First snow of the season!

I was pleasantly surprised to discover snow flurries falling as I walked from my house to my car this morning on the way to work. At first I didn't realize it was snow and thought it was something falling from the trees around my house! While we probably won't be seeing inches of snow on the ground, the first sign of snowflakes is a reminder of the continuous cycle of life and the seasons and all of the changes that go along with it. Some changes come with anticipation, others with dread, but they happen all the same. I didn't wear a coat today - so one of the changes will happen tonight when I put away the summer jackets and pull out the fall and winter coats. I sure hope I get my yard raked before the first "real" snow, and I better add to my to-do list the purchase of a new shovel - my old one is broke beyond repair. Praise God for the changing of the seasons!
-melanie

Letting Faith Guide Us...

Centennial Serves day of service was this past Saturday, and it was a success in many ways! It was wonderful to see children, youth, and adults of all ages working together in service. One of the service sites was the International Institute of Minnesota. A group deep cleaned their large kitchen, so that it can be ready for more outside groups to use. While Brian and I were going on a tour of the facility, we observed a class for persons preparing to take their "test" before becoming U.S. citizens. I asked for a sample copy of the sorts of questions on the test, and I will post some of them later this week - I wonder if I would pass the test? I'm sure I would have when I was in high school and learning all of these things, but with the passage of time comes the loss of facts.

I asked one of my clergy colleagues, Amy Jo Bur, to write a reflection for the Section 4 articles. Amy serves a church in rural Southwestern Minnesota, and offers us a unique, firsthand perspective on the work that undocumented workers do and the needs they face in rural communities. To read her reflections, please click on the "comments" link just below this, and her writing should come up for you!
Peace,
Melanie