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A few years ago two of our members (Ken Paulson and Don Hick), independently, sent me a copy of this story. I didn’t use it at the time, but re-discovered it recently. It certainly captures the real meaning of the Advent/Christmas season, but I need to warn you, it’s a "tear jerker." I hope it moves you as it has me. The author is unknown, though it is purported to be a true story.

"It’s just a small, white envelope stuck among the branches of our Christmas tree. No name, no identification, no inscription. It has peeked through the branches of our tree at this time of the year for the past 10 years or so. It all began because my husband Mike hated Christmas. Oh, not the true meaning of Christmas, but the commercial aspects of it. You know, the overspending, the frantic running around at the last minute to get a tie for Uncle Harry and the dusting powder for Grandma, the gifts given in desperation because you couldn’t think of anything else. Knowing he felt this way, I decided one year to bypass the usual shirts, sweaters, ties and so forth. I reached for something special just for Mike.

"The inspiration came in an unusual way. Our son Kevin, who was 12 that year, was wrestling at the junior level at the school he attended. Shortly before Christmas, there was a non-league match against a team sponsored by an inner city church. The kids were mostly black. These youngsters, dressed in sneakers so ragged that shoestrings seemed to be the only thing holding them together, presented a sharp contrast to our boys in their spiffy blue and gold uniforms and sparkling new wrestling shoes. As the match began, I was alarmed to see that the other team was wrestling without head gear, a kind of light helmet designed to protect a wrestler’s ears. It was a luxury the ragtag team obviously couldn’t afford. Well, we ended up walloping them. We took every weight class. And as each of their boys got up from the mat, he swaggered around in his tatters with false bravado, a kind of street pride that couldn’t acknowledge defeat.

"Mike, seated beside me, shook his head sadly, "I wish just one of them could have won," he said. "They have a lot of potential, but losing like this could take the heart right out of them." Mike loved kids — all kids. He understood kids in competitive situations, having coached little league football, baseball and lacrosse. That’s when the idea for his present came.

"That afternoon, I went to a local sporting goods store and bought an assortment of wrestling headgear and shoes and sent them anonymously to the inner city church. On Christmas Eve, I placed the envelope on the tree, the note inside telling Mike what I had done and that this was his gift from me. His smile was the brightest thing about Christmas that year and in succeeding years. For each Christmas, I followed the tradition — one year sending a group of mentally challenged youngsters to a hockey game, another year a check to a pair of elderly brothers whose home had burned to the ground the week before Christmas — on and on...

"The envelope became the highlight of our Christmas. It was always the last thing opened on Christmas morning and our children, ignoring their new toys, would stand with wide-eyed anticipation as their dad lifted the envelope from the tree to reveal its contents. As the children grew, the toys gave way to more practical presents, but the envelope never lost its allure.

"Still, the story doesn’t end there. You see, we lost Mike several years ago due to cancer. When Christmas rolled around, I was still so wrapped in grief that I barely got the tree up. Yet Christmas Eve found me placing an envelope on the tree, and in the morning, it was joined by three more. Each of our children, unbeknownst to the others, had placed an envelope on the tree for their dad. The tradition has grown and someday will expand even further, with our grandchildren standing around the tree with wide-eyed anticipation, watching as their fathers take down their envelopes. Mike’s spirit, like the spirit of Christmas, will always be with us."

May the Advent and Christmas traditions in each of our homes reflect the spirit of Christmas, and may each of us be inspired to count our blessings in every season. Merry Christmas!

HOLIDAY POINSETTIAS

The holidays are almost here! How’s your list coming along? Here’s the perfect gift idea for the congregation that has (almost) everything. How about a group of people who are dedicated to promoting whole-person wellness within your faith community? One size serves all, we come in many different shapes and backgrounds and we’re committed to the gift that "keeps on giving" long after the Christmas season is over—your health!

The newly-formed Pilgrim Church Congregational Health Ministry Committee is excited about developing a vision for wellness promotion in our church and our community. Providing us with inspiration are many examples from Scripture which shape a health, healing and wholeness commission. Historically, the church as an institution has engaged in health ministry, from care and concern for those who are ill to highly organized activities such as establishing hospitals and religious orders. Today, in part because of overburdened healthcare systems, fragmented services and a greater appreciation for the positive health benefits of physical, psychological, social and spiritual integration, churches are reclaiming their duty to promote health and healing. They are helping people to:

• Focus on wellness and disease prevention

• Assume greater responsibility for their own health and the health of their communities

• Use a whole-person (body, mind and spirit) approach to health

• Define health as integrated wholeness and harmony with self, others, environment and God, not just absence of disease.

Because of the unique nature of a health ministry within a faith community, a professional nurse prepared for the role of a congregational or parish nurse is generally incorporated into the program. Several months ago a member of our church, Maridel Johnson completed the Basic Parish Nurse Preparation Program offered by Saint Anne’s Hospital. Shortly thereafter she relocated to Washington State, but not before getting leaders in our congregation excited about a health ministry at Pilgrim Church! Letters and announcements were sent out, and the beginning of a health ministry committee was formed. Many of us are health professionals and some are not. Our perspectives and experiences are varied. Since September, 2003, I have been enrolled in the Basic Parish Nurse Preparation Program course of study. The time I devote to the course, preparations and committee meetings is voluntary. Each month I share with the committee information and insights learned and together with all of you, we hope to develop a vision for what our health ministry can be. I feel blessed to have the opportunity to take this course and am very excited about the future for our congregation!

As defined by The Health Ministries Association, health ministry is a program developed by a health committee, with the input of the faith community. We will be formally asking for input from each of you in the coming months. Please think about what health means to you. What do you feel our congregation’s role could be in health, healing and wholeness? How do we as a congregation nurture, support and care for each other? What are our needs? In the meantime, we welcome your questions and ideas and invite anyone interested in this ministry to join us! Look for meeting dates in the church bulletin on Sundays or call the church office for information. We usually meet one Sunday each month @ 11:15 in the church conference room.

As for my list, that’s a "wrap"! Have a very Merry Christmas and a happy, healthy New Year!

Lisa Williams RN, BSN

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As this letter is being composed, the choirs of our church are working hard to prepare for our Thanksgiving Sunday worship. All the choirs have prepared an anthem sung or rung by each group and one that combines all the choirs. This is always a wonderful experience. It is a joy to work with all those who participate actively in our music program here at Pilgrim Church. It is a
contribution to our church made by so many and they are all very much appreciated!
The senior choir is already preparing music for the Advent and Christmas worship services. There are so many beautiful and inspiring anthems and carols composed for this holy season that it is a difficult but joyful task to choose the best for the current year. Again, if you would like to sing with us but cannot commit the time on a long term basis, why not think about joining any of the many choirs for the Christmas services, especially Christmas Sunday and/or Christmas Eve? If this sounds good to you, please call me at home or church or stop by after Sunday worship. I am always happy to talk with anyone in the congregation. My prayers are for the well-being of all in the church and for a meaningful and prayerful Christmas Season here at our church and beyond
Cathy Morrison
Music Director and organist.