Holding Emanuel A.M.E. Church in Charleston, South Carolina in Prayer

When I attended a worship service on Sunday, June 7^th, the verse on the front of the bulletin was from Micah 6:8:  “This is what God asks of you only this…To act justly, To love tenderly, and To walk humbly with your God.”

As we reflect on the words of Micah and how his deep sensitivity to the social ills of his day affected others throughout the land, let us hold the Emanuel A.M.E. Church in Charleston, South Carolina in our prayers.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2015/06/18/for-charlestons-emanuel-a-m-e-church-one-of-the-oldest-in-america-shooting-is-another-painful-chapter-in-long-history/?tid=pm_national_pop_b

Losing a Child

Diane sat at the same long table during our sophomore year in Mr. Johnson's art class at Northrop High School. Diane was quiet and creative, and those were a couple of her gifts. We were around the same age as her daughter.

I cannot imagine how it would feel to lose a child. I encourage Diane to remember her daughter's gifts as I remember her and the gifts she shared during art class, which seems like only yesterday.

 http://www.usatoday.com/.../teen-dead-wisdom.../28838695/

Community Outreach: Touching lives outside of one’s life. By giving, we receive.

Outreach has been defined on Dictionary.com as a verb, noun, and adjective.

• Verb(used with object): “to reach beyond; exceed.”
• Noun: “the act of extending services, benefits, etc.”
• Adjective: “concerned with extending community services, benefits, etc.”

United Christian Church’s Outreach Ministry is more than a verb, noun, or adjective. It is defined as touching lives outside of one’s life. By giving, we receive.

James Bruner wrote the following about our church’s most recent outreach:

"Donations for and assembly of care kits"

Items were donation by the congregation throughout the month of April for the assembly of the care kits. The articles asked for and received were:

• Water bottle
• Socks
• Tuna and crackers
• Granola Bar or cereal bar
• Fruit snack or applesauce cup
• Crackers with peanut butter or cheese
• Gift certificate to fast food
• Hand wipes
• Packs of Kleenex
• Maxi pads
• Toothbrush and toothpaste
• Nail clippers
• Band Aids
• Chapstick
• Comb or small brush
• Mints, cough drops or gum

And $5.00 McDonald’s gift card were donated with Seahawks' logos on them.

And a big thank-you to all, who donated to the care kits!

The care kits were assembled after church on Sunday, May 3rd. The following people participated in putting the kits together: Joyce Bruner, Julie Shaffer, Paris Bruner, Leona Hansen, Mariam Johnson, Linda Hendry, Carolyn Hosington, Nancy Frey, Swannee Rivers, and Bill Utterback. Joyce also made notes of inspiration that were included in the kits which included our church address.

"Handing out the care kits"

The attendees from our church were Joyce Bruner, Caroline Bacon, Paris Bruner and James Bruner.

We met at the former Renton Chamber of Commerce at 4:45pm in the parking lot. As we pulled in I noticed that people had started gathering in the lot. The one thing that surprised me was that some of the people coming to have a meal drove to the location. I went to try to get in and found the door locked with a person, whom I later learned was a regular named Richard, on the ground outside. As I bagged on the door I was again surprised to see a young girl, probably 9 or 10 years old, come to the door. She didn’t unlock it (smart of her) but we talked through the mail slot. Her Mom eventually came to the door and we were able to take our stuff in.

The facility was simple and clean with fold-up tables and chairs (5 tables with approx. 6-8 chairs each). We setup at the end of the serving table and discussed the protocol with those setting up. They communicated that the door opens at 5:00pm, the first serving of the meal starts at 5:30pm, and the second course, if food is still available, is served at 6:00pm. People are allowed to be in the facility until approx. 7pm at which point it ends.

People began to arrive right at 5pm and they were able to get water and coffee while they waited for the food to be served. The line started forming about 5:15pm at the serving table and probably had 5-6 people in it. Other people were there as well but were sitting rather than joining the line. The church serving the food (BTW, I would like to have our church provide a meal now that I understand the protocol and what's required) had brought hot dogs, potato salad as well as macaroni salad, potato chips, Doritos, and Cheetos.

As the people received their food we offered them one of our care kits. Most of the people were happy to receive them but there were some who didn’t accept one. Some came to ask for another one after receiving their initial bag. It was clear that most were pleasantly surprised to receive the bags. We determined that some things were more coveted than others. The biggest draw appeared to be socks and most wanted black socks. The food gift cards were also a hit as were the tooth brushes/tooth paste and water bottles. I didn’t count but I’d estimate that we gave out approx. half of the 47 bags that were prepared.

It was a very good experience and I’m personally excited to see our church beginning to expand our outreach in this way. Can’t wait for the next opportunity to serve.

United Christian Church is located in Renton, Washington. It is a caring community with a big heart for others.

What I Received at the P.O.: Priorities Change with the Mail and the Message Delivered

An American author, Eudora Welty (April 13, 1909 – July 23, 2001) wrote short stories, and the one I recalled from my college days was “Why I Live at the P.O.,” which was inspired by woman ironing in a rural post office’s back room.  My story is “What I ‘Received’ at the P.O.: Priorities Changed with the Mail and the Message Delivered.”

Sometimes I hit my saturation point with the images from the daily news, and “what about me” attitudes from others. This time the “what about me” attitude was about me. Then it turned to be about someone else.

