BLESSED ARE THE PEACEMAKERS

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.” (Matthew 5:9) I think at times many of us get the idea this is just a nice blessing to be a son of God. But, I don‘t think a son of God is just a cliché. Christians believe “Jesus is the Son of God” as we have come to know ‘Son of God.” Peter confessed that Jesus is “the Christ, the Son of the living God.” (Matthew 16:16) Simon Peter is answering Jesus, when Jesus asked Peter, whom do you say that I am Simon Peter? Peter said, “The Messiah, the Son of God.”

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Making a Christmas Centerpiece

Everyone will enjoy a fresh Christmas centerpiece adorning your table and I would like to explain how to make one. Depending on where you live, you can purchase or cut from your yard evergreens such as pine, fir, cypress, cedar, boxwood or northern bayberry (myrtle). Evergreens symbolize the promise of Eternal Life which Jesus gives to all who will accept and follow Him as their Lord and Savior. They provide healing and fragrant aromas and last for weeks indoors if kept watered. When I use these evergreens in arrangements, I am reminded of the handiwork of the Lord and His choice of plant material from this scripture Isaiah 41:18-20:
“I will make rivers flow on barren heights, and springs within the valleys. I will turn the desert into pools of water, and the parched ground into springs. I will put in the desert the cedar and the acacia, the myrtle and the olive. I will set pines in the wasteland, the fir and the cypress together, so that people may see and know, may consider and understand, that the hand of the LORD has done this, that the Holy One of Israel has created it. “
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A Teacher’s Reward

Mrs. Oynes
I guess by the grace of God I decided to try to find you on the internet today. I don’t know why or how I stumbled upon your e-mail address but in any case I did. My name is Katherine (Katie) Montalbano, I was in your 2nd and 3rd grade class at Woodlake Elementary. To this day, I feel like your class has given me the best foundation to work with throughout my life. Hannah Kaufmann -Swang and I consistently talk about being in your class and how much of an impression you have made on us. Hannah is still one of my best friends and has been my roommate in college for most of the time.
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Making a Fresh Advent Wreath

One way we symbolically anticipate the birth and soon coming return of Christ is with an advent wreath. The wreath shows us that God is eternal. Jesus said He was the alpha and the omega, the beginning and the end. The greens are everlasting, like the love of Christ who dies for all. And each candle, with a different meaning, reminds us that He is the light that gives light to every man.

There are several different ways to make an advent wreath but I would like to show you one that will stay fresh throughout the advent season.

The first step is to acquire or purchase your supplies. Local craft stores usually carry the following items at this time of year: a wire wreath form (I chose a 14” size); a wire advent wreath form approx the same size; 1 roll of 3-4” wide green plastic wreath wrap; a bag of milled sphagnum moss (a bag about the size of a cinderblock should be ample/don’t purchase peat, spanish or green moss by mistake); a small package of greening pins; 3 purple and 1 pink dripless candle; 4 yds of #40 wired ribbon (optional).
advent wreath 1

Step two is to soak the moss in warm water until fully hydrated (about 10 minutes).

For step three place heaping handfuls in the inverted side of wreath form until it is evenly full. Do not squeeze the sphagnum dry, as this is what will hold the moisture in to keep your greens hydrated and fresh.
advent wreath 2

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