WEDDING DRESS RECYCLE

Grace, Dave 1939 St. Paul's Methodist church

November 1939

Evelyn, Brad St. Paul's Methodist church

Jack, Ruth 1950 St. Paul's Methodist church

My mom was the greatest recycler that I've ever known.  She recycled her wedding dress by giving it to her sister Evelyn.  She, in turn, gave it to her sister Ruth.  Diana modeled the dress for the 1989 50th wedding anniversary party:

1989 Redwood city

Continuing on in a similar way--  I borrowed my wedding dress from a college classmate whose husband was related to my dad's side of the family.

me , Chris 1965, St. Paul's Methodist church

Just recently I learned that my niece, Grace Marie, will borrow her wedding dress from her pastor's wife for her July 11, 2021 wedding. So we continue on in the family traditions.

Hebrews 13: 16 Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.

IS GOD GOOD?

 

Lutheran Church Gothenburg. Photo by Chris.

I don't recall responsive readings in the Methodist Church but I do remember some when we attended a Presbyterian church.  Lutheran churches also use liturgy.  I love the congregational readings as it usually includes scripture.  Here is a blog from a  Canadian blogger which contains liturgy:

I have mentioned a number of times that one key element of worship at Grace Fellowship Church is the Call to Worship. This call sometimes involves reading a passage of scripture, but other times combines several texts into a responsive or back-and-forth format. Here’s an example that might bless you this morning as you prepare to worship. It calls God’s people to reflect on his goodness, his greatness, his power, and his love. (In other words, it calls us to reflect on why he is worthy of our worship.)

Leader:
Is God good?

Congregation:
The LORD is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.

Leader:
Is God great?

Congregation:
The LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods.

Leader:
Is God powerful?

Congregation:
Once God has spoken; twice have I heard this: that power belongs to God…

Leader:
Is God worthy of your love?

Congregation:
Love the LORD, all you his saints!

Leader:
What shall we say to such a good, great, wonderful and love-worthy Being?

Congregation:
Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.

Leader:
Praise our God, all you his servants, you who fear him, small and great.

Congregation:
Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory…

TURN YOUR EYES UPON JESUS

 

I woke up singing this hymn today.  It is a modern version.  My prayer today is that we will turn our eyes upon Jesus and the things of this world will grow strangely dim.

THE STOICS

 

Sharon (my best 4th grade friend) Evy, Jay, Davy, Me: Jefferson Manor, Alexandria, VA 1954

When my dad was a little boy he received a small red wagon as a gift.  The other boys in the neighborhood began playing with his wagon.  He stood there and watched.  The next day he realized that he was angry about that.  He said, "I relents that."  

When my mom was small she received a ball as a gift.  Her sister, Evelyn, and their friend, took it away from her, and played with it.  She grew very angry.  She got the ball away from the girls and took it home.  

It is possible that my sister, brothers, and I took after our dad.  As you can see we didn't mind sharing a very small swimming pool.  Maybe we were not only slow to anger, but we were just slow! 

Proverbs 15:18 A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, but he who is slow to anger quiets contention.

THE KING IS COMING

 

I love choirs.  This rendition of "The King Is Coming" was performed by a Baptist Church in 2017.  The way the world is going right now points to signs that Jesus will be coming back soon.

IT'S APRIL AGAIN

 

Janet and Alf's wedding day

I felt depressed.  I couldn't figure why.  I survived my second covid vaccine.  I had food, clothing, shelter.  It was even sunny out.  I asked God to reveal to me why I was wallowing.  I thought maybe it was because I had read all of Tracie Peterson's books and that Roseanna White's new one would not be out until May.  Then I remembered-- my cousin Janet passed away 3 years ago on April 2. Her husband, Alf, passed away one year ago on April 2. I was mourning -- that's all.

The first time this strange depression set in was when my sister, Evy, passed away in January 1997.  For the next 5 Januarys I would become very sad for no reason.  Then I would remember that Evy had passed away in January.  

Evy's headstone

To cheer myself up I would go into the local drug stores or department stores and try on all the sample perfumes.  I would check out all the Mary Engelbright greeting cards wherever I could find them-- in toy shops, Hallmark stores, and stationary sections of various stores.  I would watch a bunch of movies.  One time I went to Elizabeth and Alexander's Tea Room (no longer exists) at The Country Village in Bothell, and ordered a huge breakfast. I also would listen to my favorite music.

How do you cheer yourself up if you have a time of sadness?

Proverbs 17: 22 A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.