Archives: Whose Birthday Is It, Anyway? #15BONUS Items |
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Christmas Gifts: A Skit
- Celebrating the Birthday of Jesus with a Parade
- "Doesn't Anyone Know What Christmas Is All About?"
- Open House
- A Litany of Our Lord's Advent
- How Did Santa Claus Begin?: Children's Sermon
-
"New Celebrations Newsletter" Entries
- Whose Birthday Is It, Anyway?
- Advent
- 'Twas the Beginning of Advent
- How the Great Guest Came
- Many Americans Believe Christmas Has Lost Its Focus
- Prescription for Joy
- Rethink Your Christmas List
- Latest Research: Holiday Rituals Strengthen Marriages and Families
- World Council of Churches Christmas Message
- Christmas with More Meaning and Less Money
Introduction
Although the following items were not selected for publication in the Advent-Christmas family booklet "Whose Birthday Is It, Anyway?" they are worthy to be shared.
If you publish any of these, please give credit to the author and to "Simple Living Works!: visit SimpleLivingWorks.org."
CHRISTMAS GIFTS
A Skit by Jane T. Carswell
Scene I
Rufus: (enters happily singing) I wish me a merry Christmas, I wish you a merry Christmas, I wish us a merry Christmas. There's joy in the world, Baby Jesus has come.
Christy enters and looks at Rufus shaking her head: Rufus, you are so dumb. There's not going to be any merry or joy in Christmas this year.
Rufus: But I'm happy and Christmas is coming! (sings as he starts to leave.) I wish Christy a merry Christmas, I wish Christy a merry Christmas and Joy to the World in the Happy New Year
Christy: Bah! Humbug!
Pat enters: Christy, you look so sad, and I was hoping that you could help cheer me up.
Christy: It's Rufus! It's Christmas! My father's plant closed and he doesn't have a job. I had planned on getting a new super deluxe computer and lots of DVDs and lots of new clothes from Dillards in Hickory, and now I probably won't get anything.
Pat: Oh, Christy, that is bad, but did you know that my father is in the National Guard and has to go in the Army with the war going on. I won't have my Daddy for Christmas.
(Both girls start crying)
Dustin and Eduardo enter
Dustin: Good grief! What are you crying about?
Eduardo: Well, my grandfather says that women cry if they are happy or sad. It's always one of the other.
Rufus enters again singing: I wish us a merry Christmas , I wish you'uns a merry Christmas, I...
Christy: Rufus! Do please quit that terrible singing. I can't stand it. (Puts her hand over her ears and hurriedly leaves)
Pat: Christy's father lost his job, and mine has had to go to war, so there's nothing merry about Christmas this year.
Eduardo: Yeah. I know. We moved from Mexico and nothing is like it was at home. Nobody even knows what a piñata is, and the food isn't the same. We always had on Christmas.
Dustin: Food is very important at Christmas. We always went to my Grandmother's for Christmas dinner and she died last summer. Pawpaw has been so cross since. I t sure won't be a merry Christmas this year.
All leave except Rufus who starts scratching his head and humming "I wish you a Merry Christmas."
Mrs. Smith enters: Goodness, there were a certainly sad faces leaving here. What's going on?
Rufus: They're all sad about Christmas.
Mrs. Smith: Why sad about celebrating Jesus' birthday?
Rufus: They didn't say anything about Jesus. It was about gifts they wouldn't get, food that they wouldn't have, and people who wouldn't be here.
Mrs. Smith: Whose birthday do they think that it is anyhow? (she leaves)
Rufus: Hums I wish you a Merry Christmas. (He leaves after the others are gone)
Scene II
(Grandpa Jones and Rufus enter from opposite directions)
Grandpa Jones: Hello, Rufus.
Rufus: Oh, Grandpa Jones. I'm so glad to see you. You're old and wise, and I need your help.
Grandpa Jones: Well, some people think if you're old, you're foolish. What's on your mind?
Rufus: My friends are all sad about Christmas. Christy's father lost his job. Dustin's grandmother died. Pat's father had to go in the Army, and Eduardo misses Mexico. I'd like to give them something, but I don't have any money.
Grandpa Jones: Well, let's see. Jesus didn't have money either, and He gave us many things.
Rufus: He gave us love and peace. That's what the angels sang about.
Grandpa Jones: Yes, and Jesus taught us how to live and treat each other.
Rufus: Yeah. We learned in Bible School about the little boy who shared his lunch with Jesus and 5,000 other people. He was unselfish.
Grandpa: And whom did He teach that we should friends to.
Rufus: That's easy to anyone who needs a friend, like the Good Samaritan did.
Hey! I have an idea. I can give them the things Jesus gave us. (goes off stage hurriedly)
Grandpa Jones: That boy is a lot smarter than a lot of people think.
Scene III
Christy, Dustin, Pat, and Eduardo come on stage
Christy: We're all going to have a miserable Christmas.
Dustin: Oh, no. Here comes Rufus. I sure hope that he's not singing again.
(Rufus enters)
Rufus: Hey, I'm glad that I found you I've got something for you. I've got a Christmas gift from Jesus for each of you.
