Dear St. Mary's,
Merry Christmas (eve)!
Below are ideas and prompts and a whole lot of ridiculous music for celebrating Christmas.
I sent these same ideas out last year, when things felt discouraging and we were all trying to celebrate despite the pandemic and weariness of the previous year. Honestly, I did not expect to be in that same place again this year.
My phone has been blowing up with friends and family who are sick, desperately looking for Covid tests, and canceling ALL the plans, and it feels a little bit like unraveling. Like things are falling apart just when we hoped they would get better.
Last night I was wrapping presents when I received some difficult news and it felt so silly to keep wrapping those presents through the tears and the heavy heartedness, and I know I’m not the only one feeling that way right now. It can seem like every bit of light is being snuffed out while we hold on to our tiny little match. But this week I read this from our friend, Helena Aman, and it was so helpful to me, so I am passing it along and hoping it helps you all, too:
“It is an act of faith to say that light will overcome darkness. We don’t have any proof of that. We have hope. It is perhaps more powerful to say that the darkness has not overcome the light. Not yet.
Through all the long ages of creation’s groaning, through all the agonies of mankind, love and hope and goodness endure.
Divisive hatred, greed, fear, indifference: none of these has managed to snuff out the light entirely. Not yet.
Not yet. My friends, that’s saying something.”
So, below is my meager offering of not yet: a cheesy pop playlist for a family dance party, some ideas for celebrating the 12 days of Christmas, and birthday cake and candles and songs reminding us that "love and hope and goodness endure," even in small ways.
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Here is the Godly Play Lesson for Christmas.
On Christmas Day, we celebrate the birth of our savior--the baby King, Jesus!
Here are a few prompts/activities to go with the story this week:
Light the Christ candle--when change the light (blow it out); remember that the light isn't gone, it has just changed. Christ is with us wherever we go!
Bake a cake or cupcakes or other treats to celebrate Jesus's birthday.
In our tradition, Christmas Day marks the first of twelve days of Christmas. There are SO many ideas online for how to celebrate these days, but I would suggest just doing simple and small daily celebrations or acts of service. Here are twelve ideas to get started. One idea is to have a family dance party--I made this incredibly cheesy Christmas Family Dance Party playlist on Spotify full of pop songs if anyone needs inspiration!
It's Christmas! Time to break out all of the Christmas carols and songs we had been saving throughout Advent. I had a hard time narrowing song choices, so here are a bunch to go with this lesson and the beginning of Christmastide:
Little Road to Bethlehem by Shawn Colvin
Gather 'Round, Ye Children, Come by Andrew Peterson
Happy Birthday Jesus by Slugs and Bugs
Joy to the World by Slugs and Bugs
Unto Us a Child is Born by Slugs and Bugs
Silent Night by Sara Groves
Go Tell It On The Mountain by Sandra McCracken
Baby Jesus is Born by Rain for Roots
I put these and a few more in a Spotify playlist called: "Christmas Songs for St. Mary's Kids."
May you find light this Christmas!