Christmas Gifts That Give Three Ways

As I was driving home from church after our Leadership Council meeting last night, I saw Christmas lights illuminating homes in my neighborhood…wait…it’s not Thanksgiving yet…I haven’t heard holiday Muzak yet…wasn’t it just summer???

Without stressing you out, Christmas is coming; and Plymouth does something wonderful to help your gift-giving each year by hosting the Alternative Giving Fair. In fact, it’s happening this Sunday after the 9:00 and 11:00 services.

There are a lot of things that I love about the Alternative Giving Fair:

• I appreciate not having to step foot in a crowded mall (or give Amazon another order) to shop.
• I adore some of the things I’ve found. (My sisters have gushed about pashmina scarves I’ve bought for them…always a good idea to make your big sisters ooh and aah.)
• I am able to find meaningful gifts for our staff members (to accompany Jane Anne’s cinnamon bread), usually from one of the missions of our local church.
• I am warmed by the idea that my purchase is doing something really positive and not just aiding our national economy.
• I love the community formed when I see so many of our folks wandering from table to table, finding gifts that support our missions and also organizations making a difference in the world.
• I appreciate receiving gifts from the Alternative Giving Fair, too, because I don’t need much material stuff (books notwithstanding).
• I love seeing Al Sanders, Phil Hoefer, and Bruce Lieurance wearing Santa hats at the check-out desk.

Doing some of your Christmas shopping helps three people: you (because you are getting your shopping done easily), the people the organization you are supporting serves, and the recipient of your gift, whose heart will surely be warmed.

I’ve loved the Fair as a purchaser and admirer, and this year Jane Anne and I are turning the tables to support the Iona Community and its capital appeal to make Iona Abbey accessible and environmentally sustainable…tough with a 13th c. building. We’ve made sets of prayer beads (that come with a cycle of Celtic prayers we’ve compiled) that we’ll be selling, with all proceeds going to the Iona Capital Appeal.

I encourage you to come on Sunday morning and join us in this annual festive and meaningful experience!

Merry Christmas…even though it’s not even Thanksgiving or Advent!

Author

The Rev. Hal Chorpenning has been Plymouth's senior minister since 2002. Before that, he was associate conference minister with the Connecticut Conference of the UCC. A grant from the Lilly Endowment enabled him to study Celtic Christianity in the UK and Ireland. Prior to ordained ministry, Hal had a business in corporate communications. Read more about Hal.