Watch Night - New Year's Eve

I have been going to Watch Night Services since I became a Christian in the early 1990's. When Big Daddy was appointed to his first church and we were planning our first Watch Night service as a ministry couple, I found this article on the history of such services to be very interesting. After all, I grew up Roman Catholic, in the Northeast and then later moved to the West Coast, and I had never heard of this kind of service before. The article I linked is an essay by Charyn D. Sutton. The churches where I spent my early Christian years and discipleship were predominantly Caucasian, so I was particularly fascinated by the article. Watch Night Services are strongly rooted in the African-American church tradition, and are not unheard of within the Pentecostal Community overall.


We are within the Church of God (Cleveland, TN) denomination, and the practice seems common here in the Southeastern US. Our denomination was founded by several Methodists, among others. It seems that John Wesley had established this practice among the Methodists early on. Our sister denomination, The Assemblies of God, began with the Azuza Street Pentecostal Outpouring. That event was diverse, ethnically and socially, from the very beginning. I also add to those factors that Florida is near the Bahamas and Caribbean, with many immigrants from those areas. Some of those cultural influences have strong Christian practices and history. I was very interested to find that the The Moravian Church missionaries were the first to go in many parts of the world, including the Caribbean in the 1730's. The Moravian Church seems to be the first to hold Watch Night Services.

I also checked snopes.com, and they are skeptical about the portion of the first article I linked in regards African-American slaves being sold on New Years Day, as well as any other type of debt or financial transactions occurring on that day. Snopes had an email forward version of Sutton’s essay. However, the version they had was not completely the same and not even attributed to Sutton. So, you can do the research yourself if you like, and draw your own conclusions. It’s indisputable, though, that Watch Night became tied to the African-American community because of the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863.


Wikipedia says this:

“Many religious communities have a tradition of New Year's Eve being known as "Watch Night". The faithful of the community congregate in worship services commencing New Year's Eve night and continuing past midnight into the New Year. The Watch Night is a time for giving thanks for the blessings of the outgoing year and praying for divine favor during the upcoming year. Though held by some to have begun in the African American community, watch night can actually be traced back to a sect of Christians known as the Moravians who held the first Watch night Service in Herrnhut, Saxony, in 1732. The practice was later adopted by John Wesley, the founder of Methodism. Watch Night did take on special significance to African Americans on New Year's Eve 1862, however, as slaves eagerly awaited the arrival of January 1, 1863—the effective date of the Emancipation Proclamation. This particular New Year's Eve became known as "Freedom's Eve."”

Along with the prayers of thanksgiving and reflection, we do some other things in our service. We celebrate by taking Communion, and following Jesus’ humble example and washing each other’s feet, see here.

I pray that whatever you do this New Year’s Eve, you will take a moment to reflect on the past and the future and on the One who holds your life in His hands. Just as the slaves gathered in churches to pray for and await the news of their freedom, realize God has given us all a freedom in Christ.

Be safe and enjoy yourself.
Happy New Year!



Edited to add this link to Michael Benjamin's blog and a good piece he wrote about Watch Night, which contains Charyn Sutton's article now that the link in the first paragraph is no longer available.

Aviation Adventure

That's us before take-off


Big Daddy has wanted to go on a bi-plane ride for several years now. When we moved to the Keys he was glad to see bi-plane rides advertised at the local airport, just a stone’s throw away. I thought I would surprise him with a ride on it for his birthday. I was not planning on going with him. There are many exciting things I would like to do, however, this intimidated me. There is the obvious reason – being so high up in the air and in an open, exposed cockpit. The other reason is this: For past few years my equilibrium or something has changed. I cannot tolerate roller-coasters or the like. The movement, height, and speeds that go along with such things don’t agree with me like they once did. At one time I was able to go on such rides over and over again with no problem. Recently, even swinging on the park swings with my children makes me a wee bit dizzy. So I thought the bi-plane ride would upset my head and my stomach. I am so glad I was wrong! I thought you only live once; I may as well go with him for this ride. I was rewarded with a thrill! I would do it again, it was simply breathtaking. I highly recommend it. Our pilot was a character, a bit salty, but he did a great job. He made it thrilling enough for Big Daddy and not overly so for me. I think that Big Daddy was genuinely surprised and enjoyed himself. It was a blessing for us both and I thank God for the opportunity.



