Neighborhood Ministries

Those who feel forgotten.  Christmas is a time when we remember that Christ came to His people to reveal the nature of God and to show us a better way to live; a way of peace and love. This should be a time when we should draw together as a family and draw together as a church family. We need to bring some light into their life just as Christ brought light into the world for us. We should seek those around us who will not know the joy of Christmas unless we share it with them We need to take time to reach out to those around us who may be alone, whose families are gone or far away, and have no friends close. By visiting, we remind them that we have not forgotten them and God has not forgotten them either. Some may be able to invite them to share Christmas with their family so they do not have to spend Christmas alone. There are also many who are burdened with heavy cares, or who have lost loved ones, are shut-in and cannot get out, and let them know they are not forgotten and are not alone. We need to bring some light into their life just as Christ brought light into the world for us. Some will not share the joy of Christmas because of financial needs and cannot afford special gifts. The church can help brighten their Christmas. A growing number of Christians are deciding that instead of giving each other gifts they don’t need, they will put that money into buying gifts for those that might not otherwise receive gifts, or by supporting Christmas programs by organizations in their local area like The Salvation Army, or abroad like Samaritan’s Purse or simply giving gifts to neighbors they know who might not otherwise know the joy of Christmas. Christmas is also a great time to teach your kids the value of giving and the greatest gift they can give is themselves. Volunteer as a family to help a local church, social service agency, day care, hospital, or nursing home. Many have special programs at Christmas that need volunteers.

Why the Calendar  Many question why I use the Christian calendar for my messages. I am often accused of being tied to ritual, but I am not. I have very little interest in or use for ritual outside of Communion. Communion is special because God ordained it and commanded us to continue it. Even with Communion I am not tied to one tradition. I celebrate however those around me do, as long as it includes the basic elements instituted by Christ. (most, who celebrate it sincerely do, though they celebrate them in a multitude of different ways) I use the Christian calendar for three reasons. (1) It ensures that I cover all the major Christian teachings in a year. (2) It ensures that I do them in an orderly way, each one building upon another so it is easier to understand. (3) It is an order widely accepted by other Christians, so we are all on the same page. Though many holidays were added by men, the basic elements of the Jewish calendar and the Christian calendar were commanded by God and the fact that many churches today do not celebrate them (outside of Christmas and Easter) is one more indication that the church today no longer takes God’s Word seriously. (for more on the Christian holidays, see “Understanding the Path We Walk” which I published in 2015.

Tell the Story-Many people will see the manger scene and not understand what it means because they have no church background. A large percentage of people today have not attended church and do not know anyone that they know of who attends church. Many Christians assume those they meet at work and at school attend church somewhere but few of them do. Few churches today have Christmas eve services but those that do usually include only members and do not include visitors. It is a great time to invite those who do not attend church to come and hear the Christmas story, especially those who have children. Christmas carols used to be sung in the schools and played in stores, but many have dropped or even banned those with a Christian message. Church members can get together and carol at nursing homes and in their neighborhood to tell the Christmas story. Songs should not be random but organized to tell the story.