I had to buy Christmas presents this week. Normally I don’t like to think about Christmas till Advent, but when your daughter moves her family across the ocean, that’s just not possible. So the presents are purchased and will be delivered tomorrow to the children’s other Grandma, who will take them to Manchester at the end of the month.
Christmas talk has already begun in the church office too. If you want to do something well, you need to start early. So plans for the Christmas services and special events are underway. Soon our children will be practicing their Christmas program, rehearsals for the praise chorus have been booked (if you want to participate, you are invited), plans for a Christmas Concert, which will raise money for Compassion Canada and the Sosua Pregnancy Help Centre in Dominican Republic, and a Ten Thousand Villages Christmas Sale, which helps artisans in developing countries earn a living wage are in the works as well. I love the opportunity for community and for sharing that Christmas provides. I hate that the expectations that we have often aren’t met. Many people feel like others have more fun—they’re invited to more parties, they get more presents, they’re busier, happier, more than we are.
Christmas talk has already begun in the church office too. If you want to do something well, you need to start early. So plans for the Christmas services and special events are underway. Soon our children will be practicing their Christmas program, rehearsals for the praise chorus have been booked (if you want to participate, you are invited), plans for a Christmas Concert, which will raise money for Compassion Canada and the Sosua Pregnancy Help Centre in Dominican Republic, and a Ten Thousand Villages Christmas Sale, which helps artisans in developing countries earn a living wage are in the works as well. I love the opportunity for community and for sharing that Christmas provides. I hate that the expectations that we have often aren’t met. Many people feel like others have more fun—they’re invited to more parties, they get more presents, they’re busier, happier, more than we are.
In the end the parties, the presents, and even the family doesn’t satisfy, though. In my search for a more Christ-filled Christmas I came across the Advent Conspiracy a number of years ago. The challenge is to worship fully, spend less, give more and love all. This year they have renewed the materials and they will be available in November. I’ve signed up to learn more when it’s available. If you’d like to join me, check it out at adventconspiracy.org or on Facebook www.facebook.com/AdventConspiracy/
If you do decide to check it out and it sparks something in you, please share. I’d love to hear your thoughts.
- Evelyn
If you do decide to check it out and it sparks something in you, please share. I’d love to hear your thoughts.
- Evelyn
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