Kentville Rotary: Paddy’s and Zoom Christmas “Covid” Social

 

O Canada led by Sue

 

Sue welcomed everyone to the meeting including guest Rotarian Rod and guest of Rotarians: Trish, Pat and Martin.

 

Phyllis started the meeting with a special Grace “A Christmas Prayer” by Robert Louis Stevenson

Loving Father, help us remember the birth of Jesus, that we may share in the song of angels, the gladness of the shepherds, and the worship of wise men. Close the door of hate and open the door of love all over the world. Let kindness come with every gift and good desires with every greeting. Deliver us from evil by the blessing which Christ brings, and teach us to be merry with clear hearts. May the Christmas morning make us happy to be your children, and the Christmas evening bring us to our beds with grateful thoughts, forgiving and forgiven, for Jesus’ sake. Amen.

 

 

Ellen is happy both her kids from out west are planning relocations back to NS.

 

Pierre is happy to be back to Rotary (following a brief leave of absence). He also brought greetings from Chiara. She misses us and is looking forward to being able to return for a visit.

 

Greg W is happy to celebrate the holidays with a smaller, but no less enthusiastic family gathering due to COVID. As many might miss church this holiday, he and his staff have put together a candlelight service that will air virtually on Christmas Eve.

 

Shelley F is happy to see the Christmas spirit in the room, especially Sue’s flashy outfit!

 

Sue is happy and sad. Joe was doing well, but his knee was not healing as hoped and got infected. Between Friday and Sunday, he was taken to hospital, the knee was opened up again, cleaned and replaced. He is doing well and expected to be home for Christmas.

 

 

Bill wished everyone a Merry Christmas. We are lucky to be in NS and Atlantic Canada where cases of COVID remain manageable. He is very much looking forward to a great year ahead in 2021.

 

There will be no Rotary social or meeting the week between Christmas and New Year’s. The next meeting will be January 4^th.

 

 

Randy Crossman was invited to provide a Christmas reading. For his reading he chose the greatest story ever told, that of a child born in poverty in a depressed nation who would grow to be the Savior of the world. In the era in which Christ was born, Israel had declined mightily and was a small nation of little significance. People endured and prayed daily for someone to come and save them. Randy went on to provide context and symbolism around the birth of Jesus.

 

He likened the past year of the COVID pandemic which struck us in every angle (health, business, social, mental wellness, etc), to those days in Israel with the people crying “save us from this tyranny”. He spoke of the significance of the manger and the shepherds.

 

His closing message: God chooses all of us. What was born that day in the town of Bethlehem was love itself. We are people of hope. May we find peace when life as we knew it returns and the joy will be found because God is with us. Love was born on Christmas day.

 

Sue sang a couple Carols as Rotarians finished up their table Christmas quiz.

 

On behalf of the club, Bill presented the staff at Paddy’s with a gift in appreciation for their wonderful service throughout the year.

 

Sue revealed the correct answers to the quiz – Table 14 (3 couples) were the winners and received a prize of wine.

 

The ugly sweater contest saw great entrants both on and off ZOOM. By unanimous vote, Louis (Martha’s sweet dog) won.

 

A draw for the 4 table center pieces went to Trish, Pierre, Martin and Phyllis.

 

 

The meeting ended with the four-way test and “We wish you a Merry Christmas”