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Ideas for Reclaiming Advent and Christmas
During Advent we anticipate and celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior
Jesus Christ. In our modern-day culture Christmas has also become a season of
giving. This year we have compiled some resources to help Presbyterians engage
in giving that sustains life and celebrates the birth of Christ in more meaningful
ways than mainstream culture provides. Our Alternative Giving Ideas are
designed to accommodate a range of budgets and family needs. We’d love
to hear your feedback and incorporate your creative ideas.
Regardless of how you choose to celebrate Christmas this year, we hope that
you will have a life-giving, simple and Christ-centered holiday season. Please
contact us to share your stories about your Christmas celebrations. We welcome
and look forward to your feedback and ideas. Advent and Christmas blessings to
you.
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Be intentional
Society places many expectations on us (and we place
expectations on ourselves) to create “the perfect Christmas” or “the best Christmas” by
outdoing each other or what we did last year. Often we run ourselves ragged all
season, only to collapse with exhaustion after the holidays and find that we
did little that was actually enjoyable. Decide early in the season what will
be meaningful for you this year and make choices all through the season based
on that intention.
Let your witness live itself out this season. If you decide to do things differently
this year, take time to explain to others why you have made this switch. Whether
it's organic foods, alternative gifts, sweat free products, fairly traded goods,
and every aspect of life that honors God, be gentle and kind in your explanations,
keeping in mind that faithful living is a process and we need each other and
God to assist us on our journeys.
Pray and renew
What are your traditions surrounding prayers and blessings during Advent and
the Christmas season? Is there one person who prays each year, or do multiple
people offer prayers? It may be helpful to talk together about the prayers that
are said:
- Often Christmas and the holiday season create times where people of different
denominations and faith traditions share table together. If this is the case
you may wish to have people offer prayers from their tradition.
- Incorporate prayers for
farmers and the Earth into your family’s celebrations.
- You may also have people at your table for whom English is not their first
language, so consider offering prayers and thanks in multiple languages.
- Talk about ways to share God’s gifts with others. Discuss ways of renewing
the Earth and supporting sustainable farming practices. You can share the joy
of gardening by planting potted winter bulbs like Amaryllis or Paper Whites.
- Consider your family’s everyday prayer life, too. If one person traditionally
offers the prayer, perhaps others can join in for communal prayer, or you can
rotate the tradition around from person to person year to year.
Study and learn
Spend time with loved ones during Advent around your Advent wreath, Christmas
tree, hearth or in an outdoor location, and engage in prayer, study and activities
that broaden the heart and mind:
Create
Develop your own rituals for Christmas:
- Develop a yearly cookbook to share traditions and meals. The recipe’s
author can write about the creation, history and heritage of the recipe.
- Create your family’s ornaments, table centerpiece
or tree topper. Find inspiration all around you from a nature walk, a craft store
visit or other outing. Visit a nearby farm or farmer’s market to find
gourds, decorative winter squash, dried corn and natural arrangements.
Share the work
Sometimes serving means providing for others through hospitality
and doing the work yourself. However, the holidays are times of sharing. Encourage
everyone to help with preparation and service. In helping, people can share Christmas
stories, learn traditions and develop new skills. Here are some ideas to lessen
your stress during preparation by sharing the work among all:
- Simplify. Decide together as a family how you want to celebrate this holiday
season: What aspects are essential to you and your family in order for the holiday
season to feel like Christmas? Let go of things that are not essential and make
room for more time with loved ones!
- Have others bring side dishes or desserts. This can add variety to the table.
Creating a table for goodies from all your friends and family honors everyone’s
contributions to the feast.
- Share space and make room for community! If your kitchen is large enough
invite others in to help with the preparation of the meal, or if your kitchen
is smaller find other spaces where food can be prepared and others can help.
- Establish a family kitchen. If your family is one where one person tends
to do most of the cooking, cleaning or other planning and preparation, then give
that person a break this year. Share preparation tasks among all involved. This
helps everyone take part in the planning and preparation so everyone can take
part in the fun and relaxation!
