Hello Friends,
Thursday was the Winter Solstice. Welcome Winter! Look for our day light hours to become longer. Meanwhile, take of advantage of the longer nights for those Winter naps.
Shoppers, look for last minute shopping and end of year bargains.
Have a fabulous and safe holiday break and see you next year!
Love,
Carolyn
International Bible Study: Tuesdays, 9:30-10:30, room 100.
"Joy to the world, the Lord is come! Let earth receive her King!" Christmas is almost here, and this beloved carol reminds us that the joy we feel at Christmas should cause us to thank and praise God for the greatest gift of all, our Savior Jesus. Our opening discussion today was about Psalm 100, a psalm that is full of joy. But sometimes during the holiday season, we can feel overwhelmed with all the decorating, gift-buying, gift-wrapping, cookie-baking, cleaning, and food preparation that take up so much of our time. We can lose our focus, get caught up in the work, and forfeit our joy, replacing it with a smoldering resentment that our efforts are not understood or appreciated. It was great to talk with other women who encouraged one another to shift our focus back to Jesus and the joy that His birth brings to our world.
We also read and began discussion of chapter 5 of the Gospel of Matthew. It is the beginning of Jesus's Sermon on the Mount. The first 12 verses are called the Beatitudes. Beatitudes describe a state of blessedness or ultimate happiness when a person is living life the way God intends it to be lived. Jesus begins by saying, "Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." This is followed by seven more "Blessed are ..." verses naming a group of unfortunate or downtrodden people, followed by the blessings that will come to them because of their faith. There is so much to discuss from these twelve verses, and today we barely scratched the surface! ~Jan Heimann
overwhelmed: covered or buried beneath a mass of something; overpowered by an excessive amount of anything
forfeit: to lose or give up something
smoldering resentment: a slow-burning feeling of displeasure at some act, remark, person, etc., regarded as causing injury or insult
barely scratched the surface: just got started
January 9: We will continue to study the Beatitudes when we reconvene on Jan. 9th. Please join us from 9:30-10:30 in Room 100.
International Friends: Tuesdays, 10:30-12:00, room 100.
We talked about mythical creatures. It was fun to compare the different creatures across the cultures. We have the tiger grandma in China, a turtle-like creature that eats cucumber in Japan, trolls and elves across Europe, and a horse that has fire for a head from South America. We talked a little about the Slender Man (a modern mythical character) and Pokémon.
January 10: Join us to share our news of the break and plan for the new year.
Conversation: Wednesdays, 4:30-6:00, room 209.
We met to wind up the year with John. He read us one of his clever books that takes slang literally.
January 10: Bring your words that have no direct translation in English (without a long explanation). Bring an English word that needs an explanation.
English Classes: Thursdays, 9:30-12:00, upstairs classrooms.
There were some wonderful and festive holiday parties on Thursday. I hope that you had a great time! Thank you for the treats and the gifts and treasures. I hope that you have a nice break and practice your English with festive holiday greetings where ever you are traveling.
January 11: Join us as we start our new year!
Friday, December 22, 2017
Thursday, December 14, 2017
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, Friends!
This is the greeting you may be hearing throughout the town. These cheerful words are transformed into action during the holiday season. There are many opportunities to help others throughout the year but you will see churches, football teams, schools, police and firemen community assistance, and many others hosting events to help others during this season to bring gifts to people who have needs and cheer to those who are far from family.
It's not too late to jump in! You may have seen Toys for Tots donations centers; the U. S. Marines are the force behind this philanthropic drive to collect and distribute toys books and other gifts to less fortunate children in the local community with 97 percent of the donations going to children and three percent for overhead. You can donate money on line or you can donate new toys at any of these locations here in Indy. They still need toys for infants and toddlers and children nine years and older. There are other charity donation opportunities to make the holidays bright for children. Have you noticed the bell ringers outside stores? These people from Salvation Army are collecting money to help people in need focusing on social issues. The Salvation Army is a Christian organization that provides assistance internationally. There are many other opportunities to help others this season. It is a season for giving.
