tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539942105680988988.post36888429800289425..comments2024-03-28T14:50:48.648-04:00Comments on DEBBIE-DABBLE BLOG: Two Winter TablescapesDebbie-Dabble Blog and A Debbie-Dabble Christmashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09393980831584145593noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539942105680988988.post-8624249288894988752022-02-27T19:43:09.995-05:002022-02-27T19:43:09.995-05:00I love the blue table! The dishes are beautiful. I...I love the blue table! The dishes are beautiful. I so wish that I could get to church! We only have one car and my husband works on Sundays. My son got saved a few months ago (yes I was completely over the moon to confidently know that I'll spend eternity with my baby boy, living with our Savior!), but we haven't even been able to have him baptized since we can't get to church. (I think we Evangelical Christians do that a little different than you do.) It wrecks me. You can tell a huge difference in your spiritual life having to watch online than getting to go and worship and serve with other believers. God knew what He was talking about when He told Paul to warn us not to forsake the gathering of ourselves together to worship Him. I'm thankful for online, but it's not a replacement that's for sure. I'll be praying that your new church exceeds your expectations, and that God opens doors for you to be able to serve and volunteer the way you want to! Your church was beautiful at Christmas a few years ago! Thanks for sharing with us on Crafty Creators!<br />XOXO,<br />Niki ~ Life as a LEO WifeLife as a LEO Wifehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05943221234627088037noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539942105680988988.post-64292591849162438992022-02-25T11:06:22.457-05:002022-02-25T11:06:22.457-05:00Lynda,
Thanks again for stopping by! I appreciate ...Lynda,<br />Thanks again for stopping by! I appreciate you taking the tie to do so!! It is unfortunate about the churches closing but it is a sign of the times with decreasing congregations and monies needed to sustain those churches...I am looking forward to the prospect of starting over in a new church but hopefully, with some familiar faces...I do enjoy watching different masses online at the parish's of our former pastors.... I hope you have a good weekend!! Stay safe, healthy and happy!!<br />Hugs,<br />DebbieDebbie-Dabble Blog and A Debbie-Dabble Christmashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09393980831584145593noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539942105680988988.post-47819234522795491582022-02-25T09:53:24.660-05:002022-02-25T09:53:24.660-05:00Miss Merry,
I so enjoy your comments...so much so ...Miss Merry,<br />I so enjoy your comments...so much so that rather than just reply when visiting your blog, I decided to reply to this comment here too!!!!<br />Now as far as churches closing here,this has been going on for about 19 years now...The problem in NEPA is that when the Eastern European immigrants came here to work in the mines, each Nationality built their own church in every little town....They came from Poland, Russian, Italy, Lithuania and Slovakia. They did not speak English so they needed to build their own churches with priests that spoke their own language. So in just our Country , in my area there are about 10-12 communities on each side of the river that had at least 2-4 Catholic churches in their borders.Way too many churches as congregations declined in number ad monetary support also declined...Now with the amount of priests declining, the only sensible thing to do is to close churches that can not be financially maintained and marge several parishes into regional churches and congregations....In many areas of the Country, there is not a Catholic church within a 65 mile radius where here, there were 3-4 within a 1-2 mile radius....BIG MISTAKE that our ancestors did not think about.....People here still refer to the "polish" church, the "Italian" church, the "Irish" church.....The church of my childhood was built by my Dad's parents and was closed about 10 years ago and torn down...Sad, but a neccessity, unfortunately...Personally, I am sad to think of the church that we currently belong to, closing and shutting down but yet, I am excited for a fresh start in a different, more vibrant parish...I had planned to do a lot more volunteer work, like I used to do, once I retired. The parish that we will be joining has a food pantry, a clothing store where people can go and choose clothing for free and many other charitable ministries...We will see what happens but I think this change will be good...<br />And as far as the Pizza, there is a big Italian population i this area so Pizza is king around here!! Thanks so much for stopping by as often as you do!!<br />Hugs,<br />DebDebbie-Dabble Blog and A Debbie-Dabble Christmashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09393980831584145593noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539942105680988988.post-30336801011271480262022-02-22T12:24:59.898-05:002022-02-22T12:24:59.898-05:00These tables are jolly and happy. Very pretty inde...These tables are jolly and happy. Very pretty indeed, Debbie! And I know I've said it before, but your porch in the snow is so pretty!Jeaniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17482528482559445943noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539942105680988988.post-3482478123373266882022-02-22T11:28:34.602-05:002022-02-22T11:28:34.602-05:00Hi Debbie,