Slow down, make it memorable
When we get too caught up in shopping and preparation, it is easy to forget
about Christ. Relax and savor not only the season but also Christmas Day. Christmas
is a holiday and our focus should be on God, not on the material nature of Christmas.
Adopting a Christmas mantra like, “I can’t serve both God and mammon,” can
be a helpful, prayerful reminder of the meaning of Christmas during stressful
times. It is easy to get caught up in the hustle of everything, but planning
ahead can help to prevent some of the holiday stresses:
- Turkey, ham, goose and prime rib all take a long time to
cook, so use this to your advantage. While the meal cooks, spend time out of
the kitchen with your friends and family.
- Share traditional stories. Before engaging in a family or
holiday tradition, ask someone to explain the reason for the tradition. For example,
retell the story of the birth of Christ as you set a nativity scene. Share your
heritage in the telling of stories. Encourage questions and dialogue about holiday
traditions.
- Share stories with each other, either during a meal or at another time. What
is each person’s favorite Christmas memory? Make the conversation intergenerational
by sharing memories of past holidays and gatherings as well as the history of
the holiday.
- Take time to remember members of your family or other loved
ones who have died. Tell stories and share memories to honor the person and keep
them present. If you are grieving a recent loss, take time to honor your grief
and care for yourself. Even if you are not grieving yourself, others around you
may be, so keep in mind that the holidays are particularly difficult for those
who are mourning losses of any kind — be it the loss of a loved one, the loss
of a job, the loss of a relationship or the loss of a possibility or dream.
Reach out and honor the realities of life that are present amidst the busy bustle
of the season.
Serve someone and share the wealth
Christmas is a season of birth and renewal. We give gifts and honor God. This
holiday should be a celebration of life and we hope that it will be for all people.
However, there will be those who are not able to partake in Christmas celebrations.
Perhaps they do not have the money or resources; perhaps they do not have a family
or friends to visit; perhaps they do not have a home. Whatever the reason, we
can work together to eliminate the causes of hunger and poverty.
- Taking the time to visit a local shelter or food bank can help develop a
strong sense of service. If it is possible, take the time to serve a Christmas
meal to others outside of your home. Find
a shelter near you.
- Food donations, meal preparation and delivery, or inviting new guests to
your home are all forms of service and outreach you can embrace this Christmas.
- Take action against hunger! You can take up a collection at your meal to
support local efforts to eliminate hunger, or have your guests bring nonperishable
items to donate to a local food pantry or shelter. If you are feeling politically
active, consider a letter writing campaign or initiative for your guests to support.
For example you could send postcards to the executives at Burger King to support
the work of the Coalition of Immokalee
Workers and the Campaign for Fair
Food.
- Interfaith Activity. Christmas is a time of great celebration for Christians
and the holiday season is also a time of celebration for many of the other world’s
religions. There are a number of ways to learn about other cultures and religions
this season. Honor God by sharing what it means to be a Christian this season,
while also honoring and respecting those of other faith traditions.
Stay home
Avoid returning gifts on the day after Christmas. Take time with family to
rest, relax and enjoy the season. Call or visit people you haven’t seen
in a while. Perhaps plan an outing or family activity. This will help you avoid
the hubbub of the frenzied “return day” immediately following Christmas
and make space for meaningful activities.
Greenery as life, creation and renewal
We celebrate the birth of our Savior during Christmas. If you are celebrating
the holiday season in the Northern Hemisphere, with the onset of winter you probably
notice fewer signs of life, which can make it difficult to celebrate birth and
renewal. There are a number of ways the church has traditionally remembered Christ’s
birth through the introduction of signs of life during the season of Advent:
Advent wreaths
- Make your own wreath. Rather than purchasing a fresh advent wreath, you can
make one from the boughs of a Christmas tree. Reusing the lower branches of the
tree that were cut to fit the tree into its stand can make excellent wreath material.
- An advent wreath can be completely organic. To find local and organic options
for wreaths and other greenery visit a local farmers market by searching Local
Harvest or Organic Bouquet.
- For candles, think beeswax. Beeswax candles are completely organic and biodegradable. Beeswax
also burns cleaner than paraffin.
