Friday Five~Endings and beginnings

This Celtic Mandala represents life, noting how days and years turn from one to another. As we have stepped from 2008 into 2009 some of us look back with joy and others with saddness; probably most of us with a mixture of the two.

First list five things that you remember or treasure from 2008

1. The birth of my granddaughter, Baby J, on Easter Sunday

2. Having WW home for the summer (even if I didn't see her that often, having her in the same country for a while was nice!)

3. A wonderful vacation in Maine with good friends and a couple of great long weekends in Vermont with family

4. The moral support and encouragement I received from family, friends (irl and teh internets) and my clergy coach and his wife, which was always there when I needed it most

5. The election of Barack Obama!!


Then list five things that you are looking forward to in 2009

1. The Kid graduating from high school and starting college.

2. Discerning where I am called to be next

3. Moving and starting a new position

4. Spending time being 'Amma' with Baby J, and spending time with family and friends

5. Plumbing the depths and developing as a preacher

and finally:

A New Year Blessing from the Iona Community:

We stand to face the future:

God behind us in the past

Christ before us; the way ahead;

Christ beside us in this moment;

Christ beneath us in our weakness;

Christ above to shield us-

beneath the shadow of his wings we are safe;

Christ between us to bind us in the unity of his love;

Christ in us equipping us with his all sufficient grace.

Thus armed and guided, and protected we face the new year.

Now we arise and go forth on the journey before us,

knowing that, where Christ leads, life is a journey home.

Therefore we travel in faith, in hope, and in love,

in the name of the Father/ Mother, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

May the blessing of God

be upon us

all this year

and into eternity. Amen.