BISHOP ELI'S NEW YEAR'S MESSAGE

I want to keep this short as Marilyn's finger just came out of it's brace and I don't want anything to happen with it typing my message.  Even when I said you would understand if we didn't have a message this year, she said it wouldn't be New Year's on here without one.  So here I go.

Ephesians 2:4-5 "But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)."

God loves us.  Please remember that.  God loves me.  God loves you.  No matter what happens or what you do.  God still loves you. 

God is our Father.  God created us.  He will forgive our sins.  Even when we think He won't - He will. He loves us. 

So this New Year's remember God's love.  Ask Him to forgive your sins.  Look at the world as a new beginning.  Start a new.  But, if you fall during this year.  Ask His forgiveness.  God loves you.

Happy New Year,
Bishop Eli

HOW WARM OR COLD IS WHERE YOU LIVE?

IT IS 7 degrees WHERE I LIVE IN UPSTATE NEW YORK, TODAY.  WHAT IS THE TEMPATURE OUTSIDE WHERE YOU LIVE ?

PS: Bishop Eli will be on tomorrow with a New Year's message to us.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM:
Jean, David and Family
Bishop Eli and Family
Bishop Joseph and Family
Elmer,Anna and Family
Marilyn

This year can't end soon enough for me.  I feel last night and had to go to thr hospital.  I didn't break anything, but I am all bruised up.  I pulled one of my fingers out of joint - but it is back again.  May not have much on this week.  Poor Pierre is following me where ever I go.

Marilyn

ELMER'S CHRISTMAS POST

Sometimes it is great knowing Bishop Eli as your friend and sometimes - well I wonder.  When he needs someone to call when he has a problem come up, he calls me.  Now,  really, I am kidding.  He is my closed friend, outside of Anna of course.  I am willing to help Eli whenever I can as Bishop or friend.  Really I was the fourth person he contacted yesterday.  I was his last straw.

Our people were suppose to pack up Christmas Baskets for people.  The man that was suppose to do it came down the flu.  The second one wasn't home.  The third man had also come down with the flu. So I was I called.  The ladies had the packages packed,  and the baskets were to be delivered.  Some we took by horse and buggy, some we hired John and Dot to deliver for us in their van.  Someone has to organize to see everything got to the right place at the right time.  That was me. 

It all was done and came out right.  What you might not know is when we deliver, we like to it when they can't see us.  Just to leave the Christmas Baskets as a gift from the Lord.  We don't want people to know who delivered it.  If they are Amish, they can usually figure out who left it.  But, with Englishers, we just want our baskets to be  left.  Usually we deliver in the evening or early morning, but with the snow coming and we weren't sure how much, Bishop Eli thought we better deliver when the roads were safe in case of snow.  So that is what we did. When we do this, we feel that we helping others and doing the work of the Lord.

So that was what I was doing yesterday.  There were lots of people, but someone has to boss, and I was the boss. 

Which leads to my message for Christmas this year.  It may be a repeat of what I have said before.  Pierre said it this year, as he does every year, to remember the pets this Christmas.  Well, remember others this year.

I know there are people out there that need help this Christmas.  Some are to proud to ask.  Maybe they need a Christmas basket of food, maybe they need someone to sit with someone while they get a break, maybe they need someone to talk to, maybe they need repairs, maybe they need money, maybe they are alone and would like to sit down to dinner with a family or friends,  maybe they need prayers.  Help someone.  We can't help everyone in the world, but I the Lord leads us to people who need OUR help, not someone elses.

Money is tight and I understand you might not have money to help others in a big way.  You might be having your own problems this year.  But you can pray.  Maybe you know someone who doesn't know the Lord - pray for them.  Maybe you know someone who is looking for work - pray for them.  Prayers do more than all the money in the world.

I am not saying you shouldn't help others  financially or food wise if you can.  But if you don't, prayer has more power that we ourselves know.   The Lord has done so much for us, He gave us His only begotton son. 

So Merry Christmas to all of you out there from all us back here.

Trust God's Wisdom,
Elmer


We got together to make this post today, so I put it on today..

MERRY CHRISTMAS, EVERYONE
Marilyn

APRONS MADE BY 4-Hers

These aprons were handmade by 4-Hers for the Wayne County Fair last August.

