Christmas can be a painful time for some. It may be the first Christmas without a loved family member who has recently died; it may be a time that has always been difficult.

The constant refrain on the radio and television, in shopping malls and churches, about the happiness of the season, about getting together with family and friends, reminds many people of what they have lost or have never had. The anguish of broken relationships, the insecurity of unemployment, the weariness of ill health, the pain of isolation - all these can make us feel very alone in the midst of the celebrating and spending. We need the space and time to acknowledge our sadness and concern; we need to know that we are not alone.

Our spirits sink, as the days grow shorter. We feel the darkness growing deeper around us. We need encouragement to live the days ahead of us.

For these reasons, St Michael's Lutheran Church offers a special “Blue Christmas” service on December 18th at 7:00 pm. Come out, and join with us in sharing and hearing prayers, scripture, and music that acknowledge that God’s presence is for those who mourn, for those who struggle - and that God’s Word comes to shine light into our darkness. Everyone, regardless of church background (or lack of it) is welcome.

We are located at 6671 Germantown Avenue, Philadelphia, Pa 19119, for more information, please call the church office: (215) 848-0199.

Philadelphia Inquirer: Villanova football star Szczur to donate bone marrow:

Szczur, a wideout in football and outfielder/catcher in baseball, is preparing to become a bone-marrow donor. The junior learned three days ago that he was match for a 1-year-old girl who has leukemia. He did not comment; when and where the procedure will take place were not disclosed.

Philadelphia Inquirer: From Ardmore to Afghanistan, a mission of giving:

The goodwill gesture is called Operation Angel Wings, and it's the brainchild of an Ardmore shopkeeper and a Broomall trauma surgeon stationed in Afghanistan, Lt. Col. Kenneth Marx.

"Someday those kids will grow up to place their finger on a trigger," Marx said in an e-mail. "The moment when the target in their sights resembles the guys who once gave them a winter cap is that moment when reconciliation might hold violence at bay.

"Life in the mountains here is nasty, brutish, and utterly strange. Soft power and indirect means may be the winding path to an improvised solution, if there is a solution to be found."

Writing from Nangarhar province, where he is deployed with the National Guard's 108th Cavalry, Marx said the immediate aim was to get Americans and Afghans talking.

"We have asked for folks at home to send small gifts of winter clothing, which are excellent conversation-starters," he said.

When he arrived in Afghanistan on Oct. 12, Marx said, he saw a need for children's hats, gloves, sweaters, socks, scarves, fleece jackets, and small, lightweight toys that could go with soldiers on patrol.

On Nov. 9, Marx received an e-mail from Sherry Tillman, 6,824 miles away in Ardmore, inviting him to the holiday sale at her gift and art-gallery store. He wrote back, saying he couldn't attend and asking if she could send warm clothes for the Afghan children.

"He wrote me that the kids are barefoot and in rags, and it's winter," Tillman said. She said she recalled thinking, "Oh, my God, I have to do something."

Sponsored by First Friday Main Line, a nonprofit organization that promotes the Lancaster Avenue shopping district, Operation Angel Wings began immediately.

Tillman, director of First Friday Main Line, said she was determined to collect everything on Marx's wish list. The gifts will be stored at her shop, Past*Present*Future, and the Ardmore Initiative office, both on Lancaster Avenue.

Tillman has set Friday as the shipping date for the first donations.

"I'd like to be able to send several packages right away, and to be able to continue sending," Tillman said.

A couple of weeks ago, Carla J. Zambelli, publicist for First Friday Main Line, sent out an e-mail blast asking residents for donations. The donations have started trickling in, Tillman said.

Visit First Friday Main Line for more information.

In honor of St. Francis Assisi,which is on October 4th, there will be a short service of The Blessing of the Animals at St. Michael's Lutheran Church...6671 Germantown Avenue, Philadelphia, Pa 19119. Weather permitting the service will be outside. Please bring your furry companions, or scaly companions or feathery companions for a blessing for being such a blessing in our lives.

for more information: 215-848-0199

Philadelphia Public School theNotebook: Ackerman: 'This has got to be radical.':

Notebook: What do you think about the argument that there should be more robust incentives to get teachers into the hard-to-staff schools?

Ackerman: Money is not the only thing that is going to get them there. [Teachers] ask for several things: a great principal—they will not go if you don't have a great principal. They ask that we address some of the larger societal issues that impact children's learning—health issues, emotional, social kinds of issues, psychological—which is why we put in place the social service liaisons, the student advisors, the parent liaisons.

The other thing that [experienced teachers] have said to me is that they want to be in the lowest-performing schools in cohorts or groups of five or six, because if you're there as a singleton or a doubleton, it's too hard. Those teachers get overwhelmed not only with the issues that they're dealing with in their classroom, but then they're trying to support and mentor new teachers.

