wall Street

Trinity (Episcopal) Wall Street has an online Advent Calendar for us. Every day features a short verse from scripture and an audio meditation from members of the church. Here is the link: http://www.trinitywallstreet.org/news/features/2012-advent-calendar

An Advent Calendar with a more “youthful” flavor

Here is another kind of Advent Calendar with a younger audience in mind:
http://bustedhalo.com/features/advent-calendar-2012

It is produced by The Paulist Fathers (a Roman Catholic Religious Order). Their ministry has the intriguing title of “Busted Halo Ministries” because they believe that “all God’s children are ‘saints in the making.’ Everyone is called to aspire toward the holiness and selflessness of a Mother Teresa or Saint Francis. At the same time we are all too often aware that this journey toward sainthood is one fraught with imperfections, struggles, and mistakes. Each of us sports a Halo that is either dented, scratched, tarnished… in some way Busted. Yet God loves us anyway and continually calls to bang out the dents and polish our halos up to a nice golden shine.” About BustedHalo

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Yes, give us grace …

Almighty God, give us grace to cast away the works of darkness, and put on the armor of light, now in the time of this mortal life in which your Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the living and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Collect for the First Sunday of Advent
Book of Common Prayer, p. 211

“Black Friday” began the “Shopping Season” and retailers are relentless in keeping us focused on buying often and buying more. “#GivingTuesday” (11/27/12) was an invitation to give and use your “buying power” in a way that benefits others for more than just a day.

I intend to keep that invitation in front of us throughout the “Shopping Season.” I believe (and am acting on my belief) that It is always the right time to be generous. If you haven’t participated in “#GivingTuesday” how about today? ~dan

Today’s give-a-gift-to-help-others idea:

  • Kiva — “a non-profit organization with a mission to connect people through lending to alleviate poverty.”

Looking for other give-a-gift-to-help-others ideas?
Go first to Charity Navigator for those ideas
and for an evaluation of how your dollars will be spent

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Video: Advent in 2 minutes was produced by Busted Halo Ministries

7/25/12—Maturing in wisdom and age

charity: water

In Advent 2011, with input from Forum members, our (online) Advent Calendar (and 12 Days of Christmas Calendar) featured different individuals and organizations dedicated to serving others (and in serving also helping others). One of the goals of the Sunday Morning Forum (online and in real time) is for us to grow/mature in faith through the actions we take. We want to allow our faith to inform our actions and have our actions inspire a deeper faith in a ever expanding way.

One of the featured organizations in Advent was charity: water. Here is my introduction to their important work:

If you have ever hiked or camped in the wilderness you KNOW how precious water is to your survival. Drink contaminated water and you become sick. Go without water, become dehydrated, and you are in peril within 48 hours. A person can survive without food for days or weeks, a person deprived of water will likely be dead within days, not lasting even a week. ~dan rondeau

charity: water is a non-profit organization bringing clean and safe drinking water to people in developing nations. (from the Mission Statement of charity: water)

Here is a video sample of the work being done by charity: water. The video tells Rachel’s story (have your kleenex ready), but I also encourage you to read the blog post.

Rachel Beckwith’s Mom Visits Ethiopia. from charity: water on Vimeo.

Finally, I encourage you to make a donation to Rachel’s Birthday Wish for Sienna or donate directly to charity: water and, please, leave a comment here or on their blog.