Does anyone else feel a little snowed in by Christmas season events?
I try to say “Yule see me there” to just about everything in December, but there are simply too many wonderful events to attend.
My friend Vicki Juddy shared a thoughtful meme online a few days ago that is worth considering: Moving some of these parties to the beginning of the year, when the days are still dark and the post-New Year’s doldrums loom.
Suggestions include holding a white elephant party in January, a favorite things party in February and a cookie exchange in March.
I love the idea. Why not kick it off by celebrating the 12 days of Christmas (which begin on Dec. 25, by the way), with an old-fashioned 12th Night party on Friday, Jan. 5?
And while we’re at it, go ahead and leave those Christmas lights up until at least the end of January. The darkness continues, so let’s let our lights keep on shining!
And yet, with all that said, this weekend I’m going to be hopping from event to event. These are definitely worth your consideration:
Book signing
This Saturday afternoon Book ‘n’ Brush will host an “afternoon of authors” from 2-4 p.m. at their downtown Chehalis shop with four talented local writers:
Meet the authors, have your books signed, and get some wonderful reading material for these dark winter months.
New youth choir
As our society turns more and more to electronics and digital “friendship,” we’re losing the joy of creating simple beauty alongside regular folks. That’s really showing in our loss of singing, especially group singing.
Fortunately, local businessman and educator Joe Stout is coming to the rescue.
At a new private school he founded in north Centralia, Christ the King Academy, he has established a new community youth choir open to community members up to age 18.
The choir has been rehearsing for several months and will have their first concert on Monday, Dec. 18. Learn more at www.christthekingacademy.org/youthchoir/
It’s so wonderful and heartening to have a wide-ranging youth choir teaching harmony and longstanding song traditions with a deep faith component. I'm looking forward to attending their concert.
Christmas Chorale
Speaking of harmony, I’m so thankful for the training of high school choir. In a great blessing, my high school choir instructor, David Judd, has become a friend and musical mentor. I’m thrill to be part of a Christmas tradition he began a few years before the pandemic: the Twin Cities Christmas Chorale.
Our concert will be this Sunday, Dec. 17, at 5 p.m. at Harrison Square Presbyterian Church.
Dave has slowly expanded the universe of instrumentation around his chorale. This year we’ll be joined by the Lewis County Brass Society (the brainchild of Dave’s brother, Dan Judd) as well as instrumentalists, including oboe played by conductor David Judd’s granddaughter, Annice (proud grandpapa alert!) The sound is fantastic. I hope to see you there.
Christmas in the Desert
You won’t find snow, but there will be plenty of jollity at a brand new Christmas play taking place Saturday evening and Sunday afternoon at Mountain View Baptist Church in Centralia.
My friends Dr. Kevin Caserta and former Twin Cities radio newsman Steve George have written a fun, funny and family-friendly play called “Christmas at Rattlesnake Gulch.”
This will be a great show. Am I biased in saying that? Yes indeed, as the mayor of Rattlesnake Gulch happens to be played by my son, Sam. Proud papa alert!
Dad Joke of the Week
Q: What did the vegetarian say when given a sausage for Christmas?
A: This gift is the wurst.
Brian Mittge can be reached at brianmittge@hotmail.com.
