Look at those who are honest and good, for a wonderful future awaits those who love peace.
Psalm 37:37 (New Living Translation)
~~~
Observe those who have integrity and watch those whose heart is right because the future belongs to persons of peace.
Psalm 37:37 (Common English Bible)
Decorations & Information
~ Twenty-Fifth Anniversary of Brunswick Church of the Brethren ~
Part 2
Making sure pins are in the correct location.
Pins and flags represent families who attend Brunswick Church
Reading an old bulletin
Covering tables
Can you guess what they are doing?
You guessed it! They are stamping tablecloths with things that represent Maine.
Chocolate pebbles were added for a seashore effect.
One of the young women decorated the ladies bathroom mirror. (It was a bit difficult to photograph.)
I understand they also decorated the mirror in the men’s bathroom (I didn’t check), and was told it said, “He who finds a wife finds a good thing” (Proverbs 18:22). 
Table centerpiece
On the other table
I learned something new. These were sprayed with hair spray to keep them shiny.
You can be sure that God will take care of everything you need, his generosity exceeding even yours in the glory that pours from Jesus.
Philippians 4:19 (The Message)
~~~
God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:19 (New Living Translation)
Twenty-Fifth Anniversary
~ Brunswick Church of the Brethren ~
Part 1
The Brunswick Church of the Brethren, Pleasant Street, Brunswick, Maine.
This is where the original six couples began worshiping twenty-five years ago – and continue to do so.
Top left to right: Donald & Grace, Mark & Diane, Jim & Angela. Bottom left to right: Brian & Lois, Dale & Christine, Galen & Sara – and their children.
They moved to Maine in the summer and early fall of 1986.
Signatures on the charter of the church one and a half years later.
Twenty-five years later the Brunswick fellowship includes Wales Meeting House.
Members of the Brunswick fellowship recently began helping to establish another congregation near Wales, Maine.
Because this is a larger building the celebration was held here.
It looks quiet on the outside – just after lunch – but there was a flurry of activity going on inside as the committee prepared for activities to begin at 3:30 p.m.
Our granddaughter Elizabeth is putting final touches to the short version of the slide show that was shown at the evening service. (She is the baby in the top center photo of the original six families who moved to Maine in 1986.)
She also had a long version that was shown on three computers throughout the building as people arrived for food and fellowship. She spent a lot of time gathering and scanning photos from the past twenty-five years.
Setting up the viewing screen in the fellowship hall.
Preparing coffee cups
Trying to figure out where to place the video camera for the evening service.
Our daughter Diane carrying the stove-top roaster where sandwiches were heated.
Beginning to slowly heat some of the apple cider we made on Saturday.
Mulling spices were added.
Setting up the coffee and tea area.
Tea choices
Upstairs the sanctuary was being prepared.
Getting extra song books from a storage room.
Placing them on every other chair.
Melvin and Jim (Brunswick ministers) visiting in a quiet spot of the sanctuary.
A good discussion on biblical truths was going on here.
~~
To be continued
~~~
Do you think all God wants are sacrifices—empty rituals just for show?
He wants you to listen to him!
Plain listening is the thing, not staging a lavish religious production.
1 Samuel 15:22 (The Message)
~~~
Is the Lord as delighted with burnt offerings and sacrifices as he would be with your obedience?
To follow instructions is better than to sacrifice.
To obey is better than sacrificing the fat of rams.
1 Samuel 15:22 (GOD’S WORD Translation)
Saturday Supper
Sunday School
Sunday Lunch
December 3 & 4
We had a busy day making cider and doing other preparations for Sunday’s Twenty-fifth Anniversary Celebration, so I asked Diane if I could order in pizza for supper.
She liked that idea.
The girls and Diane made this “pine cone” cheese ball. If I remember correctly the ball included spinach – which made it green. Then slivered almonds were placed strategically to create a pine cone look.
After supper Lydia perfected blue chocolate drizzle for the cake pops.
This time it was just right!
Both kinds were ready for lunch and the celebration on Sunday.
After a good nights sleep and a few more food preparations we headed to the Wales Church with two van loads of people and food for lunch and the celebration.
