Kate Orson has a stream of ideas for Christian families on how to keep Jesus at the centre of things this Christmas
It could be the most Christ-centred time of year, but somehow the hustle and bustle of Christmas can leave us feeling disconnected from God, and struggling to keep our family focused on the reason for the season.
As someone who only became a Christian aged 41, I’ve felt slightly confused by how to approach Christmas ever since. Each year I find myself puzzled by how a festival that’s supposed to be Jesus’s birthday feels quite the opposite. Santa, presents, secular Christmas music can all make it feel like an uphill battle to keep Christ in Christmas.
It may seem like an impossible task sometimes to keep Christ in Christmas, but God can make the impossible possible!
Recently I’ve been doing a group study on a book about spiritual warfare, and one thing we’ve been discussing is how the enemy uses distraction to try to keep us away from God. There are so many distractions at Christmas, but with a little conscious attention, we can keep our focus on God, and have a more enjoyable, and peaceful Christmas too as a result.
I put together this list of ideas for keeping Christmas Christ focused. I’ll be putting some of these into practise, and hopefully they’ll be something here to help your family too!
Keeping the foundation
At Christmastime, we’re out of our routine. We might be staying with unbelieving family members. We might have children waking us at 5am with stockings in their hands. If you have a daily practise of reading the Bible, and praying, then it might go out the window.
I intend to do is to keep my regular prayer routine. Even if that means hiding in the bathroom with my Bible, I will find a way!
Isn’t it ironic that Jesus’s birthday can disrupt the very foundation that helps us stay connected with him? We might do all these special things like go to church to sing carols, or have family get togethers, but I’m conscious of the fact that it’s my simple prayer and Bible reading that keeps me feeling connected to God the most. I haven’t always had a routine with prayer but finally got one established after a book called Praying the Bible by Donald Whitney. He introduces a simple method of reading and praying through the psalms each day. So, one thing I intend to do is to keep my regular prayer routine. Even if that means hiding in the bathroom with my Bible, I will find a way!
Advent ideas
The internet is full of inspiration for Christ-centred activities and traditions that you could incorporate into the festivities. Some families read through the book of Luke one day at a time in December as it has 24 chapters. Others read advent devotionals or teach about St Nicholas - the original Christian saint who Santa is based upon.
each night you hide the ‘star’ so children have to follow/hunt the star each morning
If all your children’s friends are enjoying antics from the ‘Elf on the Shelf’ then there are some Christian alternatives including, ‘A Star from Afar. ’This is a fun nativity set, where each night you hide the ‘star’ so children have to follow/hunt the star each morning. Another game is to hunt the baby Jesus and find where he is sleeping. It could be done as a scavenger hunt, with clues related to the Christmas story.
We have an advent calendar that hangs on the wall with little pouches to put small gifts in. This November, we are planning a family activity where we all write short Bible verses that mean something to us on little pieces of paper and then open them and read them each day in December.
The Senses
Christmas is all about the five senses; the songs we hear in the build up to the big day, the tastes of mulled wine, and spiced cookies, the scent of pine tree, and the wafting fumes of dinner cooking. Our memories too are all about the senses, and the smells, tastes, and songs we love to return to year after year. As parents we can build in traditions for the five senses that are focused on Christ.
- Sound - We have a secular Christmas playlist we have always listened to while decorating the tree, but I always try to slip in a few upbeat carols into the selection! Carols from Kings is something we always have in the background on Christmas day.
- Taste - Some families cook Jesus a birthday cake. In Germany, and Switzerland Dreikönigsbrot is baked on the 6th January to celebrate Epiphany when the three kings came to visit Jesus. A fun meal for when you’re just too wiped out from Christmas planning to cook is a ‘shepherd’s supper’ - eating what the shepherds ate. It could be a simple selection of fruit, nuts, bread, olives, and cheese, beside the fire with the nativity story.
- Smells - Frankincense and myrrh essential oils can be diffused as a reminder of the nativity story. Or gifts can be given with these scents such as soap or moisturiser.
Giving and volunteering
Some Christian parents help their families keep focused on Christ, by being Christ-like. It could be donating time and energy to good causes, like volunteering at a local soup kitchen or buying presents to give to people in need. Your church might have some good suggestions of how to get involved.
Read more:
Christmas is great but is your family missing out on the joys of Advent and Epiphany?
This little-known Mexican tradition will transform the run up to Christmas for families
Christian families should start a Jesse Tree tradition this Advent - they won’t regret it
Why Christian parents should bother with Advent
Books and films
In the run up to Christmas we can gently redirect attention away from anticipating presents to reflecting on Christ. There are many good interpretations of the nativity story or other books for young readers such as The Crippled Lamb by Max Lucado, a beautiful tale about a Lamb who understands that despite his physical limitations God still has a special plan for his life. Who is Coming To Our House by Joseph Slate, is about animals preparing a place for baby Jesus.
For older readers there’s The best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson, which was also made into a film. Jotham’s Journey is a series of four adventure books to read in the four weeks before Christmas. Each book has a different protagonist who goes on a journey learning the true meaning of Christmas along the way.
Church, carol singing, and prayer
In an era when we are seeing a quiet revival in the UK, perhaps now is the time to invite a non-believing friend or family member to carols by candlelight or midnight mass.
Above all else I’ll be praying for Holy Spirit led opportunities, to talk about why we celebrate. It may seem like an impossible task sometimes to keep Christ in Christmas, but God can make the impossible possible!
