Friday, December 14, 2018

MERRY CHRISTMAS 2018


Dear Family and Friends,                                           December 2018
We are approaching that very important day when we celebrate the birth of Jesus.  Mary and Joseph must have had mixed thoughts and feelings as their newborn son arrived during the night they spent in a Bethlehem stable.  But over 2000 years later, we are celebrating and rejoicing because of that baby boy’s birth.  Only hours after his birth, this little family would be visited by shepherds who had received a message from an angel. That message was good news;  it remains good news now and will be for all time.
Luke 2: 10-11
...an angel said to them, (the shepherds) “Do not be afraid.  I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.  Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you;
he is the Messiah, the Lord.”

As we celebrate the birth of Jesus, let’s remember that Jesus is the Messiah, the Savior who is able to save us from our sins and who says to us, “Do not be afraid,” even when we can’t see what awaits us in the future.  His birth is good news and brings great joy for all people because He became the Savior.


Gutted Kitchen
Beautiful new kitchen nearly completed

Our year started with a united decision between John and me that this was the year to launch a house remodel project to tackle some upgrades that we felt would improve our home and ready it for many more years of convenience and value.  The work would be done in our master bedroom, kitchen and dining room.  January found us selecting a gal to help us with research and decisions, a contractor we could trust and the stamina to pack up and move out everything in those 3 rooms!  VERY fortunately, we had friends on our block who allowed us to move into their efficiency apartment on the lower level of their home so we were able to be close to the work and out of what was going to become a construction site for nearly four months.  We thought we would survive the whole process which we did but neither of us realized it would be as consuming, exhausting and derailing an experience as it was for us.  We shared common thoughts about most everything so we supported each other but we became quite drained and distracted from other things that usually occupied our time.  We can assuredly report that we are VERY grateful for the finished results but also confident…we will never do anything like it again!!!

Now for highlights that focus on things for which we are very grateful…
Lydia, John, Stephen, Diane, Phillip, Joanna

1.Road trip May 20-June 7 for high school graduation of grandson Stephen Worden at Veritas School in Richmond, VA.   Stephen is now a freshman at Messiah College in Mechanicsburg, PA where he is enjoying academics and basketball. 
John and Francis Eachus
2.     May 21 we stopped to visit a dear woman, Francis Eachus, who grew up in Loomis, NE and served the Lord in Guatemala with Wycliffe Missions for over 55 years but now lives in a retirement community in GA.
3.     May 22 short visit in Piney Flats, TN with Bill and Cindi Peterson, John’s sister
4.     May 25 Stephen’s graduation outdoors on the lovely grounds of Veritas School
5.     May 26-June 5 assist son John’s family in preparing their move from a home in Midlothian to a home in Richmond which is closer to work and school activities.
6.     June 7 John’s annual Parkinson’s visit at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston.  He continues to be Dr. Jankovich’s “star patient”.
7.     June 8-28 resettling in our home and preparing for... 

Phillip, Ari, Sarah, John C., Cozzie, Linda, James, April, Stephen Worden
  8....   June 29-July 10  visit from son James and family for a week of Laity Lodge Family Camp with daughter, Sarah, and 2 grandsons from Richmond, VA who were on staff for LLFC.
C-FC Class of 1963
9.   
9.  August 23-29 Flights to LaCrosse, WI for a visit with the Berndts in their new home and to attend my C-FC Class of 1963 55th year Reunion. 

10. Sept. – Dec. Half day of volunteering at Schreiner University each week for both of us.  We especially are grateful for the opportunity to connect with International students who study there.  We have especially enjoyed a young man from Colombia, SA who is in advanced music studies focusing on the violin.  We pick him up and take him to church with us each Sunday morning. He was at Schreiner University for just the fall semester so is already on his return to Colombia.
Attending to hear Daniel and the Hill Country Symphony
Son John continues to work for Good Feet in their 3 stores in and around Richmond, VA where he and Diane live.  Diane continues to teach Kindergarten at Veritas School where their daughter, Joanna, is a senior and Lydia is a sophomore.  Phillip is a sophomore at Virginia Tech in VA and Stephen is a freshman at Messiah College in PA.

Son James continues to work at the Charlotte Mason Community School in Detroit, MI. where he and April live.  Their daughter, Ari, is a junior in high school and Constantine is in second grade.  Cozzie has just shared the exciting news that he will become a big brother next June. 

Daughter Sarah continues to live and work in San Antonio.  She is in her 9th year as the Librarian – Information Technologist – at the Elementary School on joint base Fort Sam Houston.  Her nearness is such a blessing to us.  She will join us on a road trip to Detroit where we will all gather to celebrate Christmas during her school break. 

We continue to live in Kerrville, TX where we enjoy our church, neighborhood and opportunities to remain involved in a variety of volunteer efforts.  John continues to see Dr. Jankovich at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, TX on an annual basis.  His Parkinson’s condition is progressing very slowly if at all so the medication he takes completely controls his only symptom which is tremor on his right side.  He has added a boxing (specifically for Parkinson’s people) class three times a week, follows that class with a workout and swim at the Center for Fitness, has joined the Trinity Baptist Church Primetime Choir to exercise his voice and continues as head usher at the Church.  Linda continues working with Guest Care at Laity Lodge and fills in a few days each month at the Kerrville office of the H.E.Butt Foundation. 

