Do A Good Turn Daily . . .

"And Ruth the Moabitess said unto Naomi,

Let me now go to the field,

and glean ears of corn after him

In whose sight I shall find grace.

And she said unto her, Go, my daughter."

Ruth 2:2  KJV

"For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me."

“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink: When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’

“They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’

“He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of those, you did not do for me.’

“Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”                  Matthew 25:35-46

December 6th I went downtown Indianapolis, Indiana with six Cub Scouts, a younger sister, five parents/leaders, one grandmother and 70 pairs of new socks (OK, they were ‘slightly used’ socks . . . the Cubs had a ‘snowball fight’ with them on Monday night in the Bay at the Fire Station – but they had been washed); to ‘Do A Good Turn,’ aka some ‘community service.’ We went to help serve a hot lunch to the homeless. This sounded like a rather simple task as all we had to do was to show-up – all the food and such would be provided by others . . . but I soon found out this was a HUGE production.

As we pull up, there are already several homeless waiting . . . they knew we were coming. Some are standing on the sidewalk, others sitting on the ground or at picnic tables in the park . . . all knowing that soon there would be a feast set out before them. Some of their names known by the ‘regulars’ that come and serve them meals, to them they are familiar faces. Some come over and begin conversations; they also came over to see who the new faces were.

We met up with a group of Christians from around the Indianapolis area who come together every other Saturday (I think that's what I heard someone say) on Pennsylvania Street just south of Virginia Street. We helped set up ten or twelve long banquet tables on the sidewalk, filled them with hot food. There’s soup, fried chicken, sliced ham, turkey & noodles, macaroni & cheese, mashed potatoes, cheesy potatoes, cole slaw, potato salad, rolls & bread, some fresh fruit, deviled eggs, lunchmeat/cold cut sandwiches, cornbread muffins, yogurt and drinks.

The tables are up, the food and drinks are ready to be served, the workers all have their assignments, the homeless have come and lined up in an orderly fashion . . . all is ready. One of the organizers finds a spot towards the beginning of the line and welcomes all and then offers a prayer.

The homeless make their way down the line with their Styrofoam ‘take-out’ containers in their hands, and as they come to us we ask if they’d like what we were serving. They're welcome to have some of everything we're serving. Their small containers filled up way too quickly.

They’re grateful for the food and they thank us for being there. They’re blessed to see the children there helping to serve their lunch. Some say “Bless you,” and others wish us a “Merry Christmas.” They have smiles on their faces. A few come back for a second helping. Some bring plastic containers with them and put their food in them and several bring bags to put extra food in for later.

There are large garbage bags full of plastic containers and after all seem to have their fill, we fill small containers with what’s left in our pans . . . macaroni & cheese and cole slaw are ready for those that would like a bit more for later. There are a few sandwiches left and some yogurt as well.

Snowball fight

At the end of the food line, there was bread, heads of lettuce, stalks of celery, and boxes of romaine lettuce that they were welcome to help themselves to. There were bags filled with warm clothes, blankets and the socks that the Cub Scouts donated . . . they were free to take what they could use.
While we were serving one of the ladies came up from behind me and thanked me for coming and helping out, one of the organizers I think . . . then she gave me a big warm hug. Several of the other ‘regulars’ came by and thanked us for coming and helping out. I think our being there allowed some of them to spend time out in conversation with the homeless that they come and serve so often.

Lunch had been served, the food was gone . . . we began the clean-up process. We help gather trash, clean off the tables and help load up the vans and SUVs.

I had come with one of the leaders and her two sons and as I waited for them, one of the homeless men came up and we had the most delightful conversation . . . I found out that he had been in Scouting when he was a youth. He was touched to find out that the young boys helping to serve lunch today were Cub Scouts and they had come with several of their leaders.

‘Do a good turn daily’ it’s the Scout Motto . . . each Scout is to do a ‘good turn’ or give some sort of service each day, give unselfishly to others. One of the mom’s/leaders that was with us commented on the Pack’s Facebook page “. . . It was a very valuable lesson for the boys! Helping others.”

We spent about two-and-a-half hours out on Pennsylvania Street, setting-up, serving, cleaning and sharing conversation with the homeless that came by for something to eat. I was thankful that the rain had stopped earlier and that the wind wasn’t as strong as they had predicted on the news.

I went not knowing exactly what I was getting myself into.

I went to see what the Scouts were doing.

I went to serve . . .

When I left, I wasn’t the same as when I arrived . . . I had been richly blessed! What an amazing way to begin the Christmas holiday season!

