Holiday

[JC_girl]

Hi everyone!
Holiday is coming up, advent and christmas, and I was
wondering how you included your religion in to the celebration.
Do you pray with your family, do charity work, both, neither?

I'm going to celebrate my first christmas that's truly in the christian spirit.

Bless you all!

 

[heron]

Exciting! Do you have any ideas?

I try to stay calmer, and less wrapped in anxieties (ha ha sometimes), so I can look for what people need. Sometimes everyone puts on a holiday face, and then you go home feeling like you didn't really talk with them -- you just talked with their holiday mask. It's a good time to catch up if you can squeeze that in.

Jesus (incarnate) was very relational in His ministry, and probably would have done the same thing. He would have gone to the cousin's house who stayed home with strep, and said, "Arise, you are well." Then He would go back to the party for bon bons.

 

[1watchman]

Some faithful saints believe that since God did not speak of the birth of Christ as a day of remembrance, we should only celebrate His death for us, as given; however, I see no reason for not being glad and praising the Lord for coming to rescue us --which of course was at the cross.

I believe it is good to have a quiet time of devotion to the Lord Jesus with thanksgiving for coming into this poor world. We need to not rush off to do a work in His Name and forget the remembrance of Him and praise --right? I like to read the story of His birth with my family and friends as we are gathered together.

- 1 watchman

 

[JC_girl]

@heron
I don't really have any ideas. I'm gonna visit mom then my grandparents, and then last, my dad. Like every christmas. We're gonna eat and exchange christmas presents and have a good time. sadly no one in my family is christian so we wont be having a religious celebration. That's why I was wondering so I could do some things my self.

 

[heron]

Most churches have Christmas eve services, so you might tell your family that you'd like to attend one, and see if anyone else wants to come. Some churches also have Thanksgiving services which are very cozy.

Some churches sponsor dinners for needy families -- in the building, in a shelter, or in homes.

Our church gets involved in making packages for children of prisoners (Angel Tree), and shoebox packages to send overseas (Samaritan's Purse). Those are nice, because each donor personalizes the gift.

There are also donation collections for local shelters and food cupboards.

I used to lead kids' choirs, so they had a chance to do something important. Sometimes parents get so caught up in what needs to be done, that the children are victims of the holiday frenzy.

Some families with little kids make a Jesus birthday cake.

Many people write their Christmas cards with a warm message of spiritual encouragement, or tell of how God delivered them from something that year.

I used to carol with friends and we would pick songs for their spiritual content, then give treats to people instead of receiving them.

I have some friends who have added Channukkah readings and menorah traditions -- these commemorate God delivering His people. In a way, that ties in with the Messiah coming to save.

Hm... I'm sure there are more ideas...

 

[JC_girl]

Thank you so much! This have really helped!
I have been looking for like a soup kitchen or something like that, but
there's nothing here. :/
I was also thinking of working at my dad's job. (without getting paid.)
He works at a home for old people with dementia. I think they would appreciate it.

 

[Peripatetic]

Listen to some Christmas hymns (O Come All Ye Faithful, Silent Night, Joy to the World, O Holy Night, etc.) and sing along, even if just in your head. It's one of my favorite parts of the season. Another thing thing that I do is read the Bible chapters about the birth of Jesus and imagine myself as being there: wise man, shepherd, Joseph, Mary, a random traveler, etc.