Ward Christmas Party

Elder Mahaffey and I were put in charge of the Cornwall Ward's Christmas Party this year.  We had a big Creche Festival with people showing about 25 Nativity Sets.

There were hand puppet ones:

And wooden ones:

Clay and ceramic ones:  (We bought the top ceramic one in Quebec )

paper cutout and stained glass ones:

and even needlepointed and German ones:

These tables were set up for all the desserts that we asked everyone to bring:  (wouldn't you know I'd get a picture of the EMPTY tables, but not one with the TONS of desserts that came!)

There was a giving tree:

People in the ward had taken a glittery stocking from under the tree all during the month before and then brought it this night with a gift card attached to the back and put them into the stockings on the wall.
We ended up getting more than $700 in cards to help the people in the ward.

Then we had a beautiful program.  The Primary sang in costume  (but, since I was backstage directing
traffic and doing last-minute repairs on costumes, no picture!)  The Cornwall ward choir sang:
   (Front: Scott McIntyre, Muriel Bower, Dianne McIntyre, Gaile Hynes, Judy Willard, Branchaud              daughter, Lydianne Lupien, Marlene Lupien
    Back:  E. Mahaffey, Tim Willard, Larry Spinella, Barbara Bilodeau-behind Gaile, Sam Bilodeau,
        Sherry Svenson-behind the Branchaud girl, S.Mahaffey  )  pianist & director: Felicity Svendson

several people played musical solos and then E.Mahaffey showed a wonderful slide show he had done with narration depicting Christmas in Jerusalem and Christmas in Zarahemla.  Then we showed the DVD of the Christmas Story - which had been shown at the First Presidency Fireside last year. It was so wonderful!  To end, Sam Bilodeau sang O Holy Night in his beautiful baritone voice! Then we ate our way through 3 long tables - stuffed full with desserts.  Our neighbors George & Jean Kelly came with us and commented how touched they were and said they had really felt something here. The ward, as always, was so wonderful in making them feel welcome.  It turns out this way every time we bring investigators.  They make it wonderful to be a missionary!  The evening turned out wonderfully!