It's the day of the Living Nativity on the street. We (Parable) help a few other churches and a Christian dance company with a simple 'live' portrayal of Jesus, Mary and Joseph in the stable for Jesus' birth. People carol and we help hand out hot chocolate to by-passers. Last year it was really cold and windy, but we persevered. Today, we have rain/sleet to deal with. As the day progresses, we are praying for clearing weather or just plain snow flurries. It's a fun way to be involved in sharing Jesus in the street at Christmas time. So opposite of the glitz and glitter of Rockefeller Center and Macy's and Saks' windows, but just as beautiful in its simplicity and honest message. May many people be touched and encouraged to seek Jesus this season.
We have 2 teams in this week to do some gift wrapping on the street and to also serve at a few soup kitchens and senior centers in Midtown. These are returning groups and they are such an encouragement to me. I pray we are all blessed as we celebrate Jesus with all we encounter this week. Pray for dry weather!!
Parable Church will be moving out of the Space by the end of December (just a few weeks). It is just so costly to rent this big of a space, especially when those that we cater to have no money to put on their shows. With Broadway shows closing, smaller shows canceling plans, and the economy getting steadily worse through winter, we decided we need to cut our overhead. This will be a very busy few weeks of packing up, liquidating, etc.The411 will be back to take their equipment and supplies. Parable will wrap up here by 12/31.
Even though we are down-sizing and are a little sad about leaving the place that has been an inviting place of ministry, we are very excited about having the time and resources to concentrate solely on the church body and the people who are seeking God (whether they know that or not) and to work on the simple task of building a body of believers and seekers. It is refreshing to be unencumbered by the responsibilities of the space. We will instead meet someplace for worship and fellowship, meet for ministry and service opportunities at various places, and the staff will work from our homes for a while. Although this may not sound 'stable' for some parts of the country, it is very natural for NYC. We are excited about our future.
I know I say this a lot, but I'm so blessed to work with Parable Church. It is so refreshing and energizing and encouraging to spend time with sincere, dedicated believers and to share myself with seekers who just want to have a relationship with someone they feel they can trust to share Jesus. God grows me so much through every encounter and acquaintance. My walk with God has grown, deepened, been filled with more intensity and awareness. It's like seeing a black and white drawing grow into a beautiful colorful masterpiece. The colors and textures become more detailed. Music becomes more rich through different instruments and tones and harmonies. It's wonderful to experience. All this comes about not just from the 'good times' but from those 'difficult and emotionally hard times', too. I'm thankful for them all. This time of serving in NYC will always be a huge mile stone in my life and in my walk with God.
Well, I'd better get back to work. So much to do this week.
I do wish you beautiful moments to share with our Lord this week as we prepare to celebrate His coming and as you look forward to being with family and friends. Share the Light of Jesus with everyone!
Blessings!!!
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Monday, December 8, 2008
December 8, 2008
Well, another month has went by so quickly!! It's the Christmas season and even though NYC is decorated as usual, you can really feel a sense of worry about the economy. People are out shopping, but buying little. And a lot of people are waiting till closer to Christmas to see if prices will go down further. It makes the giftwrapping teams a little anxious. But people are even more aware of our Free Giftwrapping services in Herald Square.
Speaking of the giftwrapping project, we have a team here from Branden Florida in this week. And, boy, is it cold!!!!! I hope the weather will hold out from precipitation while we're working. It's fun to be out on the streets among the many people.
I'm feeling much better. It will be a long road to getting my liver happy and healthy, but I'm being pretty disciplined while here. Now, being in Indiana with family over Thanksgiving was another story. While I didn't really eat anything considered 'bad' to normal people, I did eat too much 'normal' food and made myself sick. I'm getting over that and working on the 'Vickie rules' for food. Thank you for everyone praying for me to be disciplined. If you know me well at all, you know I'm not disciplined in much of anything!!! Please keep praying for me.
I spent Thanksgiving with my family for the second time in 18 years. It was restful, but way too quiet! My sis lives in the middle of 15 acres. It was beautiful and restful. I had technology withdrawals sometimes, though. Sporadic dial-up internet, no cable (akkk!), limited service on my cell phone, my blackberry phone went caput on the first day there and Verizon had to express me another one... But on the upside - deer in the yard one morning. (there's usually more, but it was still hunting season, so they were hiding deep in the woods). I also got to cook in a REAL kitchen! woohoo! I loved helping with Thanksgiving dinner (we actually had 2) and other meals. We baked cookies and shipped 10 boxes of goodies to soldiers in Afghanistan. Visited Walmart frequently, went with my sister to church twice, wedding planned/shopped with my niece, saw a movie with my sis, babysat my 2 year old great-nephew, played with his 4 year old brother. Saw some family and took a lot of naps. I couldn't believe how quickly 2 weeks went by.
