Reclaiming Christmas

Whose Birthday Is It, Anyway?

The day after Christmas many of us vow that "next Christmas is going to be different." We think we'll slow things down a lot, not get trapped in racing from one store or catalogue to the next buying presents, not wear ourselves out physically, emotionally and spiritually trying to be so many places, do some many things, be in the holiday spirit (whatever that means!).

Well, it's coming again, and unless we make some plans right now about how to refocus on the true meaning of the season, we are going to travel down the same road to disappointment, exhaustion, and overspent budgets. So what to do?

First, get together with your family. Do it now. Talk over what is good about your holiday traditions and what isn't so good. Decide what really honors God's great gift of Jesus Christ to us, and what doesn't. Don't be surprised if you have different ideas about what belongs in each of these categories. Where there is common agreement that something needs to be changed or eliminated, make plans on how this is going to be accomplished. For example: Too many nights out? Agree to some criteria for making decisions on whether to go or not to go. Maybe no one will commit to a night out without discussion as a family. Or, we will only be out two nights a week and we'll decide as a family which those two will be. Get the idea?

~ Get your focus: How does what we are doing square with our values and the fact it is Jesus' birthday we'd like to be celebrating?
~ Evaluate past practices in light of these values.
~ Make specific plans to redirect your practices to reflect these values.
~ Do it as a family group.
~ Sign the pledge form.
~ Commit to your children and what they really need.

Call Ginnie Stevens at 828-438-4217 or e-mail her at vestevens2@aol.com for help.

And what about gifts? A while back someone came up with three gift-giving guidelines that seem pretty good. They are listed below, along with some ideas about how to implement them:

1. GIVE TO THOSE HE CAME TO SERVE: Jesus was quite clear that he had a special concern for those who lived in the edges of society and acceptability. So one way we might honor His gift to us is by diverting some of our Christmas dollars to helping those in need. There is no lack of possibilities here. The Presbytery has some suggestions, for which we can provide materials to help in your church or family.

PREPARE JOE DYER, OUR NEWEST MISSIONARY, FOR HIS MINISTRY IN THE SUDAN: The harsh environment and lack of communication systems mean the Joe needs a specially rugged computer, solar-powered battery charger, satellite phone and digital camera, the sum of which costs close to $6,000.

HELP REBUILD WNC HOMES DAMAGED OR DESTROYED BY HURRICANES FRANCES AND IVAN: Estimates of unmet needs following the hurricanes are more than two and a half million dollars. A great youth project is to create ornaments with this kit.

GIVE THE GIFT OF HEALTH TO GUATEMALANS: The attached flyer describes four ways in which you can impact the well-being of Guatemalans living in southwestern Guatemala, where the Presbytery has a partnership. Choose from among the following: Children's nutrition program; family gardens; sanitation program; continuing education for community health promoters.

PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR GUATEMALAN PASTORS & LAY LEADERS: Our presbytery has a covenant relationship with Sur Occidente and Suchitepequez Presbyteries, two small presbyteries in Southwest Guatemala. Most of the people are very poor, so these scholarships mean the difference between church and community leadership that are trained or not.

Consult the card brochure, Guatemalan ministry brochure and order form for complete details on the above ministries.

2. GIVE YOURSELF: Might this not be the most precious, and difficult, gift to give to someone you love? Your presence instead of presents? Time instead of trinkets? By spending time to really think about the one we want to gift, we may find the perfect gift isn't to be found in a store or catalogue. The most precious example out of my own experience is the gift that my two sons gave me each Christmas from the time they were in elementary school until they were through college: three five minute backrubs per boy per month. Although it was packaged in different ways each year (one time a set of coupons, another a poem, another a clever arrangement of bits of wood to spell out "backrubs" etc.), I could count on no less than half an hour of what for me is bliss each and every month. What about your loved ones? What special gifts do you have to offer them?

3. BUY WITH CONSCIENCE: Unfortunately we live in a world which can now produce goods that are inexpensive to purchase but which are, in fact, very expensive in terms of human life and environmental health. Many of the clothes we wear, the electronics that we use are made by people in other countries who are paid subsistence wages and work in inhuman conditions (twelve hours a day, seven days a week in factories where they are locked in, for instance). We can provide you a lot more material on this subject. (See the Resource List in the packet or on the Presbytery web site after November 1.)

There are some wonderful gifts that you can buy, knowing that those who produced them are being treated with dignity. Just three are listed below:
~ Visit self-help shops operated by Ten Thousand Villages, a Christian ministry that works with cooperatives around the world. There are four in our area: Montreat; Asheville (10 College Street); Hickory (Unique World Gifts, 2751 N. Center St.); Charlotte (Cotswold Village Shops, 300 S. Sharon Amity & Randolph).
~ Participate in the Enough for Everyone project, just inaugurated by the PCUSA. Fair trade coffee is one of the four program areas. We have lots of information about fair trade, shade-grown coffee, as well as how to purchase fair trade coffee and tea and get your church, PW or other group involved.
~ Bulletin Jewelry: Laredos Unidos, a joint ministry of the PCUSA and Presbyterian Church of Mexico (and also where we send a mission team each summer), formed a group of women who make lovely jewelry from church bulletins! We have brochures and samples available at the Presbytery office. .