1.INTRO
Why are people drawn to Christmas, even ones who are not overtly religious or who even claim to be atheists?
Shiny sparkly things.Brightly colored flashing lights. Happy music. Presents. Mushy stories. Childhood memories. Peace. Goodwill towards men. Family Togetherness. What's NOT to love?
A baby born in an animal shed.Stories with happy miracles in them. Angels, shepherds, Lambs, Bells, Cookies and good food. Even more reasons to love Christmas!
Christmas is about joy and giving and love right? We should NOT feel guilt for enjoying a holiday that really is all about Jesus, whether all celebritories know it! ( or if they ignore it) Sure I get occasionally frustrated at the rampant commerialism that is part of Christmas in our day. But if I let it get to me, I will lose my joy in the season.
Why is this season about Love? Why is it about giving? Why is it about doing things together? Why is it about singing carols together ( and listening to it piped from speakers in stores). Why is it about giving to the poor and everyone wanting every poor child to have a good Christmas dinner and a few presents under their tree?
I believe all of this good is inspired by JESUS. It's the celebration of HIS special birth and his extraordinary miraculous life and His choice of LOVE to come to earth, live amongst us, then die so that we will LIVE. It's amazing and if we want to keep or revive that feeling of amazement and the childlike joy we often miss during the season, we need to think of that. Of the why. Of the Who.
Think about it, although our society often seems to try hard to make Christmas just about presents , shiny lights and Santa and nothing to do with a faith filled reason for it, they cannot deny (though they might try) that the real purpose of Christmas is to celebrate the birth of Christ.
And maybe, even the least religious of people, who may even scorn our nativity scenes and
our insistence that "Jesus is the Reason for the Season!", who may insist angrily that
Christmas is actually pagan and what right have we religous folks to "steal" the holiday,
I believe that deep inside every person there is a longing to know that God loves them.
Inside our hearts we're all children, aching for the ultimate Love of the Ultimate Parent!
We long to believe in love, in goodness , in miracles.
The Real Reason
Excitement and joy are filling the air;
The lights add special decor.
We're shopping for Christmas gifts everywhere,
But are gifts what Christmas is for?
The wreaths and the trees and the parties
Aren't what we need to convey;
It's the birth of our Savior, Jesus,
The real reason for this holiday.
True Christian Christmas
Christmas isn't showy gifts
Or glittering decoration;
It's honoring our Savior, Jesus Christ
In humble adoration.
It's serving those less fortunate,
Meeting their needs before our own;
It's making sure at Christmas time
That no one is alone.
It's taking what we would have spent
On things that no one needs,
And using it to help someone
With service and good deeds.
Our Savior showed us how to live
With charity, faith and service.
It makes the holidays a joy,
More peaceful, and less nervous.
So let's remember Christmas is
About our Savior's birth;
That's the way to happiness,
The way to peace on earth.
By Joanna Fuchs
Ways to Keep Christ In You and Your Family's Christmas:
1. Read and learn the Christmas story[[ from St. Luke Chapter 2 and St. Matthew Chapter 2]].
2. Teach your children the true meaning of Christmas and the origin of it.[[[[ ]]]]]
1. Set up a nativity in your house in a highly visible place, a silent reminder to your household and whoever visits. If you have a windowsill that people outside can see easily, consider setting it up on the windowsill, facing outward.
2. Have an Advent Wreath and celebrate Advent.
3. Send out religious Christmas cards with a Christian message and illustration.
4. Create a Jesse Tree or a Chrismon Tree.
5. Hang a nativity ornament on your Christmas Tree.
6. Hang an unusual ornament with religious significance such as a cross or the sign of the fish.
7. Do Christmas Devotions with your family each night of the Christmas season. You could choose to start this activity with your Advent celebrations or simply each day in the month of December until Christmas. I would start with an age appropriate child's book on the birth of Jesus.
On Christmas Eve, read the Christmas story in Luke 1:5-56 and Mathew 2 ( the Magi)
8. After each devotion pray as a family.)
Play Christmas Carols. ( I start November 1st!) You don't have to exclude your favorites about bells and sleighs and reindeers but focus on playing more [[Christian carols or]] I like to keep a 3 to 1 balance. [[[ For every "fun" song I play, I play 3 with religious meaning]]
Does your church have a group that does Sunday afternoon services at senior homes? Join the group with your children! Practice singing carols at home with your children so they can sing them for the seniors.
8. Bake a cake for baby Jesus and sing "Happy Birthday" on Christmas Day. Light a candle for each child and family member and have each person close their eyes and say a prayer for someone who is less fortunate this Christmas.