International Bible Study: Tuesdays, 9:30-10:30, room 100.
I love Christmas music! Once Halloween is over at the end of October, I find myself seeking out the channels on my Pandora radio that play nothing but Christmas songs. I'm sure some people think I'm crazy for listening before Thanksgiving, but these songs remind me of the joy that is ours through the birth of Jesus. They remind me of the greatest gift ever given.
This week our Bible Study focused on the Christmas story, and we enjoyed singing together some beautiful Christmas carols about the birth of our Savior. God incarnate! It's incredible to think that God came to us in the form of a human baby, born in a stable and laid in a manger. Such humble beginnings for the King of the universe! The angel announced His birth to the shepherds and told them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord." Good news for ALL the people, no matter what nationality, no matter how young or how old, no matter how wealthy or how poor. He is our Immanuel, which means "God with us."~Jan Heimann
December 19: Join us as we read and discuss the Sermon on the Mount (one of Jesus' most comprehensive lessons) in Matthew 5. We will also be reading Psalm 100.
International Friends: Tuesdays, 10:30-12:00, room 100.
We celebrated with our annual Christmas party. We had delicious food and drinks and a table full of desserts. We sang the 12 Days of Christmas. This is a classic! We found out that some countries sing these same songs, but the order gifts is different (five doves instead of F-I-V-E G-O-L-D-E-N R-I-N-G-S). We had delicious dishes. I know I gained more than a few pounds from this meal. We enjoyed a white elephant gift exchange. The most popular gifts were a holiday platter and a toaster oven! We had great treasures for everyone. It is always fun to see what winds up being a white elephant for someone and a great treasure for someone else. It was hard to decide what to steal at the end of the day.
December 19: Join us for our final meeting of the year.
Conversation: Wednesdays, 4:30-6:00, room 209.
We read the classic American poem "Night Before Christmas" by Clement C. Moore in 1822. Listen to this version set to music that has become a standard at all holiday variety shows. There have been a number of spoofs written over time that play on this poem. We also reviewed a list of typical words heard this season.
December 21: We will wrap up our last class of the year in fine style!
English Classes: Thursdays, 9:30-12:00, upstairs classrooms.
There was so much great work going on in the classes this week. Everyone continues to work hard and to improve. I am amazed what you can accomplish in just a few weeks!
December 22: Join us even if your class isn't meeting. You can sit in on our other classes and see what everyone else is up to.
jump in: participate
in need: people needing help
social issues: problems that emerge in a society
force behind: the people who work to make something happen
overhead: costs to operate an organization including facilities, salaries, equipment, etc
make the holidays bright: make the days happy and hopeful
humble: not proud or arrogant; modest
This is the greeting you may be hearing throughout the town. These cheerful words are transformed into action during the holiday season. There are many opportunities to help others throughout the year but you will see churches, football teams, schools, police and firemen community assistance, and many others hosting events to help others during this season to bring gifts to people who have needs and cheer to those who are far from family.
It's not too late to jump in! You may have seen Toys for Tots donations centers; the U. S. Marines are the force behind this philanthropic drive to collect and distribute toys books and other gifts to less fortunate children in the local community with 97 percent of the donations going to children and three percent for overhead. You can donate money on line or you can donate new toys at any of these locations here in Indy. They still need toys for infants and toddlers and children nine years and older. There are other charity donation opportunities to make the holidays bright for children. Have you noticed the bell ringers outside stores? These people from Salvation Army are collecting money to help people in need focusing on social issues. The Salvation Army is a Christian organization that provides assistance internationally. There are many other opportunities to help others this season. It is a season for giving.
International Bible Study: Tuesdays, 9:30-10:30, room 100.
I love Christmas music! Once Halloween is over at the end of October, I find myself seeking out the channels on my Pandora radio that play nothing but Christmas songs. I'm sure some people think I'm crazy for listening before Thanksgiving, but these songs remind me of the joy that is ours through the birth of Jesus. They remind me of the greatest gift ever given.
