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Endings and Beginnings
Not only is it the end of the month, but also the end of another calendar year. For children waiting for Christmas, it feels as if it will never come. But for some of us older people, it all comes too fast. At dinner the other night everyone agreed that Advent is too short - in fact, Sister Joan Felling said, "I think we should have six weeks of Advent and four weeks of Lent."
But no matter what we wish, Christmas is here! Our Advent/Christmas prayer tree arrived in the Gathering Place for the first Sunday of Advent. Your ornaments with prayer intentions are on the tree at the monastery and at Saint Scholastica's. At the Sunday Eucharist we pray for these intentions. Both Sisters and guests read these intentions in order to be more inclusive in their prayers. Many of the intentions are for world peace and an end to war and violence, for the homeless, refugees, the poor, return to the church, healing and good health and in thanksgiving for many blessings. We pray that love and mercy will permeate the lives of all God's people.
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Advent/Christmas Prayer Tree Photo by S. Tammy Shoemaker |
At the end of the Christmas season we'll distribute the ornaments to our sisters, who will pray for these intentions throughout 2016. If you feel a rush of grace, joy or peace, maybe some holy sister is praying for you! Or more likely, a sister is praying for a holy person who is receptive to God's love and mercy and that is you!
The mystic Meister Eckhart wrote: "If the only prayer you said was thank you that would be enough." Truly, that is my prayer to God for you. We are in the midst of our annual appeal and gratitude is in our hearts for your help in our ministries. Your responses continue to be overwhelming! Though our appeal continues, we have 334 more donors than we had last year at this time, with a 26% return. Alan Sharpe, a fundraiser and consultant, says renewal mailing response should be around 5% - 35%. We're doing great but still have an opportunity to grow. Thanks to each of you.
In case some of you have not made your contribution for the annual appeal you can still do so; go on-line or mail a check, but it must be postmarked by December 31, 2015 if you want it to be tax deductible in 2015.
click here
Good news for those of you over 70 � years old: the Charitable IRA Rollover is permanent. To take advantage of the extension for 2015, donors need to arrange a direct transfer from the IRA to an eligible charity by December 31 to count against their required minimum distribution for 2015.
I have other news about endings and beginnings I would like to share. This scripture passage from Ecclesiastes 3: 1-8 feels appropriate:
There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under the heavens:
a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot, ...
a time to tear down and a time to build,
a time to weep and a time to laugh, ...
a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away, ...
a time to be silent and a time to speak...
These words express where I am at this time. Yes, after twenty and a half years, I have resigned as Director of Development and Communications. It's time for new energy and creativity.
It is the time to express my deepest gratitude. Thank you for your friendship and your support of our mission and ministry. Over the years our advisory board has been a joy and a challenge; they have kept me on my toes! So much that you've done over these years I consider blessings: your volunteer service on the advisory boards and committees, your participation in our programs and liturgies and your outstanding financial support. Your ideas, feedback and understanding over these years have been a grace for me personally and for our monastic community. Any success we have had is due to your faith and generosity and the staff I work with.
The time is right because we have just the right person, Sister Karen Rose, to take over along with an outstanding staff. She is familiar with the work of the department; she served in planned giving and for the last three years as Director of Communications. She is ready and eager to use her varied talents and skills in this position. S. Karen loves new challenges. She has this beautiful British accent, and it is a pleasure to listen to her read and just carry on! You will have no difficulty following her thoughts as she is very articulate and concise. Not surprising but necessary is her commitment to promoting the mission of the sisters and that of development.
During these years, I have been blessed with the support of three prioresses, Sisters Ephrem Hollermann, Nancy Bauer and Michaela Hedican, who were essential in this job. Primary to our efforts are the sisters through their relationships with family, friends and co-workers; they live the mission of our monastery. But it is also you whom I have learned to know, love and appreciate, who have made the job enjoyable, challenging and even fun! Since this is the Year of Mercy, I ask for your forgiveness if I have ever hurt you, been too quick with a response or showed disrespect. If I did, it was probably due to my Irish heritage! Now it time for me to be silent, a time to grieve, a time to let go and a time to search, but mainly a time to be THANKFUL.