To change the tone of our last several Bulletins, we offer you the following suggestion, song and prayer from Mark Lesniewski.

=======

BUY NOTHING DAY--Friday, Nov. 29

Be part of the more than 1 million people who will buy nothing on Friday 11/29, the day after Thanksgiving, the busiest shopping day of the year. 11 years ago Buy Nothing Day was started as a protest against the commercialism of Christmas and to help us be more mindful of our consumption throughout the year.  To assist in your celebration you can sing this Buy Nothing Day song that I wrote. It's sung to the tune of "Jingle Bells".

For more info on Buy Noting Day: http://www.adbusters.org/campaigns/bnd/
 
CHRISTMAS BILLS
Dashing through the snow, in a gas hog SUV,
O'er the malls we go, stressed out as can be.
Bells on cell phones chirp, Good spirits taking flight,
What fun it was before the stores
took over Christmas night.

(REFRAIN)
Oh, Christmas bills, Christmas bills, credit cards are maxed.
In the hole, I owe my soul to Marshall Field and Sa-aks.
Christmas bills, Christmas bills, more than I can pay.
My holiday depression now extends to Labor Day.

A day or 2 ago, I had to take a ride.
I couldn't put aside, my spending power pride.
If I can make the mall, 'fore closing Christmas Eve
I swear I'd cry to heaven high, "My God I do believe!"

(REFRAIN)
Oh, Christmas bills......
-------------------------------------------------------

Well, that was a lot of fun and we all had a jolly good laugh. Please e-mail everyone on your list and ask them to be a part of the protest jocularity. When the time does come to shop try this little prayer:
 
SHOPPING PRAYER
Lord, help me to shop thoughtfully.
Grant me a spirit of gratitude for what I already have,
And protect me from being possessed by my possessions.
Amen.