Category: Joy Notes

Posts that intend to inspire

The Benefits of Thanksgiving

Post author By pastorkelvin
Post date November 29, 2011
2 Comments on The Benefits of Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving brings Joy

I’ve been reflecting more about Thanksgiving and thinking about all its benefits. I have observed something as I have read what my friends and acquaintances have written on Facebook. Those who have been actively giving thanks seem very happy and joyful. While I’m sure it is true that when one is joyful, it is easy to also be thankful, I believe the opposite is also true. When one disciplines themselves to be thankful, even when circumstances are contrary, joy rises inside and surprises us. The more we give thanks, the happier we seem to be. So it is not an accident that those giving thanks are also bubbling with joy.

Thanksgiving encourages faith

This leads to a second salutary effect of Thanksgiving– a positive outlook. As we count our blessings, enumerating the people, circumstances, and things for which we are thankful, our outlook toward the future becomes much more sanguine. When our focus is on the good things that have already happened, it is easier to expect more of the same. Sincere Thanksgiving to God leads to growing optimism and greater faith in God.

Family togetherness

Another major value of the Thanksgiving holiday is its emphasis upon family togetherness. In the entire year, only Christmas outranks Thanksgiving in magnetism for drawing families together. Witness the traffic on this weekend both on the ground and in the air, and you see demonstrated the desire of people to be with loved ones on Thanksgiving. How wonderful it is to have this holiday, one big feature of which is helping to bring families together. There is so much in our culture that pulls in the opposite direction. Thanksgiving reminds us of the value of family, both nuclear family and extended family.

Generosity

In addition to these, Thanksgiving spurs generosity and charity. People are moved to contribute to food pantries, church turkey giveaways, etc. because they are thinking about how God has been so good to them and they want to share. This is an attitude that we should have all year long. Hopefully, such actions help make Thanksgiving a time of blessing for the poor also, as it should be.

So when I think of the holidays of the year, Thanksgiving rates high on my list–just behind Christmas and Easter.

Tags joy, Keely, Thanksgiving

Journal Joy Notes Who Am I

Thanksgiving Sunday an important accent in the rhythm of the year

Post author By pastorkelvin
Post date November 21, 2011
1 Comment on Thanksgiving Sunday an important accent in the rhythm of the year

Big events

Thanksgiving Sunday is a significant milestone in the landscape of the year for me. In my first church it was often designated as friend Sunday and it was a time of great celebration. At Community Wesleyan Church is has always been the time for our Thanksgiving dinner, a time when the family of God gathers for one of the biggest social events of our year.

$lot\'s to eat$

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Significant ministry

It is usually also a time of significant ministry for our church. It marks the end of the Thanksgiving message series; it is the day for handing out Thanksgiving dinners to those in need; and on it we enjoy the first contribution of the season from one of our special performing groups. In addition, in the evening, for many years, I and others have been a part of the ecumenical Chittenango area Thanksgiving service. This event is a unique sacrifice of praise that adds a glow to the season. The glow comes from the smooth cooperation of almost all the Christian churches in the Chittenango area joining together in praise to God as well as from the privilege of being a participant both as clergy and as a singer in the mass choir.

Seasonal changes

In our culture this is a week of seasonal change too. Hunting season starts. Often the first significant snows fall. In the stores, Black Friday is this week; by next Sunday everyone will be thinking about Christmas shopping.

Liturgical year end

Liturgically, too, Thanksgiving Sunday is usually the last Sunday of the church year—not the fiscal year but the liturgical year. In most years, the following Sunday is the first Sunday of Advent, which is the beginning of the new liturgical year. While our church does not formally follow a liturgical year, I have always observed Advent, so this change is always noted with a change of décor, the use of the advent wreath, and the beginning of a new message series.

Wood gathering

Outside, my attention turns from gardening to wood for the fireplace stove insert. My father always said, “Wood should warm you twice; once when you gather it and once when you burn it.” So I try never to work on wood for the fireplace insert until it’s cold outside so that it has a chance to warm me when I do the work, even it if it’s only gathering and cutting kindling from what has fallen from the maple trees in the yard.

