1st Year Avery 7 Years old

Hi Avery, I found your name tag lying face up when I went out to hitch the food trailer to my suburban. With rain and freezing temperatures in the forecast, we thought it was time to take the first collection load to the food pantry.

So early this morning, I pulled into Urban Ministry and backed the trailer up to the loading dock. J.T and Marcus were smiling real big. I wish you could have been with me. We all pitched in and unloaded the trailer, in no time. Good nutritious foods like rice, cereal, beans, spaghetti, canned ham, every kind of soup, canned fruit, baked beans, and even baby food and baby formula. J.T. weighed it all on his scale smiled from ear to ear. "508 pounds," he said, "this is real good, just real good." You can see his picture below.

I just wanted you to know that you were part of something really, really big yesterday. More than making a lot of pretty lights, you became part of a community. Your family (and mine) has never, ever not had food for breakfast, lunch and supper. And we've never not had a safe, warm and happy home with a mom and a dad. And plenty of clean clothes and a beds. Not to mention toys and birthday cakes and fun family vacations.

Not everybody is so lucky: Did you know one out of every four children your age in North Carolina is food insecure? Food insecure is a fancy word for when you don't know where you next meal is coming from and neither does your brother and sister and mom and dad.

So yesterday when we were making Lighted Christmas Balls, meeting new friends and drinking warm apple cider and eating yummy snacks, what was really happening was bigger than making lots of pretty lighted balls. You and your mom and your sister and brother were becoming part of a community. And that's something good and kind and heroic, something precious to God. I would love it if you would take a picture of your lighted Christmas balls and send them to me. And I hope your dad gets all well and you can bring him to the workshop next year.

The community that you and me and 250 of friends get to be part of, we collected canned goods and all that food (and monetary donations) went to help feed a lot of hungry neighbors, some of them the same ages as you and your brother and sister. 

Being a 1st year Avery, 7 years old, is something really, really special. Keep it up, Avery, there's no telling how far you will go and how much good you will do. 

We'll post updates and stories and lots of pretty pictures, so stay tuned! Happy Thanksgiving!

It's Just About Being Part of the Community

John Calvin Presbyterian hosted their third annual Lighted Christmas Balls workshop. Judy and John Wilson attended. They're not members. They just attend local events and volunteer. "It's just being part of the community," Judy said. Community. 

That's the Lighted Christmas Balls. 

Aside from giving back to the hungry, some of the Christmas light balls will be given to senior citizens to help brighten their yards, and their spirits. 

Now that's community. 

Check it out http://www.salisburypost.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20121202/SP01/121209971

The mailbag

Of the many treasures illumined by the Lighted Christmas Balls are the many cards, letters and first-hand accounts of kindness we get to pass on. This "light season", known as Advent by some, starts on the fourth Sunday before December 25th and ends on January 6th, known as "Epiphany" to others. Our "Advent" kicked off on November 20, a bit earlier than usual. It was the 15th anniversary of the Lighted Christmas Balls and the 9th Sunset Hills Lighted Christmas Balls party and workshop.  All this to say, this 47 days of Lighted Christmas Balls overcomes a whole lot of darkness from the other 318 days of the year.

From today's mailbag:

"I just got off the phone with my wife. We turned down an “offer” to help a friend host a Christmas cookie party. I don’t have anything against cookies (obviously), but we’re trying desperately to remember what Christmas is about for our family. For us, that means buying the kids just 3 presents, it means we go down to the Ice Skating Rink as a family, it means buying a stack of Bill Mangum Honor Cards to send to friends and family and stocking up on Wendy’s gift cards to hand out to the homeless and hungry, it means I spend one night this month as a chaperon at the winter emergency shelter, and (gasp) it means even telling my 4 year old what happened in Bethlehem more frequently than I mention what happens at the North Pole.  I’m not saying we have it right, but I would encourage all of you to think through what is important for you and your family this next month…and then do it." 

