While everything else has been going on in the church and in town, we have had our own excitement here at The Vicarage (our family home). Last Thursday afternoon my daughter Melanie went into labor at the local Market Basket in the bread aisle. She was with her husband and two daughters. They came right home and dropped their daughters off with us and then went straight to the hospital. By the time she reached the hospital she was feeling the urge to push. The hospital attendants got her into labor and delivery and she delivered one minute after they got her onto a delivery bed!
Little Ethan Gaius is now home, all 9 pounds 4 ounces of him. Mother and baby are doing fine as we transition to a Vicarage of seven.
I have been thinking all week about my family that has passed on. It’s not unusual. We just passed Memorial Day. In church we remembered those who gave their lives for the cause of freedom. We pledged ourselves again to the flag and held a moment of silence.
It brought back memories of when I would spend time with my grandparents and we would travel on Memorial Day weekends to the graves of the Josephs who lived only in family memory. I know where all the Josephs are buried because of Memorial Day. I know where the Tandys and the Tennys are buried because of Memorial Day.
This week has brought back memories of my father. The time he cooked dry hung steak and I complained about how it smelled. The time Brenda and I knocked over the big bookcase in the old house on 360 Front St, became trapped under it and he rescued us.
This week has brought back memories of my mother. The time I got hives because I was so nervous about school and she called out of work to watch over me. Her last year when dementia was stealing her from us and improving her sense of humor all at once.
I remember my grandparents. Ice cream cones and Moxie soda. Walking on a frozen lake in the middle of winter and mowing the camp lawn with the electric mower.
So many memories that steel me for the life I am living now. Memories are powerful things, healing things. Even the traumatic memories when reframed in grace have their place in making us whole. We need to remember. We need our stories.
A grand medieval library with towering bookshelves, warm lighting, and wizards reading by the fire
Our newest batch of chicks, black austrolorps, are awaiting the day they can burst out of their brooder box and embrace the warm earth.
And they are not the only ones. We have spent the winter preparing for the birth of the Vicarage’s newest human, my grandson. My youngest daughter’s youngest son will be born in June! I can hardly believe we are suddenly so close to the auspicious day!
This post was started over a week ago when I was still in Florida. Coming back to Massachusetts and a rather unusual work schedule has made it hard to write.
One of the things I was most concerned with when I went to Florida for National Youth Convention/ Fine Arts was that I would lose the rhythm of the sacred office I practice. Honestly, I did not run into any trouble keeping the office until I came back. I expected coming back would be a piece of cake. I thought I would simply resume my old schedule which was pretty well established before I left. That did not happen. I will have to meditate on that and write more about it in the future.
For now, I am just looking back with fondness on those days in Florida in which keeping my sacred rhythm was surprisingly easy. I finished THE HIDING PLACE, by Corrie TenBoom and started this book by Joseph Castleberry on Wednesday and Thursday.
Amanda and I had an opportunity for an early lunch on Wednesday while Sadie and James went to the lazy river at our resort. We had fun taking pictures with Amanda scowling all week long. I will post this photo series we entitled “MURDERY ‘MANDA” at a later date. It started because I got a candid shot of her waiting in a long registration line at Fine Arts festival at the beginning of the week, and so we decided to make a series out of it.
Here is Sadie doing her best impression of Pennywise. Of course she had no idea who Pennywise was, this is just her looking “friendly”.
On Thursday we took the kids to Universal Studios.
While they road rides and shopped.I took some time to cool off in a shaded area of a cafe and pray the twelve o’clock prayer.
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.
Originally, I had thought I would host a family gathering in the summer, but with all the things that went on in our immediate family starting in April , that thought never materialized.
We decided instead, to host a family Christmas cookie party here at the Vicarage.
Nine bells just rang at the Old Murdock Senior Center, and I am just finishing my day. Snish is falling outside. Walking the dogs and putting the chickens to bed was a cold wet business tonight, but at last it is all done. I am dressed in the Christmas PJ’s the kids’ mom sent up just before Thanksgiving for all of us.
FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: JAMES FRANKLIN, ABIGAIL FRANKLIN, MELANIE FRANKLIN, DANIELLA FRANKLIN, PASTOR AMANDA LILLIE, SEVII LILLIE(JOSEPH E LILLIE VII), KRISTINE BARRAMEDA LILLIE (IN FRONT KNEELING), PASTOR J LILLIE(JOSEPH E LILLIE V), JOSEPH E LILIE VI
This was the beginning of our Christmas journey as a family. A lot of familial water has flowed under the bridge of life since this picture was taken.