Eduardo: Well, where are they?
Rufus: It's these stars that I made. (holds up hand with a star) Love is for Dustin. Peace is for Pat. Unselfishness for Christy and Friendship for Eduardo. (Puts a star on each one) Merry Christmas and don't forget to wish Jesus a Happy Birthday.
(Rufus leaves)
(They all look at their stars.)
Dustin: Love. Jesus did love us or He wouldn't have come at Christmas. Although He is not here on earth, I know that He still loves me. You know, I know Grandma still loves me even if she won't be here to cook Christmas dinner.
Pat: I bet that your Grandpa is really sad is why he is so grumpy. He needs to know that you love him, Dustin. (looks at her star) Peace. How can I have peace with war going on?
Christy: The Bible says that peace will be in your heart if you let Jesus in. If you don't complain so much, it would help your mother to feel peace too. Now why did he give me unselfishness?
Eduardo: Well, Jesus did tell us not to worry about getting lots of things. What was it that you wanted for Christmas?
Christy: I see what you mean. I've got my mother and daddy and that's more important than any old computer. I need to let them know that.
Eduardo: (looks at his star) Friendship. I really need that in this new country. I left all of my friends behind in Mexico.
Dustin: We're your friends. And you know, we all need to be friends to lonely people. There are a lot of them. They aren't all from other countries.
Christy: Speaking of being friends, I've not been so nice to Rufus sometimes. He's really made all of us see what Christmas is all about. Let's go find him and thank him.
Pat: Sure. Let's go. But I do hope that he won't sing for us again.
[END]
Celebrating the Birthday of Jesus with a Parade
by Steven L. Beumer
Each successive Christmas season has removed us further from the core value that Christmas is intended to serve as a Holiday -- the birth or birthday of Jesus Christ.
This past Christmas members of St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church in Winter Park Florida decided that enough was enough. The decision was made that if Christ was going to be put back into Christmas it was our job and we had to take the initiate. We must aggressively go into our community and take the holiday back from those that remove Christ completely.
As a first step we decided to participate in the Winter Park Christmas Parade. While St. John has been a congregation in Winter Park, Florida, for nearly 50 years, they had never been in the parade which also grown during its 50 years as one of the biggest events of the Winter Park Chamber of Commerce. The parade has grown from a few participants to over 60 floats and annual attendance of well over 12,000.
Participating in the parade caught the attention of St. John's Elementary School that signed on with unbridled enthusiasm. They brought the many willing hands to construct a float for our entry in the parade.
After some discussion a design was agreed upon and the task of putting it all together began. Then the roadblocks that spring up began to spring up.
Insurance difficulties prevented us from using a flat bed truck for the float. Similar problems occurred when we found a large landscape trailer to use. Our original idea of having our youth choir ride on the float and sing Christmas carols had to be scrapped and replaced with a very large boom box.
Several years ago one of the "signature" statements St. John made to the Winter Park community was creating a huge Christmas tree by using thousands of white lights on the 60 foot bell in the front of the church. We duplicated this with an replica of the tower and the same white light tree surrounding the tower. This became our centerpiece en the float. Then the school children wrapped large empty boxes and placed the them around our light tree. The trailer was decorated with Christmas wrapping paper and dozens of helium balloons were tied around the float. Large brightly decorated poles held a banner that proclaimed "HAPPY BIRTHDAY JESUS" in bright red, blue, green and yellow. More balloons adorned our banner to really set the birthday party tone.
We enlisted 8 members of the Christian Clown group that is a ministry for hospitals and nursing homes from St. John. They wore full costumes, and walked along the float handing out invitations for the parade goers to join us for Advent and Christmas services.
Our final contingent was made up of about 40 fourth and fifth graders who wore their school uniforms and carried their own banner indicating they were from St. john Lutheran School. They had candy canes to hand out along the way. Clearly they enjoyed being in a real parade beyond anything that the adults could have ever imagined
Our float and school children were featured on several news broadcasts about the parade. It was most interesting to hear the very positive comments from the parade watchers as they viewed our proactive and yet fun loving approach to putting Christ back into Christmas. Even several members of St. John that were not aware of our presence in the parade proudly shouted, "Hey, that's my church!" A parade watcher was over heard proudly telling his son who was perched on his fathers shoulders that he would be a student at that school next year.
It was a first step in our campaign to put Christ back into Christmas. The enthusiastic response had our people searching for more ways to do that. Next year we plan a "mall" where people can come "shop" at various booths sponsored by community groups, Habitat for Humanity, children's programs, and other community ministries. You can "purchase" a gift by making a donation and receive a certificate to present to their gift recipient.
At St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church we are committed to putting Christ into Christmas!
"Doesn't Anyone Know What Christmas Is All About?" -Charlie Brown
Isn't it ironic how the Christmas season puts our Christian values to the test? In particular, the tradition of giving gifts, started by the Three Wise Men, seems to cause us the most problems. It's an annual contest that pits our desire to respectfully celebrate the birth of the baby Jesus against our appointed duty to risk life and limb searching for "toy du jour."
