Storytime Tapestry Newsletter

The newsletter devoted to spreading love and cultural awareness around the world.

March 23, 2008

 Today’s Announcement

Have a happy and blessed Easter everyone from Storytime Tapestry Publisher, Carol Roach, Moderator: Clara Wesrterfer

Good news we have a wonderful new poem reaching out to us today with her Easter Poem:  Joyce Blume becomes writer # 460 for Storytime Tapestry, please email her and welcome her to our wonderful Storytime Family.

 Don’t forget to order your copy of Angels Watching Over Me, the story of an ordinary woman facing less than ordinary challenges.  Angels Watching Over Me is a story of family love, sacrifices, poverty and an undying faith that makes heroes out of all of us. Here is the link in case you have forgotten it: http://www.lulu.com/content/964306

Important notice: Storytime Tapestry is a free e-zine, however donations are always needed to help with the operating expenses of running the newsletter and to keep Storytime Tapestry the quality newsletter you are so accustomed to.   You can make your donations to paypal at: winterose@videotron.ca, or if you would prefer to use the mail system contact the publisher at the same email address: winterose@videotron.ca

 ~**~**~

Sunrise Service

By

Pamela Perry Blaine

It was dark outside as we woke up and began getting ready for church.  It was exciting to get up on Easter because we were going to sunrise service. 

After I was ready to go, I peeked into the kitchen and there were the four coffee cups on the kitchen table awaiting our return.  Each cup had a different color of liquid in it.  There was red, green, yellow and blue.  In a pan next to the coffee cups were the eggs that Mama had boiled the night before.  It was Easter morning and part of the fun for the day was to color eggs.  Mama made up her own colors with water, vinegar, and food coloring.  We used a waxy crayon to write names or designs on the eggs because the dye wouldn’t stick where the wax was marked on the eggs so there was no end to the creations we could make, but first, we would go to sunrise service. 

We attended church regularly from the time that I could remember but Easter Sunday was different.  There was something special about getting up before the sunrise.  The air was crisp and as the sky slowly became a little lighter, the birds began to chirp as if to announce the forthcoming sunrise.

We made our way down the gravel road to the church that was only a block from our house.  As we walked, I could hear the gravel crunching beneath my feet and I tried to walk ever so carefully so I wouldn’t get dust or marks on my new white shoes that I thought were almost too pretty to wear.

I was excited to get to church because my cousin, Suzanne, and I had a part in the Easter program.   We had a duet to sing together.  We had rehearsed the program many times and we wanted to do our best.

There were more people than usual on Easter Sunday.  There was an atmosphere of expectancy as people were seated and the music began to play.  Suzanne and I took our places on the piano side of the church on the front pew.  The pastor spoke a few words of welcome and then the program began.

The choir sang “In the Garden”, “The Old Rugged Cross” and “There Is a Fountain” as narration was interspersed between songs.  Everything was going just as we had practiced and then the moment came, it was the scripture that was our cue:  “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.”  When he had said this, he breathed his last.”  As soon as the scripture was finished Suzanne and I began to sing the old spiritual, “Were you there when they crucified my Lord?” and I knew in my heart even as a child that in some mysterious way, I was there and that the Lord paid a debt He did not owe because I owed a debt I couldn’t pay.

When our duet ended, the narrator began reading the words: “Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women came unto the sepulcher, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.  His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men. And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for he is risen, as he said.”

At the very moment that the narration ended, the choir broke into the joyful song “Christ the Lord is Risen today, Al – le – lu – ia!”  

Afterward, everyone began filing out of the church to leave and as I looked up I saw that the sun had risen as it streamed through the front door. 

I remember running down the gravel road toward home after that sunrise service.  In my excitement, I had forgotten all about being careful not to mess up my new white shoes.   I wondered if the women that found the empty tomb thought about their shoes.  Then I wondered what became of the no longer needed spices that they had carried to the tomb.  I guessed the women probably forgot all about them because how can you think about your shoes or spices when you have just seen an earthquake, an empty tomb, and a powerful angel saying, “He is risen!” 

The program was over but Easter continued on that day.  I went home to color Easter eggs with my brother and take turns hiding them and finding them.  That was the year that Mama drew a picture of the cross and the empty tomb in the icing on a cake.  She rarely had time for things like that but it was a special day, it was Easter and the message that filled our thoughts was, “He is risen!”

