BEAUTIFUL DAY

Today was yet another Sunday, and not too much was different than other Sundays, except that we are working on our Christmas Program during Sunday School. The children learn the little songs and carols very quickly. We made some 'real' minature Christmas trees with trimmings from the tree that we put up in our house yesterday, and we sprayed it with 'snow.' The children were pleased with their handiwork and took them home very carefully in little boxes.

It was a beautiful day and I would like to share a few pictures that we took today. The brilliant blue of the river was arresting as we crested the last hill before we ascended into the river valley and Lower Brule.It was around 52 degrees when we left Lower Brule this afternoon. Ray and I took advantage of the weather while we were there and ate lunch on the overlook.

Thank you for your interest in Lower Brule. Please pray for us as we prepare for the Christmas Program and work out the details for it.

CHRISTMAS PREPARATION

We traveled to Lower Brule under a clear and sunshiny sky in a leisurely trip and arrived with time to prepare the chapel for a comfortable morning service. The men arrived at service time, and a few children also dropped in. Ray gave us a message with an emphasis on Jesus' coming at Christmas time.

We had brought a crockpot with beef stew, and ate it in the basement before Ray left to pick up the children for Sunday School. He returned with a full van. We taught them a Christmas song for the upcoming Christmas Program, and told the story of Zachariah and Elizabeth and the birth of John the Baptist. The group of children were eager and open, and I found my time with them invigorating. We did a little Christmas craft, and they left happy.

One of the men who comes regularly to the morning service informed us of a memorial service this afternoon to remember his son who passed away tragically a year ago. We stayed to attend it. When we started for home, the blue sky had turned gray and heavy, and snow was sifting from the sky. As we neared the interstate, the sifting snow became a driving snow, and the highway was treacherous until we were a few miles from Mitchell.

Please pray for Lower Brule, as many hearts are grieving during this season. The village of Lower Brule has suffered many sorrows during the year 2011. Please pray, also, for the Christmas Program outreach, as we hope to hold it on December 21. The children are excitedly looking forward to it. Thank you for your interest in Lower Brule.