A Winter Story

Here's the story I shared at the Vespers service last Thursday night.  A peaceful day to you all--

'Twas a cold winter's eve.
They were out in the dark
When a biting cold wind came and took the last spark
From the lantern Pops carried.
The child was alarmed;
How would they return to their home without harm?

Pops turned to the child and smiled,
"Don't fear.  We'll just share some stories
On our winter's walk here . . .
Did I tell you the one about a day when I cried,
When I realized your grandma would probably die
And leave me alone here?  Now those were some tears . . ."

He took the child's hand and recounted the years:
Tales of hardship, of anger and deepening sorrow,
And feeling--sometimes--of no hope for tomorrow.

He shared other stories, too--
Of acting with courage,
When someone else might just be discouraged.

The child's heart warmed, the moon rose above
And Pops carried on with more tales of love,
Of happiness, laughter, good times that he had seen,
Friendships that sustained him, wild places he'd been;
A faith in mankind to do right by each other,
A hope that one day we'd live together as brothers.

In no time, it seemed, they saw a light shining afar--
A candle in the window at home, like a star
Shining its light through the cold and the dark,
Bringing them home to the warmth of the hearth.

When the child was grown, had become somewhat older
And thought back on that night as the winds became colder,
It wasn't the chill 'twas remembered nor fright,
But the warmth of that evening
And the promise of light.


Denise Pedane, DRE
Mattatuck Unitarian Universalist Society

A little night MUUSic

If you're looking for something to do with your family this Friday night, December 3rd, consider joining us at 7:30 p.m. at the Naugatuck Valley Community College for the "Cats, Dogs, and Yule Logs" concert given by the Wind Ensemble of Western Connecticut.  The musical group performing that night--the college's wind ensemble that rehearses at our meetinghouse every Tuesday night--will be giving a holiday concert to benefit pets in need.  They have invited various animal rescue groups to be present that evening, to answer questions about their organization and the volunteer work they do.

Our congregation is being allowed to use this event as a fundraiser: the profit from any tickets purchased from Mike Ingber ahead of time, as well as the proceeds from a bake sale during intermission, will be donated to the fundraising portion of MUUS's operating budget for the current fiscal year.  Please contact Connie Cole Ingber if you are interested in donating baked goods; RE student volunteers are welcome to assist with the bake sale itself.

The concert will take place at the Mainstage Theatre on the college's campus.  The street address is 750 Chase Parkway, Waterbury, Connecticut.  Hope to see you there!

Denise Pedane, DRE
Mattatuck Unitarian Universalist Society