- If you have made your wreath from natural greens, it can be composted or
recycled like a Christmas tree.
O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree …
While there may not be a Biblical basis for having a Christmas tree, the practice
of bringing greens and signs of life into our homes during the winter has become
a standard part of Christmas tradition.
- If you already have an artificial tree, it is best to make use of it as long
as you can.
- If you are in need of a tree, whether you should buy a real tree or an artificial
tree can be a tough decision. The National
Christmas Tree Association provides a list of benefits to purchasing real
trees.
- Go local. Consider visiting a nearby tree farm to get your tree, and make
it a memorable outing with family or friends. Find local farms at Local
Harvest.
- Treecycle! Real trees are 100% biodegradable. They can be converted into
mulch or compost for organic farming. If you live on a farm yourself, you tree
can be reused as fish shelter/habitat in your farm’s pond or lake To find
out where your tree can be recycled visit Earth
911.
- Instead of setting up a traditional tree, consider decorating a large houseplant
already inside your home.
- Plant indoor winter bulbs like amaryllis and paperwhites for dramatic, fragrant
blooms. These are plants for kids to watch because they grow incredibly quickly.
Think outside the box
Decorate outside your home with edible decorations to attract wildlife:
- Pinecones coated with organic nut butter and rolled in seeds, and dried ears
of corn create natural bird feeding ornaments.
- Apples may be hung from branches to feed deer or other larger animals.
- Garland can be made out of air popped corn or chunks of stale bread.
- Millet and other seeds can be woven into a wreath that will attract a variety
of wild birds.
- If the tree is close to a window in your home, keep watch for visiting animals.
Make it educational and try to identify as many species as you can.
Holiday gifts
The Magi traveled a long distance to bring gifts to Jesus. Their gifts were
items of value that honored the child and provided for the family. Today we are
bombarded with messages of extravagance during the holiday season, and gift giving
can be a tricky topic for many. Like the Magi, we, too, can try to find gifts
that honor our loved ones, while also honoring Christ and remembering why we
celebrate Christmas in the first place. Jesus and his family were poor. Christ
was born in a manger surrounded by hay and animals.
It can be difficult to find the balance between honoring
your loved ones with the latest thing and honoring the Christ to whom we strive
to be faithful. Giving alternative gifts can be fun and uplifting if it is done
in the spirit of love; however, if you are too aggressive or overbearing, your
gift may not be well received. Take it slow and meet people where they are. Embody
Christ in your giving and receiving this season. Gifts that honor Jesus are those
that reflect God’s presence with us. Christ’s ministry reminds us
that we are not to seek treasures on earth, but to build up our treasures in
heaven. When you give, let the scriptures be your inspiration and give thoughtfully,
with justice, kindness and humility.
Gifts of time and service
Gifts of time and service can be quite memorable. These gifts require thoughtful
preparation and help build relational bonds. Sharing the gifts God has given
you through service and teaching honors God and blesses others.
- Teach skills. If you are gifted with crafts, music, dance or other talents,
give the gift of knowledge. Gifting a series of lessons empowers the people you
love with new skills and abilities, while passing on some tradition and heritage.
- Games. You can give board games or a deck of cards with a promise to play.
Teaching a new card game to a child or adult is a lasting gift.
- Meals. Give the promise of food and meals to people on your list. Promising
to eat lunch with your children at their school once a month is a great way to
spend more time with family.
- Homemade Gifts: Knitted items, framed photos, handcrafted toys, works of
art and other personally made gifts show care and concern for the recipient.
These gifts require time and thought to create.
- Commitment. Make a commitment to someone this season. Find ways to serve
the people on your list by committing to care for them. You can shovel snow,
prepare meals, plan events or schedule a vacation.
Gifts of giving
Give gifts that honor God by supporting church ministries through alternative
giving. You can provide a donation to honor someone on your list.
Gifts of membership
Providing a gift that gives throughout the year shows your commitment to the
recipient. Memberships are great gifts for people who have seemingly everything.
