Smart Living Rockford - November 17, 2022

Giving Thanks

Thanksgiving has always been my favorite holiday. In our family, it’s nearly a weeklong event.

We’d traditionally kick things off on Wednesday night by going to see a movie. Thanksgiving Day itself is full of great food, football, visits with extended family members, and usually a fight or two about how the dog was able to eat something off of the counter. (My parents have a Labrador Retriever — no food is safe).

Some family members wake up early to go shopping on Black Friday, while others (like me) sleep in and eat leftovers for break fast. We always spend the afternoon hunting for the perfect Christmas tree at our favorite local tree farm.

On Saturday, if the Wisconsin Badgers have a home football game, we make the drive to Madison to tailgate and watch the game as the large group we are. If the game is away, we usually just watch on TV all together. Either way, there’s lots of beer.

Sunday is a day of rest and digestion.

While the food is always incredible, the thing I love most about Thanksgiving is spend ing quality time with my family. I’m always reminded how much I appreciate them.

In the spirit of giving thanks, here are 10 things that I’m thankful for this year:

1. Piping hot cups of coffee.

2. A stack of new books to read over the holidays.

3. My husband — a man who vacuumed our whole house yesterday. God bless him.

4. A new Taylor Swift album and tour.

5. A baby who’s an excellent sleeper.

6. Parents who live close by and who help us out often.

7. This job. This column.

8. Rockford Art Deli t-shirts (I live in them almost exclusively).

9. Having Patrick Mahomes as my fantasy quarterback.

10. The opportu nity to teach dance to kind-hearted students.

Wishing you a wonderful holiday! ❚

Lindsey Lukas Senior Editor

Rockford Choral Union’s ‘Messiah’ is Back

By Peggy Werner

ARockford tradition is helping people tune into a more peaceful, meaningful and spiritual side of the Christmas season.

Handel’s “Messiah” will be per formed at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 26 and Sunday, Nov. 27 at Emmanuel Lutheran Church, 930 Third Ave., Rockford. Both performances will also be live-streamed on Rockford Choral Union’s Facebook page.

President of the Rockford Choral Union (RCU) Dale Johnson says for many people, “Messiah” is the beginning and the focus of the Christmas season.

“There are times in our lives when we feel disconnected from one another and experiences like the pandemic gave us a feeling of hopelessness and doom. But God, through Jesus Christ, has com municated to us his unconditional love

and gives us hope, regardless of what is happening. Audiences feel uplifted and energized by the production,” he says.

The production will feature a 15-piece chamber orchestra, an organist, four soloists, a harpsichordist, and up to 100 voices representing many churches and faith organizations in the state line area and beyond.

Last year’s Covid requirements and scaled down version of “Messiah” didn’t deter people from enjoying the concert, which was live-streamed for the first time.

“We were surprised, if not shocked, by how many people came to the concert in spite of having to wear masks and so cial distance,” Johnson says. “People live life under the assumption they are in con trol, but the pandemic reminded us we are not in control of much around us, so

the ‘Messiah’ was one way people could move forward with hope because of the story being told about God’s promise that He is always with us.”

“Messiah” is an English-spoken oratorio composed by George Frideric Handel. First performed in Dublin, Ire land in 1742, the work has become one of the best-known and most frequently per formed choral works in western music.

There is no admission fee for RCU’s performance but a free-will offering will be received. Masks are recommended, but not required. ❚

How Thankful?

Every faculty you have, your power of thinking or of moving your limbs from moment to moment, is given you by God.

– C.S. Lewis

Few habits improve our personal hap piness more than seeing what’s good and being thankful for it. This is true for all people, but for Christians, it’s central to being an imitator of Jesus Christ.

