As a former "Angel Tree Child", there were many Christmas' that were happy only because there were others willing to share their blessings with our family. Thankfully, my sons do not have a childhood that looks anything like my own. However, I do want my boys' to know we are richly blessed and there are many less fortunate people in the world. Thus, it is very important for my husband and I to share this thrill of blessing others throughout the Christmas season. We are also intentional about planning and budgeting for gifts to our children. Below are a few of our Christmas traditions to help keep our focus on the celebration of the birth of our Savior and the Good News his birth brought to the world.
1. Before any gifts go under our tree, the boys make a donation box from the toys in their room and we make a trip together to drop the boxes off at a donation center.
2. For the past several years we have participated in Franklin Graham's Operation Christmas Child.
3. Jesus received three gifts from the wise men, so our boys receive three packages from us. This allows us to keep a budget and make it through Christmas debt free!
4. We can not pass a Salvation Army red bucket or bell ringers without putting something in the bucket. Yes, this sometimes requires a special trip to the ATM in order to have something to place int the bucket!
5. Each boy chooses a gift for other children either from an Angel tree or Toys for Tots.
6. The first ornament on our tree is the Christmas nail - to remind us that wood from a tree would one day be used for Jesus’ cross.
7. Christmas Eve Candle Service followed by a drive to look at Christmas lights. We go on a Nativity hunt, counting the number of nativities we see. It is amazing how the boys' remember the previous year's number of nativities to compare it too!
8. We do a random act of kindness– like giving an extra $25 – $100 (depends on the year and our budget) on a tip at a restaurant, or making a random payment on someone’s lay away at a store.
9. We do an advent calendar readings, and last year we added the advent wreath to our dinner table along with an advent story.
10. Our newest one is the Happy Birthday Jesus cake. The bottom layer is chocolate to represent sin. The middle is red for the blood Jesus shed for our sins. The top layer is green for the new life we receive after accepting Christ as our savior. The icing is white to represent Christ’s pureness. There is a yellow star in the middle of the cake for the star of Bethlehem. Placed in the center of the star is a larger purple candle to represent Jesus himself, the King of Kings. Encircling the star and Jesus candle are small candles for each person present. The circular cake represents the world and there are hearts on the sides of the cake to represent our goal of spreading God’s love around the world. After the Jesus candle is lit, each person lights their candle from His. We sing “Happy Birthday” and everyone blows out the candles.
Stephen & Peggy Brooks
Monday, December 7, 2009
Gifts for the everyday work
I've always enjoy baking different types of Christmas cookies and sharing them with coworkers and friends. I also put plate of wrapped cookies in my mailbox and Globe box with a card and money gift or DD card. For the trash and recycling guys, I set out a thermos of coffee with to-go cups, milk and sugar on the side,in a box turned sideways with a placemat to make it kind of nice. I put out a plate of cookies for them to take and a card with two or three DD gift-cards, usually the amount of guys that are working. They always appreciate a small break in their routine and are grateful for the gesture, and I love doing it.
The problem this year is that now we have just one big blue barrel that's taken by mechanical arms; how to make the driver see the cookies? I'll work on that one.
Cyn
The problem this year is that now we have just one big blue barrel that's taken by mechanical arms; how to make the driver see the cookies? I'll work on that one.
Cyn
Sunday, December 6, 2009
7 Nativities
We display 7 nativity sets throughout the house as a beautiful and constant reminder as to what the season is about. When Luke was small I used to move the angel and put her some place in the house where he would come upon her so he could return her to her nativity set. I would also switch Joseph or a shepherd or a king from one nativity set to another and when he found them in the wrong manger he would have to remember where the other mangers were and put them back where they go. Over the past few years he has delighted in returning the fun. Luke also gets to put Jesus in all the mangers on Christmas morning which reminds us to celebrate His birth on that day.
Tracy MacKenzie
Tracy MacKenzie
A simpler Christmas
When our children were small (now 26 and 28), we started the tradition (with our extended family members) to make Christmas gifts ourselves. We have wonderful memories of planning, and spending time together to make gifts for cousins, uncles and aunts. Gifts they would truly enjoy and have good use of. Christmas memories include being amazed at each others skill and effort. The gifts were always very simple. Fudge, marmalade, cookies, small articles with folk art paintings, traditional Christmas cake, the list goes on. Everything baked or made from scratch. Most of the time we would use favorite family recipes. Often with home made tags and lots of thought put into the packaging. Always simple, inexpensive, but stylish.
We are still doing it today. The best part is, seeing how our daughter is keeping the same tradition in her own family and with her in-laws today. We are doing very little Christmas shopping, unaffected by the race and spending habits. We do not know what it means to be overwhelmed by Christmas expenses and hours of shopping.
We pray that this Christmas season will be a time of true rest and peace for you and your family.
Tian and Engelie Blomerus
We are still doing it today. The best part is, seeing how our daughter is keeping the same tradition in her own family and with her in-laws today. We are doing very little Christmas shopping, unaffected by the race and spending habits. We do not know what it means to be overwhelmed by Christmas expenses and hours of shopping.
We pray that this Christmas season will be a time of true rest and peace for you and your family.
Tian and Engelie Blomerus
Got Giving?