Let's face it, staying focused on the religious significance of the holidays during what has evolved into a society wide materialistic orgy is no easy task. But easy or not, it is our Christian responsibility just the same. It's up to us during the days leading up to the most holy night of the year to personify the true meaning of Christmas for our friends, neighbors, co-workers and especially our children. So while making our way through the next 30% off sale at K-Mart or Toys-R-Us, we should be asking ourselves some important questions:
Are we truly honoring the birth of our Savior when purchasing toys or other gifts assembled in third world nations under slave-like labor conditions?
Do we worship the "Prince of Peace" when buying toys that simulate weapons of death or video games that glorify violence and aggressive behavior?
Is the God who came to save all people kept in mind when we acquire toys for our children which reinforce inappropriate gender or racial stereotypes?
Are we respecting our role as stewards of God's creation when gifts are purchased without any regard to their long term impact on the environment?
So if you find yourself getting bogged down this holiday season worrying about whether Bradley is going to be happy if he doesn't get a GI Joe action figure from Santa, or where you're going to find a Britney Spears doll for Elise or whether Aunt Barbara's gift was expensive enough, keep in mind the wisdom of the renowned philosopher Linus Van Pelt, "Glory to God in the highest, and on Earth peace, goodwill to all people...that's what Christmas is all about Charlie Brown."
Rich Aronson, Coordinator, The Peace with Justice Project, East Ohio Conference, United Methodist Church
Open House
Each year the Saturday before Christmas we have an Open House for friends, neighbors and family. Each year we receive gifts of wine or holiday ornaments -- very nice, but unnecessary -- so... in our holiday cards for the last few years when sending out the announcement for our party we have asked folks to instead bring items from the "wish list" from our local humane society residents and staff. Everyone seems to enjoy being able to do something nice for those less fortunate members of God's Kingdom. One friend even remarked that it was the first time she has ever brought dog food to a party!!
Lori E. Swanson Nemenz, Program & Operations Assoc., PaxChristi USA, Fostering a reverence for all creation
A LITANY OF OUR LORD'S ADVENT
This alphabetical Litany is modeled on one written by Bishop Philip Loyd, and published in VISION (Magazine of the Association for the Promoting of Retreats, UK), January, 1967.
Only the last lines (XYZ) and the Response ("Come and Be Born in the hearts of all people") are by Rae E. Whitney, who has also made minor alterations throughout. The response may be said/sung by the congregation after every line, or after every other line, as set out below.
Jesus, Awaited by the faithful
Jesus, Begotten of the Father before the Creation:
Come and Be Born in the hearts of all people
Jesus, Conceived by the Holy Spirit:
Jesus, Descending to a sinful world:
Come and Be Born in the hearts of all people
Jesus, Entering the Virgin's womb:
Jesus, Foretold to Joseph by an angel:
Come and Be Born in the hearts of all people
Jesus, Guarded by Joseph as foster-father:
Jesus, Hailed by the baby in the womb of Elizabeth:
Come and Be Born in the hearts of all people
Jesus, Incarnate for us all and for our salvation:
Jesus, Journeying to Bethlehem:
Come and Be Born in the hearts of all people
Jesus, Kingly-born, yet homeless:
Jesus, Lying in a manger:
Come and Be Born in the hearts of all people
Jesus, Made known to the shepherds by the heavenly host:
Jesus, Nourish by the Bless-ed Mother, Mary:
Come and Be Born in the hearts of all people
Jesus, Obedient to the Law for love of all people:
Jesus, Presented in the Temple:
Come and Be Born in the hearts of all people
Jesus, Quiet in old Simeon's arms:
Jesus, Recognized by Anna the prophetess:
Come and Be Born in the hearts of all people
Jesus, Sought by Wise Men from the East:
Jesus, Traced by the rising of a star:
Come and Be Born in the hearts of all people
Jesus, Un-desired in royal Herod's court:
Jesus, Venerated with incense, myrrh and gold:
Come and Be Born in the hearts of all people
Jesus, Welcomed through the ages by all who seek the Truth:
Jesus, X'mass Child, most precious of all presents:
Come and Be Born in the hearts of all people
Jesus, Yielding to God's Will and Pleasure:
Jesus, Zealous for the Father's Glory:
Come and Be Born in the hearts of all people
How Did Santa Claus Begin?: Children's Sermon
(adapted by the Rev. George Philip Hoy from Calendar of Christianity by Allan Hauck, Association Press)
When did Santa Claus begin? We all know that only God is eternal. So how did this wonderful Christmas character who is so giving begin? We didn't make him up. Saint Nicholas, whose name was changed over the years to Santa Claus, was a real person, a bishop in the church in the fourth century.
Saint Nicholas was born in Patara (Asia Minor) and later moved to Myra (Demre in modern Turkey), where he was elected bishop. He died on Dec. 6 sometime between A. D. 326 and 341. Many stories have been told of his generosity.
