Community

Mulled Cran-Apple Cider

3 cups sweet apple cider

1 cup pure unsweetened cranberry juice

2 cinnamon sticks

6 whole cloves

1/2 tsp whole cardamom

1 tsp orange rind

1/4 tsp freshly grated nutmeg

2 TBSP agave nectar

In a pot on medium high heat, combine apple cider, cranberry juice, and cinnamon sticks.  In a fine mesh tea ball, place the cloves, cardamom, and orange rind.  Add the tea ball and nutmeg to the apple cider mixture.  Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and cook on low, uncovered, for 20 minutes.  Taste and season with agave nectar.  Serve in mugs with a stick of cinnamon.  

   

     Have you ever seen morning glory flowers bloom?  Each flower is incredibly beautiful, but as a community of flowers, the vines take on a "twinkling lights" appearance.  Community is so important.  What I am talking about is not flowers but people who are a community of friends, of family, and of church.  Often, our differences, struggles, and problems are worked out in a community.  We each have our own talents and differences, strengths and weaknesses but working together we can do great things!

                                       

   "Community, I am forced to admit, ultimately requires meeting together with flesh and blood folks I cannot "block" or "unfriend" should they become annoying.  It means getting close enough to hug and wrestle, to build (and sometimes hold) each other up, even as we risk letting each other down."
                                                                                                      - Carolyn Arends