A Pumpkin and A Children's Sermon

Harvest Time Candles, Fire logs, glass of wine, two pumpkins, and my sister Elizabeth, makes for a beautiful fall evening!! What a treat it was to spend a Fall weekend with my sister! We laughed, we tried to remember how dad taught us to carve pumpkins, we talked about life, our hopes, our dreams...but most importantly we were just together...present with each other knowing as sisters we were side by side! We were side by side peaking through the window as we met our little sisters, Mags and Robs, on Oct. 13, 1989. We have been side by side cheering, dancing, trying to tumble, teaching vacation bible school, getting on mom and dads nerves, and side by side through the good and bad of life's journey and of course she was by my side the day Robert and me said our wedding vows! This past weekend we found ourselves side by side as Bubs and I made our way through a corn maze and photographed Bailey with our pumpkins during our sister weekend!
On Sunday, Reformation Sunday/All Saints Day Bubba and I, side by side, sat in worship together at Covenant Presbyterian Church. This past Sunday I gave the children's sermon as I shared a cross that Gramps (Dad's dad) once wore and a picture of my Great Grandmother Kathleen Neeley (the only one I have of her holding me). I told the children gathered that Gramps and my Great Grandmother were part of the communion of saints that were part of the past of the church who taught us of God's love and grace. Then I invited the boys and girls to look in a bag at a very special saint...when they looked inside they saw their reflection (Mom, a mirror was in the bag!!). I reminded them that they are specials saints of God too, they can be a saint today! As I returned to my pew after sharing a piece of my story through Gramps' cross and a picture of my great grandmother (my saints),...members of the congregation were invited to come up front to place a flower in the vase as they remembered saints who entered the church triumphant this past year. Once again, side by side, Elizabeth and I placed a flower in the vase as we prayed a prayer of thanksgiving for Mr. Guy (our grandfather), and other family members and friends who are the saints we remember this day.
So a pumpkin and a childrens sermon... side by side with my sister this weekend was a reminder of God's grace and love through the face of Christ shining through Elizabeth Jean Rentz, my beloved sister!