And I think on top of that, we just have to look at paying teachers differently. Teachers are in this 19th century model: we all get paid the same thing, and you earn more money by the number of years you put in. That doesn't make sense, and that doesn't happen in any other business but education now.

Read the entire interview.

Philadelphia Inquirer: Guided by his father's hands:

His parents were at home watching TV when Rob's friends rushed in: Rob was hurt. He banged his head.

"I thought, 'Oh, we're going to have to go and get some stitches,' " Wunder recalled.

As he and his wife entered the yard, they saw their son in a neck brace on a stretcher, and their fears mounted.

He was airlifted to the Atlantic City Medical Center and later to Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia for surgery. The report was dire: His C5 vertebra was crushed, and pieces of it had pierced the spinal cord.

The injury was irreversible, and the life of their son - an avid guitar player, surfer, and scuba diver who had just become certified on a trip with his father in the Bahamas - was changed forever.

St. Michael's Lutheran Church, 6671 Germantown Avenue, will join Philadelphia Fight (www.fight.org) to participate in National HIV Testing Day on Saturday, June 27, 2009 from noon to 4 pm. Speakers, literature and on-site HIV testing will be available. Other health-related information will be provided including resources for people who are living with HIV/AIDS, a healthy living table, and information about the SHARE food program, A community barbecue will be held during the event. The event is free and open to the public. Walk-ins welcome.

This program is a part of the15th Anniversary of National HIV Month during the month of June. The theme this year if Prevention, Treatment and Justice. Prevention because this is still the only way to stop the spread of HIV!. Treatment because HIV is not a death sentence! And Justice because HIV is caused by a virus, but the epidemic is caused by poverty, injustice and despair!

For more information, contact the church office at 215-848-0199.

"Laxmipati Sarees" is a brand name today. Fully confident with closed eyes, when businessmen exhibit this brand in their shops, then with the same confidence, customers also take away this brand product sarees to their house.

India has been known to have wonderful dresses and costumes. One of the most expressive clothes of woman's femininity and accepted attire is sari. This attire can cover the body from head to toe, making a woman look modest and bashful.

Indian saris have maintained its popularity throughout the centuries. Even in this modern era, a feminine dress sari is not forgettable. The sari has attained great importance among other feminine dresses and has maintained its elegance and beauty until now. The Indian woman and the sari are inseparable from each other. The Indian sari is still a preferred garment for most women in India. Even on marriages in different states of India, the cultural as well as modern occasional dresses of the bride are sarees.

There are plenty of saris manufactured in different types of cloth. The cost of saris varies according to the quality of cloth and work done by the artisans on the saris. Indian saris are available in a wide range of colours using different fabrics like Brasso Sarees, Georgette sarees, Chiffon Sarees and Crape Sarees.

Wearing Indian bridal sarees are not only for the inhabitants of India. Foreigners may as well try them and be a trendsetter with this line of clothing. An air of sensuality and sophistication best describes what mood it may give to those who wears them and to those who beholds them. With the rich array of accessories to highlight a saree, the wearer's beauty will surely emanate from within and any wedding can be timeless like the wedding sarees that set apart the lavish and impressive tradition in India. Precious moments like uniting in wedlock call for precious Indian sarees that fuse together a treasure of ingenious designs, perfect artistry, and a diverse culture.

According to the customs of India, every Indian women should wear Saree on her wedding day. Though, the style of wearing Saree is differs from one state to another state, wearing Saree is must and should for every Indian bride on her wedding celebration. Compared to the other Sarees, bridal Sarees look so gorgeous and come with fascinating designs. Although they are priced at high rates in the market than the ordinary Sarees, all most all the Indian brides purchase these bridal Sarees as every bride of India wants to dress up in an extra-ordinary way on her marriage day.

Sarees are worn according to the appropriate season, climate, situation, festivals, functions and occasions. For example, in summer, women wear sarees made of cotton cloth, in wedding, women wear, Georgette Sarees, Embroidery Sarees, Chiffon Sarees, Printed Sarees,etc.

Fashion changes every now and then. With the fashion, people also change their dressing style. Women also change their dressing style. The style of wearing a saree has also changed with the times. Now-a-days different patterns and designs of sarees are available.

Laxmipati Sarees:The Branded Party Sarees, Georgette Work Saree, Chiffon Sari, Brasso Saris, Crape Sarees, Wedding Sarees, Casual Sarees: Georgette Sarees: -laxmipati sarees the brand introduce branded indian saris, embroidery saree, bridal sari, printed saree with online shopping in under one roof.

