This morning I woke up and went directly to my email, committing to myself that first thing I would work on recruiting more chefs for Stone Soup to join Head Chef Jeff. I was just a little panicked…okay, maybe relatively panicked…okay, maybe wondering if this would be the year there just wouldn’t be soup. 

I scanned my email, and saw the notifications from Sign Up Genius. Someone had signed up to help in the kitchen! So had someone else! Stoup Soup was saved! 

(We still have room for more chefs, though–youth middle school and older and adults welcome!)

It’s like this every year. I worry there won’t be enough chefs for Stone Soup. I wonder if we’ll have enough cookies for Winter Festival. I think that perhaps the hall just won’t get decorated this time. And of course it always seems, until the *very* last minute, that Winter Festival itself will never come together. 

And it always does. Because you make sure it does. You go to rehearsals, and show up to hang garlands and glitter (please join us Tuesday, December 3, starting at 6pm!), and cut the vegetables, and bake the cookies. You make magic. 

It’s like that with almost everything in this congregation, actually. Every time that I have stopped worrying and trusted in the generosity, the wisdom, the presence, and the care of this congregation, my faith in you has been well placed. 

So maybe this year will be the one that I don’t say at a staff meeting “you all, there aren’t going to be enough cookies!!!!” Probably not. But maybe. 
And do be sure to join us for the opportunities to make the magic happen–Stone Soup cooking and prepping and eating on November 24, decorating on December 3, cookie baking that week and of course Winter Festival on December 8…plus all the other beautiful and meaningful platforms through December. This holiday season, and always, I am so aware that YOU are the magic. 

Warmly,

Amanda