MAKING CHRISTMAS MEANINGFUL

We celebrate the marvellous Christmas season as we spend time for thought, meditation and joy.  This enriches family, friends and the life of our church.  All good reasons to make Christmas more meaningful.

A historical Advent Calendar pictures the events leading to our Lord’s birth, as children daily open the doors in sequence. Interested visitors may understand the birth of Christ as a historical event. 

Leading to Christmas, I read the accounts of the birth of our Lord in several versions, and yearly look for growing understanding. This year, I am engrossed in the genealogy of our Lord, intending to share the meaning of the names with family and friends.  Non-Christian associates may be interested to see God’s love and wonderful provision in our Lord’s earthly ancestors.  Non-Western people highly regard family lines.

Share the true relevance of Christmas with ethnic friends and neighbours with a simple gift. Each Christmas a friend brings me an arrangement of flowers, each with a Christmas theme. Once it was a plastic detergent container covered with foil (silver is the symbol of redemption) containing one blue agapanthus (blue for royalty, for Jesus is King), two red geraniums (red is the picture of the shed blood of our Saviour) and three green fern fronds (representing the Lord as the Tree of Life), the three representing the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Some families decorate a tree. Martin Luther saw the beauty of the snowflakes on the fir trees, sparkling in the moonlight.  He recreated the scene, surprising his delighted children on Christmas eve by opening the door to the sitting room, where they danced for joy at the beautiful fir tree adorned with twinkling candle lights.

The tree may show that Jesus is the Tree of LIFE, as we read in both Genesis and the Revelation, Decorate it with stars or coloured cards on which scripture verses and prayers are written.  Replenish the tree as each visitor takes one.

Show people we care. Little plates of biscuits, or a portion of Christmas cake decoratively wrapped, with a verse or leaflet, usually delights an oldie, a widow or single friends, and may interest those of other cultures, who do not yet know the Lord Jesus.

Children help by stamping out Christmas biscuits, and in wrapping gifts. While brown or tissue paper is acceptable, a child artfully decorates the paper with textas or pastes on coloured pictures, gleaned from magazines. Let the children accompany you, visiting with your gifts. 

Singing encourages worship.  Let the strains of music fill your heart, using Christmas CD’s and cassettes in the background when entertaining. Invite friends to appealing, Christmas TV programmes, reminding the visitors that the birth of Christ was an historical event, as in Luke 2:1-2. Luke 3:1-2. Emphasise this with your children, while they read these verses.

 Ask each of your Christmas guests what they value most in the Saviour’s coming.
Jot down theses precious thoughts as a memento of a happy occasion. 

Yes, it is time to celebrate, with thought, prayer and preparation.
Christmas is meaningful when Christ is central.

GWENDA