Saturday, May 31, 2025

Worship into the Week- Ascension Day 2025

 


Worship into the Week-
Acts 1:1-11
The Promise of the Holy Spirit
The Ascension of Jesus

The risen Jesus has been doing alot
 of teaching with his chosen apostles.
The Kingdom of God was the major topic 
and he visited with them again and again.
He commanded then not to leave Jerusalem,
 until the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
The disciples were still looking for Jesus 
to free Israel and restore their kingdom.
Jesus tells them that only the Father knows 
and sets those dates and times.
But you will receive power when
 the Holy Spirit comes upon you.
You will tell everyone what you have seen as 
witnesses- in Jerusalem, in Judea, in Samaria, 
and to the ends of the earth.
Then he was taken up into a cloud while they watched.
As they tried to see more, suddenly,
 there were two white robed men among them.
"Why are you standing staring into heaven?"
Jesus has been taken from you,
 but someday he will return in the same way.

Supplies:
VFM Worship Graphic
Magazine Cutouts
Distress Ink
Colored pencils


Friday, May 30, 2025

Charlie is Seven!

 


This toothless guy is seven 
and it was time to celebrate.
Especially with chocolate.




We are so happy to see this little guy

 all ready for this next birth year.


God bless you, dear Charlie!

Worship into the Week- Pay Attention

 


Worship into the Week-

Lydia of Philippi Believes in Jesus

Acts 16: 9-15

Paul has the vision of the man 

asking him to come to Macedonia.


He sails into Neopolis, modern day Kavala.

This is from our May 2025 visit there.

He heads to Philippi, a major city of that district

 of Macedonia and a Roman colony.

On the Sabbath he goes a little way outside 

of the city to a riverbank 

hoping to find people there in prayer.


The riverbank outside of Philippi.


The Church- The Baptistry of Lydia

There he met Lydia from Thyatira, 
who was a merchant of expensive purple cloth.
She was a worshiper of God.
She listened, paid attention 
and the Lord opened her heart.
She accepted what Paul was saying.
She and her household were baptized 
and Paul and company stayed as her guests.
This small church stands 
where this story took place by the river.

It is a beautiful church
and it is used especially for baptisms.


As we visited this day in May 2025,
 a huge storm suddenly
 broke loose and we fled to the church for shelter.
Suddenly a massive thunder clap brought us
 to attention and we certainly felt 
the presence of God close by.
As we waited out the storm we thought about
this story and 
how a simple faith can change the world.


This small stream serves as a reminder 
that it doesn't have 
to be majestic gold-gilt 
to catch our heart on a Footsteps of Paul journey.
This remains oe of my favorite spots on our tour.







Thursday, May 29, 2025

Jack is Nine!



One guess about what this big guy
 likes these days!
Well, in this season it is baseball.
Mr. Jack turned 9 this May 
and we celebrate this milestone.

All sorts of things catch the attention 
of this young man.
Anything with a ball.

May is a very busy time for a birthday.

But, family celebration happens 

and we say Yes yes!!!


All things sports related top the list.


Because Dad, Dan, is the athletic trainer for the 

University of Michigan baseball team,

Jack had a special treat when part of the team 

showed up to one of his own games

 to cheer him on for his birthday.


Great to have your very own cheering section.

Way to go Jack and many many birthday blessings 

to you in this new year.


Always fun to celebrate things with the brothers!!!

Monday, May 26, 2025

Saint Demetrius Church- Thessaloniki

 

Saint Demetrius Greek Orthodox Church-
 Thessaloniki

The first church on this site was constructed 
in the early 4th century AD, replacing a Roman bath.
A century later, a prefect named Leontios replaced
 the small oratory with a larger, three-aisled basilica.
Later years saw it gutted by fires 
and was then reconstructed as a five-aisled basilica in 629-634. 
This is the surviving form of the church much as it is today.
It was converted into a mosque in 1493, 
and was restored to Christian worship in 1912. 
But, then it was again destroyed in the a great fire in 1917.
It was rebuilt and started to function again in 1949.



Tombstones from the city's Jewish cemetery - destroyed by
 the Greek and Nazi German Authorities- 
were used as building materials.


Saint Demetrius died by martyrdom under the 
Christian persecutions of Emperor Galerius.
He was executed by Emperor Maximian in Thessalonica,
being stabbed with spears.








