A Letter from Our Director
Dear Friends,
Advent soon will be coming to a close (can you believe it?) For most of us, it is passing very quickly. For others, especially children, it seems to be dragging on. The children say, “When will Christmas come? Is it almost here?” We adults might groan and wish that we had one more week to shop, to bake, to wrap presents, to send cards. We would like to slow down the pace of time just a little bit to savor the beauty of the season.
I have to admit that I love the activity of Advent. It says to me that something different is happening, something special. All of the preparations are for a reason: the birthday of Jesus. And if that isn’t worth preparing for, I don’t know what is!
We recently celebrated our annual “Carol Night at the Mansion.” While we were singing “O Little Town of Bethlehem,” one of my favorite carols, I was struck by these words, almost as if I was hearing them for the first time:
“How silently, how silently the wondrous gift is given! So God imparts to human hearts the blessings of His heaven.”
Silence. There isn’t much of that during the busy season of pre-Christmas! Yet it is something I know that we all crave in the deepest parts of our hearts. The words of the song make me ponder what that first Christmas was like. The greatest gift ever given to humankind was given in silence. As one author said, “It seems that God does his best work in silence.”
But this season is usually anything but silent for us. Is it even worthwhile to find some silence in all the hustle and bustle of preparations for Christmas? I think it is. We will find that God always works best in silence. Just taking a few minutes in these last days of Advent to allow God to enter into the deepest part of our being will be the best Christmas present we can give ourselves. When we enter into this deep silence, we become more aware that Christ is already present here and now, speaking to us as never before. Perhaps we can carry this practice into the new year. God will be reborn in us in the silence of our hearts, each and every day.
“How silently, how silently the wondrous gift is given . . . O come to us, abide with us, our Lord, Emmanuel!”
May this Christmas season be a time of deep peace and holy joy
for you and your families.
May you find time in the new year for some silent “conversation”
with our Lord.
Love from Sisters Marie, Beth, Rita and Rose
Advent soon will be coming to a close (can you believe it?) For most of us, it is passing very quickly. For others, especially children, it seems to be dragging on. The children say, “When will Christmas come? Is it almost here?” We adults might groan and wish that we had one more week to shop, to bake, to wrap presents, to send cards. We would like to slow down the pace of time just a little bit to savor the beauty of the season.
I have to admit that I love the activity of Advent. It says to me that something different is happening, something special. All of the preparations are for a reason: the birthday of Jesus. And if that isn’t worth preparing for, I don’t know what is!
We recently celebrated our annual “Carol Night at the Mansion.” While we were singing “O Little Town of Bethlehem,” one of my favorite carols, I was struck by these words, almost as if I was hearing them for the first time:
“How silently, how silently the wondrous gift is given! So God imparts to human hearts the blessings of His heaven.”
Silence. There isn’t much of that during the busy season of pre-Christmas! Yet it is something I know that we all crave in the deepest parts of our hearts. The words of the song make me ponder what that first Christmas was like. The greatest gift ever given to humankind was given in silence. As one author said, “It seems that God does his best work in silence.”
But this season is usually anything but silent for us. Is it even worthwhile to find some silence in all the hustle and bustle of preparations for Christmas? I think it is. We will find that God always works best in silence. Just taking a few minutes in these last days of Advent to allow God to enter into the deepest part of our being will be the best Christmas present we can give ourselves. When we enter into this deep silence, we become more aware that Christ is already present here and now, speaking to us as never before. Perhaps we can carry this practice into the new year. God will be reborn in us in the silence of our hearts, each and every day.
“How silently, how silently the wondrous gift is given . . . O come to us, abide with us, our Lord, Emmanuel!”
May this Christmas season be a time of deep peace and holy joy
for you and your families.
May you find time in the new year for some silent “conversation”
with our Lord.
Love from Sisters Marie, Beth, Rita and Rose
Spiritual Treasury Cards
If you were wondering how to obtain more of the Annual or Perpetual Enrollment cards for many various occasions...look no further! Simply click the link below, which may also be found with more information on how to order on the same page where you may leave Prayer Requests, right here on our website! The link will provide you with a peek at the many cards available at Camilla Hall, the Convent Home for our retired/infirm Sisters. All enrolled in the Spiritual Treasury as well as those who support the enrollment program are remembered in the daily prayers and works of the Sisters!
Check it out now: www.camillahall.org/spiritual-treasury
If you were wondering how to obtain more of the Annual or Perpetual Enrollment cards for many various occasions...look no further! Simply click the link below, which may also be found with more information on how to order on the same page where you may leave Prayer Requests, right here on our website! The link will provide you with a peek at the many cards available at Camilla Hall, the Convent Home for our retired/infirm Sisters. All enrolled in the Spiritual Treasury as well as those who support the enrollment program are remembered in the daily prayers and works of the Sisters!
Check it out now: www.camillahall.org/spiritual-treasury
WE OFFER OUR GRATITUDE!
We often have folks contact us by phone or email asking how they can be a help to us...as a way of showing their gratitude for just being a part of our Conference Center "Family!" First of all, we are always so very grateful for a remembrance in your prayers as that is the best support to us in our ministry. Each day at our Morning Prayer, which we pray in common, we specifically ask God's blessings on our "Benefactors"...those who have gifted us with their presence, their time, their prayers and their treasure. If you would like to become one of our monetary Benefactors, we will gratefully accept a donation in any amount toward our ministry. Checks should be made to IHM Conference Center and sent to Sister Marie Gipprich at the Center. We are most grateful for all that you do for us and continue to ask God's blessings on each one and your special intentions! Thank you!
We often have folks contact us by phone or email asking how they can be a help to us...as a way of showing their gratitude for just being a part of our Conference Center "Family!" First of all, we are always so very grateful for a remembrance in your prayers as that is the best support to us in our ministry. Each day at our Morning Prayer, which we pray in common, we specifically ask God's blessings on our "Benefactors"...those who have gifted us with their presence, their time, their prayers and their treasure. If you would like to become one of our monetary Benefactors, we will gratefully accept a donation in any amount toward our ministry. Checks should be made to IHM Conference Center and sent to Sister Marie Gipprich at the Center. We are most grateful for all that you do for us and continue to ask God's blessings on each one and your special intentions! Thank you!
Please be sure to look for us on Facebook: IHM Conference/Retreat Center in Bryn Mawr, PA...if you like and share our posts, you will be helping to spread the ministry of the Center to others! Thank you!
Also, be sure to check out our new Photo Gallery Pages by clicking here! We are posting, in slideshow format, all the photos we have taken at any event or program hosted here at the Center.
Hopefully, you have seen the news on our Home Page about the available Reflections we offered during the pandemic, via YouTube. Please see our new page, Zoom and YouTube Library, to access these. Simply click the link to view them!
Please remember that you are always in our prayers and we ask a remembrance in yours, as well. Don't forget that you are always welcome to call or email us with any special intentions you wish us to put in our Convent Book of Prayer Intentions! The email address is [email protected] and our office phone is 610-581-0120.
Hopefully, you have seen the news on our Home Page about the available Reflections we offered during the pandemic, via YouTube. Please see our new page, Zoom and YouTube Library, to access these. Simply click the link to view them!
Please remember that you are always in our prayers and we ask a remembrance in yours, as well. Don't forget that you are always welcome to call or email us with any special intentions you wish us to put in our Convent Book of Prayer Intentions! The email address is [email protected] and our office phone is 610-581-0120.