This is a view of the 7 Mile Bridge from above

Christmastime is here…

...And I love it! We have our lights up, our tree, our decorations and we are ready!


What’s your favourite Christmas movie? I love A Charlie Brown Christmas. On the other hand, The Grinch Who Stole Christmas used to scare the heck out of me when I was a child, and he still does. I am still uncomfortable watching it! I really like Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer, the old stop-action animated one where the characters are felt or clay. I like A Christmas Carol, too, but I can’t say which version I like best. I think that the movie The Nativity Story is one of my new favorites. Perhaps I am biased because of my faith, but I think it is a very well made, impeccably acted and visually compelling adaptation. I think anyone could appreciate it, even if they are not particularly religious. It’s directed by Catherine Hardwicke, who most recently directed the blockbuster Twilight. Check it out.

What’s your favorite Christmas music? I have so many favorites. Away In A Manger, O Come All Ye Faithful, O Little Town Of Bethlehem, Breath of Heaven by Amy Grant, Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas by the Pretenders, 'Zat You Santa Claus by Buster Poindexter, Little Drummer Boy by David Bowie and Bing Crosby, Put The Lights on the Tree by Sufjan Stevens, Ave Maria by Joan Baez….and of course, Christmastime is Here from the Charlie Brown special.


I will miss a few of the holiday traditions we enjoyed in Central Florida. Visiting Donelly Park in Mt. Dora, and enjoying the magical wonderland of lights and eating dinner at Vincent’s! Plant Street in Winter Garden was also lovely! I will miss driving by the decorated, old southern mansions in Oakland, some tasteful and some kitschy, but all a delight to the eyes. I will miss my dear family and friends there! I will not miss my dog-tired feet from working the retail craziness at Bealls, but I will miss my old co-workers. Last year I was so busy with my job and having some extra children in the nest, it was a very good Christmas overall, but a little crazy and stressful, too. God bless them (((J & T))), every~one!

I am looking forward to new traditions here in the Keys. I hope to visit the lighted boat parade in Key West. I have never seen a boat parade before, let alone boats with lights and decorations. That should be fun. I’m also told that the lights in the prayer garden of San Pablo are beautiful; I can’t wait to see them. We are having a candle light service on Christmas Eve. I look forward to some down time with my family, and to reflect on the season in a quietly joyful way this year.

Blessings, Ya'll!

Some Good Recipes

Coconut trees are not native to the Keys, I'm told, but they do thrive here. Our neighbor's son brought me a coconut from their tree. After googling a little I found a recipe from this blog. I used fresh grated coconut and sweetened it with a pinch of sugar and a teaspoon or 2 of apple cider. I used whole wheat flour. I also had only fresh bananas, and I think if they had been very ripe it would have been better. I usually have a few ripe bananas in the freezer, but I happened to be out of them. (If I have any bananas that are getting very spotty I simply put them in the freezer. Their peel turns black, but they are good for several months or so to use in breads, muffins, shakes and smoothies.)

Banana Coconut Muffins
from Epicurious

1 1/4 cups flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
2 very ripe bananas, mashed
1/2 cup butter, melted
2/3 cup sugar
1 large egg
1/2 tsp vanilla
3/4 cup sweetened flaked coconut

1. Whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt.

2. In a separate bowl, whisk together the banana, butter, sugar, egg, vanilla and 1/2 cup of the coconut.

3. Fold flour mixture into the wet ingredients, and mix just until combined.

4. Divide batter among 8 paper lined (or greased) muffin tins. Sprinkle tops with remaining coconut.

5. Bake at 375F for 25 minutes until golden. Cool on wire rack.


I have also been enjoying a new recipe for asparagus or broccoli I got from here. Wouldn't you just know that the Hippie Christian Family Message Board would have tasty veggie recipes?! (Check the board out, as it has just undergone a rejuvenation, and it looks so nice!) Anyway, I think I could eat broccoli every other day, it's my favorite vegetable. It was so nice to find a new recipe, with some of my favorite flavors. And it's simple! The first time I made it with asparagus, but I didn't toast the sesame seeds long enough. I toasted them for just a few minutes over medium heat in a small non-stick skillet. I also think I've been going a little overboard on the lemon, and might try going lighter the next time I prepare it.
Roasted Broccoli (or Asparagus) with Sesame Seeds and Lemon Butter
Serves 4 but is easily adaptable

1 pound broccoli florets
2 tablespoons olive oil
Salt and black pepper
2 tablespoons butter
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1/2 teaspoon grated lemon zest
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
2 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds

Preheat oven to 500 degrees.

