Loading...The staff at the Diocesan Office decided this year that, instead of just spreading Christmas cheer amongst ourselves, we would send it out into the community also.
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So this year, instead of exchanging gifts and having a Christmas staff party, we “adopted” a local senior to share our Christmas spirit. We found out what she wanted for Christmas, what she liked to cook for her holiday meal and some other things she might need at this time of year. Then we had a blast getting gift cards, buying candy, baking goodies (remembering to keep it diabetic friendly…anyone want a recipe for Splenda shortbread that’s not so bad?), and finding other goodies and surprises to include in the big laundry basket we filled to take to her.
Then on Tuesday, at the time we would have been sitting down to eat far too much at our usual potluck festivities, we gathered for a simple lunch and then Bishop Baxter and a group of staff members headed out to Sue’s apartment in downtown Harrisburg. Sue lives in a small apartment in a local senior’s building. She has it decorated with pictures of her family and her other great loves: the Steelers and Elvis Presley. But no Christmas decorations this year, because she put her back out and couldn’t get at her boxes. So she was delighted to receive the floral centerpiece that the Bishop handed to her at the door. We had a short but lively and fun visit with her and after a prayer for Christmas blessings, we headed back out into the rainy afternoon with warmer hearts for having made a new friend.
