As Christmas trees start appearing, I am reminded of the time my young adult Sunday School class took over Christmas decorating of our church sanctuary. All those years ago, we didn’t have much money for expenses, so we were overjoyed when the local radio announced a Christmas tree farm was giving away trees to churches. All that had to be done was come to their forest, cut it down, and take it away.
That very day, a couple from our class went to the farm to mark the one to be cut. In an effort to economize, we decided to decorate it with red bows we made, along with some white doves we had just enough money to purchase. The next weekend, the girls gathered to tie the bows, while two groups of guys went out to chop the tree and bring it back. Long after we finished, the tree cutting group had not arrived. In those pre-cell phone days, all we could do was wait. As hours passed, we began to worry. Eventually, the guys came back in what could only be described as a tree on wheels.
The tree was HUGE! Despite a group of strong young men, it took hours to cut the tree down, and then wrangle it back to the truck. The tree top extended over the cab, while the trunk came out so far in the back, more time was spent cutting it to make it the length the truck could handle.
The girl who picked out the tree kept saying, “it didn’t look that big in the forest, really!” Eventually we did get the tree in the church, after spending hours trimming it to fit. But we had to move four double pews out of the sanctuary to get it in. We didn’t need to worry about a star on top because there wasn’t room—it touched the top of the 2-story ceiling. The choir members had trouble exiting the choir loft for the rest of the Christmas season because the tree branches stuck out so far. There was also the problem of needing more bows to decorate the big tree, but we were out of money. In the end, a nice couple took mercy on us and donated it.
We definitely decorated our 100-year-old church differently than it ever had been before. Or since. Our class never did Christmas decorations—or any other decorations for that matter—after that. I wish I could say someone took a picture, but in the day of film only cameras, no one did. But the whole situation definitely made many memories—including the looks on the faces of the congregation the next Sunday!
A Christmas Bundle Giveaway of 2 Christmas Fiction books & a Christmas CD!
In the Christmas spirit, I am happy to say I have a giveaway of two Christmas books. The first is Peace by Shelly Shepard Gray, the tale of impossible love between an Amish woman and a DEA agent. Deciding months earlier to part, they are thrown together again in a situation that could change both their lives, if they live. Silent Night Holy Night by Colleen Coble contains two mysteries and a little romance. In the first, a peculiar event involving a parachuter occurs at a similar time that a girl goes missing, are they related? In the second, a wedding may not take place because a mysterious phone call threatens death if it happens. Also included is an instrumental selection of twenty Christmas songs such as Away in a Manger, The First Noel, and Joy to the World.
Want a chance to win this Christmas package? First, my blog must be followed to enter this giveaway. Go to the upper right side of this page and follow my blog. Then note in the Rafflecopter your email address, and that you have followed me, or you already are a follower. I will use your email address to contact you if you win, and will not pass it on. The best of luck to you. You must be a resident in the continental USA and 18 or older to enter. No purchase necessary! *
Only one entrant is allowed per mailing address, per giveaway. If you have won a prize from Walking with Jesus in the last 30 days, you are not eligible to win. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.
Giveaways only valid in continental USA.
*See Disclaimer Section in above drop-down heading under picture.
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a Rafflecopter giveaway
Merry Christmas!
favorite holiday is Thanksgiving
Thanks Shelia. Thanksgiving has become very special to me the last few years, blessings!
I love Christmas.
I do, too, Leela, blessings!
I would love them for reading and playing in the upcoming weeks.
That sounds like a good time, Leela, blessings!
Christmas is my favorite holiday! I love seeing all the lights and decorations. Plus, getting to celebrate Christ!
If I won, I’d enjoy reading these books. Then I would send them to my grandmother, who passes the books around to her reading circle at church.
What a good idea, Dianna, blessings!
I really enjoy seeing all of that, too, Dianna, blessings!
Keep it. Read the books and listen to the CD.
You have a good idea, Kim, blessings!
I love Christmas, this would be great for my granddaughter
I enjoy Christmas, too, Chistina, and how nice you are to think of your granddaughter, blessings!
My favorite holiday is Christmas!
Christmas is a wonderful time, Nicole, blessings!
I’ll give the books to my granddaughter!
What a nice thing for you to do, Nicole, blessings!
Christmas is great, but the older I get the more I enjoy Thanksgiving
I know what you mean, Patty, blessings!
The books will be going to the Church Library and the CD will be going to yours truly.
My favorite holiday is Thanksgiving because I was born on that day.
That’s great plan Janet. Late birthday greetings for your Thanksgiving birthday, blessings!
Christmas is my favorite, as the family all seems to be able to get together for this one holiday.
I love family get-togethers at Christmas, blessings Saundra!
I would love to read and pay it forward for someone else.
Good for you Saundra, blessings!
My favorite holiday is Christmas.
There sure is a lot to enjoy at Christmas, Pat, blessings!
My favorite holiday is Christmas!
Christmas has so much love, blessings Laura!
I would read the books and listen to the music. 🙂
That’s a good combination, Laura, blessings!
Favorite holiday: Christmas!
I look forward to sharing any prize with deserving friends or relatives!
Good for you, John, blessings!
I love Christmas Eve and Christmas day. My whole family gathers and attends Christmas Eve services together. That’s one of my favorite times!
I love Christmas services, Pamela, blessings!
I would share the gifts with my daughter and daughter-in-law – both avid readers.
Avid readers make great friends & relatives. Blessings Pamela!
Christmas is my favorite Holiday
I will enjoy playing it for sure
My favorite holiday is Christmas. I love the snow, the lights, the music, the movies and of course family.
So far Christmas has been my favorite holiday this year.
The books would be for me, and I’d share only after reading. 🙂
Of course, while reading I’d have the music CD playing softly in the background.
My favorite holiday is Christmas
I would keep these for myself to read and listen to.
I love 4th of July the most Holiday wise
My favorite holiday is Christmas!
I would give this to my grandma.
Christmas, without a doubt!
Share with my daughter.
My favorite holiday is Christmas. I will read the books and listen to the CD while opening the gifts.
What a wonderful way to wrap gifts Cassandra, blessings!
My favorite holiday is Christmas.
Christmas is such a beautiful time. Blessings, Kathy!
I will read the books and then pass them along.
I love to have books passed on. Blessings Kathy!
Christmas brings back good memories of my childhood .