In a large bowl, toss the broccoli with the oil and lightly sprinkle with salt and pepper. Arrange the broccoli in a single layer on a baking sheet and roast, turning once, for approximately 12 minutes or until tender.

In a small saucepan melt the butter over medium heat. Add the garlic and lemon zest and heat while stirring for about 1 minute. Let cool slightly and stir in the lemon juice. Place the broccoli in a serving bowl, pour the lemon butter over it and toss to coat. Scatter the toasted sesame seeds over the top.

I have a thing for Publix (a supermarket around here) brand raspberry iced tea. I wanted to see if I could come up with a home made version.

Raspberry Iced Tea
4 regular raspberry tea bags (I used Celestial Seasonings Brand)
Seedless raspberry jam or jelly
Sugar to taste, if desired

Bring tea kettle nearly to boil and remove from heat. Let the tea bags steep for about 10-15 minutes. Remove them and add about 2-3 tablespoons of the jam, stir into the hot tea until completely dissolved, you might have to warm up the tea a little to get the jam to dissolve. Add sugar to your taste. I like my sweet tea on the lightly sweetened side, so I use 1/2 to 3/4 cup sugar to a gallon of tea. Remember to use a little less sugar than what you normally like because the jelly will have plenty of sugar in it. After the tea cools a little longer, at least a 1/2 hour, pour into a gallon sized jug or container with a tight fitting lid. Add enough water to top it off. Shake. Refrigerate. Serve with ice and lime wedges. Enjoy.

I am delighted and blessed by things too numerous to count. Neighbors, coconuts, fair weather and stumbling across a good recipe and a good blog about food. Yum!

Let me know if you try these recipes and like them.

The World’s A Mess, It’s In my Kiss

I really want to get out of this gloomy rut, but circumstances won’t permit. I heard some really bad news yesterday. Several notions are jangling around in my head. I am trying to sort them all out and find a common thread in which to tie them all together and communicate clearly my recent feelings about life, death, love, family, faith and the world we live in.


“…no one is united all things are untied…”
First of all let me just say, the holidays can really suck for some people. I normally don’t like to talk like that. I strive to be erudite, but frankly there are times when the basic slang just fits better than anything else. When there is loss or pain regarding loved ones, the holidays can amplify it. This is especially true when it’s the fresh and raw pain of a recent bereavement or any hurt of a similar nature. That brings me to the bad news. It happens that a cousin of some dear friends of ours, Marissa* has lost her beloved husband to a tragic overdose. She has two young children. I cannot stop thinking about her. In my life and in the ministry I have witnessed many similar tragedies. All I can say is that my heart simply breaks for Marissa and I can’t imagine what they must be going through. I also can’t help but think of the people in my own family who struggle with similar addictions, and frankly it concerns me.


“…perhaps we're boiling over inside…”
Admittedly, I was already a little blue from grieving over the anniversary of my Dad’s passing. I was grateful for small mercies that week. I ended up not having to do jury duty. That same week my brother had either a mini-breakdown or a relapse and was hospitalized. Coincidence? Then the holiday came. My emotions were a bittersweet mixed bag from spending time with some family, and not spending time with others and trying not to dwell on any of it too much.


“…there are devils in many ways…”
Then there is the world news. The StuffMart* employee trampled by customers eager to grab a bargain in the early morning hours on Black Friday.
The mental picture of a two-year old smeared in his parents’ blood and wailing inconsolably near their dead bodies in the terrorist attacks in Mumbai haunts me. Equally troubling is the vision in my mind of the Korean woman who phoned her husband while she was a hostage, and was later found dead in that same string of attacks. To top it all off Natalie Holloway was likely sold for $10 grand to a man whose plans for her I don’t even want to think about.


So, pardon me for not feeling like a Hallmark Card or a Norman Rockwell painting this year. This world and many families are hurting. Greed and hatred are running rampant as are every other kind of hideous illegal or immoral action.


