Jesus said, "You have let go of the commands of God
and are holding on to the traditions of men."
 Mark 7:8 (NIV)

The Evangelism Committee was responsible for one of the huge successes of the early Christian church. These people knew that the populace was more likely to embrace the new religion if it could be tied to the old. Thus, they linked important events/teachings of Christianity to popular pagan worship events. Voila! It worked. And, the theory still works today for me. You see, I love all of Christmas - the secular, traditional, and Christian worship.
 
It seems that each year, secular Christmas bursts onto the scene earlier and earlier. Before the Halloween candy is put away in the stores, the shelves start to display Christmas items and decorations. And, I experience a quickening of spirit - Christmas is coming!
 
In November - all before Thanksgiving:
• Rehearsals of Christmas music begin for church choir, band, and orchestra.
• The monthly meeting of the church's afternoon women's group is designated as "Elves Workshop" and gifts for needy families in Ewing are collected and wrapped for Christmas distribution.
• The youth of the church place a big box in the narthex of the church to collect shoeboxes filled with small items for Samaritan's Purse to distribute to needy children around the world.
• I shop for our family in Maine so that we can take their Christmas gifts to them when we go there to celebrate Thanksgiving. (To save for opening on Christmas day, of course.)
 
Advent comes:
• A blue tablecloth is placed on the kitchen table.
• Our 52-year old Advent wreath is fitted with new candles and placed on the table.
• Our nightly devotions include portions related to Advent.
• For church services at Abiding Presence, the lighting of the Advent wreath dedicated to my mother and the Advent banner dedicated to my father recall wonderful memories of my parents for me.
• One can feel the eyes of the congregation, old and young, watching as the candles on the wreath are lighted during the four consecutive Sundays.
• Mid-week Advent services at the church are added to the calendar posted on our refrigerator and attendance of them is planned.
 
Early December:
• The first weekend in December, as a member of the Blawenburg Band, I begin playing concerts of Christmas music for residents of nursing homes throughout the county.
• The annual Christmas church dinner is held; this year will be the 41st time for my husband and I to attend.
• Christmas parties associated with various organizations we belong to bunch themselves onto our calendar making it hard for us to choose which to attend.
• We bring out our Christmas decorations. The dining room, living room, doors, banisters, windowsills, etc. are decorated.
• Christmas cards and letters are prepared and mailed.
• Friends come to our home and we are invited to go their homes for lunch, dinner and/or parties.
 
The plethora of Christmas "things" just keeps growing and growing.
• Special, as well as everyday, dishes decorated with Christmas designs are used for meals.
• Special linens replace the towels, aprons, etc.
• We hear music from morning to night from our collection of Christmas records and CDs plus selections played by our classical radio station. My husband frequently plays traditional carols on the piano.
• We anxiously await the receipt of telephone calls, beautiful Christmas cards (some containing photos), newsy Christmas letters, and e-mails from family and friends as far away as Tasmania and as close as next door.
• Our house is permeated by the smell of Christmas cookies baking in the oven.
• I excitingly wave to Santa Claus when he comes riding by our house on a special float escorted by fire trucks with their sirens wailing and their lights swirling round and round.
• What fun it is to shop for gifts and wrap them - taking many to the post office to send to family and friends too far away to visit in person.
• Concerts featuring Christmas music abound for me to attend both as a performer and as a member of the audience.

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Contributed by Nancy
Sunday December 26, 2010
Week 5 of Liturgical Year A
Liturgical Year A Sunday:
First Sunday after Christmas