Women of the Bible Part 2 Workshop

This morning Mother Anita Braden led a workshop on New Testament women at Christ Church.  Last Fall she led one on some of the women from the Old Testament.  Today's workshop was equally as informative and interesting! 

Thank you Mother Anita for your sharings and for being with us!

It was a great morning and the luncheon turned out delicious too! 

Father Bill made a cool watermelon "Mary Shrine"

 fruit salad which was a big hit too!

Friday Flop ... a strawberry cake failure and then success...

So, I was going to try a new fruit with the cake recipe that I usually call "John's Mom's Rhubarb Cake".  I've used this cake recipe before with apples, blueberries, peaches, rhubarb and they have all turned out really good.  So, when I had the idea to use strawberries I figured it would be equally as GREAT!  BUT, I soon found out as it was baking that not as much boiling water needs to be added to it, and the spill over of strawberry juice overflowing onto the hot oven caused the whole house to be filled with smoke ...ugghh!!

After getting the hot oven a bit cleaned up, and trying to bake the cake more, because it was far from done yet, I finally took it out and even after it cooled down, all I had was strawberry cake SOUP!

Although it tasted good... it looked bad.

So, I decided to try two smaller cakes, and add less boiling water at the end ... and it WORKED!

So, here are the steps ... delicious strawberry cake for tomorrow's workshop! YUMMMM!

Cut up strawberries and fill the bottom of a baking dish....

Mix together (for each of these small round dishes):

3 tablespoons of Crisco shortening

3/4 cup of sugar

1 cup flour

1 teaspoon of baking powder

1/2 cup of milk (if the dough seems too stiff, add a few more tablespoons of milk)

 Then spread the cake over the top of the strawberries.

After that, mix together in a separate bowl:
3/4 cup of sugar
1 tablespoon of cinnamon

1 (heaping) tablespoon of cornstarch

Sprinkle that over the top of the cake dough you have on the strawberries.

Boil water, and add about 1/2 cup over the top of your cake.

Bake in a 375 degree oven for approx. 50 minutes ... check it before that time incase your oven runs hot.

NOTE:  I put tin foil under my cakes after the first fiasco with it boiling over.

If you use this cake recipe with things like rhubarb, I add more boiling water over the top of it ... 1/2 - 1 cup, depending on the size of the baking dish.

Recycled Door Bench/Chair Project TWO ... a work in progress...

Here is another recycled door project that my husband John put together for me.  He used an old door, parts of old doors, drawers and more to make this bench/halltree. I showed him some examples of what I wanted, I had an old distressed looking mirror that fits in one of the top inserts of the door, so he put it all together & I get to paint, sand, stain and embellish it, clean up the hardware (hinges, door plate, etc.) and then we'll see if we can sell it.

 

Here it is so far ... before painting it red and after ... I had about 5 various shades of red spray paint I used on it...  next step will be sanding it all down in a couple of days... then staining the whole thing with a dark stain to tame down the red, maybe two coats of stain... then polycrylic to seal it and insert the mirror, add the hardware.

Sooo, since I'm doing it in between other things, it may be a couple of weeks before it's done.... MORE TO COME!

It's the door project assemblage that NEVER ends!!..arrgghhh!

Okay.. Up early this A.M. and FINALLY  some time to get back to this door project .. I didn't like how the stain I used had made the old white paint that showed thru turn kind of pinkish, so I bought some darker stain, and have applied two coats to it .... it's finally getting better!  So, after this dries for a couple of days, I'll decide whether or not to go with a 3rd staining or go on to a coat or two of polycrylic ... then add back the doorknob, hinges and hardware and TAHHH DAHHH - it's finished!  

Not sure yet if we'll sell it, or donate it for the Mother's Day Brunch Basket Drawing...we'll see....

I have another door project to get to as well... maybe the first coats of red paint on that one will happen later this week?

Women of the Bible - Part 2

If you are in the area on Saturday, April 28th, I invite you to come to a morning workshop called "Women of the Bible - Part 2".

We had the Rev. Anita Braden last Fall at Christ Church for Part 1 and it was a great morning of learning and sharing.    So, here's an invite for the workshop and luncheon coming up soon..... Hope to see YOU there!

Christ Church Women present....

Women of the Bible - PART II
Saturday, April 28, 2012 * 9:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

held at
Christ Episcopal Church
503 E. Walworth, Delavan, WI   262-728-5292

We invite you to learn MORE of the interesting women from scripture, how they made a difference, their faith, lives and how they continue to influence women and men today!
Our guest speaker, The Rev. Anita Braden, an Episcopal priest, will present a second part to this interesting series on women who have been featured in scripture. Mother Anita has a wonderful way of bringing us into the stories in scripture that give us interesting and thought-provoking insights for our own lives.

