3835 W WT Harris Blvd. Charlotte, NC 28269

704-369-8000 • www.ucumc.org Giving Christmas Away We hope you’ll join us this Christmas Season!

Join us for regular Worship times: December 1, 8, 15 - 9:45 & 11:00am

Cookie Walk - December 7, 9am-12pm: Join us in the Worship Center lobby to hand-pick your own box of home-made cookies. All proceeds go to beneift the FUSION Christmas Store.

A University City Christmas Musical: Friday, December 20, 7pm Saturday, December 21, 3pm

Children’s Nativity - combined worship: December 22, 10:00am

Christmas Eve services - Tuesday, December 24: 4:00pm - Children/Family friendly 6:00pm - Traditional/Candlelight Communion 8:00pm - Contemporary/Candlelight Communion “Giving Christmas Away” – it’s a little confusing…can you really give Christmas away? Our hope at UCUMC this year is that you will certainly try! There will be many opportunities for you to “give Christmas away” – from purchasing toys for the Christmas Store to sponsoring a child from the Angel Tree to baking and/or purchasing goodies for the Cookie Walk (proceeds support the Christmas Store) to volunteering to serve the homeless of Charlotte through Room-in-the-Inn to purchasing food to send home in backpacks for elementary children in local schools during the Christmas break. Everyone can find some way to “give” tangibly to others this year.

But it’s also more than giving food or clothes or toys or even giving of your time…there is something that is even more important than these things… LOVE! By giving these things mentioned, you are showing love to others and I believe the Lord is pleased but there is an even greater love that we can offer to people…not only at Christmas, but throughout the year…that is the love that God shared with us in the form of His Son, Jesus. If we simply purchase a toy or volunteer some time or give someone some food we have certainly done a very good thing but the best thing we can do is to share Jesus with people…maybe even people who don’t “need” anything like food or toys or clothes…maybe the one thing they truly need is Jesus and His love!

Our theme for Advent this year is “Giving Christmas Away” – the scripture focus is John 3:16 where we learn that God “gave” His Son Jesus for us so that we might have eternal life if we believe (trust) in Him. There is no greater gift that can ever be given to us and we hope that you will partner with us during the Advent season (and beyond) as we look for ways to share Jesus, our Savior, with others by GIVING CHRISTMAS AWAY!!

In this devotional booklet you will find thoughts about Christmas and our theme from UCUMC staff and laity…there is one for every day from now until Christmas…we hope you will be encouraged, challenged and inspired by these personal stories but most of all that you will look for your own ways to give Christmas away this year.

God Bless and Merry Christmas!!

UCUMC Staff November 25th - “Give This Christmas Away”, by: Ron Smith Matthew West wrote a beautiful song back in 2009. He performed the song with Amy Grant in a number of public appearances. It was, and still is, very popular. It captures the “spirit of Christmas” so well that Samaritans Purse adopted it as their Operation Christmas Child theme. Veggie Tales adapted it for use in one of their animations (VeggieTales: “Saint Nicholas - A Story of Joyful Giving”). Here are the lyrics to the song. Take time to meditate on the them and ask God to give you the true spirit of Christmas and the desire and ability to “Give This Christmas Away!” What if I told you? You have the power To give someone hope Far beyond their wildest dreams ] What if I told you it’s right there in your hands? In your hands It’s hard to imagine How something so small Can make all the difference Tear down the tallest wall What if December looked different this year? What if we all just Give this Christmas away If there’s love in your heart Don’t let it stay there Give this Christmas away And your life will be changed By the gift you receive When you give this Christmas away It’s feeding the hungry It’s serving the poor It’s telling the orphan You’re not forgotten anymore It’s doing what love does Even when no one’s watching you Give this Christmas away If there’s love in your heart Don’t let it stay there Give this Christmas away And your life will be changed By the gift you receive When you give this Christmas away For God so loved the world, He gave His only son So we could be His hands, His feet, His love; His love from the album Something to Say - Christmas Edition by Matthew West November 26th - My Favorite Chapter in the Bible, by: Harry Smith Psalm 19