I love Thanksgiving Sunday

As I was reflecting on all this, I decided that the events of Thanksgiving Sunday have become important to me as a marker in my own calendar of the year. They help me mark the changeover of the seasons. Thanksgiving Sunday for me has become a very important transition point from fall into Christmas. Celebrating on this day is important to me.

Tags fall, seasons, Thanksgiving

Journal Joy Notes

JoAnne’s Book Arrives

JoAnne writes a book

For the past eighteen months, my wife has been busy with the process of writing a book called God with Us – 50 True Stories of God’s Faithfulness. She has spent many hours interviewing people, writing, rewriting, editing and proof-reading, and coordinating with those whose stories are included. It was a longer process that she thought when she first set out to compile 50 testimony stories to go with our church’s 50^th anniversary celebration. Everyone who has a story included in the book either currently attends or has at some time attended Community Wesleyan Church. This makes the book very unique. After it was finished, she reflected that it really tells much about our church without intending to.

Impressive endorsements

JoAnne asked General Superintendent and Founder of World Hope International, Jo Anne Lyon, to write the foreword. She agreed and wrote a powerful encouraging word. Endorsements by Dr. Shirley Mullen, President of Houghton College; Dr. Jack Connell, Senior Vice President at Roberts Wesleyan College and Northeastern Seminary; Dr. David Thompson, Professor at Asbury Seminary; Rev. Wayne Wager, District Superintendent; and Rev. Larry Nemitz, Vice Chairman of the Board at Community Wesleyan are all very impressive, glowing and so helpful.

Excited to begin sales of the book

For the last six weeks JoAnne worked with professional editor, James Watkins, and published through ACW Press. Wednesday, she was pleasantly surprised when the boxes containing the first 200 books showed up on our back step two weeks ahead of schedule. What a moment of accomplishment to see the results of all that hard work in your hands. Now she is busy distributing free and promotional copies and planning book signing events. She is even considering joining Facebook to talk about her book.

Tags Church 50th Anniversary, God with Us, testimony, writing

Journal Joy Notes Who Am I

Green Lakes Walks

Post author By pastorkelvin
Post date September 20, 2011

My wife and I so much enjoy walking at Green Lakes State Park. Green Lakes is such a gift to all of us. Monday morning was a beautiful early fall day for such a walk. Yes, I know it was technically still summer, but here in Kirkville the feel definitely changed to fall a week or so ago. The smell in the air, the crisp mornings with fog hanging over the corn field across the road from my house, the alternation of clear blue days and soggy gray ones; all tell us that it is September.

Walking and praying go together

Even though Monday was perfect for walking, not many people were out so I was mostly left to my own thoughts. I love to pray aloud as I walk and I did. Holding a conversation with God while meandering on a woodland trail is refreshing at multiple levels. I’m relaxing; I’m breathing fresh air; I’m getting some exercise. I’m also unloading my cares to God and listening for his Spirit’s still small voice of counsel in return. I’m participating in the spiritual work of intercession for others too. There’s something about being out in nature that rejuvenates us all. There’s something about personal times of prayer that does the same. Doing both together is like working a team of horses, the result is more powerful than the sum of the parts.

I’m a nature observer

Another joy of Green Lakes hikes are the nature observations. Being a bird watcher, I’m always on the lookout for rarer birds, especially pileated woodpeckers which are not really rare at Green Lakes. I didn’t see one Monday, only a hairy woodpecker. But, this past summer I saw a male scarlet tanager, one of the few times I have seen one of those in my life. However, it is not just birds that get my attention; I also look at the ferns, the fish, and the fungi among other things. Okay, so I’m a nature nut. I have numerous guide books and sometimes actually look at them too. I prefer to think of myself as simply a good observer.

$the bottom is 200\' down$

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Tags Green Lakes, joy, prayer, walks

Americana Journal Joy Notes

More state fair fun

Post author By pastorkelvin
Post date September 1, 2011

Big concerts not our thing

Concerts are a big deal at the fair! But, for JoAnne and I, the big venue concerts are not our thing. They are too loud, and very seldom present our kinds of music. The one at Chevy Court on Tuesday late afternoon was so loud it was literally painful to walk out of the Center of Progress building. So we detoured back through the building just to avoid it.

