Graphic from Alternatives' collection "Spirit of Simplicity: Quotes & Art for Simpler Living and Global Justice." See Archives on this site. |
The dates are for reference only. These materials can be used effectively any year.
Table of Contents for this Section
- #15. Reclaiming Christmas
- #14. Gifts of Peace
- #13. A Simple Christmas
- #12. What Is A Gift?
- #11. Preparing to Celebrate the Birth of Christ
- #10. Reaching Out to Others
- #9. Make Room at the Inn
- #8. The Light Shines in the Darkness
- #7-b. Whose Birthday Is It, Anyway? (for households)
- #7-a. Santa Doesn't Come to the Poor
- #6. Alternative Christmas Packet (for households)
- #5. Make Room at the Inn
- #4. The Light Shines in the Darkness (same as #7)
- #3. Where Shall We Find Him?
- #2. A Christmas Packet for Parishes - MISSING
- #1. Alternatives Christmas Campaign
Christmas Packs
Resources for Churches and Groups
15. Reclaiming Christmas
- Discussion Guides for Adults.
- Guidelines for Alternative Giving
- St. Nicholas: A Puppet Play
- "Reclaiming Christmas" Models for Prayer and Worship
- "Remembering the Holy Innocents."
- "Traveling to Bethlehem" Advent and Christmas Calendar
14. Gifts of Peace
- Introduction
- How to Use This Packet
- "Welcoming the Prince of Peace" Graded Activity Guides
- "Gifts of Peace" Guidelines for Alternative Giving
- "Welcoming the Prince of Peace" Models for Prayer and Worship
- Organize for Peace: How to Start a Peacemaking Group in Your Church
- "I Will Write Peace On Your Wings" Puppet Play
- "Welcoming the Prince of Peace" Advent and Christmas Calendar
- Sample Bulletin Insert [available on paper from ELCA Archives]
- Poster [available on paper from ELCA Archives
13. A Simple Christmas
- Introduction
- How to Use This Packet
- "What Is A Gift?" Reflection/Action Resource
- Guidelines for Alternative Giving
- Looking Behind the Cost of Christmas
- A Saint Nicholas Day Celebration
- An Epiphany Celebration
- "The Land of Sharing" Play
- Christmas Poster
- "Waiting for the Light" Advent Calendar.
- "Whose Birthday Is It, Anyway?" Christmas Booklet.
12. What Is A Gift?
- How to Use This Packet
- "What Is A Gift?," a Reflection/Action Resource
- "Celebrating the Good News of Christmas" Workshop
- "A Saint Nicholas Day Celebration"
- "An Epiphany Celebration"
- "The Land of Sharing" Play Bulletin Insert Sample (available on paper from ELCA Archives)
- Christmas Gift Card (available on paper from ELCA Archives)
- Poster (available on paper from ELCA Archives)
11. Preparing to Celebrate the Birth of Christ
- Preparing to Celebrate
the Birth of Christ, a graded, four session series of Activity Guides for Leaders was included in packets #6, #7, #8 and #11.
- Intergenerational Groups
- Adult Groups
- Youth Groups
- Older Children
- Young Children -- GRAPHIC This Is Our Way
- Guidelines for Alternative Giving II
- Las Posadas [story & song] - also appears in packets #9 and #13
- Bulletin Insert: A Litany on Remembering
10. Reaching Out to Others
- Guidelines for Alternative Giving I
- How to Organize an Alternative Community Christmas Festival
- Planning an Alternative Christmas Workshop
- St. Nicholas: a Puppet Play -- (packet #15)
- With all that noise, can they hear us? - a bulletin insert
- Christmas & Santa:
A Household Resource
- Christmas & Santa: A Household Resource by Milo Thornberry - See a revised version in "Whose Birthday" booklet #2 as "What Shall We Do About Santa?"
- Christmas Without Santa Claus: A Story for Children of All Ages by Milo Thornberry (Whose Birthday? booklet #3).
- Good-bye Santa, Hello St. Nicholas: One Family's Experience by Mike & Kathe Sherer - (Whose Birthday? booklet #1).
