Again we have been celebrating the harvest season, which at Donegal means windowsills laden with harvest fruits and vegetables, flowers and grain.  With them are an array of attractive artifacts to enhance the bounty of nature.  This special decoration was begun many years ago, quite probably by Dottie Heisey, known for her love of flowers and decorating.  It is apparent that we now have many more persons to carry on the praise for a bountiful harvest and we thank them all for their endeavors.  Each window deserved a close look at all the items artistically displayed. 

Presbyterian Women are celebrating their 20^th anniversary this year and thereby attention was called to the PW logo at the recent morning circle meeting.  Artist Sally Abbotts in 1988 designed the logo within a circle to depict unity with three women, one reading or studying in a position of meditation, one on her knees offering someone in need physical or spiritual bread, and the third in the center praising God for the gifts of grace and salvation.  Donegal Women have this logo beautifully done some years ago in counted-cross stitch by Sylvia Kuch.  Her framed work of art can be seen hanging in the Narthex.

Joan Betty has given the library two books for your reading pleasure and learning. The Year of Living Biblically is by A. J. Jacobs and the other is One Man’s Humble Quest to Follow the Bible as Literally as Possible. Both are recent publications and sound challenging.

Sometimes we neglect reading the list of Donegal members in the bulletin who are celebrating birthdays.  This may result in speaking to one who is celebrating a birthday that very day and unknowingly not wishing them a happy birthday.  This was the case just recently when Terry Milllard admitted reaching the big 60 and looking very good.  Several weeks earlier the “Over 70” members thoroughly enjoyed the program in which he and Dr. Otis Kitchen displayed their musical talents presenting the History of Jazz.

An early Christmas letter from former pastor Dick Todd and wife Beverly gratefully tells that Bev’s miraculous recovery from kidney failure, for which she was receiving dialysis, has amazingly continued.  Even her Parkinson’s disease symptoms have somewhat disappeared.  They give glory and praise to God and send heart-felt thanks for all the prayers on their behalf. 

What good things have you seen or heard recently?

                                                            Mary Karnes

CHRISTMAS

Long ago and far away a child was born upon this day,

Not in a palace of marble and gold, not in a mansion stately and old,

But in a stable, a dwelling for beasts, in a manger of hay without

Trumpet or feasts, without notice or flurry from the throngs so nearby, a birthplace announced by a star in the sky.

A sign of such wonder it brought Kings from afar.

Shepherds and angels all followed that star

“Til they came one and all to that still quiet place

And looked upon God in a sleeping Child’s face.

Then throughout the world from a million harp strings

Poured a concert of glory and the beating of wings

A music still heard on this dark sacred eve

If we listen in faith and…in faith…still believe.

                                                                        Bea Lotz

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Last Edited on 04/24/2009