In Saint Nicholas' time, a young woman had to have a dowry (money or material things which she brought to her husband) before she could be married. It's a custom we have eliminated in our culture because we believe in the equality of women and men. Saint Nicholas wanted to help a poor nobleman with three daughters, but he wanted to do it anonymously (without anyone knowing who did it). He didn't want to be praised for his generosity. He gave for the joy of giving. So, three bags of gold were thrown through the nobleman's window. However, the nobleman found out who had given the gold for his daughters' dowries. After that, anonymous gifts of charity often were attributed to Saint Nicholas.
This good man also spent several years in prison because of his faith. Many prisoners were converted to the Christian faith by his witness.
The stories of Saint Nicholas came to America through the Dutch settlers in the state of New York. He has changed through the years.
Originally, he was dressed in his traditional Bishop's robes. It wasn't until the 20th century that he began to be dressed in the red and white outfit in which he appears to us now in the persons of his many "helpers." In fact, in 1874, the American cartoonist Thomas Nast drew him in a brown suit with brown fur trim.
Dr. Clement C. Moore, a professor of Greek and Biblical Studies at General Theological Seminary of New York, wrote "A Visit from St. Nicholas" (more commonly know as "Twas the Night Before Christmas") in 1822. Only eight reindeer pulled Santa's sleigh until the song "Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer" was written.
Jesus, the Christ (the Messiah) is the most important person in the Advent/Christmas season. However, since Saint Nicholas conveys a spirit of generosity and love, we remember him and we too give gifts. Because Saint Nicholas gave us such a good example of helping the poor, Santa Claus may well be a healthy part of our celebrations. As Allan Hauck wrote in Calendar of Christianity, If Santa Claus has become too commercial, too secularized, perhaps it is "because we have forgotten his historical origin in the beloved Bishop of Myra who obeyed Christ's command that we help all those who are in need."
NEW CELEBRATIONS NEWSLETTER entries
(New Celebrations, a ministry of CyberMin Resources, provides resources for reclaiming holy days. (c)2002 by CyberMin Resources. Used by permission. Clyde Griffith, editor, www.NewCelebrations.com)
Whose Birthday Is It, Anyway?
The question is of extreme importance to all of us who profess to be followers of Christ.
It seems like in our day and time one of our most significant holy days has been totally usurped by the dominant culture. The decorations go up in the stores right after the Halloween masks are taken down. The merchants begin the scramble for our bucks because the "season" now accounts for 30-40 of their entire annual sales. Now's the time for merchandising. Fa-la-la-fa-la-la-la-la.
And right in the middle of all they hype is one of the venerated saints of the church: Saint Nicholas. That there was a real Nicholas in the fourth century, and that he was a bishop of the church in Turkey, and that he had a reputation of doing good works for people, goes unnoticed by the world around us they adopt our Santa Claus for their reasons.
Amidst the noise around us, it is extremely important for us to keep telling our stories, to keep singing our songs, to keep doing our faith works. We know the absolutely only place the story of Emmanuel will be told this year will be through us - and churches like us.
In these days before Christmas, we will concentrate hard on telling our stories and singing our songs here at Christ Church.
This is the only way the children will hear, this is the only way many of our neighbors will ever hear, this is the only most of our culture will hear. In a very real way, this is a message that we hold in trust.
Without our proclamation, Christmas for most folks is about trees and snowmen and lights and Grinches and reindeer and watches and diamonds and Segos and the amassing of presents and gifts and trinkets and toys and buttons and bows.
Clearly, the message of the cultural Santa Claus is not our message. God's gifts are in no way dependent upon our being naughty or nice. (God never places lumps of coal in our stockings.)
God is with us, we boldly proclaim. Emmanuel! The trick is to discern his presence amid the noise and hoopla of the season. Most folks look in all the wrong places -- if we look at all.
During this Advent Season, our Sunday services are designed to hone our senses and sharpen our discernment skills so we will be less likely to miss Christ's Presence in the busy-ness and business of these days before Christmas.
Join us each Sunday, and be with us Christmas Eve - remember, no presents until after you go to church Christmas Eve.
Clyde Griffith, From The People's Steeple, December, 1999, newsletter of Christ Presbyterian Church -- a center of faith in Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania, for Living Abundantly
In our sacred text, the one we call Emmanuel (which means God Is with Us) said, "I have come that you may have life, and have it abundantly!"
Advent
Advent is a time to prepare,
a time to get ready,
a time of looking for Christ's coming,
a time of looking for Emmanuel.
During these days before Christmas
use an Advent Calendar to focus your attention,
for daily devotional time,
to hone and sharpen your senses.
'Twas the Beginning of Advent
by Todd Jenkins
'Twas the beginning of Advent and all through the Church
Our hope was all dying-- we'd given up on the search.
It wasn't so much that Christ wasn't invited,
But after 2,000 plus years we were no longer excited.
Oh, we knew what was coming-- no doubt about that.
And that was the trouble-- it was all "old hat."
November brought the first of an unending series of pains
With carefully orchestrated advertising campaigns.
There were gadgets and dolls and all sorts of toys.
Enough to seduce even the most devout girls and boys.
Unfortunately, it seemed, no one was completely exempt
From this seasonal virus that did all of us tempt.
