Thursday December 22, 2011

 

 

Christmas Buffet

Saturday, December 17

 

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I’ll back up now to a few days ago – before the car accident took over my blog.

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This breakfast buffet is usually the day that kicks our Christmas celebrations into gear.

 

 

We arrived early, and because everything connected quickly when we hooked my computer up to the monitor in our meeting room, I walked around taking pictures to give you an idea of what Henning’s looks like. (The computer was for showing Truck Rally 2011 pictures.)

 

 

Hennings is a large grocery store with a mezzanine terrace that includes a meeting room and open space for eating any meal of the day.

 

 

I took this photo from the steps leading to the buffet area and grocery store.

 

 

The meeting room.

 

 

Christmas decorations

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Decorations near the ground level buffet

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our friend Sam Rittenhouse was pictured in the local newspaper’s advertisement of the buffet.

 

 

As 8:00 a.m. approached, employees set up a delicious buffet in our room.

 

 

 

 

The breakfast choices of the young man across the table from me.

 

 

 

 

Donna Godshall is a favorite singer for TFC meetings.

 

 

I love when she sings, “Hope Has a Face” at Christmastime

In search of a child they travel so far
Led by a star to a place of joy
Now the wise men tell a beautiful story
Describing the glory of a baby boy

Hope has hands
Freedom has feet
Truth will stand
The word will speak
The holy and lowly will finally embrace
For love has a heartbeat
And grace has a face

Compassion has a tear
Joy has a laughter
And here ever after peace has a smile
Redemption’s blood has veins to flow in
A temple to glow in
Light is a child

Hope has hands
Freedom has feet
Truth will stand the world will sleep
The holy and lowly will finally embrace
For love has a heartbeat
And grace has a face

The holy and lowly will finally embrace
For love has a heartbeat
Love has a heartbeat
And grace has a face

 

Bunny O’Hare gave a ministry update and introduced several chaplains and the leadership of the local fellowship.

 

 

Recognizing the local leadership.

 

 

Cerwin shared a story from Chaplain Jay LeRette’s latest newsletter. He is lead chaplain at Rochelle Petro Stopping Center, Rochelle, Illinois.

One Tuesday at about 6:00 p.m., before the evening service, it was dark, cold, and wet in the parking lot as I went from truck to truck passing out gospel tracts, ministering to drivers, and inviting them to come to the service. Five drivers showed up and at the end of the service I put out a challenge for repentance from sin and a slothful Christian lifestyle. Ashley began crying, came forward, repented, and said, “Just before you walked up to my truck tonight I was crying and praying, ‘Lord, I’ve wandered away. My life is far from You. Please, God, speak to me, I’m hurting. Please knock on the door of my heart.’ Just then you knocked on the door of my truck and said, ‘Hey, driver, is your life glorifying to God? Come join us tonight for the chapel service.’”

Cerwin also shared his plans for building a new chapel in 2012 – probably one that will replace an old chapel. The placement location is not completely set.

 

 

While traveling home we noticed and liked this Christmas decoration on this CRV

 

 

We were about halfway home when we noticed this plane towing a glider. Someone was going to have a nice time gliding in just a few minutes.

 

 

Pretty wreaths line the streets of Ephrata.

 

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I think I am now in the mood for Christmas!

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