Getting Ready for the New Year

Getting Ready for the New Year

Meet at 4 at the Wesley Cottage at Saluda United Methodist Church.

We'll discuss our need to let go of things from our past year
and the power of making goals or setting a vision for the upcoming year.
Then, we'll participate in some rituals that will help ingrain in us these acts of
letting go and establishing a vision for our next year. These acts are meant for both young and old.
Listen to this scripture and bring other readings, that they may inspire your work for next year.

As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; teach and admonish one another in all wisdom; and with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.  Colossians 3:12-17

We're also having a pizza party. We'll provide the pizza and you bring salad/dessert/whatever to go with it.
See you then and bring a friend!
Rob

Christmas Celebration and Potluck
With Columbus UMC 12/16/2012
We'll meet at the Wesley Cottage at 5 p.m.
Then we will carpool down to Columbus for dinner, fellowship and a Christmas program. We're scheduled to be through between 6:30 and 7:00 p.m.

Next week 12/23/2012 is Christmas Caroling and we'll start at 4 p.m...

It's Contra Dance Time for Stone Soup

You may ask, "why would a worship laboratory go to a contra dance?" Or "How am I going to experience worship at a contra dance?"

Well, here's what to work with:
In the book of 2 Samuel chapter 6, "David danced before the Lord with all his might." Now I am not saying that we can do something just because someone in the Old Testament did it too. The context is not something we can replicate today. However, we can look at the act as a guide for us. In dancing, David embodied his love of the God whose power was overwhelming and real. It's  the embodiment that we're seeking; a physical way to acknowledge and participate in our God who calls us to love one another in powerful and real ways.

In contra dancing we don't just agree with the idea that we are called to live out our love of God and love of neighbor by saying we like people in theory. In contra dancing we are called to look our neighbor (friend and stranger) in the eye from a close distance. We are called to ask if it is okay to spin this way or that. Permission seeking and agreement making are good practices. Contra dancing calls us to make new friends and build relationships at a time when our schedules and fears tend to make us more isolated and selfish. It isn't easy to do. We do this to worship the God of love who we celebrate at this time of year because this love came and dwelt with us, Jesus the embodied one. At the contra dance, we're not asking you to talk about your love of God and neighbor, we're asking you to actually grow in your love of God and love of neighbor with all your might.

(all pics are from the Harvest Moon Folk Society website. HMFS sponsored the last dance we attended)

So, here's the gig Katrina has put together for us. (thanks Katrina)

FOR STONE SOUP we can meet at 3:00 at the Methodist Church we can say a dancing prayer and carpool / caravan down.
It seems that we wouldn't really want to eat right before? and everyone might have different times they want to stay and 7:00 getting back might be too late to eat together? so I think we should call off a dinner.

and here's the dance info...

(the following is Judy Wards letter.)

CONTRA DANCE DECEMBER! 

Please plan to join us at historic Sunnydale on Sunday Afternoon, December 9   

LIVE MUSIC by BLUE RIDGE ROUNDERS featuring Alan Dillman, Bob Buckingham and Amy Buckingham.

CALLING by Diane Silver a popular Asheville caller.

LOCATION:  Sunnydale, a wonderful, historic facility with a wooden dance floor and plenty of room.  334 Trade Street in  Tryon, NC next to the IGA Grocery. Parking in front on lot to east and across the street (not in the Dollar General lot).

DONATION: Please share $8 with us to pay the musicians and caller.

TIME:  Beginner lesson at 3:30.  Dancing from 4:00 until 6:30.

NO EXPERIENCE NEEDED.  NO PARTNER NEEDED.  JUST COME AND BRING A SMILE AND WE'LL GET YOUR TOES TAPPING IN NO TIME! This is a called dance with plenty of walk-through to be sure you have the pattern down.  Then the musicians will take it away!

Tryon Downtown Development Association is co-sponsoring and helping with costs and hopes that dancers will come early and enjoy dinner at one of the great restaurants in downtown Tryon.  Please forward this to your friends who may want to join us!

It's Advent!

Stone Soup join the Saluda Community Advent Walk this week.
We begin at the Episcopal Church of the Transfiguration at 3 p.m.
Then we'll walk to each downtown church (Presbyterian, Baptist, Methodist and return to Episcopal) where each congregation shares a gift with the community. It is a beautiful time of fellowship, prayer and worship with our community.
You don't need to bring anything, the Episcopal church will provide refreshments at the end including the traditional ginger bread. We should be through around five.

Dec 9 Stone Soup Goes Contra Dancing

Dec 16 Stone Soup is invited to the Columbus UMC Christmas Party Potluck for singing, celebrating and worship.

Dec 23 Stone Soup goes Caroling