We are so thankful for all that Christmas means – the celebration of God’s great love which came in the form of a baby who grew into the perfect man and became the Lamb who willingly was sacrificed for the sins of all who believe.


With Friendship,
John & Linda Worden

Wednesday, March 21, 2018

Easter Monologue Letters to Jesus - Resurrection Sunday & Today...

Twenty-one years ago during Easter weekend 1997, John and I hosted a family reunion.  We decided to have a special Easter service which could be prepared ahead of time in order not to create too much stressful work on that Sunday morning during the reunion but would share meaningful, biblical content.
Imagine this fireplace empty without wood burning

While pondering what we could prepare, I imagined the stone, empty, open fireplace of the reunion site as an "empty tomb."  Next I imagined that many of Jesus' contemporaries probably would have gone to that tomb when they heard of his resurrection.  Who would some of those people have been and what would they have thought?  Wouldn't they have had many emotions - excitement, gratitude, fear, surprise...?  And wouldn't they have had hope that they would soon see Jesus again; be able to talk to him and know positively for themselves that he was alive?  Weren't they also probably thinking about things they would want to say to him - feelings to express, memories to share, mistakes for which to apologize...

But what about those of us who live 2000 years after Jesus resurrection?  Don't we also have much which we would love to communicate to Jesus as we remember his great sacrifice in order to become our Savior?

So my thoughts led me to write first person monologues from the point of view of a person who could have gone to the empty tomb that first Easter morning.  I wrote the monologues as "Letters to Jesus".  That way each performer that weekend could read their thoughts instead of being required to memorize the words they were sharing as the "sermon" for that Easter service.

Those members of our family who shared that day, dressed in period clothing for the sharing of their "Letter to Jesus" as one of his family or friends 2000 years ago.  After they finished sharing that letter, they removed some of their costume and became themselves.  As that person they continued to share a second "Letter to Jesus" as themselves - 2000 years later.

I wrote 7 monologues.  We used 5 of those that Sunday in 1997.  Links to the whole set will follow.  Should you be interested in using these monologues during your personal Easter celebration, you have my permission.  If you do, I would welcome a comment communicating your experience.

The tomb IS empty! It IS true! As soon as I heard the news of the resurrection, I just had to come here and see for myself. I was so afraid it was a trick; someone's imagination. You see, I'm Mary, Jesus' mother. If you're a mother you can probably imagine how I've been feeling since last Friday, what with the crucifixion and all but now - THIS. I could hardly believe it when I heard it. I just had to come and check for myself and see if the tomb really was empty...Link


The tomb IS empty! It IS true! I was here earlier this morning after the women brought us the news of the resurrection, but I wanted to come back - to spend some time alone to contemplate the wonder of this day. You see, I am John, the beloved friend of Jesus and brother of James... Link



The tomb is empty! It IS true! I was here earlier this morning after the women brought me the news of Jesus' resurrection but I wanted to come back for a few moments by myself. You see, I am Peter, a close friend of Jesus. I have mixed emotions as I stand here this morning. I am thrilled that He is alive! This is more wonderful news than anything I could ever imagine, but, I also have a heaviness in my heart...Link 


The tomb IS empty! It IS true! I just knew Jesus would rise from the dead. I knew he had that incredible power. You see, I am Martha, the sister of Mary and Lazarus. We were all such good friends of Jesus. He often stayed with us but the thing that endears me most to him is what he did for Lazarus after he had been dead for four days. He brought him back to life...Link 


The tomb IS empty! It IS true! The news was brought to our home earlier today and mom is so thrilled but the rest of us don't really know what to think. You see, I am James, the brother of Jesus. Our family has been together since Jesus' death on Friday. There have been so many things to talk about, so many feelings we have. This crucifixion has been really difficult for all of us but especially me because I was closest in age to Jesus. I have been trying to be the brave big brother but it hasn't been easy. You see, I have a lot of questions about who Jesus really is...Link


The tomb IS empty! It IS true! On my way to the temple this morning, I learned that something has happened which has created great excitement in Jerusalem today. It is being reported that there's been a resurrection from the dead - Jesus of Nazareth has risen from the dead! I decided I just had to come here for myself and make sure Jesus' grave really was empty. You see, I am Josephine, the woman who was ill for 12 years with hemorrhaging...Link


The tomb IS empty! It IS true! As I was hanging out my laundry this morning, Maria from across the street came to tell me the good news that Jesus had come back to life. A number of people had seen and talked to him. I was so excited when I heard it. I just knew something miraculous like that would happen to him. But I really wanted to see for myself - to make sure this was not just someone's hallucination. What Jesus did for me, was so remarkable that words hardly begin to express my gratitude. You see, I am Eva, the woman caught in the act of adultery and brought before Jesus...Link
********************************************

I believe in Jesus' death and resurrection.  
I believe in his offer of salvation to all who receive him. 
Easter 2018 is a wonderful time to begin a relationship 
with Jesus if you haven't done so already.

John 3:16New International Version (NIV)

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Romans 10:9-10New International Version (NIV)

If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. 

Contact me should you have questions or comments.  Have a wonderful Easter.