The priests and prophets and certainly the kings
Were all so consumed with the desire for "things!"
It was rare, if at all, that you'd hear of the reason
For the origin of this whole holy-day season.
A baby, it seems, once had been born
In the mid-east somewhere on that first holy-day morn.
But what does that mean for folks like us,
Who've lost ourselves in the hoopla and fuss?
Can we re-learn the art of wondering and waiting,
Of hoping and praying, and anticipating?
Can we let go of all the things and the stuff?
Can we open our hands and our hearts long enough?
Can we open our eyes and open our ears?
Can we find him again after all of these years?
Will this year be different from all the rest?
Will we be able to offer him all of our best?
So many questions, unanswered thus far,
As wise men seeking the home of the star.
Where do we begin-- how do we start
To make for the child a place in our heart?
Perhaps we begin by letting go
Of our limits on hope, and of the stuff that we know.
Let go of the shopping, of the chaos and fuss,
Let go of the searching, let Christmas find us.
We open our hearts, our hands and our eyes,
To see the king coming in our own neighbors' cries.
We look without seeking what we think we've earned,
But rather we're looking for relationships spurned.
With him he brings wholeness and newness of life
For brother and sister, for husband and wife.
The Christ-child comes not by our skill,
But rather he comes by his own Father's will.
We can't make him come with parties and bright trees,
But only by getting down on our knees.
He'll come if we wait amidst our affliction,
Coming in spite of, not by our restriction.
His coming will happen-- of this there's no doubt.
The question is whether we'll be in or out.
"Behold, I stand at the door and knock."
Do you have the courage to peer through the lock?
A basket on your porch, a child in your reach.
A baby to love, to feed and to teach.
He'll grow in wisdom as God's only Son.
How far will we follow this radical one?
He'll lead us to challenge the way that things are.
He'll lead us to follow a single bright star.
But that will come later if we're still around.
The question for now: Is the child to be found?
Can we block out commercials, the hype and the malls?
Can we find solitude in our holy halls?
Can we keep alert, keep hope, stay awake?
Can we receive the child for ours and God's sake?
From on high with the caroling host as he sees us,
He yearns to read on our lips the prayer: Come Lord Jesus!
As Advent begins all these questions make plea.
The only true answer: We will see, we will see.
J. Todd Jenkins, Intentional Pastor, First Presbyterian Church, Fayettevile, Tennessee
HOW THE GREAT GUEST CAME
Before the cathedral in grandeur rose
At Ingelburg where the Danube goes;
Before its forest of silver spire
Went airily up to the clouds and fires;
Before the oak had ready a beam,
While yet the arch was stone and dream --
There where the altar was later laid,
Conrad the cobbler, plied his trade.
It happened one day at the year's white end --
Two neighbors called in on their old-time friend;
And they found the shop, so meager and mean,
Made gay with a hundred boughs of green.
Conrad was stitching with face ashine,
But suddenly stopped as he twitched a twine:
"Old friends, good news! At dawn today,
As the cocks were scaring the night away,
The Lord appeared in a dream to me,
And said, `I am coming your Guest to be!'
So I've been busy with feet astir,
Strewing the floor with branches of fir.
The wall is washed and the shelf is shined,
And over the rafter the holly twined.
He comes today, and the table is spread
With milk and honey and wheaten bread."
His friends went home; and his face grew still
As he watched for the shadow across the sill.
He lived all the moments o'er and o'er,
When the Lord should enter the lowly door --
The knock, the call, the latch pulled up,
The lighted face, the offered cup.
He would wash the feet where the spikes had been,
He would kiss the hands where the nails went in,
And then at the last would sit with Him
And break the bread as the day grew dim.
While the cobbler mused there passed his pane
A beggar drenched by the driving rain.
He called him in from the stony street
And gave him shoes for his bruised feet.
The beggar went and there came a crone,
Her face with wrinkles of sorrow sown.
A bundle of faggots bowed her back,
And she was spent with the wrench and rack.
He gave her his loaf and steadied her load
As she took her way on the weary road.
Then to his door came a little child,
Lost and afraid in the world so wild,
In the big, dark world. Catching it up,
He gave it the milk in the waiting cup,
And led it home to its mother's arms,
Out of the reach of the world's alarms.
The day went down in the crimson west
And with it the hope of the blessed Guest,
And Conrad sighed as the world turned gray:
"Why is it, Lord, that your feet delay?
Did you forget that this was the day?"
Then soft in the silence a Voice he heard:
"Lift up your heart, for I have kept my word.
Three times I came to your friendly door;
Three times my shadow was on your floor.
I was the beggar with the bruised feet;
I was the woman you gave to eat;
I was the child on the homeless street!"
-- Edwin Markham
Many Americans Believe Christmas Has Lost Its Focus
Americans say Christmas has become too commercialized, with not enough emphasis on religion.
A new Gallup poll conducted Dec. 2-4, 2001, finds the public growing disillusioned with the way Americans celebrate Christmas. Ninety-six percent of Americans celebrate the holiday, but the percentage of those who say they would enjoy it more if people did not exchange gifts is growing. In 1994, 28% said they would enjoy a "gift-less" holiday more, and that percentage has grown to 42% in the current Gallup poll. Nearly six out of 10 Americans (57%) say they do not enjoy Christmas shopping.
