Eco-Justice Team - December 2025

“The time is drawing near.” This traditional phrase, used in Advent hymns and readings, signals the approaching celebration of Christ’s birth. In the modern world, the preparations seem to start earlier every year. A season of celebration and joy can turn into one of excess, waste, and financial strain. While most families have cherished holiday traditions, applying even a few sustainable principles can help alleviate some

of the stress.

Just as “quality over quantity” is a motto for many aspects of life, think about giving fewer gifts, but with more thought and meaning. Buy local, buy artisan, buy with meaning. Places such as “Ten Thousand Villages” in Squirrel Hill meet all the criteria. Try your hand at making gifts. Check local thrift shops for jewelry, scarves, or table linens. Make gifts of food, or buy them from local shops. If your gift list includes groups of adults, suggest going to a “secret Santa” system. It saves both time and money, and provides an opportunity to really put thought into it. You could even have a theme for it. We do it with used books, purchased from the Mt. Lebanon Book Cellar. It acommodates all tastes and interests. Give experiences instead of things. They can be

as simple as a movie or quite extravagant (too late for Paul McCartney tickets, I’m afraid). Give a donation instead of a gift. Our congregation supports many worthy and urgent causes.

Do some of those things, and then you can sit back happily and, perhaps, ponder making a New Year’s Resolution to give monthly to the organization of your choice.

All of us on the EJ team wish you and yours a beautiful Christmas and a happy, healthy New Year!