This Easter I will again attend sunrise service.  As the sun rises in the sky, I will once more be reminded, “He is risen!”  

It is an awesome thought to know that the same God who created the sunrise loves us and wants to live in our hearts.

May the SON rise in your heart this Easter.

By

Pamela Perry Blaine

© March 12, 2008

Pamela lives in Missouri and writes "Pam's Corner" for her local newspaper.  Many stories have been published in magazines, newspapers, and books.  She is church pianist and has a CD of songs she has written.  Her goal is to write to encourage and to preserve family history for her children. 

Pam’s website: 

 http://www.blaines.us/PamyPlace.htm
 pamyblaine@blaines.us

 My Website:
http://www.blaines.us/PamyPlace.htm
e-mail: pamyblaine@blaines.us

Poetry Corner

~**~**~

Happy Easter


I know this is a strange Title to a poem, but I do
believe that at the time Jesus entered the section
of Hell, where the souls of the Old Testiment Saints
waited. They had been covered by the animal
blood sacrifice,  But now had been washed away.

I believe that these were the souls that Jesus went
to Hell to preach to. He told them that He had shed
His blood, once for all, and that He had come to
tell them that they were now able to be moved to
Heaven, to Abraham's bosom.

He did just that on the third day. The Graves were
opened and many walked the earth. This was something
to rejoice over.  Joyce

I wrote this poem about what happened in
the three days after Jesus died.

               " Rejoicing in Hell"
 
                Joyce L. Blume

The spiritual Light of the world went out--
Oh, how the earth did quake in gloom!
The lovingly saints took His body away
And gently laid  Him in a borrowed tomb.

The entrance was sealed with a very large stone
One, that He Himself had made,
To be used for this special occasion.
Yes, to be used for the door of His grave.

This large rock closed out the world,

And certain men were placed there to guard.
Not knowing that within the tomb
Lay the rock of salvation, the Lord!

His body slept, and His soul entered Hell,
Where the Old Testament Saints, waited so long.
The darkness went out, as the Light came in,
How the Saints must have rejoiced with a song.

He preached to them for three whole days,
How He paid for their sins on the cross.
The wicked must have looked across the great gulf,
That separated the saints from the lost.

The Lord may have preached to both groups
Though the written Word does not say,
If He did, He must have reminded the lost,
Their resurrection would be, the Great Judgment Day!

The first day of the week, Christ arose--
Moving Paradise out as He came.

The light went out, as they ascended from Hell
Leaving the lost in the dark, with their suffering and shame.

The guards fell asleep and did not know,
A thing that happened that day.
How God's angels came while they slept
And rolled the great stone away!

So as you think on this tormenting place,
With it's darkness, burning and great thirst.
Repent, turn to the Lord Jesus Christ,
And receive God's gift, the new birth.
                *************

Who would think there could have ever been rejoicing
in Hell? I believe that there was at this time, when the
Old Testament Saints saw their Saviour for the first
time. Waiting  so long in this abiding place, called Paradise.
Waiting for it to be moved to Abraham's Bosom in Heaven,
Now to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.
No longer do God's children have to wait.

Joyce L. Blume

jjblume@juno.com

~**~**~~**~**~

Readers Feedback

Carol,

I really enjoy the Storytime Tapestry newsletter coming to my inbox every day, but especially when I know Cynthia Groopman's poems are there.  She is a very gifted poet.  They are so positive and uplifting.  Thanks so much for showcasing so much of her talent.

Your friend,

David Fox 

~**~**~

 Here is our Storytime Tapestry Angels: Also, I would like to thank those of you who chose to be a silent angel and gave an anonymous donation to keep Storytime Tapestry up and running.

Clara Westerfer, Mark Crider, Rosanne Catalano, Paula Booher, Kay Seefeldt, Mariane Holbrook, Mary Ellen Grisham, Louise Nomani, Sharon Bryant, Angela Walker, Hart and Helen Dowd, Keith Ready, Ginger Morgenstern, Ellie Braun-Haley, Surinder Jandu, Bob Shaw, Carol Meeks, Charlotte Hilliard, Marilyn Sink, Victor Buhagiar, Clarice Hinson, Conrad 

Storytime Tapestry Newsletter

The newsletter devoted to spreading love and cultural awareness around the world.

