Volume 102 Number 47
ˇ ´ VESTNIK S P J S T Benevolence
H E R A L D
★ Humanity
ISSN —07458800
★ Brotherhood
November 26, 2014
Christmas Open House This Monday
Let Us Give Thanks With a Grateful Heart
The Home Office hosts its Christmas Open House this Monday, December 1 after the Temple Christmas Parade. The parade begins at 6:30 p.m. and travels west on Adams Avenue from 6th to 25th Streets. SPJST’s participation includes two floats and State and District Two Royalty. After the parade, visit the Home Office for refreshments and many activities. Also view the SPJST Youth Christmas tree, featuring ornaments, left, handmade by youth club members.
By Kathy Ahlstrom • Lodge 32, Victoria Reporter/FAC
As you read this, you will be getting ready for your Thanksgiving feast – or maybe the day after when you are stuffed but eating leftovers in spite of it! You’re probably tired of hearing me say this year after year – but this feeling is always in my heart at Thanksgiving – my favorite holiday of the year (well, the Fourth of July is right at the top, too). It’s my favorite because it has not been totally commercialized – yet. Each year, it seems there are more and more items to decorate with along with tee-shirts, aprons, socks, etc, - but still the bottom line is Faith – Family – Friends – Food – Football. Not necessarily in that order for everyone, but I am confident that most people are touched by most of these things – by their choice or someone else’s choice. Our country was founded based on faith – faith that they would find a new land and a better life. It took quite a leap of faith to board the Mayflower – some made it and some did not. Those who survived the trip as well as surviving the winter, sickness, and other hardships had their faith renewed.
And they gave thanks because they were so grateful. What are you grateful for this year? Stop and think about it – really think about it. You’ll most likely not come up with material items – that can be here today – and gone tomorrow – but what really matters deep in your heart. The freedom to live by faith. Our family and health. Our friends. The abundance of food we have – food we often take for granted as well as waste. And on a lighter note – that is totally a part of Thanksgiving these days – football. How did we ever live without Friday night football, college football on Saturday, and the NFL on Sunday? You ask just about anyone – at least in Texas – and they will have a favorite team. And that’s not a bad thing – sort of like cell phones – what did we do without them? Both are part of our culture – and I’m not complaining about either one – we just have to prioritize the things in life that are really important to us. So this Thanksgiving, as we celebrate, let us give thanks – true thanks – with a grateful heart. —SPJST—
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Important Dates ...................................3 Interest Rates.......................................3 Supreme Lodge Meeting Minutes ......4 Lodge Section....................................14 Youth Section ....................................22 Vestnik Project...................................23
Blessing Banks
Lodge 160, San Angelo youth, left to right, Reese Gallant, Nolan Jansa, and Sterling Schwartz enjoy a special time apart from the main meeting on November 16 where they work on “blessing banks,” a project that encourages the kids (and parents) to count their many blessings during the holiday season. Also, Lodge 160 is planning to start up the youth club again in 2015. Stay tuned for details.
Inside This Week’s Vestnik
Czech Culture ....................................27 Czech Ornament Legends ................27 Advertisements .................................29 Happy Thanksgiving in Czech .........29 Lodge Calendar .................................30 Christmas Open House Invitation....32
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Lodge 185 New Braunfels members collect food for needy families
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Lodge 81 Needville Youth Club ready for new members
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Lodge 154 Fort Worth Youth Club sets holiday activities