Monday, December 12, 2011

Shameless Plug for Mail

Yes- this is a shameless plug for mail. My roommates always get letters in the mail and I don't. :( Soooooooooo here is my address! If you would like to mail me something I would love you forever and more than likely will respond. 

Sarah Bennett
425 S Central Park Blvd
Chicago, IL 60624

Sunday, December 11, 2011

Guest Bloggers!

So I had a really crazy idea the other day (ok, not so crazy) and I decided that you guys might want to get to know my roommates better. Because they are awesome and unique people who's thoughts should be permanently on the internet. So be on the lookout for some guest bloggers! I haven't actually asked them if they want to participate, but why wouldn't they...right?

If you have any burning desire to ask my roommates a question, let me know in the comments below. :) I will do my best to ask them. But I figured I would ask a mixture of generic and absolutely random questions so it is both informative and interesting. 

Friday, December 9, 2011

Back From My Hiatus!!

I haven't posted on this blog in over a month! I can't really believe it...I had even sat down a couple of months ago and brainstormed a bunch of blog-post ideas so that I could write interesting and thought provoking content for all of you lovely readers. However, life happened and I haven't really had the chance/felt like writing a blog post. November was definitely a hard month for me. But I am in the process of getting back in a better mood! It sometimes feels like an uphill battle, but I'm getting there. :) This is just one of the phases you go through when you move to a new place.

Both of my site placements have been great! I am going to try and post more about how my job at PAWS is changing. Maybe I'll get to that tomorrow? I actually have to go into PAWS tomorrow for some training. I haven't actually ever been to PAWS on a weekend day before. It should be an interesting experience! I also have been thinking a lot about my plans for the fall, i.e. Graduate School (dun, dun, dunnnnnnn). Hopefully I will get something up about that as well in case you are anxiously waiting for that. Haha.

I hope that you all are having a wonderful December so far. I do have some exciting news! My presbytery (Grace Presbytery) is the best! I just got an email from them today and they have donated $1300 towards the $6500 total that I need to raise for the year. I feel so blessed to be a part of such an amazing organization. :)

Today was a good day. I worked at PAWS and then my house went over to the Mennonite Volunteer Service house for dinner. It was a lot of fun to meet some more year-long volunteers! But I am tired, so off to bed I go! Goodnight all and sweet dreams. :)

Friday, December 2, 2011

December Devotion


SCRIPTURE READING: Mark 1:1-8 (NRSV)
The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. As it is written in the prophet Isaiah, “See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way; the voice of one crying out in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight,’” John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. Now John was clothed with camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. He proclaimed, “The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals. I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.
REFLECTION
When Jesus comes, the shadows depart. –Author unknown, inscription on a Scottish castle
Before when I read this passage I focused on the wilderness imagery, but this morning as I was on my way to work I was thinking how this verse is really celebrating Jesus. This passage is a reminder that the world needed to be prepared for the coming of Jesus. The peace for which Jesus fought and the world that was changed after his death is the “good news” mentioned by Mark. But someone still needed to ready the world and that person was John the Baptist.
John the Baptist was considered a great teacher, but his message was always about the one coming—Jesus. Rabbis taught that students should do anything their teacher asked of them except untie his shoes. Is it just ironic then that John says he isn’t even worthy to untie Jesus’ sandals? Nope! This was most likely intentionally said to help the audience understand Jesus’ great power.
John kept watch and prepared the way of Jesus. In this Advent season, keep watch with me. It is the life of Jesus that helps to bind our hearts to God and it also provides a common connection for humanity. During this busy season, do not let your mind wander and get wrapped up in the pageantry of Christmas. It is just the beginning. Let’s watch together for Christ to be present in the world.
Every character has an inward spring; let Christ be that spring. Every action has a keynote; let Christ be that note, to which your whole life is attuned. -Henry Drummond
PRAYER
The world's dark night is hastening on;
Speed, speed thy work, cast sloth away;
It is not thus that souls are won.
Toil on, faint not, keep watch and pray.
Amen

(From a hymn by Horatius Bonar: Go, Labor On: Spend, and Be Spent)