Evelyn here, I was so touched by Wayne's story "Remmeber My Birthday" that when I saw this portrait entitled " La Nativite", I had to post it here. The original painting is part of a ten panel grouping, entitled "Thematic Trails: The Christmas Story" and is displayed in Paris at the Louvre. It appears to be a beauitfully spetic colored woodcut. The link to the webpage is listed int he links area. Enjoy!
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Hello everyone,
Evelyn here. I have had a very busy week and a bout of the flu, but with medication and rest, I should be well soon. I was checking my email this evening and found the following story. It is a little story about the real reason we celebrate Christmas and how easy it is for so many of us the forget. The story is entitled "Remember My Birthday!" and was originally emailed by Wayne. Enjoy and reflect.
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"Remember My Birthday????!!!!!!
"As you well know, we are getting closer to my birthday. Every year
there is
a celebration in my honor
and I think that this year the celebration will be repeated. During
this
time there are many people
shopping for gifts, there are many radio announcements, TV commercials,
and
in every part of
the world everyone is talking that my birthday is getting closer and
closer.
It is really very nice to know, that at least once a year, some people
think
of me. As you know,
the celebration of my birthday began many years ago. At first people
seemed
to understand and be
thankful of all that I did for them, but in these times, no one seems
to
know the reason for the
celebration. Family and friends get together and have a lot of fun, but
they
don't know the
meaning of the celebration.
I remember that last year there was a great feast in my honor. The
dinner
table was full of delicious
foods, pastries, fruits, assorted nuts and chocolates.
The decorations were exquisite and there were many, many beautifully
wrapped
gifts. But, do you
want to know something? I wasn't invited. I was the guest of honor and
they
didn't remember to
send me an invitation.
The party was for me, but when that great day came, I was left outside,
they
closed the door in my
face......... and I wanted to be with them and share their table.
In truth, that didn't surprise me because for many of the past years
now,
all close their doors to me.
Since I was not invited, I decided to enter the party without making
any
noise. I went in and stood
in a corner. They were all drinking; there were some who were drunk and
telling jokes and laughing
at everything. They were having a great time. To top it all, this big
fat
man all dressed in red wearing
a long white beard entered the room yelling Ho-Ho-Ho!
He sat on the sofa and all the children ran to him, saying : "Santa
Claus,
Santa Claus"... as if the
party were in his honor!
At 12 midnight all the people began to hug each other; I extended my
arms
waiting for someone
to hug me and .... do you know .... no one hugged me.
Suddenly they all began to share gifts. They opened them one by one
with
great expectation. When
all had been opened, I looked to see if, maybe, there was one for me.
What
would you feel if on
your birthday, everybody shared gifts and you did not get one? I then
understood that I was
unwanted at that party and quietly left.
Every year it gets worse. People only remember to eat and drink, the
gifts,
the parties and nobody
remembers me. I would like this Christmas that you allow me to enter
into
your life. I would like
that you recognize the fact that almost two thousand years ago I came
to
this world to give my life
for you, on the cross, to save you.
Today, I only want that you believe this with all your heart. I want to
share something with you. As
many didn't invite me to their party, I will have my own celebration, a
grandiose party that no one
has ever imagined, a spectacular party.
I'm still making the final arrangements. Today I am sending out many
invitations and there is an invitation
for you. I want to know if you wish to attend and I will make a
reservation
for you and write your
name with golden letters in my great guest book. Only those on the
guest
list will be invited to the
party. Those who don't answer the invitation, will be left outside.
Do you know how you can answer this invitation? It is by extending it
to
others whom you care for...
I'll be waiting for all of you to attend my party this year...
.... I love you!
-Jesus- "
Evelyn here,
I have been very busy in this second week of Advent. Because I am in both choirs, I am rehearsing a great deal. I have spent the last four evenings at church rehearsing and helping out in one of the music offices. Tonight included attending and singing at mass. It is a gruelling pace since I am coming straight from work, but I am loving every minute of it. This is a very exciting time of the year for me because it brings people closer together, and all that has goes on earlier in the year becomes insignificance in the light that this season is about the birth of our Lord, Jesus.
I am exhausted now, so until my next entry. Peace be with you.
The wait it nearly over, and we lovers of the Christian Rock genre are tapping our feet and counting the days for the arrival of the “MONK ROCK” concert featuring John Michael Talbot, and, Tom Booth, and Mason Profit as special guests.
The official posters are up and tickets are on sell throughout the Diocese, and I am happy to present you with the following poster provided by and with the permission of my parish.
Thank you,
Blessed Trinity.
Important Announcement For Christian Music Fans:
John Michael Talbot will be one of the Christian rock singers who will hold a concert on February 12, 2006 at our church which is Blessed Trinity Roman Catholic Church. I am a great fan of JMT and his “Monk Rock”. Our choirs will be acting as his backup singers while he sings here. I feel like a groupie from the 60's when the Beatles tour my home town in Chicago. I was here at the concert screaming my head out with the best of them. Being a member of both the Contemporary choir and the Traditional choir, I am looking forward to singing with JMT. We start rehearsals in January.
Here is a link to more concert dates and information about JMT.
The following is from Lisa who is also a part of our growing circle of friends. Thank you Lisa. Thank you Marcia.
Sometimes in life, you find a special friend;
Someone who changes your life
just by being part of it.
Someone who makes you laugh
until you can't stop;
Someone who makes you believe
that there really is good in the world.
Someone who convinces you
that there really is an unlocked door
just waiting for you to open it.
This is Forever Friendship.
This is the sacred RED ROSE.
You MUST pass this rose on to at least 5 people within the hour of receiving this rose.
After you do, make a wish.
If you have passed it on, your wish will come true and love will come your way shortly.
If not your life will stay the same as it has always been.
Just be nice &pass it on....May we all be loved so much.
Friend if I don't get this back I can take a hint!
How many people actually have 8 true friends? Hardly anyone I know! But some of us have all right friends and good friends!!!
Send this to 8 people or more and if this is sent back to you then you know that you are a true friend...!
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Our circle is growing and if you want to contribute something post a comment or email me at evelyn_altheimer_fain@yahoo.com.
Hello readers,
Evelyn here, and I am in great spirits. I do not get to write on this blog as much as I would like, and I do not like some of the things I have written. However, part of this blog is a venting area for where the truth of what is happening with me is not hidden. Today, I am acknowledging God, my known friends, as well as my unknown friends for keeping me from harm when I needed them. My life should be less troubled at this period in my life but it is not. I can not complain of my life as being boring, however, it could be less troublesome.
Anyway, I am in the Christmas mood and I am planning to take a cruise to some place exciting. Where? I do not know but I will begin my search tonight. There are so many places in the world that I want to see, and now that I have decide to see a few of those places, I do not know where to start. I greatest interest is in England but that would be a extended trip of a week or more and would take much planning. I am thinking more of a 3-4 days trips. More on where I will travel later.
I just wanted everyone to know that I still here and still writing.
Update: The Christmas cruise is off. I have looked at some cruise ships offerings for this season, but there is not enough time for me to gather all the information needed to meet a ship's departure date. But I am not discouraged, and I now planning a trip to England. I have always wanted to go, so now is the time. I should be fully prepare for a spring trip to England and back home. Hopefully, I will be able get a around trip package. If not I might take the cruise over there and then fly back home.
The best part of this is the planning. It is all new to me and I find is as exciting as the trip itself will be.