I'm not saying the rest of us have it right either, but my friend hit on something we don't hear a lot about. The note had a post script. I can't resist sharing:

"And for all things Lighted Christmas Ball, go to: www.lightedchristmasballs.blogspot.com"

Lighted Christmas Balls are lighting up all around the Triad. The food collection depots are filling up with non-perishable food. Already, 600 pounds of food has been given to those in need.

"The life-light blazed out of the darkness, and the darkness couldn't put it out." John 1:5 The Message

Whatever you believe, don't leave any life-light turned off this season.

Lighted Christmas Balls - Southern Workshop

The public is invited to a Lighted Christmas Balls workshop in Salisbury, NC on December 4, 2011 at 10:00 a.m. The event will take place at the Fellowship Hall at John Calvin Presbyterian Church (Overman and Brenner Ave. across from VA Hospital) and participants are asked to bring a can of food for Rowan Helping Ministries. 
More info here.

Lighted Christmas Balls in Salisbury, NC



"The Life-Light blazed out of the darkness; the darkness couldn't put it out." John 1:5; The Message

When John Calvin Presbyterian Church called Kellie Browne to be its minister, Kellie and Richard knew in their hearts that her decision to answer "yes" and their decision to make Salisbury home had already been made.

Devoted to inclusive fellowship, these friends of God started making Lighted Christmas Balls, right then and there in the neighborhood, and hung them up in trees at their home.  Located within a stone's throw of Catawba College and Bill Hefner VA Hospital, one can only imagine how bright the glow of hope and cheer from those Lighted Christmas Balls. Don't be surprised to see Lighted Christmas Balls lighting up Salisbury. 


When I think about Kellie and Richard leaving their Greensboro home and putting down roots in Salisbury, I'm reminded, "The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood. We saw the glory with our own eyes, the one-of-a-kind glory, like Father, like Son, Generous inside and out, true from start to finish." John 1:14; The Message.  And so the Browne's moved right into the neighborhood. 

You can check out Kellie's sermons on John Calvin's blog here. 

Christmas Day evening #2

The view from the intersection of Rolling and Ridgeway looking across Gardner and Beth's front lawn and down Ridgeway Drive. 

Christmas Day evening

The view from the intersection of Rolling Road and Ridgeway Drive looking across the park onto Rolling Road. 

All the way from Long Island Sound

A dear couple from Long Island came all the way, "just to see the lights," the Grandfather grinned. 

When I saw who was carrying the armful of canned goods, I knew the real reason for their visit to Greensboro, two granddaughters, one grandson, a daughter, maybe more. 

What a joy to be on the receiving end of from folks filled with the joy of giving. 

The little trailer is filling slowly but surely, albeit a little more slowly than I'd like to see.  If you're out and about, pick up an armload of non-perishable food, come visit the trailer, and see if the Lighted Christmas Balls don't burn more brightly than usual. 

788 pounds of non-perishable food given to 2nd Harvest Food Bank of NW North Carolina

It was after dark when I pulled into the driveway Thursday after work. In the distance, just past the trailer, I saw two persons rummaging thru the cans, bottles, boxes and bags that had been slowly accumulating.
I've wondered what I'd do if I encountered someone taking food from the trailer when the idea is to put food in.  (If they asked for my scarf would I give them my coat, too? I'm not so sure.)

Jesus words in Matthew 5 crossed my mind, "You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.' But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you."

I nudged my Suburban around to the front yard only to find Janet Watford and Gardner Sheffield, unloading, sorting, repackaging, and reloading everything into Gardner's car. They were almost done.  I jumped in alongside and we finished in a few minutes.  I didn't tell them I thought they were food rustlers. 

The next day, Gardner drove his food filled car to Winston Salem. With the help of three hard working volunteers (pictured above), a grateful 2nd Harvest Food Bank of Northwest North Carolina reported that Sunset Hills Friends of Lighted Christmas Balls had donated 788 pounds of non-perishable food. 

