Our Church has an event early in December called the Holiday Workshop. I documented it for other churches to use and it has it's own blog. Here is the history of it and some of the craft projects that have now been made for decades at this event.
This is by far my favorite inter-generational event at First Parish. For three hours, I let go of the need to "buy" a perfect Christmas. Over the years my need to buy has diminished to almost nothing, however, I know those advertising execs are really smart, and subliminally the commercialization is creeping into my mind. The holiday workshop is an antidote to the Walmart and Kohls advertisements.
Last Saturday, there was a new project making stained glass windows out of tissue paper. I spent 2 hours there, making mine and then helping others make theirs.
It is so simple to put on a holiday workshop, little financial investment and the joy it brings to almost all participants is amazing. The fire place has a warm fire, stories are read by the fire, cider and cookies are consumed and home made presents are assembled. It is not about the gift but rather the time we spent helping each other, talking to each other, being with each other is warm community.
We talked last Saturday about having an event like this Quarterly, rather than once a year. That is how much it means to participants. They want more of this kind of activity. It is absolutely the perfect way to enter the holiday season, contrary to what the designers of Black Friday advertising want me to believe.
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