Three Areas Where You Can Creatively Celebrate Christmas

 

Susan Narjala

 

 

When you ponder on Jesus’ entrance into the world that first Christmas, does a sense of wonder envelop you?

 

What an unlikely cast of characters to play the lead roles. What an obscure location for the world’s most life-changing event to unfold. What an odd menagerie that surrounded the newborn King. What a bedraggled group of first visitors to kneel before the manger.

 

And yet that was how a powerful God chose for his one and only Son to make his dwelling among us.

 

God wrote a far more creative and endearing story when he sent Jesus into the world than any of us could conjure up. It was a story that was free from pomp and spectacle. It was a moment without flashlights and red carpets.

 

And, yet, we have transformed Christmas into a commercial holiday that focusses more on presents under the tree than the presence of God who made his dwelling among us.

 

This year, could we rethink how we celebrate Christmas so we can reflect the creativity and simplicity of our Creator God? Rather than let culture dictate how we celebrate Christmas, can we make room for God to shape our sensibilities and our activities?

 

Clear the Clutter For Christ

 

One thing common about the Christmas season for most of us is that it is the busiest time of the year.

 

While we may have a cushion or hand towel with the words, “Jesus is the Reason for the season” or something similar, we all know church programmes, outreach initiatives, Christmas parties, baking, buying gifts and hosting friends often end up crowding out Christ from our celebrations.

 

This season, whether we are single, married or have kids, can we resolve to clear the clutter in order to cultivate intimacy with Christ? It may mean taking a long, hard look at our schedules and simply letting some things “slide” in order to make room for the important.

 

Ask a creative God for ideas that you can weave into the rhythm of your daily life, but here are some thoughts to get you started:

 

– Light an Advent candle and read from a Christmas devotional

– Play Christmas music during dinner

– Read through the nativity story as a family

– Memorise a verse or two that speak of the Messiah

– Instead of letters to Santa, encourage your kids to write a letter to Jesus

– Write down an attribute of God for every day of Advent and thank God for who he is

 

Without Jesus at the centre, no matter how busy the season, Christmas will be empty and joyless. This year be intentional about creating quiet, “be still” moments to reflect on the beauty and wonder of that first Christmas.

 

Reach out consistently

 

When we look back at the nativity story, we see that God chose obscurity over attention. He chose poverty over pomp. He chose to announce the birth of his Son to a group of dishevelled and startled shepherds rather than kings and princes. Throughout his life, Jesus valued those on the margins.

 

He commands us to do the same.

 

And we do. As churches, at Christmas time, we visit orphanages and shelter homes, donate blankets and biriyani lunches, and give gifts to those who serve us in our apartment buildings and offices. Those are undoubtedly good things.

 

But when we reflect on Christ’s commitment to us, perhaps as image-bearers we ought to commit to serving others for longer than one event, once a year.

 

Perhaps our “creative” Christmas could include how to make our outreach a sustainable effort. Is there some way to give of our time and resources every week or every month? While how we reach out differs widely based on specific situations, here are some practical ideas that you can implement consistently:

 

• Could you get a group of young people to play a football game with the kids at the orphanage every month?
• Could you galvanise a group of ladies to teach life skills to the residents at the shelter home?
• Could you spend an hour a week tutoring a child for six months or even a year?
• Could you commit as a small group to providing a meal a month for the charity that you’ve committed to?
• Could you visit an elder care home every month with the “agenda” of simply showing love?

 

At Christmas, we celebrate the forever covenant that Christ made possible because he reached out to us when we had nothing to offer him. His commitment to us changed our lives for all eternity. It ought to have a lasting impact on others’ lives too.

 

Include those in your outer circle

 

But what about your tried-and-true traditions? Is there room for doing the things you love? Absolutely — as long as those traditions drive us toward God and not away from him.

 

Yet, in sticking to our Christmas traditions, can we also creatively welcome others into them? Can we widen our arms to enfold those on the margins with the love of Christ?

 

Perhaps it is as simple as thinking outside the box about who our guest list might include this year. Here are some scenarios for you to consider:

 

• Invite your neighbours to help you trim the Christmas tree (Hot chocolate is always a bonus)
• Include a young person who might be far from family for Christmas lunch
• Gather the children in your apartment building for carol singing practice and pizza
• Have an open-house type of event where neighbours and colleagues can drop in for cookies and coffee
• Remember those who might have lost loved ones this year and invite them to bake with you or help you make Christmas goody bags

 

While we reach out with the love of Christ, may we be prepared to share the reason for our hope (1 Peter 3: 15). May we be grounded in the truth of what Jesus has done for us and share that truth in love as God gives us the opportunity.