I had two gifts to mail my dad for Father’s Day. One gift was a gag gift, and the other one was a useful one. It was all about me and the Post Office (P.O.), and how fast I could mark it off of my to-do list. I asked myself, “Which P.O. has the free parking?” The operative phrase was “free parking,” and the answer was easy: “The one off 23^rd Avenue in the Central District.”

 I parked my car on the worn asphalt parking lot outside of the P.O. The small P.O.’s door was propped open, where folks waited in a long line for the postal worker to weigh and mail their respective parcels.

A woman was bent down packing shipping boxes on the floor, and I heard her voice as I walked through the door.  She looked, smiled, and said, “Take the next spot in line. It’s going to take a while.”

The line moved slowly, and it allowed me to observe an elderly woman, who I dubbed Gladys because she radiated  "glad"ness. She resembled my Grandma Ruby – except her shoulders leaned forward with a hunch in her back.  She was impeccably dressed in a bright, colorful polyester dress with pantyhose and small wooden soled and heeled, open toed shoes from the 70’s.

Gladys’ smile emanated light. Her personality appeared similar to my Great Grandma Pearl Figert. She was seemingly pleasant and could draw people in. Gladys steadily stood as she decided on greeting cards for her sisters from the display, located at the left hand corner of the customer service counter.  Her voice was sweet and melodious as she read the verses to the young lady, who I named Ruth. She was Gladys’ companion, and Ruth offered a listening ear.

I was finally to the front of the line as Gladys made her last selection. Ruth began to lead Gladys to the back of the line. I suddenly vocalized, “Take my spot.”   I headed to the back of the line.  The people in the line spoke. “You stay in the line.” “Let her go in front of you.” “She’s earned to be at the front of the line.”

I returned to the second place in the line with Gladys and Ruth in the number one spot. The Postal worker behind the counter beamed as she shouted, “Next!”

I exited the P.O. and paused in the parking lot after my turn at the counter. A car drove past with Gladys in the passenger seat. Her little puff of hair had shone through the window.

“Thanks, Gladys for what I received at the P.O.  It was not the check mark on my to-do list that mattered. Priorities changed with the mail, and the message delivered.”

Actions Speak Louder Than Words

Two members shared more than words through their silence during the prayers yesterday morning at United Christian Church in Renton, Washington.

They brought the communion hymn to life for one member of the congregation, who sat behind them: "This is the place to celebrate! Leave all your worries behind. Let us join hands...Let our God be our guide."

Actions do speak louder than words!

Casper The Friendly Ghost

When a childhood friend offers a fun challenge why not take part.

I hit “Like” Comic Book Heroes Challenge: Tom’s post: “I intend to fill Facebook with comic book heroes to interrupt the saturation of negative images and videos. If you give me a "Like" I will choose a character for you.”

I commented: “Will I be a character from the Archie’s? Or the fastest Julie alive. Only Tom will tell.” And Tom did tell: “Your Character is: Casper.”

I responded, “Lol Casper the Friendly Ghost. Love it!” I also loved it because “Casper is a cute ghost-child…is a noncomformist among ghosts…”

I am not concerned about winning friends. I care about being a friend. I have friends from years past and new friends in the present and future friends will come into my life. Friends lift the weight from my shoulders. There is no need to look at the losses only the gains.

Which comic book character would your friends choose for you?

Today's Reflection: "I cannot even imagine where I would be today were it not for that handful of friends who have given me a heart full of joy. Let's face it, friends make life a lot more fun." - Charles R. Swindoll

"Shall I hear more, or shall I speak at this?" Let us speak of it!

“It is my soul that calls upon my name: How silver-sweet sound lovers' tongues by night, Like softest music to attending ears!”  - Romeo, Act II, Scene II, Capulet's Orchard

The April life enrichment calendar listed “Senior Skits” as one of the afternoon activities. What is a senior skit? Team members Erin and Kelsey were amazing. It was collaboration at its best. William Shakespeare’s birthday was listed as unknown; however the date of his baptism was listed as April 26, 1564.  We decided to celebrate the Bard of Avon and his birthday with our interpretation from the play “Romeo and Juliet,” Act II, Scene II, Capulet’s Orchard.

Within 10-minutes, Kelsey printed the scene. Erin found scraps of material along with a bow and quiver. The parts were cast. A resident, who taught English, agreed to play Romeo. I was cast as Juliet and Erin as the nurse. Our resident practiced his lines for one-hour. His love of literature surfaced as he sat backstage in the present moment.

When Erin said that it was time for us to dress in our costumes, our resident inquired to our costumer, “Are you addressing me as Romeo?” He was in character and looked wonderful with his cape accessorized with his bow and quiver. I was dressed in a coconut bra and a piece of white material with green polka dots tied around my waist with plastic flowers draped around my neck, cascading over my shoulders.

 The scenery was not an orchard yet the balcony was reminiscent of the play. I was directed to my spot, mid level on the staircase as our Romeo was positioned looking up at Juliet from our community’s lobby, where apples were available as a snack.

 Residents and staff were seen far and wide as Romeo’s voice projected a deep and heartfelt performance, resonating with all in attendance.

Accolades filled the room as Romeo offered his last lines, “Sleep dwell upon thine eyes, peace in thy breast! Would I were sleep and peace, so sweet to rest!
Hence will I to my ghostly father's cell, His help to crave, and my dear hap to tell.”

Today's Reflection: Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. - John 15:13 King James Version (KJV)