I found several scriptures dealing with feeding the poor, I began this post with one that has been speaking loudly to me this last week, here are a couple more:

“Happy is the generous man, the one who feeds the poor.”   Proverbs 22:9

“For if you give, you will get! Your gift will return to you in full and overflowing measure, pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, and running over. Whatever measure you use to give--large or small--will be used to measure what is given back to you."   Luke 6:38

What ‘good turn’ or community service have you done lately? Whom do you serve? What drives you to serve others? Is your service well planned out? OR does it just seem to happen? What service are you giving this Christmas? How does giving to others make you feel?

I wish for each of you a very Merry Christmas – remembering the reason for the season and that our God blesses you richly in the coming year.

* I’d like to thank Nicole, one of the Pack leaders, for allowing me to share the pictures that she took serving the homeless in this blog post.

** I'm the one with the heavy red coat & navy blue hoodie (from Quaker Haven Camp) on!

 

"F" is for Friends Committee on Scouting . . .

"And Ruth the Moabitess said unto Naomi,

Let me now go to the field,

and glean ears of corn after him

In whose sight I shall find grace.

And she said unto her, Go, my daughter."

Ruth 2:2  KJV
 

"F" is for 'Friends Committee on Scouting.' Of course it is, and what else would I blog about for 'F'? Consider this a Friendly public service announcement, an introduction of sorts and/or some global publicity if you will.

 

On April 13, 2007 I attended the 'First Annual International Quaker Scout/Guide Gathering' at the Western Yearly Meeting facilities in Plainfield, Indiana, USA. I was asked that Friday afternoon (yes, Friday the 13th!) if I would like to join Friends Committee on Scouting. That was something that I hadn't thought about, didn't know was possible . . . something I would have to really think about. I was asked again Saturday morning and yet again Sunday morning before I finally said "Yes." Less than three years later during the 2010 Annual Meeting, on March 20th, I was nominated and approved to serve as the Clerk for FCS.



FCS patch
with 25th
Anniversary
ring patch

So, it's natural for me to talk or write about Friends Committee on Scouting and I've been thinking about blogging about who we are and what we do since I first set-up my blog back in early May of last year but I just hadn't quite figured out how to do it or found the time . . . until this Quaker Alphabet blogging came along!

 

To quote from our website: "Friends Committee on Scouting serves to encourage and promote the faith, history, and testimonies of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) through religious education programs for Quaker Scouts/Guides and other similar youth organizations." We do this through the various curriculum's we have developed over the last 25 years:

• In the United States we offer 'That of God' (grades 2-5) and 'Spirit of Truth' (grades 6-12 + Venture Scouts) to our Young Friends enrolled in Girl Scouts of the USA, Boy Scouts of America and Camp Fire, Inc. These curriculum's were introduced in March 1989.
• In Canada we offer Quaker curriculum through their 'Religion in Life' program, which has four levels for our Young Friends and a fifth level for Adult Friends. This curriculum was introduced in the early 1990's.
• And we went global with 'Quaker Faith Journey' for all of our Young Friends in Scouting and Guiding programs outside of the United States and Canada, which also has four levels for our Young Friends. This was introduced in July 2012.

We are currently working on creating a listing of resources and helps for our Young Friends in the United Kingdom who are working on their 'My Faith' and 'Discovering Faith' badges offered through the Scout Association and Girl Guides respectively. Any Friends in the UK that would like to give us a hand with this project, please contact me, we would love to have your assistance with this, and you don't have to be involved in Scouting or Guiding to help. Thanks.



Friends
Emblem

Adult Friends who are registered volunteers in any of the Scouting or Guiding programs worldwide are eligible for the 'Friends Emblem' recognition, which is awarded through a nomination process. One can not nominate themselves or be nominated by a spouse or family member for the award. The 'Friends Emblem' is awarded to adult Friends who 'make outstanding contributions to the spiritual and social development of our Young Friends through Quaker programs and through one or more of the Scouting or Guiding programs and through their active involvement in the life of the Religious Society of Friends  through their local Meeting, Yearly Meeting or other Friends organization.' Individuals, local Friends Meetings/Friends Churches, or Scouters/Guiders are encouraged to nominate worthy Friends for this award. While the 'Friends Emblem' recognition was originally part of the US materials, the committee has released this recognition to be awarded worldwide. The Friends Emblem Review Committee reads through all nominations and gives their approval or disapproval on them.

That of God



Spirit of
Truth

The US awards are medals - youth awards are pins and the adult recognition is on a ribbon worn around the neck. They incorporate the eight-pointed star, known as the Quaker Star. The red and black Quaker star dates back to work performed by English Friends during the Franco-Prussian War of 1872, and has long been associated with Quaker relief service worldwide. A scriptural quotation, central to Quaker beliefs, "A light that shines in the dark" encircles the Quaker Star. The scripture comes from John 1:5a and refers to the light of God, which shines in all humanity. The US awards/recognitions are available through the P.R.A.Y. website (www.praypub.org). The adult recognition also comes with a very nice certificate.

