ADVENT WEEK 2: Faith

Sunday, December 5, 2021

A lot of volunteers make a community Gathering happen. Everyone is still getting used to city traffic, which is almost back to normal. Jakarta is here again on weekends! It's a scramble to prepare the hall as latecomers arrive.

The hired helper is sick this week so the ramps, chairs, and tables need setting up. Alice's house helper sweeps up and helps hang purse hooks on the chair backs. A young man churns open the awnings that keep wind, sun, or rain out of the auditorium.

I send up "Help, God!" prayers that enough people arrive to get ready on time to start. We also pray that guests are encouraged by the message of FAITH today. [Click here to listen to the replay. Either skip to 12:00 to avoid the intro or enjoy the sights and sounds of Indonesia.]

Yup - my faith is actived but not stressed out. Whatever happens, happens in a soft launch. In my head, 40 is today's number of attendees. That's about what happens. Cool.

W and the others test a new video switcher to make a hybrid Gathering (online and in-person) possible. I have no idea how to use his gear. He hauls along (and brings back) a smaller monitor given us when we arrived in Bandung. It's very useful for this.

Monday

One early meeting is cancelled; another takes its place. I miss the morning study Ruth leads. It's a joy to watch others learn to lead instead rather than sitting back to listen. W keeps it all on track.

Ari drops by for lunch and a chat with Waldemar. This past year, IbuS has upped her kitchen game and become a good cook! Today we enjoy her curried chicken, butter-cabbage, and a few other dishes. For dessert, "JD's Famous Brownies" are a hit, along with IbuA's cookies.

I check the garden. Yikes, the dill bush is full of flowers again. I clip and arrange them in a vase. I've thought of filling the gaps in the big BIC tree with the dried dill flowers from the last batch.

See the little sprig in the center that looks like baby's breath? Yes or no to adding branches of dill to the BIC tree? I like the softness it adds.

The rain holds off until evening but the wind kicks up after noon. The chimes ring out on our porch.

I find a dead tree in one of the garden pots. Oh oh, on the other end, a fan palm is also dry and dead. The yard man may need to do some detective work. However, the dragon trees are starting to flower after a year or two in the pots.

I break manageable 3'-4' chunks off the dead shrub and toss them onto the porch. Let's wait a few days to see if the wood is full of termites or ants. We have plenty of those in the house already.

In times of high activity or stress, random opportunities for creativity seem to pop up everywhere. With the past weeks full of changes, my art radar is at top volume. I've decluttered my desk a few times in the past weeks. But here's the corner behind my screen as I write: paint chips, music (staff) paper with a half-written piece, cardboard rolls, pine-scented candles, art supplies, a paper batik tree, and a loom. I haven't even taken out the origami paper that I want to experiment with yet ...

The desk is the house's old dining table, a teak monster that's the perfect size for projects and sorting. I love the floor-to-ceiling windows that let the light in.

Hmmm. We have no dining table centerpiece. Guests could easily see at each other between lit branches, whereas a tall flower arrangement blocks the view around the table. (See what I mean? Random associations. Branches. Table. Lights. = a finished dining arrangement in my mind's eye.)

"Hold off, R. We're still checking the branches for termites." Oh yeah.

Read more:

*My times are in your hand.  Psalm 31:15

*Can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life? Luke 12:25

*Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 

Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Colossians 3:12-17

Moravian Prayer; God of always, loosen our controlling grip on time, so we can more peacefully encounter you. Relieve our minds of anxious worry for tomorrow, allowing us to more graciously focus on being truly present this day. Amen.