I love reading your posts. The take hom...Hi Debbie,<br />I love reading your posts. The take home food you have been getting looks delish. The tablescapes are so nice. I really love the blue one set for tea with a friend. It is very calming. The pictures you shared of the church at Christmas is really gorgeous. We too have been having issues with churches in the area closing or merging. It is very sad but unfortunately a sign of the times. I have not been back to in person service since the pandemic either but do watch services on line. Looking forward to Wednesday's post.Lyndahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12679201031961067025noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539942105680988988.post-66385629018104332312022-02-22T09:05:03.875-05:002022-02-22T09:05:03.875-05:00It certainly still is winter around here, isn'...It certainly still is winter around here, isn't it, Debbie? I think we had that same snow squall! Hopefully spring will arrive soon, I'm so ready for it!Annhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11728888914347752759noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8539942105680988988.post-57772006839135074782022-02-20T12:16:24.485-05:002022-02-20T12:16:24.485-05:00Can I start with churches? We had these talks abou...Can I start with churches? We had these talks about 10 years ago (pre Covid) and at our church I think 80% went to the "informational" meeting. The people the Diocese sent were kind of overwhelmed. We are a small country parish and financially solvent and our question was - is there a way we can stay open and maybe have a communion service three Sundays a month and share a rotating priest. You would have thought we were suggesting turning satanic. That is not the plan. We got merged but a group of three other parishes did get merged. One was my sister in law's church and was a very active small parish. Another was my neighbor's family church. When they decided to sell the parish school across the road about 15-20 years ago, a big family bought it and operates it as a senior/community center in the middle of corn fields as a successful 501c3. The decision was to close THAT church and another and tear them down. The family BEGGED to be allowed to purchase the church, their ancestors had built the pews, paid for the stained glass windows,it was their church. The Diocese refused. When they hired lawyers and lost, perhaps members actually broke into the amazing little church and stole as much as they could - pews, furniture, moldings and some of the windows, just ahead of the wrecking ball. There is an adjoining cemetery that remains next to the empty lot which is still owned by the diocese - no move to sell it or the other vacant lot where the second church was demolished. Meanwhile we went to the third church that they moved into and changed the name to see my niece sing the next Christmas. We got there early to get a good seat. The church was barely a quarter full on Christmas Eve after combining all three parishes. <br /><br />This weekend we went to the cathedral in Toledo to see our oldest grandson confirmed. We too have been watching mass on Facebook since March 2020. By we, I mean me because my husband was uncomfortable going and stayed at my daughter's to watch younger children. There were 100 candidates and probably 1000 people. My other daughter who was his sponsor said they were like sardines in the front pews. 2 of the 1000 sponsors had masks. We sat 10 rows from the back and luckily had more space. Our row was masked (my family) and I did see one other family of four with masks when people moved to get communion. But out of 1000 spectators, I doubt there were more than 25 masks in a crowded building. <br /><br />Now to the food! Thank you, I am so jealous of these dinners. I really really want a personal chef like your arena chef! I would have ordered every meal this week. And you sure have some great pizza deals, too. We have tried all kinds of carryout dinners in our area and almost every time which we had just cooked a meal ourselves. My daughter did get a huge lasagna from a caterer on Sunday and it was just delicious. It was so huge I think I could cut it into 8x8 sections and fill a freezer. And it might be an idea, lol. The prices of your dinners is so reasonable, too. <br /><br />What pretty tables! I got out the dishes for a January table and a Valetines table, but neither happened. I have grandkids tomorrow since no school on President's Day so maybe if they help with my organizing project I could strive for March, LOL. You have so many pretties. Miss Merryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10691152819794851137noreply@blogger.com