A Letter from Our Director
Dear Friends,
“In days to come . . .” “On that day . . .” Many of the Advent weekday readings contain these words. What follows are prophesies describing the “Day of the Lord”:
Lions and lambs lying together
A voice crying in the wilderness
Crooked ways made straight
Parched land flowing with water
A banquet celebrated on God’s holy mountain
Nations dwelling together in peace
How wonderful these words from the prophets must have sounded to the people living in captivity in Babylon. After years of exile, away from home, family, friends, and culture, God speaks of comfort and tenderness. God’s message: you are free; you have paid for your sins. Not only that, but it is God who will make the journey “home” easy for them: paths made straight, valleys made even, mountains made low, roads made smooth. “On that day,” God will reveal God’s glory! Such good news!
Good news is always welcome: a cure from cancer, a new baby, a promotion, a loved one’s return, a friendship rekindled, a deepening relationship with God. In our world, both personal and communal, there are many things that hold us captive. The feelings of hurt and pain and fear and doubt take us into exile. It’s as if we can’t breathe; we are far from “home.”
But God, through the prophets, tells us that he will guide us home. On our spiritual journey, there are many “roads” we must travel. When I was stationed in upstate Pennsylvania, there was a road that wound around a mountain. It was very curvy and steep. As I was driving on that road with its twists and turns, I often thought, “Why couldn’t they have made this road straight?” I said it in jest because the road was built around a large mountain! During Advent, we are preparing a way for the Lord in our hearts and our lives. But we recognize that there are so many obstacles! Removing them is as difficult as removing a mountain.
The prophets tell us that “on that day,” we will travel on a road that God will make straight, in valleys that God will fill in, on dry land that God will make fertile. And there will be a Great Banquet where everyone is invited: the poor, the lame, the blind and the sick; young and old, of all races, creeds and cultures. All are invited and no one is turned away. No one! Can you imagine it . . . “In days to come . . . ” “ . . . on that day. . . “
HAPPY ADVENT! HAPPY TRAVELS!
The Sisters at the Center wish all of you a wonderful Christmas!
“In days to come . . .” “On that day . . .” Many of the Advent weekday readings contain these words. What follows are prophesies describing the “Day of the Lord”:
Lions and lambs lying together
A voice crying in the wilderness
Crooked ways made straight
Parched land flowing with water
A banquet celebrated on God’s holy mountain
Nations dwelling together in peace
How wonderful these words from the prophets must have sounded to the people living in captivity in Babylon. After years of exile, away from home, family, friends, and culture, God speaks of comfort and tenderness. God’s message: you are free; you have paid for your sins. Not only that, but it is God who will make the journey “home” easy for them: paths made straight, valleys made even, mountains made low, roads made smooth. “On that day,” God will reveal God’s glory! Such good news!
Good news is always welcome: a cure from cancer, a new baby, a promotion, a loved one’s return, a friendship rekindled, a deepening relationship with God. In our world, both personal and communal, there are many things that hold us captive. The feelings of hurt and pain and fear and doubt take us into exile. It’s as if we can’t breathe; we are far from “home.”
But God, through the prophets, tells us that he will guide us home. On our spiritual journey, there are many “roads” we must travel. When I was stationed in upstate Pennsylvania, there was a road that wound around a mountain. It was very curvy and steep. As I was driving on that road with its twists and turns, I often thought, “Why couldn’t they have made this road straight?” I said it in jest because the road was built around a large mountain! During Advent, we are preparing a way for the Lord in our hearts and our lives. But we recognize that there are so many obstacles! Removing them is as difficult as removing a mountain.
The prophets tell us that “on that day,” we will travel on a road that God will make straight, in valleys that God will fill in, on dry land that God will make fertile. And there will be a Great Banquet where everyone is invited: the poor, the lame, the blind and the sick; young and old, of all races, creeds and cultures. All are invited and no one is turned away. No one! Can you imagine it . . . “In days to come . . . ” “ . . . on that day. . . “
HAPPY ADVENT! HAPPY TRAVELS!
The Sisters at the Center wish all of you a wonderful Christmas!
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 ihmconferencecenter@gmail.com 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 ihmconferencecenter@gmail.com and our office phone is 610-581-0120.