The Christmas Pin Society, Chapter Three

A new chapter will be added each day!! What a beautiful story for you to enjoy!!

The Christmas Pin Society

by Marianne Coyne

Copyright © Marianne Coyne 2006

Chapter Three

December 2004, about three weeks before Christmas, I found myself to be unusually sullen. Perhaps it was because this December marked two years since my friends and I stopped having our Christmas luncheons; stopped exchanging Christmas pins; stopped coming together ~ all five at once ~ to share grace, food, and that special bond. Or, perhaps I felt this way because of little, ten year old Billy Harris, whom the local morning news announced needed a special operation; one which his parents could not fully pay for. Perhaps I had that sense of helplessness that comes over you when you know someone is suffering and you feel there is nothing you can do for them. This time of year is suppose to remind us of the Light which came into the world two thousand years ago; but certain circumstances sometimes made me wonder if it was still here.

I walked over to my dresser, and opened the drawer. I carefully disturbed the box, containing the "magical" pins, from its year long repose. Carrying it into the dining room, I sat down at the table. Gently opening the lid, I noticed an eerie, but peaceful silence throughout the house; even the refrigerator quieted its usual humming. I took out a beautifully enameled wreath, and attached it to my sweater. The gesture didn't help my mood. The pins just didn't possess that special quality they had always seemed to have. Something was missing. I took from the box some photographs of luncheons of

Christmas' past. Seeing the smiling faces coaxed me to gently smile. How radiant my friends were; faces beamed with a glow of warmth and joy. Brightly colored Christmas pins bejeweled sweaters of red, white, and gold. Love emanated from the photos. We were all very close, and I sighed to wonder the real cause of the Christmas Pin Society's end.

The outward circumstances were clear. Three years ago Angel's son, Joe Jr., was missing in action for three days in Afghanistan. During this devastating time, the rest of us did our best to console Angel and her family with prayers and words of encouragement. But Angel withdrew more and more into herself. Our prayers were answered when Joe was found wounded, but alive. Although he came home by that December, Angel could not bring herself to celebrate in our usual way. She became reclusive, limiting her outside social endeavors, and clung to her family more than ever.

Hannah's marriage could no longer bear its ongoing strain, and two years ago she and Harold separated. Her self-blame, in not being able to hold her family together, left her unable to enjoy life's subtleties. It wasn't long before she, too, became more absent from our company.

That same year Belinda and Paul moved out of the state with his company's expansion. He was in charge of getting things up and running, and training upper management. It was to be a very busy time for him, and we knew they would be gone for a long duration. We were sad to see them go, but they bade us good-bye with encouraging words that they would return.

That left just Kathy and me. We all kept in touch with telephone calls and an occasional visit, but the Christmas Pin Society, as it had been, was gone.

Yes, the circumstances were clear, but I wondered what the deeper significance was. Wasn't the love we had shared all these years strong enough to endure these burdens? Doesn't life hold more meaning? I pondered these questions.

Looking up, I noticed the few Christmas cards which started to trickle in announcing the season. My eyes lingered on a nativity scene, carefully composed and painted by a long-ago artist. The source of light in the scene radiated from the baby Jesus ~ the Light of the World ~ I had thought of earlier. I looked again at the photographs. All those years we had carefully planned our Christmas luncheons about two or three weeks before Christmas, to keep it separate from the celebration of Christ's birth. We thought we were being respectful by keeping the two occasions apart. But as I lingered again at the sweet face of our Lord, shining with light and love, I wondered, maybe we should not have separated the love, and the giving and receiving from Christ. Maybe the Light of the world still shines brightly; it's only ours which has dimmed.

Could it be possible? Could the Christmas Pin Society once again shine brightly? Wasn't there some way to get all of us together again? Remembering the morning news report, I had an idea!

The Christmas Pin Society, Chapter Two

Each day a new chapter will be added! Enjoy!

The Christmas Pin Society

by Marianne Coyne
copyright © Marianne Coyne 2006

Chapter Two

The next December brought about another opportunity to take time out from our normal schedules; enjoying a pre-Christmas breather, and to exchange gifts. After the success of our first luncheon, we decided to continue the Christmas pin tradition. Each woman chose a number from one to five. The name which correlated with the number chosen would be the person she would choose a pin for. The remaining name would be the recipient of my gift. It was a wonderful way to start a collection, and it was always fun to see each distinct and vibrant selection.

Angel, Hannah, Belinda, Kathy, and myself, Emma Perillo, were as distinctive and vibrant as the pins we wore. Angel Nolan, who started it all with my candy cane pin, was a pleasant woman who had a robust concern for her family. Her husband, Joe, used to say that Angel was the first to rise in the morning, and the last to bed at night. Her faithful attendance to her three children was unprecedented, and her energy seemed inexhaustible. She had two boys, John, the eldest, and Joe Jr.; her daughter, Alice, was the youngest. They seemed to like their mom's active school volunteering, and didn't fuss much about helping her keep the house in order. The family's ties were strong and loving.

