The Non-Permanence of Winter
Dec 15, 2019
Under the present circumstances (it’s snowing, the forecast is for a zillion degrees below zero, the windchill numbers include statements like “frostbite in minutes”), does that subject line sound delusional? Fanciful? Hopeful? Maybe logical? This Sunday I want to continue exploring some of the “long season of longing” themes we touched on last week, but with a sort of practical twist. Ideas are great…but sometimes we just need to put our hands on things to have the ideas come to life. That is never more important than when we are considering how we might care for ourselves, and for our home the earth – both topics that will be part of our exploration this week. The general framework will be the metaphor of the non-permanence of winter, but I promise not to stay frozen in place on that image.
Following are a LOT of details, mostly pertaining to Christmas and end-of-year themes. They won’t all fit on one screen on your phone. Only you can decide what to do about that…:)
-Kids Table: Game on! There will be enough energy generated in the room next door to keep a single family dwelling warm for a month…
-Not-Quite-Christmas at The Table: Our “post-Christmas Christmas” gathering will take place on the evening of December 29th. We will share a potluck meal at 6:00 p.m. Our program will be at 7:00. To the best of my knowledge, there will be wonderful kids involved, but not a single shepherd in a bathrobe. Regarding the potluck – as in previous years, The Table will provide some hams (of the edible sort) and perogies. Ray is bringing a turkey. We will need three folks willing to take home a ham and prepare it. Beyond that, if you are able to bring a salad, side dish or dessert, go for it. If you are not able to do so, please come anyway. We will share what we have, and it’ll be plenty.
-Accessibility: Because Creative Manitoba is officially closed for the holidays, our only access from December 22nd to January 5th will be the elevator. We will not have access to the stairs. To those of you who regarded those stairs as your weekend workout, sorry…you might have to shovel instead.
Set Up Team for December 22nd: Because we moved our seasonal gathering to the 29th, we don’t have an official set up team for the 22nd. If you know something about set up and can come a bit early on the 22nd to pitch in, let me know. Most important required skill – ability to work the coffee pot. 🙂
-Kids Table Resources Project: Our Kids Table leaders are sometimes “out of pocket” for supplies. We would like to change that, and the people who work with the Littles have suggested that Dollarama (or similar) gift cards would be a good way to do that. So…if you want to encourage that team, feel free to bring a gift card to leave at the Giving Station at the back of our gathering space any time between now and Christmas. If you want a receipt for those gifts, leave them in an envelope with your name and address.
-Resources in General: A reminder that financial donations over this final month of the year are a critical part of our remaining financially healthy going into the sometimes lean months of January and February. Thanks to those who have already stepped up, and thanks in advance to those that still will. We sustain what we treasure, and I’m grateful to be part of a community that shares what it has.
All of this will happen at Creative Manitoba (245 McDermot Avenue, 4th floor). We’ll meet around 10:30 a.m. on Sunday.
Whew! That’s a lot of info. If you read this far, tell yourself “well done!” I’ll see you on Sunday.
Peace