MEMORIES OF CHRISTMAS
Making Christmas floral centerpieces
The Denver WFWP Chapter celebrated the Christmas season on December 13. New friends and old came. The table was laden with a delicious bounty of food bought or baked with care and love. Traditional carols played in the background as we happily greeted one another. We all quickly felt the aura and excitement of the holiday season.
Ms. Christine Mahardy set the spiritual tone by offering a deep prayer expressing gratitude to Jesus and his many blessings to us. Mrs. Gale Alves continued in the same spirit by speaking about Jesus, who is "the reason for the season." She explained why Jesus was such a special person. He was the only begotten son of God, the only one in 4,000 biblical years born of God's direct lineage. Also, Jesus was the only person who reached perfection in his lifetime on earth. He was a man who showed us how to be a true person.
Young people were very much a part of this celebration. Mrs. Joelle Alves explained WFWP as an organization. She spoke about WFWP's vision and about Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon, co-founder of WFWP along with her late husband, Rev. Dr. Sun Myung Moon.
Mrs. Ella Heppell and her daughter Aliza then read a heartfelt letter of thanks from Ms. Renise Walker, who was this year's recipient of the HerStory Award at the National Assembly in Washington, D.C. in October. Ms. Walker is passionate about alleviating homelessness and was nominated by Mrs. Justine Daboni.
As we munched on holiday goodies and sipped hot coffee, each of us had a few moments to share a special Christmas memory. Afterward, fortified by good food and happy thoughts, we all sat down at long tables and were schooled, step by step, by Mrs. Catherine Ichinohe on how to make a Christmas centerpiece. She brought all the supplies and arranged them neatly for each person to use. Under her expert tutelage, we each managed to create a mini-masterpiece of ferns, carnations, ribbons, and candles.
We ended our celebration with a group photo and a group cleanup.
Ella Heppell with daughter Eliza reading letter of thanks from Renise Walker
Emcee Gale Alves
Homemade holiday centerpieces
Joelle Alves shares about the purpose and vision of WFWP
Gaynel Andrusko (L) and Jenny Jacobson (R)