Christ-mas

Between the gifts, the Grinch, and the jolly elves, it’s tough for Christian parents to help kids focus on the true reason we celebrate: heaven’s come down to earth! I believe we have to be intentional to build rituals and traditions during this time of year that will instill in our kids a sense of the wonder and awe at Christ’s birth.

Each year I am eager to expand my repertoire of ideas, so even as I share some of our family’s rituals below I hope to learn from you as well. Please post a comment with your own ideas!

Advent wreath
Four purple candles with a white one in the middle is all you need—though you can also purchase a family-sized version of the one you see in church. We do our after dinner prayer with this wreath.

• Beginning with the first week of Advent we light one candle, increasing the number of lit candles each week.
• Along with the candle lighting we sing a simple refrain like “Prepare the Way of the Lord” or the first verse of a familiar carol like “O Come, O Come Immanuel,” followed by a spoken prayer.
• On Christmas day the white Christ candle is lit.  
• We continue after Christmas, changing our song to something like “Go, Tell It on the Mountain,” for example.

Jesse Tree 
This year we plan to begin the tradition of a Jesse Tree. Thanks to the Reformed Church in America, great directions for creating these ornaments that reflect the meaning of Christmas can be found at www.rca.org (search for “Jesse Tree”). There are also two sets of family devotionals available for free on the website.

Nativity set

Make sure that there is a nativity set that your children can touch and play with. If you don’t have one, consider creating one together. (Several option are available online; just google “making a nativity set with kids.) This may result in some interesting versions of the Christmas story, but the ability for your child to interact with the story will reap greater rewards!

Christmas Giving
Look for ways that your family can give to others. Last year we decorated cookies together and then dropped them off with some of our senior members of our church who are confined to their home. Most churches or community organizations will have additional ways for you to give.

Worship Together

While I grew up going to church on Christmas day, the church I attend now has Christmas Eve services. When that is the case it is even easier for Christmas day to be about presents. To help combat that we begin the day with our own short worship time. We read the Christmas story from a child’s book, sing a few carols, and pray. I want to emphasize that the greatest gift at Christmas is not found under the tree but is heaven come down to earth: the Christ-child Savior living in our hearts!

Joyce Borger is editor of Reformed Worship and worship and music editor for Faith Alive Christian Resources

Joy?

I received a Christmas card with just one word embossed on it in bold capital letters—JOY. It’s certainly a feeling we associate with this Advent/Christmas season. But in reality the expectation that we ought to feel joyful makes lots of us nervous and even depressed at this time of year. Maybe life isn’t going so well, or we’ve experienced some great loss. What’s to be joyful about?

If you look at arc of Christ’s life, you will see that the joy proclaimed at Christmas does not eradicate the pain. His path to joy leads past the cross.

In our lives too, the path to joy often leads through pain. Not because pain is somehow good, but because it’s an inevitable part of living in a broken world. Gospel joy is for those who have faced the brokenness. Only those who weep earn the right to joy. Joy is not a cover-up; it’s an uncovering that opens us up to the deeper well of life.

When children wake up in the middle of the night because of a thunderclap or a nightmare, they cry out, “Mommy, Daddy!” Good parents typically respond to this cry by taking the child in their arms and softly saying, “It's all right, it's all right.” That’s what we say to our kids.

“It’s all right” is either a grand lie or the dearest of all truths.

God, who loved the world so much that he sent his Son to redeem us, takes us in his arms and says, “It's all right; everything will be all right.” And we know it’s not a lie because Christ lived it, and he lives today to assure our hearts by his Holy Spirit that it’s true.

In the Bible, joy is not a feeling we have now and then. It’s a choice we make, a stance we take. If God’s love and salvation in Jesus Christ is the ultimate reality of the universe, then no matter how we feel at the moment or what we’re facing, we can dance every day to the rhythm of heavenly joy.

Welcome Baby Jesus, Welcome Hilarious Joy!

Joy grows when it is expressed. So how will you express the joy of welcoming baby Jesus this year? In Cameroon, Africa, hilarious joy is overflowing and abundant!

Franklin Berinyuy from Cameroon says, “An African expresses joy by dancing.” After a baby is born, the friends of the mother come. They compose songs after seeing the baby. They accompany these songs with dancing because of their hilarious joy.

