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How to Keep Christ in Christmas I asked the following questions of readers of the Daily Christian Quote and the "I Lift My Eyes News" asking for their input. Do you have any tips you would like to share with others as to how you create an atmosphere during weeks that lead up to Christmas that allows Christ to be given a place in the celebration? Do you remember traditions from your childhood that helped you to draw your focus back to Jesus, even if just for a few moments? Have you established new traditions that help you to step away from the commercialism and into the manger? It is only fair that I go first, since I asked the questions: I attended an R.C. School as a child and although I am now an evangelical Christian, I must admit that I do miss celebrating the season of Advent . We would gather as a school and light a candle on the Advent Wreath each week. The service was short and written in such a way that small wriggling overly excited children could understand but it had a profound effect on me and I grew up realizing Christmas was much more than presents under the tree and Santa Claus. Our Advent calendar was not full of Santa, elves and reindeer but instead had different biblical pictures surrounding the events that led up to the birth of Jesus. Each day we would lift up one little flap for the month of December. Although it took my mother maybe 2 minutes a day to gather us together for the 'lifting of the daily flap' it was a reminder to her children that it was Jesus' birthday we were celebrating. As a single disabled adult who spends much of the holiday season alone, I listen to Christmas hymns and carols focusing on the words. So many of the songs we sing speak the whole gospel. Hark the Herald Angels Sing! O Holy Night, O Come All Ye Faithful. Almost every Christmas song we sing in church preaches to my heart, reminding me of the gift of salvation. Songs I've known by heart ever since I was a wee small child are fresh and alive to me as I truly LISTEN to the words I am singing and look past the sentimental memories conjured up at old favourites. Christmas Party for Jesus Feel free to decorate with traditional birthday decorations rather than 'Christmas' decorations. Have a traditionally iced cake and all the trappings. If Christmas decorations are already up in one room, perhaps consider hosting the party in another room. Appoint a master of ceremonies who begins with a prayer and group singing that expresses the true meaning of Christmas. Include an encouraging scripture in your Christmas card writing as it is becoming increasingly difficult to find the words "Merry Christmas" in pre-written Christmas cards. Don't be afraid to give thanks to God for His blessings in your life in your Christmas letter writing. Sing Happy Birthday to Jesus at the end and break with cake and refreshments. If any children are part of the celebrations, ask them to blow out the candles. ........... .. Invite singles, the elderly, the disabled in institutions and those with no families or families that live far away into your home and festivities over the whole Christmas season as best fits their individual situation. Don't assume they've a place to go. Trimming a tree? Invite that tall college student over to help put the tinsel up on the top. Making cookies? Make it into a cookie exchange party, complete with cookie baking. Give the gift of fellowship, not just a check or a hamper dropped off on their step. Many people assume that singles have somewhere to go when in fact, they may be spending much of the season alone. Keep an ear open to the Lord's promptings and allow your eyes of hospitality to spot those who may not be in need of material items but who live in the awful poverty of lonliness. Show Christ that you love him by loving his children and your fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. ........... .. Go Christmas Caroling. Gather four or more people together and wander down the block singing Christmas Carols - not just seasonal 'songs'. It doesn't matter that you don't have perfect harmony, it only matters that you have hearts that want to sing of His love. How often do we as Christians have the license in today's society to sing out his praises door to door? Pick carols that speak of the plan of Salvation. K. W. Canada The thing that comes back to me every Christmas is a story that was played as a four part serial on the radio each year when I was a child a long long time ago. It is "The Small One" by Bing Crosby. My mother used to explain to us that it wasn't true, but that we needed to hear it just the same. To me it embodied all of the sweetness and joy of the journey that Mary and Joseph made to give birth to the Christ Child, when in fact it would also have been a time of great difficulty (stress we would call it now). This young couple had already traveled a long way in their faith, and probably had to tolerate a lot of less than kind comment about Mary's unusual pregnancy. Now in this late hour of her 'time' she had to make a tiring trip on dusty roads with no accommodation pre-booked for her. But I think that they would have known more than is recorded in the Gospels, and their joy would surely have been unbounded, especially as the events of the shepherds and later the wise men unfolded.
Anonymous Read the Christmas story to your children in an age appropriate manner. There are many books in any Christian bookstore that can be read to children of all ages. Make the reading of the Christmas story into a tradition, dim the lights, play carols softly in the background, light candles. Allow this to be an 'event'. Perhaps have a special cookie or treat that's only served on the 'Christmas Story' night. Anonymous Instill generosity of the heart in your Christmas planning. A generosity that extends past your friends, family or your local church. A few ideas: 1. Consider volunteering in a soup kitchen at least once over the holidays. Deliver food hampers if you have a car. Get involved with your local Christmas charity. 2. If you still have children at home, ask them what they want to GIVE for Christmas. Help them write up a list of friends and family and help them to decide what they can practically give each person that would be meaningful but would not require much of a financial outlay. A home-made card, a phone call, a hug, an offer to babysit, making a bed for a sister. Help them to see past what 'they' want. 3. Be on the outlook for singles, the disabled and the elderly in your church. Don't assume they have anywhere to go. Invite them over to help decorate the tree, not just for Christmas dinner. EMS - Canada
As a visitor to this page, I'd welcome your input as well, please contact me on the contact page: All email addresses will be kept confidential and I'll only post your initials and your country, if you wish to include that information in your email. (for example: K. W. Canada)
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