The author of this is "Anonymous", but I wish I had written it.  I value this as much as I hold it to be true, and am thankful it was sent to me:

Affirmations of Christmas

I BELIEVE that Christmas is more than a time for parties and ornaments; it is a time for remembering Christ and the incarnation of God's love in human flesh.

Nov. 11 falls on a Friday this year. I have no doubt that every UC minister in Canada will wear a poppy on the Sunday before it, and perhaps even have a sermon about it - as they should.

But perhaps on Sunday, Nov. 13, we could stir a congregation to a little less self-righteousness in their remembrance. We might remember those who died - and then take a moment to ask why we sent them to die - and also to kill.

Our recent discussions of death and after death have got me thinking.

I rarely do a service where the body and casket are present.  I also rarely do a service with a funeral home involved.  Most now are cremations and most use an alternative service (originally a co-op but I don't know if it still is) in Thunder Bay.  About half the time we do a comittal of ashes immediately following the service and half the time they wait for a later date.

Tomorrow I will go to the funeral of a mother and daughter. I will be one of many mourning a tragedy in our community.

The daughter, so young, so full of youthful aspirations, will always remain an enigma. I will never know who she would have become, but through her mother I witnessed the belief that she was, would always be, a shining light. I can envision what that young woman could have been. The loss is great.

Hi All,

This one is very similar to the favourite topic.

When you click on "my favourites" which thread is the one that you find the most memorable?

Again, for positive reasons.

Grace and peace to you.

John

Hi All,

Anniversaries give us an opportunity to look back over the year and note the good stuff as well as the bad.

I'm content to leave the bad stuff aside for a moment.

I'd rather focus on the positive stuff.

So . . . . when you peruse the "My Topics" link, which is all of the threads that you have personally started, what is your favourite?

Grace and peace to you.

John