According to retail stores, Christmas is over on December 26. After December 25, it is time to return unwanted gifts, shop the after-Christmas sales and begin thinking about Valentine’s Day. Of course, if you take your cues from the retail world, you began celebrating Christmas in mid-October. As a church, we have been celebrating Advent since November 29, preparing and waiting to remember and celebrate the birth of Jesus on Christmas. Isn’t the birth of Jesus is deserving of more than one day of recognition? Indeed, Christmas is a season that lasts from December 25 through Epiphany on January 6. There really are twelve days of Christmas! In our curriculum co-op, you will find a resource that will help you and/or members of your congregation acknowledge and celebrate the twelve days of Christmas (even if you take your Christmas tree down).
“Celebrating the Twelve Days of Christmas” contains a short devotion for each day of Christmas. The devotions are designed to be used by families or other groups, but may also be used for individual reflection. Each day’s devotion includes the lighting of a candle, reading of scripture, a topic to encourage sharing and discussion, a prayer and time for singing or listening to Christmas music. You may download the document and use it in the way best suited to your ministry. A few possibilities are to have copies available at Christmas Eve services, print the devotions in your church newsletter, or email the document to church members.
Here is the devotion for December 25:
On the first day of Christmas…
- Light a candle in celebration of the one whose birth we celebrate today – Immanuel, God with us.
- Read Luke 2:1-20.
- Share one way that you are reminded God is with you.
- Pray: Loving God, today we remember and celebrate the birth of Jesus. We thank you for the first Christmas gift, this little baby boy who grew up and changed everything. Help us to be aware of your presence with us always. Amen.
- Sing or listen to a Christmas song. One possibility: “O Come, O Come Emmanuel”.
Download the entire document and extend your celebration of Jesus’ birth beyond December 25!
~Sally Hoelscher