Hey all…I find it curious that so many of us seem to experience Christmas as uniquely fatiguing. I know this isn’t the case for everyone, so if you’re a Christmas fan my apologies in advance. Perhaps this will help you understand those that are not. In any case, I suspect the reasons for this phenomenon are multi-faceted and complex so I’m not going to try to offer something definitive, but I also think there are some ways to look in on the dilemma that might be illuminating. This Sunday morning I’m going to explore some of the impact of both history and human nature on the thing we call “Christmas”, and in particular on some of the ways we make it too small an idea. (If your thinking “Oh no…not a BIGGER version of Christmas!”, you can relax. This exploration is intended to provide relief, not to add to the load.)

We’re at Pantages this week, and for the weeks to come. Kid’s Table is in full swing, and we’re working on putting together the details of our “Not Quite Christmas” gathering on the evening of December 29th. That will also take place at Pantages. The schedule for that evening is doors open at 5:30, Feast at 6:00, Gathering at 7:00…hang out until it’s apparent to everyone that the part is over. A general outline of how we’re approaching the food part of the evening is that we’ll need a few volunteers to take home, prepare and bring hams that The Table will purchase. The Table will also purchase some perogies that need to be heated up and brought. The rest of us can contribute to the pot luck – salad, buns, desserts. It’s a BYOB event, so start thinking now about what festive beverage pairs perfectly with a “Ukrainian meets Mennonite meets Manitoban” Christmas meal. Ask Google that one…

I look forward to being together on Sunday.

Peace to you all,