Hannah Jenks was a determined woman, whose sometimes rocky marriage gave her an opportunity to show her strength. Her husband, Harold, a good man, worked hard, and tried his best; but he and Hannah had a difficult time communicating, which was a constant threat to their relationship. As awkward as it was, Hannah kept optimistic that she and Harold would persevere. They seemingly endured in spite of their adversity, which was to the peace of mind of their only child, Elizabeth.

Belinda Stofferson was a dear friend to us all. She was married to an equally endearing man, Paul, who thought the world of her. Although Belinda had no children of her own, she was well loved by all of ours, and affectionately referred to as "Aunt Belinda". She remembered all their birthdays and special school events. When any one of our children was sick with a cold she was at the door ~ before the child could say "aah-choo"~ with a pot of her delicious, healing chicken soup. She was gentle, compassionate, and a blessing to our group.

If you ever wanted to see a person defy gravity, it would be Kathy Strand. Her sunny personality and cheery outlook gave her an airy countenance. She was funny, loyal, and kind. Her husband, Arthur, adores her as do their four children; Michael, Alex, Sarah, and Rosey. Although as children they sometimes complained about their mom's quirky demeanor, and her unusual approach to solving problems, they would not have changed her for the world.

My husband, Frank, and I have two beautiful children; Ben and Isabel. We have done our best to live purposeful lives with love and tradition, while passing on that way of being to our children.

Active family lives and growing children did not hinder our friendships from remaining attentive, loving, and fruitful; rather it added to it. And our newly established Christmas-pin lunches were just another extension of our creative imaginations.

Year after year not one of us missed a lunch; except for Kathy, when her son, Alex, had the flu. Year after year we gave our thanks, ate our delectables, and savored the moment of giving and receiving our new Christmas pins. For twenty-two years the Christmas Pin Society, as we came to call ourselves, continued its tradition. We never thought of it ending ~until it did.

The Christmas Pin Society

Each day a new chapter will be added. Enjoy the story!!

He said, "To what shall we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable can we use for it? It is like a mustard seed that, when it is sown in the ground, is the smallest of all seeds on earth. But once it is sown, it springs up and becomes the largest of plants and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the sky can dwell in its shade." Mark 4:30-32

The Christmas Pin Society

by Marianne Coyne

Chapter One

Christmas pins have always fascinated me. Their colorful and assorted shapes seem to be as delightful as any Christmas cookie. As a young girl my eyes would beam as I beheld the gleaming, ornamental creation delicately attached to my mother's blouse, or the sparkling rhinestones glistening from my grandmother's lapel. These adorning little trinkets were a glad herald to the holiday season; and seemed to me to hold some magical, uplifting power, as I hardly noticed a person who sported one in anything other than a cheerful mood. But for all my affection for them, I reluctantly admit I had never possessed one. Three decades of my life passed without indulging in a single holiday clasp.

Happily, that changed twenty-two years ago when my friend, Angel, gave me my first Christmas pin. The criss-crossed candy canes seemed simple in design, but when I stood in front of the mirror and carefully pinned it to my turtleneck sweater, I once again beamed with the memories of Christmas' past and the hope of that Christmas to come. So delighted was I with my rediscovered fancy, that with each trip to the store, noticing all sorts of Christmas pins, I gave into the urge to gift each of my friends with one.

I thought it would be nice to start a group tradition; so two weeks before Christmas, I invited my dearest friends to lunch. Each prepared a luscious dish towards the meal. Happy chatter and laughter filled the room as we fussed with the final touches. The aroma of sweet, fruited punch permeated the air; and a festive array of cold meats, homemade bread, cranberry relish, vegetables, and lemon sorbet livened the crisp, white linen tablecloth. As I lit the candles our talking quieted. Circling the table and joining hands, we gave thanks for our food, our lives, and our friendship.

After eating, I went to the cupboard, and opening the top drawer, took out four little packages. I gave one to each of my friends. Watching them open their gifts, I was delighted to see their eyes light up, and to hear their happy exclamations in chorus. Fastening the pins to their apparel, and I already appropriately ornamented, we had an air of belonging together; our Christmas pins, like special badges, bonded up in an unusual way.

Mare and Kare

THE FOLLOWING IS A NOTE FROM THE ARTIST!

Hello all and peace to you.

Brenda's blog will be featuring many inspirational and humorous items in the coming weeks and months. The comic panels of Mare and Kare are just one of them. The idea of Mare and Kare was inspired by some funny telephone conversations I had with my dear friend Karen. Some are literal and some are exaggerations on some aspects of ourselves. They were great "therapy" for us. I hope they give you a chuckle to brighten your day.

Thank you for letting me share a little bit of my life with you.

