Mayflower Congregational Church UCC

voices . december 2006

a word from robin stepping out of the vortex As the holidays descend upon us, I have a wish for all of us: less of everything that doesn't matter and more of everything that does! ::: more	think on this Pushing bio fuels at the expense of energy conservation will only make our energy problems more severe. Improving fuel efficiency in cars by just one mile per gallon - a gain possible with proper tire inflation - would cut fuel consumption equal to the total amount of ethanol federally mandated for production in 2012.
'tis the season to help with 363 christmas gifts The 363 Group is once again spreading hope and cheer by giving Christmas gifts to low-income and homeless guests at Wiley Post Park on Dec. 16. They ask the congregation's help and participation in providing each of their guests with a knit hat, a pair of knit gloves, and a pie. ::: more	growing in wisdom and connections education happenings at Mayflower Wanna get those brains working? The month's adult classes are exploring "Saving Jesus," "The Corporation," "Simpler Living, Compassionate Life," identity theft and more. ::: more
spreading hope with homemade christmas cards Members ages 1 - 93 and beyond are invited to join us Sun., Dec. 10, in Fellowship Hall immediately following services to help make the season bright for our less fortunate friends. We'll have colorful card paper, stickers, glue, scissors, ribbon, and more to make 150 plus cards! The cards will be distributed by 363 to their guests on Dec. 16 along with a pie, a warm hat & gloves. A hand-made card tops 363's gracious giving with warm wishes for a meaningful holiday season. ::: more	let your heart sing musical happenings at mayflower advent is a time of watching, waiting, and hoping Though merchants wish for us to begin the celebration of Christmas even before the Thanksgiving holiday has arrived, we give, and are given, a special gift when we take the time to prepare our hearts and minds by reflecting in darkness, awaiting the coming of the Christ, the Light of the World. ::: more
martha's circle gift exchange tues., dec. 5 When was the last time you were able to give a Christmas gift for $1? ... ::: more plymouth guild party & christmas brunch slated tues., dec. 12 All women of the church are invited to join the Plymouth Guild for their annual Christmas brunch and party Tues., Dec. 12, 9:30 a.m. ::: more	mayflower youth flower power mocktails for a cause, making cindy loo who proud, heigh ho & a brown bag, and chow & glide We're making the season bright with two meaningful community service projects and plenty of festive times to revel with friends. Get your fa-la-la on and join us! ::: more
the way It’s difficult to admit that surfing the radio dial to get a finger on the pulse of the nation and the world is methodically challenging. But that’s what I do to complete a small circle of Web news reading and glancing around in a few publications. Tack on more years of observation than I care to admit, and some unsavory memories quickly attach themselves to the present. ::: more a note of thanks Thanks to my many Mayflower friends for your support, concern, thoughts, prayers, cards, visits, etc. during my hospitalization and recovery. Although this journey is far from over, your expressions of love and caring have brought me this far. -- Martha Collar help wanted in education & youth programs A variety of positions, paid and volunteer, are available in Mayflower's education and youth programs. Come help us seed the world with centered, mindful, compassionate people. ::: more	of interest ... blogging the bible Blog, a funny sounding term coined in the frenetic explosion of the Internet revolution, is a fusion of the words web log. By now it's no secret blogs are a hybrid form of Web communication multiplying like locusts in a Internet plague. Just about everyone is climbing on the blog bandwagon -- from celebrities to corporations to underground activists. Some blogs are darn good, some entertaining, but the overwhelming majority provide fodder for a limited group of select readers, family, or friends. Daniel Plotz is an exception to the blog glut. As an exceptionally adept blogger, and deputy editor of the online magazine, "Slate," what is his novel approach to the blogging slag heap -- one that stands out from all the blather? Well, he's blogging the Bible. When Plotz found himself confused and bored at his cousin's bat mitzvah, he picked up the Torah, opened it at random and was soon engrossed in a story he didn't know. He was so intrigued by what he read, he decided to blog about what happens when an ignorant person actually reads the book on which his religion is based. His blog is highly entertaining provocative, and yes, you actually learn a little Bible along the way. Tap into it here.

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