What are we to do in this pitiful and terrible world? What are we to do about all of the hurt so many of us are going through? I know what I’m going to do. I’m not going to lose hope. The Bible says to not be overcome with evil, but to overcome evil with good. The ultimate good is Jesus Christ, and the work He did and the things He taught. Even if I don’t actively practice evil like the terrorists, rapists and other nefarious persons in this world, if I give into hopelessness, depression, inaction or isolation I am still letting evil win.


I’m also going to realize what the Bible means when it says the little foxes spoil the vines. That means that even “little” sins like a bit of greed, some harsh and undeserving words, selfishness (and the like) all have their end in spoiling that which is good and noble. Those “little” sinful acts are the first steps down a slippery slope that makes one more susceptible to being capable of doing the big sinful things.


I am also going to really count my blessings. In that counting I’m going to remember that our lives are fragile. We never know when the last time we see someone we love might be. All of these tragedies with such unexpected deaths have reminded me of that. I say that not so we live in mortal fear and constant dread. I say it because I’m using it to remind myself to be a little kinder and a little more patient. I’d like to be more unselfish and forgiving. Neither myself nor my family is perfect, but it is the family I have been given. When I weigh the sum of how we act and interact with the weight of eternity, I want to say that I did my best. By the help and grace of God, which is not just a saying to me but a fact and a prayer, I want to be able to examine myself and say that I loved them good.


"...take it like a man..."
I want to accept the reality of family life this year, and embrace it rather than obsess over it. This year our Thanksgiving table was set for seven. In years past it was at least double that! I will not try to obsess over why or what has changed with the family. I will remember the many good years and family times, realizing that change is an inevitable part of life. I will celebrate this season that our family is in, and enjoy it as it is, rather than pine for what it is not. That would be futile. I looked around that little table and realized those were the people I loved the most in this world. That’s not to say that I don’t love so many others as deeply. Rather those present are the ones I’m most closely tied to, for better and for worse. Yes, I said “for worse,” which is how it is sometimes with family. Sometimes it feels like the love is not always reciprocated. I’m realizing that the bond of family is strong, stronger than our individual weaknesses. I myself have many shortcomings. I am struggling to get this plank of wood out of my own eye, I would like to be my “brother’s keeper” as much as is healthy and possible.


O.K., then! Now that I wrote all that out, I find myself not feeling so gloomy.
King David often started his psalms with cries of dispair, asking for help in trouble. He ended them in faith-filled words of resolve because he knew God in His mercy would prevail. I will echo that!
You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing.
You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy,
that I might sing praises to you and not be silent.
O Lord my God, I will give you thanks forever!*


Blessings~from e.b.


Song lyrics in red are from “The World’s A Mess, It’s In My Kiss” by X (the best Punk-Rock band ever)
*From Psalm 30

Memorial

In Loving Memory of F.C.D.
January 2, 1932 - November 17, 2000

And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.

And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. Rev. 21:3-4





The photo is of my Dad and I on my wedding day, it's one of my favorites. I picked the Bible verse because it comforts me, particularly in regards to this situation. I posted the Mills Brothers song because they were among my Dad's favorite musical artists. (Two other songs I considered posting, because they remind me of my Dad are Had A Dad by Jane's Addiction and I'll Be Seeing You, but I was looking for the version by Billie Holiday. The Mills Brothers seemed the best fit, I think my Dad would agree.) I can remember falling asleep to their records, as well as the Ink Spots, during the summers of my childhood. My dad would have the old cabinet stereo playing the records in the house. He ran a cord and a speaker out to the porch where he, my mom and their friends would be sipping martinis, chatting and laughing. Perhaps even playing cards, probably Pinochle. I remember feeling happy and secure. That was life back then.

My Ironic Jury Duty

I was called for jury duty on the exact anniversary of my Dad’s death. Those of you that know me intimately know why this is ironic. Since I don’t believe in coincidence, I will be curious to see if there is some divine purpose in this. I thought to write more about this situation but I am feeling at a loss for words and somewhat vulnerable right now.


The thing is, I have always somewhat welcomed the idea of jury duty. I know everyone else complains about it, but I have been curious to participate at least once. I was only called one other time. I was excused because I was rather far along in a pregnancy.


So, I am thinking about these things, considering the implications, and wondering how it will turn out.