Archives: Christmas Pack #9 - Make Room at the Inn
Introduction to This Pack
Index for this Section- Silent night, holy night - or jingle, jangle, jingle?
- Make Room at the Inn
- What if Christmas were a time when...
- How To Use the Pieces in this Packet
Silent night, holy night - or jingle, jangle, jingle?
Year after year the celebration of Christ's birth is crowded by the clatter of commercialism. When Santa comes to town, nothing is sacred.
Last year we spent over $32 billion on gifts for family and friends, supposedly to honor Christ's birth. Meanwhile, those Christ came to serve the poor, the homeless, the disenfranchised went without food and shelter, were forced from their homelands by wars fueled with the weapons of superpowers, awaited execution, were lonely, felt despair because they Could not afford Christmas presents.
Make Room at the Inn
Christmas can be a time to hear and begin to act upon the real message of Christ's birth peace on earth and good news to the poor. By turning to the traditional Advent scriptures, we can reclaim the Christmas season as a time to prepare to celebrate Christ's birth. By seeing the cost of our consumption oriented celebrations to the earth and the earth's non affluent people, we can begin to resist the commercial pressures that so distract us at Christmas and year round.
What if Christmas were a time when...
Instead of spending over $32 billion buying gifts for family and friends who have no need of them, we diverted our resources to those whose needs are great? Instead of being caught up in frantic rounds of parties and shopping, we used the season to reflect on the meaning of Christ's birth? Instead of succumbing to the pressure of commercialism which makes LIS feel that we must buy more and more in order to be real, we focused on the reality of most of the world's people, who are struggling merely to survive? Instead of looking for joy in a pile of ribbons and paper, we found joy through inner transformation and renewed commitment?
How To Use the Pieces in this Packet
MAKE ROOM AT THE INN Basic Packet is a second level resource designed to transform Advent from a season of compulsory consumption to a time of preparation, cultural resistance and genuine spiritual renewal.
Getting Ready for God This series of graded four-session study and activity guides focuses on the lectionary passages for Advent to restore the traditional meaning of this season as a time of preparation and self examination. For young children, older children, youth, adults and intergenerational groups, these resource activity guides are useful for Sunday School classes or special study groups during Advent.
Looking Behind the Cost of Christmas This four session household resource by Milo Thornberry will help families or small intergenerational groups take an analytical look at the pressure to consume that pervades our culture, especially in the weeks before Christmas. It can be distributed to families for home use, used in small intergenerational groups in a special advent program, or adapted to a retreat format.
Las Posadas This resource, adapted from the Hispanic Christmas tradition, complete with plan and song by Justo L. Gonzalez, is a festive group activity that calls for a procession led by Mary and Joseph looking for shelter. Especially useful at church supper or other intergenerational settings.
Guidelines for Giving II These guidelines will help individuals and families plan their alternative Christmas giving, with special emphasis on developing a spirit of cultural resistance. Suggestions for reflection and action show how more responsible, less consumeroriented lifestyles are an appropriate gift for the baby Jesus.
Bulletin Insert This piece can be distributed in church bulletins during pre Advent, Advent or Christmas season services to point out the irony of commercialized Christmas. This special double insert includes a short essay that can be a focal point for Sunday School or other special Advent discussions. It can also be used at conferences, on campuses or at Alternative Christmas festivals.
Poster Use the poster to announce special services, study groups, alternative Christmas festivals or workshops; display it on bulletin boards, in Sunday School classes or on campuses.
Christmas Gift Card This reindeer art card can be used to give a gift to a worthy organization in the name of a loved one.
Other Important Resources
And on the Third Day ... What Do You Celebrate? (1989 Lent/Easter Packet) This packet helps individuals, households, and other groups to look beyond the bunnies and baskets to see Easter as a time of self examination and recommitment. Included are reflections on the Gospel passages, activities for individuals or households, 40 day calendar, Passover seder, Easter seder, bulletin cover and poster. [SEE "Who's Risen from the Dead, Anyway?" in Easter Resources folder on CD-ROM or on this site's Archives.]
"A Christmas Reader," "A Christmas Collection" and "A Christmas Sampler," collections of old and new Christmas stories available on CD-ROM (selections) or on this site's Archives.
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