Comments on: Doing Christmas Different? http://www.fulwoodfmc.net/blog/2006/12/11/doing-christmas-different/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=doing-christmas-different Wed, 11 Jan 2012 21:10:17 +0000 hourly 1 By: Chris http://www.fulwoodfmc.net/blog/2006/12/11/doing-christmas-different/comment-page-1/#comment-38 Chris Thu, 14 Dec 2006 22:27:09 +0000 http://www.fulwoodfmc.net/blog/?p=18#comment-38 ^_^ I meant 'Bethlehem' in the above post, and I apologise for spelling Myrrh as Myrhh..... ^_^

I meant ‘Bethlehem’ in the above post, and I apologise for spelling Myrrh as Myrhh…..

]]> By: Chris http://www.fulwoodfmc.net/blog/2006/12/11/doing-christmas-different/comment-page-1/#comment-37 Chris Thu, 14 Dec 2006 18:25:45 +0000 http://www.fulwoodfmc.net/blog/?p=18#comment-37 To begin with, I suggest that we look no longer at the material Christmas aired and praised by the markets, but rather at the true story of the Holy Nativity of our Lord's entry into the world through the incarnation. I have heard the suggestion of celebrating the twelve days of Christmas, that is, for twelve days after Christmas small gifts (very small...such as a pair of socks or a nice meal) are shared. The main aim of all Christian festivals is to remind us of the meaning of the festival in mind. Christmas, or Holy Nativity as it should be known as, (rather than, Christs-Mass) is simply the festival of the arrival of Jesus, the Christ into our world, His creation material. I personally see the sharing of gifts at this time of year a dire distraction from the real event. Can we not see that they are symbolic of Christ's ministry? Gold - Kingship, Frankincense - Divinity, Myrhh - Suffering. So what I conclude is that the Holy Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ (Christmas) is a time not for sharing presents, but a time of remembrance, peace and unity in the joy of the giving of the most precious gift of all, the Son of God, the Son of Man, the Messiah, Jesus, the Christ. Let us not forget this as we feast upon foods and rip open packaging. In peace, Chris BTW Just to be picky, the stable is not in Jerusalem, or anywhere else for that matter...the bible does not mention a stable (at least the authorised version doesn't), and it is more likely that Jesus was born in the room below the living quarters of a house, much like many farm houses in the meditteranean today, animal quarters below, human living quarters above. Sorry for my pedantism. To begin with, I suggest that we look no longer at the material Christmas aired and praised by the markets, but rather at the true story of the Holy Nativity of our Lord’s entry into the world through the incarnation.

I have heard the suggestion of celebrating the twelve days of Christmas, that is, for twelve days after Christmas small gifts (very small…such as a pair of socks or a nice meal) are shared.
The main aim of all Christian festivals is to remind us of the meaning of the festival in mind.
Christmas, or Holy Nativity as it should be known as, (rather than, Christs-Mass) is simply the festival of the arrival of Jesus, the Christ into our world, His creation material.

I personally see the sharing of gifts at this time of year a dire distraction from the real event. Can we not see that they are symbolic of Christ’s ministry? Gold – Kingship, Frankincense – Divinity, Myrhh – Suffering.

So what I conclude is that the Holy Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ (Christmas) is a time not for sharing presents, but a time of remembrance, peace and unity in the joy of the giving of the most precious gift of all, the Son of God, the Son of Man, the Messiah, Jesus, the Christ.
Let us not forget this as we feast upon foods and rip open packaging.

In peace,
Chris

BTW
Just to be picky, the stable is not in Jerusalem, or anywhere else for that matter…the bible does not mention a stable (at least the authorised version doesn’t), and it is more likely that Jesus was born in the room below the living quarters of a house, much like many farm houses in the meditteranean today, animal quarters below, human living quarters above.
Sorry for my pedantism.

]]> By: oak-grove http://www.fulwoodfmc.net/blog/2006/12/11/doing-christmas-different/comment-page-1/#comment-36 oak-grove Mon, 11 Dec 2006 16:45:25 +0000 http://www.fulwoodfmc.net/blog/?p=18#comment-36 The other day I was listening to a radio programme that was talking about ways to reduce the cost of Christmas. There were loads of people phoning in with to particular ideas. The first idea was the gift of time. It's people's most precious possession, and people were writing to friends and relatives giving it away. Lots of these people were Grandparents who were saying that they had nothing else to give. The other thing that was new to the presenter (but not to me) was the idea of "Secret Santa". This is great when you have a group. You only buy one present for one person within the group. That way everyone gets a present, but no-one has to buy for everyone. Some families had done this too. These all reduce the cost, but I'm not sure whether they create simplicity. I think that's more difficult to find. The other day I was listening to a radio programme that was talking about ways to reduce the cost of Christmas. There were loads of people phoning in with to particular ideas.

The first idea was the gift of time. It’s people’s most precious possession, and people were writing to friends and relatives giving it away. Lots of these people were Grandparents who were saying that they had nothing else to give.

The other thing that was new to the presenter (but not to me) was the idea of “Secret Santa”. This is great when you have a group. You only buy one present for one person within the group. That way everyone gets a present, but no-one has to buy for everyone. Some families had done this too.

These all reduce the cost, but I’m not sure whether they create simplicity. I think that’s more difficult to find.

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