We're still a long way off from our goal of 10,000 pounds.  If you're out touring Greensboro's beautiful Christmas lights, put a friend or two in your car, pack a sackful of non-perishable food, and come find one of the collection sites for food for NC food banks. Thanks.

Lilac Drive

We saw these 5 Lighted Christmas Balls with clear lights made.  Photo looks like an Ansel Adams.  Map: http://schmap.it/kuwkur

Llamas come to Sunset Hills, see Lighted Christmas Balls

Jonathan here: Mama Llama writes a blog titled Little Llamas. She's also a raving fan of the Lighted Christmas Balls. After a long day chasing her own little llamas around the house, here's how she likes to relax:

"I recommend making some hot cocoa...putting a Christmas CD on in the car...blasting the heat and rolling down the windows...and enjoy the Magic!
She authors the Little Llamas blog and you can read what will probably be the first of many blog posts and photographs right here.

I like her blasting on the heat and rolling down all the windows idea.  We did it a little differently when our kids were little.  We played a game that went like this: It's really, really cold and we're going down the road and one of us says to the other, "so, you think you can stand the pain?," and which ever of us accepted the challenge would unroll his window and stick his bare hand outside. Followed by the one who made the bet. Suffice to say that experiencing 30 degrees farenheit at 45 mph for 10 minutes and you can probably take getting your teeth drilled with no Novocain. 

Hey, Grace Community Church has about 40 Lighted Christmas Balls lit up, thanks to Allison, Clay, Gardner, Johnnie, Justin, and Scott.  Why don't you put all your friends in your car, head on over to 643 W. Lee Street, and challenge your passengers to a little friendly game of freeze your fingers off. 

More pics from Lighted Christmas Balls workshop #7

more pics from Sunday afternoon's workshop here. 

Kerrie Orrell has a dear friend who was just diagnosed with breast cancer.  So she and her daughter set out to make a bow, cover it with pink lights, and hang it from a tree in her friend's yard. 

(Ross Martin, background, wonders if making a lighted Christmas ball while using his cell phone improves reception.)

Lighted Christmas Balls Host Families Coverd Dish Supper

With the Lighted Christmas Balls Party one week away we wanted to get as many of the host families as possible together for a short meeting to tie down loose ends.  Gardner reportred that the hunger problem in NC is showing no signs of letting up.  Second Harvest, which distributes donated food to more than 400 non-profit partner agencies that serve people at risk of hunger and others in need from Boone to Burlington, is experiencing its second consecutive year of unprecedented demand for food.  Last week, WFDD reported that one in six North Carolinians worries about running out of food sometime in the next seven days.  Documented research shows one out of every five children in North Carolina experience food insecurity. 

Sunset Hills Neighborhood is committed to doing something about this.  Jamey and Phil are providing a 2nd food collection trailer at the corner of Rolling and West Greenway North, and can safeguard donated food from the elements and redeliver it to food banks.  John Englar suggested yard signs signs with a simple catch phrase could go a long way to helping connect the experience of enjoying the lighted balls with the bigger purpose of shining a light on the problem of hunger in North Carolina.  Triad sign maker Bravo Signs, who helped sponsor our last two workshops/food drives, will make signage for 2nd food trailer and our new yard signs.  More later.

Jonathan announced that Glenwood Tutoring Program will have their Christmas party December 7, and they'd love us to be part of their effort.  For the last two years, Sunset Hills neighbors worked with the program's tutors and students to make and hang over 50 Lighted Christmas Balls.  Neighborhoods like Glenwood live on life's margins.  Poverty, drugs, and prostitution are in ample supply.  Stability, hope, and joy are scarce.  Glenwood may be on the margins, but it benefits from a huge multiplyer affect: any good done there gets so much bang for the buck.   Just imagine what Greensboro will be like if each student of Glenwood Tutoring Program hangs a Lighted Christmas Ball in their yard 40 years from now, offering stability, hope and joy.  Jonathan will send around a signup memo with some possible dates. 

