Christmas Lists

We’re at that time of year when we keep lists pretty close at hand – lists of gifts we’d like to buy (at the best price we can find!), lists of groceries to get for holiday treats, lists of special Advent and Christmas events we want to attend.

But there is a different kind of Christmas list someone told me about, that I’d like to pass along to you. You may already be familiar with it – it’s a Christmas list from “The Advent Conspiracy,” a resource developed by a network of local churches to help Christians find ways to weave more true meaning into their holiday observances.

The premise is this: “Christmas can still change the world. The story of Christ’s birth is a story of promise, hope, and revolutionary love. What is Christmas became a world-changing event again?”

The ways they suggest to make this happen are simple:

• Worship fully – “It starts with Jesus. It ends with Jesus...it’s a season where we are called to put down our burdens and lift up a song to our God. It’s a season when love wins, peace reigns, and a King is celebrated with each breath. “
• Spend Less – “We like gifts. Our kids really like gifts. But Americans spend an average $450 billion on Christmas every year. We’re asking people to consider buying one less gift this year. Sounds insignificant, yet many who have taken this one small sacrifice have experienced something nothing less than a miracle – they have been more able to celebrate Christ during the Advent season.”
• Give More – God’s gift to us is a relationship built on love. So it’s no wonder why we’re drawn to the idea that Christmas should be a time to love our friends and family in the most memorable ways possible. Time is the real gift Christmas offers us – time to write Mom a letter, to take the kids sledding, to make a gift...”
• Love All – “When Jesus loved, he loved in ways never imagined. Though rich, he became poor to love the poor, the forgotten, the overlooked, and the sick. By spending less at Christmas, we have the resources to join him in sharing resources with those who need help the most.

We have numerous opportunities to extend the love of Christ to others this Christmas through the church. The Giving Tree, and the Alternate Gift Fair, available each Sunday in the parlor; and the special PRC food drive on December 5 are a few of them.

We invite all of us to join together in making our lives a gift to Christ this season – as together we worship fully, spend just a little less, give more, and love all.