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Whose Birthday Is It, Anyway? Users' Guide

Note: Feel free to use only what you need.

CONTENTS

SECTION 1

SECTION 2 – Weekly Family Time: How Use These Reflections & Activities

(This section appears in all version of the booklet on p. 5.)

SECTION 3 – How Can I Use This Resource?

(This section does not appear in any version of the booklet.)

SECTION 4 - Whose Birthday? Promo Kit

* * *

What has happened to Christmas?

Too much time spent on parties and not enough on the people important to us? Too much money spent on things, but not enough care given to our loved ones? Too much rush and chaos and crush to fit everything in? Why is Christmas so important to us, and why do we so often feel like we’ve missed it?

“Whose Birthday Is It, Anyway?” is an alternative to the negative pressures on Christmas. We have asked the same questions and felt the same disconnection between the season and our celebrations.

This magazine has practical ideas to help re-think the ways to celebrate Christmas. Everyone deserves a Christmas that has meaning, value and peace. Slow down, take a breath, and read these suggestions that let the real Spirit of Christ come home this Christmas.

Doyle Burbank-Williams, chair, Alternatives’ Board of Directors

* * *

Why a Simpler Christmas?

Let’s have a simpler Christmas this year!

Gerald Iversen, editor

* * *

SECTION 1

(This section appears in most versions of the booklet on p. 2 or 17.)

For Individual and Families

NOTE: If you need a DAILY Advent/Christmas guide, choose from over 20 here. SimpleLivingWorks.org >> Archives >> Advent/Christmas Calendars.

Some are lectionary-based, some are thematic. Copy your choice on recycled paper as a bulletin insert, in your own Advent-Christmas booklet or as a series in your weekly service bulletin. Pay a royalty of only 5¢ per copy of the complete calendar. Alternatives’ dues-paying Members may copy for free!

If you want LECTIONARY-BASED BIBLICAL REFLECTIONS, you have many to choose from.

Visit SimpleLivingWorks.org, click Archives>>Collections>>Whose Birthday? Year C (Luke) includes: 2012, 2009, 2006, 2003, 2000, 1997, 1994, 1991, 1988.

 More Exciting, Helpful Ways to Use “Whose Birthday?”

Want more ideas and details? Visit SimpleLiving.org >> Volunteers.

* * *

SECTION 2 – Weekly Family Time: How Use These Reflections & Activities

(This section appears in many versions of the booklet.)

The resources provided in the “Whose Birthday Is It, Anyway?” booklet and audio CD offer individuals, families and other small groups a way to remember the reason we celebrate this holy season. Begin the first week of Advent and follow through the Feast of Epiphany.

+Before Advent begins, make an Advent wreath. Find a book with instructions or follow these simple directions. Take a large, flat shallow bowl (at least 9 inches in diameter) and fill it with sand or coarse salt. Place four purple candles securely around the edge of the bowl. Place a large white candle in the center. Make a circle of evergreens and place them around the bowl.

+You will also need a manger scene, a Bible and matches. Light one purple candle the week of Advent I; two the week of Advent II, etc. Light all five beginning on Christmas Eve.

+Set aside time each week to worship, perhaps after a meal on Sundays. Invite those who may be alone to join in.

+Depending on the ages of those in your group, adults may want to read the articles beforehand. Incorporate the short Advent-Christmas ideas throughout the booklet into worship time, especially as a discussion starter.

+Read and discuss one reflection at each meeting. Sing along with the well-known tunes of the “Carols with Justice” CD or at SimpleLivingWorks.org" >> Archives >> Carols.

+Gather around the Advent wreath. Take turns reading, lighting the candles, praying, singing and sharing feelings and ideas.

* * *

SECTION 3 – Expanded Ideas

(This section does not appear in any version of the booklet.)

How Can I Use This Resource?

This resource is one step on the journey of simpler living -- a life of integrity. Other helpful resources are mentioned along the way.

