A Christmas Craft: Serving Others and Spreading Holiday Joy

The Christmas season brings joy and excitement to every one, from children to the elderly. As Christmas music cheerfully fills the air, we prepare our hearts and our homes for the celebration of the birth of Jesus. As we take part in many different activities this sea son — from Christmas concerts to caroling, shopping and wrapping presents, decorating, and attending holiday parties — Christmas is a very busy time of the year. How ever, the spirit of generosity is a significant part of the Christmas season. It is a time when we pause and are thankful for all that we have and we are filled with a desire to share our blessings with others. For the children in the Faith For mation program at St. James, their service project has become a fun tradition for about 10 years.

Catholic United Financial sup ports and funds this service project for the students. Each year, the stu dents make a craft project to bring a little Christmas joy to the residents at a local nursing home.

“We have done cards, ornaments, and door hangers," says Cindy Staab, a member of Catholic United Fi nancial who organizes this service project each year. "Usually it is some thing a little simpler for the younger grades and a little more complex for the older kids.

“The kids just really have a lot of fun with this project," she adds. "Some of them may have family members at the nursing home, so that makes it even more special. They enjoy the arts and crafts and they enjoy knowing that they are doing something for someone else. It is a really special project to be a part of."

This year, the project will consist of making small angel ornaments. The children make between 50-60 ornaments and Cindy delivers them to the Johnson Memorial Health Ser vices Care Center in Dawson, Minn.

“They will get placed on their meal trays or passed out to them," Cindy says. "We always get a 'thank you' from the activities department. Many of the residents don’t have family close by. They really appre ciate the project, especially coming from children. They really seem to bond with young people."

Taking time to serve others during this special season that our Lord came to Earth to save us from sin and death is an important honor that we can give to Him. This service project is one way that the children take time to serve others, especially serving those who can give them nothing in return.

“The children really get a taste of what it is to volunteer for someone else — to do something to brighten their day,” Cindy says.