Date: December 3, 2000
Place: St. Elizabeth Seton Parish Hall, Sun City, Arizona
St. Elizabeth Seton Parish hall was decked out with red and green Christmas decorations, white tablecloths, 2 Christmas trees with typically Lithuanian ornaments made of straw, flags, a table with 12 Lithuanian Christmas Eve dishes, a buffet with hot food, cold food, desserts and coffee, a bar with refreshments, a work area for making straw ornaments, and a throne for Santa. Christmas music was playing on the stereo. But best of all, 102 people, young and old, from near and far, with Christmas spirit in their hearts came to eat, socialize, and celebrate Lithuanian Christmas customs and traditions. Older folks shared reminiscences of past Christmases. Youngsters labored on straw ornaments and were rewarded by Santa Claus with small gifts. It was truly a memorable afternoon for all. Our community is blessed with many who volunteered their energies and talents to make this event possible. Our special thanks goes to the following contributors: Mary Gallagher for getting us this wonderful hall and for starting the luncheon with a prayer; Ona Adomaitis for setting the Christmas Eve supper table display and a Christmas tree decorated with real straw ornaments; Dalia Motiejunas, Ruta Motiejunas, and Aldona Vaitkus for preparing the hot food; Aldona Katilius, Aldona Klemka, Rita Martinaitis, Gilanda Matonis, Audra Motiejunas, Antonija Petrulis, Maryte Tallat-Kelpsa, and Aldona Vaitkus for preparing the cold food and desserts; Audrone Bartys, Gilanda Matonis, and Antonija Petrulis for preparing and decorating the hall; Juozas Budinavicius for tending our bar; Aldona Katilius, Rita Martinaitis, Antonija Petrulis, Maryte Tallat-Kelpsa, and Aldona Vaitkus for tending the buffet; Ona Adomaitis, Elena Barcas, and Ilona Budinavicius for demonstrating the construction of straw ornaments; Don Adamavich for being our Santa Claus; and Danguole Balceris for being our master of ceremonies.
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