July 12, 2010: Concerts

“Praise God from whom all blessings flow,” are the beginning words of a familiar hymn. These words surely say what I am feeling this beautiful Monday morning with cool temps and low humility. We had a bit of rain over the weekend. Lawns and gardens are looking great.

We are so fortunate to have wonderful concerts in our chapel. Yesterday afternoon was another of those great experiences. Four young, talented artists and professional musicians treated us to an hour and half of beautiful classical music. Scott Lykins played cello and piano. Rebecca Yeh played violin and Emma Hughey played viola. John Taylor Ward shared his beautiful baritone voice. I especially enjoyed his renditions of songs of Cole Porter, George Gershwin and Richard Rogers. Scott, a native of Nisswa, MN, and a few friends started the Lakes Area Chamber Music Festival last summer. The inaugural year of concerts was a colossal success. They have six concert scheduled for next month in Brainerd and Baxter. For more information check http://www.lakesareamusic.org/.

This week we have a special guest visiting us here in Little Falls. She is Sister Margaret, Leader of the Franciscan Sisters of St. Joseph from Kenya, Africa. Last night she had supper at our house. She is meeting with our Leadership Sisters these days and this afternoon I will take her on a tour of Little Falls.

Our Morrison County Fair is this week, Wednesday through Saturday, July 14--17. The Relay for Life is from Friday evening through Saturday morning. I hope to spend a little time at the Fair and also to do the first walk around the Flyers Field Track for cancer survivors.

This coming Saturday, many of us Sisters will be attending the Region 11 Conference for Women Religious sponsored workshop, “Consecrated Life, a Gift and Sign of God’s Presence: Exploring Individual and Common Good” at the College of St. Benedict, St. Joseph, MN. I am looking forward to the day.

Last week one day Sr. Ruth and friends went one last time to pick strawberries. I caught a group of workers preparing the treasures for our eating.

Have a good week. May God bless us and keep us. May God’s face shine upon us and be gracious to us. May God look upon us with kindness and give us peace.

Sister Mary Lou