‘Spreading a little bit of happiness would be nice’
I attended my first carol service for the season on December 2 this year. It was the Methodist College choir, directed by Sanjeev Jeyaratnam of `Revelations’ fame and the singing was heavenly.
There were no announcements and no message – the carols, old and new, proclaimed the full import of Christmas for humankind.
Caring and sharing: A Unity Mission Trust camp for young people
A printed note on the hymnsheet informed us that the offertory this year would be in aid of the Lanka Prisons Fellowship (LPF), which carries out a project to give a gift pack of items worth Rs 1,000 to all the children growing up in prison. The children are there because that’s where their mothers are. Did you know that there are 2,900 children in the 29 prisons throughout the country? Last year, the LPF held what they call the `Angel Tree’ project in 18 of the 29 prisons, bringing joy to 702 children. Their dream this year is to reach all 2,900 children in all the prisons.
Although this is an annual event, the LPF works all year round for the benefit of prisoners and they received an official letter of request for the`Angel Tree’ project from the Prisoners’ Welfare Association of Sri Lanka.
On December 8, our church Sunday School held its `Carol and Gift Service’and I remembered a long ago time when my own children were eager to make sure their gifts (which would later be distributed to children in Methodist Children’s Homes), were the kind that would give joy to the recipient.
It’s always moving to hear children’s voices singing carols and to see them walk up happily to lay their gifts at the altar.
They were aware that this was one way of saying “Happy Birthday” to the Babe in the manger.
On the 10th my friend Valerie and I attended the Christmas Get-Together for Seniors, a much-looked- forward-to monthly event held at the Gospel Tabernacle
In Wellawatte the Christmas gathering is a specially joyous event with pastor, Roger Koelmeyer, ably assisted by a team called “Vibrant Warriors” led by Therese and it’s they who plan the programme for each month.
We were greeted by women clad in red and green costumes and wearing those gay, red Santa Claus caps. There was a full hall, – a few men too – every face wreathed in smiles.
On the far wall facing us was a silhouette-like picture depicting the Manger Scene showing only the Holy Family, with the donkey on which Mary rode into Bethlehem tethered nearby and, in the distance, a glimpse of the Three Wise Men coming on horseback.
We stood up and sang that most uplifting of carols, “Joy to the world, The Lord is come, let earth receive her King………..”.
The entire programme in which we all participated wholeheartedly was splendidly organised and was designed to highlight the truth of the Bible text, “The joy of the Lord is our strength.”
My own church always holds its carol service on Christmas Eve. The tastefully decorated church – a labour of love by someone with creative talents – is always packed and we are inspired to sing carols, old and new, and worship the incarnate God who came to show us what real, sacrificial love is all about. The atmosphere of goodwill is almost palpable and it pervades our homes and neighbourhoods too.
Letting them have some fun: A FONCA day out
When I attend the exhilarating morning service the next day and sing the hallowed carols of old and listen to the story of that first Christmas Day in Bethlehem, – a story that never grows stale – I am filled with gratitude to God for the stupendous gift He gave us in coming to share our earthly life and to show us how to live, and also for all the other blessings I enjoy each day.
Towards the end of November, I saw a newspaper heading that said: Jith’s seasonal concert to celebrate a time of peace’. The small print underneath quoted `the veteran theatre man’ as saying that “Christmas is the birth of the Prince of Peace and He wasn’t born only for the Christians but for the whole world.”
The show is held to raise funds for the annual Christmas project of Jith’s theatre group which donates 12 yards of school uniform material, a pair of school shoes and a school bag, in addition to providing all the school books they require, to more than 430 children.
Knowing how many poor parents find it a near-impossible task to meet their children’s school requirements, this gesture seems to me to embody the essence of Christmas.
A much loved comedian of yesteryear, Bob Hope, once said: “My idea of Christmas, whether old-fashioned or modern, is very simple – Loving others.
Come to think of it, why do we have to wait for Christmas to do that?” Looking round, I find there are several NGOs which quietly work through the Year to improve the lot of folk who are often forgotten and overlooked by society, thus carrying out Christ’s command that we should love our neighbour as ourselves.
