Whose Birthday Is It, Anyway?
Promotion Kit
Thank you for your interest in the Advent/Christmas resource Whose Birthday is It, Anyway?
The Promotion Kit is designed to help you increase interest and use it among the people in your parish or congregation or school. You may make as many copies of the articles you choose with no royalty payment under the Creative Commons non-commercial, attribution license.
This kit will help you encourage people to select and share an edition and then use it at home or elsewhere -- on recycled paper or on a computer or other internet device.
The kit contains:
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Media release for your hometown newspaper or church newsletter. Adapt the release to your situation. If the release is too long, cut from the end. Use your letterhead and the curent date. Include your name and phone number as a contact person
Insert as paragraph two: “This year this booklet is available from [your parish/school name] free of charge / for each. Contact the church office at [your phone number].” OR “[Your name] recommends this booklet for use by the people at [your parish/school name].” [Possibly insert a quote from the Letter of Endorsement from your denomination or diocese.] -
Public Service Announcement (PSA) for hometown radio, cable and TV.
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Ads to clip and paste into your newsletter or other publications.
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Flyer/Poster for your bulletin board or throughout your buildings, or to distribute. Our popular “10 Tips” is on the back.
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Worship bulletin, newsletter, fax, e-mail blurbs. These short pieces/paragraphs can be inserted virtually anywhere.
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Pulpit announcements for use throughout October, November and December to prepare the people to use the resource and then to encourage them to keep it up. These can be adapted to urge the people to obtain the booklet themselves if you are not buying it in quantity.
Thanks again. Your feedback is welcome; both to 'WHOSE Birthday?' and this kit.
Peace in Jesus
Simple Living Works
(formerly ALTERNATIVES for Simple Living)SimpleLivingWorks.org
[your letterhead]
MEDIA RELEASE
Editors: For more information, contact [your name/phone] _______________
Life Too Stressed? Christmas Losing Its Meaning?
Want to Simplify Your Celebration?
Here’s Help... Whose Birthday Is It, Anyway?
Preparing for Christmas tends to be a time of stress. Try some peace
this season with an edition of Whose Birthday Is It,
Anyway? from Alternatives.
For over 15 years, Alternatives has provided people with ideas to celebrate responsibly in this Advent-Christmas Resource. Designed for individuals, families and small groups, the booklet includes Biblical reflections, worshipful ceremonies, activities, an Advent calendar and suggestions for remembering those in need.
This year the ecumenical resource is being used by [name of your group] ______________.
The new Biblical Reflections Through Advent to Epiphany can be read quietly or aloud for private or group meditation.
A free copy of the popular “Ten Tips for a Simpler, More Meaningful Christmas” is available upon request.
SimpleLivingWorks.org provides Alternatives' resources appropriate for reevaluation of Christmas and for simpler living all year. “The Christmas Game” promises hours of family storytelling for those 5 to 105. Other Christmas titles include the video “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” “Unplug the Christmas Machine,” “Carols with Justice,” “Christmas Campaign Kit,” collections of Christmas stories and numerous titles for children.
For free resources and services visit SimpleLivingWorks.org. #####
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Life Too Stressed?
Christmas Losing Its Meaning?
Want to Simplify Your Celebration?
Here’s Help...
Whose Birthday Is It, Anyway?
A free Advent/Christmas resource
Contact the church office
or visit SimpleLivingWorks.org.
For “Ten Tips for
a Simpler, More Meaningful Christmas,”
flip up | V
Suitable for Posting on the Office Bulletin Board, on the Refrigerator, and for Sharing with Friends and Relatives...
TEN TIPS FOR A SIMPLER,
MORE MEANINGFUL CHRISTMAS
1. Plan ahead. Instead of going on auto-pilot the day after Thanksgiving,
hold a family meeting to decide what the group really wants to do and who’s
going to do what.
2. If you need a symbol for giving (in addition to Jesus and the Three Wise
Ones), learn about St. Nicholas. Santa Claus has been completely taken over
by commerce.
3. Avoid debt. Refuse to be pressured by advertising to overspend.
4. Avoid stress. Give to yourself. Don’t assume that things have to
be the same way they've always been.
5. Draw names rather than everyone giving something to everyone else in your
giving circle. Set a ceiling for each recipient. Give children ONE thing
they really want, rather than so many gifts. If need be, pool funds.
6. Give appropriate gifts. Get to know the recipient. Give what they want
to receive, not what you want to buy. Avoid war toys and violent video games.
7. Give alternative gifts. Give 25% of what you spent last year to the needy... individuals or groups locally, nationally or internationally.
Buy crafts and clothing from developing countries at alternative gift markets, not from commercial importers, so that the artisans receive a fair price for their work.
