Dave Ogilvie
With less than 40 days left before Christmas, the sights and the sounds of the Yuletide program at Knox United Church in Emo on Saturday evening were greatly appreciated by everyone in attendance.
Organizers were extremely busy, days in advance, transforming the church sanctuary and hall into a brightly-coloured, festive environment.
Beautifully-decorated tables adorned with holiday centrepieces added an extra special touch to the occasion.
As people waited for the musical portion of the evening to begin, they were encouraged to browse the “Shiny Penny Table” in the church hall and to make bids on the amazing theme baskets.
For the price of admission, each visitor was given two sheets of tickets to use in the bidding process.
The themes of the various baskets included “Guy on the Go,” “Winter Flake,” “Movie Night,” “Christmas at Grandma’s,” “Toy Story,” and many others.
Pictures of the baskets will be on display at Meyers’ Clothing in Emo, where shoppers are encouraged to drop in and place a bid during the next couple of weeks.
The winning ticket for each basket will be drawn during “Holly Daze” festivities on Dec. 3-5.
While everyone enjoyed warm beverages and some sensational desserts, the recently-formed Borderland Children’s Choir, directed by Diane Maxey of Fort Frances, took to the stage.
Their first selection included some contemporary tunes. “All the World,” “What If I Was,” “The Thing,” and “Everybody Has Music Inside” were greeted with a warm round of applause from everyone on hand.
During intermission, some people returned to the “Shiny Penny Table” while others enjoyed their dessert and visited with friends.
The second half of the musical presentation by the children’s choir consisted of some of their Christmas favourites.
The audience was encouraged to join in as the small but talented group sang “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” “Jingle Bell Rock,” and “We Wish You a Merry Christmas.”
The choir started with 30 members back in the spring but has struggled at times due to the many commitments of the children involved.
The twelve dedicated members who entertained Saturday evening did a wonderful job.
Rev. Frances Flook thanked Maxey and her choir for adding so much to the evening’s festivities, and reminded everyone that the draw for the baskets will take place during “Holly Daze.”
The Knox United Church organizing committee would like to thank everyone who donated, the choir for providing the evening’s entertainment, and all those who helped make the evening a success.