This chapter begins with “The heavens are telling the glory of God and the firmament proclaims His handiwork.” The rest of the chapter is well worth the reading for its lessons on life and it ends with an often used benediction. As a child , I remember that my mother’s favorite hymn was This is My Father’s World which also highlights God’s wonderful and awesome creation. In Romans 1:19-20 Paul claimed that mankind is without excuse as he wrote: “For what can be known about God is plain to them because God has shown it to them. Ever since the creation of the world His invisible nature, namely, His eternal power and deity has been clearly perceived in the things that have been made.” Creation could have been drab but it was filled with a vast array of delightful colors and sounds for our appreciation and God’s glory! God gave and we received! God’s greatest gift, however, came over 2000 years ago. At Christmas we are reminded that God gave his only Son that those who believe can receive salvation and eternal life. With such a loving, giving, Heavenly Father, it behooves us to give also. Malachi 3:10, however, reminds us that we cannot out give God: “Bring the full tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house; and thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of Hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you an overflowing blessing.” CHRISTMAS IS A TIME OF GIVING AND WE SHOULD SEEK OPPORTUNITIES TO HONOR GOD BY GIVING ALSO! November 27th - Give Christmas Away…in a Plastic Shoebox, by: Sherry Lail Isaiah 49:16 (NIV)

A plastic shoebox measures 14” by 8” by 4.58”. But what it holds is measureless. Every year, our family has enthusiastically embraced the Samaritan’s Purse Operation Christmas Child project. For us, and for many others, it’s not just the trips to the dollar store, the planning and collecting all year long, or the November packing party on the bonus room floor. It’s the knowing that among the socks and candy and whistles and yo-yos and Kleenex and dolls and crayons, there sits the Holy Spirit. Even after years of packing boxes, it wasn’t until I volunteered for the first time at the OCC warehouse five years ago with UCUMC friends that I “got it”. During the training session, we heard stories about how God destines each box for a particular child. We are trained to never move anything from one box to the other, only to add the extra items provided at the warehouse, or to remove prohibited items. God – in his infinite intimacy, knows the specific needs of each child. A story I’ll never forget: One child, when asked about his favorite gift in his shoebox, responded, “A pair of gloves.” Even though he lived in a warm climate where hands don’t grow cold from snow or ice, he was part of a fisherman family. His small hands were already bruised, calloused, scarred and infected from handling rough fishing line and nets with his bare hands. This simple pair of gloves would ease his pain. The smile on his weathered face brought tears to the eyes of the OCC distribution team. God sees us. He knows us. He has our names written on the palm of His hand.

November 28th - Doing the Little Things, by: Nancy Hall Matthew 25:34-40 (NIV)

I never had really had a bible verse that I would say was my favorite until about 4 years ago. My daughter, Sarah and I went with the youth group to Monterrey, MX on a mission trip, the summer of 2009. We went down there, not really knowing what to expect or knowing how it might change us. I had heard stories from people who had been. I had even helped a good friend raise money to go the year before. After seeing pictures of her there, I knew I had to be a part of it. She had been through the loss of her father, just as I had. My sister had become very ill and we were still helping my mother get over the loss of her husband of 59 years. I was so busy caring for others, I became resentful of everything I was faced with. I had lost a part of me. I felt lost. While there, I really disconnected with life and was “in the moment”. I put aside all of the demands of what I had to do and focused on doing the things I wanted to do, the things God wanted me to do. I found myself, a different me. The “me” that God intended me to be. I came back and found that I had more patience. I approached my responsibilities with a purpose that God had put these opportunities in my life to serve. I was serving my family. I also found that I wanted to keep serving. It was one thing to go away for a week, but what about the other 51 weeks of the year? How could I keep that enthusiasm going? I joined a life group that was studying a book titled “The Hole In The Gospel”. I joined because of the leaders, I really did not know the content of the book other than a short summary. God sent me to that group. It answered that question about the other 51 weeks. It challenged me to realize that every small action, can have an impact that we may never know. We should not question it, God will use it, in His time, to impact someone. Every thing we do, no matter how small, makes a difference. That beggar on the street, I can’t control how they will spend the money I give them. But maybe, the act of handing them change for a meal and telling them that God loves them, may be just what they need to hear to change the course of their life. I need to give with a loving heart and let God take over. The verses above spell it out so clearly. Whatever I do for the least, I do for Jesus. What one little thing can you do this Christmas so that God can work through you and in you? Don’t think big, don’t try to control it. Just do it with a loving and servant’s heart and let God do His work in His time. November 29th - This is the Good News, by: Janelle Upton Mark 1:1-3