- Give or renew a membership. Discover the clubs and organizations to which
the people on your Christmas list belong and sponsor their membership for the
year.
- The gift of health. Instead of waiting for New Year’s Resolutions,
give the gift of a gym membership along with a shared commitment to health. You
and your loved one can enjoy time together in the gym.
- Magazines, journals and electronic subscriptions. Many publications
have subscription fees, which make great gift ideas. Each month the recipient
will be reminded of your generosity.
Fair trade gifts
God’s call to live our lives justly can take many forms. By being intentional
with our spending we can share the blessings of prosperity while sharing our
Christian call. Selecting fair trade products and avoiding sweatshop labor in
your gifting celebrates God’s call to liberate the oppressed and to set
captives free. Fair Trade options are not limited to coffee. Many items that
you might give as gifts for Christmas can be found fair trade, which means that
you will not be giving gifts made with slave or child labor and you will know
that the people who worked hard making the products are being paid a wage they
can live on.
- Coffee, tea, cocoa, chocolate and snacks. The Presbyterian
Coffee Project offers a variety of items to fill a holiday gift basket with
fair trade goodies. You could whip up a batch of homemade marshmallows and create
a memorable hot chocolate gift basket!
- Sports equipment. Fair
Trade Sports offers a wide variety of sports equipment for the sports enthusiast
on your list. Their products are produced by adult workers who are fairly paid
and many products are made from sustainably harvested organic rubber.
- Buy American. Products made in the United States are less likely to be made
under poor conditions or forced labor. Local toyshops can be great finds for
wooden toys like blocks and trains. U.S.
Made Toys can provide you with information on toys that are still made in
the United States.
- Go global. Purchase fairly traded gifts from one of the PC(USA)
Global Marketplace partners. Your gift will support the self-development
of people throughout the world.
- Try to avoid sweatshops. While it may not be possible to satisfy everyone
on your list with the above recommendations, you can find ways to be more responsible
in giving by avoiding sweatshop labor. The 2008
sweat free shopping guide is a great resource for sweat shop free products.
Avoiding the producers in the Hall
of Shame will also help to prevent some of the worst offenders from making
it under your tree this season.
- Season tickets to the theater or other arts, sporting events or memberships
to museums or science centers can be fun for all.
Eco-friendly gifts
Throughout the scriptures we are reminded of God’s deep connection with
us and our world. Sustaining life on the planet requires us to sustain the earth.
In caring for the earth we are caring for all of God’s children and sustaining
the diversity of created life. Many gifts can be environmentally responsible
and support your concerns for the earth. These gifts can also serve as a way
of teaching people to care for creation and one another. Eco-friendly gifts may
help others to see God in new ways as one who cares about the world and all its
people.
- Trees, plants and landscaping. If you have a green thumb
or a gift for gardening, you can give out gifts of future promise. Providing
seeds or cuttings from your own garden, teaching someone to garden, helping someone
plan a garden or planting a tree together are all great gifts.
- CFLs or LEDs. It can be a little expensive to fit a whole house with Compact
Fluorescent Light bulbs (CFLs) or Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) but the electricity
savings will quickly offset these initial costs. Each month your loved ones will
thank you as they pay lower electric bills and accumulate savings.
- Water bottles. The consumption of bottled water has huge environmental and
humanitarian impacts. Providing someone you love with a reusable water bottle
and possibly a water filter can prevent hundreds of flimsy plastic bottles from
ending up in landfills. Drinking tap water helps prevent the privatization of
water, which helps ensure enough water for everyone. Reusable bottles save oil
and energy from being consumed in the production of new bottles. For more information
on bottled water and its impact look into the Think
Outside the Bottle Campaign. Sign the pledge yourself and include a
copy for your loved one with your gift.
- Carbon offsets. Offsets provide a great way to give back through the planting
of trees and development of new “green” technologies. TerraPass offers
a number of ways to calculate and customize a carbon offset for each person on
your list. For other options on carbon offsets and green tags visit The
Center for a New American Dream.
