Lighting A Way For The Good Of All

   Lighting a candle is a prayer, a sign of God's presence among us.  Light and fire are rich symbols in sacred scripture and in Church life.

Jesus said: 
   I am the light of the world;
anyone who follows me will not be walking in the dark,
he will have the light of life.
(John 8:12, Jerusalem Bible) 

   It is our goal as Lamplighters of this church to help heal the heartbody, and soul of all in need. If we can lighten the load for just one person, our mission will be well on its way. In this community there are many in need. Some face physical and emotional problems.Some are grieving over the loss of a loved one. Perhaps someone needs a phone call for support. The lamplighters want to help carry their burden and put a smile on their face.

• There are people in nursing homes that would be happy to receive a card or better yet a visit.
• Hospital rooms are full of people without hope. We want to give them hope without infringing on their personal beliefs.
• Caregivers who get little relief from their task are also a concern. Can you imagine what it’s like to take care of a loved one day after day? They need a break or just someone with whom to talk.
• Many are homebound and perhaps need prepared meals.

  Our mission is love! Love that reaches out like Jesus reached out. We want our lamps filled with oil as we go forth to offer our help. Maybe someone here today needs a visit. In the past, you may have felt humble to ask, but as of today, the Lamplighters want to know your needs.

  If you wish to become a Lamplighter or need Lamplighter help contact the Deltona United Church of Christ at 386-574-1821.Rev. Dr. Barry Mick will be more than happy to confidentially assist you.

                                                                                                                         One

"Learn the sweet magic of a cheerful face--not always smiling, but at
least serene." --Oliver Wendell Holmes

We all have our share of troubles in life, and keeping our spirits high on a consistent basis is very difficult for most of us. But there are things we can do to help us maximize our happiness in the face of adversity. Positive thinking has long been recognized as a valuable aid for coping with life. But sometimes it is hard, if not
impossible, to think positively. What can we do to make our quest for a positive outlook on life easier?


One of the most effective things that many of us can do is to follow the advice of Oliver Wendell Holmes. We need literally to learn the sweet magic of a cheerful face. There is indeed a certain kind of magic in training ourselves to maintain a cheerful face consistently. Of course, there are times when we face such tragedy that none of us can maintain a cheerful face. And certainly we cannot wear a smile at all times. But, if we can't smile, couldn't we at least maintain a serene expression on our face?


Some people claim that it is physically impossible to remain sad while we are smiling. Is there something about the physical act of forcing ourselves to maintain a cheerful face that actually makes us feel better? If we consciously work to keep a pleasant expression on our face as much of the time as possible, might it not eventually become almost natural to do so? Some people who have tried it believe that the answer to both questions is a resounding yes.


None of us can be happy all the time. During times of great adversity it is natural and even beneficial to grieve, but what about the rest of the time? What about all those times when we are faced with only minor problems? Isn't it possible that during such times we can actually influence our moods by thinking positively and maintaining a cheerful face as much of the time as possible?


And what about the effects of our cheerful faces on other people with whom we come into contact? Can enthusiasm for life and a cheerful attitude be contagious? Is it possible that, in addition to making ourselves feel better, we also make others feel better when we are cheerful? Suppose it were possible to convince every individual in a town, a country, or even the world, to participate in a week-long experiment in which they simultaneously forced themselves to appear cheerful for an entire week? What would happen at the end of the experiment? Would things go back to normal? Or, would there be a permanent change?


Copyright 2004 Allen W. Smith