I remember my older sister reading me to sleep. P.D. Eastman’s Are You My Mother? was one of my favorites. But what really rocked me to sleep were Dr. Seuss’s rhythmic cadences of The Cat in the Hat. I never made it to kindergarten. I was no wunderkind reading at three. But I remember coming home from my…
Read more Reading for Hope (A Book Report Wrapped in a Homily)
I have loved books since I was a little kid. And when I became a mom, I loved reading to my little kids. And when my kids grew up, I saved their books so I could read them to my little kid friends in church. And grandchildren too! I want to share with you my…
Anyone who is a gardener knows what it is like to have the weeds take over -especially if you happen to take a vacation during the springtime. A couple of weeks away from your garden in the springtime can set you back for the whole summer. Isn’t it amazing how weeds grow! They seem to come…
Objects suggested: Packets of seeds and / or a coconut. Do any of you plant gardens? If you live on a farm you would probably have a really large outdoor garden. If you live in an apartment you might have plants growing in pots on your windowsill. If you live in the suburbs you might have…
This piece comes from one of my favorite composers and arrangers for sacred piano pieces – Gary Prim. It is from my collection of twenty or more books by him. He’s a fantastic arranger and has worked with many music celebrities including Kristin Chenowith, Alan Jackson, Pattie Labelle, and my favorite Reba McEntire. He was…
As the pandemic slowly enfolded VTS like a cloud, it was apparent that my class would not ever worship together again. No meals together either. There were no Holy Week celebrations, no in-person Commencement. Many classmates understandably did not return from spring break once classes went online, and most of the rest of us slowly…
“Though I may speak with bravest fire, And have the gift to all inspire, And have not love, my words are vain, As sounding brass, and hopeless gain.” I can remember how my college organ professor started my very first lesson. “With great power, comes great responsibility.” Just like Uncle Ben in Spiderman. I can recall going with…
Have you ever seen someone who is attached to a parachute … float down to the ground? That sort of happening catches our attention, partly because it seems peaceful, but also exciting. Although many people use parachutes to assist them with their work, such as members of the military who sometimes need parachutes to do…
Hi everyone. Happy 4th of July weekend. I hope you’re able to celebrate some of the usual holiday aspects of this special day, including maybe having some fireworks, hotdogs, hamburgers and watermelon of your own. Please tell me s’mores are involved! As we celebrate this national holiday, I know we’re all reminded that “freedom isn’t free” so a…
Oh my goodness! How many weeks have we been worshipping at home now? Sixteen, can you believe it? Please, pandemic, go away. We are so tired of the virus but as Dr. Fauci reminds us, the virus is not yet tired of us. So we continue for the good of our neighbors to worship at…
Emmanuel Voices 
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