Our 14 year old dog, Abbey, died last month. The day after she died, my 4 year old daughter Meredith was crying and talking about how much she missed Abbey. She asked if we could write a letter to God so that when Abbey got to heaven, God would recognize her. I told her that I thought we could so she dictated these words …
Dear God, Will you please take care of my dog? She died yesterday and is with you in heaven. I miss her very much. I am happy that you let me have her as my dog even though she got sick.
I hope you will play with her. She likes to play with balls and to swim. I am sending a picture of her so when you see her. You will know that she is my dog. I really miss her. Love, Meredith.
We put the letter in an envelope with a picture of Abbey and Meredith hand addressed it to God/Heaven. We put our return address on it. Then Meredith pasted several stamps on the front of the envelope because she said it would take lots of stamps to get the letter all the way to heaven. That afternoon she dropped it into the letter box at the post office. A few days later, she asked if God had gotten the letter yet. I told her that I thought He had. Yesterday, there was a package wrapped in gold paper on our front porch addressed, "To Meredith," in an unfamiliar hand. Meredith opened it. Inside was a book by Mr. Rogers called, "When a Pet Dies." Taped to the inside front cover was the letter we had written to God in its opened envelope. On the opposite page was the picture of Abbey & Meredith and this note:
Dear Meredith,
Abbey arrived safely in heaven. Having the picture was a big help. I recognized Abbey right away.Abbey isn't sick anymore. Her spirit is here with me just like it stays in your heart. Abbey loved being your dog.
Since we don't need our bodies in heaven, I don't have any pockets to keep your picture in, so I am sending it back to you in this little book for you to keep and have something to remember Abbey by.
Thank you for the beautiful letter and thank your mother for helping you write it and sending it to me. What a wonderful mother you have. I picked her especially for you.
I send my blessings every day and remember that I love you very much. By the way, I'm easy to find, I am wherever there is love.
The lectionary is a pre-selected collection of scriptural readings from the Bible that can be used for worship, study or other theological uses. Some congregations of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) use the Revised Common Lectionary which follows the liturgical year in a 3-year cycle and provides scriptural recommendations that compliment the current season of the liturgical year.
Liturgical Seasons and Colors
The colors of the lectionary are representative of the Liturgical seasons of western Christianity. These seasons are Advent, Christmas, Ordinary Time (Time After Epiphany), Lent, Easter, Pentecost and Ordinary Time (Time After Pentecost). The liturgical year begins with Advent.
Each season is represented by a color: Advent - Violet or Blue Christmas - White
As the end of the year approaches, it’s time to review your stewardship commitments. Thank you for giving your time, talents and treasures to God’s Kingdom.
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Make your plans now to attend Pastor’s new study of “Mark”. Bring an open heart, your Bible, paper and pen. This is a journey we can take together.
Update: To date, our giving to the special Reconciliation offering has totaled $350. On Sunday, Nov. 16th eight walkers participated in the annual CROP Walk downtown, contributing $579 and 24 jars of peanut butter.
Disciples Women: *Twelve Disciples Women met on Tuesday, November 18th.
*Our project was donations for “Storybook Holiday” which buys and distributes books to needy children in the Gainesville area.
*Our president, June Meadows, reported on the Disciples Women Retreat at the Conference Center in Silver Springs. We received a Certificate for Standard of Excellence for 2008,
having met the specified criteria. Shirley Elliott, Doris Powell, and Veda Bergadine received special Reading Certificate Awards.
*Our love gift offering for our Haiti mission project totaled $455.78.
*Nancy Ramsey continued to lead our study on “Learning to Listen for God; Compelled by God’s Voice.”
*We will participate in the church’s Angel Tree for Children sponsored by the Salvation Army. Information is provided in the Narthex, and our Newsletter.
Angel gifts must be purchased and returned to the church by December 14th.
*We invite all women of the church to join us at 10:00 a.m. on December 15th for a special luncheon meeting.
Property: Air Condition Unit #5 was determined from its operation and observation to have a defective compressor. Several companies were contacted for quotes to replace the compressor; the Mark Hurm & Co. (MH& Co. ) was selected to do the job. The system is back on line and operating satisfactorily. Thanks to Diana DePury for suggesting that the MH&Co. be given an opportunity to compete for our business.
The crime rate is on the increase as the economy continues to go in a negative direction. The Alachua County Sheriff department suggested that a well lighted area around a building is a deterrent to criminal activity. Chuck and Richard replaced all five motion detectors on the new building, they were all defective. The detector on the NW corner of the new building has a dawn to dusk lighting feature. The copper pipes used in A/C systems are an attractive target. All of the lighting on the outside walls of the old building is operational.
Bids are being solicited for the replacement of the concrete walkway adjacent to the parking area in front of the church. Until it can be replaced please watch your step. Bids are also being solicited to install molding in the new building where there is space between the wall and the ceiling.
I welcome your inputs and suggestions on things that you notice in and around the property that will make it a safer place to serve God.
Holiday Schedule: The office will be closed for the Christmas Holidays: December 24th and 25th. This means that Patricia will only be in the office on Dec 23rd this week. If you have something that needs to be in the December 28th Bulletin, it must be given to Patricia by 10:00 a.m. on the 23rd.
A note of THANKS! To everyone that provided the refreshments for our, “Hope Street’ concert reception ~ your participation was greatly appreciated. It was an enjoyable evening for us all. We hope to have more events like this in the future. Please share your ideas or suggestions with, Lon Ligon our Worship Committee Leader.
Mission and Outreach News Thanks to the generosity of our congregation and our enthusiastic walkers, FCC was able to give a good donation of money and 24 jars of peanut butter to the CWS CropWalk this year. It was a perfect day for a walk -- sunny and cool. Thanks to you, we helped many people in our community and in the world. Our November-December project will be Christmas stockings for Gainesville 's homeless. Look for the collection box in the narthex -- instructions on making the stockings are posted there. You can contribute stocking ingredients, or make the stockings. Either way, you will be helping those who have very little in their lives. Gainesville Community Ministry is facing some very hard times in their ministry. Their cupboards are bare, and there are three times as many people who come to their facility for help. Every box or can of food we can contribute is so appreciated. Thank you for all your help as we do God's work here in our community and beyond.
Our church has been blessed with some new members, visitors and a brand new pastor and his wife! We always enjoy getting to know new people around a cozy dinner table with good food and conversation, so we are going to set up some "dinners for eight people". These will be potlucks, with the hostess providing the main dish. Of course, if it turns out you have dinners for 6, or 10, that is fine too. If you are interested in hosting one of these dinners (times and dates to be arranged by the groups themselves), contact Linda Wright. We will have sign-up sheets in the narthex so people can sign up to participate. We want the pastor and his wife to be included in each dinner so they can meet everyone in a small group setting. Our goal will be MANY dinners so everybody can eat and fellowship with everybody else. So dust off that cookbook, and let Linda know you want to participate!
Advent Supper and Silent Auction - Wed. Dec. 3 @ 7 pm ! Join us for a delicious holiday meal and the opportunity to take home some beautiful gifts, while supporting college campus ministry! Our silent auction features a stunning Tiffany lamp, designer purses and accessories, art from local artists, goods and services from local businesses, and scrumptious, homemade holiday desserts. All proceeds will benefit our students' spring break mission trip and summer international religious pilgrimage. 1402
