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So, here I go again. I actually had this done earlier today and, well, I apparently and inadvertently hit a button and lost the whole thing. I had to walk away and come back later because I thought my head was going to explode. I am already late in getting this newsletter out as I usually get it to my mailing list before the month starts… Forgive me for being tardy.

That said, I am certain that each of you is having your own version of frenzy this time of year. You may be wondering how Peace can be associated with Advent and Christmas since it doesn’t quite ever work out that way in real life. The best laid plans, right?

But, as I have been reflecting on Peace and humming the song “Let There Be Peace on Earth” as though from my lips to God’s ears it might become real, I paused to reflect on Peace. And then I turned to the scriptures. In John 14:27 Jesus says this: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.”

There it is, folks. Peace is a gift from Jesus. And it is not given in the way we all give worldly things; it is eternal and holy and mysterious and it surpasses all understanding…and it is always there. It is not dependent on you or me or how adept we are at wrangling our schedules or how early we get our Christmas shopping done or how many Advent devotions we do. It is a gift…just like salvation and forgiveness and grace and the love of God. Wow. I don’t know about each of you, but I needed to find that scripture this week. Contrary to the song, peace does not begin with me…it begins with Jesus, the Prince of Peace….who has embedded HIS peace within our souls so we can carry on through this broken and crazy world without fear or troubled hearts. (Even though we get in our own way in that regard sometimes, don’t we?)

So, I am going to focus on leaning into HIS peace…because it’s already there; already been gifted. Then maybe….just maybe, I can contribute to peace in the world, like the song says, only by letting HIS peace shine through me to be seen and experienced by others. He’s given HIS peace to you too….so take a deep breath and lean into it this season. It’s been there all along.

IN OTHER NEWS:

You may or may not know that I have a retirement home on the Big Island of Hawaii and will eventually retire there full time. My husband has been so kind as to build me a She Shed where I can do in-person Harp Sessions and Spiritual Direction, host my Zoom sessions, do Holy Yoga, hold worship and even do small weddings…he even designed it to look like a chapel!! I call it Koinonia Shed because Koinonia is a Biblical Greek word meaning fellowship, communion and unity as applied to the Body of Christ. It is my hope to have many activities, events and individual sessions in person in Koinonia Shed!

Sometime in 2024, I will be adding a section at angelstringsministry.com for Koinonia Shed so that you can see what’s happening and when…though it will be fairly random until I live there full time in the future. But, if you know someone who wants to have a small wedding on the Big Island of Hawaii…I have a place right by the ocean!! And if you’re even on island, call me!! I’d love to see you in person!

SPIRITUAL WELLNESS COMMUNITY MEMBERSHIP INFO

At $15 per month, this membership is a deal even if you only come to one session or do one Holy Yoga class! Ladies, after the year ends make a commitment to focus on your Spiritual Wellness in 2024. We have our Zoom sessions on Tuesdays at 12pm ET….if that doesn’t work you can always watch the recordings. But being in community with other committed women of faith is pretty special!! We learn together and from each other too.

Is there a time that would work better for you so that you could join us? Please respond to this email and let me know.

Tomorrow we begin our December topic: repentance…members, if you haven’t already signed up, go to angelstringsministry.com and sign up under Upcoming Events to receive the Zoom link (you might as well do the whole month while you’re at it!)

2024 will include 9 months on the Fruits of the Spirit (1 Fruit each month) thanks to a member suggestion!! The other topics will include Suffering, Discipleship, and Forgiveness.

HOLY YOGA

After I retire from parish ministry April 1, I will have more time to record a variety of Holy Yoga classes to put up on the site for On Demand access. I have not been able to record as many as I would’ve liked thus far, but have several in the pipeline that are coming…particularly the Yin classes I mentioned previously. I try to keep the sessions about 30-40 minutes and include scripture and prayer. Stay tuned!

Conclusion

I pray that each of you has a blessed and peaceful Advent season and that your Christmas and Epiphany are filled with the light of Christ. We are so blessed that God saw fit to come into our presence, in the flesh, so that we can one day come into His presence for all eternity. Enjoy your loved ones and feel the greatest love of all as you do: the love of God.

Peace be with you,

Julie Parsell

Spiritual Wellness Guide