#notesfromthevicarage

FAMILY PRAYER

/ joseph elon lillie / 1 Comment

When Mom went into hospice last year our family circled the wagons. We knew it was going to take all of us to get through the storm of life we were facing. Brenda came home from the Netherlands and all the kids committed to pitching in and helping out.

One of the practices we instituted was family prayer. We chose Tuesday nights after ministry to gather around the dining table to pray our way through the difficulty. So from 8:30-9:30 we would share needs and pray together.

Mom passed in April. Brenda went back to the Netherlands. Amanda was diagnosed with cancer, and we kept praying on Tuesday nights as a family.

We took a break over the holidays so we could observe Christmas Eve and New Years. Then last week we celebrated James’ and Abigail’s birthdays. But last night we were back at it. Praying for the family. Praying for the church. Praying for the world.

FOREST GARDEN: JAPANESE KNOTWEED

/ joseph elon lillie / 1 Comment

I believe that part of gardening is looking at the landscape you have around you and figuring out how that works into your garden plan. My garden just happens to be filled with lots of invasive things. On the surface that would seem to be a drawback, but as I think through it all there are lots of advantages that the invasive species bring.

One of the species I deal with is Japanese knotweed.

It grows fast and takes over. I do cut it back every year and I have often thought about getting rid of it altogether, but the birds and the rabbits love to nest in the dense foliage. There are always an abundance of nests wedged into the close growing bamboo-like stalks. In the winter it attracts hosts of sparrows who use it to hide from predators during the day and night. This year our rabbits have built their warren in the heart of the knotweed jungle.

This beautiful fellow has been hunting on our property all this week.

This winter I am trying to learn more about forest gardening and the plants I already have in the forest as I lay my garden plan for the Spring. Here is something I have learned about knotweed.

I think I will keep the Knotweed.

OUR TOWN 2025: T W R HOUSE OF PRAYER

/ joseph elon lillie / Leave a comment

Winchendon, this little town in North Central MA, has a lot going for it. I think it’s easy to overlook all the things we have going for us as a town.

Don’t get me wrong. We have plenty of challenges and things that set us back on the regular, but that is common life in every town everywhere. But I am taking a long look at the advantages of this little town, and they are pretty incredible.

One of the advantages we have is TWR House of Prayer located at 10 Pond St. In the heart of downtown Winchendon. In the words of Jonathan Bauver the prayer missionary appointed to TWR House of Prayer, “TWR House of Prayer is a missional ministry focused on prayer, worship and ministering to the Lord”.

On the regular TWR House of Prayer is open from Sunday to Friday from 5P.M. to 8 P.M for people to just come and sit and pray through their issues while the TWR team worships and prays from their altar area. The act of sitting for an hour in silent meditation and prayer is one of the healthiest things a person can do in life.

Right now through Jan. 26th TWR House of Prayer is open 7 days a week from 5 P.M. -8 P.M. in cooperation with Cornerstone Church and its annual 21 days of fasting and prayer. Thanks Jon and Angela Bauver for all you do for our town.

DOES YOUR TOWN HAVE A HOUSE OF PRAYER MINISTRY?