Candice's Comments

Karen went to the grocery store to purchase a cherry pie for her husband’s birthday. The person checking out ahead of her was in the express lane but had more items than were suggested for that line. Karen thought perhaps the woman would let her check out first but that didn't happen. The clerk rang up the other customer’s items as Karen patiently waited.

And then something surprising happened!  The woman told the clerk to go ahead and ring up Karen’s $10 cherry pie with her total since Karen had been so patient with the woman’s “larger than allowed” order. Karen said “thank you” and headed out with her cherry pie.

After dinner that evening, Karen cut into the pie to discover that the “cherry” pie was really a “strawberry-rhubarb” pie, two flavors which her husband disliked immensely. The next day Karen went back to the grocery store to share about the mix-up. The clerk immediately refunded her $10 and Karen went back to the bakery to get a “cherry” pie this time.

In the bakery department she learned that they weren't making full sized cherry pies at that time but the bakery clerk gave her a smaller, individual cherry pie.  Additionally the clerk said, “And you need ice cream to go with that.” And off she went to the ice cream freezer to find a carton of Breyer’s Vanilla Ice Cream for Karen.

So . . . Karen had her original pie paid for by the woman ahead of her in line, she got $10 gifted to her from the grocery store, and she was given a small cherry pie and ice cream additionally.

This story really happened to my clergy colleague Karen Fausch, pastor of the Ira United Church. Blessing upon blessing kept falling upon her. That’s how I feel this holy Christmas season as we move toward the season of Epiphany. Blessing upon blessing keeps falling on us. Blessings just keep coming!

· Christmas dinners and caroling.

· A baby and shepherds and Magi in a Christmas pageant.

· Gifts for the English as a Second Language (ESL) Daycare children and gifts made by children in Sunday School.

· Dollars for a refugee family in Texas and a Christmas offering for Regional ministry. 

· Children lighting Advent candles and adults volunteering to do amazing things.

Who said you can’t have your cherry pie (and ice cream too!)?

The best blessing of all is the birth of the Christ Child, the Savior of the world!

Hark the herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn king;

Peace on earth, and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled!”

Joyful, all ye nations, rise, join the triumph of the skies;

With the angelic host proclaim, “Christ is born in Bethlehem!”

Hark! the herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn King!”

                    

Blessings in the name of the Christ Child,

 Candice