A Letter from Our Director
Dear Friends,
Well, the Christmas commercials on TV and the radio are in high gear, reminding us that the holiday is coming fast! Everything from toys to food to electronics to medicine to home goods to clothing to cars. YES! CARS!!! It’s only November, and I’m already tired of being told what I need for Christmas to make me happy!
The other day I had a thought. What if we saw some different types of commercials at this time of year, commercials that would actually advertise what the season really is about? Each year we see in abundance magnets, posters, decals that say “Jesus is the reason for the season.” But we never hear that in a commercial!
Over two thousand years ago there were several “commercials” announcing Jesus’ birth. An angel appeared to Mary announcing that she would be the mother of the “Son of the Most High.” In a dream, Joseph heard from an angel the announcement that he was to take Mary as his wife and name her son, Jesus. The “glory of the Lord” shone around shepherds who were watching their flocks in the fields, and they heard the announcement that proclaimed that “to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah”. Following a star, Wise Men from the East received the announcement from the chief priest and scribes the exact location of the birth of Jesus. Imagine hearing THAT kind of commercial today!
But we are like Mary, who carried the child Jesus; we must carry him today and every day to those who need to know of his presence. We are like Joseph, who trusted that God’s word was true; we must place our trust in God, especially when things seem impossible to understand. We are like the shepherds, who without hesitating, hastened to see the newborn King of the Jews; we must hasten to seek him out in every aspect of our lives. We are like the Wise Men, who offered the Child gifts; we must give our life and love in homage to our Savior.
Imagine that you are Mary or Joseph or shepherds or wise men. What “commercial” would you hear to prepare you for the birth of Jesus at Christmas? Is it something you think you want? Is it something you think you need? Or is it something God wants to give you to celebrate His Son’s birthday? During this Advent season, let’s open our ears to hear the God-proclaimed commercials, announcing the birth of Jesus in our hearts and homes, all day, every day.
Well, the Christmas commercials on TV and the radio are in high gear, reminding us that the holiday is coming fast! Everything from toys to food to electronics to medicine to home goods to clothing to cars. YES! CARS!!! It’s only November, and I’m already tired of being told what I need for Christmas to make me happy!
The other day I had a thought. What if we saw some different types of commercials at this time of year, commercials that would actually advertise what the season really is about? Each year we see in abundance magnets, posters, decals that say “Jesus is the reason for the season.” But we never hear that in a commercial!
Over two thousand years ago there were several “commercials” announcing Jesus’ birth. An angel appeared to Mary announcing that she would be the mother of the “Son of the Most High.” In a dream, Joseph heard from an angel the announcement that he was to take Mary as his wife and name her son, Jesus. The “glory of the Lord” shone around shepherds who were watching their flocks in the fields, and they heard the announcement that proclaimed that “to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah”. Following a star, Wise Men from the East received the announcement from the chief priest and scribes the exact location of the birth of Jesus. Imagine hearing THAT kind of commercial today!
But we are like Mary, who carried the child Jesus; we must carry him today and every day to those who need to know of his presence. We are like Joseph, who trusted that God’s word was true; we must place our trust in God, especially when things seem impossible to understand. We are like the shepherds, who without hesitating, hastened to see the newborn King of the Jews; we must hasten to seek him out in every aspect of our lives. We are like the Wise Men, who offered the Child gifts; we must give our life and love in homage to our Savior.
Imagine that you are Mary or Joseph or shepherds or wise men. What “commercial” would you hear to prepare you for the birth of Jesus at Christmas? Is it something you think you want? Is it something you think you need? Or is it something God wants to give you to celebrate His Son’s birthday? During this Advent season, let’s open our ears to hear the God-proclaimed commercials, announcing the birth of Jesus in our hearts and homes, all day, every day.
Sisters Marie, Beth, Rita and Rose send wishes
to you and your families for a Blessed Christmas
and a Peace-filled Holiday Season!
to you and your families for a Blessed Christmas
and a Peace-filled Holiday Season!
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.