A few Views of Benton Harbor/ St. Joseph from Silver Beach

 

grainery mural

downtown mural

City Light Mosaic Church

 I do not know much about this denomination but assume it is Christian.  It is on Woolworth in the Field Club area.

Three Missionary Farewell Talks and a Baptism in One Day

Caleb is not here this week, so it becomes my job to report on all the missionary goodbyes he is missing today.  There were two in our ward, Clayton Williams and Phillip Herrera as well as one in the Ripon Ward, Ben Tolman.  I must admit I skipped part of priesthood meeting to go and listen in.
In our ward the theme was covenants.  Clayton after given and overview of covenants through our lives, focused on the baptismal covenant.  He told a cute story of his own baptism, and having to be baptized twice because his toe came up.  I guess that is embarrassing when you are eight.  However he gave a good idea of the obligations we take upon ourselves at baptism, commiting to help those who stand in need and being willing to witness for Jesus in whatever circumstance we might be in.
Phillip focused on the oath and covenant of the priesthood.  He read to us from D&C 4, the list of things which qualify us for the work.  And faith, hope, charity and love, with and eye single to the glory of God, qualify him for the work.  

Remember faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience,  brotherly kindness, godliness, charity, humility, diligence.
He focused on faith from that point.
Ben talked more on choices and free agency.  All three missionaries expressed gratitude for those who had helped them get to the point where they are leaving on missions.
A couple weeks ago we had a returning missionary speak, Elder Joe Ekland.  He also talked about covenants, with a focus on missionary work.  He indicated it isn't hard to ask some one if they would like to see a presentation about our religion.
This pm I went back to the church for a baptism.  The missionaries have been teaching Darrin Williams and he was baptized today.  Caleb had visited him with the missionaries, and I express his desire to have been there. 

It was a very beautiful service.  Sister Smith played for Sister Ward.  They sang "I know my Redeemer Lives" but to the music for "A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief."  Sister Dees visited from Oak Grove where she is now serving.  There were lots of visitors.  I talked with grandmother, and she set up a date to visit with the missionaries.  Another young lady was also there who has been investigating, as well as Darring

"I am a Child of God" Soothing Babies

Tony, who came to us as a baby, and is now almost four

Doing foster care the past four plus years, and during that time mostly fostering babies and toddlers, (32 foster children and 25 under three) I am an expert at what songs are most soothing for young ones.  The best song of all is "I am a Child of God."  My daughter Natalia actually discovered this with the two-year-old twins who were with us several years back.

We took them on a long trip to Arkansas.  As such the were confined to their car seats for extended periods of time.  They could not last the entire song, when they were tired, without being asleep at the end.  When they were not asleep i would at least calm them down.

I am a child of God,
And he has sent me here,
Has given me an earthly home
With parents kind and dear.
Lead me, guide me, walk beside me,
Help me find the way.
Teach me all that I must do
To live with him someday.

I am a child of God,
And so my needs are great;
Help me to understand his words
Before it grows to late.
Lead me, guide me, walk beside me,
Help me find the way.
Teach me all that I must do
To live with him someday.

I am a child of God.
Rich blessings are in store;
If I but learn to do his will
I'll live with him once more.
Lead me, guide me, walk beside me,
Help me find the way.
Teach me all that I must do
To live with him someday.

I am a child of God.
His promises are sure;
Celestial glory shall be mine
If I can but endure.
Lead me, guide me, walk beside me,
Help me find the way.
Teach me all that I must do
To live with him someday.

This version adds the fourth verse.  This verse is not in the hymn book as it was added after the book was published.  Sometimes the fourth verse is needed to get a  sleeping.  This song hasn't worked as well with all of our children to get them to sleep, but it always works to calm them down.

It works better than any other song, "Rock-a-bye Baby," "Hush Thee my Babe," (a song I wrote) "Lullaby and Good Night" and "Go to Sleep" all seem to pale in comparison.  "I am a Child of God" seems to stand alone.

I ask myself, "Why is this song so effective, is it the melody or the lyrics?"  The melody draws attention, but I think the spirit of the song emanating from the message, touches little souls who have only recently left Heavenly Father's presence.  The spirit of the message, coming from the singer, emanates the little spirits, who are sometimes so close to the veil having just recently left the Spirit World.

Where Can I Turn for Peace

I was thinking of what might be a nice hymn to sing a'capella, and this hymn came to mine.  I like the message, and it is a relatively newer hymn, being added with the last edition of the hymn book.
Hymn 129 "Where Can I Turn For Peace."

Where Can I turn for peace,
Where is my solace when other sources cease to make me whole.
When with a wounded heart, anger, or malice,
I draw myself apart, searching my soul

Where, when my aching grows,
Where when I languish,
Where, in my need to know, where can I run?
Where is the quiet hand to calm my anguish?
Who, who can understand
He, only One.

He answers privately,
Reaches my reaching,
In my Gethsemane,
Savior and Friend
Gentle the peace he finds
for my beseeching.
Constant he is and kind
Love without end.

When we struggle, when we are down, He can calm our soul and give us peace.  I like the scripture in the Book of Mormon, "Peace be unto you, Because of your faith Peace be unto you."  May we find him as we struggle.  He answers privately, Gentle the peace He finds, love without end.

For a Blog describing the history of this hymn:
http://happinessajourney.blogspot.com/2007/11/where-can-i-turn-for-peace.html