Give of yourself, not just “stuff” – a coupon book for future
services (such as baby-sitting or an “enchanted evening”); something
baked, sewn, handmade, composed, etc.; or a family service project, such
as working together at a soup kitchen.
8. Celebrate Advent for four weeks before Christmas. Use the booklet “Whose
Birthday Is It, Anyway?” or some other appropriate guide.
9. Put the gifts under the tree shortly before opening them. Then take turns
opening them around the tree, not all at once, so that each gift can be admired
and each giver thanked.
10. Make changes slowly but persistently. Don’t try to change everything and everybody all at once. The resistance will make you feel defeated and lonely.
For more help and free ideas, visit SimpleLivingWorks.org.
©Creative Commons. Used by permission. (recycled paper
Pulpit Announcements for Whose Birthday Is It, Anyway?
Whose Birthday Is It, Anyway? is now available. Designed for individuals, families or small groups, the resource aims to help simplify your celebration of Christmas and make it more meaningful. It includes Biblical meditations, a Christmas Game, Christmas Angels activity, an Advent-Christmas calendar and suggestions for remembering those in need. Contact the church office.
Preparing for Christmas tends to be a time of stress... scurrying, shopping, worrying. Try some peace this season with Whose Birthday Is It, Anyway?.
This year this resource is available from [your parish/school name] free of charge / for each. OR [Your name] recommends this booklet for use by the people at [your parish/school name]. Contact the church office.
PSAs: Public Service Announcements (radio, TV, cable)
Life Too Stressed? Christmas Losing Its Meaning? Want to Simplify Your Celebration?
[Your congregation’s name] is offering help with the Advent-Christmas booklet... Whose Birthday Is It, Anyway? Contact the church office at [phone number].
Preparing for Christmas tends to be a time of stress... scurrying, shopping, worrying. Try some peace this season with Whose Birthday Is It, Anyway? from Alternatives for Simple Living. This new booklet is available from [your parish/school name]. Contact the church office at [phone number].
[Your congregation’s name] Offers Ten Tips for a Simpler, More Meaningful Christmas
[Use a different tip each week for ten weeks.]
[Insert “Ten Tips” here.]
[Conclude by saying...] For all ten tips, contact the church office at [phone number], or call 800-821-6153.
Bulletin Blurbs
for Whose Birthday Is It, Anyway?
It’s Not Too Early for Christmas
Whose Birthday Is It, Anyway? is now available. Designed for individuals, families or small groups, the booklet includes stories, Biblical reflections, services for special times (such as decorating and cooking), a Christmas game, an Advent-Christmas calendar and suggestions for remembering those in need. Contact the church office.
Let’s Talk About Christmas!
Instead of going on auto-pilot the day after Thanksgiving, let the Let’s Talk About Christmas! worksheet guide you through your Christmas Revival. Talk about expectations, what each of you really wants at Christmas, and who is going to do what jobs.
Life Too Stressed? Christmas Losing Its Meaning?
Want to Simplify Your Celebration?
Here’s Help... Whose Birthday Is It, Anyway?
Contact the church office or visit SimpleLivingWorks.org.
Less Stress This Christmas
Preparing for Christmas tends to be a time of stress... scurrying, shopping, worrying. Try some peace this season with Whose Birthday Is It, Anyway? from Alternatives. This year this new booklet is available from [your parish/school name] free of charge / for each. OR [Your name] recommends this booklet for use by the people at [your parish/school name]. Contact the church office, or visit SimpleLivingWorks.org.
Ten Tips for a Simpler, More Meaningful Christmas
[Use a different tip each week for ten weeks. Conclude by saying...] For all ten tips, contact the church office, or visit SimpleLivingWorks.org.
Discipleship Through a Life of Integrity
Since 1973, the mission of ALTERNATIVES has been “to equip people of faith to challenge consumerism, live justly and celebrate responsibly.” If you want more information, read Whose Birthday Is It, Anyway?, contact the church office, or visit SimpleLivingWorks.org. (recycled paper)
[Ads]
Life Too Stressed?
Christmas Losing Its Meaning?
Want to Simplify Your Celebration?
Here’s Help...
Whose Birthday Is It, Anyway?
Free Advent/Christmas resource
Contact the church office
or visit SimpleLivingWorks.org.
Life Too
Stressed?
Christmas Losing Its Meaning?
Want to Simplify
Your Celebration?
Here’s Help...
Whose Birthday Is It, Anyway?
Free Advent/Christmas resource
Contact the church office
or visit SimpleLivingWorks.org.
Life Too Stressed?
Christmas Losing Its Meaning?
Want to Simplify Your Celebration?
Here’s Help...
Whose Birthday Is It, Anyway?
Free Advent/Christmas resource
Contact the church office
or visit SimpleLivingWorks.org.
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MISSION: Equipping people of faith to challenge consumerism, live justly and celebrate responsibly // An all volunteer educational organization.