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n o v e m b e r 2 0 1 9
A NORMAL DAY
Just a normal day...
A Normal Day! It is a jewel! In time of war,
in peril of death, people have dug their hands and faces
into the earth and remembered this.
In time of sickness and pain, people have
buried their faces in pillows and wept for this.
In time of loneliness and separation, people have
stretched themselves taut and waited for this.
In time of hunger, homelessness and want,
people have raised bony hands to the skies
and stayed alive for this...
Normal Day, let me be aware of the treasure you are.
Let me not pass you by in quest of some
rare and perfect tomorrow.
Let me hold you while I may, for it will not always be so.
One day I shall dig my nails into the earth, or bury my
face in the pillow, or stretch myself taut, or raise my hands
to the sky and want more than all the world your return.
United Church Herald (1962)
I have this piece of writing printed and framed in both my office
and also in my home. Those of you who have been alive for a couple of
decades can understand the wisdom in appreciating a "normal day",
because we have all been through days that were far from normal. Each
normal day is a blessing.
In this month of gratitude, I am grateful for many many things. I'm
grateful for Ruth, my co-worker and fantastic friend. I'm grateful for
my family, their good health and happiness and my good health too – I
never take that for granted. I'm grateful for the fact that New Jersey
now has the best state education system in the country. I'm grateful
that we get to live in such a beautiful place. Out of all the towns within
commuting distance to our jobs, thank goodness my husband and I
chose this one over twenty years ago. Those jobs are just a memory, but
our lives here, the many friends we've made and this vibrant community
are alive and well. I'm so grateful we live in a free country, and reading
about what's going on in the rest of the world reminds me of that daily.
I'm grateful for our advertisers – you keep us in business(!) – and for
our contributors – you keep this Newsletter vital. And, last but not at
all least, I'm grateful for you, our readers, Please keep reading us! I
wish all of you many "Normal Days" and I hope you have a very
Happy Thanksgiving!
– Julie Fl�nn
I m m a c u l a t e c o n c e p t I o n c h u r c h p r e s e n t s
O r c h e s t r a O f s t . P e t e r by t h e s e a D e c e m b e r 1 5 !
BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND, Immaculate Conception Church
(316 Old Allerton Road, Annandale) is proud to be hosting its fifth annual
Christmas Concert on Sunday, December 15 at 3:00 pm featuring Rev.
Alphonse Stephenson and the Orchestra of St. Peter by the Sea. Local
maestro and beloved priest/conductor, Father Alphonse has been delighting
audiences as the conductor of this magnificent orchestra for more than thirty
years! The orchestra is comprised of forty-two professional musicians and
features three captivating soloists. Tickets for the concert will be available after
all Masses in the narthex of the Church (beginning November 9) and weekdays
at the Parish Office (open from 10:00 am - 4:30 pm, beginning November 10).
Donation is $40, Balcony ticket cost is $30, Student (21 years and younger)
ticket cost is $25. Please note: this concert sells out fast! Questions?
Call 735.7319 or email: parishoffice@iccannandale.org. Please visit:
www.iccannandale.org for more information. We hope to see you there!
Carol
Beder's
