THE CENTERPIECE

December, 2006

The newsletter of the

Pittsburgh Lutheran Center for the Blind

535 North Neville Street

Pittsburgh, Pa 15213

PHONE: (412) 682-1800

E-MAIL: director@plcb.net

WEB SITE: www.plcb.net

Sherri Crum, Director

The Pittsburgh Lutheran Center for the Blind seeks to reach out to the visually impaired of Pittsburgh, feeling their needs, and touching them with the love of Jesus, that they may reach out and touch others with the love of Jesus.

THE CENTERPIECE is available in Braille, large print, and on cassette tape. You may also read it online, at our web site: www.plcb.net.

Terri Winaught, Editor

THE CENTERPIECE,

December, 2006

FROM THE EDITOR

Hi Everyone, This is the time of year where we celebrate the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ. So I wanted to begin by wishing you all a most blessed Christmas. 

I hope this issue provides you with some new insights, thought-provoking information, and entertainment. While I am on that subject, I am always looking for material for this newsletter, so please pass along anything you think might serve that purpose.

If you know of anyone who you feel might like to receive this newsletter, please let me know. Or, you could have that person e-mail me at director@plcb.net to request it in electronic format.

Because it is December, I have selected some inspirational pieces this time. I must say, though, it was hard to pick just a few things--I had so much to share. However, there is always next year.

Just a reminder, the next meal will be on Saturday, January 27, 2007. I hope to see you all there!


NOVEMBER'S MEAL

Although I originally thought I would not include these meal reviews each month, I have since changed my mind. There are two reasons for the change of heart: 1) I felt it was a good way to keep everyone abreast of what is going on at the Center. 2) I usually write an article for The Pittsburgh Lutheran (a print magazine--name self-explanatory) anyway. So I thought the review could serve for both purposes.

On Saturday, November 18, 2006, the Pittsburgh Lutheran Center for the Blind celebrated Thanksgiving. 
Seventeen guests, one of whom was a new visitor to the PLCB, enjoyed a traditional Thanksgiving dinner of turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, various sides and, what else but, pumpkin pie for dessert.
The Reverend Douglas Spittel led a Thanksgiving Bible Study and also conducted the Vespers Service. 
Keeping Thanksgiving in mind, we went around the room and asked our guests to share those things for which they wanted to give thanks. They did share those things. They also got the sensory experience of seeing (feeling) just how small the wireless microphone was.
The Pittsburgh Lutheran Center for the Blind is able to offer these meals because we have a great group of volunteer supporters. Among those who helped in November were: members from the congregation of First Trinity, a group from Central Catholic High School, and a young lady from International Student Ministries. Thank you one and all!


A LITTLE HUMOR ... VERY LITTLE
by Sherri Crum

I hope you will get a few laughs with this month's material. Or, a few chuckles at least. I'll warn you now that some of these are groaners.

A group of chess enthusiasts checked into a hotel, and were standing in the lobby discussing their recent tournament victories. After about an hour, the manager came out of the office, and asked them to disperse.
"But why," they asked, as they moved off. "Because," he said, "I can't stand chess-nuts boasting in an open foyer."

Why does Father Christmas go down the chimney?
Because it soots him!

Who delivers elephants Christmas presents?
Elephanta Claus!

How many chimneys does Father Christmas go down?
Stacks!

What did Adam say on the day before Christmas?
It's Christmas, Eve!

What does Father Christmas suffer from if he gets stuck in a chimney? Santa Claustrophobia!

What do you call a letter sent up the chimney on Christmas Eve?
Black mail!

What do you have in December that you don't have in any other month? The letter "D"!

Who delivers the cat's Christmas presents?
Santa Paws!


MISCELLANY

Two pieces are featured here this month. I hope you find them as heart-warming and applicable to daily life as I have.

GOLD WRAPPING PAPER

I received this from a friend who had a choice to make. It said that I had a choice to make too.
The story goes that some time ago a mother punished her five year old daughter for wasting a roll of expensive gold wrapping paper. Money was tight and she became even more upset when the child used the gold paper to decorate a box to put under the Christmas tree.
Nevertheless, the little girl brought the gift box to her mother the next morning and then said, "This is for you, Momma."
The mother was embarrassed by her earlier over reaction, but her anger flared again when she opened the box and found it was empty. She spoke to her daughter in a harsh manner.
"Don't you know, young lady, when you give someone a present there's supposed to be something inside the package?"
She had tears in her eyes and said, "Oh, Momma, it's not empty! I blew kisses into it until it was full."
The mother was crushed. She fell on her knees and put her arms around her little girl, and she begged her forgiveness for her thoughtless anger.
An accident took the life of the child only a short time later, and it is told that the mother kept that gold box by her bed for all the years of her life.
Whenever she was discouraged or faced difficult problems she would open the box and take out an imaginary kiss and
remember the love of the child who had put it there.
In a very real sense, each of us, as human beings, have been given a Golden box filled with unconditional love and kisses from our children, family, friends and GOD. There is no more precious
possession anyone could hold.
Now to the choices: either 1. Pass it on to your friends, or
2. Forget it and act like it didn't touch your heart.


