In which I am already preparing for Christmas…but not the way you might think

November 18, 2008

Advent is almost upon us.

Three years ago, we decided to buy only $10 gifts for our families but didn’t reduce our Christmas budget. We then used the remaining money to purchase items out of the World Vision “gift catalogue” such as seeds and goats and mosquito netting for families that were poor, homeless and in need around the world usually as a result of war, famine or drought. We still had a great Christmas. (That was the Christmas we announced we were pregnant with Anne. It was also my last Christmas with my Granny as she passed away just four months later.)

It keeps my perspective to remember that $50 can supply an entire classroom with books, pencils and paper or buy a family a woodstove or feed a hungry child for 30 days.

We have decided to scale back Christmas again this year. It’s partly practical (we don’t have the money to do much this year) and partly because of our continuing conviction that Christmas, for us, is more meaningful when we don’t buy into the consumerism and materialism.

Christmas is a joyous season, especially for believers.

Watch this video (it’s just 2 minutes or so) to see what I mean….

Advent Conspiracy is a movement that I discovered last year. They spread the word, restoring the scandal of Christmas by substituting compassion for consumption.

For three years now, Christmas isn’t about credit cards. It’s been about:
- Worshiping Christ more meaningfully.
- Refusing our culture’s hunger for consumerism.
- Giving relationally to our friends and family.
- Loving all by giving to those most in need.

The past two years of Advent Conspiracy has changed the way tens of thousands of Christians celebrate Christmas, and resulted in millions of dollars being redistributed to needy neighborhoods and solving the global water crisis.

Expect Jesus to be worshiped and lives saved as thousands of churches to join in the blessed mischief this year.

You can join their group on Facebook here or find them online here. If you get a chance, you might ask your church to play that video on Sunday mornings leading up to Christmas.

We are planning on following the Regent Advent readings this year. I like to keep the focus where it belongs during this season and this beautiful book helps me to do that.

It’s my prayer and hope that my children have memories of Christmas like I have. Baking with my mum, playing outside, being with my family, the magic of preparation, anticipation that almost beats satisfaction, giving to others. I love that my parents always kept the focus where it belonged for Christmas.

Don’t get me wrong – I love love love Christmas. We even make-believe about Santa Claus and the whole bit. (Kids only get a passport to fairyland for a few years….might as well enjoy it, is my opinion) We buy the kids gifts. We don’t go overboard though (or try not to!). They get one book, one toy and one outfit from us. We will bake all month long (Annie loves to bake), do some crafts, decorate the house, read stories and make cookies for Santa on Christmas Eve.

But my favourite part of Christmas is always Christmas Eve at church. Getting dressed up with my family, going out in the dark to worship together with my beloved community of fellow believers. Singing songs, listening to familiar Scripture, holding hands in church, lighting candles.

Breathing in the holy for another moment, pausing to bow down and rejoice.

Worship fully. Spend Less. Give More. Love All.

Are you doing anything special this Christmas to reflect your values?

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  • Sarah

    I like this approach. One of the reasons that I love Christmas is because it reminds me of the magnitude of what Christmas really means. One of the reasons I start celebrating it early is because one, I really love my christmas cd's and I have too many to try to listen to in a month's time and two, because I believe that Christmas can and should be celebrated all year long. (How's that for a nice run-on sentence) Truly, it is a time of awe and worship which is an attitude we should cultivate for the entire year.

    However, when you have a family where half of your members' love language is gifts…well, there is no such thing as $10 gifts. But that is another part of the holiday. Searching for the best gift for each person, watching their face light up with joy when they realized that yes, you really do get them and both the giver and receiver feeling blessed. But, growing up my parents always taught us to remember others at Christmas, so I try to do something like the Angel Tree at the mall or another venue of giving to those who have nothing. This year I'm checking out Ox-Fam's website and I'm also contemplating sending gifts to children in India or care packages to Pakistan through the Voice of the Martyrs.

    I love Christmas, it's the best!!!
    11/18/2008 1:01 PM Brittaney delete reply I started to write out what we do but it was getting really long. But EXCELLENT post. There are so many ways for a family to redesign their Christmas traditions to be extra special to their family and avoid consumerism and bless others. Our family has done that and it is such a blessing.
    11/18/2008 4:58 PM futurepastorswife (message) block delete reply I'm hoping to redesign now that we've moved. I have a bit of resistance from the husband though. His family is so big on the gift giving thing. My family isn't. I'd like to just be buying a gift for Jason, and one gift for each of the boys. They are used to just getting one thing from us, so they don't expect more, and are so easy in this process!! It's the adults that I have trouble with!! We'll see how it goes this year. I'm thinking of baking cookies for the kids to give their teachers and helpers. We'll see if that happens!! I so want to move away from the consumer stuff.
    11/18/2008 9:42 PM Tasia007 (message) block delete reply We've scaled back Christmas as well the last few years…it's amazing how far $50.00 goes in another country! The Advent Reading sounds great–have to look into getting that book.

    I'm with you on Christmas Eve — I love Christmas Eve services, when I was a teen our church and a candle light service…such a holy hushed silence…
    11/20/2008 1:23 PM newlifesong (message) block delete reply Sounds pretty much how we do things around here.

    I remember my first Christmas Eve service in this town – we moved into this house the week before Christmas 4yrs ago. I went to the nearest church and the Christmas Eve service was just lovely. I cried nearly the whole way through it. rofl Just me and the tinies, who were definitely tiny then…little Phil would hardly keep still, as any self-respecting 3yo! But I was so needy that season, and God used that one experience to remind me that He was there. I still refer back to it!
    11/21/2008 4:50 AM shegoespublic (message) block delete reply