The ‘Cummer Museum’ has a spectacular holiday event

The “Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens” invites the community to celebrate the holidays through special events and seasonal promotions. The Museum is commemorating its 60th anniversary this year with the theme a “The Museum is for Everybody.” This holiday season event lineup includes a variety of opportunities for visitors of all ages to explore the Museum’s art and gardens. The Museum offers a variety of holiday events for members and visitors of all ages this season.

“We are excited to welcome visitors to the Museum this holiday season to celebrate together as a community,” said Andrea Barnwell Brownlee, George W. and Kathleen I. Gibbs Director and Chief Executive Officer. “Whether it be a picnic in the gardens during Illuminating Nature, a glass of bubbles while perusing gifts in the shop, or exploring the galleries as a family, we offer experiences for everyone to enjoy.”

Upcoming events and promotions include:
●      Museum Store Sunday (Nov. 28, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.): Museum Store Sunday is a worldwide shopping day, with more than 1,800 museums from over 24 countries represented. The Cummer Shop is the perfect place to find unique and one-of-a kind gifts like artisan jewelry, wearable art, special items that reflect the collections, and much more. All shoppers will receive a 25% discount on every Museum Store Sunday purchase plus a 10% discount in the Cummer Café.

●      Champagne & Shopping (Dec. 2, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Dec. 3, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.): Shoppers ages 21+ may enjoy complimentary champagne while shopping exclusive offers. Members will receive a 30% discount on purchases; non-members will receive a 20% discount.

●      Illuminating Nature (Dec. 3, 7, 10, 14 and 17, 4 to 9 p.m.): Explore the Gardens in a whole new light. Join the Museum for a magical outdoor experience, as more than a dozen sculptures will be illuminated and placed throughout the 2.5 acre-historic riverfront Gardens— perfect for a festive evening of enjoyment with refreshments from the Cummer Café. This event is free to the public, and registration is required.

●      Sunset Garden Picnics (Every Friday, 5 to 9 p.m.): This weekly event invites visitors to relax in the beautiful riverfront gardens and enjoy a picnic provided by the Cummer Café. Picnics can be created for one ($25) or two guests ($40) and must be ordered in advance. Admission is free, and reservations are required to ensure capacity limits and social distancing.

Support from the community is critical for the Museum to serve as a vibrant civic resource. Proceeds from daily admission, Cummer Shop sales, and the Cummer Café support the Museum’s mission to engage and inspire through the arts, gardens, and education. To register for events, click HERE.

Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens
   829 Riverside Avenue
   Jacksonville, Florida 32204
   (904) 356-6857
   Hours of Operation & Admission

Card or no card - it’s still Christmas

 This isn’t a new subject, but traditions have changed in our household after time.  Usually I try to Christmas cards ready to send out on Thanksgiving Day.  As the years have pass, fewer people reciprocate and send cards to our home.  Could it be the cost of stamps?  Could it be that people are too busy?  Could it be that people really don’t want to communicate?  Whatever the reason, remember that Jesus always was and always will be the reason for this Holiday Season.

Things have changed over the years and I get more joy by putting together an album of the Christmas photos that people from our past send to us.  Of course, there doesn’t have to be a picture enclosed in Christmas cards, but it’s so nice to see how other families grow.  Come to think about it, I use to add a Christmas letter in my cards, but that ceased years ago.

Whatever you decide to do, keep praying for your friends (past, present and future); as you remember that Jesus is the true reason for this holy holiday season.  Merry Christmas to you and your family and God Bless Us Everyone!

Christmas card – why?

Why send Christmas cards?

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The Gift

It wasn’t given to you on Christmas, because we don’t wait to express ourselves on just one day and besides that, it’s Jesus’ birthday and not yours.

It wasn’t given on Valentine’s Day because we love you all year long.

Blessings

It wasn’t given on St. Patrick’s Day, because we, as Christians, don’t believe in luck.

It wasn’t given on your birthday because we’re glad that God had a purpose just for you on that day—you were born, and that was special enough.

It was given because of the love that God instills in us to be obedient when He calls us to bestow blessings on someone, and to give that gift whenever He asks us to bless someone.

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Why Send Christmas Cards?

Some people may have already started decorating for Christmas, yet in some households the traditional time to “deck the halls” comes right after Thanksgiving.  There are also cards to send out (although a lot of people have evolved more to cyber greetings then using the standard Christmas card). Or are people waiting to see who will send them a card first? Sending cards shouldn’t be a chore or an obligation. It’s a time to “reach out and touch someone”

Make a collage from those Christmas photos

Yes, the cost of stamps has increased; yet take note how the number of your friends, relatives and associates may have dwindled. Some people may have died or just aren’t doing as well as you seem to be doing. They may be “too busy” (now that’s a sad and overused expression – we’re all busy these days), they might have lost your address, or they may have lost their joy – ‘Bah Humbug’. Your card may be the only tangible thing they receive, and can look at throughout the year, knowing that someone still cares.

Cyber cards are fine; however a hand written card is exceptional. It may take a little time, effort and money. You don’t have to get expensive cards (Hint for next year’s cards: Get the pretty ones the day after Christmas for the following year – usually 75% off.); nonetheless it shows that you thought enough to send the very best (sounds like a slogan doesn’t it?)  Even if you get your secretary to do the work for you, it’s better than putting all you addresses in “CC or BCC”, adding a cute little graphic and hitting the “send button”. 

You may not want to “stay-in-touch” anymore (because the other person didn’t respond last year or they just ‘ticked-you-off’), but give the communication effort a couple of years before you decide to disconnect. You may need to let the other person know that they offended you; then do it with kindness, forgive them and move on with your life. The question to ask yourself is, “Who are your friends or who are mere acquaintances that you no longer have a ‘common bond’ to share?”  Sometimes it’s a tough decision (does the person need your friendship, or are they just sucking the life out of you?) After the second year of no response, it may be time to let it go.

If you’ve been blessed to have someone’s physical address, then go ahead – send them a card. The longer you live – the shorter your Christmas card list may become. It shouldn’t be hard to stay in touch at least once a year. Take a little time out of your busy schedule and send a card today. It’s good to get something in the mail besides bills and advertisements.  Besides, the retail market is stealing the true reason for the holiday season.

Proverbs 18:24 KJV “A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.”

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