Leeds Moody Messenger

Published 3:42 pm Wednesday, December 19, 2018

The weather turned out great for the Leeds Christmas Parade on Friday night.  The rain had subsided and it wasn’t too cold so it couldn’t have been a better atmosphere and people were out on the street by the time the parade began.  The Green Machine 11u All Stars Dizzy Dean 2018 World Champions Team was the Grand Marshall with over 70 parade entries.

The Moody Christmas Parade was on Saturday evening.  Weather was not optimal since it drizzled rain throughout parade time, but everyone still had a great time.  Laura Armstrong with Friends of Moody School Foundation was the Grand Marshall. 

Putting business aside, the Moody Area Chamber of Commerce celebrated the Christmas holiday season with some fun.  Christmas carols led by musician Aleya Gilley, who played the bass fiddle, and then a relay that got everyone involved with stockings, balloons and ribbon.  Teams were chosen and volunteers were “dolled up” as Santa’s reindeer.  Those who wore the reindeer get-up were Chef Thomas Hunt, Tim Senft – Moody Court, Rich Blankenship – Moody Parks & Recreation, Don Thomason – ORS Nasco, Jessica Machen – Moody Human Resources, Jason Roberts – St. Clair EDC and Steve Sink – Edward Jones Financial.  The winner of the relay was Don Thomason with his team that included Mayor Joe Lee, Juliana Eraso and Jason McWhorter – Dragonfly Business Solutions and Laura Armstrong – Friends of Moody School Foundation.  It was loads of fun and everyone were great sports!

Leeds First United Methodist Church performed their Christmas Cantata on Sunday and Eden Westside Baptist Church River Campus had their children’s choir Christmas program last night.

There’s only four shopping days until Christmas so if you haven’t finished your Christmas shopping, your time is quickly running out.  I have taken some time off to spend with family, get a little r&r, and think about the real reason for the season.  People celebrate Christmas for all different reasons and we get caught up in shopping, food and gift-giving to special ones in our lives, but there is one person who gave the ultimate gift which was His life and that was Jesus Christ.  Jesus came to earth as a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes and was laid in a manger when there was no room for His earthly parents, Mary and Joseph, in the Inn.  Christmas is a time that we celebrate His birth, because it was such a historic event.  It’s not just a historical event, but His birth, life and death gave each of us an opportunity to make the ultimate most important decision of our own life.  That decision is to believe that Jesus was who He said He was and accept Him as our personal Savior and Lord.  You can find the story of His birth in the Bible in book of Matthew and Luke.  I hope you will take time to read the story, the greatest story, this year. 

We all have favorite recipes to keep up with tradition and cook those favorite meals and desserts.  The caramel cake is the favorite at our house.  It’s a recipe that I acquired from someone at church years ago at a church event that quickly became a tradition at our house.  It has homemade caramel icing made in an iron skillet the old fashioned way.  It’s not Christmas at our house without the cake so I’ve got to get busy in the kitchen!

The Leeds Area Chamber of Commerce Chamber of Commerce will host their annual Awards and Christmas luncheon at 11:45 a.m. today, Dec. 20 at Leeds First United Methodist Church Family Life Center.  Christmas entertainment is planned.  Awards will be presented for Business of the Year, Non-Profit of the Year, First Responder of the Year, Volunteer of the Year, Ambassador of the Year and Teen Volunteer of the Year.  Lunch is $12 with RSVP ($15 without).  RSVP to Sandra McGuire, Executive Director, at 205-699-5001 or Sandra@LeedsAreaChamber.com. 

Thought for the Week:  “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.  And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.” ~Luke 2:11-12

I truly appreciate each of you who read my column and I really love sharing news so please send your Leeds and Moody news to me at leedsmoodynews@gmail.com.  Merry Christmas!