Christmas Every Day

I love the Christmas season, don't you?  The carols, the sharing and laughing, the advent season, the gifts , the snow (maybe), the trees and decorations.  The lead up to Christmas is so palpable and we get so hyped up that sometimes on the day of Christmas , its a bit of a ...let down?  It seems just like every other day and then its over.  All the busyness and visiting and carols and singing and gift giving, its just over... and that seems... a bit of a downer.  I know that Christmas is about celebrating the birth of Christ and there is so much anticipation during Advent and that is good and proper, yet  ... maybe that sense of Christ's presence on earth with us should continue and be celebrated not just on one day, but everyday.  I know, I know, we can't be so busy with all the trimmings all the time, and that's ok.  I just want a sense of His presence with me  every day.  An open eye and heart to see Him in the people around me and see the miracle of Jesus love working through us.  You know... those God moments when you know you just received an amazing glimpse of God's presence here on earth as we serve each other.    Yah,, that's what I would like for Christmas, how about you?


 Reminder that we are having our Christmas Party this Thursday.  Hope you can all make it.

 We will also have an opportunity to support Ganene from Africa with some books for University as he has been accepted and received his visa to attend the Leadership Program at Trinity western University in BC.

Finally on another note:

Lynn H.  sent me a wonderful story to explain the 12 gifts of Christmas and I would like to share that with you:

There is one Christmas Carol that has always baffled me.  What in the world do leaping lords, French hens, swimming swans, and especially the partridge who won't come out of the pear tree have to do with Christmas? This week, I found out. From 1558 until 1829, Roman Catholics in England were not permitted to practice their faith openly. Someone during that era wrote this carol as a catechism song for young Catholics. It has two levels of meaning: the surface meaning plus a hidden meaning known only to members of their church. Each element in the carol has a code word for a religious reality which the children could remember. -The partridge in a pear tree was Jesus Christ. -Two turtle doves were the Old and New Testaments. -Three French hens stood for faith, hope and love.- -The four calling birds were the four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke & John. -The five golden rings recalled the Torah or Law, the first five books of the Old Testament. -The six geese a-laying stood for the six days of creation. -Seven swans a-swimming represented the sevenfold gifts of the Holy Spirit--Prophesy, Serving, Teaching, Exhortation, Contribution, Leadership, and Mercy. -The eight maids a-milking were the eight beatitudes. -Nine ladies dancing were the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit--Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self Control. -The ten lords a-leaping were the ten commandments. -The eleven pipers piping stood for the eleven faithful disciples. -The twelve drummers drumming symbolized the twelve points of belief in the Apostles' Creed. So there is your history for today. This knowledge was shared with me and I found it interesting and enlightening and now I know how that strange song became a Christmas Carol...so pass it on if you wish.'

Thank you to Teresa for leading us in a Remembrance Day devotion and for reminding us of what a gift they have given us.  This Remembrance Day has touched me more deeply this year, as I grow more reflective in my old age :) and as I think of the  many wives, mothers and children who have lost loved ones around the world through war.  What a tragedy our fall into sin is and what a cost.  I am so thankful for the Grace found in Christ and wish that so many more would know of his saving love.  They can if we are willing to just share His love , maybe with a hug, a glass of water or a listening ear.  I think this Remembrance Day has taught me to reach out more and value the things that are reallly important, people.
 .  It was good to be together in our small groups again this week.  It has been three weeks since we have been together and that does seem like a long time, although I really enjoyed the craft day for Samaritan's Purse and thank you again to Amanda for such a wonderful morning.  Just to remind you, November 24, Deseray is coming from Trenton Pregnancy care centre to update us on their progress.  She will start promptly at 9:30am so be sure to be on time.
I have not been very faithful in updating the blog on a regular basis, but I hope to change that with some guest bloggers from our membership and mom to mom.   If you would like to share a thought or two please let me know  and you too could be a blogger :).  That's all for now.  See you Thursday.
Blessings
FK

The Joy of being Sisters in the Lord

jOY

Wow, its almost a month since we had our first Coffee Break meeting of the season.  I can't  believe how time just flies by.  We have had some wonderful discussions and sharing and prayer time as we study the gospel of Luke together in our small groups.  I hope you have been enjoying the time together.  Our theme of joy seems very appropriate as we all seem to get such enjoyment from being together and sharing and caring for one
another, the joy of being sisters in the Lord.

