Day: December 20, 2018

Here We Go Again

So here it is, December 18^th, almost Christmas and then a new year! So I must ask, how did we get here so fast? I haven’t even had my usual annual treks through department stores yet. Of course, online shopping has helped greatly.

Still I like getting out with the masses this time of the year. I enjoy simply watching people, and the closer we get to Christmas, the more frantic people seem to become. For example, the other day at Target I heard a group of girls talking about career aspirations. “Oh yea, I’m going to be a teacher. You get summers off and also all of those holidays during the year. Plus you get to work with kids.”

Then I stopped by Walmart to find Christmas decoration sales. I overheard a couple in a fight. They both wanted to get the right gift for their little daughter, but one spouse was a bit more curious than the other. The woman found the perfect present and then found a more perfect one.

After several iterations of this, the guy finally grabbed the doll his wife selected earlier and threw it in his basket. Then he announced to his wife and the rest of the world that he was leaving, and if she wanted a ride she’d have to follow him out of the store. That brought two thoughts to mind: 1) First, I began wondering about “Peace on earth and goodwill towards men” and 2) I was hoping that the doll had escaped unscathed and without injury.

Really, Christmas can be frantic, and I’m as guilty as the next person for speeding things up rather than slowing them down. It actually takes concentration to settle into Christmas. In fact, every year we tell ourselves that this year we’ll slow it down and enjoy the season, but the season doesn’t always cooperate. So here are a few ideas to fight the busyness:

Smile frequently, make it a point to say hello to more people and wish them a Merry Christmas. Though it may seem small, it’s amazing how this can lift your spirits and truly enjoy the people around you.
Do something for someone who can’t pay you back. For example, this year an 11 year old Massachusetts boy named Brady Procon paid off a layaway bill of $327.27 at Walmart. He wanted to do the generous deed because he realized there were kids less fortunate than himself.
Make time for relaxation. If you purposely block out time for reading a book or watching movies together it may help you get into the season. I try to read at least one or two Christmas themed books annually and we watch several Christmas movies.
Conduct an Advent wreath ceremony leading up to Christmas. Information is available online, but essentially it helps the family contemplate the great spiritual purpose for which Jesus came to earth…to redeem us through His eventual death, burial and resurrection. There are typically 4 weeks of Advent with prayers and candle lightings for each week. However, since our grandchildren are young, we do it all in one night.
Have a birthday party for Jesus with cake and all. It is both fun and instructional. It focuses on the birthday of Jesus, but you can accompany it with a short story about why He came.
Don’t be afraid to say, “no” to invitations. Sometimes we simply tell folks the truth; we have a family night planned. Setting boundaries is important when it threatens to cut into family time.
Unplug from technology, so you can notice, listen to and focus on others. This one is self-explanatory.

And finally, to you and yours I wish you a blessed and peaceful Christmas and a prosperous and healthful New Year! The weekly blog will resume in January.

by Len Moisan

“I really support The Covenant Group’s strategic planning process because their approach encourages staff-based support with board buy-in, and I felt that was important given what we were trying to achieve. The outcome is an effective plan that builds consensus and provides a clear sense of direction.”
- Jennifer Scott, Director of Development - The Cabbage Patch Settlement House

“The Covenant Group is highly competent, very experienced and knowledgeable. They provided a broad perspective by equipping us with useful data…and best practices in the field. All in all, they are excellent.”
- Dan Jones, CEO - 21st Century Parks

“The campaign has truly been a miracle. People were committed from the beginning, but…even raising $650,000 seemed like a stretch. To nearly double that amount is incredible! When the plan they developed allows you to hit a goal like that, it builds such a sense of community. The momentum built by the campaign is spilling outside the walls of our church and benefiting others in the process.”
-Father John Hollowell - Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic Church

“For those of us who don’t do this everyday, The Covenant Group instilled confidence in us. They helped us get through the fear and apprehension by providing us with a process, training and motivation. They taught us and helped us plan in a way that was for the better. We have built lasting relationships with donors and we will continue to steward these relationships long into the future.”
- Sue Finke, Director of Institutional Advancement - Covington Catholic High School

“No one anticipated we could raise this amount. Even the Archdiocese is surprised. The funds raised represent about 15 times our annual giving. But it’s not just the financial results. People stand around talking more than they did before the campaign. There is also a renewed and energized spirit among the parishioners. It’s the most exciting thing to happen in our parish in the last 100 years.”
- Gary Libs, Campaign Co-Chair - St. Mary of the Knobs Catholic Church

“The Covenant Group’s process involved a lot of people in our congregation doing small tasks … that built ownership. They took our vision and put it into a concrete plan. They helped us understand the importance of making our vision clear and laid out the steps to make the vision a reality. Their process built consensus and showed people how they could help. Their methods are based on a solid theological foundation that includes key documents, prayer support, and requisite training … all of which were invaluable.”
- Daniel Montgomery, Pastor - Sojourn Community Church

“Everything The Covenant Group did to help us…in the initial stages was helpful…the development of the case statement; our materials; the training of our Board members; strategies; all these steps laid the foundation for eventual success. They brought such a high level of professionalism, a wealth of experience and a strong track record of integrity and success… just being associated with The Covenant Group helped us.”
- Nancy Doctor, Development Director - Wellspring

“The structure The Covenant Group provided was excellent. It allowed our members to use their God-given talents to benefit the church community They helped us develop a plan and identify key leadership candidates to chair the effort, as well as engaging between 80 to 100 people to carry out the work of the campaign. It was truly a whole congregation effort and The Covenant Group helped facilitate that. They helped us reach our full potential as a congregation.”
- Ron Poisel, Pastor - Christ Lutheran Church