Please read the following: “This is the Good News about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God.” Now go back and read that sentence with a great smile on your face. When reading through the Bible chronologically, this is the first sentence of the New Testament. It is like a huge sigh of relief. Before this sentence are the many, many words of prophecy and judgment from the prophets. It can feel like we are never going to get this living thing right; like we will always fail. Then right there, after the doom and gloom, are these words that stop and make our souls jump with hope - Mark 1:1 “This is the Good News about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God” I can tell that the author, Mark, wrote those words with hope and power because he knew that the words he was about to write telling the story of Jesus was going to change the world forever. It was going to change the hearts of men and women for the rest of time. John the Baptist goes into the wilderness and shouts the words of Isaiah, “Prepare the way for the LORD’s coming! Clear the road for him!” John understood the excitement that the heavens were shouting on the night Jesus was born. I love that John goes to the wilderness to shout such powerful words. The wilderness is where our souls drift until we find Jesus. We wander through many wildernesses in life. We look high and low, under rocks and thorny cactuses, for something to quench our thirst and desires. Here we find ourselves so dried up, so miserable, and so near death. Then, into the wilderness, comes Jesus. He comes to be baptized in a river by John, the wilderness man. Jesus comes to say, “Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” There is nothing that the Good News of Jesus cannot overcome. Joel 3:14 says, “Thousands upon thousands are waiting in the valley of decision.” These thousands upon thousands need the Jesus who walked into our wilderness and saved us from dying. We need to be like John the Baptist- to clear the road for them and prepare their hearts to hear Jesus. Please spend a moment this day, in total humility, praising God for His plan to save humanity. On your knees, thank Him for saving you. Then, pray for your family, friends, co-workers, and neighbors who are still wandering the wilderness. Pray that in the year 2014, they will find the Good News. May it sink into their souls and nourish them forever. November 30th - Silent Night...the More the Merrier! by: Blair Luther 2 Corinthians 9