Everyone signed up for all the working parts of the party.  Despite that the City of Greensboro has offered us an optional "rain date" for the following Sunday, we said if we could take last year's nasty weather, we can take anything.  Besides, our statiscian says, it's rained the last three years and we're overdue for a clear day.  The forecast for next Sunday indicates cold and clear, but that could change.  Stone soup is in the offing again so remember to bring your canned vegatables to add to the pot.   If we have more vegtables than we need, they will be added to the food drive trailer.

As always there was lots of stories and lots of laughter as this is just the start of the season when we all meet new neighbors, get to know neighbors better and make new friends. The Lighted Christmas Balls no longer just Christmas decorations, they are the cord that binds a neighborhood, one more thing that makes living in Sunset Hills so very special.

While we adjourned to the living room to enjoy an open fire, a glass of wine, and friends, Janet and Jeff took over the kitchen and scraped, scrubbed, and washed evey pot, bowl, plate, fork, spoon and glass in sight, and left us with a spotlessly clean kitchen. What a wonderful treat. What a joy. Thank you, guys.

FAQ - Lighted Christmas Balls

Why are the Lighted Christmas Balls so important to you? It has been a great neighborhood project for Sunset Hills. We know more neighbors than we ever would under 'normal circumstances.'  Lighted Christmas Balls are beautiful (in the dark), they encourage the old, thrill the young, amaze all in between. We have laughed with our neighbors and family and spent hours of enjoyment putting them up, keeping them lit, and eventually taking them down for another season.

What have you enjoyed most as this tradition has continued? We love that they are used in the spirit of increasing fun, joy, hope, beauty, and encouragement. We like to help people make them. We are touched that the regional cancer center in Greensboro sends their cancer patients, who have just recieved chemo, radiation or other therapy, to our neighborhood for an extra dose of hope. Many of the retirement communities in the area drive their little buses through the neighborhood to delight their residents. And finally - people who want to show gratitude to the neighborhood for the lights leave canned food in a trailer in front of our home and other collection points in the neighborhood. Those canned goods are then taken to 2nd Harvest Food Bank and Urban Ministry in Greensboro. Last year we collected close to 2 tons of food thanks to the generosity of those driving through. This year we hope to double that amount.

Do you care that other neighborhoods have also done this? We love that most of all, we would love to see them all over the city, county, state and beyond.

What else is fun about them? The emails and phone calls we receive from as far west as California, as far south as Florida, and as far north as the UP of Michigan. We have put those letters on this blog, look around for them with their photos. This week we received a box from a family in Laurel Mississippi who sent over some equipment and new ideas about getting the balls installed and getting electricity to them. We can't wait to share them with you at this year's workshop.

The photo of Jonathan with the box of goodies from Mississippi is shown above.

This Hope's for you

David Pike was a champion.  A champion for his family, his friends, especially his cancer fighting friends, for his fellow Rotarians, for life, and for Christ.

No stranger to the Moses Cone Regional Cancer Center, David gave life to everyone he met: fellow cancer patients, nurses, doctors, even those in waiting rooms. Never a complainer...always an encourager, abundantly generous in hope.

Not long before David went to be with God, he said, "You'll never know what a ministry of encouragement your neighborhood is to everyone at the cancer center. Patients, nurses, doctors, and visitors, that's all they talk about. Promise me you'll teach them to make the Lighted Christmas Balls."

David and his cancer fighting friends encouraged everyone at the Regional Cancer Center, after chemo therapy, to drive down Ridgeway Drive into the land of wonder, where each and every Lighted Christmas Ball is transformed into a beacon of hope, in a world long on suffering and short on hope.

We told David and Patricia and Kris and Roman that we'd keep David's light on, seven days a week, twenty four hours a day, in memory of him and every person fighting cancer.  (David's light is a gigantic Lighted Christmas Ball with 1,400 mini Christmas lights wrapped around a 36" diameter sphere.)