Has anyone here seen these "She's coming home, Philly" advertisements that are floating around the Internet and Chicago? I have no idea who's coming, but it is definitely interesting. Something is coming up and it looks big. It's viral marketing at its finest. Here's what Philebrity.com had to say about it:

"This Moment In Viral Marketing: “She” Is Coming Back To Philly, Whoever The Hell “She” Is

If you’ve been on The Book of Faces or The Google or elsewhere on the web lately — and obviously, you have — you may have seen links for shescominghome.com, with the tagline, “Hey Philadelphia! She’s back… Can you guess who it is?” Go to the site, and it’s a woman’s silhouette against the Philly skyline with a countdown clock to the reveal of who “She” is. (As of this writing, 2 days, 19 hours.) Well, we’ve done a little snooping around, and we’ve got two theories on who “She” might be:

First, the real one: The shescominghome.com domain is registered to concert promoters AEG, so we can safely assume whoever “She” is, she is a musical performer of some kind. We called the AEG Philly office — full disclosure, they’re an advertiser on Philebs — and found that either they really did not know who “She” was, or were feigning ignorance. Fair enough. Without the “viral,” it’s just “marketing” and what fun is that? But upon further Internet snooping, we have developed a hunch, and we think that the “She” in question, could be, maybe, Celine Dion. The weird miniature Jennifer Aniston silhouette would seem to back that up, as would this link, which purports that Dion is “back” in 2010 with a series of concerts booked by - natch - AEG. So, yeah, Celine Dion. Who cares.

Second, the better one: That the “She” in question is the long-standing mysterious subject of every “That’s What She Said” joke, ever. Which would be AMAZING. For years, we have been amazed by both the candor with which the infamous “She” reportedly jokes about her sexual exploits, as well as the fact that, after all that nasty stuff, “She” is even actually still in possession of a working vagina. The identity of “She” has been a mystery through the ages, and the idea that she would be coming “back” to Philly opens up a, pardon the expression, Pandora’s box of other questions. It makes the mind wobble. And then reach for penicillin.

And, if perchance “She” would turn out to be Celine Dion and the woman Who Said That, well, that would work out pretty awesome, too."

Well, what do you guys think? Who do you think this mysterious girl coming home to Philly is???

HARTs Alive! is a newly formed support group for people infected by and affected by AIDS/HIV. It is a safe and confidential group, led by a religious leader who is living with the HIV virus for 20+ years. This is not a "religious" group per se, but a meeting of people of any denomination/faith or culture, who seek to talk with one another about the various issues living with this condition brings with it.

We will meet from 10 am - 12 pm, beginning April 15th and every week thereafter.

We hope you will join us! For more information, please call the church office (215)848-0199 and leave a message in the confidential mailbox of Pastor Ingram.

Blessings on your journey!

Palm Sunday was celebrated by proclaiming Christ's entry into Jerusalem, and by our procession around the block. We walked around the block waving our palms and singing hymns. Our service included the "Reading of the Passion", and Holy Communion.

Our worship services in the next days are shaped by the remembrance of Christ's death and resurrection. All are welcome to these services. The services are as follows:

Maundy Thursday Service, April 9, 7:30 p.m. will include Holy Communion, traditional foot washing following Jesus' example of servanthood,the stripping of the altar, and the extinction of all candle light as worshipers leave in darkness.

Good Friday, April 10, worship at 7:30 p.m. This service will recall the crucifixion and the seven last words of Jesus. Liturgical dancers will offer an interpretation of "O Sacred Head, Now Wounded."

Easter Day Worship, April 12, 11:00 a.m. will be a joyous celebration of the Resurrection of our Lord. Liturgical dancing and special music with trumpet, soloists, and the entire congregation singing the "Hallelujah Chorus" will enrich our worship.

Come and join us! Children are welcome at all services. A continental breakfast from 9:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. will precede the service. All are invited. Children are also invited to an Easter egg hunt to be held on the church lawn following worship.

St Michael's Lutheran is located at 6671 Germantown Avenue, Philadelphia, Pa 19119..
office #215-848-0199

Inquirer: True melting pot helped save libraries:

Stirred by Mayor Nutter's proposal to close 11 branch libraries, the opponents came tumbling off the shelves of Philadelphia society - rich, poor, black, white, homeschoolers from the Northeast, young anarchists from West Philly.

With President-elect Barack Obama's campaign as both inspiration and field guide, they organized, demonstrated and sued, then packed the courtroom for hearings and showered the mayor with boos at his own news conference.

Then, astoundingly, they won. At least for now.

A judge's ruling Tuesday forced Nutter to get City Council approval or a court order to implement his plan to save $36 million by 2013 through closing the branches. Nutter called the ruling an assault on the City Charter's strong-mayor form of government and said he would appeal.

Others called it a crucial victory for communities, even a model for civic participation in public policy.

