All the fun, none of the food!
Well, last year we couldn’t officially host our annual Christmas Banquet, though, as we had been doing for much of the year, we got creative, worked with what we could do, and released our most watched video release of the year. Some of us laughed till we cried, watching it multiple times, and it felt a little like we were able to have a bit of the fun we usually have together. (Laughing at the antics of the pastoral staff always brings a congregation together, yes?)
This year, we’re back in-person (!!) for the Crestwicke Christmas Banquet…though again, without the banquet part. So, load your bellies with a hearty dinner at home, then come join us on Saturday, December 11th at 6:30 pm in your best Christmas banquet garb. We’ll be singing Christmas carols, having some of our usual fun, and maybe, just maybe, on your way out there will be some takeaway Christmas treats :)
Registration is required for this event due to our limited capacity. Because we have a cap of 160 people, we’ll be livestreaming the service for those at home… and also for posterity (because you just never know when your Prime Time seniors group will don tutus and dance around the stage as longed-for Christmas hippopotami, and you’ll desperately wish for the last several years you’d caught this rare sight on film.)
In an effort to share our joy with others, the Elders have recommended that in place of the usual payments for the dinner, we’ll be asking attendees to bring free will donations for two worthy causes: First, $500 will to go to the Royal City Mission meal program in downtown Guelph to help cover costs of feeding those in our community who are in need. Second, anything beyond the initial amount will be given to a fundraising campaign for our Interim Preaching Pastor Stan Fowler and his wife Donna, to assist them with the costs they are incurring to make their home accessible, as well as equipment for Stan’s rehab since he’s had his stroke. If you are able to contribute, the offering box will be available that evening.
Added note, Dec 8, 2021: The first $500 to go to Royal City Mission has already been donated, so all donations going forward will go to the Fowlers.