Christmas Day service

None for us, a couple of the members invited us by soooo I will do my customary 20 minute wave through but no service.

What kind of service you having?

 

==We are not having a Christmas day service. We did, however, have normal services last year when Christmas was on a Sunday. Last night we had a short Christmas Eve "service" for the elderly who don't have families (etc). I did not attend because I had family coming in (etc). Usually those type services, in our church, are very simple. Some singing, prayer, the pastor will say a few words, maybe a few testimonies and thats about all. I don't know that I would have gone even I did not have family coming in considering that I have to drive 40 minutes (each way) to get to my church. I don't mind doing all that driving on Sundays for regular services/activities but for a short service like that I just don't know that I would. There are other people in our church that have drives, though mine is about the longest (tied with one other guy who lives in my town). I once heard of a man who attends Jerry Falwell's Thomas Road Baptist Church who drives two hours each way to get to church. Now that I could not do...

 

Normal service, of course, yesterday morning. Last night there was a candlelight service and although I had to stay home with Chris, Barry took some people from a retirement home near us and they were delighted.

This morning I was up quite early because there is a lot to do. It's different now the kids are grown and gone and then come back to visit! Julie and Scott won't arrive until about 5:30 this afternoon (they are flying up from his parents' home in Sacramento) and so we will have our big dinner around six-thirty. One pastor we work with and his wife are coming as well, as their children are out of town and we are almost like family with them. And then, of course, Gina and her girls will be here. So it will be a big table.

I've been on the net here in between cleaning bathrooms and bread rising and such. A giant shepherd's loaf is a tradition with us for family gatherings and I wouldn't dare NOT bake it! Also, pumpkin pie is Gina's youngest girl's favorite, so that is a must...grin.

Gift? Barry and I did not give one another gifts this year -- we instead spent a great deal of money through the year helping others. We gave our oldest two children heirloom quality cuckoo clocks. I know that sounds funny, but that is something special they will never get from anyone else and which they will enjoy, hopefully, for years to come. I'll wrap up some food for Chris this morning, as that is what he will want when he opens something! We made food baskets for neighbors, our vet and her assistant, and another pastor, with homemade bread and some store-bought goodies. Gave loaves of Christmas bread to each family in the Bible study.

My future daughter-in-law and son were here over Thanksgiving and gave us two beautiful warming blankets and a George Foreman grill and rotisserie. Love the grill, but haven't used the rotisserie yet... Julie and Scott, coming today, want to help us find a new chair for the living room. Chris rocked in his chair in his bedroom so hard he broke the back, so we are giving him our old overstuffed rocker in the living room and the kids are getting us a new one. That will be fun going down with them and all of us selecting together.

We've gotten flowers and food from a lot of people, and that's always fun.

But here is the absolute best gift I have ever gotten, and it was waiting for me here on my chair this morning when I got up. Last night my wonderful husband wrote this:

The song speaks of partridges, pear trees and rings,
The drummer boy plays, while the church choirs all sing,
Old Scrooge undergoes a deep change in his worth
While Wise Men sought Christ from the ends of the Earth.

The snow-men are built over there in the East
While my Wife bakes great bread with the right sort of yeast.
House windows are lit and the church bells ring out
The joy of Christ's birth and the Angelic shout.

So Christmas has come with its trimmings sublime,
With the gifts and the givers and cards all in rhyme.
But this year is different; a world's been in need,
And we gave all we had to those needy indeed.

So this year my Darling, I've nothing to give,
But my life and my love as long as I live.
I'll nurture and cherish you daily by hour,
And do all I can that's within all my power.

I'm yours for the asking -- whatever you wish,
I'll feed all the beasts and keep up with the fish.
I'll tend Chris with love and keep him content,
While in caring for you I will not relent.

So this Christmas, my Precious, there's no gifts as such,
Bu I give you my love and an overflow much.
You're my treasure, my darling, I pray lots for you
That your health and your strength God will daily renew.

So accept this my gift, in a strange sort of way,
As it's there for your taking heach hour of the day.
And as the New Year approaches so fast,
Be assured that my love will certaily last.

Next to Christ's life for me, I've never received a more precious and, really, adorable, gift.

 

Roger, sounds like a very nice event!

Helen, that is very special, thanks for sharing!

Merry Christmas all!

 

From Helen:
A giant shepherd's loaf is a tradition with us for family gatherings and I wouldn't dare NOT bake it!

Sounds interesting, what is a Shepherd's Loaf?