- The Song of Saint Nicholas by Mike Sherer
- Jason's Birthday - GRAPHIC 3-A517
- Christmas Alternatives Giving Card - PDF GivingCards
- Reaching out Through the Media
9. Make Room at the Inn
- Intro to this packet
- Guidelines for Alternative Giving II
- Advent: A Time of Preparation - Four Session Graded Resource Activity Guides for Group Leaders
- Looking Behind the Cost of Christmas by Milo Thornberry (from packet #13)
- Christmas & Santa:
A Household Resource
- Christmas & Santa: A Household Resource by Milo Thornberry - See a revised version in "Whose Birthday" booklet 1989 as "What Shall We Do About Santa?"
- Christmas Without Santa Claus: A Story for Children of All Ages by Milo Thornberry - See Whose Birthday? booklet 1990.
- Good-bye Santa, Hello St. Nicholas: One Family's Experience by Mike & Kathe Sherer - See Whose Birthday? booklet 1988.
- The Song of Saint Nicholas by Mike Sherer
- Jason's Birthday - GRAPHIC 3-A517
- Getting Ready for God: A Bible Study for Adults by Walter Brueggemann -See Whose Birthday? booklet #1.
- Any Room at the Inn? Bulletin Insert - GRAPHIC 3-511a, GRAPHIC 3-511b, GRAPHIC 3-511c
- Las Posadas [story & song] also appears in packets #11 & #13.
- Time for a Christmas Checkup Bulletin Insert - GRAPHIC 3-A526
8. The Light Shines in the Darkness
- Intro to this packet
- Preparing to Celebrate
the Birth of Christ, a graded, four session series of Activity Guides
for Leaders was included in packets 6, 7, 8 & 11.
- Intergenerational Groups
- Adult Groups
- Youth Groups
- Older Children
- Young Children -- GRAPHIC This Is Our Way
- St. Nicholas: a Puppet Play -- See packet #15
- Advent Activities for the Family: An Intergenerational Resource by Jim & Kathy McGinnis & Mary Webber
- The Light Shines in the Darkness bulletin insert -- GRAPHIC 3-A514
- Lighting New Paths: Reflections on Hope by People Whose Work Is Hopeless
- War Toys & Christmas: Contradiction by Rachel G Gill
- Guidelines for Alternative Giving II - (packet #11)
- St. Nicholas: a Puppet Play -- (packet #15)
7-b. Whose Birthday Is It, Anyway? (for households)
- Preparing to Celebrate
the Birth of Christ, a graded, four session series of Activity Guides
for Leaders was included in packets 6, 7, 8, 11.
- Intergenerational Groups
- Adult Groups
- Youth Groups
- Older Children
- Young Children -- GRAPHIC This Is Our Way
- Advent: A Time of Preparation Worship Aids - See packet #3
- Remembering Whose Birthday It Is bulletin insert - GRAPHIC 3-A513
- Guidelines for Alternative Giving I - (packet #10)
- Preparing to Celebrate the Birth of Christ Worship Aids
7-a. Santa Doesn't Come to the Poor Christmas Packet
Santa Doesn't Come to the Poor -- for Congregational Leaders (packet 1)
- Advent Activities for the Family: An Intergenerational Resource by Judy McMillan
- Preparing to Celebrate
the Birth of Christ, a graded, four session series of Activity Guides
for Leaders was included in packets 6, 7, 8, 11.
- Intergenerational Groups
- Adult Groups
- Youth Groups
- Older Children
- Young Children -- GRAPHIC This Is Our Way
- Christmas & Santa: A Household Resource by Milo Thornberry -
- Jason's Birthday - GRAPHIC 3-A517
- Santa Doesn't Come to the Poor bulletin insert -- GRAPHIC 3-A510
- Preparing for His Coming: A Study of Gospel Texts by Catherine & Justo Gonzalez
- St. Nicholas: A Puppet Play. This short puppet play tells the story of St. Nicholas, a third century bishop who gave to the needy. Present the play during an Advent children's service or special event.
