Friday, March 5, 2010
Each Friday during Lent, different classes have been leading the stations of the cross.
Today, Peggy’s fourth grade class did a Living Stations of the Cross. The students dressed up as Pilate and King Herod, Jesus, Mary, Simon and Veronica and helped us imagine what happened on Good Friday on the way to Calvary.
King Herod made an impression on me, with a very stern finger wagging in Jesus’ face. Every time Jesus fell and was on the ground I could see the smaller kids craning their necks or standing up to look down and see what was going on. The visuals are a good learning tool and engaged the other students well.
This evening was the first weekend of our spring FAST (Families And Schools Together) program. My only official duty was to lead a meal prayer, but it gave me a chance to visit each of the seven families and help welcome them.
Most families live one to two hours away, yet have committed to the four weekend program, which includes structured activities designed to help them communicate with their children.
Some of the activities are lively and loud and done with the whole group. We sang songs and circled around to learn everyone’s names. Other times are structured so parents or grandparents can spend quality one-on-one times with the children to talk and listen without interruptions.
A residential school where many of the families cannot be very involved in the day-to-day life of their children presents unique challenges. We believe the more we can strengthen families, the more we can help our students in the long run.
What a momentuous cultural event..! Peggy is another of the outstanding teachers that you have employed..
Such a beautiful job..!
All cildren do not have the sort of opportunity the children have there with you..Too bad your parents didn’t have octuplets when you were born..!
But your one ray of light will go far..and last..forever.
Cheers..!
Mia Inez Archer
YES..you do. You do a fantastic job of strengthening families. You don’t just talk..h
you accomplish it..!
Blessings on your head..!
Mia Inez Archer
JMJ / MMM 17 March 2010
Dear Father Steve —
Today is Wednesday..and it’s St Patty’s Day! Well, with a name like yours you HAVE to be Irish! Did not all the “Mac’s” (I’m one) know that Germany was actually founded by the Irish? Happy St Patrick’s Day! // Your radiation will begin next Monday. You are and will continue to be in special prayer for complete healing. I-we pray in Jesus’ Name that in the Eternal Will of God, before you were ever born,it was decided and determined that you, Father Steve, would be completely healed of your cancer. Jesus said, “Up to now you haven’t asked. ASK! AND YOU WILL RECEIVE!” And so i-we do ask. // For over two years now I’ve been praying for the healing and reuniting of my wife and myself in our marriage. Yesterday a story I love very much came to my mind .. the raising of Lazarus. So now I’m praying not only for a healing but moreso for a RESURRECTION of our marriage. Asking for a lot? You bet I am! // I’ll share with you a further encouragement God gave me regarding what I call KatieJohn. God sent me a message from HABAKKUK .. “How long? O God! I cry for help but You do not listen! And then the Lord answered me and said: ‘Our vision [promise] still has its time. It will not disappoint. If it delays, wait for it. It will surely come..it will not be late!'” // God encourages me..and so I encourage you, Father. Why should we hope for and expect little from God..OUR God! // May God’s saints and angels keep you constant company, never let you feel alone, lift you up, and give you signs of healing and resurrection. Love .. KatieJohn