Dear Community,
It hasn't happened yet for me - but I know it is coming. The onslaught of plastic signs and lights, commercials and demands to celebrate Christmas bigger and better this year. This colossal commercialization of a change in season, this total forgetting of the life of a man of peace and justice in whose name we purchase gifts for each other. I know it is coming, and I am preparing myself.
I've been remembering back to a conversation I had with my son, Henry, last year. He was five at the time, and I know he'd heard the Christmas story before. But still, somehow, when we took out the decorations for the holiday last winter and I unwrapped one of my most cherished pieces - a wood carving of Joseph encircling Mary encircling Jesus - he held up the carving, looked me in the eye and said, "What is this? This must be in the wrong box!" And he wrapped it up and put it away.
I knew it was time for a more serious talk. Most Unitarian Universalists have a relationship that is uncomfortable at best with Christmas - and I wanted to address it head on. So I tried to distill my message and my values around the holiday down to the most essential truths. And I said something like this:
Christmas is a holiday where we celebrate the birth of a man named Jesus. Jesus was an exceptional man. He cared about everyone and he stood up for everyone, even the people that others wanted to push aside. He thought everyone should have what they needed. He thought we could live with more love, more hope, and more justice. He taught that it was our responsibility to take risks, to be bold and brave, to create a better world right here and right now. We celebrate his birthday to remember him and to tell stories about his life so that we might live more like he did.
I remember feeling good about my explanation - and then looking at my son. He still looked puzzled. All kinds of questions followed, and they weren't all easy to answer, but the conversation had started and the challenge was out there - how would we, as a family, experience Christmas as a reminder, a chance, an opportunity to intentionally turn toward love and justice and hope?
This year, our church community will take on a new project over the winter holidays that will offer that opportunity. Together, we will deepen our partnership with Habitat for Humanity by becoming the primary financial sponsor of a home for a family in need. Together we will raise $60,000. We will commit to days and weeks of labor on this home. We will look at our holiday spending and cut it in half. We will remember, and live into our calling to make this world a better place right here and right now.
Come learn more about our project and our commitment as we launch The House That Love Built. Check out our website, and start the conversation in any way that you like, and let's get ready to be changed.
Yours in Faith,
Rev. Jen Crow
It hasn't happened yet for me - but I know it is coming. The onslaught of plastic signs and lights, commercials and demands to celebrate Christmas bigger and better this year. This colossal commercialization of a change in season, this total forgetting of the life of a man of peace and justice in whose name we purchase gifts for each other. I know it is coming, and I am preparing myself.
I've been remembering back to a conversation I had with my son, Henry, last year. He was five at the time, and I know he'd heard the Christmas story before. But still, somehow, when we took out the decorations for the holiday last winter and I unwrapped one of my most cherished pieces - a wood carving of Joseph encircling Mary encircling Jesus - he held up the carving, looked me in the eye and said, "What is this? This must be in the wrong box!" And he wrapped it up and put it away.
I knew it was time for a more serious talk. Most Unitarian Universalists have a relationship that is uncomfortable at best with Christmas - and I wanted to address it head on. So I tried to distill my message and my values around the holiday down to the most essential truths. And I said something like this:
Christmas is a holiday where we celebrate the birth of a man named Jesus. Jesus was an exceptional man. He cared about everyone and he stood up for everyone, even the people that others wanted to push aside. He thought everyone should have what they needed. He thought we could live with more love, more hope, and more justice. He taught that it was our responsibility to take risks, to be bold and brave, to create a better world right here and right now. We celebrate his birthday to remember him and to tell stories about his life so that we might live more like he did.
I remember feeling good about my explanation - and then looking at my son. He still looked puzzled. All kinds of questions followed, and they weren't all easy to answer, but the conversation had started and the challenge was out there - how would we, as a family, experience Christmas as a reminder, a chance, an opportunity to intentionally turn toward love and justice and hope?
This year, our church community will take on a new project over the winter holidays that will offer that opportunity. Together, we will deepen our partnership with Habitat for Humanity by becoming the primary financial sponsor of a home for a family in need. Together we will raise $60,000. We will commit to days and weeks of labor on this home. We will look at our holiday spending and cut it in half. We will remember, and live into our calling to make this world a better place right here and right now.
Come learn more about our project and our commitment as we launch The House That Love Built. Check out our website, and start the conversation in any way that you like, and let's get ready to be changed.
Yours in Faith,
Rev. Jen Crow