Our workshop will include group discussions, prayer, and a soup & salad luncheon. There is no charge for this workshop, but we ask you to register early so we may plan enough for all.

Call or email to Register (262-728-5292 - christchurch@pensys.com) by Thursday, April 26th.  Include your name, email, phone.

Corn Dog Muffins .....

Another thanks to Pinterest for this idea ....   If you like corn muffins (and my grandkids and kids do), you'll like these too!

Easy and delicious!  I used Jiffy Corn Muffin Mix, but I only used 1/4 cup of milk (instead of 1/3), with the one egg, and then also added a heaping 1/4 cup of unsweetened applesauce. (it helps the muffin stay moister and adds a bit of flavor to the corn muffin) 

After mixing it all together, I put spoonfuls into a mini muffin tin (that makes 24 mini muffins), filling each one about 1/2 full.  Then cut hotdogs into fourths, inserted into the center of each muffin, and baked for about 15 minutes or so.  (I'd check them after 10 minutes in case your oven runs hotter).

 

These will be fun to have the grandkids help me make too next time they are here!

Doubting Thomas ...

Believing, no doubts..thru the eyes of a child...

Sunday School was such a fun and blessed event today for me ... since the Gospel lesson featured Thomas, who is often called "doubting Thomas", I used the found object assemblage I had made of Thomas to start our discussions with the kids.   We read the gospel story, and discussed how artists often portray certain people and events in different ways... and I explained to them the ways I had portrayed this assemblage art box called "Thomas - Didymus", which means twin, showing them the mirrored Thomas (his twin), the nails that symbolized the nails that were used to nail Jesus to the cross... the hand of Jesus with the wound, dripping a heart shaped blood into the chalice (which we remember when we take Holy Communion from the chalice .. the blood of Christ, the cup of salvation).  I was amazed that they understood the symbolism of it, and happy that it may have helped them understand this passage more too!

It was fun to hear their questions, their doubts expressed, yet their faith and knowledge of past lessons, and teachings from their parents too no doubt.  Also fun as they looked at other art pieces around the room, and I answered questions about them (as best I could).

And to have them come running up to me after Church to ask to see the "screaming stones" we'd talked about in one of the art pieces in my office.  We went into the office, where they looked at various assemblages I have displayed on my shelves. 

To see thru the eyes of a child, as they ask questions, give comments, and offer their interpretation of things is so awesome!!  No wonder Jesus says, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."  (Matthew 19:14)

Thank You Lord for the blessing of these children!

The Taxman Calleth...

Got a call from our "taxman" (accountant), who had our 2011 tax return finished ... Good news... we get a refund - small, but at least it's something!  Bad news - income was down again, which we knew, but at least it had picked up a bit from 2010.

About time for this recession to hit the road!  Praying this Spring more and more people will be looking at renovations, repairs, additions or even a new build or two! 

So, anyone needing any work this year... check out the quality workmanship of Karstetter Construction!  Give them a call!

And, anyone wanting some excellent photos taken for a special event, wedding, birthday, senior high school photos, advertising, etc.  Check out the great work done by Kasey K Photo!

Monday Night Book Club - "Love Wins"

Tonight was the first night of our Book Club featuring the book "Love Wins: A Book About Heaven, Hell, and the Fate of Every Person Who Ever Lived", by Pastor Rob Bell.  This is what Amazon says about the book:

Millions of Christians have struggled with how to reconcile God's love and God's judgment: Has God created billions of people over thousands of years only to select a few to go to heaven and everyone else to suffer forever in hell? Is this acceptable to God? How is this "good news?"
Troubling questions--so troubling that many have lost their faith because of them. Others only whisper the questions to themselves, fearing or being taught that they might lose their faith and their church if they ask them out loud.
But what if these questions trouble us for good reason? What if the story of heaven and hell we have been taught is not, in fact, what the Bible teaches? What if what Jesus meant by "heaven," "hell," and salvation" are very different from how we have come to understand them?
What if it is God who wants us to face these questions?
Author, pastor, and innovative teacher Rob Bell presents a deeply biblical vision for rediscovering a richer, grander, truer, and more spiritually satisfying way of understanding heaven, hell, God, Jesus, salvation, and repentance. The result is the discovery that the "good news" is much, much better than we ever imagined.
Love wins.

It was a good night, lots of varied thoughts expressed during our discussions, and very interesting discussion questions by our facilitator Chip Mornard.  Nine of us were present for our first of 8 weeks (break on Memorial Day Monday) discussing this book, and we are expecting a few more to join us next Monday.