 

:applause: Sounds like a wonderful service C4K!

I always wondered why there is no church service on the day we celebrate Christ's birth. We have church on Easter! Can't comprehend it.

Our church also doesn't have a Christmas day service although we had a lovely Christmas Eve candlelight service. :laugh: The preacher pretty much met his goal of finishing the service in 45 minutes. He set a record in only preaching for 12 minutes! I could tell he had more to say (he always does!) but he also wanted to prove the naysayers wrong. No one believed he could do it! (Our preacher preaches until he gets done, usually NOT on time. Drives the TV guys nuts! :laugh: )

Whoo Hoo Helen! You'll have to frame that! How romantic!

 

Why do we call it a "service" when we ought to give our "service" to the lost around us?

That is what I am doing this year. I will be going to the county jail this evening to give the inmates a "service'.

 

Basque Shepherd's Bread:

3 c hot water
dissolve 1/2 c butter, 2 tsp salt, 1/3 c sugar or brown sugar
Allow to cool to warm
Add yeast (about two packets or 1 tbs), stir, cover, let sit for 15 minutes until bubbly

Stir in and then knead as you add anywhere between 8 and 13 c flour, depending on humidity. Dough can be a little soft or stiff, whatever you choose.

Put in greased bown, cover with damp cloth, let rise in a warm place until double (or more, if you forget it...)

Punch down, put in well-greased Dutch oven or very large casserole. Let rise again until nicely 'puffed' (my kids' term), and bake 35-45 minutes at 375 (the ten minute time variation has a great deal to do with your oven, humidity, etc. Look for a nicely browned top)

Shepherd's bread is to be served as a giant loaf at the table and people tear out what they want. If anything is left after, then the next morning pull apart into large pieces, put slices of cheese on them, and stick them under the broiler for a bit until melty. Yum.

This is the world's most basic bread. It is about four loaves' worth, if you want to make it in loaf pans. It makes great cinnamon bread. Add eggs and you can make it braided bread. It's a very forgiving recipe and you can have a lot of fun with it, changing things around and adding different things.

Sorry guys, if this bored you....but she asked! :smilewinkgrin:

 

Our Christmas service went wonderfully. In the morning, we ended up asking many of our deacons to stand outside in the foyer...that was the only possble way we had to get all the people into the sanctuary. Praise God...3 came forward to accept Christ, and 4 others joined our church.

During the evening service, we carried families through a "Christmas journey" in our sanctuary. We had several stations, each led by a deacon or minister:

• Station 1: The Christmas story read. As it was read, the kids in the group placed nativity figurines in their places.
• Station 2: Prayers for our missionaries around the world. One of the family members would pick an ornament from a tree, that named one of our missionaries and their country. A deacon then led the family group in prayer for that missionary.
• Station 3: A "family prayer" station. A deacon asked the family group if they had any specific needs to pray for, and then led the group in prayer for those needs.
• Station 4: Here, we had a candle lit, covered by a hurricane globe. We asked each family group to silently pray and reflect, asking God to show them anything that was impeding their walk or relationship with Him. They then wrote, using any words or "code" they wished, that onto a small piece of "stained glass" (plastic that sticks to glass via static; with a peel-off back) and stuck it onto the globe, all the while giving that situation over to God.
• Station 5: Communion--the bread, for Christians.
• Station 6: Communion--the cup, for Christians
• Station 7: "Candy cane" station--each person (especially kids) received a candy cane, and were told the "candy cane" symbolism (Jesus, "J," blood-red, pure-white, stripes, etc.). A deacon then spoke a parting blessing to the family.

Hundreds showed up for this (we normally have Christmas communion...this method was our first try). We planned for 1 hour; it took 2.

The day was quite meaningful and special.

 

That's very nice, Rbell. Can I ask how many attended and how long it took to get everyone through all the stations?

That's funny Ann! Just 65 minutes huh? Maybe they are cousins!

 

12-15 minutes.

And we "combined" families that were small, and individuals. Our deacons not serving were instructed to make sure that all folks--especially our widows, students that were there alone, etc., be included with a family...even if that meant that particular deacon going through again with them.

 

We met together, sang a few hymns, I preached for about 18 minutes and then we closed and headed home.

Frankly, I was disappointed with the turn out but I do praise God for those who made the effort.

 

We had a "CandleLite" service ---- with a special stage presentation, special music and a special instrumental presentation --- I preached for about 15 minutes and then we lit our candles and sang a few Christmas traditionals.

Blackbird