Unlike how Mary and Joseph were turned away and told there was no room in the inn, my parent’s home always had an open door, a ‘more the merrier’ atmosphere. There could NEVER be too many people or not enough room. Growing up we spent most holidays with others from our community that did not have a place to call home or a family of their own. Our family would cook for an army. There was a boy from our town that was forced to move out on his own when he was 16 years old. After high school he joined the army but he came back to our town almost every weekend to see friends. No family of his own, no place to call a home & no one to care. One day, I found out he was living in his car and I invited him to have dinner with us. That dinner turned into him living with us. He became another brother to me and my siblings. Another son to my parents and we became his family. We gave him love, support, and faith unselfishly. And he gave it right back. My parents helped him to not be bitter about the circumstances of life he had been dealt. They taught him of God’s grace, they showed him God’s love. Had my family not given to him so freely, so unconditionally, he most likely would not be the successful, faithful, Christian father of 4 he is today. While his rewards are great, my family’s rewards are far greater all because my parents did not turn him away and made room for him in our ‘inn’. As my husband and I raise our own 4 children, we try to instill these same values of giving and loving in them. A few years ago we started the tradition of Christmas caroling with several of our neighborhood children. One year, we wanted just one more house and chose one we did not know the family that lived there. When we rang the door bell and started to sing the mother of the home asked us if we would come in. This was brave considering we stood there with almost 20 children. Her elderly father was bed ridden and she wanted the kids to come sing for him. All the kids gathered around him in a small room and began to sing Silent Night. The look of joy on his face I will always remember. The expression of gratitude on his daughters face I will never forget. The small gift of a song brought great joy to them. Even at their young ages, our children recognized the gift they had given this family but they also recognized giving was far better than receiving. How will you give this year? Giving should not just be saved for the Christmas season. It does not have to be in the form of material goods. It could be time, a listening ear, a song, a helping hand, a welcoming home or an invitation to faith. Giving does not have to be extravagant. God gave us the most extravagant gift when He gave His Son. December 1st - It’s Not What You Get; It’s What You Have, by: Tim Patrick I grew up in a material poor, but love rich family! I am so very thankful for and appreciative of the Godly upbringing I received from my parents; they loved us, shared God with us and provided the very best they could for us! I was taught the value of appreciating what you have, at a very early age, even when you didn’t have much! There were many Christmases our “wish lists” went unfilled…many times our dreams did not come true…but I live today with sweet, precious memories of Christmases as a boy! Dad and Mom would always do their very best to make the season as wonderful as it could be! We’d carol in the car. We’d put 33 & a 1/3 LPs of holiday music on and sing to the tops of our lungs all through the house! We’d make our own cards for one another and for others we felt had it worse than we did! We would build snowmen and forts and have snow ball fights. Mom made snow cream and hot cocoa. We’d make popcorn as we watched all the seasonal specials on our 19” B&W TV! We’d decorate our ever-desolate tree with popcorn strings, “angel hair” (tinsel), and lights. Then we’d place either an angel or a star at the top! We cut out a gazillion snowflakes and hung them on every window and placed various shapes of green and red construction paper cut-outs all over the rest of the house! We made and decorated dozens of sugar cookies! We seldom ripped into or tore open our packages, because my frugal Mother would garner whatever she could salvage from the annual “unveiling”, whether it was paper or bows! All of those mornings of sweet discovery seemed to last forever! We’d finally gather in the kitchen for pancakes or French Toast and we’d share and laugh about what our favorite gift was! My Dad would ask me, “So, what do you think of your Christmas this year?” I remember telling him one time that I really appreciated all I got and felt bad for kids who got less than I did or maybe didn’t get anything at all. I recall he said something I will not soon forget; “Son, it’s not what you get…it’s what you have!” He was quiet for a few moments before he went on…”everyone in this world can have a good Christmas if they’ll do two things: appreciate what they have and receive the one TRUE Gift of Jesus! After that, it doesn’t matter what they get or don’t get…it’s what they have that counts. It’s what they have that makes the difference. It’s what they have that really matters! And Tim, you are a blessed young man! You already have the gifts of: Jesus, Family, a home, food, water and clothing! You have the gift of drumming, laughter, health and friends! You have acceptance, smarts, talent and value!” I don’t think I had a better Christmas gift than the one my Father was verbally unwrapping during those few moments! Merry Christmas! December 2 - Back of the Line, by: Ria Holtzhausen Acts 19:35