The number of Americans who think Christmas is too commercialized also appears to be growing. Eighty-five percent said "yes" to this question in the current poll, compared to 79% when Gallup asked the same question in December 1990.
Read the complete report: www.gallup.com/poll/releases/pr001215.asp
Prescription for Joy:
Smile,
Breathe Deeply,
Relax, Enjoy, Be at
Peace, Trust, Be Trustworthy,
Bend, Plant a Geranium, Stick it
in your Hat, Have Patience, Love
Yourself, Love Others, Sing and Dance,
Make Music, Slow Down, stay Balanced,
Laugh Heartily, Have Compassion, Count your
Blessings, Bless Others, Have Fun, Read a Good
Book, Write Your Story, Nourish your Body, Mind
and Spirit, Stretch, Experiment, Learn a Lesson, Grow
and Change, Be aware of your Thoughts, Have Good Ones,
Choose Happiness, Smell the Flowers, Be of Service, Give
a Gift, Be a Blessing, Really See, Listen, Feel, Touch, Snuggle,
Be Still, Appreciate Solitude, Commune with God, Walk in
Nature, Live in the Moment, Giggle, Release Judgments, Let
Go, Move Forward, Touch, Hug, Be with a Child, Be a Child, Be
Adventurous, Take a Chance, Be Happy, Grin, Embrace your Journey,
Have a Vision, Be a Friend, Make a Friend, Stay in Touch,
Celebrate,
Be Grateful,
Cherish Life.
(c) 1997 Lynn Durham, Hampton, NH
Mind/body/spirit health programs
relaxation - stress hardiness - joy
www.lynndurham.com
Rethink Your Christmas List
The Simple Living Newsletter includes an article by Gary Dunn, publisher of The Caretaker Gazette, about the need to reduce the number of names on your gift list. Gary Dunn makes some salient points and provides food for thought for many in our faith communities.
Take a look at just some of his ideas:
The sad fact is that for many of us, Christmas shopping has become largely an obligation. We buy presents because it is expected. Take a look at your list. How many gifts are you buying because you really want to bless the person receiving it? And how many fall into the "I gotta" category?... You... diminish your own life, too. Whether you consider this time year to be an important part of your faith or just a time of goodwill, rushing from store to store will take your mind from the real meaning of the season. You will be focused on things. Not on relationships that are important to your life. So I'll argue that it's really in the spirit of the season to reduce the number of people on your gift list... Before you go shopping, consider why you're buying each present. Decide which people on your list are really important. You have a limited amount of time and money. Spent them on people who are truly important in your life... Remember that it's not how much you spend. While it's nice to find a thoughtful gift for that special someone, what they really wwhat they really want is you. The people that are most important in your life want your time and attention.... Don't disappoint them.
Check out The Caretaker Gazette: http://www.angelfire.com/wa/caretaker/
For the entire article in The Simple Living Newsletter, visit http://www.simpleliving.net/newsletter/content.asp?inum=35&type=Holiday&id=05
Latest Research: Holiday Rituals Strengthen Marriages and Families
The December, 2001, issue of the Journal of Family Psychology, reports the findings of a recent study by psychologists Barbara H. Fiese, Ph.D., and Thomas J. Tomcho, Ph.D., of Syracuse University that suggests that couples that participate in and find meaning in religious holiday rituals may be making their marriages stronger. Religion is related to marital satisfaction through the meaning created in shared rituals, according to the study. The effect was found stronger than the mere practice of religious holiday routines or the degree to which religion is considered important by the couples. "The couple's private world of intimate ties and connections often becomes public in the practice of religious rituals," say the authors, "and the couple may reaffirm their connection and intimacy through the practice of meaningful rituals." The practice of meaningful religious rituals may be just one aspect of how families create meaning in their relationships, according to the authors. "In the context of a changing society in which marriage is a vulnerable institution, religious ritual practices may preserve relationships and serve as a positive template for future generations." Besides strengthening marital bonds, the researchers say the results of their study highlight the role that religious holidays play in contemporary American life. "Whereas popular culture paints a picture of religious holidays as a prospect for marketing and materialism, our findings suggest that couples embrace the symbolic aspects of celebrations and value the opportunity to reaffirm their beliefs and relationship."
There you have it, another study confirms the importance of faith rituals. Exploring new personal and family ritual more appropriate to the theological meaning of our holidays is one of the purposes of NewCelebrations.com. You may want to take a look at one preacher's take on the power of ritual: http://www.liveabundantly.com/virtue_ritual.htm
World Council of Churches Christmas message
World Council of Churches Christmas message proclaims divine grace in the face of "a world without mercy," ruled by competition and money.
