A Pause for Thanksgiving

A week from today, the United States of America will pause for a time of Thanksgiving. I am thankful for this day with family and friends that allows us a breath and a pause as we break from our normal routines to just simply enjoy each other's company breaking bread together.   

At Carrot Top Studio we are thankful for all the believers that we get to interface with. You and your ministries never cease to inspire and encourage us! 

In the spirit of thanksgiving I thought I'd share a favorite hymn  to our God and creator. The text is from the 1920's written by Katherine Davis. The tune is a charming Welsh folk melody.

Let All Things Now Living

May we carry on, giving thanks always (Eph. 5:20)

Advent Wondering

Advent traditions vary but the reasons remain the same: to prepare our hearts for welcoming God's gift of light and love, his son Jesus. Looking beyond Carrot Top Studio's, pastor and deacon stoles here is one idea to help connect a visual symbol to the message of the season....


An "I Wonder" board is a wonderful visual tool in a church hallway, a Sunday School classroom or the home. It could be as fancy as a cork bulletin board gussied up with Advent symbols or as simple as a white board or a large piece of paper taped to the front of a refrigerator. Designate the space, provide a writing tool and invite the wondering to cascade as we move through the season and work our way through the story that led up to Jesus' birth. The 'wondering' thoughts will help some people to pause in the midst of the rush and others to think deeper as they read what others have written. Seeing the 'wonderings' all grouped together will create a visual testimony to the mystery of the birth.


Of course we love stoles, paraments and worship banners but we also believe in using unique visuals such as the "I Wonder" board to draw us deeper into our spiritual formation. Try a new visual idea during this Advent season!