Throughout Advent (the 4 weeks leading up to Christmas) we
have engaged in the “Advent Conspiracy” material through which we are invited
to turn Christmas upside down this year. We are called to “worship fully”, “spend
less”, “give more” and to “love all”. If we think of the gift Jesus gave it was
acceptance, hope, healing, friendship, forgiveness, love, salvation. Truly the
best gifts cannot be wrapped in paper but require the giving of ourselves
relationally to others.
My prayer is that you and I will “live beyond ourselves” and
give as Christ did by reaching out to pre-Christian friends and to the
disadvantaged in our community. Some of you have already done this by
participating in the TEAR campaign, and/or the Churches of Christ Foster Care
Christmas Tree and/or the sausage sizzle held at the Springwood Central School.
Some will help out with the Fishers of Men dinner on the 23rd of
December. Others will quietly go the extra mile in helping someone or including
someone or inviting someone to our Christmas Eve or Christmas day service. Many
will hear the prompt of the Spirit to engage in a conversation with someone
(perhaps that distant cousin on Christmas day) that moves beyond the “weather”
and “what gift did you get” to something deeper.
A conversation that journeys
into more personal areas such as genuinely exploring how a person is going,
life purpose/hopes, or faith is one that Holy Spirit uses to help a person move
closer to God.
May God help all of us to participate more fully in His
purposes this Christmas and give of ourselves to others.
Happy Christmas
With love from
Graham, Merrett and Kayla
