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OCTOBER 24, 2007

"What we leave behind is not engraved in the stone monuments but woven into the lives of others." Pericles.

Recently I was compelled by my four brothers and a sister to do a portion of our mother's funeral. Some would say our mother was full of vim and vinegar, after her children left home she simply adopted any and all children of the community from 9 days to 90 years old. She so enjoyed all those around her from great grandchildren, to baseball teams of local kids, from the members of her church, bingo, senior citizen center,community or her most endeared society of police officers. In short she enjoyed life and passed this feeling on through her cookies of love to all those around her. I, quite frankly, was not certain that I could maintain my composure doing this funeral with out blubbering all over the place and making a general mess of things. Just because my brothers thought all the funerals I have done would qualify me to do our mother's funeral----come on!

The priest was insistent that the ceremony would be by the book with all the pomp and glory of a Catholic funeral, of course I wanted to display the proper respect and dignity to this well respected small town woman-but-I was determined that this was to be a celebration of the life of this child of God, this epitome of the Good Samaritan, this lady who enjoyed life so much all of the "39 years" she claimed to be on this planet during the past 80 years we had observed her.

During the viewing as she lay amongst her pillow of angel pins, bears,brightly colored vest and other little trinkets left by so many of the town, A calmness came over me for I realized just how much she was at true peace. I knew I would be fine---the strength of God was with me.

The angel of death can teach us to live everyday as if it were the last day of our life. That angel makes it clear that everyday belongs to God, everything belongs to God. When our time is called--when our lease is up--all that money...all those fancy cars...all those houses and friends are really only on loan to those who come into alignment with the universe and claim them.

When we try to live in the past--how can we possibly enjoy the present! The time is NOW to tell that someone special they count in your life--not tomorrow--not 20 minutes from now--right this moment--there is no tomorrow until you get there---then maybe by the grace of God there will be another.

NOW--IS one more New Day to be your true self---use it with gratitude to God!

Blessings

----Fred

* * * * * * * * * *Don't forget your banks of abundance this Sunday.* * * * * * * * * *

BEARS OF LOVE: November 15th-- We will begin to collect the bears of love to be blessed by this congregation and donated to the Haley House and the Fisher House for the family's of wounded veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan.

If you would like to participate but to far away, send your new bear or soft stuffed animal to our mailing address P.O. Box 891, Odessa, Florida 33556 or bring them any Sunday to service or if you so indicate send a check or money order clearly marked a donation for the use of the purchase of a soft stuffed animal for these familys, we have ladies who will go out and get those animals....

Being a veteran, a VA Hospital Chaplain's assistant, I can not express enough the comfort these little stuffed animals will bring to a child that has to face his mom or dad recovering in a hospital. The parent in a condition other than the image the day the soldier parent left as they deployed overseas. In some cases this will be of a traumatic mind setting event for the young child, so it is, that, I thank you with a deepest heartfelt thank you in advance for your donations from the heart...
Fred

WALKING THE Talk:
Due to the changing weather up north the monthly soup ministry to the street people of Tampa Florida.will begin the Saturday after Thanksgiving. (November the 24 th )

We will be distributing soup until April when the trend is for the homeless children of God to go back north.

This project will require 8 ounce cups or soup bowls with lids and plastic spoons, we will most graciously accept any donations to assist this endeavor.


UP COMING EVENTS:
A SPECIAL EVENT is to occur December 15th at 730p.m. Tickets are available for a 10.00 donation prior to the concert with famed recording star Dwain Briggs.... 15.00 donation at the door the night of the event.....don't miss this event.
Feel free to go to www.dwainbriggs.com for a sample of his music....this young man's voice will delight you, reaching inner points you never thought possible.

The Masonic lodge has extended an invitation to their "all you can eat" spaghetti dinner on November 4 immediately following services. Cost is $6.00 per person.