On Christmas day, Christians in Cameroon gather in church. But they don’t stand in one place to sing--they dance down the aisle to a Jesus manger in the front. They express hilarious joy through dancing, clapping their hands, and moving their bodies.

At home, the people of Cameroon feast with friends. No one needs an invitation to come and feast in a home. Families consider it a blessing and an honor when others come to eat. Hilarious joy erupts because there is plenty for everyone!

Here are two ways you can bring African joy into your celebration of Jesus’ birth:

• Compose a simple song such as Welcome baby Jesus, Welcome baby Jesus, Welcome baby Jesus, You have come to be my Savior! Clap a rhythm. Add more rhythm with bells or homemade instruments. Dance in a circle with hilarious joy as you sing and move with the rhythm.

• Prepare your home for an “open house.” Welcome friends and neighbors joyfully with your greetings and the sharing of Christmas treats.

By Carol Reinsma from the United States and Franklin Berinyuy from Cameroon

Have Yourself a No-Mall Christmas

If you’re looking for “tidings of comfort and joy” this Christmas, you won’t find them at a shopping mall. The noise, the crowds, the race for the last Zhu Zhu Pet . . . it’s all about as comforting and joyful as a trip to the dentist. Here are a few ideas to get you out of the mall and into the true spirit of the season this year:

• Keep a running gift list. Encourage kids (and adults too) to keep a list of gift ideas all year long. This can tame the holiday “gimmes” and help kids make better choices about what’s on their list and why.

• Shop early. Challenge your family to finish their Christmas shopping before December 1. This simple act can deal a real blow to holiday stress. It also gives you extra family time to start meaningful new traditions like hosting a caroling party or helping at a local shelter or nonprofit ministry.

• Shop virtually. Avoid the malls entirely by shopping online. Take advantage of free shipping offers and easy price comparisons to save money and time.

• Don’t shop at all. This year, consider having a “handmade Christmas.” Check out the Internet or your local library for unique gift items that even the craft-challenged can make. It’s guaranteed to be a Christmas your family will never forget.

Spending Christmas Together

It was Christmas Eve. We waited until everyone arrived to bundle up and wander into the Colorado forest to find the perfect Christmas tree. This was one of the first gatherings of our blended family—children and grandchildren—since their other parent’s death and our marriage.

Our search party found the perfect pine and cut it three feet up from the ground. But when it fell, several large branches cracked off. The gang was cold and tired, so we stopped searching and dragged the damaged tree back home. A roar of laughter echoed up the hill as we walked, and again when the scraggly tree hit the stand—creating a new family memory.

Then we sipped hot chocolate and opened the ornament boxes. These were special ornaments from "his,” “her,” and “our" family. Many memories were tucked inside these little boxes. We decorated the sparse branches and shared family stories.

Have you noticed that our hearts turn toward home at Christmas? I think it’s because home is where the mystery of our identity begins. As I reflect on that first Christmas, it occurs to me that we all have a blended family in some way. Whether through blood, marriage, adoption, or invitation, each member of our family needs to know that he or she is an indispensable part of our shared identity. And the even greater beauty of Christmas is knowing that through Jesus Christ, God has created a giant, eternal blended family—one that gives us our ultimate identity as children of God!

Here are some meaningful ways to spend time with your blended family this Christmas:

Put people first

• Use your resources to bring your family together.

• Choose a time that works for everyone, even if it isn’t Christmas day.

• Give gifts that evoke and preserve memories.

• Focus on shared activities rather than tangible gifts.

• Create an enormous family tree that includes every person.


Involve everyone in holiday planning

• Incorporate traditions important to each person.

• Have everyone participate in pre-planning of activities and schedules. For example: assign cooking teams for each meal—mix up family members and ages.


Capitalize on table time

• Tell endearing stories about family members not present because of divorce or death.

• Ask everyone the same question. For example: What do you admire or like about the person sitting on your left?

• Play problem-solving games together.

• Give clues to guess a Bible character.


Integrate faith into activities

• Perform the Christmas story. Have everyone choose a part and a costume (use old clothes, sheets, scarves, and props). Read the Scriptures from Matthew and Luke. Incorporate musical instruments and carols into your production.

• Light candles at your Christmas Eve dinner and share where you've seen God in your life lately.

