If you are looking for a very meaningful way to honour someone special in your life, check out the Lift Someone into the Light event at St. Andrew’s United Church on Nov. 28.
The event is held in conjunction with Light Up Lacombe, which runs Nov. 28 to Dec. 1, as it’s a busy evening in the downtown area.
The concept is simple but powerful — folks can decorate an ornament complete with a person’s name on it, and hang it on the Christmas tree in front of the church.
"It comes from a Dutch TV show, where someone goes around and collects stories as people make an ornament for someone they care about," said Rev. David Holmes of St. Andrew's. "They then put these ornaments on a tree as a way of honouring their loved one.
"The idea is to give people both in the church, and in the community, a chance to recognize someone who is important to them. It may be someone who has died, or it may be someone who is experiencing difficulty in one way or another, or someone who they particularly appreciate, or a mentor," he explained.
"And then we, through our prayers during Advent - through the month of December - pray for the people who have been 'lifted into the light' on the tree."
Also, it's a terrific opportunity to hold the event in Lacombe, as it runs the same night as the very popular Echo Energy Santa Claus Parade and the kick-off to Light Up Lacombe.
"We usually get people coming back and forth from the parade," said Holmes, adding that folks in the local seniors' lodge and extendicare will also have the opportunity to provide an ornament to be hung on the tree as well.
"This year we will also be adding cookies to the mix! We usually have hot chocolate, and we we also usually have a little fire pit set up depending on how cold it is. We will also have a few people from the choir who will be inside the church singing Christmas carols," he said.
"So there will be a couple of other extra things going on."
Holmes said that Anneke Kassies, who attends St. Andrew’s United Church, was inspired to start the event several years ago after seeing the aforementioned TV program which is called Joris’ kerstboom (Christmas tree). Here in Lacombe, the inaugural event proved very popular, with about 100 ornaments placed on the tree.
"It's always pretty active," Holmes noted of the event which is becoming more and more a local holiday tradition.
Sometimes, people strolling by may assume it's a church event, but Holmes emphasized that it's indeed for the whole community.
"I usually stand by the tree and help people hang up their ornaments," he said.
"Sometimes there are tears - it seems to really matter. Once, there were two boys - they must have been three years old. They came up to the tree, and were asked who their ornaments were for. They had big grins, put their arms around each other, and both said their ornaments were for each other," he said with a chuckle.
"They walked away just as happy as clams."
Holmes said the event also points to the creative folks who attend St. Andrew's.
"I'm just a passenger on this (event), and it's great! This is the strength of the congregation. I also like that it's something anyone can do. Anyone who passes by can take part - and everyone has someone who they want to recognize.
"It's something that we can all share."
Lift Someone into the Light runs from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 28.
