17 DAYS TO CHRISTMAS
Wow—where has this year gone? I don’t want to alarm any of you but there are only 17 shopping days, (okay, 16 to shop) until Christmas. And if some of you are like me—we haven’t even started to shop!!
Well, here’s the good news-our economy, or what’s left of it, sure has a way of taking the focus off buying stuff for people and forcing us to look at giving from a whole different perspective. I’ll tell you right now—this year, the Cruses are looking at spending quality time with their kids and grandkids’, eating some holiday treats, catching up on some missed movies and enjoying some time to relax in God’s presence. Now that sounds like a real Christmas holiday to me!
In the event you think Scrooge is writing this piece—not to worry! It is just amazing to me how easy it is to get sucked in to the pressures of what you think the perfect holiday experience should be. Putting yourself under pressure to buy things for people—things they will return or exchange—getting into debt and spending January and February to “catch up”.
The simplicity of the season gets so lost in the “running and doing and buying and shopping” so I want to once again encourage you to remember some of your most memorable Christmases and I will bet you they had very little to do with getting or giving stuff.
I remember one Christmas in particular—times were tough and packages under the tree were few. We went to my brother’s house and had a blast sitting out by the backyard bonfire eating hotdogs, s’mores and popping firecrackers with all the cousins!
So back to “simplicity”—let me take this opportunity to remind you about our upcoming Christmas production, A Simple Family Christmas, Sunday December 14th @ 5:00 and 7:30. This years program is going to be fantastic and well worth your time.
Tickets are only $3 in advance and for each ticket you purchase, you will be given a ticket to be given away as well. It is a wonderful opportunity to invite your friends, family, co-workers, favorite hair stylist, nail tech….you get the idea—to check out our church, schools and ministry. Everyone in attendance will leave with a nice little gift, compliments of the church. Help us spread the word and lets fill the building this coming Sunday to the glory of God.