Most of us know that gratitude to God is a good habit. But backing up our gratitude with loving obedience to God is quite another thing. We like the word “thankful” much more than the word “obedient.” Gratitude is an attitude – a very important one. But obedience is ac tion born from that gratitude. It involves changing our way of thinking to God’s way of thinking as we become a “new creature in Christ.” (2 Cor. 5:17)

Dozens of scriptures show Jesus liv ing in gratitude. He began and ended his prayers with words of thanks and taught us to do the same (Matthew 6:9-13). But his gratitude ran much deeper than words. No moment of his life better illustrated his loving obedience than his darkest hour in the Garden of Gethsemane, when he knew that pain and death were immi nent. “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” (Luke 42:22 NIV)

If we say we’re thankful for the blessings God gives us, yet we selfishly hoard those blessings, are we truly thank ful? If we say we love God but allow ourselves to despise other people, are we truly thankful? Do we really believe “The earth is the Lord’s, and all it contains, The world, and those who dwell in it,” as King David – “a man after God’s own heart” – proclaimed in Psalm 24:1?

We all face pain at some point. But even in the darkest moments we can choose to be grateful for our countless blessings. And, we can act on that grati tude by obeying the two greatest com mandments identified by Jesus Christ:

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.”

(Matthew 22:37 & 38) ❚

- Janine Pumilia

Stroll on State Marks a Festive 10th Year

By Peggy Werner

Now in its 10th year, Stroll on State is a highlight of the year for thousands of area residents who look forward to kicking off the holiday season together. This year’s event will take place from 2-9 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 26, in downtown Rockford, in an area bordered by Jefferson, Church, Chestnut and Third streets.

The free community celebration at tracted 65,000 visitors last year from the stateline and beyond. Along with build ing community spirit, Stroll on State sup ports local businesses and offers a festive afternoon and evening of music, activi ties, food and fellowship.

A project of the Rockford Area Visi tor and Convention Bureau (RAVCB) and funded by dozens of local sponsors, Stroll on State is always held on Small Business Saturday.

“The whole purpose of the event is to bring the community together and take time to welcome in the holiday season,” says Kristen Paul, vice president of des tination development for the Rockford Area Convention and Visitor Bureau (RACVB). “We just want everyone to en joy the holiday to the fullest and get into the spirit. We’re truly grateful to all our partners, sponsors, volunteers, patrons and vendors for their support throughout the past decade and hopefully for years to come.”

The event began as a city tree light ing ceremony and grew each year with downtown decorations, displays, a pa rade, live music, a huge food court, food trucks and tents, local vendors, fireworks and fun activities. This year will bring new decorations, attractions, live enter tainment and vendors.

A 50-foot-tall Blue Spruce city Christmas tree was donated this year by the Davies Family of Rockford. Paul says the tree will look even more spectacular this year with new ornaments, 30,000 multi-colored lights, flashing strobe lights and an elaborate tree topper.

Businesses throughout the downtown River District will offer holiday specials and fun activities as part of Small Busi ness Saturday, which encourages people to support local shop owners.

Volunteering for the event is a fun way to meet new people. Volunteers can attend workshops without prior registra tion. Among other things, volunteers are needed for the Downtown Decorating Days on Friday and Saturday, Nov. 18-19.

Volunteers are people who love the outdoors, are artistic, creative, and/ or compassionate, says Julie Huber of

RACVB. She has volunteered at Stroll on State since it began, and for the past two years has helped to organize the event.

“It takes all kinds of people, but what they have in common is they’re all will ing to give of themselves to help others because they want to give back to their community.”

Thousands of volunteer hours are re quired to pull off Stroll on State. People can just show up to help or sign up at strollonstate.com. Children 12 to 15 years old need to be accompanied by an adult.

Stroll on State will open with the In flatable Balloons Highlight Parade at 2

p.m., beginning at South Main and Chest nut streets and moving north to cross the State Street Bridge, ending at Third Street. The lighting of the city Christmas tree will take place at 6 p.m. at the main stage on the corner of Main and Elm streets. Fireworks will be launched from the Jefferson Street bridge at 8:30 p.m.

New events this year include the Blitzen’s Ball, a character party for kids. Princesses and other heroes will roam around the music-filled, four-story glass tower at Iconic Energy (formerly the Rockford Register Star News Tower).

