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