Happy Christmas

It's that time of the year again. I love it.
Flashing lights, the smells of awesome coming from the kitchen and the sound of kids on sugar highs using really loud and annoying electric toys.
Can't beat Christmas.
Material fluffy traditions aside, it's important to reflect on what Christmas really is.
Jesus.
Babe, born in a manger. The saviour of the world in a barn. That's such a mind bending thought, isn't it?
One song that truly captures what Christmas is (for me at least) is Downhere's How Many Kings.
Listen to the lyrics... and have a Merry Christmas.

Christmas Banquet

It was tricky coming up with something interesting to do at my churches' Christmas Banquet this year. The last few years have been great, but not about the nativity. They've focused on giving, the reason for the season or (last year) a variety night, but no babe in a manger. This year however, the goal was to do The Christmas Story. That's harder then it sounds. Everything has been done. Church Christmas plays can get into the "cliche rut" so easily - we didn't want that to happen.
So instead of a musical or a play... we mixed 'em! A guy was pretending to be Luke writing his Gospel, every time he'd hit an important part in the story (Angels appearing to the shepherds) we'd get someone to do their version of a relevant carol (for the angel example it would be While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks By Night). It worked!
A Buddy of mine and I kicked things off with "O Come O Come Emmanuel." Great song. I've always liked it, though I'm not sure why...

The night continued with "We Three Kings," "Away In A Manger" and an instrumental version of "God Rest Ye Merry Gentle Men."
Between the lights, music and food (and of course the over aching message) I'm officially read for Christmas!