Simply Christmas [AC]
Worship More. Spend Less. Give More. Love All. Reach Out
“Simply Christmas [AC]” is a challenge to stop and be intentional about Christmas. To not just get caught up in all the trappings of Christmas that come with the season, most of which have very little to do with the true reason for our celebration. I asked myself the other day how is it that when my family celebrates my birthday I get all the presents, and when we celebrate Christ’s birthday ... I get all the presents? There is something that doesn’t seem quite right about that.
As families we can begin to tell our kids, tell each other the real Christmas story. To remind ourselves that the birth of Jesus was, in the timeline of history, the beginning of hope for humanity. God with us. When you stop and think about it, the very fact that God would step into the world he created to redeem us and all of creation is quite remarkable. We need to start making that incredible truth the meaning of Christmas in our own homes.
Something would be lost however if we all just went our separate ways and “did our own thing” - even if that thing was really good. The intent of [AC] is to provide a means for us to be intentional about Christmas as a Community. First, to share with each other what we’re up to, what we may be doing differently, how we are changing the way we do Christmas so that Christ doesn’t get lost in the shuffle. Second, to share in our giving. As we find ways to spend less and give more we are planning to share the money we have saved. Chartwell’s goal is to dig a water well and provide drinkable water for an entire village is amazing – Because Christmas can [still] change the world.

I am passionate about this, but this is not about taking the joy of gifts at Christmas away from our kids or each other. And this is not about just spending less. If that's all we do, we've missed the point. This is about re-claiming Christmas and for each of us this will look a little different given our circumstances.
My hope is that as we take a step away from consumption and towards compassion this Christmas, as individuals, as families and as a community, we will recapture the true wonder of Christmas - Emmanuel, God with Us.
Oliver Eggert

Simply Christmas Themes

[Worship Fully] November 30
It starts and ends with Jesus. Christmas is a season where we are called to put down our burdens and lift a song up to our God. It’s a season where love wins, peace reigns, and a king is celebrated with each breath. It’s the party of the year. Entering the story of advent
means entering the season with a passion to worship Jesus fully.

[Spend Less] December 7
We all like gifts. Our kids really like gifts. But consider this: the average Canadian spends over $700 on Christmas every year. In a family of 4 that’s nearly $3000. And many Christmas presents are given for no other reason than obligation. We’re asking people to consider buying ONE LESS GIFT this Christmas. Just one. Sounds insignificant, yet many who have taken this small sacrifice have experienced something nothing less than a miracle: They have been more available to celebrate Christ during the advent season.

[Give More] December 14
God’s gift to us was a relationship built on love. Time is the real gift Christmas offers us, and no matter how hard we look, it can’t be found at the mall. Time to make a gift that turns into the next family heirloom. Time to write mom a letter. Time to take the kids sledding. Time to bake really good cookies and sing really bad Christmas carols. Time to make love visible through relational giving. Another gift you might choose is to contribute to Chartwell’s water well project in the person’s name or choose something from the Partners International Catalogue (available on the info table).

[Love All] December 21
When Jesus loved, He loved in ways never imagined. Though rich, he became poor to love the poor, the forgotten, the overlooked and the sick. He played to the margins. By spending less at Christmas we have the opportunity to join Him in giving resources to those who need help the most.

[Reach Out] December 28
Christmas is about “Emmanuel” God with us reaching out to a lost and lonely world and inviting us into relationship. Following the example of Jesus we too are call to reach out beyond ourselves and to invite people to move beyond individualism into community.