Christmas Wreathmaking Party

We had a lovely wreathmaking party last night. We were delighted that quite a few women brought friends. Allison's friend attended last years' program as well and mentioned afterward how nice it was to "meet new friends" and she wanted to know the date of next years' wreathmaking party so she could put it on her calendar.

Charlene's neighbor brought wreath accents to donate and a woman from the Marlborough Ward RS brought fresh holly clippings for all to use. Women made wreaths for those who couldn't attend, but had signed up for wreaths. There was a great spirit of kindness, creativity, and sisterhood. We had a ball.

We sincerely missed those of you who were not able to make it for whatever reason. You were in our thoughts. I promised one sister who had to leave early that I would post the program on our Relief Society blog. Hopefully as you read this you can feel a part of our Wreath making party. (Please forgive my weakness in formatting....)

Wreathmaking Party Program

• Dora M. read: It is a good thing to observe Christmas day. The mere marking of times and seasons, when men agree to stop work and make merry together, is a wise and wholesome custom. It helps one to feel the supremacy of the common life over the individual life. It reminds a man to set his own little watch, now and then, by the great clock of humanity which runs on sun time.



But there is a better thing than the observance of Christmas day, and that is, keeping Christmas.



Are you willing to forget what you have done for other people, and to remember what other people have done for you; to ignore what the world owes you, and to think what you owe the world; to put your rights in the background, and your duties in the middle distance, and your chances to do a little more than your duty in the foreground; to see that your fellow-men are just as real as you are, and try to look behind their faces to their hearts, hungry for joy; to own that probably the only good reason for your existence is not what you are going to get out of life, but what you are going to give to life; to close your book of complaints against the management of the universe, and look around you for a place where you can sow a few seeds of happiness--are you willing to do these things even for a day? Then you can keep Christmas.



Are you willing to stoop down and consider the needs and the desires of little children; to remember the weakness and loneliness of people who are growing old; to stop asking how much your friends love you, and ask yourself whether you love them enough; to bear in mind the things that other people have to bear on their hearts; to try to understand what those who live in the same house with you really want, without waiting for them to tell you; to trim your lamp so that it will give more light and less smoke, and to carry it in front so that your shadow will fall behind you; to make a grave for your ugly thoughts, and a garden for your kindly feelings, with the gate open--are you willing to do these things even for a day? Then you can keep Christmas.



Are you willing to believe that love is the strongest thing in the world--stronger than hate, stronger than evil, stronger than death--and that the blessed life which began in Bethlehem nineteen hundred years ago is the image and brightness of the Eternal Love? Then you can keep Christmas.



And if you keep it for a day, why not always? - Henry Van Dyke

• Macy Robison sang a great solo of "We Need a Little Christmas." She made us all smile!

• Click HERE for the Christmas Story that Santa read from the pulpit.

• There was a beautiful rendition of "Born to Wear a Crown" by four women in the Marlborough Ward Relief Society.

• Max read: The real business of Christmas is to courageously reconcile differences; to heal wounds of the heart; to honestly, fully forgive and forget; to love our enemies after the manner of the Savior on the cross; to generously help those who are truly in need; to think less about what we can buy and more about what we can give that will be most meaningful; to lift up the hands that hang down and strengthen the feeble knees and carry each other's burdens in full purpose of comfort and solution. It is remembering that the birth of Jesus introduced mercy, repentance, hope, and love into the world, and that our part is to find ways to implement these virtues into daily living. It is quietly doing what needs to be done, in the name of Jesus Christ, without looking for credit or praise.

Perhaps we can make Christmas the starting point of more Christ-like behavior all year; we can strive to be more kind and patient, more helpful and forgiving. If we can do it for a season, why not for a whole year and then even for a lifetime! - Henry Van Dyke

• Kayla N. read: The Savior is our great exemplar. At the Christmas season we contemplate anew who He is and what generosity He extended to us by coming into the world to be our Savior.

As the Son of God, born to Mary, He had the power to resist all temptation to sin. He lived a perfect life so that He could be the infinite sacrifice, the unblemished Lamb promised from the foundation of the world.

He gave us that gift at a price we cannot fathom. It was a gift He did not need for Himself; He was without the need for forgiveness.

The Christmas season gives us encouragement to remember Him and His infinite generosity. Remembering His generosity will help us feel and respond to the inspiration that there is someone who needs our help, and it will let us see the hand of God reaching to us when He sends someone to succor us, as He so often does. There is joy in giving and in receiving the generosity that God inspires, especially at Christmas. - Henry B. Eyring, December 2009 Ensign

If we can feel this divine joy for a season, why not for a whole year and then even for a lifetime!