Sunny Sunday - April 2011

• Liz handed out Pampered Chef catalogs. Order something or get others to buy from you. That's the idea. This is a fundraiser for the church.
• Ann! Oy! Those cranberry-almond scones - to beat the band (but not the newly formed choir - we need voices - join!) and a mound of fruit that made me wish I had my camera with me. Now last year's bathing suit will NEVER fit. (Am I allowed to say "bathing suit" here?)
• Richard's got Fair Trade coffee for sale. Decaf on the way. D E L I C I O U S . . .
• Money for Easter flowers - remember
• Patty, Thanks so much for the Treasurer work you have done. When I did it years ago, the church was less active and it was much easier. Remember Folks, I have only taken over Patty's term for 2011 - in 2012 we'll need new blood. Don't be shy! If you can balance your own checkbook, you can do it.
• Marcia, Thanks for taming Johann for all those months. How nice you can sit and enjoy the service a bit now. Where would we be without Helen? Wonderful!!! Thank you, H and a big thanks to Barb R for suggesting an organist be added to the budget. I can't think of a better way to spend our moolah.
• Do you think I forgot to thank someone again this week? Well, go make your own darn blog . . .
• When the directory gets together, I could put it on a password-protected blog if we want. Just a thought.
• Next Lenten service: 6pm food/7pm worship: St Peter's in Spencertown - April 6
• Now here's my take on Pastor Bob's sermon for what it's worth (referring to my interpretation not his sermon): "I Once was Blind, but Now I See"
• The gospel today is about regime change in the Middle East THEN. King Saul was out and was to be replaced by Jesse's shepherd son from Bethlehem. (Imagine the uprising. Even before CNN and texting.)
• It was a time of change - from darkness to light.
• One day, Jesus and his disciples came upon a blind man; the disciples showed littlecompassion for him. They were more concerned with whose fault it was that the gentleman could not see. Did his parents sin? Did he?
• JC: "You guys are missing the point. He was born blind so a lesson could be revealed. At least a blind man acknowledges his limitation and gladly accepts guidance from others, even a dog. The worst blindness belongs to those who think they see the better than others."
• Samuel Butler said this too a century ago.
• And a hundred years before that, John Newton chimed in when he wrote:
• Amazing Grace! How sweet the sound - that saved a wretch like me! I once was lost, but now am found; was blind, but now I see.
• God's people are not necessarily wise and all-knowing (nor are they the greatest singers necessarily-I speak of myself here) but they acknowledge God's intervention in moments of defeat, failure and sorrow.
• Thank you, Pastor Bob for a wonderful sermon and for all you and Bev have done - and continue to do.
• I wonder why I have so much energy this Sunday afternoon. Could it be the Lutheran coffee?