It was a cold wet dreary December 24th. I was at the office getting ready to leave while going through my mental checklist for the evening. There will be time for a quick shower before we leave for the Christmas Eve candlelight service. After the service we were going to have dinner at a friend’s house with a few other friends. The covered dish was ready and the gifts for each guest tonight were wrapped and ready to go. My phone rang and it was the host for the evening asking if I had a container of cream that I could bring with us. She also mentioned that she found out about a South African artist that was in town, and she invited him to join us for dinner. There goes all my well-orchestrated plans, in all fairness I did not tell her about my plan to bring gifts; in fact we had agreed not to give gifts! On our way to church I made my husband stop at the only store that was still open to quickly find one more gift. My husband was not happy but I was adamant. He dropped me off at the entrance, drove off to find parking and I ran through the store looking for a gift. My heart nearly stopped when I saw the lines waiting to check out. I quickly found a gift and joined the long line. In front of me in line was an elderly gentleman called John. We were having a pleasant conversation when I received the first text from my husband saying that he was not able to find a parking space. I replied, “I know it is because they are all in line waiting to check out!” We wish you a Merry Christmas, Peace on Earth, Feliz Navidad, and other songs were blaring over the speakers. Another text,W“we need to go the traffic is bad out here, we are going to be late!” Somewhere in the back of the line a baby had been crying nonstop. Everybody was staring, sighing and grumbling under their breath. John was next in line and that was when the miracle happened, he stepped aside waving the young mother with the crying baby to go ahead of him. More grumbling from people in line but he said he would take her place in the back! The young mother burst into tears saying, “It is my baby’s first Christmas and just want a gift to give him on Christmas morning.” I looked at the few items in her cart, diapers, baby food, one baby outfit, and a teddy bear. I could not help but notice the meager purchase in comparison to the loaded carts around us. When she checked out John stepped forward and paid for her purchase. Lord you gave your Son so that we may live, please open my eyes to see, my ears to hear your voice, an obedient heart & hands willing to give, at Christmas & throughout the year. December 3rd - God Always Provides, by: Bert Giles Philippians 4:19

In December 1993, I was working as a youth director, at a church where there was a tradition of sponsoring families from the local elementary school located approx 1 mile from our church. The youth ministry would raise money to buy clothes and toys for the children as well a few items for the parents and a box of food for the family. We would invite the families to our church for a big meal and celebration and then present them with the gifts! This was my first year participating in this outreach and I was extremely excited about it! About noon, on the day of the big party, it started to snow really hard and we made the decision to cancel the celebration for that evening. We called the families and told them not to come and we got directions to their houses. Some of us with four-wheel drive vehicles came to the church that afternoon and night and began to take the gifts to the families…Christmas was about a week away. There were a few families we couldn’t reach but we thought we knew where they lived so we decided to deliver their gifts the next day. I piled into my Jeep Cherokee with one other adult, three teenagers, a box of food and several bags of toys. We drove to where we thought this particular family lived, way out a gravel road but couldn’t find the dirt road they lived on because there was 8-10 inches of snow on the ground! Ultimately, some boys who were sledding showed us how to get to the house and as we rounded the bend in the road there was a large fallen tree blocking the road up to the house. As we got out of the vehicle a man came from out of the house with a gun, asked what we wanted and why we were there. We quickly explained to him what we were doing there on his property and he said the tree had knocked down the phone line so that’s why we couldn’t call them and they couldn’t call us (this was before most people had cell phones!) and they couldn’t get out past the tree. We opened up the back of the Jeep and literally handed Christmas across the tree to this family. As I was passing the food box to the dad he got tears in his eyes and said, “we ran out of most of our food last night…only some cereal and beans and rice left.” It was at this point that tears began to build up in my eyes and I realized that God was using us to provide for this family when they didn’t know where their next meal was coming from. After unloading the gifts and food we went inside and played with the kids and prayed with the family. As we drove out of that little dirt road that day (slipping and sliding in the snow!) I thought about how God always provides for whatever our needs are…physical, spiritual, emotional, etc. – and when He sent Jesus to earth He was providing for each of us…even you and me… thousands of years later so that we might have the greatest gift of all…forever with Him in eternity!! I hope this year you will feel God’s presence…receive His gift of love to you in the person of Jesus Christ…and then share that gift with at least one other person!! Merry Christmas and God Bless!! December 4th - Tying-In Christ in Christmas, by: Tammy Cline Matthew 5:14-16

