Here We Go

I am pleased to report that the "Holiday Heritage Tunes and Treats" (Fri., Dec. 9, 7pm, 1st Presbyterian Church) is shaping up to be a wonderful event. The program includes: singalong of beloved songs of the season, free will offering to Hope's Kitchen, door prizes from local merchants, and heirloom treats.

The music is just fantastic.  Rich McKinney has set it on a smooth, even, and quick pace.  We go through a lot of music in a relatively short time period.  There will be some spot solos.  It is just amazing how he has organized this.  The quick pace is in balance with the serenity of the songs.  I find the whole thing just uplifting. (Plus, Rich tucks in 2 teasers of the upcoming "Christmas Cantata", which is our concert on Monday, Dec. 12, 7:30pm, 1st Christian Church. The "Cantata" is an original composition by Rich who is a gifted composer.  Yes, this is a big weekend for us.)

Melanie has headed up the door prizes for our Friday event.  The response by local merchants has been wonderful.  The door prizes are all "heart", they are playful, they represent time, talents and sharing abundance of people within our community.

I am heading up the treat and social part of the evening.  We will be working on "transforming space" in Fellowship Hall for this special event.  Volunteers are fantastic. People are bringing heirloom treats which have special meanings in their holiday traditions.  The treats could be relatively recent or connecting to those who have gone before.  I am asking those who are bringing treats to bring the recipe (with their name on it), brief story of the origin of the recipe and why it is special to them, plus a picture of the originator. The latter is optional.

The feedback on the treat portion has been great.  This is a relatively new concept in conventional times where life is fast paced, traditions are cast aside, store bought and fast foods are elevated as standard and as better.  These foods introduce "slow food".  You just have to think about it.  People are calling Elders and other relatives in distant places.  They are searching for those old recipes down in the bottom of recipe files and drawers.  Some are practicing this week as they have never made the recipe before.  Some are being shipped in because that's who makes them.

We will post the recipes, write-ups, and pictures on 2 large bulletin boards behind the treats.  Cindy is meeting me there on Friday to work on design.  Linda will be helping too.  I love to work on the creation of space as "art".

To me, the overall theme of the event is "giving".  Because we each are giving to the event, the event is just full of boundless joy.  It is quite fitting that we give a free will donation and in this case it will be to Hope's Kitchen.  How cool is that? 

Thanks to Rich and everyone who is helping make these upcoming concerts 2 very special events.

It seems like whenever I start out on a new project that I am on a roller coaster slowing going toward the top.  Clickety clack clickety clack.  I am not sure that I will get there.  And then all of a sudden, there is a stunning view and here we go.  That's where we are now.