If there are times when I don't have anything on this week - I am well.  It's just that I have so many things to do this week and I am behind in everything.  On Friday, Elmer, will be giving us something to think about Christmas. There is also discussion from all of us considering taking the week between Christmas and New Years off.  It is still in discussion right now.

CHRISTMAS HOUSES - HOMEMADE

I went to nutrition a few weeks ago and saw these buildings or churches as decorations.  It turns out Fred (he is a regular customer) brought these in - his daughter-in-law made these.  They are made of graham crackers with frosing and other candy decorations.  Fred said she showed him how to make one and he did.  I asked which one of these was his.  He got red in the face and said his wasn't here - he ate it.  Well, today I got pictures of them.  They haven't been eaten yet - but they sure are pretty. I tried to get front and side of each of them.  Think you might enjoy these.

Sorry for this coming on so late.  I set the timer wrong.

LET IT SNOW, LET IT SNOW, LET IT SNOW

These pictures were taken of the trees in my backyard after the snow we had.  I am not for snow, but there are many people who are.  We have to live with it in Upstate New York.

JEAN'S MOM'S CHRISTMAS COOKIES

JEAN'S MOM'S CHRISTMAS COOKIES

1 cup soft margarine
1 cup shortening
2 cups light brown sugar
3 eggs
2/3 cup milk
2 tsp soda
1 tsp baking powder
2 tsp vanilla
5 to 6 cups flour

Cream sugar and shortening and margarine until light.  Add eggs.  Combine dry ingrediets and add alternately with milk and vanilla. Chill overnight.  Roll dough on floured cloth.  Use as much flow as neededd.  Cut with cutters.  Place on ungreased cookie sheets and bake at 300 degrees for 8 to 10 minutes.  Cookies should be light.  Take out when just golden.  Grost and decorate when cooled.

Pierre's - "The Bark"

Here is my new Christmas picture with Santa Claus.  Mom just went down and got copies made to send to friend's in her Christmas cards this year.  A couple of people didn't get pictures of me last year, so they are going to be the first this year.

As I ask every year, if you have some extra money please consider giving food and toys to peoples dogs, cats, fish, etc. Maybe if you had a little extra money you could afford to give them money or gift certificate to get their pet shots and a look over by the vet.    Also, please consider the Humane Society, too.  They could use food, dog or cat toys, blankets,  and more.  They could also use money, too.

While at the Humane Society, maybe you will find a dog, cat, fish, etc. that would fit in your home family.  Puppies and Kittens are great family members, but also consider the older pets, too.  I was three years when Mom and I got together. We are perfect family.

I don't want anyone to take from their money that they need - but if they have a little extra.

Thank you so much.  I was lucky to get a great home, but not all pets are.

Merry Christmas,
Pierre













'

MENNONITE FARM

Menonite Farm house I took pictures of.  If you look real close in picture 2, you can see two children in that one. 

SAUNDER'S BAKERY

When I went years ago - all the bakery was was a couple of shelves.  They have grown into a section of the store.  It is really something to see.

WHITE CHOCOLATE CLUSTERS & RUDOLPH SANDWICHES

I make the clusters for Christmas, every year.  In putting it on here, I cut the recipe in half.  Also thought you might enjoy Rudolph Sandwiches for the children.  If there is any recipe you would like, please ask.  Will see what we can do to obtain in for you.  Jean

WHITE CHOCOLATE CLUSTERSS

1 lbs white chocolate
1/2 cup peanut butter
1 1/2 cups Rice Krispies
1 1/2 cup salted peanuts
1 1/2 cups small marshmallows

Melt white chocolate over hot water.  Mix rest of ingredients with melted chocolate in very large bowl.  Stir in marshmallows just so they don't melt.  Drop by spoonfuls on wax paper.  Chill. 

RUDOLPH SANDWITCHES

2 slices bread
2 maraschino cherries cut in half
peanut butter, creamy
8 pretzels
8 raisins plain or chocolate covered

Butter bread and spread with peanut butter.  Cut bread in half diagonally.  With longest end of triangle at top, place 1 pretzel on each side to resemble antlers.  Place raisins for eyes and half cherry for the nose.  Yields 4 sandwiches.

THIS DUCK MOVES AROUND

This duck seems to move from house to house.  It has been moved up and down the street ever since I moved here over 10 years go.  At first I thought it was real, but it is a ceramic duck.  It gets around better than some birds in the sky.