- Guidelines for Alternative Giving I - (packet #10)
- Planning an Alternative Christmas Workshop - (packet #10)
6. Alternative Christmas Packet (for households)
- What Gifts Shall We Bring? (3 Kings) Bulletin Insert - GRAPHIC 3-A512
- Jason's Birthday poster - GRAPHIC 3-A517; text - go to Jason's Birthday
- Preparing to Celebrate
the Birth of Christ, a graded, four session
series of Activity Guides for Leaders was included in packets 6, 7, 8 and 11.
- Intergenerational Groups
- Adult Groups
- Youth Groups
- Older Children
- Young Children -- GRAPHIC This Is Our Way
- Guidelines for Alternative Giving I - (packet #10)
5. Make Room at the Inn
Same as packet #9
- Intro to this packet
- Guidelines for Alternative Giving II
- Advent: A Time of Preparation - Four Session Graded Resource Activity Guides for Group Leaders
- Looking Behind the Cost of Christmas by Milo Thornberry -- See packet #13
- Christmas & Santa: A Household Resource by Milo Thornberry - See a revised version in Whose Birthday? booklet #9 as "What Shall We Do About Santa?"
- Jason's Birthday - GRAPHIC 3-A517
- Getting Ready for God: A Bible Study for Adults by Walter Brueggemann -See Whose Birthday? booklet 9.
- Any Room at the Inn? Bulletin Insert - GRAPHIC 3-511a, GRAPHIC 3-511b, GRAPHIC 3-511c
- Las Posadas [story & song] also appears in packets 11 and 13.
- Time for a Christmas Checkup Bulletin Insert - GRAPHIC 3-A526
4. The Light Shines in the Darkness
A Christmas Packet for Parishes
Note that packets 5 and 8 are identical, so none of the links you follow will say "8."- Intro to this packet
- Preparing to Celebrate the Birth of Christ, a graded, four session
series of Activity Guides for Leaders was included in packets 6, 7, 8 and 11.
- Intergenerational Groups
- Adult Groups
- Youth Groups
- Older Children
- Young Children -- GRAPHIC This Is Our Way
- Litany of Memory
- St. Nicholas: a Puppet Play -- See packet #15.
- Advent Activities for the Family: An Intergenerational Resource by Jim & Kathy McGinnis & Mary Webber
- The Light Shines in the Darkness bulletin insert -- GRAPHIC 3-A514
- Lighting New Paths: Reflections on Hope by People Whose Work Is Hopeless
- War Toys & Christmas: Contradiction by Rachel G Gill
- Guidelines for Alternative Giving II - (packet #11)
- St. Nicholas: a Puppet Play -- (packet #15)
A Christmas Packet for Parishes
Unfortunately this is missing.
3. Where Shall We Find Him?: Alternative Christmas Packet
- Advent: A Time of Preparation by Milo Thornberry: Introduction and Worship Aids
- Advent: A Time of Preparation - Four Session Graded Resource Activity Guides
for Group Leaders (appeared in packets 3, 6 and 9 - guides are labelled "9")
- Younger Children (ages 4-7)
- Older Children
- Youth
- Adults
- Intergenerational
- Where Shall We Find Him? GRAPHIC 3-A515 (text unknown)
2. A Christmas Packet for Parishes
Unfortunately this is missing.
1. Alternatives Christmas Campaign
- Introduction and How to Use the Christmas Packet
- Bulletin Insert - GRAPHIC Whose Birthday? packet #1
- Alternative Christmas Giving
Guide
- A Tale of Two Christmases
- Guidelines for Gift Giving
- A Christmas Cost/Analysis Form -- text page or PDF ChristmasBudget
- Congregational Self Evaluation and Luke 16:19 31 (paraphrased)
- Worship Aids
- Alternative Christmas Festival (this link is to the enhanced version published in packet #10, rather than to the simpler version actually in packet #1)
Publication dates
#1-1980
#2-1981 - missing
#3-1982
#4-1983
#5-1984
#6-1985
#7-1986 (A&B)
#8-1987
#9-1988
#10-1989
#11-1990
#12-1991
#13-1992
#14-1993
#15-1994
Page updated 8 Nov. 2014
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