PREPARATION, PROCRASTINATION &
A PARTRIDGE IN A PEAR TREE
SPOILET ALERT: This blog contains a LOT of talk about CHRISTMAS! So make sure to grab a mince pie and a cup of mulled wine...
Question... Are you the planning type (like Santa - who is so organised he takes a whole year to get ready for Christmas!)? Or are you more like the stereotypical 'Surfer Dude' - the go-with-the-flow type? I’d like to think I could be more relaxed, chilled, epitomising the catchphrase ‘hakuna matata’!
But in reality, I love to be organised. I can’t relax if my mind is unorganised – or my house for that matter! And whenever I’m feeling like my head is spinning with stuff, I have to get it down on paper – whether that be a to-do list, or some journal time with God. I take after my mother – we love to plan. (Sometimes, to the annoyance of our family!) Whether that be parties, games, holiday activities, kids’ activities at church – you name it, we plan it!
That is, until it comes to Christmas. I’ll be honest with you – my mother is still superbly organised with Christmas shopping, but I, on the other hand... struggle! I’m not so last minute that I leave it until Christmas Eve (unlike my brother!), but I normally leave the majority until December… and then I try and cram in the making of home-made gifts, to make it even more special. Being a perfectionist, this just sets me up to fail. (Note to future self… re-read this blog before making extra work for myself this Christmas!)
Sometimes I wish I was more like my husband, and some of my friends, who are more chilled out. You know, the type of people who don’t over-think whether or not to send a Christmas card to someone because they sent one to you, when you hadn’t sent one to them. (Just don’t send one!) There is certainly a place for this laid-back approach, and I’m fully aware I need to learn how to keep calm and relax a bit more. However, here’s the thing…
Perhaps we can find a healthy place of balance. Perhaps some simple planning, together with prayerful trust in God, can help us live relaxed, knowing “the peace of God, which transcends all understanding” and “will guard [our] hearts and [our] minds in Christ Jesus” (Phil 4:7). And perhaps the tips and resources in this blog can help us on the way…
The Christ in Christmas
We all know that Christmas is when we celebrate the birth of our Saviour King. We all know it’s a special time in the Christian calendar. Many of us remember that advent looks forward to Jesus’ second coming, even as we celebrate his first. We get it. But (if you’re anything like me), we can forget the point of Christmas and get wrapped up in presents, events, shopping, socialising, food without Jesus centre stage. We forget why he came. We forget that he commissioned his followers to continue the work, to “make disciples of all nations” (Matt 28:19).
A little organisation now could be a Christmassy flash of brilliance when it comes to sharing the Good News about Jesus. Christmas is, of course, the most likely time for non-Christians to enter a church. People love a carol service, with all the trimmings: choir, organ, candles! (Although, the church I worship at puts on a non-traditional ‘Carol-oke’, which is a much better fit for our local community.)
I love the Christmassy feeling of a midnight service on Christmas Eve, the joy, the excitement, the anticipation. (Even if I still need to wrap presents when I get home… !) I will always remember one vicar’s audacious “Welcome to our annual guests – it’s great to see you again!” (He was known for his sense of humour, so got away with it!) This may have just been a joke, but there was a serious connotation… a nudge to come along outside of the Christmas season.
The fact is, there are indeed, many annual church-goers. And there are plenty of people who have never been to church before that will positively consider your invitation because of the time of year. If they’re coming for the first time ever, or only coming to church once a year, how do we make the opportunity to reach them count? But whether we work for a church or not - if we’re frantically running around like Santa’s elves in his workshop, trying to make Christmas happen, how on earth are we going to make the most of this opportunity to share Jesus with those around us?
My challenge to you (and myself): start your Christmas preparations now! A little planning now will leave more space in December (in our heads and our diaries) to engage spiritually with Advent and notice or indeed plan opportunities to share the Good News.
So, here are five different ways to get the bauble rolling…
What Christmas events are already in your church calendar? What non-Christian or ‘fringe’ people might they appeal to? Who can you invite to a Christmas event at church? Plant the seed now. Are they the sort to fill up their diary? Then invite them now and get the date saved! (If the church Christmas dates aren’t out yet, share this blog with your church leaders.) It’s also worth bearing in mind what you might need to say ‘no’ to over the next few months, so that you can focus on what really matters this Christmas. What can wait until January?
Are there any resources you could give out, at your church Christmas events, in your neighbourhood or to a friend? The quick answer is YES! Hope Together have an array of resources you can order and give away…
HOPE Christmas Magazine is back for 2024! Packed with real-life stories and topical features that gently point people to the hope we have in Jesus. Perfect as a handout at church and evangelism events over the Christmas season.
Countdown to Christmas Hope is perfect to give to friends, colleagues, and neighbours you are having faith conversations with. With things to read, make, watch and think about, Countdown to Christmas Hope takes people on an advent journey exploring why Christmas gives us hope.