• Do a service project together. Surprise a family in need with gifts, a visit, or an invitation to join your family for Christmas.

• Make photo albums. One Christmas we made eighteen albums of old family pictures. We gave them to everyone in the next generation. It was a powerful reminder that they belong to our family, and God’s family too.


—by Arlene Arends Waldorf

Joyful Resources For Families!

Bible Stories for Children

Several new books help share God’s stories with children: The Bible for Young Children by Marie-Hélène Delval (Eerdmans), Animals of the Bible for Young Children by Marie-Hélène Delval (Eerdmans), The Nativity from the Gospels of Matthew and Luke by Ruth Sanderson (Eerdmans), and Children of God Storybook Bible by Archbishop Desmond Tutu (Zondervan).

Advent Devotional

Expecting: Devotions for Advent by Scott Hoezee. Faith Alive Christian Resources, 2010.

"As we enter a new Advent season," says Hoezee, "it may be good to ask ourselves how often we reflect on the fact that this creation is 'pregnant' with the new creation." These Advent devotions help you get ready for Christmas. Bulk pricing available.

Christmas Computer Program
Fluffy and God's Amazing Christmas Adventure. Sunday Software.
Designed for ages 5 to 15, this computer program (CD) contains six learning areas for classroom and home use along with participant worksheets.

Jesse Tree

New devotions to coincide with the making of a Jesse Tree can be found on the RCA website at www.rca.org/advent. Ideas for celebrating cultural festivals can also be found there.

Saint Nicholas

Saint Nicholas: A Story of Joyful Giving. Vision Video.

In this VeggieTales episode, Laura Carrot is concerned that her Christmas stocking may be empty this year since her father could possibly lose his job. Bob tells a story of a little boy named Nicholas who made a discovery in Bethlehem. View this DVD and see the Veggies learn the true joy of giving to others. Be sure to find more on St. Nicholas at http://www.stnicholascenter.org/.

Compiled by Jane Schuyler, congregational support specialist for the Reformed Church in America. Contact Jane at jschuyler@rca.org; (800) 968-6065.

Advent Devotions

Before starting the Advent/Christmas family devotions collect a small potted evergreen or a small artificial tree, white school glue, waxed paper, colored string and a needle. The ornaments are made by squeezing glue into shapes on waxed paper. Because it can take 5-6 days for the glue to dry, make the designs at the beginning of the week. Before the glue sets poke in a hole for hanging. At the end of the week thread the needle with a piece of string and hang on the tree. Read the verses and discuss.


Week 1: Placed in God’s Garden
Ornament—a person, a gingerbread man shape works well.
Read Genesis 2:4-23
Take turns describing what Adam could see and do. Have each person chose a favorite scene and tell what’s best about it.

Week 2: The First Sin
Ornament—a snake
Read Genesis 3
What words give you clues about the ugliness of sin? Why do you think Adam and Eve were forbidden to eat of the life-giving tree after they knew evil?

Week 3: Saved!
Ornament—an olive leaf
Read Genesis 6:11-14; 8:1-12
Why was Noah different than the people around him? Pretend you are Noah. Describe your thoughts on seeing the dove returning with the olive leaf. Has a green leaf ever given you hope? When and why?

Week 4: Stars and Stars
Ornament—a star
Read Genesis 12:1-3; 15:1-6
Seeing all the stars helped Abraham get a picture in his mind of what God would do. What helps you believe God will do what he says?

Week 5: Anointed
Ornament—a crown
Read 1 Samuel 16:1-13; Psalm 89:20-29
What does God promise David? Are any of those promises for you, too?

Week 6: A Shoot
Ornament—a tree stump
Read Isaiah 11:1-3
Jesse was King David’s father. The tree shoot represents another king to come from Jesse’s family. Who will that king will be? What words describe the Lord’s Spirit on this king?

Week 7: A Savior
Ornament—an angel
Read Luke 2: 4-20; Matthew 1:21
Why did Jesus have to come to be our Savior?

Week 8: Life-Giving Fruit
Ornament—a piece of fruit
John 10:10; Revelation 2: 7 and 22:1-5
Once again the tree of life is offered. Where is this tree? Take turns imagining out loud or drawing a scene with the tree. Who will eat from it?


-Carol Reinsma, Editor for Kid Connection Guess What! magazine