Less presents, more presence

As we enter into Advent, anticipating the birth of our Saviour at Christmas and knowing that He will return, it’s critical to remind ourselves what this season is and is not about…
 

   
Prayer of confession
Lord God, we honestly admit that when it comes to Christmas, we do a lot more shopping, spending and stressing than worshipping.  Please give us not another present, but rather Your presence, Your Holy Spirit to help us to make good choices this year.  …Choices that free us to give of ourselves – our time, our abilities, our resources, our love.  And in that way, may we reflect Your love, shown so amazingly through Your Son, born of the virgin Mary, who was crucified, dead and buried, but on the third day rose again for us and our salvation.  It’s in His name we pray. Amen.
  

Assurance of God’s salvation
”…When the set time had fully come, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship.  Because you are His sons, God sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.”  So you are no longer slaves, but God’s children; and since you are His children, He has made you also heirs.” – Galatians 4

“Shine, Jesus, Shine”
  

Rededicating our lives to Godly living
“God’s gift to us [is] a relationship built on love. So it’s no wonder why we’re drawn to the idea that Christmas should be a time to love our friends and family in the most memorable ways possible. Time is the real gift Christmas offers us, and no matter how hard we look, it can’t be found at the mall. Time to make a gift that turns into the next family heirloom. Time to write mom a letter. Time to take the kids sledding. Time to bake really good cookies and sing really bad Christmas carols. Time to make love visible through relational giving. Sounds a lot better than getting a sweater two sizes too big, right?”*

Let’s follow God’s example and learn to give.  This Advent and Christmas, let’s reflect our God and give of ourselves – our time, our abilities, our resources, our love.  It might mean a few less presents, but a whole lot more presence – with each other and in worship to our loving God.
    

Notes:
*This paragraph comes from the Advent Conspiracy website.
All of the above was part of today’s 11am worship service at Telkwa Christian Reformed Church.