Religion in
Life patch

In Canada, the Scouts, Guides and adults wear a patch on their uniform, which is available from the Scouting and Guiding Shops. The border color on the patch indicates at which age level the Scout/Guide/adult earn the award.

 

For our global curriculum we went with a certificate that can be downloaded from our website once the Scout/Guide has completed the curriculum.

 

All of our curriculum's, certificates and the ‘Friends Emblem’ nomination packet are available as FREE downloads from our website http://quakerscouting.org.

As with any organization, we are always looking for new members to join our committee. Membership in Friends Committee on Scouting is open to any registered Quaker Scouter or Guider, worldwide. Annual dues are $15/US - and members receive a FCS patch, label pin and membership card. Members are entitled to join us for our Annual Business Meeting, held in the Spring each year, either in person or via Skype. A membership application is available on our website.


Quaker Faith Journey
artwork

Friends Committee on Scouting is an affiliate of Friends World Committee for Consultation, Section of the Americas, located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.

Want more information? Please visit our website: http://quakerscouting.org, check out &/or join us on Facebook – just search for Friends Committee on Scouting or email the Clerk – clerk@quakerscouting.org.

 

So, now I've done it, I've published a blog about Friends Committee on Scouting,  the nuts & bolts of it that is . . . I could have also told you about all the amazing Scouting & Guiding Friends that I have had the honor of meeting over the last seven years, but this post would never get published if I tried to do that . . . so, I'll just tell you that they are amazing Scouters, Guiders and F/friends and I am so totally blessed to know each and everyone of them, even if it's only their name, address, phone number and email address! I wouldn't trade any of them . . . we're family! I love them all! HUGS Friends!

 

Happy Scouting & Guiding Friends!

 

 

OK, a couple of 'F' recipes, I'm trying to stay with the right letter of the alphabet here, so an odd assortment maybe or maybe not . . .

 

These recipes are a couple more of my favorites from my childhood, ones my mom use to make every year, but ONLY once a year, sigh! The first is Filled Noodles, for Maundy Thursday (Easter) and the second, Filled Ice Box Cookies (Christmas). Oh my, I just realized what I did here . . . there's a bit of a theme going on. I hope you enjoy these as much as I have over the years!

Filled Noodles - Maundy Thursday

DOUGH:

4 eggs (large)
2 cups flour (all-purpose)
1 teaspoon salt
little water

 

FILLING:

¾ pound hamburger, raw (ground chuck - beef)

onion, chopped

parsley, chopped

salt, to taste

pepper, to taste

1 egg (large)

Mix noodle dough – roll into a circle – don’t dry. Fill with meat mixture above. Fold over (almost like jelly roll) separate into sections with hands (sealing ends). Cook like noodles, either in water or broth (3 bouillon + 3 cups water) for about 20 minutes. May be served with broth (beef). 

 

Filled Ice Box Cookies

(makes 82 cookies)

DOUGH:

1 cup sugar (white granulated)

4 cups flour (all-purpose)

1 cup dark brown sugar

½ teaspoon salt

1 cup margarine

1 teaspoon baking soda

3 eggs (large)

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

FILLING:

2 cups (1 box) raisins, ground

1/3 cup sugar (white granulated)

½ cup water

Preheat oven to 350˚F. Un-greased cookie sheets.

Cook ground raisins, sugar, and water, until clear - that is that the liquid is clear, will be tinted a bit amber colored.  Cool.

Mix together and divide dough in half.  Roll dough thin (between two sheets of wax paper) - spread filling and roll jelly roll style in wax paper.  Place in refrigerator a few hours before baking (Mom always put these in the freezer to make easier to cut).  Slice thin - less than 1/4" thick.

Bake for 8 minutes - watch, you don't want them to get too brown. Will be quite soft when they come out of the oven, so allow them to sit a minute or two on the cookie sheet before removing them to a wire rack or bread board to cool.

Can be stacked on top of each other in an airtight container to store, or place a sheet of wax paper between the layers.

These freeze well, and are yummy straight from the freezer or warm from the oven!

 

 

 

 

 

T'was The Night Before Christmas, When I Was A Child . . .

"And Ruth the Moabitess said unto Naomi,

Let me now go to the field,

and glean ears of corn after him

In whose sight I shall find grace.

And she said unto her, Go, my daughter."

Ruth 2:2  KJV



Memories of Christmas past have been filling my head for the last couple of weeks . . . more specifically of Christmas Eves spent with the Jena family.



1055 Riverside Drive

Jena family tradition had us gathering at 1055 Riverside Drive in South Bend . . . this address will be well known to my family, for the rest of you this was Grandma and Grandpa Jena's house, aka my dad's parents. Those attending would be Uncle George & Aunt Caroline, Brenda, David, Scott and Bruce; Uncle Max & Aunt Sue, Michelle, Vicky, Penny and Debbie; my dad & mom, my brothers Tom & Doug and I. It would be a treat if Aunt Nancy & Uncle Bob, Karen Sue and 'Little' Max were able to join us. My dad's younger sister, Aunt Carol & Revered Uncle John, Tammy and Tim didn't come since Uncle John had to be at his Church for services, since he was the Pastor.

