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Pastor’s Ponderings – Singing a New Song

Pastor's Ponderings

Dear Glen Mar friends,

There’s a saying that someone who sings, prays twice. Music elevates our praise and helps communicate in a different, often deeper way. Music and singing have been part of what it means to praise God since the earliest days of the Hebrew people, and through the present day of the Christian tradition. Miriam and Moses sang. David and Simeon sang. Deborah and Hannah sang. Mary and Paul and Silas sang. Singing helps us pray and praise and lament and proclaim. Music and singing can draw us closer to God and help us grow as followers of Christ.

Folks with dementia often respond to familiar songs after other memories are no longer accessible to them. Songs and music are used to inspire and encourage, from baseball “walk up” songs to songs of protest and unity, to our own radios and playlists. In worship this week, we’ll look at music in the Bible, and the songs God places in our hearts, as well as ways to use music to combat our Spiritual Affective Disorder and “Let the Son-Shine In”.

Folks who come to worship will receive a journal designed to help us with further practices and ideas during the week. (If you came last week, you should have yours already!). Hope to see you in worship this weekend!

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service was a huge success!  About 500 participants packed nearly 50,000 freeze dried meals for folks in Haiti. We made 127 pillow cases, and 55 blankets and 450 hats (for kids who need them). 600 decorated cookies and 125 pieces of encouragement artwork. We wrote 500 letters to military, seniors, first responders, health care workers and youth. We gave screenings and/or vaxes to about 25 people. Over 200 sewing, fishing and health kits and bookmarks and dog toys. We restored 50 dolls for the thrift shop.  And George D. and team fed everyone with delicious grilled cheese and chili! Offsite, the team that went to our sister church (Ames Memorial in Baltimore) removed all their pews and put them in storage, dry walled, primed and painted two rooms, worked on two bathrooms.  The Grassroots team worked organizing in their food pantry.  What a way to let the Son-Shine through you, Glen Mar!

See you in Church,

Pastor Mandy

PS We have 101 missing Journey to Bethlehem costumes! Bring them back to church ASAP so that we can be ready for next year! No need to wash them first, we will do that. Just bring them back. : )

For more information on what’s going on at Glen Mar, check out our blog “This Just In.”

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