The Best Christmas Party in the World
I'm just winding down from the best--the absolute best Christmas party in the world. I'm afraid I'm just too, too, tired to write anything that requires concentration tonight--this Cinderella is about to turn into a pumpkin!
The party was attended by over eighty people--about sixty were people with disabilities supported by Christian Horizons and the rest were their support workers. I look forward to this party from one Christmas to the next and we all work like crazy in the days ahead of it--everyone throws their all into the cause of "The Party."
I guess the best way to convey what it means is to see it through the eyes of one of my friends. This friend heard about it after the fact two years ago. She felt jealous and left out when she heard how much fun we all had at it--so I invited her to help the next year. Last year she plunged in and worked alongside us in the kitchen; and then serving turkey and all the trimmings to the hungry horde. She got to experience the sheer exuberance, the shining eyes, the FUN--and she sang an unforgettable "O Holy Night" as a duet with a small man with as much attitude and extraversion as she possesses. In the year since then, she has joined the staff team and is now one of our support workers.The party is a better recruitment tool than any newspaper advertisement.
This year we had a Christmas wreath contest, and wreaths abounded, made by individuals or groups of people. There were prizes for all of the wreaths.There was the wreath made of orange plastic newspaper bags, stuffed with shredded paper (it won the prize for the best use of recycled material.) We had tin foil wreaths, wreaths made out of coat hangers with paper glued over them, and with glued on pictures; there were pine wreaths and a wreath with photos of everyone who lived in the home hanging from the top of it. There were no two the same and they were all held up, applauded and pronounced, "The best wreath in the category of..."
There was a karaoke machine with a microphone to use for solos and carol singing. One by one people came up and led a favourite carol, recited a poem, sang a solo, or played a tune on a harmonica. There was no shortage of singers or performers and loud applause followed every performance.
Put eighty people in a room together with food, music and a microphone and magic happens--especially at Christmas.
Luke 1:51-53 (New International Version)
51He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;
he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
52He has brought down rulers from their thrones
but has lifted up the humble.
53He has filled the hungry with good things
but has sent the rich away empty.
The party was attended by over eighty people--about sixty were people with disabilities supported by Christian Horizons and the rest were their support workers. I look forward to this party from one Christmas to the next and we all work like crazy in the days ahead of it--everyone throws their all into the cause of "The Party."
I guess the best way to convey what it means is to see it through the eyes of one of my friends. This friend heard about it after the fact two years ago. She felt jealous and left out when she heard how much fun we all had at it--so I invited her to help the next year. Last year she plunged in and worked alongside us in the kitchen; and then serving turkey and all the trimmings to the hungry horde. She got to experience the sheer exuberance, the shining eyes, the FUN--and she sang an unforgettable "O Holy Night" as a duet with a small man with as much attitude and extraversion as she possesses. In the year since then, she has joined the staff team and is now one of our support workers.The party is a better recruitment tool than any newspaper advertisement.
This year we had a Christmas wreath contest, and wreaths abounded, made by individuals or groups of people. There were prizes for all of the wreaths.There was the wreath made of orange plastic newspaper bags, stuffed with shredded paper (it won the prize for the best use of recycled material.) We had tin foil wreaths, wreaths made out of coat hangers with paper glued over them, and with glued on pictures; there were pine wreaths and a wreath with photos of everyone who lived in the home hanging from the top of it. There were no two the same and they were all held up, applauded and pronounced, "The best wreath in the category of..."
There was a karaoke machine with a microphone to use for solos and carol singing. One by one people came up and led a favourite carol, recited a poem, sang a solo, or played a tune on a harmonica. There was no shortage of singers or performers and loud applause followed every performance.
Put eighty people in a room together with food, music and a microphone and magic happens--especially at Christmas.
Luke 1:51-53 (New International Version)
51He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;
he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
52He has brought down rulers from their thrones
but has lifted up the humble.
53He has filled the hungry with good things
but has sent the rich away empty.
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