This week our Bible Study focused on the Christmas story, and we enjoyed singing together some beautiful Christmas carols about the birth of our Savior. God incarnate! It's incredible to think that God came to us in the form of a human baby, born in a stable and laid in a manger. Such humble beginnings for the King of the universe! The angel announced His birth to the shepherds and told them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord." Good news for ALL the people, no matter what nationality, no matter how young or how old, no matter how wealthy or how poor. He is our Immanuel, which means "God with us."~Jan Heimann
December 19: Join us as we read and discuss the Sermon on the Mount (one of Jesus' most comprehensive lessons) in Matthew 5. We will also be reading Psalm 100.
We celebrated with our annual Christmas party. We had delicious food and drinks and a table full of desserts. We sang the 12 Days of Christmas. This is a classic! We found out that some countries sing these same songs, but the order gifts is different (five doves instead of F-I-V-E G-O-L-D-E-N R-I-N-G-S). We had delicious dishes. I know I gained more than a few pounds from this meal. We enjoyed a white elephant gift exchange. The most popular gifts were a holiday platter and a toaster oven! We had great treasures for everyone. It is always fun to see what winds up being a white elephant for someone and a great treasure for someone else. It was hard to decide what to steal at the end of the day.
December 19: Join us for our final meeting of the year.
Conversation: Wednesdays, 4:30-6:00, room 209.
We read the classic American poem "Night Before Christmas" by Clement C. Moore in 1822. Listen to this version set to music that has become a standard at all holiday variety shows. There have been a number of spoofs written over time that play on this poem. We also reviewed a list of typical words heard this season.
December 21: We will wrap up our last class of the year in fine style!
English Classes: Thursdays, 9:30-12:00, upstairs classrooms.
There was so much great work going on in the classes this week. Everyone continues to work hard and to improve. I am amazed what you can accomplish in just a few weeks!
December 22: Join us even if your class isn't meeting. You can sit in on our other classes and see what everyone else is up to.
jump in: participate
in need: people needing help
social issues: problems that emerge in a society
force behind: the people who work to make something happen
overhead: costs to operate an organization including facilities, salaries, equipment, etc
make the holidays bright: make the days happy and hopeful
Christmas carols: songs about the holiday some carols are hymns and some are secular
incarnate: embodied in flesh; given a bodily, especially a human, formhumble: not proud or arrogant; modest
winds up: the end or final event
at the end of the day: not really in the evening, but finally
set to music: turned into a song
see what everyone else is up to: what other people are doing
Saturday, December 9, 2017
Holiday Traditions
Happy Holidays Friends,
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas! The light snow today helps set the mood and spirit of the holidays. One beautiful thing about this season is that old traditions are observed and new traditions are instituted. Christmas in America can be both religious and secular. You can attend church services at any church (and please do, everyone is welcome to come and hear the stories). You can enjoy holiday decorations and special programs and events including a visit to Santa, caroling, and so much more. It is so fun to start a new family tradition: decorating, cookie baking, watching special television programs and wearing gaudy sweaters. No matter how you choose to celebrate, remember that at the heart of Christmas is love, care, comfort, joy, peace and giving.
International Bible Study: Tuesdays, 9:30-10:30, room 100.
We read Matthew 4:18-25 where Jesus recruits His apostles (the staff ). The interview process is simple: Jesus says "follow me and I will make you fishers of men" (as opposed to fishermen; an interesting twist of words). They immediately left with Jesus and traveled through Galilee where Jesus taught and healed people. Large crowds from Syria, Galilee, Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea and across the Jordan found Him and followed Him (without being invited, specifically). Wow! Check out the map! Let's count the miracles: people follow Jesus immediately, people are healed, people from warring nations travel together in unity.
December 12: Join us in the chapel as we celebrate with Lessons and Carols. We will read the Christmas story and sing Christmas hymns.
International Friends: Tuesdays, 10:30-12:00, room 100.
We baked traditional and new traditional Christmas cookies. You can find our recipes here or get a copy from Carolyn at church.
December 12: You and your kin are invited to join us for our Christmas Party. Bring a dish to share and a white elephant gift if you wish to participate in our gift exchange.
