Dear friends,

On Sunday, December 1 I had the honor of meeting with members of the Board of Parish Ministry and Campus Keepers to help with the “hanging of the greens” after the worship service. A task I had many times helped Sam Harris and Erick Smith take down the decorations from Reimer Hall, but never came on a Sunday to put up. It all magically was there when I arrived at work the following Monday over the years. I was always grateful and in awe that lights, garlands, candles, wreaths, and even larger wreaths get placed in one single afternoon.

I was surprised to find being here on a Sunday with excited faces to see me (and warm hugs from many of you,) had kicked off my personal holiday spirit. My heart must have grown three sizes! We started to string the lights in the courtyard only to find a very gentle giant by the name of Bill Zegel to start silently and effortlessly putting the lights on the nails. We soon became Bill’s helpers and gave compliments of his higher stature. Before I knew it, we were half around the courtyard and then Talia recruited Aiyana to scurry up the ladder for the entrance. She was more than pleased to help and made scaling the ladder look too easy.

As I watched the courtyard slowly being donned in its gay apparel, my heart beamed. Folx chatted and sipped on coffee while we worked around them. Lingering youth hung out and talked with Yo and Lucy while Zakara busily made sure the coffee and tea table was well stocked. Carol gave her expert advice on securing the extension cord and making sure the light timer was set. We all may have not been doing the same task together but the feeling of being together was there. A feeling I hope to not soon forget once the holidays have passed.

We may have discovered at the very end of hanging the lights, we forgot about some of the lights being out on the strings, but nevertheless we laughed at our oversight and called it an afternoon. As I drove home, I thought about how I helped with the magic of changing UCG into its holly jolly mode and smiled the whole way home. Then we decorated our Christmas tree. My littlest roommate didn’t hang the ornaments perfectly (with several ornaments stuffed onto one branch) but her mom and I laughed at the sight. We agreed, it may not be ideal or a perfect picture tree, but it was practically perfect enough for us.

May your new year be missing some lights, need batteries replacing, slightly too worn out blankets, crooked photos, messy tables and too many cookies left to eat but may you find a community of fellow folx to keep your hearths lit, extra batteries, patches, or yarn, share a story, or a subtle offering of service in an unexpected way.

I look forward to helping keep our church looking its Sunday best, however known. Maybe even sprinkle some of that Christmas magic throughout the year, we may need it.

Season’s Greetings,

Shanna Swiers