I am in the holiday spirit! Break out your ugly holiday sweater! Actually, there is no such thing as an ugly Christmas sweater. There are gaudy sweaters, there are silly sweaters, there are sparkly and electric sweaters, there are weird and inappropriate sweaters, but I would NEVER call them ugly. I would call them fun and spirited!
Language Speed Tip!
I heard a brilliant tip for quick conversational English. Imagine yourself at a party and you want to tell someone about something you did (in the past) and you are getting jammed up in conjugation and translation...don't panic! Use "did".
For example:
I did run in the Turkey Trot over Thanksgiving. [I ran in the Turkey Trot...]
I did make a turkey for Thanksgiving. [I made a turkey...]
I did go Black Friday shopping. [I went shopping on Black Friday.]
I did buy tech on Cyber Monday. [I bought tech...]
Is this perfect English? Maybe not. But did you keep the conversation going? You sure did! And isn't that what your were shooting for?
You aren't off the hook, though...Continue to study your irregular verb tenses to become even more confident!
Floating Yoga Class:
We met on Wednesday this week. It is nice to move the class to accommodate our changing schedules. Our last meeting of the year was a good one. Watch for announcements for our next meeting next year.
International Bible Study: Tuesdays, 9:30-10:30, room 100.
We celebrated lessons and carols. This is a favorite church service. Please take time and watch the 10:45 service from CLC (the songs are different, but the readings are the same). This service is an excellent short cut to understanding the basic history behind Christianity. This service tells the story of how God had a good relationship with people and how that relationship was broken. God fixed that relationship. Here are the lessons and the carols we sang*:
- The First Lesson (people break their relationship with God): Genesis 3: 8-15
- Carol: All Mankind Fell in Adam's Fall (tune)
- The Second Lesson (a prophet tells how God will fix the relationship): Isaiah 11: 1-9
- Carol: Behold a Branch is Growing
- The Third Lesson (A song that is sung to welcome God into the temple): Psalm 24
- Carol: Lift Up Your Heads Ye Might Gates
- The Fourth Lesson (get ready Mary!): Luke 1: 26-38
- Carol: Oh Come, Oh Come Emmanual
- Luke 1: 46-56 (and Mary's answer to the announcement) Matthew 3: 1-12
- The Fifth Lesson (we get ready): Hebrews 1: 1-3
- Carol: Joy to the World
We prayed: Come Lord Jesus, be our guest and let thy gifts to us be blessed.
We closed with the benediction or blessing that God give you his attention (Numbers 6: 24-26):
The Lord bless you and keep you:
The Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you:
The Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.
* Our carols were are different from the service; find the tunes individually here. Find the title and click on song numbers (these are from an older version of the current Lutheran Worship book, but are accurate tunes.
December 17: Let's read and talk about the story of the first Christmas!
International Friends: Tuesdays, 10:30-11:30, room 100. WE HAD COOKIE DAY! You can't get any better than that! You can find the recipes on our recipe page. I did get most of the recipes from my classic Betty Crocker cookbook. The older the book the better! But realize that these well used and well loved books don't often survive from generation to generation. The recipes stand the test of time. You may not find them to follow some of the current conventions of "healthy eating", but you will find some great tasting American cooking. Find one at Goodwill. Find the cookie recipes here. By the way, the Betty Crocker book spelled cookie with a 'y' (cooky). December 17: Join us for our final meeting of the year. Its our CHRISTMAS PARTY! WOO HOO! Bring a dish to share, bring a white elephant gift to exchange, bring your family and friends!
Conversation: Wednesdays, 4:30-6:00, upstairs classrooms. We met and talked about...
December 18: Let's go on a joyride to see the holiday lights.
English Classes: Thursdays, 9:30-11:30, upstairs classrooms. Thank you to the teachers that filled in for absent teachers. Please stay healthy. Congratulations, Grandma Kathy! Give your new grandson a kiss from us.
December 19: Join us for the last class of the year!
English for Children: Thursdays, 9:30-11:30, Bride's Room Nursery. We had so much fun learning about the meaning behind traditional Christmas decorations.
December 19: We will read about Santa Claus and Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer and celebrate popular American Christmas culture.
carols: popular religious or folk songs most often associated with Christmas
off the hook: not responsible
thy: old fashioned word for your (this word is rhymes with high not to be confused with thigh)
countenance: face or facial expression; acceptable and/or support
stand the test of time: last from generation to generation
current conventions: mainstream or popular thinking
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