St. Demetrius Church is an opportunity to visit

 a very old -still in use- Greek Orthodox Church.



Demetrius is the patron saint of Thessaloniki.
 This dates back to when the city was the second largest 
city of the Byzantine Empire.
Since 1988, it has been on the UNESCO World 
Heritage List




Saturday, May 24, 2025

Worship into the Week- Repent and Receive

 

Worship into the Week-

Acts 11:1-18

Peter Explains His Actions

So many experiences had been happening for Peter 

since the Gentiles had received the word of God.

He is back in Jerusalem to share part of the story 

and things just run into a wall with the Jewish believers.

Nothing makes sense about this with 

what they know about faith life living.

Peter entered the homes of Gentiles and even ate with them.

He recounts the story of what happened in Joppa.

Three men arrive from Caesarea after his vision.

The Holy Spirit makes things change.

God had given the Gentiles the same Spirit as he gave them.

They stopped objecting and began praising God.

They said, "We can see that God has also give the Gentiles the

 privilege of repenting of their sins and receiving eternal life."

Things were beginning to change

 in the Jewish world of Jerusalem.

Supplies:

Visual Faith Printable

vcy-graphics-only-may-2025

Colored pencils

Distress Ink

Magazine Cutouts

Washi Tape




Friday, May 23, 2025

Vergina- Greece


Vergina- The Royal Capital of Macedonia
Aegae was the first capital of ancient Macedonia. 
It remained in oblivion for about 23 centuries.
When it was found the famous treasures had been 
waiting patiently to be discovered.
The first excavation of the tombs were conducted by 
Greek archeologist Manolis Andronicos in 1977.
Everyone was amazed by the the finds in this setting.
Today the "Great Tumulus" with the royal tombs introduce
 to the public the magnificent discoveries
 in the Macedonian capital.
This area gave birth to King Phillip 
and to his son, Alexander the Great.
Aegae was the first capital until it was transferred to Pella.
But, the old capital continued 
to be the place for the royal tombs.
In 168 BC Aegae was conquered by the Romans who
likely caused the destruction by setting it on fire.
In the 14th century a small village called Palatitsa
 was mentioned in documents.
A small modern settlement was founded in 1922  
named after Vergina, the mythical queen of the area.
Areas of the palace and theater were excavated as early as 1861,
 with later work to the end of World War 2.

The facade of the tomb of Phillip II.

It is believed that the Great Tumulus-

a massive earthen hill, was formed during the years

 of the Macedonian King Antigonus Gonatus in 2nd Century B.C.

It was built to protect the sacred monuments

 against the desecration of hostile armies. 

Phillip was a masterful leader and military strategist.

He was assassinated in October  in 336 BC at Aegae.

Phillip and his royal court were gathered in order 

to celebrate the marriage of his daughter.

His bodyguard approached him and stabbed him in the ribs.

Alexander was pronounced King of Macedonia on the spot

and the funeral preparations for Phillip II began in that place.

 Clay vessels from the tombs.

The tomb area is thought to contain Phillip II,

and his wife Olympias. 

Also Phillip III- Alexander's half-brother and Alexander IV

 of Macedon (Alexander the Great's son)

It is also believed that one of the tombs 

contained Cleopatra, one of Phillip's wives. (He had seven.)



Copper vessels and other finds from the tomb of Phillip II.

Bottom left- the gold larnax with the twelve-ray star from
 the funeral chamber of the tomb of Phillip. 
The wreath of oak tree leaves is hanging above.
Bottom right-The iron breastplate found in the tomb of Phillip II.



The magnificent gold pieces found are remarkable.

Silver vessels and carvings.


Mural in the antechamber of the Prince's tomb.

There is still scholarly discussion about whether 
the tomb really holds Phillip II. But, does it really matter?
The findings here are from an ancient tomb that 
had not been robbed of its bounty. 
This is a wonderful picture of place 
and historic significance because it 
certainly was a king of Macedon.

Entrance to the museum over the Great Tumulus.

How does this site help a visitor find the story of Saint Paul?
It is a glimpse into the story of Alexander the Great, 
who wrote the history of the then-known world.
Alexander the Great's conquests and his establishment 
of the Hellenistic world significantly impacted
 the world of St Paul. 
His empire, while short-lived, spread Greek culture, 
language, and ideas throughout the eastern Mediterranean 
and beyond, 
creating a backdrop for Paul's missionary journeys.