A guest post from Marisa Geitner, president & C.E.O. of Heritage Christian Services
My kids and I are always in the kitchen. At the holidays we
bake pies and Christmas cookies, and in the summer we try new ways to use the
vegetables from our garden.
It’s our tradition. It’s one way we spend time together.
At Heritage Christian, we have traditions, too – things we
do that make us family.
We celebrate important milestones.
We cheer as people
cross finish lines and learn to do more than they ever thought possible.
We
care.
We talk a lot about treating people with Christian
compassion, about becoming love in action. Love says that we must open our
hearts to the people we serve and the people we work with. It requires us to be
patient, humble and kind, and it encourages us to see the good in every
situation.
That’s a tradition I’m especially proud of.
What Heritage Christian traditions mean the most to you?
What helps you feel like family?
Traditions, hmmm....so many to choose from. I guess I'll have to say reunion week at Sunshine Camp and Camp Pioneer. I love seeing old friends and making new ones! - Andrew Little
ReplyDeleteI couldn't agree more. Our reunion weeks allow us to strengthen lasting relationships and create new ones. Certainly a favorite tradition for me.
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ReplyDeleteLots of traditions come to mind for me. One that is close to my heart is celebrating Thanksgiving with some of the people I was honored to support. Every year they would host their families to share Thanksgiving dinner. One of the moms prepared her signature homemade butternut squash every year. Everyone loved it. After the mom passed away I started to bring the squash.
ReplyDeleteFamily traditions are so important, and I wanted to keep that memory alive. My squash is the frozen kind from Wegmans, but people seem to like it almost as well. This year I was not able to go to one of the holiday dinners. No need to worry because Ginger Guyer came to the rescue, with a pan of squash!
Ann Meyer
That has been a lasting tradition with you for sure Ann. I bet it has even influenced the traditions you have begun with your own family. Whether frozen or fresh, the squash honors the memory of a member of the family- never to be forgotten. Thanks!
DeleteI'll choose a new tradition that is only 5 years young. I really enjoy our PFLC lunches. They have been a great way to build the team and PFLC community. The food is awesome too!
ReplyDeleteMichelle
I love that. There is something special about sharing a meal together. Thanks for sharing Michelle.
DeleteOur tradition or practice of coming together in prayer and devotion comes to my mind. Coming together in Prayer whether before a meeting, before dinner, while holding hands around the bed of an individual who is ill at the hospital, or in prayer 1:1 with an individual or co-worker is one way we show our love, compassion, and support for one another. We often look for God's wisdom, strength and understanding together.
ReplyDeleteWhile I am not someone who finds it easy to share in prayer publicly, Heritage has taught me I still can share what is in my heart with others through the wonderful lessons and scriptures He and others have provided for us to be shared! To share of ourselves through prayer and devotion is never pushed, but rather is an opportunity for self growth,and can become a bit easier over time.
Ruth
Ruth, I always appreciate how supported I feel here at HCS. I’m never alone in times of struggle or in times of celebration, and I so appreciate working for an organization that recognizes the whole person – mind, body and spirit.
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DeleteI value our annual traditions such as Camp Pioneer and Rotary Reunion, the family holiday celebrations, and the wondrous annual dinner. I cherish the many and diverse traditions we created to remember those who have left us to go to heaven.
ReplyDeleteWhat really thrills me are the small, individual or site specific ways we traditionally celebrate and cherish relationships:
-The birthday tradition at Railroad Mills that the birthday person gets the first slice of birthday cake and the next person to have a birthday gets the second piece of cake.
-The folks from State Road 2 having a nightly time together as a family with God before dinner.
-At Scribner Road the person who cooked the meal says the blessing over the family meal.
-Oxbow may be our newest certified home, but they have jumped right in with the traditions surrounding the faiths of the people who live there, including developing a Shabbot Box for one of the men to honor his Jewish roots.
I could go on and on with traditions we have here at Heritage Christian. I believe our strongest tradition is in story-telling and these traditions will grow and continue as we continue to tell the stories.
You're right Lida! While we have traditions that include our whole Heritage family we also have many that are unique to each individual part of that family. You have shared some wonderful ones here.
ReplyDeleteOne of my favorite Heritage traditions is family night at Rotary Reunion. I love see all of the families coming out to spend time with each other in such a relaxing setting.
ReplyDeleteI do too Raynae! Thanks for sharing.
DeleteSo I have been out on Maternity leave and just read this today. I have to say that one of the traditions I enjoy most here at Heritage is Music Fest. This event has taken place since I first started at Heritage 8 years ago. This year I wasn't working, but enjoyed bringing my son to the drum circle because I wanted to be a part of that tradition. It is a great way to celebrate music and the joy that it brings to all of our lives.
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