Alternatives to a Consumer-driven Christmas?

What do you do to make Christmas a joyful celebration of Christ’s birth? How can the meaning of Emmanuel—“God with us”—be made real at Christmastime?

This was the question for the Staff at The LOGOS Ministry this year as we prepared to celebrate with each other. In past years, we went out to lunch and exchanged gifts. But in early 2007, we decided to live more fully what we teach about reaching out to others in relationship for the sake of Jesus Christ. In June, we closed the office and went on a Mission Trip to Youngstown, Ohio where we engaged with a financially-struggling church that needed help with painting the interior of their hallways, office and fellowship hall. We came back energized—and changed by the experience!

As we approached Advent, we again challenged ourselves to reach out. We have been blessed by our wonderful friends and family, and God provides necessities for living which we sometimes take for granted. So, this year, instead of going out, and instead of exchanging gifts, we shared our food at a potluck lunch [which turned out to be quite a feast!] And, most importantly, we decided to pool our gift money and sponsor a child through the Compassion Project. Durga is 4 years old and she lives in India; we became her official sponsors last week!

Our decision to reach out to someone in need has helped us to honor the gift God has given to us in Jesus. What kinds of things do you, your family, or your church family, do to make Christmas about the birth of Jesus?