 Having time together for each other is such a gift in today's culture of busy-ness and hurriedness (is that even a word, maybe it should be :) )  Time to slow down and really listen to each other and God's word.  What a gift that is.  Thank you to each member of Coffee Break for making this a priority in your life and for sharing your life with us.  Sometimes that hour of study seems way too short, but it does provide a great boost and encouragement to continue to walk in faith with each other and the Lord.          
 Thank you as well, for sharing coffee break with a friend or neighbour who may not know the Lord.  Its the greatest gift to us and your friend, you could give.  Our groups are never too large for  another woman who wants to join, so if you know of someone who would be interested in the Christian faith be sure to invite them along.

Lots of Laughs and fun times at Social.

Gladiolus

What an awesome turnout for our Coffee Break Opening Social.  If you weren't able to come you missed some good coffee , yummy food , great fellowship and lots of laughs as we shared with old friends and made some new ones.  Pictures will be posted shortly in the Members only page. :)

 We hope that all of you will come  this coming Thursday for the start of our Bible study. We will be studying the 2nd half of Luke as we focus on the Theme of Joy in the Lord.  This is a great opportunity to invite a friend or neighbour to come along , meet some new friends and share the gospel .  Let's make this a year of sharing that message with other women and growing in our faith walk  .

This year I will also try to keep the blog updated regularly with little thoughts of the week or  'God moments'.  If you have a good idea or God moment you would like to share , let me know and I will pass it on..

That's all for now. See you Thursday.
FK

  Our new Season Begins Sept 15, 2011 ! 

We are excited to begin a new season of Coffee Break at Brighton Fellowship CRC and hope that you will come out and join us, Thursday September 15 at 9:30am for a time of fun and fellowship, meeting old friends and making new ones.  Mom to Mom , a biblically based parenting program, is also being offered at the same time.  Again this year we have a wonderful nursery and story hour staff who will lovingly look after your little ones as you take a break and share in a small group bible study or parenting program.  We pray this year will be a year that we all come to know the Lord  Jesus Christ in a real way as we learn and grow together.  Our theme for this year is Joy and this year I would challenge you to invite your neighbour or friend to come out and share with them the joy of the Lord through Coffee Break or Mom to Mom.  See you Thursday!

FK

Summer is Here.

In the summer  Coffee Break does not have official meetings although there are many unofficial gatherings to reconnect and share throughout the summer.  Our small group had a lovely potluck lunch  in Presquil and our hostess was so gracious even though the power was out from that storm last week. It was lovely to be together again and we hope to do it again in July.  If your group does meet and you would like to share pictures or stories with the rest of us , please let me know and  I will post it here.  I hope that each of you has a safe and blessed summer and that we will see you again as we start a new season in September. 

Have a blessed summer.

FK  

We were blessed last week with our Speaker , Deseray Leaver, the new director of  Pregnancy and Family Care of Quinte West.  She gave an inspiring talk about the work

Perks Day: Baby Shower for Trenton Pregnancy Care Centre

Come and hear about the new Trenton Pregnancy Care Centre at the Perk's Day this Thursday.

Praise God for Community!

We are really excited about what the Lord is doing through Coffee Break .  Every year we see God working through you, the women who come and those who lead.

Happy New Year and Welcome Back!

There was much excitement and buzz in the fellowship hall this morning as we gathered again after the holiday season.  The sharing and caring happening before and after Coffee Break testafies to the fact that we as women of faith , want to be in community with each other. In fact, we need to be in community with each other, to share our laughter and our tears in an environment of Christian love.  Thank you, Lord for the gift of each other.
What a joy this morning to sing together and listen to a lovely devotional with Toni and Sharon.  Thank you ladies, for sharing your gifts.  Our small group seemed to need even more time this morning just to chat together before we started our bible study and then we had a wonderful lesson about what it means to love as Christ wanted us to, and what might that look like today as we follow as a disciple of Jesus.  It fed our souls this morning and gave us food for the week till we meet again.  I hope your bible study was just as rich and encouraged you in your walk with Christ.  May you have a wonder filled week until we see you again next week.  If you would like to share how you were inspired by your lesson this week, please do so by clicking on the comment button below.
That's all for now,
FK