The Grand Canyon- Part 1

 In these COVID19 days of quarantine- 

I am thinking back to our trip to the Grand Canyon.

This was in Feb 2020- 

but somehow right now, 
that seems like a life-time ago.

So today, a bit of time to relive that great trip.

The Grand Canyon was carved by the 

Colorado River in Arizona. 

It is 277 miles long, up to 18 miles wide, 

and attains a depth of over a mile - 6, 093 feet.

The Pueblo people considered the 
Grand Canyon a holy site, 

and made pilgrimages to it. 
The first European known

 to have viewed the Grand Canyon 

was Garcia Lopez de Cardenas from Spain 

who arrived in 1540.

U. S. President Theodore Roosevelt

 visited the Grand Canyon in 1903,

and established the 

Grand Canyon Game Reserve in 1906.

Later the National Parks Association 

was begun,

 but land and mining claim holders would block this

 to become a U.S. National Park for 11 years.

Finally on Feb. 26, 1919, President Woodrow Wilson

 signed it into law as the 17th National Park.

I was last here in the summer of 1984.

I never saw anything of the Grand Canyon.

There was a temperature inversion 

and the whole canyon was

filled with fog. 

Even walking to the edge,

 I never saw anything of it.

We bought postcards to see it.

This visit was not disappointing.

It was a clear, brilliant blue sky day.

The colors changed throughout the day

and some spots were splashed

 with the white of snow.

Judging distance becomes altered a bit.

Its seems like the layers were just 

scooped on top of each other,

 then leveled out with a knife.

John at the rim.

John and Council of Presidents comrades-

Dave, Paul and Greg.

Connie with Pat, Cindy and Edith.

John and Connie

We visited the Grand Canyon together,

stayed in Williams, Arizona 

and we laughed a whole lot together.

My friend Pat- 

the other leader for Visual Faith Ministry

Fun to hang out 

and experience life together. 

We were thankful to see the beauty

 of the Canyon together and are

blessed by many fun memories.

On this days of isolation, it is fun to

"revisit" the trip.

Worship into the Week-Known

Worship into the Week-

On the Road to Emmaus

Luke 24: 13-35

I often wonder if I would "recognize" Jesus 

if he showed up for a walk in my neighborhood.

What sort of things might I say that showed

my inability to make connections?

This week things came together a bit differently.

Can't really avoid how the COID19 things

 weave into worship time and meditation.

We're in it together.

God is >Coronavirus.

A photo of Rembrandt's-

 Christ at Emmaus from 1654- on the right.

A Bulletin cover from the Call Day Service

 at Concordia Seminary on the left.

So pieces of all sort of things fit into this week.

"When he was at table with them, 

he took the bread and blessed and broke it

 and gave it to them.

And their eyes were opened, 

and they recognized him. 

And he vanished from their sight."

After Jesus left them, 

they hightailed it right back

 the seven miles to Jerusalem.

They found the eleven and shared their story.

Bringers of HOPE to the disciples.

Oh, that our hearts would burn within us

 as we tell others about our Jesus.

Supplies:

VFM Printable- Visual Church Year
childrens-bulletin-luke-2435-42620

Watercolors

Magazine cut out

Junk Mail

Bulletin cover

Washi Tape

Junk Mail

Enduring Word Bible- COVID19

Enduring Word Bible #59

COVID 19 resources from 

Visual Faith Ministry for

2 Chronicles 20

Spending some time rereading this

 and the story of Jehoshaphat.

He was a King that sought to do right

 in the eyes of the Lord.

 He worked to bring reform 

and remove the idols in Judah.

Some things stand out for our days right now:

1. He trusted. 

v.12 "We do not know why to do, 

but our eyes are on you."

2. He encouraged.

v. 17 "Stand firm, hold your position, 

and see the salvation

 of the Lord on your behalf."

3. He was humble.

v. 18"Then Jehoshaphat bowed his head 

with his face to the ground."

4. He worshipped.

v. 18b "...fell before the Lord

  worshiping the Lord." 

5. He gave thanks.

v.21 Give thanks to the Lord, 

for his steadfast love endures forever."

I think this is a great plan 

for these COVID19 days.

I also went back to my first Journaling Bible

 and saw the entry from 11-19-14.

Think I have loved this section for a long time. 

Added this new margin in that Bible too.

