2008 Christmas party photos

As usual, we had a great time last night at the IDR annual white elephant party.

The favorite gift of the night was the movie Titanic.... on VHS! Chelo was the winner of this gift, and surprisingly, no one stole it from him. So he tried various hiding places...

Actually, the tomato pot was the only gift that was stolen, maybe we were being too nice? Food was great, and we played a fun game of Cranium after the gift-opening (no one took Meredith up on her dance party request :)

Thank and Pray

This Thanksgiving...

As we thank God for our families and friends
Let us pray for those who are lonely.

As we thank God for our homes and fireplaces
Let us pray for those who can't get a bed in the homeless shelters tonight, because they are full, and it's 35 degrees.

As we thank God for our jobs and paychecks
Let us pray for those who have lost theirs, or a in transition.

As we thank God for the Turkey
Let us pray for those who are hungry.

As we thank God for peace
Let us remember those in Congo, Central America, the Middle East and elsewhere, who live with the daily fear and threat of war.

As we thank God for our free will, our abilities, and our education
Let us pray that we will find opportunities to use those to help others this holiday season and the whole year through.

- Janelle

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Blessed be the ones
who dance
in the corridors of death,
who sing
in the hallways of terror,
who laugh
in the prisons of fear,
who shout
across the silencing walls,
who love
beyond the borders of hatred,
who live
to welcome home freedom,
who die
never turning their heads,
who return
as the rising of hope.

(Sing the Journey Worship Book,2005)

Reviving the Blog!

Hello World! After a ridiculously long hiatus a group of RMC young adults have decided to revive this blog. We'll be writing -- from time to time -- about what's going on in the Raleigh Mennonite Church young adult group (IDR.) We'll also post notes about social justice and community activities that IDR folks are involved with. We'll share our deep thoughts on life and faith. And we'll tell other thought-provoking stories of adventures happening in the daily lives of various young adult types (college students, young professionals, young parents...) at Raleigh Mennonite.

In this first "reviving" post we just want to celebrate some of the large group activities that IDR members have been involved in since our last, quite ancient, post. See the photos below. Welcome back to blogland youthful Mennos! Here we go...

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IDR Spring Pool Party 2008 at the Herbs - Thanks to Brandon for hosting!







"Farewell"ing many friends in June!
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Winter 2008
Below you'll see part of the group at the Annual IDR Women's Sleep-Over last Spring. Shhhh... What the guys don't know won't hurt them!
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2008Cookies for Congo (Raising money to help Tresor's fiance Suzanne)



Peanut Butter Balls, whoopie pies, music, and new and old friends -- coming together for Suzanne : )!








Thanks to all RMCers and others in the community who donated, helping our little bake sale raise over $2500.00 to help Suzanne.

IDR Annual Superbowl Party

"Wherever two or three are gathered, there I am in the midst of them."



With 21 adults and 6 of the "pre-young adults," we packed out the widescreen TV room at the Hershberger house. Standing room only!



Thanks to Kevin and Susie for letting us storm your castle.




We're rooting for the underdogs! Go Giants! Go Giants!

And WHERE are the good commercials, these days, we wonder?

And in the end the underdogs won, bringing hope to underdogs across the nation. :)
We watched
Enthralled.
Or at least those of us who understand football did.
The rest of us ate dip and chips and chili and chocolate. And great fellowship was had by all.

IDR Christmas Party '07

The Christmas Party this year was a fun and food-filled time! We missed those who weren't able to be there -- but Julie can probably find some extra white elephant gifts if anyone wants a little recycled "treasure" to plop down under your tree. : )


Merry Christmas to all!

Reflections

There is a river somewhere on the road between here and Virginia. I have crossed it many times over the past 10 years, but the day I took this picture it struck me as exceptionally beautiful. I have this photo hanging in my office at work, and yesterday I found myself looking at it, wondering for the hundredth time - how can the reflection in the water be more clear than the hazy sky?

Now for the very short deep thought of the day - do we see God more clearly as He is reflected in others? My prayer is to be that clear reflection to those around me. I can maybe go one step further in the analogy before stretching it too far - only still waters can reflect so clearly. Think about it.... (Psalm 46:10)

-Karin

Advent Hope

Last Friday there was an advent reflections luncheon hosted by Campus Ministry. It was a nice opportunity to take a break from this very busy season in the academic and personal calender and focus on the meaning of advent. It was a time of guided reflection and sharing - begining by meditating on three words: waiting, patience, and hope.

It was interesting to hear the different thoughts and emotions evoked in various people - for some, waiting elicits excitment and anticipation, for others a sense of anxiety and uncertainty. It was agreed by most everyone present that patience does not come naturally! It takes practice and discipline, and is a trait that is ever more difficult to master living in a culture that thrives on instant access to whatever the heart desires.

And what about hope? Hope, for nearly everyone, evoked positive feelings - a sense of joy in what is to come, a way to see us through the waiting (patiently or otherwise!). The leader remarked that in Christian usage, hope has a very specific meaning: it is the confident expectation that God's plan will be revealed - for our lives, and for our world. For me this gave a richer meaning to the word. Hope is not the same as wishful thinking - in that case we wish (hope) that good things will come to pass, but have no real certainty that they actually will. Hope is intimately tied to faith - as followers of Christ, we are certain that God's grace and love are extended to us - no matter how much our current circumstances may make it feel otherwise. That hope is what allows us to patiently wait for the revelation of God's love.

So during advent we wait. Expectantly. Actively. Preparing the way for the light and hope of the world!

A blessed advent to you all.

--Lisa