Gratitude Circle in the Churchyard
What a beautiful day to be in-person, in real life! People commented on how nice to just see each other in the fresh beautiful air, to delight in the sunlight and colors of nature together, to be able to hear multiple conversations happening simultaneously with laughter all around. Many thanks to all who participated and helped make this multigenerational event so special.
Sarah Franklin from the Worship and Arts Committee picked out these chalice lighting words, "For What Shall We Give Thanks?" by Laura Horton-Ludwig. We sang a welcome song, and had a ritual for naming griefs and sorrows in order to open up to gratitude--then let them go into the river. These included missing hugs, being together, potlucks, time with elderly parents, singing together at church and pets or people who had died. We also thought of the people and animals, plants and places supporting us right now. We named these gratitudes on the foam leaves
and hung them on the trees. We shared aloud as we felt moved. People were thankful for our church, community, Montpelier, family, specific people who check-in on them regularly, food, good health, and candlelight. We sang a final song, and had some fellowship time afterwards. Many people signed up with John and Janet Poeton to help three families through Neighbors Helping Neighbors. There are still some slots available, just reach out to Janet via jmspoet (at) gmail (dot) com.
and hung them on the trees. We shared aloud as we felt moved. People were thankful for our church, community, Montpelier, family, specific people who check-in on them regularly, food, good health, and candlelight. We sang a final song, and had some fellowship time afterwards. Many people signed up with John and Janet Poeton to help three families through Neighbors Helping Neighbors. There are still some slots available, just reach out to Janet via jmspoet (at) gmail (dot) com.
You join too: There are extra foam leaves and markers in a bin at the base of one of the trees for anyone else who would like to add their gratitude leaves. We'll keep them up through the holiday season!
Special appreciation to the following.
Planning team: Sarah Franklin, Beth Damon, Liza
Cornucopia items: Beth Damon
Muffin bakers: Gillie Hopkins (apple) and Marissa and Liza Earle-Centers (pumpkin)
Snapping pictures: Sabrina Macey
Neighbors Helping Neighbors coordinating: Janet and John Poeton
Welcome, Sign-in Sheet and Clean-up: Pat Carstensen, Sarah Franklin and others
It was a bit noisy in the churchyard with traffic flowing by, and it was wonderful to be part of it all. We even had a photographer from the Times Argus stop by and snap pictures of us because she was so excited to see something like this happening!
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