Maybe these days are not so much

 about finding new ways to respond to crisis,

 but about going back to see how

 the Lord blessed those that came to Him first

when things were overwhelming.

So as we stand together faithfully- 

the one ancient truth that 

speaks well into this time is:

Keep our eyes on YOU, Lord.

Supplies:

COVID19 printable
covid-19-bookmark-
bible-margins-set-2-by-pat-maier

Colored pencils

Scrapbook paper

Easter Roundup 2020

The Schumachers in Michigan

 for an outing by the water for Easter Day.

Those are beautiful daffodils!

Andrew is sheltering in place

 with their family.

Some great treats in the Easter basket!

Peeps and rubber arm guys!

The Schu siblings - 2020.

Smooches for little one.

What is here for me?

Hmm, I can get to that too!

 Now a bit of the Meier Story.

Jack getting ready for Easter.

 Not sure what Charlie is doing to help- 

 but he is into it!

Hunting for eggs.

There's one- and on the run.

A Beautiful table set for a lovely 

"Shelter in place" Easter meal.

Plaids, bow ties, and barefoot-

and a hat!

 The Wilson boys- Easter 2020.

Growing up and getting big.

 Everybody all together!

 Fun to see what is in the baskets.

Great to be tall enough to find the egg!

We had a family worship Easter service by Zoom.

We Love the Prayer Shawl or "blanket" blessing time.

He is Risen!
He is Risen indeed!
Alleluia.
Though this has been a most unusual
Easter this year,
there is so much to give thanks for too.
He is good and gracious.
May there be healing 
and recovery for our world.

Worship into the Week- But Believe

Worship into the Week-

Jesus Appears to His Disciples

John 20:19-31

Pease be With You-

 has to have a different memory

 marker after this reading.

When we give the sign of peace-

 a handshake or a kiss,

(Pre-COVID19 days)

we speak these words.

Shalom, Shalom.

Peace be with you.

Locked up in the room together, 

the disciples were probably

 feeling anything but peaceful.

Out of nowhere- 

Jesus appears and calms them with these words.

He also BREATHED on them the Holy Spirit.

Now, nothing in their world would be the same.

Thomas was not with them 

and can't quite fathom this story 

when the disciples tell him.

He utters the statement that 

forever labels him to the world-

and mirrors his great need to SEE for himself- 

or he will NEVER believe.

But, eight days later the disciples

 are assembled again, 

with doors locked and Thomas with them.

Jesus stands among them and says again-

"Peace be with you."

Jesus looks at Thomas and offers his hands.

Thomas sees and touches and proclaims-

 "My Lord and my God!"

Then Jesus speaks to all of us-

offering the moment to believe with our heart.

"Have you believed because you have seen me?

Blessed are those you have not seen

 and yet have believed."

I am so thankful for the and yet.

Then the chapter is finished with an amazing verse

 of proclamation of the works of Jesus- 

that I think I somehow missed for most of my life.

verse 30-31-

"Now Jesus did many other signs

 in the presence of the disciples, 

which are not written in this book; 

but these are written so that you may believe

 that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, 

and that by believing

 you may have life in his name."

Supplies:

Visual Church Year
childrens-bulletin-john-2029-41920

Magazine Cutouts

Colored pencil 

Fine-point Sharpie pen

Lenten Journaling in Community- #12

                                               When From Death I'm Free

Hymn Journal - #12

We Will Rise UP!

Paper Collage

 Page to meditate with the words of the song.

Hope is such a theme for me

 in these readings and devotion.

Paper collage

 Coloring mediation page.

Watercolors and washi tape.

Art Design by Karen Hunter.

 Found the perfect page 

to go with this lesson in my stash.

 Thinking through the contrast of death

 and Victory in this two page layout.

Bulletin cover from Visual Faith Ministry.

 From the grave with the rolled away stone

 is the image of butterflies- 

the NEW LIFE symbol- Rising Up.

 Thinking about the NEW CREATION.

Visual Faith Experiment-

create the garden of those I love.

The Holy Spirit is working to create 

dimensional spiritual lives-

 transformed.

Napkin collage base.

Sizzix cut flowers for growing the garden.

Come Holy Spirit Come!

Make us NEW!

It has been a blessing to complete

 this Hymn Study and I look forward

 to the next collaboration 

between Next Step Press

 and Justin Rossow

 and the Visua Faith community.