CYBER MONDAY - A BETTER WAY TO DO YOUR HOLIDAY SHOPPING AND BEAT THE FRENZY ?...........

With this year's 'Black Friday', 'Small Business Saturday', and ThanksGiving Weekend, behind us, in the hope that many of the Christmas shopping participants also took part in yesterday's 'Giving Sunday' celebration; we arrive at, "Cyber Monday", the holiday shopping day, when the majority of online purchases are made.  Initial reports are that Friday and Saturday sales receipts are up over last year, and today's Cyber Monday's total of online shopping, which last year topped $1 billion in sales for the first time, is projected to be some $1.2 billion.  Given the increasing frenzy, madness, and even violence, of Black Friday, in some store and mall locations around the USAlast week, Cyber Monday, is a simpler, safe, and sane, way to do  seasonal shopping, as long as the computer you are using is secure with firewall of protection of your personal and financial information online.  Hopefully, amidst all this concentrated focus on shopping, consumers will also remember the authentic reason behind all the shopping they do, and make provision for the poor, needy, and less fortunate, in society who are lucky to be able to shop for basic essentials such as food, and clothing.  OLOL Parish, like most church congregations at this time of year have myriads of families, who turn to us to provide some degree of Christmas for them.  So as you do your Cyber Monday shopping, include consideration of at least one local charity, serving the needy, and make a contribution towards providing them with the Spirit of Giving and Generosity, that is Christmas...........Fr.  Troy