Comfort Good Cafe at Florence

COMFORT FOOD CAFE!

What a joy!  We had a feast on Sunday courtesy of the *cino -- Culture is Not Optional -- community.  And we raised money for a good causeHuss Project!  Read more at these links.

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On the menu: two varieties of macaroni and cheese, a vegetarian and gluten-free shepherd’s pie, and meatloaf, along with a fresh salad, balsamic-glazed onions, and delicious pies and cookies.

EMBRACING JOY

Each year the board chooses a theme for congregational life.   
2013: EMBRACING JOY. 
After learning again and again how to grieve, joy calls.  And along with that, new folk at Florence arrive.  We have the opportunity to make new Florence friends, embrace the joy of the children in our midst, and deepen and widen our welcome. 

This tugxedo image contains all the words we considered in naming our theme.  We have many connections and circles to ponder.

EMBRACING JOY was foreshadowed by some of our wise members.  Christine Nofsinger shared the following on November 25, 2012 as we headed into Advent and a new church year:

“Just as I had to learn how to grieve and live life in the midst of that grief, I’m ready for uninhibited expressions of joy, hope, and all that jazz.  Celebration that needs no excuses, that makes no sense. Like gold to a toddler.  Baby bling.   I believe the two can co-exist.  Our celebrations of joy will not diminish the grief that we will always carry with us and our grief will also not diminish our ability to celebrate and live in hope.    Grief and hope will continue to be our life companions.  And oddly enough, the true path to deep joy is through the fire.  The scriptures are full of these references. In the Psalms we read ‘weeping may endure for a night but joy cometh in the morning.’”

And Tim Lind on Epiphany, January 6, 2013, shared from the poem "A Brief for the Defense" by Jack Gilbert.

We must risk delight.

We can do without pleasure,

but not delight. Not enjoyment.

We must have the stubbornness

to accept our gladness 

in the ruthless furnace of this world.

To make injustice the only measure of our attention 

is to praise the Devil."

For years I have called Florence the community that celebrates God's joy and God's justice.  This year we will learn the new dance emerging in our dire and daring days.

Andre Gide writes:

Know that joy is rarer, more difficult,

and more beautiful than sadness.

Once you make this all-important discovery,

you must embrace joy as a moral obligation. 

My prayer is that as we EMBRACE JOY in our lives, share that JOY with one another, and open our EMBRACE to all those who are drawn to Florence, we will know more fully the EMBRACING JOY OF GOD which seeks JOY and JUSTICE for ALL.

Morning Prayer by the Old Barn at Maple Tree Meadows

I preserve holy
sanctuary. Here swallows
greet morn. Light and prayer.

We sat in our silent morning meditation
facing the barn of Maple Tree Meadows.
The swallows also lined up, facing us.
When the sun broke the clouds, they suddenly swooped.
Then they slipped back into the barn eves
and were gone.

How lovely are all the places of your dwelling, El Shaddai!

Even the sparrow finds a home in Your presence,
and the swallow finds a place to build a nest for herself,
where she may also lay her young --
on your very altars, El Shaddai!
Blessed are all creatures who dwell in your presence,
always singing your praise.

(from Psalm 84, Swallow's Next: a feminist reading of the Psalms,
by Marchiene Vroon Rienstra)

Kids (chicks, ducks, bunnies) and Easter Season

 "There's new life in Jesus, lift up your hearts!"

Baby animals remind us all of the miracle of the ordinary, the joy of touch and tenderness.  

Thanks to our church neighbors for sharing their pygmy goats.  

This little one, Tiger Lily, is one week old!

Fall 2011 at Florence

The theme for fall worship is

WOVEN TOGETHER through WORK AND WORSHIP.

Here are some glimpses of our life together.

Parable of the Wise and Foolish Bridesmaids and Groomsmen -- Matthew 25

October Family Night

All Saints Remembrance -- October 30th

Tamales 2011

At Florence we have a tradition of making TAMALES for the Mennonite Central Committee Relief Sale each September.

Thanks to Maria Montoya, we have learned how to make authentic Mexican tamales. Once again, we were glad to SELL OUT! Yea, Tamale Team!

In a new twist this year, the ANABAPTISM 101 SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS wrote PANTOUM POEMS REFLECTING ON SERVICE.

Can you guess who wrote each one?

TAMALES #1

“These are grass fed organic chicken tamales.”

The steaming pot full of them just sitting on the stove top.

The aroma soon filled the air.

“Do you eat the husk?”

The steaming pot full of them just sitting on the stove top.

“Can I get them to go?”

“Do you eat the husk?”

The smiles on people’s faces when they took the first bite.

“Can I get them to go?”

The aroma soon filled the air.

The smiles on people’s faces when they took the first bite.

“These are grass fed organic chicken tamales.”

TAMALES #2

MCC! Pig out for Jesus! We save the world!

How many tamales do we have?

Mi amiga, take me to Mexico.

Que rico! Que delicioso!

How many tamales do we have?

Chris and AJ save the day! Rose, Kathia, Vanessa and John Mark to the rescue!

Que rico! Que delicioso!

I needed a hug; I was fried.

Chris and AJ save the day! Rose, Kathia, Vanessa and John Mark to the rescue!

Mi amiga, take me to Mexico.

I needed a hug; I was fried.

MCC! Pig out for Jesus! We save the world!

TAMALES #3

We all had fun.

I like how everyone helped.

I liked how we did a line.

I liked the pizza.

I liked how we did the line.

I liked how no one got left out.

I liked the pizza.

I liked how no one got left out.

I liked how everyone helped.

I liked how we did a line.

I liked the pizza.

We all had fun.

TAMALES #4

Serving people hot tamales as they smile once they eat them.

Enjoying the time of making tamales with each other.

Being part of it.

Seeing people coming from many places.

Enjoying the time of making tamales with each other.

Hanging with youth.

Seeing people coming from many places.

Meeting new people.

Hanging with youth.

Being part of it.

Meeting new people.

Serving people hot tamales as they smile once they eat them.

AND -- Ian and Andrew got up early and did the RUN FOR RELIEF!

Fall Begins: Amigo Camp Out and Camp In

On a drizzly weekend we created new "rituals" for the traditional Florence Camp Out. While it has been a tenting event at Amigo Park in the past, this year we also used the West Shore Lodge on the other side of the lake at Amigo Centre, Sturgis, MI.

Thirty three folks came for some or all of the weekend. And yes, Willard and Kathy Fenton-Miller and Gary Nofsinger did tent! Amigo Highlights

• Marsh Hike
• Great Meals -- including pancakes on Sunday made by Gary Nichols!
• Games indoors and out
• Donald "The Monster" of the playground!
  
• Sing Along with Henry Braun on harmonica
  
• Worship around the campfire -- kids building "houses" with the hardwood scraps for the fire
  

Here's a glimpse...

photo: Kathy Fenton-Miller

photo: Kathy Fenton-Miller

photo: Kathy Fenton-Miller

photo: Kathy Fenton-Miller

photo: Kathy Fenton-Miller