We live in a world without mercy, where more and more people feel trapped. Time and money have established their merciless rule. The secret of their power is scarcity. Time is money, they say. Those who have a lot of money never have time, and the poor perhaps have time but no money. Yet they need money in order to live, so they borrow, and then they find themselves trapped in the relentless grip of debt. We are told that in a world of scarcity, competition is the best way to achieve more. Competition obeys the merciless rule of winning and losing. Because time and money are scarce, the one who moves faster or can offer the better price will win. Those who are too slow or have little to offer are eliminated from the race - excluded. In a world of competition, there is little to protect them. Where money rules, almost everything becomes scarce. When power and even justice can be bought, there is little left for those who are poor. Here, too, there are only winners and losers. When money reigns supreme, even the call for justice comes to be counted as a cost factor. The powerful will be careful not to apologize for acts of injustice for fear of claims for monetary compensation. As for those who have nothing to lose, in extreme cases some of them may turn to violence in order to command attention and assert their rights - only to be met with relentless retaliation. It is in this merciless world that the "grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all" (Titus 2:11). This is the same God whom Moses encountered as "a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness" (Ex. 34:6) and whom the psalmist praises as the one who "does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities" (Psalm 103:10). God has come into our world to live among us and to liberate us from the merciless rule of winning and losing, from the yoke of competition and scarcity. This is the message of Christmas: "And the word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father's only son, full of grace and truth... From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace" (John 1:14,16). Our world will not be saved by increased competitiveness in face of scarcity, but by grace and mercy. The grace of God which is God's true being has taken on human form in Jesus Christ. God's grace overrules the law of scarcity and breaks the relentless dynamic of retaliation. God does not treat us on the basis of achievement, worth or power. God gives and forgives generously, without counting the cost, and offers life in its fullness (John 10:10), particularly to those who are the losers in our merciless world. May we therefore, this Christmas, receive from his fullness "grace upon grace"!
-Konrad Raiser, General Secretary, World Council of Churches, GENEVA, December, 2001
Christmas with More Meaning and Less Money
You asked for ideas about celebrating Christmas with lots of spirit and little cash.
Choosing to simplify Christmas can be enriching, no matter why you've arrived at that choice. Don't be concerned that your children will suffer just because money is tight this year. What's important to them is that you're all happy together. Remember that for children what's important is the process, not the finished product. You *can* create a storybook Christmas for yourselves and your kids if you model it after the Waltons or Little House on the Prairie, rather than TV ads showing "perfect" family gatherings. In fact, why not give them the gift of family-activity nights, instead of mindless TV watching? Plan to watch only the Christmas specials you KNOW will help increase the gratitude and wonder you want them to feel this season. Let everyone be involved in the planning and the doing. Here are some starter ideas:
SPIRIT:
1. Putting magic into holidays takes a flight of fancy, not a spending spree. Creating Christmas spirit is like believing in fairies: it takes some we WILL-thinking , instead of we WON'T (as in we won't have, we can't afford, etc.). For thousands of years people made their own fun. You can do it, too. .
2. Use what you have: your imagination and knowledge, combined with the resources at hand or within this year's budget. You know some Christmas songs. Teach them to your children. Gather family and friends, hold a practice session, then go caroling at a nursing home, hospital, shelter and/or around your neighborhood. You'll feel great!
If your children are old enough, tell them stories about your favorite childhood Christmas. Make up one. Check a few books out from your library and read a new story every night for a week. Your librarian will help you choose the best ones.
Get the whole family outside together as often as possible. Nature reminds us of our place in the world, fills us with a wonder appropriate to the season and helps restore our souls -- and it's free! Take a family walk, have a sledding party, hold a marshmallow roast. Eat and/or read stories by candlelight every night during the holidays. Your kids will never forget this experience. If they're all wound up, candlelight has a magical, soothing effect. Whining, argumentative children start whispering and getting this dreamy look about them. If you have a fireplace, build a fire and turn the lights out. Sing or tell stories. Pop popcorn. Drink cocoa. Bundle up together.
PRESENTS:
1. No matter what the budget, think in terms of giving something of lasting value. Don't wimp out with "joke" gifts or things that fit the budget but that's all. No cheap plastic. It's within your power to give a gift that's suitable for all ages and appreciated by all. Write a letter to each of the people you'd like to remember listing ten things you love about them. If you have children, help them write a letter to each family member. An extended family can do this instead of drawing names this year. This is a gift of your time, effort and love, and it will be kept and remembered for a lifetime. If you're creative, make each person a card on which to record your list. Sit around the tree on Christmas morning and read the letters out loud. Even if there are no other gifts under the tree, even if there's no tree, this Christmas will be full of love. And isn't that what it's all about??
2. Toys of lasting value are especially important for children. You want a toy that's built to last for years, does what it's supposed to do, can be used by children of various ages and can be used in many different way. Some examples: A real rubber playground ball (at least 10" in diameter) . Vinyl balls don't bounce true, thwarting a child's efforts to become skillful. A real baby doll that feels good in a child's arms. A book worthy of being read over and over. (Ask a librarian for recommendations. Read the book in the library or check the best possibilities out. Buy when you're sure.) A dump truck that can haul loads and passengers, instead of a specialized vehicle that only does one thing like a backhoe. A real teddy bear that can sit and is the right size for the child. (We adults often err by thinking big is better, and especially for an attachment toy, it's not.) Give more value to toys by adding accessories that generate imaginative play: a hat and cargo suggestions for the truck driver, a bed for the doll (more important than clothes for pretend). Toys don't have to be new, just clean (this means bleached, especially for the in-the-mouth-set.) and safe. Spend time before you spend money. The library has books on the most loved toys for each age group. If you can, visit the best small, independent toy store in your area and watch. What keeps the kids' interest? What attracts kids, no matter what their ages?