March 23, 2008

 Today’s Announcement

Have a happy and blessed Easter everyone from Storytime Tapestry Publisher, Carol Roach, Moderator: Clara Wesrterfer

Good news we have a wonderful new poem reaching out to us today with her Easter Poem:  Joyce Blume becomes writer # 460 for Storytime Tapestry, please email her and welcome her to our wonderful Storytime Family.

 Don’t forget to order your copy of Angels Watching Over Me, the story of an ordinary woman facing less than ordinary challenges.  Angels Watching Over Me is a story of family love, sacrifices, poverty and an undying faith that makes heroes out of all of us. Here is the link in case you have forgotten it: http://www.lulu.com/content/964306

Important notice: Storytime Tapestry is a free e-zine, however donations are always needed to help with the operating expenses of running the newsletter and to keep Storytime Tapestry the quality newsletter you are so accustomed to.   You can make your donations to paypal at: winterose@videotron.ca, or if you would prefer to use the mail system contact the publisher at the same email address: winterose@videotron.ca

 ~**~**~

Sunrise Service

By

Pamela Perry Blaine

It was dark outside as we woke up and began getting ready for church.  It was exciting to get up on Easter because we were going to sunrise service. 

After I was ready to go, I peeked into the kitchen and there were the four coffee cups on the kitchen table awaiting our return.  Each cup had a different color of liquid in it.  There was red, green, yellow and blue.  In a pan next to the coffee cups were the eggs that Mama had boiled the night before.  It was Easter morning and part of the fun for the day was to color eggs.  Mama made up her own colors with water, vinegar, and food coloring.  We used a waxy crayon to write names or designs on the eggs because the dye wouldn’t stick where the wax was marked on the eggs so there was no end to the creations we could make, but first, we would go to sunrise service. 

We attended church regularly from the time that I could remember but Easter Sunday was different.  There was something special about getting up before the sunrise.  The air was crisp and as the sky slowly became a little lighter, the birds began to chirp as if to announce the forthcoming sunrise.

We made our way down the gravel road to the church that was only a block from our house.  As we walked, I could hear the gravel crunching beneath my feet and I tried to walk ever so carefully so I wouldn’t get dust or marks on my new white shoes that I thought were almost too pretty to wear.

I was excited to get to church because my cousin, Suzanne, and I had a part in the Easter program.   We had a duet to sing together.  We had rehearsed the program many times and we wanted to do our best.

There were more people than usual on Easter Sunday.  There was an atmosphere of expectancy as people were seated and the music began to play.  Suzanne and I took our places on the piano side of the church on the front pew.  The pastor spoke a few words of welcome and then the program began.

The choir sang “In the Garden”, “The Old Rugged Cross” and “There Is a Fountain” as narration was interspersed between songs.  Everything was going just as we had practiced and then the moment came, it was the scripture that was our cue:  “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.”  When he had said this, he breathed his last.”  As soon as the scripture was finished Suzanne and I began to sing the old spiritual, “Were you there when they crucified my Lord?” and I knew in my heart even as a child that in some mysterious way, I was there and that the Lord paid a debt He did not owe because I owed a debt I couldn’t pay.

When our duet ended, the narrator began reading the words: “Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women came unto the sepulcher, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.  His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men. And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for he is risen, as he said.”

At the very moment that the narration ended, the choir broke into the joyful song “Christ the Lord is Risen today, Al – le – lu – ia!”  

Afterward, everyone began filing out of the church to leave and as I looked up I saw that the sun had risen as it streamed through the front door. 

I remember running down the gravel road toward home after that sunrise service.  In my excitement, I had forgotten all about being careful not to mess up my new white shoes.   I wondered if the women that found the empty tomb thought about their shoes.  Then I wondered what became of the no longer needed spices that they had carried to the tomb.  I guessed the women probably forgot all about them because how can you think about your shoes or spices when you have just seen an earthquake, an empty tomb, and a powerful angel saying, “He is risen!” 

The program was over but Easter continued on that day.  I went home to color Easter eggs with my brother and take turns hiding them and finding them.  That was the year that Mama drew a picture of the cross and the empty tomb in the icing on a cake.  She rarely had time for things like that but it was a special day, it was Easter and the message that filled our thoughts was, “He is risen!”