Found two great small concerts

However, that doesn’t mean we don’t like concerts, for we do. This year, JoAnne and I sat in on two small venue concerts while we were at the state fair. I thoroughly enjoyed a packed concert by the Rhythm Airs at the New Time Theater. The group’s big band style seems to appeal mostly to older folks, but some younger folks also came in and seemed to love it too. My delight was increased by the fact that I knew several people in the group. It was too bad that it was interrupted by a fire drill. I heard, but couldn’t confirm, that a cooking display crew burned the “toast”…

Later, we sat in the Pan African Village Theater and listened with relish and joy to Five for Life, a black a cappella gospel group– what energy, what talent, and what enthusiasm. They had good voices and exhibited fine stage presence as well. My enjoyment was increased by our common Christian beliefs, even though we come from different cultural streams. I am a great fan of quartet singing, gospel singing, and a cappella singing, so Five for Life was a real treat.

These two concerts made the day really special!

Tags big band, concerts, gospel music, state fair

Americana Journal Joy Notes

Best NYS Fair Food

Post author By pastorkelvin
Post date August 31, 2011

I’m known as a decent judge of food. So I have to weigh in (pun not intended) on this one. Two of my favorite fair foods this year are not on the poll list. So I will make my own list. My wife and I eat at the fair every year. The last couple years we have gone twice so that has increased the chances of a good meal at the fair. Here’s my 1,2,3 list of great foods.

1. Jerk Hut – Curry chicken on rice and red beans with cabbage and plantain. — Great tasting meal, just enough spice, lots of food too, with Jamacian flair at a great price. Relish the taste, spit out the bones, go away satisfied.

2. Gianelli Sausage with peppers – always a favorite – Gianelli is tops

3. Apple dumpling with vanilla caramel sauce, ice cream and whipped cream — Good apple, cooked just right.

You can check out the poll that Syracuse. com is taking at: http://blog.syracuse.com/cny/2011/08/best_of_central_new_york_vote_for_your_favorite_nys_fair_food_poll.html

Tags good food, state fair

Journal Joy Notes Who Am I

Sunflower Jungle

Post author By pastorkelvin
Post date August 28, 2011

Every gardener should have a tall sunflower jungle picture. So this year is my chance. I planted a few in what I thought was the least favorable corner of the garden. And they grew and grew. Now I’m cutting for the table for us and feeding the birds outside. The goldfinches are already eating to their heart’s content and yesterday I saw cardinals, another seedeater, flying nearby. The tallest is 4 feet higher than I can reach which means it’s about 12 feet tall. I planted several different types so I have lots of different colors too. Delightful!

Tags flowers, gardening, summer, sunflowers

Journal Joy Notes Who Am I

Daylily Summer Joys

Post author By pastorkelvin
Post date August 26, 2011

Summer Joy

One of the true joys of summer for me is growing daylilies. They don’t require a lot of care and they reward me with many blooms, each one lasting only one day. When I spoke about that detail in my sermon one Sunday, I was surprised how few people realized it. I guess we are so used to mums and dahlias, orchids and even African violets whose flowers last for a week or even weeks that the idea of a flower lasting only one day seems strange. But as I mentioned that Sunday, the fact that the bouquet in my garden is different every day gives it an invigorating charm. I go out looking for the new blossoms every day that I can. The light patterns, the dew on the blossoms, critters hiding or not all add to the interest.

Collecting too

I have developed a little of a collectors mentality about it too with over 30 varieties now. I have some daylilies just because they are odd—one blooms at night, another that I just planted is unusually tall, another is a double named Yellow Submarine. Some are fragrant. Several are spider daylilies, which means they have narrow petals rather than usual fuller round ones. Some varieties have ruffled edges. Colors range from a very dark maroon – inherited from Grandma Isaman–to a white one I bought called Nanuq. I seem to prefer the orange and gold hues, though I have some striking red and yellow mixes now that will almost take your breath away. Except for the picture of me visiting Grace Gardens, all the daylilies in the slides are from my garden.