The Wales Church is now part of the Brunswick Church (the one that began as a mission church in 1986). The celebration was going to be held at Wales Church of the Brethren because it is a much larger building.
After Sunday school Dale told a story for the children by using a candle and a jar. By covering the lighted candle with the jar, he demonstrated what will happen to anyone who withdraws from God and fellowship with others.
Just like this flame went out due to lack of oxygen, the flame in our soul will die and grow cold if we withdraw from Christ and Christian fellowship.
After morning worship, the ladies made a quick lunch by combining everything they brought as a carry-in. These girls are making a large sub.
Placing plates and silverware on the serving table.
A delicious fruit pizza. I liked that the name of the church was made with blueberries.
Lunch is ready!
You probably did not notice the plastic butterflies on the plant in the previous picture.
While the tables were being cleared and the dishes washed, Hannah entertained these two boys by teaching them to play Sorry.
~~~
Tomorrow night: The Twenty-fifth Celebration Part 1
~~~
The Lord your God is with you, a Powerful One Who wins the battle.
He will have much joy over you. With His love He will give you new life. He will have joy over you with loud singing.
Zephaniah 3:17 (New Life Version)
~~~
For the Lord your God is living among you.
He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.
Zephaniah 3:17 (New Living Translation)
Making Apple Cider
~ For Brunswick Church Celebration ~
Saturday, December 3
There were lots of apples – free apples that Diane and their children picked up at an orchard – for the church celebration on Sunday.
Jim – Brunswick Church of the Brethren (Maine) minister – setting up the machine that will chop the apples.
Diane (Hannah is hidden) preparing to wash and cut apples.
Greg – deacon at Brunswick Church – teaching Hannah and Lydia how to place apples in the chopper.
Diane, Rachel, Emily, Lydia and Hannah
Apples after being chopped.
Jim preparing the cider press.
I have never tasted better apple cider.
Greg and Jim
Jim got a workout on Saturday
A tub full of chopped apples
Putting the chopped apples into the press.
Emily, Rachel and Lydia (Emily and Rachel are Greg and Jill’s daughters.)
After making fourteen gallons of cider, we went into the house where Greg’s wife, Jill, and I helped Diane prepare cauliflower and broccoli for vegie trays for Sunday afternoon.
Greg checking on the chicken he was cooking.
This had nothing to do with Sunday’s preparation. He was just cooking some chickens they had recently butchered.
After Jill, Diane and I finished cutting up some of the vegetables, Greg and Jill’s daughter Kathryn cleaned up the floor before lunch.
~~~
It was a fun and interesting day. I had never seen cider being made.
~~~
He takes pleasure in those who honor him, in those who trust in his constant love.
Psalm 147:11 (Good News Translation)
~~~
The LORD enjoys people who worship him and trust in his faithful love.
Psalm 147:11 (Easy-to-Read Version)
Lydia’s Birthday
Friday, December 2
Lydia’s good friend Mary Ellen came to help celebrate her fifteenth birthday.
Mary Ellen and Lydia dipping cake pops for the celebration at church on Sunday.
Lydia wanted to make drizzle for the pops, but she couldn’t get the first batch thin enough, so used it for the pops we were having for her birthday supper.
The graham cracker covered pops are filled with cheese cake, and those with blue icing are filled with cheese cake and Oreo cookies. They are both delicious.
Mary Ellen brought her an ice cream cake.
A present from Hezekiah
A sweat shirt
Our granddaughter Abigail sent this along with me to give her dad – because she knows he likes pandas.
Hezekiah and Lydia asked me to be a lighthouse so they could play “Light the Lighthouse” with me.
They are walking around me as they go “up” the lighthouse steps.
Oh, no! They forgot the oil for the lighthouse light, so they have to turn around and go “down” the steps.
After retrieving the oil, they went up the steps again. This time they forgot the matches.
So they said, “Lets just light her up the old fashioned way”, and both gave me a kiss.
I had to rearrange my glasses after the kiss!
They wanted to give me another kiss that didn’t remove my glasses, but they were too silly.
What fun!
