ENCOURAGEMENT FOR MINISTRY WIVES: CT Pastors' Hidden Gems of 2017...10 Ideas to Focus on What Really Matters at Christmas, On Ending the Year Well...and More!

Merry Christmas!

December 2017

In This Issue

Freedom to Have Fun This Christmas

On Ending the Year Well

10 Ideas to Focus on What Really Matters at Christmas

CT Pastors' Hidden Gems of 2017

Freedom to Have Fun This Christmas

by Stephanie Bryant

This is for the weary woman that is secretly looking forward to Christmas being over. Not because you don't love Jesus, but because it's all become too much, overwhelming, and sometimes more than you can handle.

I want to give you freedom - the freedom that only Jesus can provide you - to have FUN this Christmas.

No list here or 7 tips on how to "do" Christmas better. No condensed therapy session to deal with your dysfunctional family. (Although you might need it!) No recipe or list of activities to add to your mile-long to-do list. I simply want you to have fun the days leading up to December 25th and on Christmas day. Because that fun and enjoyment can be the best kind of worship that attracts the world to Jesus.

We are invited to the biggest, most miraculous birthday party in the world. To already wish it was over before the party even begins, because of expectations or stress, is tragic and not living in the freedom Jesus was born to give us.

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On Ending the Year Well

by Mary Carver

This year has been a difficult one, even devastating for some. I know I'm not alone in looking forward to a fresh start as we flip over the calendar.

But before we head into a new year, we still have a few days left in this one - and I'm determined to make the best of them. Rather than simply throwing up our hands or hanging our heads, let's take back what's remaining of this challenging year. Let's celebrate what actually worked or went well, and let's give thanks for the blessings we received in the midst of hardships.

No matter how this year has treated us, I believe we can still end well. Here's how:

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10 Ideas to Focus on What Really Matters at Christmas

Here are some ways you and your family can put the spotlight on Christ.

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. (Luke 2:11)

Nothing can reduce the real meaning of Christmas: More than 2,000 years ago Jesus Christ, God's only Son, was born in a simple manger.

Here are 10 ideas that can help us focus on what really matters at Christmas:

1. After returning home from our church's Christmas Eve service, we light the house by candlelight. Then we have a birthday party for Jesus. One child is selected to light the candle (the Light of the World) on the cake, one child begins the singing, one child serves cake to everyone, and the last of our four children hands out four presents that surround the cake. Before any gifts are opened, we talk about the blessings we've enjoyed during the year and about the gifts we have given to others.

Each child opens one of the four presents. All are the same: the figure of baby Jesus that belongs in one of four nativity sets. Each child realizes that Jesus is the best present ever and takes his/her baby to the manger where He belongs. We conclude the evening by reading the Christmas story from the second chapter of Luke. (Contributed by Anne Coletti)

2. We ring bells as a family for the Salvation Army. This takes very little time and is always rewarding. We call the Salvation Army and tell them we would like to volunteer as bell ringers in December. We give them the amount of time that we are available and specify when we can ring the bells. While we ring the bells, we talk about where the money goes that we are helping collect. We also talk about the importance of serving others who are less fortunate than we are.

Ringing bells for the Salvation Army helps us show the value of Christ-like servanthood towards others. (Contributed by Gayla Grace)

3. One of our favorite Christmas activities is...

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