Conversation: Wednesdays, 4:30-6:00, room 209.
We enjoyed a taste of Iran with delicious cookies. We talked about holidays from the Easy English News. We talked about if and/or how we celebrate Christmas in our home countries as well as other winter traditions.
set the mood: ambiance, help people feel the same way
spirit of the holidays: the feeling behind the celebration
season: a period of the calendar year that is marked by behaviors or events
observed: followed as opposed to the usual meaning of watching
instituted: begun formally
gaudy: fashion that is so showy it is tasteless, obnoxious, or over the top
at the heart: the reason
recruits: finds suitable people for a team or job
interview: question and answer to determine if someone is right for the job
twist of words: poetic or pun not to be confused with "twist my words" which means using someone's word to misrepresent what they have said (not a good thing)
miracle: a surprising and explainable welcome event that is considered the work of God
and/or: when you see and/or you can use either word as is appropriate for your situation; you may see his/her when reading a
be sure to check: ask and confirm
through: to
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas! The light snow today helps set the mood and spirit of the holidays. One beautiful thing about this season is that old traditions are observed and new traditions are instituted. Christmas in America can be both religious and secular. You can attend church services at any church (and please do, everyone is welcome to come and hear the stories). You can enjoy holiday decorations and special programs and events including a visit to Santa, caroling, and so much more. It is so fun to start a new family tradition: decorating, cookie baking, watching special television programs and wearing gaudy sweaters. No matter how you choose to celebrate, remember that at the heart of Christmas is love, care, comfort, joy, peace and giving.
International Bible Study: Tuesdays, 9:30-10:30, room 100.
We read Matthew 4:18-25 where Jesus recruits His apostles (the staff ). The interview process is simple: Jesus says "follow me and I will make you fishers of men" (as opposed to fishermen; an interesting twist of words). They immediately left with Jesus and traveled through Galilee where Jesus taught and healed people. Large crowds from Syria, Galilee, Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea and across the Jordan found Him and followed Him (without being invited, specifically). Wow! Check out the map! Let's count the miracles: people follow Jesus immediately, people are healed, people from warring nations travel together in unity.
December 12: Join us in the chapel as we celebrate with Lessons and Carols. We will read the Christmas story and sing Christmas hymns.
International Friends: Tuesdays, 10:30-12:00, room 100.
We baked traditional and new traditional Christmas cookies. You can find our recipes here or get a copy from Carolyn at church.
December 12: You and your kin are invited to join us for our Christmas Party. Bring a dish to share and a white elephant gift if you wish to participate in our gift exchange.
Conversation: Wednesdays, 4:30-6:00, room 209.
We enjoyed a taste of Iran with delicious cookies. We talked about holidays from the Easy English News. We talked about if and/or how we celebrate Christmas in our home countries as well as other winter traditions.
December 13: Join us as we talk about New Year Traditions and plan a field trip next week!
English Classes: Thursdays, 9:30-12:00, upstairs classrooms.
We are scheduled to meet through December 21. Be sure to check with your teachers for your individual class plans and schedules through the end of the year.
light snow: a dusting, not a lotEnglish Classes: Thursdays, 9:30-12:00, upstairs classrooms.
We are scheduled to meet through December 21. Be sure to check with your teachers for your individual class plans and schedules through the end of the year.
set the mood: ambiance, help people feel the same way
spirit of the holidays: the feeling behind the celebration
season: a period of the calendar year that is marked by behaviors or events
observed: followed as opposed to the usual meaning of watching
instituted: begun formally
gaudy: fashion that is so showy it is tasteless, obnoxious, or over the top
at the heart: the reason
recruits: finds suitable people for a team or job
interview: question and answer to determine if someone is right for the job
twist of words: poetic or pun not to be confused with "twist my words" which means using someone's word to misrepresent what they have said (not a good thing)
miracle: a surprising and explainable welcome event that is considered the work of God
and/or: when you see and/or you can use either word as is appropriate for your situation; you may see his/her when reading a
be sure to check: ask and confirm
through: to
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