The Christmas season in our family is filled with a variety of events such as Christmas parties, Christmas in Davidson, a winter dance recital, baking fudge for our neighbors, and shopping for just the right gifts for friends and family – just to name a few! It is so much fun to do all these things with and for loved ones. It is also a wonderful time of year to take time to spend with friends and family. Time always flies by and, before I know it, it’s January 1 of the next year! So, this year, I am going to try to be more intentional in how I go about the Christmas season. We are talking about Giving Christmas Away at UCUMC this Advent season and I am reminded that God gave us the ultimate gift – a tiny baby in a humble manger to be our Savior. As Christians, we come into this season each year with knowing the blessing of this miracle. God gave this beautiful gift for you and me! I find it truly humbling to ponder the gift of Christ for me and what it offers for each and every person on this earth. For me this year, the challenge is to remember this ultimate gift of Christ given for me and to tie it into all that I do in some way, as I go about my busyness of this Christmas season. I think it’s important that we show others why Christmas is so meaningful to us and a time for joy. Perhaps the “tying-in” is to include a devotional book with a gift, perhaps it’s a written note with the fudge we give out, and for sure, it will be reflected in our Christmas card choice. In any case, we have this wonderful opportunity to share the love of Christ and the hope we have in Him and this comes at a time of year when some people around us are celebrating without understanding the why. I encourage you to tie in the Christ in Christmas as you go about the busyness of the season too. Let your light for Jesus shine for others to see as you spend time with your friends and family this year. Blessings to you this Christmas season, Tammy

By: Tammy Cline December 5th - Music to My Ears, by: Linda Giles Long Acts 20:35

Several years ago our family decided to follow my oldest son’s lead and dispense with giving gifts to each other at Christmas. Instead we looked for an individual or family who was in need of a “helping hand” or an organization that we could join with to share God’s love at Christmas. Then on Christmas when we all gathered together we shared with each other our unique stories and were always blessed by the different opportunities God had given to each of us! Last year we chose to combine our giving and share it with the nursing home where our mother/grand-mother had spent her last days before she went to heaven in April 2012. She had received good care there and we all felt this was a good choice for us. I talked with the administrator and found out that their basic everyday needs were covered but they had a hope of bringing “music” to the residents there again. It seems that “music” is a good resource to help in many ways and their present system (a jam box and speakers) was no longer a viable option. When we took our combined family gift to the administrator just before Christmas, she had tears in her eyes and told me that not only could they provide “music” during activities but they could also now have iPods for each unit to enjoy whenever they wanted to use them. In a thank-you note we received later, she wrote how much the gift meant and that she was going to talk with her family about changing their gift giving ideas and follow this example at Christmas as well! Once again our family realized just how blessed we were to Give Christmas Away and that it really is more blessed for us to give than to receive – we were also able to share God’s love with so many and spread the love outside the nursing home to others as well! December 6th - What A Gift, by: Megan Leap Mark 10:45

Christmas has always been my favorite time of year. There seems to be some unspoken and shared joy among all people when the Christmas season arrives. I love the promise of hope, the expectancy of awaiting the arrival of our Savior, and the ways we respond to that, by giving of our time, energy and resources. I especially love gifts! And not because I love to receive gifts, but because I love to give gifts! I pride myself on giving great gifts and take great care in purchasing or making gifts for those I love. I love to pick out a gift that is specifically unique to a friend, family member, or loved one—knowing that it will bring them joy. It also brings me joy to wrap that gift and witness them opening and receiving the gift. I would imagine that God feels the same way about us. He has given us the perfect gift in sending his Son into the world. Can you imagine what joy and excitement God must feel over sending His Son for each of us? Can you imagine how much thought and planning went into that gift? Do you know that God was thinking of YOU as He sent the greatest gift EVER into the world? And can you imagine how much joy and happiness God feels when we accept the gift of His Son? Mark 10:45 says, “For even the son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” God was so intentional in His gift-giving, that as he gave His one and only Son to us, His Son GAVE His LIFE for us. Even as Jesus came, He came not to be served, but to serve us. He came to earth and was given to us for only one reason – to give His life for us. What a gift! Jesus’ death was to be a ransom for all mankind – a payment to release us from the bondage of sin. Christ came to save us – to release us from the bondage of sin and to offer us freedom through his death. What an amazing gift! As I think about the ultimate and greatest gift ever given, I am humbled and thankful for a God who cares so deeply for me that he picked out the greatest gift I could ever receive and that He experiences great joy when I freely accept that gift. I am also humbled by the fact that He doesn’t ask me to earn the gift by serving others, but that my response to that gift is to love and serve and give of myself. What joy! What hope! That we can receive such a gift from God and that we can then freely offer ourselves and the gift of Christ to others. What is your response to the greatest gift ever given? Jesus came to serve us and our response to that gift can only be to serve and love…to offer the same gift to others. December 7th - Having the Attitude of Christ, by: Ray McKinnon Philippians 2:1-8

