At our In-gathering service we spent time recognizing and acknowledging the bounty of our blessings and how we might share them in our lives. Below is what we came up with!
GOD SEEDS:
What are the moments in our lives where we are seeing God?
Being with my mom & dad
Geese flying overhead
Said “hello” to a stranger and they said “hello” back
Nice warm flannel sheets
Laughing with a friend
Vestry sharing
Family
Worked at the food shelf
A walk in the woods
Phoning a friend
Bye Bye Birdie cast family
Beautiful sunrises
Work
Home
Many birds coming to our feeder
Snow-bow (snow rainbow)
Loving your neighbor
Forgiveness
Finding greens for advent wreath
Pet coming out of surgery OK
Our children able to get vaccinated
The love of my family
Visits
Friends coming to dinner
Music at church this morning
My garden had wonderful tomatoes
Looking in my dog’s eyes
My child held my hand
Mental health system worked for young 15 year old
My walks instead of a meeting - connecting with a friend
Sherry, Lucy & the people of St. Paul’s Church
Helping strangers with food and money
An email from a friend who moved and will be visiting soon
Celebrating my birthday with family and friends
Kathy’s knitting for the food shelf
The dentists were kind and supportive when I got teeth pulled
Delivery of a bed and mattress to young person in need
Bumping into an old friend
Visiting someone in need
Getting love from people who care about others
Going for a walk
Love of friends and sharing beautiful art
Downtime at home with whole family
Assembling music
The love of my husband
Outside time with my dog
Friends helping
Meeting new people
Kindness of staff at doctor’s office when I had faint moment
God is at the Thanksgiving table
The appreciation and gratitude of weaving students
Took a friend shopping
Practicing hymns this week at home with family
Beauty and the Beast school play and seeing family
When Nana and Grandpa come
Reading a book
A smiling “first smile” of grandson Felix
Lenore’s incredible flowing prose
A sunrise
An email from a friend
The love of my dogs
The love of my husband
A friend offered to do a chore for me when she knew I was too tired to do it myself
Sunshine
Pictures of George and Alisdair figuring out the chords to Sunday hymns
The sun came through the clouds at the moment I needed
A student loaned another student a pencil
Bo’s seemingly unshakable capacity to keep moving lots and lots of good things forward
Working together
When everyone in the school play is nice to each other and congratulates each other
When we play a game in math class and a kid gets “out” the whole class says “no!” in support
Open dialog meetings
Availability of emergency dental care
Safe travels
Good health
SEEDS TO PASS ON:
How can we share these seeds?
Patience
Love to my family
Hope
Forgiveness
Compassion
Catching up
Smiles
Raising money for kids who need food over holiday break
Supporting friends
Love
The joy of sharing creativity and love of weaving
Being generous with my time for others
Kindness for all we meet and those close to us
A nice walk in the woods out to the lake
Soup and salad with good friends
God is present with our family
Giving thanks
Love to friends
I was given three wonderful daughters
Love of grandkids
Faithfulness
Empathy
Joy
Wonder
Use this holiday season to think about joy for us and others
Using my platform and talents to strengthen and support others
Amazement and gratitude at our good fortune and health
Friendship
Family visiting
Humor
Love and patience
Take love of God to the world
Working on gathering food for kids in need
Lucy to visit someone in need
Teaching my kids recipes
Kind thoughts and words
Helping other people when they’re upset
Saying thank you for a nice birthday
Truth and kindness in hearing it
Imagination of everything
Spending time with my family
Love to my husband
Learn to enjoy unstructured time
Equity
Love and the word of Christ
Generosity
Unconventional love
Christ’s love
Supporting family members
Love and joy in everything
One word - fun!
The big joy and love of grandchildren