Newsletter December 2024

Number 11

The coming days are the busy days before Christmas. Garden centres have been transformed into grand Christmas shows, advertising leaflets are arriving in our letterboxes again. Not entirely coincidentally, we also had "Black Friday" around this time. All this to increase the cosiness and atmosphere around these days, because that's what it's all about, isn't it? There's nothing wrong with that in itself, but I think we should never forget what Christmas is really about.
ALOM, a singing group from the region around Wervershoof, organised an Advent celebration in Onderdijk on Saturday December 7 with the theme: Is there a place where there is still room, a warm welcome for a child; a place where there is love and warmth, where peace begins".

In that celebration the following text was said

We light a candle
for people who no longer dare to rebuild their home
who have to go on their way
without knowing where to go
that there is room in our inn

We light a candle
for people who feel their fire going out
feel everything falling apart
cannot go on any further
that their strength is reborn

We light a candle
for people who no longer dare to tell
are burdened with pain
no longer know what to do
That their courage to live is reborn

We light a candle
for our world, our earth, our home.
That people will really listen to each other,
that people will respond to the call
to work for a better world.

We light a candle
for the warriors of peace
who with all the love that is in them
look after people
Give us the strength to live according to their dream
the dream of peace

We light a candle
and ask for light
for respect and justice
for harmony and peace
That we will treat each other with love

We light a candle
for ourselves.
That we are honest and speak from our hearts,
that we can make peace with what is unfinished,
that we do not escape into superficiality.

I wish you a very nice, cozy, but also peaceful Christmas
and all the best for 2025.