Grandma got me started

When I was a boy, my Grandma, Jessie Isaman would pay us boys for helping her pull the quack grass from her large flower garden. Her garden featured eight or ten different dayliles among the many other perennials and I grew to love their annual display. Grandma died the same year I became a pastor, and my Mom encouraged me to take a small division from most of her daylilies with me when I moved to my first parsonage in Bentley Creek, PA. I built a tiered daylily garden in the back and the daylily clumps grew well. When I moved to Kirkville, I took part of each clump, threw them in a crate and stuffed it in the tractor trailer with my household goods. Later that summer I unpacked the crate, planted the brown clumps and every one grew. So I have most of my Grandma’s daylilies as the beginning of my collection. One of them, Frans Hall, is still sold today. Another is a fragrant yellow that I think is as fragrant as any newer cultivar I have.

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Tags daylilies, gardening, joy, summer fun

Journal Joy Notes Who Am I

Adirondack Vacation Days

Post author By pastorkelvin
Post date July 30, 2011

We were able to carry on our almost annual tradition of spending a few days inside the famous Blue Line, Adirondack State Park, last weekend. This year it was at our favorite spot — Lake Eaton State Park. The campground was quiet except for the pleasant chatter of children playing. A family across from us was having a camping family reunion of sorts.

Planning Helps

JoAnne and I have our annual campout pretty much down to a science. The food box- now a big plastic storage container- has enough in it for our stay, including a box for tea for me and supplies for s’ mores, of course. The cooler contains goodies like homemade strawberry jam, cabbage relish, and pickles. The Long Lake grocery store supplies the rest. Air mattresses are the key to a good night’s sleep in a tent. The packing list helps us not to forget little things like flashlight, ax, clothes line and matches. And keeping the tent seams sprayed with sealer helps survive the storms with a dry tent–well, most of the time. It rained so much this time that we had a little water get under the tent on top of the plastic groundcover and seep in a bottom seam that was not sprayed. New this year was phone service that reached our campground, and my outdoor recliner – both very helpful.

Friends Make it Special

The most fun this time was that our friends from Philadelphia, Bill and Kathy Mell, were also vacationing inside the Blue line, about 20 minutes away from us. So we got together three times. One night we played spades under the dining tent by lantern light after eating s’ mores. Another night as it rained some more, we ate a good dinner at their rented cabin.

Taking on a Challenge

On the last morning of our stay, the weather was perfect for JoAnne to swim across Lake Eaton. She has an annual goal to swim across an Adirondack Lake while we are on vacation there, and she stays in physical shape to do that by using her treadmill and jogging. She had persuaded Hannah Mell, Bill and Kathy’s daughter, to swim with her, so we rented two of the park’s aluminum canoes to accompany them and they were off. It took about an hour, but they both completed the swim, crossing the lake from the swimming area to the area closest to Owl’s Head Mountain at a small rock landing under the hemlocks that we “discovered” years ago.

A Time for Good Reading

We always take good reading too. I often get up early, make tea, and read. In addition to devotions, and Bible reading, I took Chuck Colson’s book, The Faith, which I had barely started, and finished it in a few mornings of reading. It would make an excellent Bible study for serious students. It would also make a good Lenten study as its outline is like an adult catechism. I find that time away is a wonderful time to enrich myself in devotions and spiritual reading.

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Church Leadership Journal Joy Notes

Taking time to celebrate

Post author By pastorkelvin
Post date July 23, 2011

When I was a young pastor, I didn’t understand the importance of celebration. I guess I must have ignored the fact that the OT has a regular schedule of feasts for the Israelites to be involved in. Maybe it came from the the everyday nature of dairy farming where I grew up. Maybe it was because celebration in our culture often has an unhealthy and unnecessary association with drinking alcohol. But over the years, I have discovered the importance of the Bible’s example of taking time to celebrate in wholesome ways.

So, for example, this last weekend at Community Wesleyan, we took time to celebrate. It was the Celebration Sunday of our 50th Anniversary Makeover Campaign. So we took time out to celebrate. We put up the tents outside, had chicken barbeque and brought in the watermelon and ice cream. It was a great picnic and it lent a air of festivity to our event that it would not otherwise have had. Everyone enjoyed themselves.

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Tags celebration, Church 50th Anniversary, summer fun

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