- Reusable gift packaging. Minimize the impact that your gifts will have on
local landfills by packaging them in reusable or biodegradable packaging. Consider
using a gift bag or a gift basket. Wrapping gifts in blankets or table linens
create practical and reusable packaging options. The possibilities are endless.
Be creative and minimize your impact.
Holiday foods
Food plays a huge role in the holidays and our gatherings. Many biblical
stories tell of God providing food for the weary, whether this was the Hebrew
people fleeing Egypt or the more than 5,000 Jesus fed. As Christians, we can
be conscientious of where our food comes from and how it is produced, so that
our food choices sustain life rather than injustice. Here are some ways to embody
the life of Christ through your eating and food preparation this season.
Keep it local
Local foods, like those from farmer’s markets, require less energy to
transport to your table and help minimize your environmental impact. Local foods
are fresh and often reflect seasonal flavors.
- Purchase your turkey, ham, goose or prime rib locally from a free range,
organic producer — the Sustainable
Table provides educational information to help pick out the main course option
to suit your needs.
- Purchase no meat at all and create a vegetarian or vegan feast from local
farm goods.
- Visit the Local Harvest Web site
and search by zip code to find markets and farms in your area.
- Check out 100-mile Diet for local and organic recommendations.
- The Rural Coalition operates the SuperMarket Coop, a cooperative of low-income
farmers and artisans in the US and abroad. Visit the SuperMarket
Coop for wreaths, gifts, food, beverages and more.
Buy organic
Use as much organic food as possible. Organic foods are produced
without pesticides, hormones or other potentially harmful chemicals, which prevents
chemicals from polluting water systems, soil, air and our bodies. Organic farming
means farm workers and consumers are saved from exposure to potentially harmful
chemicals. Many local and fair trade options are also organic.
Minimize waste and packaging
While recycling is far better than adding waste to landfills, buying items
with no packaging or reusable packing is the best option. Find items with minimal
packaging. If it is possible to reuse an item then reuse it, if it is not possible,
then seek out recyclable material. Here are some ideas to get you started and
to make your kitchen and holiday season a little greener:
- Rather than having meats prepackaged in Styrofoam and shrink-wrap, buy meats
from a local butcher or meat counter where they can be wrapped in paper.
Organic scraps and waste can be composted. If you have a garden it is a great,
natural way to enhance your soil!
Glass jars can be reused as cups or as containers for gifts
in a jar.
Gift bags are better options than wrapping paper because they can be reused.
Using a reusable cloth or recycled shopping bag for a gift bag means the bag
can be used all the time. Reusable Bags is
a great resource for cloth and recycled bags if you cannot find options for bags
at your local market.
Before you throw it away try to recycle it. Eco
911 provides a wealth of information on what can be recycled and where it
can be recycled. They also provide analysis on the benefits and costs of recycling
items, including the environmental impact of different forms of recycling.
Buy Fair Trade
Using as many Fair Trade Certified products as possible means increased, tangible
income for farmers and artisans around the world. Consider the following as your
prepare your holiday treats:
Table spread and decorations
A Greater Gift (formerly
SERRV), Ten
Thousand Villages and many other Global
Marketplace partners offer tablecloths, placemats, serving bowls, utensils,
pitchers and more!
- Check with local potters for stoneware casseroles or other dishes you may
need.
- Centerpieces for the table can come from organic producers who engage in
sustainable flower harvesting like Organic
Bouquet.
Beverage and snack needs
Equal Exchange and the Presbyterian
Coffee Project provide the following goodies and ensure a larger portion
of your purchase reaches the farmers and farmer cooperatives.
Cooking and baking
- Look into options for fair trade sugar and vanilla. Children who are sold
into forced labor and slavery harvest sugar and chocolate, but buying fair trade
ensures you are not supporting unjust practices or child labor/slavery. Local
natural foods stores should offer a variety of fair trade products.
- Fruit and produce are also available as fair trade items.
These items may be found locally by locating
a fair trade producer and supplier near you.
Other resources
There are a number of great resources on the Web to help
shape your holiday season in a way that honors God and celebrates the people
in your life. Here are just a handful of other options you may wish to incorporate:
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by
Presbyterians for Restoring Creation