MAIL BOX

Ruth went to her mail box and there was only one letter. She picked it up and looked at it before opening, but then she looked at the envelope again.
There was no stamp, no postmark, only her name and address. She read the letter:

Dear Ruth:
I'm going to be in your neighborhood Saturday afternoon and I'd like to stop by for a visit.
Love Always, Jesus

Her hands were shaking as she placed the letter on the table. "Why would the Lord want to visit me? I'm nobody special. I don't have anything to offer."
With that thought, Ruth remembered her empty kitchen cabinets. "Oh my goodness, I really don't have anything to offer. I'll have to run down to the store and buy something for dinner." She reached for her purse and counted out its contents. Five dollars and forty cents.
"Well, I can get some bread and cold cuts, at least."
She threw on her coat and hurried out the door.
A loaf of French bread, a half-pound of sliced turkey, and a carton of milk...leaving Ruth with grand total twelve cents to last her until Monday. Nonetheless, she felt good as she headed home, her meager offerings tucked under her arm.
"Hey lady, can you help us, lady?"
Ruth had been so absorbed in her dinner plans, she hadn't even noticed two figures huddled in the alleyway. A man and a woman, both of them dressed in little more than rags
"Look lady, I ain't got a job, ya know, and my wife and I have been living out here on the street, and, well, now it's getting cold and we're getting kinda hungry and, well, if you could help us. Lady, we'd really appreciate it."
Ruth looked at them both. They were dirty, they smelled bad and frankly, she was certain that they could get some kind of work if they really wanted to.
"Sir, I'd like to help you, but I'm a poor woman myself. All I have is a few cold cuts and some bread, and I'm having an important guest for dinner tonight and I was planning on serving that to Him."
"Yeah, well, okay lady, I understand. Thanks anyway."
The man put his arm around the woman's shoulders, turned and headed back into the alley.
As she watched them leave, Ruth felt a familiar twinge in her heart.
"Sir, wait!" The couple stopped and turned as she ran down the alley after them. "Look, why don't you take this food. I'll figure out something else to serve my guest." 
She handed the man her grocery bag.
"Thank you lady. Thank you very much!"
"Yes, thank you!" It was the man's wife, and Ruth could see now that she was shivering. "You know, I've got another coat at home. Here, why don't you take this one." Ruth unbuttoned her jacket and slipped it over the woman's shoulders. Then smiling, she turned and walked back to the street ... without her coat and with nothing to serve her guest.
"Thank you lady! Thank you very much!"
Ruth was chilled by the time she reached her front door, and worried too. The Lord was coming to visit and she didn't have
anything to offer Him.
She fumbled through her purse for the door key. But as she did, she noticed another envelope in her mailbox. "That's odd. The mailman doesn't usually come twice in one day." She took the envelope out of the box and opened it.

Dear Ruth:
It was so good to see you again. Thank you for the lovely meal. And thank you, too, for the beautiful coat.
Love Always Jesus

The air was still cold, but even without her coat, Ruth no longer noticed.


CHRISTMAS DEVOTION
by Sherri Crum

"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights." James 1:17

"Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ
Or <Messiah.> 'The Christ' (Greek) and 'the Messiah' (Hebrew) both
mean 'the Anointed One'". Luke 2:11

What do you think of when you think about Christmas? Do you remember your excitement and anticipation as a child, knowing that the special day was coming soon and barely being able to contain yourself? Perhaps you remember with fondness the wonderful smells that filled the house as your mother made those once-a-year special treats. Or, maybe you remember the day the Christmas tree (a live one) was brought home and the fresh pine scent that filled the living room when it was set up. All those lovely ornaments, both old and new, did you get to help decorate that tree? As a teenager, you may have had a special friend and wasn't it fun searching for just the right gift that you knew he or she would just love? Do you now eagerly anticipate the full calendar of parties and social gatherings that the season seems to bring? Or, you may look forward to wrapping packages while listening to Christmas music on the radio or while watching the special programming on television? Christmas is a joyous time of year.
Christmas--gifts, music, laughter, lights, love. Whether we think about it on a daily basis or not, all of the things that we have to use while we are here on this earth are gifts from God. We are richly blessed with so much more than we either need or deserve. God gives it to us simply because He loves us. So much so, that He also gave us that tiny infant, His Son, Jesus, whose birth we celebrate at Christmas!

"Thanks be to God for His indescribable gifts." 2 Corinthians 9:15


PRAYER REQUESTS

1. For continued strength and comfort for our soldiers.
Lord, hold our troops in your loving hands. Please protect them. Bless them and their families. Amen.

2. For B. and S. as they grieve the passing of M into eternal life.

3. For Aphia who is undergoing treatment for lung cancer.

4. A prayer of thanksgiving for Joe Otts who's tumor is gone. 

5. For those who are losing vision. 

6. For those who suffer from loneliness and depression at this time of year. 

7. For those who are traveling to visit loved ones during the holidays.

8. For Joann who has multiple health problems.

9. A prayer of thanksgiving for all who are associated with the Pittsburgh Lutheran Center for the Blind.

10. For compassionate care for all who are in nursing homes, and healing for all who are in hospitals.

11. "Risen Christ, be present at all our meals where the menu is love and acceptance, equality, pardon and non-judgment. Thank You for showing us the way." --I ask this in the name of Jesus, our Lord and Savior. Amen.

A MOST BLESSED AND JOYOUS CHRISTMAS TO YOU ALL! 

THE END