Author Archives: fromareportersnotebook

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About fromareportersnotebook

Former reporter and city editor at The Tribune, Welland, On. Active in various community groups and initiatives, married with two grown children, interested in roses specifically and gardening in general. A collection of previously-written columns was published in book form in the fall of 2013 and is available by contacting the writer at: fromareportersnotebook@gmail.com. It sells for $20.

Morning Offering: 12. 26. 25

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Today’s Reflection: Prayer

In these damp, dark, dreary days,
a star so brilliant beacons
beckons believers forth
from fallow fields and faraway fiefdoms
to a manger most mundane…
        we who have walked in darkness,
        have seen a great light.

—Excerpt from Simple Savior Born in a Manger by Fr. Aaron Malnick, from Poems to Retreat By 

 Morning Offering  is a daily post by Joe Barkovich, who lives in his hometown of Welland, Ontario. Daily photo by Joe Barkovich.

 Morning Offering is posted by 8 a.m.

Morning Offering: 12. 25. 25

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Today’s Reflection: Are you one of the Inn crowd or one of the Stable few? — Unknown

 Morning Offering  is a daily post by Joe Barkovich, who lives in his hometown of Welland, Ontario. Daily photo by Joe Barkovich.

 Morning Offering is posted by 8 a.m.

 Best wishes to our readers and followers for a blessed, happy, peaceful Christmas!

Morning Offering: 12. 24. 25

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Today’s Reflection: A Cook’s Advent Prayer

What joy this brings me, Lord.  Thank you for guiding me into the kitchen for some time of silence with you.  The room fills with wonderful smells and I share tastes and samples with my family as they make extra trips through the kitchen on days like this.  Thank you for each and every one of these special people in my family.  They are like the ingredients of my own life, adding spice and heat and wonderful flavor and melding together into a unique dish designed to glorify you. 

You know, God, cooking is quite a bit like my life.  It’s messy, I get careless and sometimes things don’t turn out as I had planned.  But in the mess of my life, that’s where I can turn to you.  Help me when I have to deal with being so imperfect.  Bless me with humility when I grapple with my own poverty.  Let me feel how deeply you love me, even when all I have to offer is scorched and humble.

Be with me Lord, in this kitchen today.  Help me to take the time in this intimate silence with you, to pray for each person who will eat this food.  Allow me to remember all of those around the world who have so little food, and bless those who share what little they have. — Creighton University Online Ministries  

 Morning Offering  is a daily post by Joe Barkovich, who lives in his hometown of Welland, Ontario. Daily photo by Joe Barkovich.

Morning Offering is posted by 8 a.m.   

Morning Offering: 12. 23. 25

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Today’s Reflection: God, help me to slow down and rest in the peace of your presence. — Catholic Advent prayer site

 Morning Offering  is a daily post by Joe Barkovich, who lives in his hometown of Welland, Ontario. Daily photo by Joe Barkovich.

 Morning Offering is posted by 8 a.m.    

Morning Offering: 12. 22. 25

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Today’s Reflection: He comes in the form of the beggar, of the dissolute human child in ragged clothes, asking for help. He confronts you in every person that you meet. As long as there are people, Christ will walk the earth as your neighbour.— Dietrich Bonhoeffer

 Morning Offering  is a daily post by Joe Barkovich, who lives in his hometown of Welland, Ontario. Daily photo by Joe Barkovich.

 Morning Offering is posted by 8 a.m.    

Morning Offering: 12. 21. 25 Fourth Advent

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Today’s Reflection: Lord, as I prepare my heart to celebrate your birth at Christmas, help me to get busy about the work of building your kingdom here on earth, today and every day. Amen. —Jesuit Prayer team

 Morning Offering  is a daily post by Joe Barkovich, who lives in his hometown of Welland, Ontario. Daily photo by Joe Barkovich.

 Morning Offering is posted by 8 a.m.    

Morning Offering: 12. 20. 25

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Today’s Reflection:  Prayer

Lord,
I ask:
“What if it doesn’t work?”
You reply:
“Trust the process.”

I shake my head and ask:
“What if it fails?”
You reply:
“Believe it’s all leading somewhere.”

Back and forth we go,
Me asking my worried questions,
You issuing your patient replies
until finally I ask:
“What if I am afraid?”
You reply:
“Know I am right here.”

Amen.—Gretchen Crowder, Campus Minister at Jesuit College Preparatory School of Dallas

 Morning Offering  is a daily post by Joe Barkovich, who lives in his hometown of Welland, Ontario. Daily photo by Joe Barkovich.

 Morning Offering is posted by 8 a.m.    

Morning Offering: 12. 19. 25

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Today’s Reflection:  

Loving God,

may we be moved to act in compassion

so that all our sisters and brothers

who have been forced from their homes,

may receive a warm welcome

and have enough to eat.

Amen. —CAFOD prayer site    

 Morning Offering  is a daily post by Joe Barkovich, who lives in his hometown of Welland, Ontario. Daily photo by Joe Barkovich.

 Morning Offering is posted by 8 a.m.    

Morning Offering: 12. 18. 25

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Today’s Reflection:   God,
Grant me the serenity
To accept the things I cannot change, 
the courage
to change the things I can,
and the wisdom
to know the difference.
God, your will, not mine, be done.—from the Serenity Prayer by Reinhold Niebuhr 

 Morning Offering  is a daily post by Joe Barkovich, who lives in his hometown of Welland, Ontario. Daily photo by Joe Barkovich.

 Morning Offering is posted by 8 a.m.    

Morning Offering: 12. 17. 25

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Today’s Reflection:  Lord, 

It is easy for my eyes
to see only the challenges,
the uncertainties,
and the impossibilities
this world has to offer.

Fix my sight, Lord,
so I may see instead
the certainty of Your presence
and every possibility
faith in You brings. 

It is easy for my eyes
to be fixed on established views,
narrow understandings,
and perfectionistic ideals
when encountering others.

Fix my sight, Lord,
so that I see with Your eyes
the beauty and dignity
inherent in every person
You breathed into being.

Open my eyes, Lord,
so I may take in
the miracles
big and small
happening all around me.

Then, open my lips, Lord
so I may become
a joyful and constant witness
to the wonders of You. Amen. — Gretchen Crowder  

 Morning Offering  is a daily post by Joe Barkovich, who lives in his hometown of Welland, Ontario. Daily photo by Joe Barkovich.

Morning Offering is posted by 8 a.m.