When we arrived we'd carry in the gifts and put them under the huge tree, which was in the sunroom. There would always be piles and piles of gifts, but then again there were a lot of us gathered - at least eight adults and eleven grandchildren! My favorite ornaments on the tree were the old German candle holders with the candles, I don't remember ever seeing them lit, but I was fascinated with those candles! I don't know the history of those candleholders and candles, but expect they had been passed down through the family. And I remember the lights - the bulbs were huge and the color scratched off in places giving them some character and making them seem to shine ever so brightly!

Dinner was always delicious, seems that sauerbraten and spaetzle were on the menu. Dessert was some sort of frozen 'pink stuff,' can't tell you exactly what it was as I didn't like it, so I didn't eat it . . . but everyone had a serving of it - mine got passed around the children's table and my cousins enjoyed sharing it. After dinner the tables were cleared and for many years Grandma and the moms would put the leftovers away, wash, dry and put away the dishes and then join the rest of us in the living room. When us granddaughters got older we got to help in the kitchen!

Now, these weren't just any dishes that we ate off of during family meals, I found out when I was in high school or college that my Grandma painted all the china! Which maybe explains why there were so many place settings, seems never ending. When we were all together there would be twelve adults and fifteen grandchildren . . . that's a lot of dishes, cups & saucers, glasses and silverware not to mention serving pieces to go with!

When we were all in the living room we would sing several Christmas carols - including 'Silent Night' and 'O Christmas Tree' in German! Grandma and Grandpa both spoke fluent German. Grandpa would read the Christmas Story from Luke 2:1-21, King James version, of course! As the grandchildren turned 13 years old, Grandpa turned this reading over to us! When your turn came, Grandpa would pull you aside when you arrived, hand you his Bible and show you what he wanted you to read, so you had time to read it over a few times and ask how to pronounce some of the words. After the Bible reading there may be another song or two and then . . . it was time for the gifts!

I also remember back when we were really young, at some point, all of us grandchildren were taken into the room off the living room, behind the fireplace, as we had to 'hide' so that Santa could make his  special delivery! This meant that our dads had to quietly run upstairs - to the third floor, to grab all the 'Santa' gifts, bringing them down stairs, saying 'Ho-ho-ho,' and place them around the tree! The third floor was a safe place for these 'Santa' gifts as it was off limits 99.9% of the time! I remember this as the most exciting part of the evening!

OK on with it - for many years Grandpa would get up out of his chair and walk over to the tree, which was in the 'sunroom' just off the livingrom, and one by one would pick up a package call out who it was 'To and From' and the dads would deliver the gifts. At some point the dads took this over and if memory serves me right some of us grandkids got to do this in later years. NO gifts were unwrapped until ALL the gifts had been passed out and Grandma or Grandpa said it was time! Grandpa then went around and handed out our $25 savings bonds and Grandma would call all the granddaughters to come and get their little box with their Christmas 'Add-a-Pearls.' Funny as we all knew that once we looked at our savings bond we were to give it to dad, and once us girls opened our pearls and saw them that box went to straight to mom! Grandma and Grandpa sat in their chairs and delighted in watching us open our gifts, and it was only after we had all opened our gifts that they would open theirs.

We always gave Grandpa a dozen raisin cookies and his 'hard tack' (made from an old family recipe from Germany - his Grandmothers maybe, I don't remember how far back that goes) wrapped up in foil with curling ribbon on it and a picture of a telephone wrapped up in a little box - this was to remind Grandpa that my dad & mom were paying for the extra phone extention in his office at the photo studio. And for Grandma a nightgown and other assorted items.

Along with all the other gifts, each family took home a foil wrapped stollen and other baked goodies.

After this, it was time to clean up all the wrapping paper and put it in trash bags, gather all the gifts and carry them out to the cars and all head over to . . .

Zion United Church of Christ for Christmas Eve candlelight service. Lots of poinsettias and candles filled the sanctuary. There was lots of singing, scripture readings, a message and then lighting all of our candles, what an amazing site that was . . . all that candlelight as we all stood in a circle around the sanctuary with the choir in the middle isle!

After Church it was tie to head home and jump into bed and right to sleep . . . so Santa would come!

Memories of Christmas Eves from my childhood . . . feeling blessed!

Family Christmas Card
with my brothers
Tom - Doug - Luanne

This Christmas Eve I am remembering how things were back then and missing . . . Grandma & Grandpa Jena, Aunt Nancy, Uncle George, Aunt Sue, Karen Sue, my mom, dad and younger brother Doug.