There were all my birthday celebrations and Thanksgiving with the kids, grandkids and nephews. What a blessed day that was.
ABIGAIL FRANKLIN (FOREGROUND CENTER), TYLER NEWTON (FAR LEFT FRONT CHAIR), SEVII LILLIE (HOLDING BALL), RYAN NEWTON (RECLINER), JOSEPH LILLIE, KRISTINE BARRAMEDA LILLIE, DANIELLA FRANKLIN, PASTOR AMANDA LILLIE, MELANIE FRANKLIN… THANKSGIVING 2024
There was the decorating of The Vicarage.
PASTOR J AND THE GRANDKIDS
And the decorating of the church.
JOHN RUSSELL, BUILDING AND GROUNDS, PUTTING UP THE BIG TREE AT CORNERSTONE.
Then the celebration began in earnest.
SEVII AND SANTA
There was breakfast with Santa and the Cookie Crawl.
FRANCINE (AKA PASTOR AMANDA) AND ABIGAIL START THE COOKIE CRAWL
And the town tree lighting.
MRS. CLAUS, SANTA CLAUS, MEALNIE FRANKLIN AND THE GIRLS
This week has been a whirlwind of parties. It started Saturday with our Deacon, Staff and DLT leader Christmas party.
DEBBIE PARKER AND PASTOR AMANDAJOE AND JODY CLAPPTHE FEASTING TABLE
Yesterday was a full day of connection and celebrating. It started at 9 AM with a meeting of the town, pastors at Sippin Serendippity.
Then it was on to Cornerstone’s weekly staff meeting. With the upcoming holidays, this will be our last staff meeting for 2024.
After that, I went to one of our DLT groups to join their Christmas party, and to discover the prophetic words from God they received during our sabbatical.

The SOUL SISTERS AND PASTOR J
Then, after a brief rest, I was off to the cornerstone youth Christmas party.
FUN AND GAMES
Today, I spent the day finishing up the decorations at the Vicarage and cooking for a dinner party we hosted this evening with some missionary friends.
This weekend, the Vicarage is hosting a cookie swap for the Tenney side of our family. I have to say I am really enjoying this Christmas journey.
Last night I was hosted by one of our church groups for a birthday party for me and their leader (she and I share our birthday). The cake and the conversation were wonderful! Thank you to the people of the Strengthening Circle!
Today I came into the office to a gift of fruit slices a twenty five dollar gift card to Dunkin’ Donuts and an invitation to dinner with another of our Doing Life Together groups! After our staff meeting we took Kim Stowell, one of our missionaries out to lunch at William’s Restaurant.
I have received so many messages from family and friends wishing me a very happy 57th birthday. Y’know what? I am happy!
Tonight I will finish off with a family prayer circle at my son’s house. It has been a great day!
The holidays are upon us, and with the holidays comes holiday preparations and celebrations! Our region is becoming more and more like a Hallmark movie every year.
Gardner is hosting a special Thanksgiving market this coming Saturday. I think I shall have to go and take a peek.
Meanwhile Winchendon is hosting its annual Festival of Lights on December 7th. Here is a list of all the events happening.
Don’t Miss The Festival of Lights: Saturday 12/7!
Kick off your holiday season with a day full of family fun and festive cheer! Here’s what we have planned for you:
Pictures with Santa by Rustic Lens Photography:
9:00 AM – 10:00 AM & 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Breakfast with Santa:
9:00 AM – 11:00 AM
Suggested donation: $8 per person
Holiday Craft Fair:
9:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Come support local vendors
Gingerbread Man Decorating:
2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
$8 per kit
GNOME PAINTING
2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
$8 per gnome
Letters to Santa:
12:00 PM – 4:00 PM
$10 per kit
Tree Lighting at Grout Park:
5:00 PM
(The park with the big metal bicycle near the bike path!)
Kick off your holiday season with a day full of family fun and festive cheer! Here’s what we have planned for you:
Pictures with Santa by Rustic Lens Photography:
9:00 AM – 10:00 AM & 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Breakfast with Santa:
Suggested donation: $8 per person
Holiday Craft Fair:
Gingerbread Man Decorating:
Letters to Santa:
(The park with the big metal bicycle near the bike path!)
“The Night Before Christmas” Reading:
Caroling at Grout Park:
Notes From the Vicarage 