I had a good week-end, despite fighting off a cold. Unlike in June, my cold responded to cold meds, and so despite some bouts of stuffiness and drippiness, I was able to have a good week-end. I divide it into two parts:
Crafts for Christmas Retreat
This retreat is very small, and is more like a group of friends renting a house at a church camp to craft together than a retreat at a church camp. Decades ago, it was a retreat that had dwindling numbers and was discontinued. These women continued to meet. Until we moved to our Lutheridge house, I wasn't able to participate. I am so happy to be able to participate.
Each person brings a craft, and enough supplies for each person to make at least one of the craft. And then we sit and create and talk and periodically, we put a meal together. It's a wonderful way to spend a week-end.
On Friday night, I put together a cap out of fleece, which will come in handy when the weather turns cold. It was the kind of pattern where one makes cuts in long slices, and then we tied the strips into knots. On Saturday morning, I took lots and lots of small scraps and strung them together into garlands, one autumnal and one in reds and greens for Christmas. On Saturday afternoon, I made creations out of fairly lights and wooden frames and shells. It was much more frustrating but ultimately satisfying.
Since I live nearby, I sleep at my house and spend the day at the big retreat house, which works for me. It's a wonderful way to see retreat friends one more time during the year.
Sunday
The Crafts for Christmas folks stayed until noon on Sunday, but I headed over the mountains to Bristol, Tennessee to preach and preside at Faith Lutheran. We had a good Sunday.
I was a bit anxious, because yesterday's worship had lots of unusual elements. It was God's Work, Our Hands Sunday; we collected snacks and treats for faculty and staff at a local high school. For the youth sermon, I had the youth anoint the hands of the congregation with olive oil saying, "Holy hands for holy work."
We also officially welcomed a new member. She came to us when the local Episcopal church closed, and she's been worshipping with us through the summer. My spouse created a short liturgy to welcome her, a liturgy that was similar to the Affirmation of Baptism, but a bit more compact. It meant more to her than I would have anticipated--hurrah!
After worship, we had donuts to celebrate the welcoming of a new member. One of our members got better quality donuts, so it felt even more festive. We are probably the only church in the U.S. that doesn't have a coffee hour after worship, so any time we do anything after worship, whether it be treats or decorating the sanctuary for a change of seasons or having a potluck meal, it feels festive.
And then, sleep
I woke up happy this morning, in part because of a wonderful week-end, in part because I was able to sleep through the night. Before last night, I had spent at least three nights waking up between 12:30 and 2:00. I would get up for at least an hour before trying to fall back asleep again. I have gotten work done in those waking hours, both teaching work and creative work, but I feel better if I sleep through the night. Happily, last night was the night where I did. Any time I have sleeplessness for more than 2 nights I worry that I'm resetting my clock. And then the relief of sleeping through the night is even more.
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