Today is Monday, December 5th, 2011; Karen's Korner #2206

Some rambling thoughts from this past weekend:
 
 
On Saturday, a group of us slipped and slid to Mason City as we enjoyed our first area snowfall. Our goal was spending a couple of hours ringing bells for Salvation Army, helping them to raise funds for their outreach year ahead.
 
When I took my turn ringing at Hobby Lobby, my fondest memory was the number of times when a family of various ages and sizes would climb out of their car and begin to make their way to the doors of their chosen shopping experience.
 
All of the sudden, a younger elementary student or two from the tribe would see and hear the familiar bell ringing and red kettle. They would turn to mom or grandma and say, "There it is!" Begging for a few coins or a dollar bill to add to the container's contents.
 
What joy to watch one generation teach another younger one to share and care for those 'less fortunate' in our midst!
 
***
 
In our church's study series on Sunday, we learned that Bethlehem, defined means "House of Bread".
 
Jesus was born in Bethlehem.
 
Do you suppose it is any accident He was born there? And that one of His names over the generations has been "The Bread of Life"?
 
***
 
I attended the Christmas Concert performed by the Choralaires, a Clarion-based choral group, on Sunday afternoon. It was their 30th anniversary Christmas concert. Several of the members have participated all thirty years, including the director Karen Strempke and the pianist Jo Anne Olson.
 
To celebrate, the other members of the Choralaires commissioned the writing of a song, based on the favorite Bible verse of Strempke. Members then exchanged some directing and accompanying roles and performed the 'new-to-the-world' tune for the honored and seated two women:
 
"With what shall I come before the LORD,
      And bow myself before the High God?
      Shall I come before Him with burnt offerings,
      With calves a year old?

       "Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams,
      Ten thousand rivers of oil?
      Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression,
      The fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?

       "He has shown you, O man, what is good;
      And what does the LORD require of you
      But to do justly,
      To love mercy,
      And to walk humbly with your God?"
 
 ~ Micah 6:6-8 (NKJV)
 
***

Back