Traditions Old and New

One of the projects I am currently working on is the restoration of the former Church of the Immaculate Conception one of the few buildings remaining from the gold rush era in Smartsville. The Smartsville Church Restoration Fund Inc. (SCRFI) is the organization restoring this building which was once the cornerstone of the community and has become so once again. The process of restoration has brought the community together beyond just the actual restoration work. For instance the bell which had been inoperable for many years has now been restored to working order. The desire for the community to have the bell rung on Christmas Eve led to the resumption an old tradition and the beginning of a new one. The old tradition was to decorate the large redwood tree in the center of the church yard and to gather and sing Christmas Carols around it. The new part of the tradition occurred on Christmas Eve when we gathered to ring the bell, sing Carrol's, drink Hot Chocolate and Coffee and sharing holiday cookies. We were going to decorate the street with luminaries but the pouring rain put a damper on that although we did have a sample of how beautiful it would have been and will be next year. The bell was also rung on New Years Eve at midnight to usher in 2009.