by Noella Noelophile®
(Royalty-free image by Frauke Riether from Pixabay.)
Joy, music and Christmas cookies! What could possibly be better?
Well…maybe the fact that all of the above will be part of a free event, happening in Long Beach next Saturday, December 21st, courtesy of community activist/Long Beach “Chief Inspiration Office Justin Rudd’s nonprofit Community Action Team?
And you’re invited–but now is the time to RSVP.
Next Saturday evening, December 21st, at 5:00 pm, Bay Shore Community Church will once again host their annual “Joy to the World! Holiday Brass and Percussion Concert”.
For ninety minutes, 25 gifted musicians from Southern California Brass Consortium will play holiday favorites. And the concert will be followed by a Christmas cookie reception.
(Royalty-free image by Frauke Riether from Pixabay.)
This concert “sells out” every year, but the website currently shows a few tickets still available. Admission is free for attendees bringing nonperishable food items for donation to a local food bank. Think peanut butter, breakfast cereal, boxes of macaroni and cheese, and/or canned fruit.
Or, you can also bring packs of men’s socks that will be donated to homeless agencies.
Now–what if you love to bake, and you’d like to help make this happen?
(Royalty-free image by congerdesign from Pixabay.)
Saturday is also the day of the “Long Beach Bake-Off and 9th Annual Christmas Cookie Contest” for Charities!
And you can participate, for free, by registering here and bringing baked goods or one plate of at least two dozen cookies, to the Bay Shore Church Fellowship Hall, 5100 East The Toledo in Long Beach, between 4:00 and 4:45 pm.
Your submission or submissions MUST be homemade, as opposed to “store-bought”. Be sure to put a piece of tape with your name and phone number on it on the bottom of each dish or tin you bring, and recipes do not have to be original. Each submission must be accompanied by a separate entry form; here’s the link for registration, with the additional rules of the competition.
(Royalty-free image by Legentheri from Pixabay.)
Everyone submitting cookies or baked goods receives free tickets to the “Joy to the World” concert. Private judging happens at 4:45 pm, with awards announced after the concert, during the Christmas cookie “Tasting Reception” at 6:30 pm.
Winners receive a $50 gift certificate to donate to their favorite local charity, school or place of worship. They also get bragging rights for a year!
But best of all, they get to see everyone enjoying their home-baked specialties. And whipping up your favorite recipe, then watching it disappear amid appreciative “yummmm!”‘s is a great feeling.