So if you're reading this, and you or someone you know is fighting cancer, this Symbol of Hope stays lit, day and night, for you.

This image taken 12/28/2009 just before midnight without a tripod

This image taken after the big snowstorm of March 1, 2009

"God, the one and only— I'll wait as long as he says. Everything I hope for comes from him, so why not? He's solid rock under my feet, breathing room for my soul, An impregnable castle: I'm set for life." Psalm 62:5; The Message

Food Drive totals

Friends of Lighted Christmas Balls donated 3,729 pounds of non-perishable food during December 2008; this is 753 pounds, or 25%, over 2007's total!

Lighted Christmas Balls on Current TV

fcproducer's producer/editor andy coon and and blake faucette, dp, came to see us Christmas Eve with their video cams, spirits of adventure, and filmed this treasure of a documentary (with no rehearsals or retakes). Truly they captured the spirit of Christmas, but hearing their stories about how the Lighted Christmas Balls brighten their lives was a real gift. Thanks Andy (and Blake), for sharing your gifts and talents, and for spreading the Lighted Christmas Balls.



enjoy it, share it, and tell the folks at current tv how you like it.

if you haven't already seen it, check out video andy made in 2006 of the Lighted Christmas Balls.

today's offering

The utility trailer sits parked and open, as would one with outstretched hands, ready to receive gifts of food, providing nourishment and hope for the under-nourished and hope-less.

within hours of having its 686 pounds of food taken to Greensboro Urban Ministry, the little trailer began filling up all over again. Since last

night:

rain doesn't slow food drive

It rained Monday and Tuesday and drizzled off and on all day today. That hasn't slowed visits to the yellow barrel at the four-way stop sign at Ridgeway and Rolling and the utility trailer at the corner of Madison and Ridgeway. People put dry goods in the big red Rubbermaid tub and secured food-filled plastic bags to keep the rain out. I didn't take pics of each night's haul, but now that it's Wednesday night and my Suburban is full, I need to drop it off at the Food Pantry and get ready for the weekend. Anne and I are going to do a little adding up this weekend - she has one of those little counter things that ticket takers use to count attendance at concerts and sporting events. We'll let you know the count...and also how much food has been contributed so far.

LCB's are glowing all over. There's an extra special 13 Lighted Christmas Balls on Cardinal Wood Drive. It stays lit day and night keeping vigil, encouraging all who pass by and those who live there. If you're over that way, check it out.

This truck may top our lights!!!!!!!!!!!!

When I saw this....I said "Jonathan, stop whatever you are doing and get him to stop." I just had to have a photo of this WONDERFUL truck. It belongs to our new friend(as of last night) Mark in Kernersville. He brings his cute daughter April over for ballet classes - she is int the middle of practicing for the Nutcracker. Look at this Christmas display in the bed of this wonderful 1981 fully restored Dodge crewcab (I hope I got this right) ANYWAY...they were so nice, they pulled over, we took photos...and visited. Mark had decorated it just for fun for a spontaneous annual parade in Catsquare NC (I hope I got that right too) Mark and his family moved to NC from Arizona and is an engineer at Volvo Trucks. In my opinion we are lucky to have him drive through...come often, bring your friends and some canned food for the trailer in the front yard.


NEWS FLASH #1 We sent 747 pounds of canned goods over to 2nd Harvest this morning with Gardner....next load going to Urban Ministry

NEWSFLASH #2 We got a huge discount(actually it was a credit) from Lowe's(good to shop there - they treated us right on this deal) We were credited enough to give each of you $1 per ball back - What an operational and accounting nightmare that would be so we made the decision to send the profits to Urban Ministry $127 and Second Harvest $127 and credited the remaining $$ to the lighted Christmas ball project for the kids in the tutoring progam at Grace Community Church in Glenwood - they each got a ball to take home this year as well as one to hang in the front of the church. It is worth a drive to 643 West Lee Street to see the 60 hanging there.