Tra-di-tion! Tradition!
As we proceed full speed ahead into this holiday season, it has been so wonderful to see many of our Holy Spirit traditions coming back. Trunk-or-Treat was a blast and there were so many costumed kiddos and creative trunks. We will have our Thanksgiving dinner and Eucharist this Sunday evening at 5 (don’t forget your side or desert to go with our smoked turkeys and dressing!). Some traditional parts of our common life are still not quite back to normal, such as having our Advent wreath making outside next Sunday, but all things considered, it is good to be back.
Starting this Sunday, one of my favorite holiday season traditions will make a comeback – The Giving Tree! The Giving Tree has always been a bit understated considering the significant impact it has on those around us. There will be a tree in the narthex (and the parish hall for the Thanksgiving dinner this Sunday) that has ornaments for each of our outreach ministries. Each ornament says something for you to donate which could be toys for a child’s Christmas, blankets for our homeless, or funds for feeding our Blessings in a Backpack ministry. You are invited to take as many ornaments as you would like and fulfill the donation (some are actual purchased items and some monetary donations). The only other step is making sure you write your name on our printed list next to the number of the ornament you take so that we can make sure all the donations are accounted for – especially when we responsible for kids’ Christmas presents.
It seems so simple to just take an ornament and give the gift, and it is. But is also significant. I think of all the children on Christmas morning having joy. I think about children who won’t be hungry. I think about people sleeping out in the cold being bundled up in the blankets we will purchase. It is amazing that such a simple part of our many traditions makes such a significant impact. It reminds me of what we say about stewardship at Holy Spirit, God is able to take all your gifts and turn them into miraculous and amazing ministry. I am grateful for such a generous parish. God takes great joy in your offering.
We love you and God loves you,
Josh Condon+