New Narthex East Red Door Entrance

It's not too late if you are in the Delavan area to join us at Christ Episcopal Church on Monday evenings from 6:30 - 8:00 p.m.  (enter through the east side red doors by the parking area), books are available to purchase from Christ Church as well, call them for more info.

Still watering and mowing the Easter gardens....

Who'd have thought, when we planted these Easter gardens during Sunday School a couple of weeks ago, that I would have to "mow" them 5 - 6 times!!   Besides spritzing them thoroughly every day with water, and cutting the grass (with scissors) every  2 -3 days, I've had yard waste clean up beside..*L*

Today I had Jorden at work with me and she helped with the spritzing and mowing too!  She cut down some of them a little TOO close ...but they'll no doubt grow again in a day or so.

Fr. Bill has taken a couple of them to the people he visits who are homebound or in nursing homes, and will be taking another 4 - 5 in the next few days too.

Family Easter Gatherings ....

It's been a busy, but blessed Holy Week and Easter weekend!  Time to relax with family following it all was great too!  Jorden and Kaine were home for the weekend and Jorden looked beautiful in her Easter dress about to head out to Church ...



 

After Church we headed over to my sister's and brother-in-law's home .. Chellie and Bill had a smaller than usual crowd there as some had other family dinners to attend too... but it was still a fun time, good food and Easter egg hunt with everyone.

The "kids" getting ready to find the
candy in the back yard



"Share with me Daddy!"



Jeff looks happy!

Someone get my nieces an
Easter basket! *lol*

Kasey & Kaine

Kasey & Kaine



Daddy Kaine and Jorden



Grandkids, Jeff, Jake, Jorden, Josh



Then we headed over to the other side of the family ... Mary and Pat hosted us for dinner and the egg hunt for the kids.  Fun times there too!



Dart gun fun!



The dart guns were a big hit!




Jorden and Madison





Lots of eggs gathered!



A fun time... but, man oh man, am I ready for SLEEP!

Happy Easter Everyone!







Happy Easter! Alleluia! He is Risen!



The Recessional

End of Service.



Photos from the Easter Service this morning .... Thanks to Kasey K Photo!



40 Years Ago We Were at Church For Another Reason .. and it wasn't Easter

Happy Anniversary to us!  Forty years ago we were married ... it was a cooler day, it had just snowed several inches the day before, but it had pretty much melted by Sat., April 8, 1972. 

Can't believe how much time has gone by and so fast!

We were "kids", at the young age of 20 and 18 1/2 years old.... (yes, I was a child bride!..LOL)

This photo was coming out of the Church, as they were throwing rice at us...my Mom is to the left, with Dad's hands clapping, and two of my sisters in front of us.

Ahhhhh memories!  Happy Anniversary John! xoxxo

This is the night.... The Great Vigil of Easter



"This is the night..", words from the Exsultet, that is sung at the beginning of the Vigil (after the lighting of the "new fire").

"This is the night, when you brought our fathers, the children of Israel, out of bondage in Egypt, and led them through the Red Sea on dry land.

This is the night, when all who believe in Christ are delivered from the gloom of sin, and are restored to grace and holiness of life.

This is the night, when Christ broke the bonds of death and hell, and rose victorious from the grave.

How wonderful and beyond our knowing, O God, is your mercy and loving-kindness to us, that to redeem a slave, you gave a Son.

How holy is this night, when wickedness is put to flight, and sin is washed away. It restores innocence to the fallen, and joy to those who mourn. It casts out pride and hatred, and brings peace and concord.

How blessed is this night, when earth and heaven are joined and man is reconciled to God."





Lighting the Paschal Candle from
the "new fire". 
Fr. Bill, Deacon Bill (my BIL),
Acolytes Jerry (my Dad) and Jo

 It was a blessed service tonight! 
Thank you Lord!

Alleluia!  Christ is Risen! 

The Lord is Risen Indeed! Alleluia!

Good Friday at Christ Episcopal

Pastor Stan Curtis and
Father Bill Myrick

We shared both the Maundy Thursday and Good Friday Services with our friends from the Delavan United Methodist Church. 

Pastor Stan and Fr. Bill in the Chapel Altar of Repose before the start of the Good Friday Service.



The empty tabernacle
before the Good Friday Service




The stripped altar



Take Up Your Cross
and Follow Me



Clint and Fr. Bill carry the
cross into Church.

Veneration of the Cross





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Following the Good Friday Service, we took down the Altar of Repose in the Chapel and moved the flowers to the Church Altar, setting up and decorating for the Holy Saturday and Easter Sunday Services.

Check out the photo album at the Christ Episcopal Church website for those photos and more of Holy Week and Easter.