This Easter I will again attend sunrise service.  As the sun rises in the sky, I will once more be reminded, “He is risen!”  

It is an awesome thought to know that the same God who created the sunrise loves us and wants to live in our hearts.

May the SON rise in your heart this Easter.

By

Pamela Perry Blaine

© March 12, 2008

Pamela lives in Missouri and writes "Pam's Corner" for her local newspaper.  Many stories have been published in magazines, newspapers, and books.  She is church pianist and has a CD of songs she has written.  Her goal is to write to encourage and to preserve family history for her children. 

Pam’s website: 

 http://www.blaines.us/PamyPlace.htm
 pamyblaine@blaines.us

 My Website:
http://www.blaines.us/PamyPlace.htm
e-mail: pamyblaine@blaines.us

Poetry Corner

~**~**~

Happy Easter


I know this is a strange Title to a poem, but I do
believe that at the time Jesus entered the section
of Hell, where the souls of the Old Testiment Saints
waited. They had been covered by the animal
blood sacrifice,  But now had been washed away.

I believe that these were the souls that Jesus went
to Hell to preach to. He told them that He had shed
His blood, once for all, and that He had come to
tell them that they were now able to be moved to
Heaven, to Abraham's bosom.

He did just that on the third day. The Graves were
opened and many walked the earth. This was something
to rejoice over.  Joyce

I wrote this poem about what happened in
the three days after Jesus died.

               " Rejoicing in Hell"
 
                Joyce L. Blume

The spiritual Light of the world went out--
Oh, how the earth did quake in gloom!
The lovingly saints took His body away
And gently laid  Him in a borrowed tomb.

The entrance was sealed with a very large stone
One, that He Himself had made,
To be used for this special occasion.
Yes, to be used for the door of His grave.

This large rock closed out the world,

And certain men were placed there to guard.
Not knowing that within the tomb
Lay the rock of salvation, the Lord!

His body slept, and His soul entered Hell,
Where the Old Testament Saints, waited so long.
The darkness went out, as the Light came in,
How the Saints must have rejoiced with a song.

He preached to them for three whole days,
How He paid for their sins on the cross.
The wicked must have looked across the great gulf,
That separated the saints from the lost.

The Lord may have preached to both groups
Though the written Word does not say,
If He did, He must have reminded the lost,
Their resurrection would be, the Great Judgment Day!

The first day of the week, Christ arose--
Moving Paradise out as He came.

The light went out, as they ascended from Hell
Leaving the lost in the dark, with their suffering and shame.

The guards fell asleep and did not know,
A thing that happened that day.
How God's angels came while they slept
And rolled the great stone away!

So as you think on this tormenting place,
With it's darkness, burning and great thirst.
Repent, turn to the Lord Jesus Christ,
And receive God's gift, the new birth.
                *************

Who would think there could have ever been rejoicing
in Hell? I believe that there was at this time, when the
Old Testament Saints saw their Saviour for the first
time. Waiting  so long in this abiding place, called Paradise.
Waiting for it to be moved to Abraham's Bosom in Heaven,
Now to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.
No longer do God's children have to wait.

Joyce L. Blume

jjblume@juno.com

~**~**~~**~**~

Readers Feedback

Carol,

I really enjoy the Storytime Tapestry newsletter coming to my inbox every day, but especially when I know Cynthia Groopman's poems are there.  She is a very gifted poet.  They are so positive and uplifting.  Thanks so much for showcasing so much of her talent.

Your friend,

David Fox 

~**~**~

 Here is our Storytime Tapestry Angels: Also, I would like to thank those of you who chose to be a silent angel and gave an anonymous donation to keep Storytime Tapestry up and running.

Clara Westerfer, Mark Crider, Rosanne Catalano, Paula Booher, Kay Seefeldt, Mariane Holbrook, Mary Ellen Grisham, Louise Nomani, Sharon Bryant, Angela Walker, Hart and Helen Dowd, Keith Ready, Ginger Morgenstern, Ellie Braun-Haley, Surinder Jandu, Bob Shaw, Carol Meeks, Charlotte Hilliard, Marilyn Sink, Victor Buhagiar, Clarice Hinson, Conrad