Prayer Today

I have been reading My Spiritual Journey by The Dalai Lama and have found lots of inspiration and challenge from this spiritual leader and Buddhist monk.  Meditating on his writing is helping me to increase my capacity for the practice of compassion for others and myself.

Here is a prayer offered by His Holiness the Dalai Lama:

I pray for a more loving human family.  Even when I meet a stranger each time I have the same feeling:  “He is another member of my human family.”  Such an attitude deepens my affection and respect for all beings.
May this natural loving-kindness become my small contribution to world peace!
I pray for a world that is more friendly, more loving, and for a better understanding among the human family, on this planet.
That is the appeal I make from the bottom of my heart to all those who hate suffering and cherish lasting happiness.

Will you join me in this prayer and to a commitment to increase our practice of compassion?

Peace,
Stacey

P.S.  This prayer was part of our Centering Moment today at the Senior Leadership Team meeting.  Please feel free to share it with those around you – including colleagues and the young people with whom we work.  Blessings!

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Rosh Hashanah

At sunset yesterday, Wednesday, September 20, our Jewish friends will begin the celebration of Rosh Hashanah (New Year) and conclude on the evening of Friday, September 22.  The year will be 5778.

Here is a traditional greeting to offer: L’shana tovah u’metukah – “For a good and sweet year.” 

This is pronounced l’shah-NAH toe-VAH ooh-meh-too-KAH (oo as in food).

Please join me in wishing everyone who is celebrating a very happy new year!

L’shana tovah u’metukah!

This is a great opportunity for all of us to celebrate the good things of the past year and look forward to a new beginning with God’s blessing.

I want to share with you a brief video for the celebration. Last year a group of people from different communities around the world recorded a special blessing song for Rosh Hashanah. The video was done by 92nd Street Y, a cultural and community center. This is the link to the video: I hope you enjoy it.

 

https://youtu.be/sHlLYhYNbc0

Hope and Peace to all – Rev. Stacey

 

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Follow Me and I’ll Make You Fishers of Men

Scripture Reference: Matthew Chapter 4: Verses 18-20
One day as Jesus was walking along the shore of the Sea of galilee, he saw two brothers-Simon, also called Peter, and Andrew-throwing a net into the water, for they fished for a living. Jesus called out to them, “Come follow me, and I will show you how to be fishers of men.” And they left their nets at once and followed him.

Simon and Andrew probably thought this was where they were supposed to be in life. They probably thought this was what they were meant to do for a living. That maybe they reached their potential and this was all they would do and be in life. However, Jesus comes along with an offer they couldn’t refuse. He tells them to “follow me and I’ll make you fishers of men.” In other words, you think what you’re doing now is good, but if you follow me I can show you greatness. They were content catching fish. Jesus called them to change lives.

There are levels in our lives that God wants to take us too. Levels that include amazing opportunities and blessings. Levels that include helping others and having a positive impact in a negative world. Simon and Andrew would not have tapped into the greatness of God if they weren’t willing to follow Jesus. Jesus is telling us today that He can do great things in our lives and takes us to heights that we never imagined, if we’re willing to follow Him. If we’re willing to leave “our nets” and follow Him, He is able to do exceedingly, abundantly, more than we should ever ask or think, according to the power that lies in us!

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Inspiration for the New School Year 2017 – 2018

A Back-to-School Message from Mr. Shawn Elbert, Director 

residential-brochure-cover-art

 

At the start of a new school year, we feel a sense of excitement. After having time off in the summer

to relax and rejuvenate, we approach the upcoming school year with a renewed sense of purpose, determination, and eagerness to teach. We look at our empty classroom and school as a blank canvas and we imagine what we can create in the minds of our students. We know each year will have its share of ups and downs, successes and failures; however, each opportunity is a chance to learn. A chance to challenge ourselves. A chance to step up to the plate.

I was recently watching the Little League World Series and thought about my days playing baseball. I remembered the times watching from the dugout with my teammates as the opposing pitcher would “warm-up” on the mound. We wanted to see how fast he threw the ball. If he was throwing slow and controlled, we all chomped at the bit to get a chance to bat. If he was throwing some “heat” with a lot of movement in the ball, some of us (including myself) would be hesitant to stand in the batter’s box to face him. We didn’t know what to expect. If I wasn’t confident I could hit the ball, I would often stand further away from the plate. It made me feel safer in the batter’s box. Our coach would encourage us to be disciplined batters, not to be afraid, and to step up to the plate. We may not have known what pitch he was going to throw and how fast he would throw it, but we wouldn’t have a chance to hit it if we weren’t ready for the challenge… if we didn’t step up to the plate.

 

This school year will undoubtedly present its share of challenges. We may have many things “thrown at us” that we haven’t seen before. It may be a challenging curriculum, challenging behaviors, or a sense of not having enough time to complete lessons. It may feel overwhelming and the task may feel daunting. The good news is we were built to accept the challenge. There is something inside of us that helps us to step up to the plate.

So this year I encourage each one of us to accept the challenge before us. Maybe

we want to be the best teacher, student aide, behavior staff, or social worker we can be this year. Maybe it’s to be the best parent, spouse, sibling, or friend we can be. Whatever the challenge is, let’s all remember that with God ALL things are possible! If we believe, keep the faith, and help one another, there is no limit to what we can do.

But first, we have to step up to the plate!

 

 

 

Thank you so much for your contribution in support of our Back to School appeal! While we appreciate online contributions, if you are having any trouble using our online form you are also welcome to mail a check to:

Board of Child Care
Attn: Back to School
3300 Gaither Road
Baltimore, MD 21244

You may also call (410) 922-2100 x5430 to make a contribution over the phone during regular business hours.

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Behind the Tassel-Yeremiyah


“The opportunity changed my Life.” -Yeremiyah

Yeremiyah feels that when he came to the Board of Child Care with three of his siblings, he was ” fortunate to have been granted an opportunity to  change my life forever and hopefully change the lives of those around me.”  Thanks to BCC’s assistance, Yeremiyah realized his dreams and achieved the goals that he would not have considered.  Playing sports, graduating from high school and being accepted into college are only a fraction of the things he has been able to accomplish with BCC’s help.  Yeremiyah made the Dean’s List attending  North Carolina State University where he is pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in chemical engineering. He says, ” The BCC is a support system that I consider to be part of my family.

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