#LighttheWorld

[YOhio]

Cool plan the church is promoting this Christmas season. We have our kids involved and I'm impressed with the services projects they're coming up with. Today my wife is coordinating a secret santa thing for poor people. I did some nice things for some people and my kids made cards for some widows in our ward to drop off tonight.

Inspired by Elder Kearon, we're actually going to engage with Catholic social services to assist with some refugee families. I'm looking forward to seeing how that goes.

Would like to hear if anyone else is doing this and share your projects and ideas.

https://www.mormon.org/christmas/in-...s-over-25-days

[PaloAltoCougar]

I (and others) talked about this in BM's helpful Take a Vacation thread and Mrs. PAC & I have really gotten into the program. The brochure our ward produced in connection with the program lists 175 specific things we can/should be doing, and we've committed to do a number of them. Our bishop could see I was so pumped about it that he asked me to speak about it next week in Sacrament Meeting and I haven't been this enthused about a topic in a very long time. Our ward is doing a number of things and people seem to be very supportive of the program.

At the personal level, II'm looking forward to the an annual dinner we host for close friends from grade school plus their spouses (yes, we still get together more than a half century later). We've given them gifts in the past that, while funny or nice (e.g., remote controlled helicopters, embroidered dish towels, whatever), this year we're going to make modest donations in the name of each guest, each one to a different charity selected on the basis of that person's skills, talents or traits that we admire. For example, one friend is a retired schoolteacher who was beloved throughout the district--we're donating in her name to a school program for refugee girls. I fear this will have a George Costanza Human Fund-like element to it, but we hope it'll be at least as well-received as the unneeded crap we've given in the past. Again, not a lot of money, but it's the spirit of the thing, right?

I know that talking about one's good deeds or sacrifices can be uncool, self-laudatory and counter to the ideals of humble service, but I like reading about what others are doing so I hope others will share a few of the things going on.

[kccougar]

I did speak about this in Sacrament Meeting last Sunday, and it was very well received. By Tuesday the Young Women's organization had jumped all over it (at least they were kind enough to credit me) and my daughter came home from her meeting with a calendar, reminder pages, etc. Another ward member brought her annual neighbor gift a little early - the #lighttheworld calendar and a candle that I'm supposed to burn for a few minutes each day after I've completed my task.

[old_gregg]

I did speak about this in Sacrament Meeting last Sunday, and it was very well received. By Tuesday the Young Women's organization had jumped all over it (at least they were kind enough to credit me) and my daughter came home from her meeting with a calendar, reminder pages, etc. Another ward member brought her annual neighbor gift a little early - the #lighttheworld calendar and a candle that I'm supposed to burn for a few minutes each day after I've completed my task.

i have a candle i burn each day after i've completed my tasks

[Omaha 680]

All you Joel Osteen disciples aren't fooling anyone.

[PaloAltoCougar]

A nice video for the program...

[youtube]mJmAV0gTp_Q[/youtube]

[YOhio]

I like that video, PAC.

[SeattleUte]

Christmas is disappearing. Before long it will just be six weeks of consumerism, widespread shopping deals--mostly on the internet--and some time off work.

[YOhio]

Christmas is disappearing. Before long it will just be six weeks of consumerism, widespread shopping deals--mostly on the internet--and some time off work.

Not in my heart!

[originalsocal]

Christmas is disappearing. Before long it will just be six weeks of consumerism, widespread shopping deals--mostly on the internet--and some time off work.

debbie-downer.jpg

[PaloAltoCougar]

Christmas is disappearing. Before long it will just be six weeks of consumerism, widespread shopping deals--mostly on the internet--and some time off work.

I'm genuinely curious whether you post that with regret, eager anticipation, or simply as an indifferent observer.

[YOhio]

I'm genuinely curious whether you post that with regret, eager anticipation, or simply as an indifferent observer.

Because he's an asshole?

[PaloAltoCougar]

Because he's an asshole?

I considered that option but I'm convinced that if (and only if) one eschews the topics of BYU, the Church, or one's eternal potential, SU is not an asshole.

[Soccermom]

I (and others) talked about this in BM's helpful Take a Vacation thread and Mrs. PAC & I have really gotten into the program. The brochure our ward produced in connection with the program lists 175 specific things we can/should be doing, and we've committed to do a number of them. Our bishop could see I was so pumped about it that he asked me to speak about it next week in Sacrament Meeting and I haven't been this enthused about a topic in a very long time. Our ward is doing a number of things and people seem to be very supportive of the program.

At the personal level, II'm looking forward to the an annual dinner we host for close friends from grade school plus their spouses (yes, we still get together more than a half century later). We've given them gifts in the past that, while funny or nice (e.g., remote controlled helicopters, embroidered dish towels, whatever), this year we're going to make modest donations in the name of each guest, each one to a different charity selected on the basis of that person's skills, talents or traits that we admire. For example, one friend is a retired schoolteacher who was beloved throughout the district--we're donating in her name to a school program for refugee girls. I fear this will have a George Costanza Human Fund-like element to it, but we hope it'll be at least as well-received as the unneeded crap we've given in the past. Again, not a lot of money, but it's the spirit of the thing, right?

I know that talking about one's good deeds or sacrifices can be uncool, self-laudatory and counter to the ideals of humble service, but I like reading about what others are doing so I hope others will share a few of the things going on.

My family is enjoying the program too. I like hearing about what other people do because sometimes it gives me ideas I hadn't thought about before.

[Topper]

I'm genuinely curious whether you post that with regret, eager anticipation, or simply as an indifferent observer.

He's not far off, and I say that with all the saudade of my heart.

Perhaps we may conclude with the words of Goethe as he passed from this life, "Mehr Licht," in terms of the death of Christmas.

http://www.sueddeutsche.de/kultur/be...ng-1.1041302-2