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Saturday 31 October 2009

Hallelujah!!!

Tonight we had a Hallelujah party. I always feel a bit mean about the children missing out on Halloween but it's not consistent with our beliefs to celebrate it. This year we decided to have a Hallelujah party where we praised God for Jesus, the light of the world. We made Pumpkin Soup (we had to read the book, of course) which we ate with crusty tiger bread and cheese for all the dairy types. Then, because our oven is broken atm, we feasted on refrigerator cake. We read scriptures about Jesus being the light of the world and talked about how tomorrow is All Saints Day, so we talked about missionaries and martyrs, particularly the need to remember to pray for those who are out there on the front line. Our dear friend Jennifer is currently working as a missionary in Thailand so we will think of her particularly tomorrow. After the meal and meditations the children carved pumpkins with crucifixes and 'joyful' faces. We played apple bobbing and marshmallow fishing and then roasted marshmallows. We ended the evening with hot chocolate all around. Yummy. It was a great evening and I'm sure the children will remember it and ask for another next year. I shall have to get thinking of some new games.

The thing that saddens me is that I'd love to do something similar at church but there is no will for it. In fact, I wonder how many children were at Halloween parties or out trick or treating. That fear may be totally unjust but most people think we're mean for telling the children that Santa isn't real so I wonder if they think we're just as odd for opting out of Halloween. I guess there might be conversation after coffee tomorrow and then we'll see.

Hallelujah to our risen Lord.

Tuesday 13 October 2009

Christmas Consumerism

Well it's that time of year again. Apparently the Christmas decorations are already up in The Mall. Cue crowded shops, spending frenzy and overloaded credit cards. And why are we doing this? To celebrate the birth of a child in a dirty, smelly stable, who lived several years of his adult life with 'nowhere to lay his head', and ended it on a cross to pay for the all the hideous sins of humanity. Hmmm. Makes a lot of sense doesn't it?! If you feel like answering NO to this question, please check out the following links and think about doing Christmas another way this year. I can't say we'll be totally 'buy nothing' but we are seeking a simpler, more intentional celebration.

www.buynothingchristmas.org
www.simpleliving.org
www.wwjbmovie.com

Jo
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Friday 9 October 2009

Hello again

Hello again. Sorry I haven't been blogging for a while but I've been rather overwhelmed for the last few months. All my boys are now a year older and a new baby is on the horizon. I am 12 weeks pregnant and am just coming to the end of a period of nausea and tiredness. I didn't quite expect that baby no. 4 would come quite so soon after no.3 but, having got over the surprise we are now delighted, although wondering how we will afford a bigger car and if we can move house should the baby be a girl. We are sure, however, that those details will merge into insignificance when we meet our little one; God knows what we need and has them in hand. I hope to get back to blogging more regularly soon, but for now I will leave you with our news and say goodnight.
Jo
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