If you could pick only one Christmas tradition — whether it’s a family activity, a community event or an element of worship — what do you look forward to the most?
What makes that tradition particularly meaningful for you?
If you could pick only one Christmas tradition — whether it’s a family activity, a community event or an element of worship — what do you look forward to the most?
What makes that tradition particularly meaningful for you?
We set our Wise Men far away from the Nativity Set.
Each week in Advent as a family we move them after we get home from church. We blast BNL's version of God Rest Ye Merry Gentlement/We Three Kings as we move them, sing and dance. It's a real blast, and our kids - now ages 5 and 7 look forward to it each week, and every year.
Singing "Silent Night" at our candlelit Christmas Eve worship service
This will sound crazy, but our family has "Baby Beans" - a hot pink bean bag doll - that comes out every Christmas and hangs around the house - each day moving from one place to another, etc. The adults have fun choosing a new place and pose for her, and the kids love watching to see where she'll end up next. It is totally silly fun - she doesn't look anything like Christmas, yet she gives us all a giggle. Last year my Mother passed her on to me. Last night she was in the manger, waiting for Jesus, and this morning she was found sliding down the bannister. Craziness!
Only one? I think it may have to be "A Charlie Brown Christmas." No matter who is reading the Christmas story, or if I read it to myself, I will forever hear it in Linus's voice! And somehow, that always warms my heart.
The Christmas Eve service when we darken the church, the only lights are from our candles and we sing Silent Night, makes me cry just like it made my mom cry. I think of her every Christmas Eve...hopefully some day my kids will shed a tear and think of me ;)
I always loved our Christmas Eve candle light service, when all the lights are turned out and we have the glow of the Christmas trees and the candles while singing Slient Night.
Several years ago, one of our members volunteered to play Silent Night on his guitar. His son played with him. The congregation sang along. The candlelight was soft and beautiful. Almost every year since, he has been able to play for us, while we sing along. The spirit of Christmas is Present. This is a more powerful experience than any other Christmas memory. I thank God that I live in a country where I can worship as I please.
Prior to my husband's retirement from ministry, he served a small congregation for 17 years. One of the members of that congregation is a woman who has intellectual disabilities and although in her 40's functions around age 4-5. From the time we arrived at that church, my favorite part of Christmas Eve was when the sanctuary was darkened, the candles were the only light, and she could be heard above the rest of the congregation singing "Silent Night". The love for her Lord and her unbridled joy in the holiday brought tears to everyone's eyes. How blessed the congregation was to see the miracle of Christmas through Susan's eyes. It is a gift I will treasure always.
My brother walked as Joseph, as I became Mary who rode on "Daddy Donkey" and cradled my baby doll. Mom was the busy innkeeper, and my sister was the angel who announced the baby's birth. We acted out the Christmas story this way for many years.
We have a service on Christmas morning at our church. We celebrate Holy Communion, sing carols and read God's word. The number is often small but that does not diminish the feeling that we all share. I think the small number in attendance makes it truly feel like we are worshiping as a family as we share God's love and celebrate His wonderful gift.
My husband and I collect movie versions of "A Christmas Carol" and watch them each year.