Author: Ron Baker

There are days when you just need to do something that’s fun.

I sat down today and wrote.  I love to just start with an idea, then run with it! 

Not too far — I like to have someone read what I write. 

This was to be a mixture of sermon for Sunday and a short story/devotional.  As I wrote, the adjectives kept coming.  Describing, picturing and adjectivizing (love those new words!).

In the end, I read it to one of my most astute critics.  As usual it was not even close to what she had expected – but pleasantly surprising enough that she listened to the end..

So come to Christmas day service at 11:00 and see what has transpired – along with the carols and readings and special music you may even find a piece of literature that works well as a sermon/devotional.

The hall is set!

The lights are right!

On with the show, this is it!

Sunday at 11:00 – and right into a banquet following.  The gift of Christmas sung and acted, along with a piano duet of the “Hallelujah Chorus”, an advent wreath and a carol or two sung by an open choir (the congregation!).

Last night I spoke at our youth Christmas banquet.

They are a great bunch.  17 attended.  Dressed semi-formally.  OK, one or two were a little on the side of less formal.

The program was fairly informal.  As some of the youth realized that the microphone was on, they began to sing – one of those favourites like “Rudolph the red nosed reindeer.”  Amazing how songs of decades ago remain ni use, yet new approaches are added.  Like actions and end of the line phrases (“like a light bulb”).  The usual piano doodles were attempted during an intermission.

While we were singing some carols, the youth wanted to be sure to sing all the verses.  I tend to underestimate them!  A short story of the reason for the season was listened to without interruption.  And the gift exchange was loud and noisy. 

When we were done the “formal” part, the parents and teens helped to reset the auditorium.  

If you are worried about the youth of today, let me tell you – they’re not all bad!!

Do seniors really want a rest home?

As a youngster I remember senior citizen homes being called “rest homes”.  I guess the idea was to move the retired people into places where they had no responsibility.  Into a caring environment with all the amenities necessary to live out the final years of life.  Into a place where the former leaders of a society would be given the honour due them.

Our town is looking at a seniors facility – a bridge between regular housing and the highest level care facility we have in town.  One of those who had been researching this found that words count!  We could not call this “assisted living.”  Even though the idea was to have meals and some home care available.  This must still be “independent living.”  Seniors do not want to “rest.”

So, I”ve coined a new name — “Assisted Independent Living.”  Don’t take the acronym seriously (AIL) — this has nothing to do with what the seniors would be doing in this home!!!