Preserving the Culture of Christmas
I have many fond memories of Christmas from my childhood. During Christmas, there were various events such as Sunday School presentations, student Christmas plays, gift exchanges, and carolling from house to house, which made the season busy and lively. Looking back now, I realise that these were good cultural practices in the church that helped preserve the true meaning of Christmas.
In Australia, Christmas falls during the hot summer months, unlike the cold weather in Korea. Sometimes, I miss the "White Christmas" with snow. Since this is also the vacation season in Australia, many people travel during this time. Perhaps because of this, there are churches in Australia where the church is empty or there is no Christmas service due to the lack of attendees on Christmas Sunday. However, when you visit shopping centres, you'll see a vibrant culture centred around Santa Claus. While the idea of Santa giving gifts is nice, I feel that the image of Santa Claus creates a culture that is completely different from the true meaning of Christmas, and it spreads this culture throughout the world. I think that many children growing up in Australia might believe that the true "owner" of Christmas is not Jesus, but Santa Claus.
What kind of culture are we creating around Christmas? At ANW, every year we invite neighbours and VIPs to a meal and gift exchange, and thus continue to build our own Christmas culture. This year, the youth ministry has upgraded the event by creating and performing a Christmas play, putting in a lot of hard work.
In Sunday School, children prepare presentations during the Christmas Sunday service. The singles ministry also prepares a Christmas meal or sausage sizzle every year. The Love and Service Ministry hosts senior congregants and VIPs and serves joyfully at nearby parks. Among the house churches and villages, there are efforts to host VIP invitation events to share the joy of Christmas.
By inviting neighbours and VIPs, introducing Jesus to them, and serving them with joy, I believe we are preserving the true culture of Christmas. I am grateful to those who are creating meaningful Christmas cultures in house churches and in the church, while remembering the day Jesus, who gave us life, came into this world.
This Christmas, I encourage you to create a warm Christmas culture in your home, which is a model of the Kingdom of Heaven, by gathering your family together, enjoying delicious food, sharing gifts, praying for and blessing one another. May God be glorified, and may this Christmas be filled with joy and peace through Jesus Christ on this earth. I pray for a blessed Christmas for all.
Word of the week
Merry Christmas!! On Christmas Day, we will have a Christmas Celebration Worship Service with all generations together. The 1st service will be at 9:00 AM, and the 2nd service will be at 11:00 AM.
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이동주 2024.12.21 09:12
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I have many fond memories of Christmas from my childhood. During Christmas, there were various events such as Sunday School presentations, student Christmas plays, gift exchanges, and carolling from house to house, which made the season busy and lively. Looking back now, I realise that these were good cultural practices in the church that helped preserve the true meaning of Christmas.
In Australia, Christmas falls during the hot summer months, unlike the cold weather in Korea. Sometimes, I miss the "White Christmas" with snow. Since this is also the vacation season in Australia, many people travel during this time. Perhaps because of this, there are churches in Australia where the church is empty or there is no Christmas service due to the lack of attendees on Christmas Sunday. However, when you visit shopping centres, you'll see a vibrant culture centred around Santa Claus. While the idea of Santa giving gifts is nice, I feel that the image of Santa Claus creates a culture that is completely different from the true meaning of Christmas, and it spreads this culture throughout the world. I think that many children growing up in Australia might believe that the true "owner" of Christmas is not Jesus, but Santa Claus.
What kind of culture are we creating around Christmas? At ANW, every year we invite neighbours and VIPs to a meal and gift exchange, and thus continue to build our own Christmas culture. This year, the youth ministry has upgraded the event by creating and performing a Christmas play, putting in a lot of hard work.
In Sunday School, children prepare presentations during the Christmas Sunday service. The singles ministry also prepares a Christmas meal or sausage sizzle every year. The Love and Service Ministry hosts senior congregants and VIPs and serves joyfully at nearby parks. Among the house churches and villages, there are efforts to host VIP invitation events to share the joy of Christmas.
By inviting neighbours and VIPs, introducing Jesus to them, and serving them with joy, I believe we are preserving the true culture of Christmas. I am grateful to those who are creating meaningful Christmas cultures in house churches and in the church, while remembering the day Jesus, who gave us life, came into this world.
This Christmas, I encourage you to create a warm Christmas culture in your home, which is a model of the Kingdom of Heaven, by gathering your family together, enjoying delicious food, sharing gifts, praying for and blessing one another. May God be glorified, and may this Christmas be filled with joy and peace through Jesus Christ on this earth. I pray for a blessed Christmas for all.
Word of the week
Merry Christmas!! On Christmas Day, we will have a Christmas Celebration Worship Service with all generations together. The 1st service will be at 9:00 AM, and the 2nd service will be at 11:00 AM.