Marianne

PURITANS

The Puritans were a group of people who grew discontent in the Church of England and worked towards religious, moral and societal reforms. The writings and ideas of John Calvin, a leader in the Reformation, gave rise to Protestantism and were pivotal to the Christian revolt. They contended that The Church of England had become a product of political struggles and man-made doctrines. The Puritans were one branch of dissenters who decided that the Church of England was beyond reform. Escaping persecution from church leadership and the King, they came to America.

The Puritans believed that the Bible was God's true law, and that it provided a plan for living. The established church of the day described access to God as monastic and possible only within the confines of "church authority". Puritans stripped away the traditional trappings and formalities of Christianity which had been slowly building throughout the previous 1500 years. Theirs was an attempt to "purify" the church and their own lives.

MORE!!!

EVEN MORE!!!

Jesus humbled Himself.

He went from commanding angels

To sleeping in the straw.

From holding stars

To clutching Mary’s finger.

The palm that held the universe

took the nail of a soldier.

WHY?

Because that’s what love does.

Max Lucado

MORE!!!

America's First Thanksgiving: A Wholly Holy Celebration

As we all enjoy turkey and the trimmings this Thanksgiving, you may be interested to know that the first Thanksgiving celebration in America was a completely religious observance that didn't include a feast.

It occurred in 1619 -- more than a year before the Pilgrims arrived from Massachusetts. A group of 38 English settlers arrived in Virginia and set aside a day to give thanks to God for their safe passage. The three-day festival of food and friendship that was the origin of Thanksgiving as we know it today didn't occur until 1621.

Not Just a Private Celebration, a Public Thanks to God

Ever since, Thanksgiving has been a time for Americans not just to celebrate privately in our homes but to give public thanks to God -- and not just for our material blessings but for our freedom. Our earliest Thanksgivings were in times when that freedom was at its most vulnerable.

In 1789, George Washington issued a proclamation calling for a day of "public thanksgiving and prayer" -- a day for Americans to acknowledge "the many signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness."

But Washington didn't just say that individual Americans should thank God. He proclaimed that nations -- especially the one-year-old United States of America -- have obligations to God as well. He wrote, "It is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor."

Lincoln Makes It a Yearly Celebration

But it wasn't until more than 70 years later -- at a time when America faced its greatest crisis -- that Thanksgiving became a yearly celebration.

The Civil War was raging. Three months earlier, the Battle of Gettysburg had left 50,000 Americans killed, wounded or missing. Riots were tearing apart American cities.

In the midst of this chaos, President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed in October 1863 that the last Thursday of November should henceforth be set aside as a day of thanksgiving.

Lincoln acknowledged that the nation was "in the midst of a civil war of unequaled magnitude and severity." But he focused instead on the nation's blessings, urging his fellow Americans to remember that "No human counsel hath devised, nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the most high God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy."

And Lincoln, too, proclaimed that all Americans set aside the day for a public expression of gratitude to God. He wrote, "It has seemed to me fit and proper that they [gifts of God] should be solemnly, reverently, and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and one voice by the whole American people."

A Chance to Thank God for Our Rights -- And to Seek His Guidance

Today, at a time when public expressions of faith and thanks to our Creator are under assault in America, it is especially important to remember the true meaning of Thanksgiving.

We are, of course, a nation of religious liberty. Americans are free to worship -- or not worship -- as they choose. But our religious freedom also means that we are free to openly and publicly acknowledge our Creator. For a nation that believes its rights come from God -- that we are "endowed by our Creator with certain unalienable rights" -- Thanksgiving is our chance to thank God for these rights, and to seek His guidance in protecting and preserving them.

There have been few times in our history when our rights and freedom -- including our religious freedom -- have been in greater need of protection. Great forces of intolerance threaten us. So this Thanksgiving, like those celebrated by Washington and Lincoln before us, we give thanks for our blessings at the same time we ask for the wisdom and humility to preserve them.

We give thanks for the peaceful political process we just witnessed.

We are grateful for the prosperity and peace we enjoy here at home.

We thank God for the extraordinary young men and women who are protecting our way of life in war zones overseas.

A Unique Holiday for a Unique Nation

And in thanking God for these blessings, we also submit to His guidance. In giving thanks, we seek wisdom. We hope to give a meaning to our nation that is greater and higher than any of us. We strive to build up our shining city on a hill and continue to make it a city of hope for all the world.

Thanksgiving is a unique holiday for a unique nation. May we long live in an America that acknowledges the gifts of our Creator and seeks His wisdom and guidance. And may you and your family have a safe and happy Thanksgiving.

Newt Gingrich

Words from Andrea Bianchi; Newsletter Editor; ChristianityToday.com:

“It was one of Jesus' most ambitious—and, thus far, unanswered—prayers.

