Happy New Year 2016
2015 has been a year filled with challenges and hope. We’ve celebrated community through neighborhood events like the Easter Egg Hunt, Bike Clinic, Block Party, collaborative Christmas tree decorating and story reading, and caroling events in the Bird & Butterfly Garden Park. We’ve observed the interaction and promise of Biblical holidays throughout the year. We’ve sponsored meetings and conferences to encourage those with healing hearts. And we’ve joined in prayer and action with those in the faith, government, and law enforcement communities and seen...
Read MoreMerry Christmas!
We had a wonderful turnout for our Christmas caroling event and marshmallow toasting fest in the Garden Park around our holiday tree last night! The air was clear and dry, the fire warm and toasty, the moon shone brightly overhead (see that gleaming globe over the top of our tree), Santa Claus came to greet us all, and Christmas cheer filled the air. We even had participants who had never enjoyed a campfire or toasted a marshmallow before joining right into the festivities. What a great way to usher God’s Spirit into our neighborhood together. God bless you all! Toasting marshmallows...
Read MoreRosewood Club Award
This Monday evening, December 7, Susan Morehouse was one of three citizens chosen to be honored with a Distinguished Service Award at the 65th Annual Rochester Police Department Rosewood Club Dinner for her ongoing work in our neighborhood and broader community. According to the event program, the award is “presented annually to members of our community who have made significant contributions in the area of public safety. Tonight’s recipients have dedicated themselves to improving our community and making it a safer place to live.” The Rosewood Club represents the command...
Read MoreHanukkah 2015
Jesus at the temple Now it was winter, and the Feast of Dedication was taking place at Jerusalem. And Jesus was walking in the temple in Solomon’s porch. Then the Jews encircled Him and said to Him, “How long are You going to hold us in suspense? If You are the Christ, tell us plainly.” (John 10.22-24) Calendar: Hanukkah 2015 will be celebrated from December 6 through December 14. Click here to find out more about Hanukkah and how it is celebrated. Then get out your menorah and dreidel, light the candles day by day, prepare some latkes, and join in the fun!...
Read MoreA “safe place”?
This is Not a Day Care. It’s a University! Dr. Everett Piper, President, Oklahoma Wesleyan University This past week, I actually had a student come forward after a university chapel service and complain because he felt “victimized” by a sermon on the topic of 1 Corinthians 13. It appears that this young scholar felt offended because a homily on love made him feel bad for not showing love. In his mind, the speaker was wrong for making him, and his peers, feel uncomfortable. I’m not making this up. Our culture has actually taught our kids to be this self-absorbed and narcissistic. Any time...
Read MoreDiversity in action
Emily E. Smith is a fifth-grade social justice and English language arts teacher at Cunningham Elementary School in Austin, Tex. She was just awarded the 2015 Donald H. Graves Excellence in the Teaching of Writing award given at the National Teachers of English Language Arts Convention in Minneapolis. Smith created and founded The Hive Society, a classroom that inspires children to creatively explore literature through critical thinking and socially relevant texts. In her speech accepting the award, Smith talked about a seminal moment in her career when she realized she needed to change her...
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