December 18, 2024
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Dear Friend, Our natural world is full of reminders about the dynamics of life. I hope I never tire of paying attention. Just this morning I was noticing that all the acorn caps that had fallen during the recent high winds a few days ago were each in their own little bowl, nestled down in below the surface of the snow. For a while I could not decide if it was the effect of sun or rain or both that melted the snow around each acorn cap. In the following video, I hope you can see what I mean. I hope you can tell in the video that the acorn triple-cap is a good inch beneath the surface of the snow. The video shows other acorn caps and leaves that have all, through no direct action of their own, found themselves in their own right-sized depressions in the snow. My theory is that this largely occurs because of sunlight warming up the dark colored objects. The radiant heat melts the snow around the edges to make a perfectly shaped depression. My second theory is that we humans create a space around us, too, and that shape is a very accurate reflection of who we are. Like the acorn cap, the energy we emit shapes our space within the environment in which we live. It’s a fact of nature. But unlike the acorn, we have greater agency over the energy we emit. In our best moments, we can choose how we react to the demands of life and relationships. In our best moments, we can choose to react with warmth, compassion, tolerance, patience and a willingness to forgive. It takes practice, Friend, and I am grateful to be practicing along with you. “Be tolerant with one another and forgive one another whenever any of you has a complaint against someone else. You must forgive one another just as the Lord has forgiven you. And to all these qualities add love, which binds all things together in perfect unity. The peace that Christ gives is to guide you in the decisions you make; for it is to this peace that God has called you together in the one body. And be thankful.” -Colossians 3: 13-15 |
Give the Gift that Gives Over and Over
-Heifer Market-
Purchase goats, bees, trees, heifers, chicks, sheep, water buffaloes, rabbits, bio-gas stoves, and much more can help families across the globe. Honor cards are available in the church hall; cards can be given to your loved ones as the recipients of these valuable gifts.
Check out the display in the church hall, or go to the DCC Website homepage HERE; scroll down to Alternative Giving Market, which will be up through 12/31. Or go directly there with the following link:
https://fundraise.heifer.org/campaign/dublin-community-church-living-gift-market-2024/c642101
By shopping through the DCC site you will be listed as a DCC donor, which in turn reflects our annual participation in this most worthy program.
ALL of our donations will be matched, so your contributions will DOUBLE!
CONCERT AT DUBLIN CHURCH
Hold Them Close: Songs of Mothers, Fathers and Children
Chamber Singers of Keene
Friday night, Dec. 20th at 7:00
Sunday after the Morning Service
a Christmas Potluck Brunch
in the Church Hall
Let’s spend some time together remembering what really matters most in this season.
Christmas Eve Candlelight Service of Lessons and Carols
7:30 p.m.
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Please join me in prayer if you wish. God of darkness and light, I am grateful for this time of year when the light wanes and we are called to settle into the darkness of winter. May the fire that burns within us keep us warm. May all those without shelter be safe. May we miss the light enough to strength our resolve to be bearers of light in all we say and do. This I pray in Christ’s name. Amen. “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.” -Numbers 6: 24-26 In service, Traceymay
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