For years of fun, create a dress up box. Find a stout box. (Remember the box itself is a great toy. Preschoolers will use it as a car, a boat, a train. It can be a stove, if you turn it over and draw "burners" on the bottom. If you can afford it, cover it inside and out with contact paper. It'll look great and last for years.) Check your closets for dress-up potential. Visit a few garage sales and/or thrift stores. Possibilities: hats of all kinds, (cowboy, crown, "princess," sailor, baseball, fireperson, hard hat, space helmet) lace curtains (worn as veils, trains, headdresses, skirts) scarves, vests, full petticoats and full skirts with elastic waists cut to fit, capes, props such as wands, flashlights, lunch boxes, swords, shields, ballet and tap shoes. Watch for Halloween costumes and snap up the ones that encourage pretend play.
A make-it box in which you put arts and craft materials will also be used for years, by all ages, for all things. Make one for each child or make a family box, depending on the budget. Find a stout box with a separate top and bottom (like a shirt box, only bigger and heavier) or one that has a hinged lid. It has to be big enough to hold the size of paper you come up with. (For preschoolers, 18" x 24" is better than 8" x 11"). Find a small cigar size box to hold markers, crayons, pencils, scissors, etc. This can go into the big box, or be stored separately. Decoration depends on budget and materials at hand. Cover with contact paper, inside and out. Or cover the outside with brown grocery sack paper and decorate in your own style. Put each child's name on the outside. Fill it with age-appropriate "making and doing" materials. (Preschoolers need big, fat kindergarten crayons and markers, and small, blunt-tip brand name scissors. that work. as they should.) Put in what you can afford/find: markers, crayons, colored pencils, a glue-stick, scissors, tape, construction paper, cardboard, fun foam, odds and ends of yarn, braid, rick-rack, fabrics, buttons, wrapping paper, foil, shelf paper scraps, wallpaper samples, cardboard rolls from toilet paper, glitter, beads, gift wrap and paper towels, egg cartons, round oatmeal boxes, foam trays that come with fruit or bakery products (*not* meat packages) and paper plates. Add large plastic needles available at craft stores for crewel work and use the foam trays to teach your child to make designs using yarn. The nice thing about foam and cardboard trays and paper plates is that pictures, designs and collages become instant ready-to-hang, self-framed "art." Get in the habit of considering your recyclable for their "making" potential year-round. The cotton from pill bottles makes wonderful 3-D clouds to a landscape, or texture to a collage. Plastic bottles become funnels and scoops for the sandbox, bathtub, garden and beach. (The kids can also spread the cotton along your bushes and fences this spring for nesting birds.) Spend a little time at your library with a crafts for children book to get more ideas. Stock up on papers, paints, markers, etc. at next year's back-to-school sales. Garage sales and thrift stores are always great sources of cheap crafting materials.
DECORATIONS
1. Use what you have. Bring home what you find on walks: mistletoe, holly, any branches with berries, beautiful leaves may be left in some parts of the country, pinecones, nuts. Make ornaments of as many as you can by adding ribbon or string or what-have-you. Spread peanut butter on the pinecones and hang them on trees and bushes in your yard for the birds. Roll them in birdseed if you have it. Make garlands by stringing what you have on hand or can afford: cereal, cranberries, popcorn. Again, check the library for ideas. Ask your frugal friends for their best ideas. Ask your folks what they did in lean times. Take a leaf from your "simple" friends and use natural and recycled materials. Wrap presents in grocery bag brown paper and tie with twine. Potato print or splatter paint a design.
2. If a tree is out of the question, make a game out of hiding presents (homemade and/or under a designated dollar figure) until Christmas morning, when they can be retrieved from their concealment and presented with much fanfare. Stealth and surprises add fun and drama.
3. Let there be light! Bring out every candle you own and light it. If you have a Christmas tree, give it lots of attention and admiration. Decorate it with ceremony.
As the Grinch found, celebrating the season in style doesn't take tinsel and trappings. Lights, a little food, some music and a family to DO it all with (instead of just watching people on TV do things), and voila! Christmas!!
I'm the happy mom of two and grandmother of four. I've had time to learn that our best Christmases were when we gave our children the gift of our time and attention. When we focused on what the kids really wanted (calm, unhurried, happy parents) and unplugged the Christmas machine, we had peace on earth. (It turned out to be my ego, my desire to do it all, that was the biggest problem.) Relax. Have a HAPPY Christmas.
by Louise Wulf -- The Dollar Stretcher -- www.stretcher.com/stories/961216a.cfm
[END New Celebrations Newsletter entries]
This page last updated 20 October 2012
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