Tom Ferrick at It's Our City wonders if the outrage Mayor Nutter has earned over this issue is worth it and offers an alternative:

Here’s an alternative: Back off on the library issue, Develop a comprehensive plan for meet the economic crisis that involves sacrifice by everyone –taxpayers, vendors, city employees, the mayor and his top staff — and use the upcoming budget address (for fiscal 2010) to begin the process of selling it to the public.

If people feel that everyone is feeling some pain, they won’t resent as much swallowing their piece of it. If people think the administration has really, actually listened to them and their concerns – and taken them into account – then maybe they will go along with the plan.

In other words, admit you made a mistake and go back to the drawing board.

Library Journal.com: Philadelphia Judge Stops Mayor’s Plan To Close 11 Libraries:

In response to two lawsuits—filed by three City Council Members, seven library patrons, and the library staff union—Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas Judge Idee Fox today put the brakes on Mayor Michael Nutter’s plan to permanently close 11 branch libraries at the end of the day tomorrow, saying that City Council approval is required.

Despite current economic conditions malls and retailers are facing this season, Oxford Valley Mall, Montgomery Mall, Lehigh Valley Mall and Quaker Bridge Mall have remained committed to the communities they serve and to area teens. Each of the respective malls is now seeking candidates for their 2009 Teen Board program.

Teen Board Programs were first started by Steven Weisz of Rainbow Promotions in East Coast regional malls back in 1990. This youth oriented, volunteer program, now in its nineteenth year, provides an opportunity for young men and women between the ages of thirteen to eighteen years, to represent and work with their local malls to produce fashion shows, create special events and participate in community service projects.

The educational component of this program offers teen members the opportunity to participated in lectures, workshops and activities dealing with the various aspects of the fashion and retail industry -- modeling, retail operations, fashion design, marketing and public relations.

Community service remains a core component of this program. The Teen Boards are committed to helping others with in their own community. Through out the year, members become involved with a number of charitable organizations in an effort to show that teens can make a difference. Campaigns on the mall have included food and clothing drives for those in need, as well as working with such organizations as the American Heart Association, Salvation Army and Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

The programs have been a huge success. For the teen members in the program, it has offered them a voice in their communities, a way to contribute their energies in a positive manner, a better understanding and respect of each others diverse backgrounds, and a way to increase their own sense of self-worth and self-esteem through the positive impact they have on their own community.

Applications for the 2009 programs are now available on each of their respective web sites:

Oxford Valley Mall Teen Board
http://www.teenboard.com

Montgomery Mall Teen Board
http://www.montgomerymallteenboard.com

Lehigh Valley Mall Teen Board
http://www.lehighvalleymallteenboard.com

Quaker Bridge Mall Insiders Teen Board
http://www.quakerbridgeinsiders.com

Applicants should be young men and women, between the ages of thirteen and eighteen, who are well rounded, outgoing, and have an interest in fashion, dance, theater, retail public relations/marketing, and community service.

The Program is conducted at each of the malls in conjunction with their Marketing Department and runs for a full year. Students will be required to make a time commitment of about 4-6 hours each month for attending Teen Board meetings and programs. Participants will help produce and model in the malls fashion shows; attend seminars on various topics relating to the fashion and retail industry; help organize and run mall special events and charity fund raisers; learn basic techniques in modeling, make-up and fashion coordination; and learn techniques in presenting oneself and working with the public.

Each program generally accepts 20-25 outstanding individuals. There are no fees, charges or financial obligations connected with this program. This program is volunteer based and no financial compensation is provided either. The Teen Board programs being offered by these malls is one of the few places where teens can continue show the positive contributions they have to offer.

Christmas can be a painful time for some. It may be the first Christmas without a loved family member who has recently died; it may be a time that has always been difficult.

The constant refrain on the radio and television, in shopping malls and churches, about the happiness of the season, about getting together with family and friends, reminds many people of what they have lost or have never had. The anguish of broken relationships, the insecurity of unemployment, the weariness of ill health, the pain of isolation - all these can make us feel very alone in the midst of the celebrating and spending. We need the space and time to acknowledge our sadness and concern; we need to know that we are not alone.

Our spirits sink, as the days grow shorter. We feel the darkness growing deeper around us. We need encouragement to live the days ahead of us.

For these reasons, St Michael's Lutheran Church offers a special “Blue Christmas” service on December 19th at 7:00 pm. Come out, and join with us in sharing and hearing prayers, scripture, and music that acknowledge that God’s presence is for those who mourn, for those who struggle - and that God’s Word comes to shine light into our darkness. Everyone, regardless of church background (or lack of it) is welcome.

We are located at 6671 Germantown Avenue, Philadelphia, Pa 19119, for more information, please call the church office: (215) 848-0199.