How Making and Mixing Candy Can Bring Us Together
If you have not yet had an opportunity to participate in one of our Glass Candy making sessions — or even if you have — please consider joining us on Monday evening for what might be our final gathering this year.
Our expert “Brewmeister,” Elizabeth Feldman, has been busy all fall, cooking up such delicious flavors as Sassafras, Spearmint, Peppermint, Lemon, Orange, Anise, and everyone’s favorite, Cinnamon, along with a variety of other options, each with its own distinct flavor, fragrance, and color.
It’s a true group effort as we all come together to cook, cut, cool, and bag the delicious flavors. What I really like is when the various colors are gathered together on a table in Fellowship Hall and then mixed together in a bag. To me, it is so symbolic of how we can all come together — from various racial and ethnic backgrounds with varying religious and political views — and form one united group.
Scripture provides plenty of guidance when it comes to unity. Perhaps the most notable passage comes from I Corinthians 1:10, in which Paul states, “I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought.”
We are so much stronger when we work together. It doesn’t mean that we have to agree on everything, but it is important that we find common ground, and we can do that through our faith.
Of course, that can take some work, as we learn from II Corinthians 13:11, which advises us to work on our faith by striving “for full restoration, encouraging one another, be of one mind, live in peace.” When we do so, “the God of love and peace will be with [us].”
Further encouragement comes to us from Ephesians 4:12-13, which tells us that we need not come together on our own, but rather through Christ, who has equipped “his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.”
Working with Christ, in Christ, and through Christ, makes a movement toward unity much more attainable. In fact, without Christ, unity is virtually impossible because the failings of the flesh often rise up and interfere, but as we know from Philippians 4:13, “we can do all [things] through him who gives [us] strength.” And, finally, in Philippians 2:2, we are encouraged to make his “joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind.”
Glass-candy making is a wonderful tradition at Oak Chapel, but perhaps the best thing about it is that it brings us together and binds us together, working side-by-side for a common purpose.
Join us on Monday evening for one more night of fun and frivolity, as we make glass candy for the many noble causes supported by our United Methodist Women.
Until We Meet Again, Be Blessed! – Pastor John