You know how weird things are always happening to me, and how God uses unusual ways to get my attention. Well, one day I was at a Christian bookstore treating myself to a new compact Bible for my bag. While kneeling down looking through my choices on the bottom shelf, a regular size (softbound-thank you) Bible fell off a higher shelf and hit me right on the head! I still haven't figured out what God was telling me with that, except that maybe to remember that even though I wasn't around a lot of Christian friends and influence at the time, that HE was still around and able to help me 'feel' His presence!
I received a copy of the Christmas CD recorded by my home church, FBC Rogers. It is so awesome! Their concert was last night and my heart was there, even if my ears and the rest of my body wasn't. I love my home church and all the people there, especially those that share their talents and gifts for His glory!
We're chugging along here at Parable Church. We're stronger everyday as a body of Believers. It's a privilege to walk this path with people I never would have met if not for God's hand. Please keep Parable in your prayers as we go through the tough times of living in NYC. Shows are closing, people are losing jobs all over the place. Even small shifts in the economy can be major challenges here where everything costs so very much. People are looking for hope and reasons to feel joyful. It's the perfect time to share the one source of true joy with them. Pray we stay faithful and ready to speak and share.
I'll try to write more before Christmas. Until then, I pray you are all having a wonderfully reflective holiday season. Advent is such a wonderful time and I am striving to make it more of a focus for my December.
Blessings!
Speaking of the giftwrapping project, we have a team here from Branden Florida in this week. And, boy, is it cold!!!!! I hope the weather will hold out from precipitation while we're working. It's fun to be out on the streets among the many people.
I'm feeling much better. It will be a long road to getting my liver happy and healthy, but I'm being pretty disciplined while here. Now, being in Indiana with family over Thanksgiving was another story. While I didn't really eat anything considered 'bad' to normal people, I did eat too much 'normal' food and made myself sick. I'm getting over that and working on the 'Vickie rules' for food. Thank you for everyone praying for me to be disciplined. If you know me well at all, you know I'm not disciplined in much of anything!!! Please keep praying for me.
I spent Thanksgiving with my family for the second time in 18 years. It was restful, but way too quiet! My sis lives in the middle of 15 acres. It was beautiful and restful. I had technology withdrawals sometimes, though. Sporadic dial-up internet, no cable (akkk!), limited service on my cell phone, my blackberry phone went caput on the first day there and Verizon had to express me another one... But on the upside - deer in the yard one morning. (there's usually more, but it was still hunting season, so they were hiding deep in the woods). I also got to cook in a REAL kitchen! woohoo! I loved helping with Thanksgiving dinner (we actually had 2) and other meals. We baked cookies and shipped 10 boxes of goodies to soldiers in Afghanistan. Visited Walmart frequently, went with my sister to church twice, wedding planned/shopped with my niece, saw a movie with my sis, babysat my 2 year old great-nephew, played with his 4 year old brother. Saw some family and took a lot of naps. I couldn't believe how quickly 2 weeks went by.
You know how weird things are always happening to me, and how God uses unusual ways to get my attention. Well, one day I was at a Christian bookstore treating myself to a new compact Bible for my bag. While kneeling down looking through my choices on the bottom shelf, a regular size (softbound-thank you) Bible fell off a higher shelf and hit me right on the head! I still haven't figured out what God was telling me with that, except that maybe to remember that even though I wasn't around a lot of Christian friends and influence at the time, that HE was still around and able to help me 'feel' His presence!
I received a copy of the Christmas CD recorded by my home church, FBC Rogers. It is so awesome! Their concert was last night and my heart was there, even if my ears and the rest of my body wasn't. I love my home church and all the people there, especially those that share their talents and gifts for His glory!
We're chugging along here at Parable Church. We're stronger everyday as a body of Believers. It's a privilege to walk this path with people I never would have met if not for God's hand. Please keep Parable in your prayers as we go through the tough times of living in NYC. Shows are closing, people are losing jobs all over the place. Even small shifts in the economy can be major challenges here where everything costs so very much. People are looking for hope and reasons to feel joyful. It's the perfect time to share the one source of true joy with them. Pray we stay faithful and ready to speak and share.
I'll try to write more before Christmas. Until then, I pray you are all having a wonderfully reflective holiday season. Advent is such a wonderful time and I am striving to make it more of a focus for my December.
Blessings!
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