9. Do you live in an apartment building? Buy some inexpensive Christmas cards and sign each one " Merry Christmas from your neighbor". Don't worry about addressing them, just slide on under each door. Make sure not to miss anyone! The point is to be anonymous so the person feels noticed and appreciated but doesn't know who it is , so no pressure to have to return the favor.
10. Are you well aquainted or somewhat friendly with your neighbors? Consider giving each one a plate of Christmas cookies. ( try to avoid ones with nuts to avoid any allergies) Put a dozen or so on a foil wrapped foam plate, cover with plastic wrap, stick on a bow and presto! Make sure to include one of your Christian Christmas cards!
Plan a family service project to do or donate to during the month of December. Volunteer somewhere. Buy gifts or meals for needy families. Reinforce to your children (and to yourself) that keeping Christmas is about giving, not getting.
11. Attend Church with your family on Christmas Eve.
12. During the Christmas season invite groups of friends and family for a festive meal or potluck.
((((more ideas on this))))
13. Be sure to attend the children's Christmas program in your church. Bring a camera and show off the fun at the next gathering ( and build memories for later) Just a word of caution - don't be taking so many photos that you forget to actually watch! Attend your friend's and families childrens performances, in church and in school. Jesus is a big fan of children! To love and respect them is giving a gift to Him.
How To Keep Christ In Christmas
Ways To Keep Christ In Christmas
How to make a Religious Countdown Chain of Days to Christmas Day
Top Ten Ways to Help Children Keep Christ In Christmas
Advent Calendar Activities
Easy DIY advent calendar
Manger Coloring Page
Jesus is The Reason Coloring Page
(adorable!)
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3.ADVENT???
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A Tip About Advent Activities:
24 days is a lot of activities to try to come up with and do with your children. You'll have to fit them in with cooking, cleaning, laundry, eating and schoolwork. Add to that , shopping for gifts, wrapping gifts, decorating, attending various Christmas activites. KEEP IT SIMPLE SIS! Especially if this is your first year. You can have a lot of fun with advent, but you're bound to have days when the kids think you are torturing or the words of the devotion you wanted to read suddenly blurs before you because of holiday fatigue. Not to worry!! It won't be perfect but it is still worth it!!
Being a grandma now, I have discovered that my children delight in the retelling of family stories of Mom's off days and mistakes. ( ones I wish they would forget).And guess what else? Almost every mess up, mistake or rough day can be turned into a good memory by the simple addition of laughter!
PS ( If you've been a really bad mommy ( cranky, yelled at the dog and your husband, threatened to sell off your whole family on Ebay, cried when you burnt Aunty Lou's famous fruit loaf , simply add hugs to each family member,yes, even the dog , tell them you love them, then set it all down, make popcorn and watch a Christmas comedy. Relax, enjoy those moments too - they are building GREAT memories and hon, if you doze off on the couch, I won't tell anyone, because I have soooo been there)
WHY JESUS IS BETTER THAN SANTA CLAUS
(author unknown)
Santa lives at the North Pole ...
JESUS is everywhere.
Santa rides in a sleigh ...
JESUS rides on the wind and walks on the water.
Santa comes but once a year.
JESUS is an ever present help.
Santa fills your stockings with goodies ...
JESUS supplies all your needs.
Santa comes down your chimney uninvited ...
JESUS stands at your door and knocks, and enters your heart.
You have to wait in line to see Santa ...
JESUS is as close as the mention of His name.
Santa lets you sit on his lap ...
JESUS lets you rest in His Arms.
Santa doesn't know your name, all he can say is
"Hi little boy or girl, what's your name?" ...
JESUS knew our name before we did.
Not only does He know our name,
He knows our history and future,
and
He even knows our hearts & how many hairs are on our heads.
Santa has a belly like a bowl full of jelly ...
JESUS has a heart full of love, grace, mercy & forgiveness.
All Santa can offer is HO HO HO ...
JESUS says "Cast your cares on me for I care for you."
Santa's little helpers make toys ...
JESUS makes a new life, mends wounded hearts,
repairs broken homes and builds mansions.
Santa may make you chuckle but ...
JESUS gives you joy that is your strength.
While Santa puts gifts under your tree ...
JESUS became our gift and died on the tree,
For you & for me.
It's obvious there is really no comparison.
We need to remember WHO Christmas is all about.
We need to put CHRIST back in Christmas,
Jesus is still the reason for the season.
Yes, JESUS is better,
He is even better than Santa Claus.
Advent Wreath Coloring Sheet
(in PDF)
Making Advent Wreaths
Advent Wreath Prayers For Each Week
The Christian Christmas Tradition of the Advent Wreath
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