With Christmas just around the corner I know that most of us are preparing for all of our Christmas celebrations. If your family is like ours, it seems like there is a different party or Christmas gathering nearly every day from now until Christmas. This time of year can be so busy that we can quickly become so wrapped up in all the celebration that we miss the chance to slow down and reflect on the real meaning of Christmas. That’s why we’re studying the Advent on Sundays this month. We want to be intentional about keeping Christ first in our celebration of Christmas. As Christmas approaches, let me challenge you with a few thoughts about how you can make the most of your Christmas celebration this year.

First, I want to challenge you to spend less time focused on giving presents and more time giving of yourself – your presence. Admittedly, this can be one of the hardest things to do, particularly because we are bombarded with all sorts of advertisements telling us that we have to spend a lot of money to make Christmas truly special. But that just simply isn’t true. Think back to your childhood or your favorite Christmas times of the past. What do you remember the most about your favorite Christmas memories? Was it opening present after present, or was it the time spent with loved ones that means the most to you. Sure, the kid in all of us loves the excitement of what’s hung in a stocking or waiting under a tree. But most of us have taken things overboard. Don’t get sucked in to the trap of buying a present for everyone you know. Most of them don’t need it, and if they were to be honest, they would rather have you for a meal together or just time to sit together cherishing each other’s presence more than anything you might buy off the shelf. Give the people you love more of you this year at Christmas.

Secondly, let me challenge you to look for ways to worship fully this year at Christmas. One great way for you to do this is to make plans to be a part of our Christmas services here at the church. On Christmas Eve we will be having a Candlelight service at 7 pm, which will be a great way for you and your family to celebrate the coming of Christ with our First family. My hope is that the Christmas Eve service will be a homecoming of sorts – a chance for young and old who have been a part of our church body over the years to come together to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. We are planning a great service that you will not want to miss! Then on Christmas day we will gather together for worship at 10 am for a family style worship service. What better way to celebrate Christmas than to go to church on Christmas morning? You will not want to miss our Christmas services this year.

Finally, let me challenge you to look for those who are hurting or struggling this year at Christmas. There are people all around us for whom the burden of trying to keep up with all of the expectations at Christmas can be overwhelming. Maybe God can use you to come alongside those in need to show the love of Christ in a way that will go beyond what your words could ever express. I encourage you to keep your eyes open for ways that you might share the hope of Jesus Christ this year at Christmas. We know that Jesus came that we might have hope, but for many Christmas is far from hopeful. As followers of Jesus we ought to be aware of the extra awareness that people have of Jesus at Christmas time, and we ought to use that awareness to share the love of Christ with all those that we come in contact with. We truly have a living hope in Jesus, and a lost world needs us to share that message this year at Christmas!

Join me in praying that God will open your eyes to see all the ways that you might share the love of Jesus this year at Christmas. Slow down and reflect on the real meaning of the season. Focus less on giving presents and more on giving your presence. Worship Christ fully this year by keeping him at the center of your Christmas plans. And make sure that you look for ways to share the hope of Jesus every chance you get!