‘I pray for those who will believe in me, … that all of them may be one,’ he asked the Father.” (John 17: 18-22; “As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified. My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message. That all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one.”)

“Yet we're hardly unified, often too quick to condemn those who don't adhere to our exact beliefs or practices. And while defending the core elements of our faith is imperative, we sometimes shoot too hastily at those we've misidentified as enemies.”

Words from Brenda:

We are believers in Christ!! This alone should UNITE US! We should strive to be one with each other as Christ is with the Father. Let’s recognize who we are in Christ. Let’s claim Our Identity in Christ!!

MORE!!!

Who is Jesus to You?

Jesus is the Son of God

An Up-lifter of broken hearts

God shinning through on a dark day

He searches my heart to see who lives there

He never leaves me alone

Who is Jesus to You?

I see His face always smiling

Reaching out His hand to lead

He is the Shepherd of His sheep

He tells us, “Never fear for I have overcome”

He is the Way, the Truth, the Light

Who is Jesus to You?

He loves ALL people, no matter what

He died for all with love so great

He is Love, for God is Love

If all could love as this

We would live in a perfect world

Who is Jesus to You?

Brenda

11/14/06

When Herod Tried to Steal Christmas

All the Jews and the Gentiles

Liked Messiah alot.

But the scribes and the Pharisees in Jerusalem did not.

They hated the Christ thing;

The whole Son-of-God season.

Oh, please don't ask why.

No one quite knows the reason.

It could be their clothes were too heavy and hot.

It could be small stones caught in their sandals alot.

But I think that the most likely reason of all

Was their Pharisee hearts were two sizes too small.

But whatever the reason - their hearts or the stones,

They fumed in the city,

But not quite alone.

King Herod also disliked the idea.

And with chin in his hands, fingers nervously drumming,

He called through the court

"I must stop the Christ Child from coming!"

"Why for 53 years I've put up with it now -

This threat of a new king.

I must stop him, but how?"

Then he thought and he thought 'til his king's head was sore.

Then he thought and he thought just a little bit more.

Then Herod it seems got an awful idea.

The king got a wonderful, awful idea.

His eyes opened wide, "I know just what I'll do.

I'll kill the children in Bethlehem, ages zero to two.

And that's just what he did.

Oh, the howling that day -

But did that stop the Christ Child from coming?

NO WAY!

He came just the same.

With angels all singing,

"Glory to God," their voices were ringing.

"Peace be on earth", they proclaimed with their song.

And the little Christ Child grew up bright and strong.

He loved every person.

He taught them what's right.

He gave them forgiveness, he gave the blind sight.

He gave the lame movement.

He gave the mute voice.

He healed their diseases, and gave them back choice.

He told them with kindness of Father in heaven.

He said it not mattered if bread had any leaven.

What mattered, he told them

Oh, most of all,

Was whether their hearts were large, medium, or small.

He went town to town with disciples and friends.

'Til the Pharisees yelled, "Enough! This must end!"

"We're sick of his healings

This self-proclaimed Son.

He makes us look bad - our jobs are undone!"

"For almost three years he's lied to the crowd.

And now listen, O listen to 'hosannas' too loud!"

"We're sick of his preaching.

He makes it sound simple.

'Just love one another'", they mocked, touching chin dimples.

They all worked together concocting a plan.

And before morning dawned, they had captured the man.

They took him to Pilate.

Oh, what a beating -

Then they took him to Calvary, for time was afleeting.

Then just as they jeered at his sores black and blue,

Came by little Nunu, who was no more than two.

She looked at the Pharisees

And asked with a sigh,

"Why are you hanging our Savior high, why?"

And those Pharisees stood there.

They were in the muck thick.

Then they thought up a lie, and they thought it up quick.

"Why , your savior it seems isn't tan on one side.

So we're hanging him closer up towards the sun.

Then we'll take him down later when he's all done."

"He'll be good as new.

You just wait and see.

You'll see him", they mocked, "in two days or three".

And the fib fooled the child.

And they patted her head;

Gave her a small cup of water, and sent her to bed.

And when little Nunu was in bed with her cup,

They picked up the cross and hoisted it up!

The sun it did darken,

The Christ dropped his head.

The earth it did shake, filling people with dread.

The Pharisees ran to escape from God's rod.

As they ran they heard soldiers say,

"This must be the Son of God!"

His disciples, they came that late afternoon.

They took his poor body to lay in a tomb.

Early next Sunday, before the sun rose,

While people were still abed; still adoze,

Some women came softly, bearing fine scents

for their lord, while people were still asnooze in their tents.

But what to their surprise did they see?

Only angels - sitting, and bent on one knee.

"Who do you look for? Come take a peek.

For your Master has risen; the one whom you seek."

O, let us sing.

Let our hearts shout with glee.

The Son of God lives for you and for me!

(Ya hoo morning Ya hoo morning la la la la....)