Individuals

  1. Ask yourself, “Do I want to have a simpler, more meaningful Christmas? Do I want to simplify my life in general?”

  2. Pray.

  3. Gather resources if you need them from Alternatives or other sources.

  4. Read this booklet a little at a time (like a daily devotional) or all at once – which ever fits your style.

  5. Talk to others.

  6. Include others whenever possible.

  7. Self-evaluate – What would I do different next year? What am I willing to carry with me into the new year?

  8. Share your ideas and “success stories” with others.

Families

  1. Hold a family meeting

  2. Gather resources if you need them from Alternatives or other sources.

  3. Develop a plan than includes room for spontaneity and serendipity.

  4. Do the plan together.

  5. Include others whenever possible.

  6. Talk it over -- What would we do different next year? What are we willing to carry with us into the new year?

  7. Share your ideas and “success stories” with others

Congregations and Communities

  1. Hold a gathering of interested individuals – it may be an existing team or a new one.
  2. Gather resources if you need them from Alternatives or other sources.
  3. Develop a plan than includes room for spontaneity and serendipity.
  4. Do the plan together.
  5. Include others in your congregation and community as much as possible.
  6. Evaluate -- What would we do different next year? What are we willing to carry with us into the new year?
  7. Share your ideas and “success stories” with other

* * *

RESOURCES

To use Alternatives’ free resources, visit SimpleLivingWorks.org, click Archives.

If you choose “Collections” there, you can scroll through Alternatives’ many past collections. As you open each, you will see a Table of Contents for that collection.

If you choose “Articles,” you will see an alphabetical listing of all the articles contained in the collections.

You may use these free resources for your personal, family and community inspiration and practical ideas. Make as many copies as you like of anything Alternatives has published in the past (as long as you don’t sell them).

FREE resources for INDIVIDUALS -- To promote one’s own good spiritual, mental and physical health, then to share with others

Suggestions: Daily guide for Advent and Christmas

Visit SimpleLivingWorks.org >> Archives, scroll down to Advent/Christmas calendars.

If you like using the internet, then select there "e-Treasures for Advent."

If you want to incorporate the lectionary readings into your personal or family devotions or group study, here they are for Cycle C (Luke).

If you want lectionary-based Biblical reflections, you have many to choose from.

Visit SimpleLivingWorks.org >> Archives >> Collections >> Whose Birthday?

Year C (Luke) includes: 2012, 2009, 2006, 2003, 2000, 1997, 1994, 1991, 1988.

Inexpensive resources for Individuals

FREE resources for FAMILIES – To promote strong family bonds and to share with others

Suggestion: Christmas Anthologies

Visit SimpleLivingWorks.org >> Archives, scroll down to Christmas Anthologies

Inexpensive resources for FAMILIES

FREE resources for CONGREGATIONS and COMMUNITIES – To promote a stronger sense of community locally and around the world

Suggestion: Christmas Packs

Visit SimpleLivingWorks.org >> Archives, scroll down to Christmas Packs, click on the titles that interest you.

Inexpensive resources for Congregations and Communities:

SPANISH speakers, visit SimpleLiving.org >> Archives >> Espanol

Portions of “Whose Birthday?” are also published in Spanish each year as “Adviento.”

* * *

GIFT GIVING

A Gift to Myself

  1. Visit SimpleLivingWorks.org >> Archives

  2. Choose a resource that would be helpful and enjoyable to me.

  3. Read it, listen to it or view it.

  4. Consider the message, pray about it, make a simple plan, act on it.

  5. Share the resource with others.

A Gift to Our Family

  1. Visit SimpleLivingWorks.org >> Archives.

  2. Choose a resource that would be helpful and enjoyable to us.

  3. Read it, listen to it or view it together.

  4. Do an activity together.

  5. Share it with others.

A Gift for Our Congregation and Community

  1. Visit SimpleLivingWorks.org >> Archives.

  2. Choose a resource that would be helpful and enjoyable to us.

  3. Read it, listen to it or view it together.

  4. Plan an activity together, such as a "Unplug the Christmas Machine" workshop.

  5. Share the activity with others.

  6. Share the resource through your library, display or person-to-person.

* * *

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