Not many readers would have heard of YGRO, the social outreach arm of the Youth For Christ Movement, that works in the North to teach war widows who head households,an income-generating trade that will enable them to earn a sustainable livelihood.
In Uduvil, right now, YGRO is constructing 10 toilets for this category of women because the shelters in which they live have none.YGRO also gives concrete help to poor children who are struggling to do their O/Levels and A/Levels, by way of arranging for teachers who will hold tuition classes for needy students, free of charge.
These are acts of love, such as Christ asked us to do every day of our lives, are not performed with any strings attached, or with any ulterior motive.
In the same way, a couple whom I shall refer to merely by their first names of Rita & John, launched FONCA (Friends of Needy Children Association) a good 21 years ago “to bring some brightness and cheer to lighten the drabness of the lives of children living in Homes and institutions in Sri Lanka.”
FONCA works with 40 Children’s Homes to provide “life-enhancing activities” which are beyond the limited budgets on which these Homes operate.
One such activity is to hold a holiday camp somewhere to give these children a taste of what children who enjoy normal family life take for-granted.
Even as I write this, a group of boys from different Homes, are having a great time in Kandy. Rita and John have now retired and their son is in charge, but they still remain very involved.
The remarkable thing about FONCA is that its administrative costs are minimal because it has no paid staff or establishment upkeep.
FONCA has always operated from the home of Rita and John and comprises a small group of Sri Lankans who give of their time and effort in an honorary capacity and even meet their own travel costs.
They set out `to put a smile on a child’s face,’ and I know, from the illustrated news sheets they send after every camp, that they have put smiles on countless faces.
It would gladden your heart as it does mine, to see how many associations there are which, without any fuss or fanfare, do act as if it were Christmas all year round. CandleAid Lanka (originally known as AFLAC, Association For Lighting A Candle),does just that in manydifferent ways.
One such is to provide financial assistance to needy university students who struggle to study in very difficult circumstances. As its founder, Capt. Elmo Jayawardena, puts it, “We are a link between one person’s generosity and another person’s humanitarian need.
CandleAid helps those who suffer from the multiple burdens of poverty.Our job is to make the world hear their cries. (website: www. Candleaid.org).
Two other groups I know of are “Sri Lanka Unites”, started by Prashan de Visier, and the “Unity Mission Trust”, launched by Bertial Pinto Jayawardena.
Both these associations of several years standing, work tirelessly to build bridges of friendship between young people from all corners of our land, including the North and East.
Space doesn’t permit me to give details of their efforts, but they too depend on volunteers of whom, happily, there is no dearth.
And, of course, there are many individuals and families who also go the extra mile for others, yet shun any publicity for their golden deeds.
Christmas is the time of loving and giving, the season that brings families and friends closer together.
Love begins in our homes. My own family are scattered abroad, but the ties that bind us are as strong as ever and if they are unable to be with me physically, they stay near me in spirit in a thousand ways!
It is the same with friends who are as close as family and I thank God that I know to the full the blessing and the beauty of close human relationships.
“Those good times shared in past Decembers, The mind still sees, the heart remembers.”
My daughter Anusha was working in the social service department of her church in Adelaide to which people in need of any kind, apply for assistance. One day, after Anusha had supplied the material needs of a caller, she noticed the woman’s sad expression and was moved to offer to pray with her.
The woman eagerly agreed and Anusha paused to ask, “What would you like me to pray for?” She will never forget the woman’s answer: “A little happiness would be nice.”
There must be hurting people all around us who would echo that sentiment – “A little happiness would be nice”! As we rejoice and give thanks for our Saviour’s birth, let us also resolve to try to spread a little happiness in whatever corner of the country we live.
“O brother man, fold to thy heart thy brother!
Where pity dwells, the peace of God is there;
To worship rightly is to love each other,
Each smile a hymn, each kindly deed a prayer.
Follow with reverent steps the great example
Of Him whose holy work was doing good;
So shall the wide earth seem our Father’s temple,
Each loving life a psalm of gratitude.”
May you have a joyful and blessed Christmas.