Making Scraps into Books
Pentecost Greetings!
Two weekends ago I went to an all day scrapbooking event with a friend. It was so great to have all that time set aside to just scrapbook and to catch up on life with Debbie. I am about 2 years behind on my scrapbooks which I have been keeping since I was 12 when my sister gave me a photo album for Christmas. She showed my how she saved things from events, newspapers, cards and church bulletins to decorate the pages with and how she wrote on the pages so she could remember the details of the events. I began then. That was truly scrapbooking.
Today I have so much fun finding the right paper backgrounds, lettering, stickers and embellishments to make my pages really look great. That made me think. Is it really scrapbooking now? It has evolved from saving scraps of things so that memories could be preserved to a huge business where there are stores totally dedicated to selling supplies that can cost from $.50 to $500.00.
That led me to thinking about religion. We used to use the Bible and Catechism. Now I get catalog after catalog showcasing books, church supplies, clothing and more whose prices are unlimited. Amazing how far the business of religion has come from a man sharing verbally the message as he walked along the way with his friends to today where there are stores dedicated only to religious items.
I realize that I help drive the market by shopping at the scrapbooking and religious stores. I’m not saying it is all bad but definitely different and more complicated than the original intent. Now there is sales tax or tax exempt forms. Now there are aisles of items to inventory and shelves to restock. Now there are employees to hire (a good thing in this economy) and also to lay off (a result of this economy).
It makes me think about Jesus’ birth which we will celebrate again soon. Jesus came in a very simple way lying in a manger with animals all around. What if Jesus came today? Would he be lying in a cherry finish $429.00 crib with satin sheets? I’d like to think not.
Simple is best. The Bible even says so in Proverbs 13: 7 - “A pretentious, showy life is an empty life; a plain and simple life is a full life."
Something I’ve been thinking about.
God is with us no matter what our life is like!
Hope
Announcements for First Trinity Lutheran Church, 5321 E. 42nd Street in Indianapolis
Cranberry sauce needed for the Sharing Place Thanksgiving baskets. Please bring in a couple cans for the food collection this Sunday.
Worship this Sunday will be led by Pastor Robert Lim and he will cover for me while I am on vacation in St. Paul, MN, holding my granddaughter for the first time and attending her baptism.
Advent is coming soon! November 28 we begin our time of waiting and watching and anticipation. Come hear about hope and get your Advent devotion book, barnyard bank to help with world hunger and make a wreath if you do not have one.
Thanksgiving Eve worship service: You are invited to attend Christ Lutheran in Zionsville on Wednesday evening at 7pm for their Thanksgiving Eve service.
No Tuesday evening Women’s Bible study this week.
Monday morning women’s Bible study will be meet at 11:30am and Women of Design will meet at 11am on Thursday to complete the Advent banner and decorations.
Check our website for our latest newsletter and other information at www.ftlutheran.com and also check our Facebook page and Twitter announcements.
Moran Family News
Ellis Epiphany DeBoer-Moran will be baptized this Sunday at 4:30pm at Humble Walk Church in Minneapolis. Mom and baby and dad are doing well this week. :-) It will be great to be with three of my kids this weekend for this celebration as well as my brother, sister and niece.