Also new is the Block 5 Party, where people will warm up near fire pits, expe rience a DJ battle, shop and dine at local establishments and see the popular Fire & Ice show, all in the 500 block of State Street. Fire & Ice features huge blocks of hollowed-out ice that are filled with wood. When lit, they make for “magical” light shows at 5:30, 6:30, and 7:30 p.m.

The Holiday Hot Rods Classic Car Show will feature a collection of classic

and vintage cars decked out for the holi days and displayed in the parking lot be hind CJ’s Bar and Grill, 115 N. Madison St. Prizes will be awarded for best in class and best decorated vehicles. The deadline to register is Nov. 23 at strollonstate.com.

Other attractions include several Selfie Stations, indoor and outdoor mov ies, ice skating at BMO Center, and the Dasher Dash 5K, starting at noon at Be attie Park, 100 Park Ave. Registration ends Nov. 24. There’s also S’mores sta tions, horse and wagon rides, two holi day markets, a toy train display, excerpts from “The Nutcracker,” and Rudolph’s Reindeer Village. At Rockford City Hall, kids can write, decorate and mail letters to Santa.

Suggested on-street and lot parking is noted at strollonstate.com. Free shuttle bus service will continuously run from 1-9 p.m. from YMCA, 200 Y Blvd.; For est City Church, 1280 S. Alpine Road; and Crusader Community Health, 1200 W. State St. ❚

Entertainment & Events

RAM: Midwestern Biennial

Thru Jan. 30, Thur.-Sun. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. The latest iteration of this recurring display draws together a juried selection of works by Rockford and regional artists. Rockford Art Museum, 711 N. Main St., (815) 968-2787, rockfordartmuseum.com.

‘And The Angels Sang’

Nov. 18, 7:30 p.m. Join Rockford University choirs in a fall concert meant to uplift and inspire. Maddox Theatre, Clark Arts Center, Rockford University, 5050 E. State St., Rock ford, (815) 226-4100, rockford.edu.

Dancing With the Rockford Stars Nov. 19, 6-11 p.m. The 15th annual event fea tures six local celebrity couples competing for the mirrored ball trophy. The event is a fund raiser for Family Counseling Services. Temple Event Center, 7910 Newburg Road, Rock ford, familycounselingrockford.org.

Wind Ensemble Clarinet Quartet

Nov. 21, 5:30 p.m. The quartet presents a wide variety of music from baroque, classi cal and romantic eras to jazz, pop and rock.

Mendelssohn Performing Arts Center, Starr Center, 415 N. Church St., Rockford, (815) 964-9713, mendelssohnpac.org.

Floral Centerpiece Workshop

Nov. 21, 6-8 p.m. Complete your Thanks giving table with a beautiful floral center piece. All supplies provided. Klehm Arbo retum & Botanic Garden, 2715 S. Main St., Rockford, (815) 965-8146, klehm.org.

“Sleeping Beauty”

Nov. 23, 7:30 p.m. Presented by the State Ballet Theatre of Ukraine. Coronado Per forming Arts Center, 314 N. Main St., Rockford, coronadopac.org.

“Messiah”

Nov. 26-27, Sat.-Sun. 3 p.m. Frideric Handel’s uplifting holiday classic, presented by the Rockford Choral Union. Emmanuel Lutheran Church, 920 3rd Ave., Rockford, (815) 963-4815, elcrockford.org.

A Magical Cirque Christmas Dec. 4, 6:30 p.m. Experience the enchant

ment of Christmas with an evening of daz zling performers and breathtaking cirque artists. Coronado Performing Arts Center, Rockford, (815) 968-5222, coronadopac.org.

Winter Wonderland Dec. 20, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. It’s like winter with out the cold at Discovery Center’s new in door Sock Skating Rink. Discovery Center Museum, 711 N. Main St., Rockford, (815) 963-6769, discoverycentermuseum.org. ❚

Make a Thanksgiving-themed floral centerpiece for yourself or as a gift on Nov. 21 at Klehm Arboretum & Botanic Garden, in Rockford.