This beautifully illustrated NIrV Gospel, is designed in a magazine style and printed on quality paper, making it a powerful resource to share with your friends, colleagues and family, people who visit your church and those in your community who are exploring faith.
Create an interactive experience for families with our LEGO Trail, encouraging them to explore the Christmas story through play and creativity. This six-part poster set is a great Christmas activity to invite local schools and your community to participate in.
Christmas is not just about the church building, bums on pews, and organised events, it’s about the relationships we have and what we can give away...
Who are you giving cards or gifts to this year? Could it include your neighbours? Someone you know through a toddler group? Or even the checkout operator you regularly go to, your GP or someone else in the community you could bless? Christmas provides a perfect opportunity (and even ‘excuse’) to write inside the card a little encouraging message, bible verse, invitation to a church event or even a cuppa tea and mince pie in your home… what could you write in yours?!
And if you’re a parent, how could you model this to your children, for the Christmas cards they give out at school? How about using these Lego Christmas cards! They tell the Christmas story through pictures, text and a QR code link to a Lego Christmas Story video. A perfect way to help children practise sharing the Good News this Christmas, too!
Christmas Gifts
Once the cards are written, sealed and posted in time, if you’re anything like me, you’ll breathe a sigh of relief, just for a second or two, before cracking on with the ever-growing list of Christmas gifts to order… but like Christmas cards, how can we make gift purchases a missional opportunity, too?
 'Jesus to the Rescue' is a great nativity book to give as gifts to young children! Using Happyland figures, Jesus to the Rescue tells the story of how Jesus the rescuer is better than the best police officer, doctor or fireperson ever! You could even buy the Happyland nativity set to accompany the book, so children can role-play the story and submerge themselves in the greatest story ever told. (And don’t forget, there are loads of free resources that go with the book, which you can check out here.)
 For adult family and friends, ‘Gift of Christmas’ is a beautifully illustrated Christmas gift book that could spark interest and conversation whilst unpacking the traditions of Christmas; from Christmas puddings to Carol singing! Who would you love to discover a relationship with Jesus Christ? This could be the best gift they ever receive!
 Christmas shopping can be the last thing we want to do on our day off – hurrying around busy shopping centres, at a loss at what to buy your dad – there’s only so many brown socks a man needs! But what if the Christmas shopping experience could be a missional experience? And dare I say… fun?! Get involved with 'Shine Your Light' taking place over the weekend of 13th – 15th December. It’s a nationwide Christmas campaign where churches take their Carol services and nativity events into shopping centres, town halls, high streets and public spaces, all with the vision of taking the message of hope and joy to our communities. So why not have a bit of fun singing some carols before doing your shopping this year? For more details or to register, click here.
What could you do at home to spend time with non-Christian friends? Could you host a party? Could you go out together to watch the Christmas lights being turned on? Could you go on a winter walk… and have hot chocolate afterwards? Could you do some Christmas baking together?
Is there room in your inn, perhaps for one more round the table for Christmas dinner? How about starting your online supermarket order now, and include some extras, in anticipation of inviting some friends round, too? This could also be a way to step out in faith – perhaps there might be someone who will need shelter, or company this Christmas, for whatever reason, who you can welcome into your home. You might not know who this will be yet, but God has a plan, and with the help of the Holy Spirit, he can nudge you in the right direction, towards the right person or family.
When I was a child, I remember several Christmases where my parents invited different families for Christmas Day, who were struggling (one church family, one non-church family my mum knew through her work), as well as an international student doing a gap year at our church who would have been on her own over the Christmas period. The first time I was told we were going to share Christmas Day with a family, I felt a bit uncomfortable and protective over ‘our’ day. But in actual fact, I remember having a great time! They were full of joy, and felt very special, being blessed to be a blessing.
So this October, let’s choose preparation over procrastination! Let’s be organised with our Christmas planning, so we can make space to spend time with Jesus and share the Good News with others this Christmas. Get some dates in your calendar now - even if just to keep that time slot free while you think about the details (don’t be tempted to fill it with whatever else may come up). When we get ahead of ourselves, we’re freeing up space in the calendar, and our heads, to be intentional about investing in non-Christian friendships. You never know, that friend who is open to God may just need one little nudge to come to church, before encountering Jesus for themselves!
Finally, this month, I pray that God would bless us with wisdom to know what to prioritise and what to set aside. I pray that he would bless us to see the strength of his Spirit moving through and despite our weaknesses and limitations. I pray that he would gracefully take our plans for Christmas and use them for his Kingdom work.
And hopefully, when Christmas Day arrives, after all the shopping, wrapping, events and mission opportunities, we will be ready in body, mind and soul, to receive from our true love, not a partridge in a pear tree, but Holy Spirit’s gift of hope and peace this Christmas.
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