A Letter from Our Director
Dear Friends,
A favorite Christmas carol of mine—and the theme for this year’s Carol Night at the Mansion—is “Do You Hear What I Hear?” It isn’t as old as other carols that are so familiar to us; it was written in 1962 during the Cuban Missile Crisis. Noel Regney, its author, was inspired to write it after observing a mother walking her babies in a stroller. He was touched by the innocence and peacefulness of the children in spite of all that was going on between the United States and Cuba. The song became an anthem of peace and hope and light.
There are three questions asked in the song: Do you see what I see? Do you hear what I hear? Do you know what I know? They are good questions to ponder during these Advent weeks. Do you see only the glitz of the department stores, the “sale” signs on practically every time, the never-ending commercials for products you really don’t need (but think you might), people rushing here and there trying to meet self-made deadline, lines of people outside stores waiting to be the first to get the latest electronic craze?
Do you hear only complaints that there is to much to do and too little time to do it, carols playing on the radio and in stores from October until December 25, news (most of it bad) that screams through every TV and radio, voices trying to convince you that you just aren’t complete unless you buy their product?
Do you know only that Christmas is coming faster than you want, that presents have to be wrapped and cards written, that Uncle Charlie is so hard to buy a present for, that you’ll never get all those cookies baked, that decorations have to be put up immediately after Thanksgiving (maybe even before!)?
All these things that we see, hear and know at this time of year are inevitable for all of us, I suppose. We can say that it “goes with the territory.” But it doesn’t have to be the bottom line! To celebrate the feast of Christmas our main focus must be on the Child, first born in Bethlehem and born anew in our hearts every day—if we see, hear and come to know him present everywhere. This is the gift of Christmas. If we accept this gift and hold onto it, all the other things will take a back seat and we will truly celebrate the Child, sleeping in night who will “bring us goodness and light.”
Blessed Christmas to you and your families!
The Staff of the IHM Conference/Retreat Center
Click the links here for our Upcoming December offerings: Home Page or Our Brochure
A favorite Christmas carol of mine—and the theme for this year’s Carol Night at the Mansion—is “Do You Hear What I Hear?” It isn’t as old as other carols that are so familiar to us; it was written in 1962 during the Cuban Missile Crisis. Noel Regney, its author, was inspired to write it after observing a mother walking her babies in a stroller. He was touched by the innocence and peacefulness of the children in spite of all that was going on between the United States and Cuba. The song became an anthem of peace and hope and light.
There are three questions asked in the song: Do you see what I see? Do you hear what I hear? Do you know what I know? They are good questions to ponder during these Advent weeks. Do you see only the glitz of the department stores, the “sale” signs on practically every time, the never-ending commercials for products you really don’t need (but think you might), people rushing here and there trying to meet self-made deadline, lines of people outside stores waiting to be the first to get the latest electronic craze?
Do you hear only complaints that there is to much to do and too little time to do it, carols playing on the radio and in stores from October until December 25, news (most of it bad) that screams through every TV and radio, voices trying to convince you that you just aren’t complete unless you buy their product?
Do you know only that Christmas is coming faster than you want, that presents have to be wrapped and cards written, that Uncle Charlie is so hard to buy a present for, that you’ll never get all those cookies baked, that decorations have to be put up immediately after Thanksgiving (maybe even before!)?
All these things that we see, hear and know at this time of year are inevitable for all of us, I suppose. We can say that it “goes with the territory.” But it doesn’t have to be the bottom line! To celebrate the feast of Christmas our main focus must be on the Child, first born in Bethlehem and born anew in our hearts every day—if we see, hear and come to know him present everywhere. This is the gift of Christmas. If we accept this gift and hold onto it, all the other things will take a back seat and we will truly celebrate the Child, sleeping in night who will “bring us goodness and light.”
Blessed Christmas to you and your families!
The Staff of the IHM Conference/Retreat Center
Click the links here for our Upcoming December offerings: Home Page or Our Brochure
A reminder: we have changed our email address to: ihmconferencecenter@gmail.com.
Thank you for updating your own records for us!
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.
Thank you for updating your own records for us!
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.