In 2 Corinthians 6-15, Paul describes a cheerful giver. Let's take a look on what he thought we ought to do:
Sowing Generously
6 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7 Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. 9 As it is written: “He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.”
10 Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. 11 You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.
12 This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. 13 Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. 14 And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. 15 Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!
This is what We [me & my family] will do this Christmas to support the Kingdom of God. IN ADDITION to our monthly tithe, and our contributions to relief organizations, we will make an extra Gift of $45 every first week of the month starting now, to support our church family here at Grace! Why? Because hard works lays before us, to truly spread the "good news" and sow the seed the God has given us. And guess what. This Church will be a Beacon of light in New England, and we don't want to be the goat on the left field, do we?
So what do you say? Will you join me in growing the kingdom of God? Remember, it's just $45 | $1.50/day | $10.50/week
Believe me, if I can do that, you sure can too. And so I close this post with a dream and prayer that we all will truly see the love of Jesus entering our lives this season, transforming our hearts, removing our worries and challenge us to for once, deeply trust in our God!
(from a Grace Community attendee)
Sowing Generously
6 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7 Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. 9 As it is written: “He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.”
10 Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. 11 You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.
12 This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. 13 Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. 14 And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. 15 Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!
This is what We [me & my family] will do this Christmas to support the Kingdom of God. IN ADDITION to our monthly tithe, and our contributions to relief organizations, we will make an extra Gift of $45 every first week of the month starting now, to support our church family here at Grace! Why? Because hard works lays before us, to truly spread the "good news" and sow the seed the God has given us. And guess what. This Church will be a Beacon of light in New England, and we don't want to be the goat on the left field, do we?
So what do you say? Will you join me in growing the kingdom of God? Remember, it's just $45 | $1.50/day | $10.50/week
Believe me, if I can do that, you sure can too. And so I close this post with a dream and prayer that we all will truly see the love of Jesus entering our lives this season, transforming our hearts, removing our worries and challenge us to for once, deeply trust in our God!
(from a Grace Community attendee)
12 Days of Celebration
My wife and I have developed several traditions for the Advent and Christmas seasons to get away from the way the world celebrates the holiday, and to come to a fuller celebration of Christ's Birth.
One thing we do is to see Advent and Christmas time differently. We use the 4 weeks before Christmas to reflect and prepare for Christmas. And then, when Christmas comes, we celebrate for 12 days! While during advent we focus on getting ready, during the 12 Days we focus on giving, finding different themes each day on whom and what we give, and having fun!
This really takes the pressure off the shopping and the hectic preparation for one day, because we have 12 days to celebrate amd give, not just one. It helps us focus on Christ's birth, too, because we spend Advent, not rushing around preparing, but meditating on Emmanuel.
(from a Grace Community attendee)
One thing we do is to see Advent and Christmas time differently. We use the 4 weeks before Christmas to reflect and prepare for Christmas. And then, when Christmas comes, we celebrate for 12 days! While during advent we focus on getting ready, during the 12 Days we focus on giving, finding different themes each day on whom and what we give, and having fun!
This really takes the pressure off the shopping and the hectic preparation for one day, because we have 12 days to celebrate amd give, not just one. It helps us focus on Christ's birth, too, because we spend Advent, not rushing around preparing, but meditating on Emmanuel.
(from a Grace Community attendee)
Friday, December 4, 2009
A life focused on giving...
This is so awesome!
Certainly we all forget at times, what Christmas is all about!
In a time, where instant satisfaction is so important, gifts are so important, too. Imagine the eyes of your children if they only receive 1 gift. Imagine the looks from your friends when you tell them about just giving 1 gift, hm.
The question remains, aren't we [the faithful] at fault here?
Did not we create children that "need" more and more by not living a life that focuses more on giving, rather than receiving.
"As for me and my house, we serve the lord."
Maybe, just maybe, this year we can change that, and we buy 1/4 gift for every gift we bought for someone else and give it to some one who has nothing. Or, if that is to radical for you. Just take 1/4 of the money you spend on stuff that actually will end up in your or someone else's basement in about 3 month, and give it to an organization that helps those in need.
Remember this: w.w.j.d.? How about you remember that saying this year every time you go "Christmas"-shopping. It helps me a lot when I question myself if Jesus would really by the 5th gift for my wife, or if he wold go and change the world with that money......
(from a Grace Community attendee)
Certainly we all forget at times, what Christmas is all about!
In a time, where instant satisfaction is so important, gifts are so important, too. Imagine the eyes of your children if they only receive 1 gift. Imagine the looks from your friends when you tell them about just giving 1 gift, hm.
The question remains, aren't we [the faithful] at fault here?
Did not we create children that "need" more and more by not living a life that focuses more on giving, rather than receiving.
"As for me and my house, we serve the lord."
Maybe, just maybe, this year we can change that, and we buy 1/4 gift for every gift we bought for someone else and give it to some one who has nothing. Or, if that is to radical for you. Just take 1/4 of the money you spend on stuff that actually will end up in your or someone else's basement in about 3 month, and give it to an organization that helps those in need.
Remember this: w.w.j.d.? How about you remember that saying this year every time you go "Christmas"-shopping. It helps me a lot when I question myself if Jesus would really by the 5th gift for my wife, or if he wold go and change the world with that money......
(from a Grace Community attendee)
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