Contrary to what some might believe, I rather enjoy Christmas. I love Christmas music. I very much love the time it affords me to spend with my family and friends. I love the excitement that it brings. I do enjoy Christmas. What I do not enjoy is the hijacking and commercialization that seems to happen earlier and earlier each year. Consider this: Before the Jack-O- Lanterns of Halloween had a chance to become all shriveled and gross the Christmas Commercialization engine already left the station. This happens each year…and we are largely culprits. What happens if we declare this season we will take the focus from us and our needs (most accurately, they are probably wants) and put the focus onto Christ and the needs of others? What could happen in our hearts over this Advent season if we remember the significance of that center candle? What happens within our hearts and the hearts of our families and communities when we take seriously the admonishment of Phil. 2:1-8: 1Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate? 2Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose. 3Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. 4Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. 5You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. 6Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. 7Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, 8he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.

This season, commit to taking the focus from ourselves and look out to others. Give Christmas away and encourage our children to do the same. Remind our children how incredibly blessed they are and encourage them to consider others before themselves. We just might be surprised by what happens when we Give Christmas Away this Advent. Advent Prayer: Father, on this day, we are grateful that hope has come. Throughout this season, make us mindful of the needs of others. Help us to consider others before ourselves. Holy Spirit, reveal to us practical ways that we might share hope this season. We are grateful. We are mindful. Make us more so. Amen. December 8th - The Gift of Life and Love Goes On, by: Ceil McGee Jude 1:2

If you have a Christmas Tree, you gotta have a nativity set! One that children can touch and play with and retell the story in their words! That was the gift I gave to all my siblings, to be sure their home had a child safe, wooden nativity set. I still look for ways to put nativity sets in the hands of families whether through cards, magnets, vinyl clings, finger puppets, or even cookie shapes that tell the story! Above all the hustle, bustle, and excitement, keeping the birthday of the Christ child at the heart of Christmas, is important to me as a believer, a mom and as a Christian Educator. Christmas is about the fulfillment of God’s promise to restore relationship, to bring wholeness and health back to His creation, to show how the birth of a child is a miracle that shakes the status quo and transforms lives forever! Christmas 1986 the gift of a child became real to me with the birth of my daughter on Christmas eve! And I began to experience God’s love, wonder, mercy, forgiveness, and grace in a new and powerful way. And now that child has grown to a Godly woman and wife, who will become a mom herself next June! The gift of life and love goes on! One never knows how even a small gift will continue to bring blessings and joy. Over 30 years ago I was given a Christmas ornament from a coworker in Michigan that I continued to put on my tree year after year. Just a few years ago, my dad, while in hospice care had a volunteer come visit that really brightened his day. After he passed, I got to meet her, and we suddenly realized she was the one who had given me that ornament I had enjoyed for so long! Acts of kindness are the heart of Christmas love! Christmas is a time of remembering those who have touched your life, and a time to touch the lives of others who may never know you. I leave you with this Swedish Proverb for a Christmas list: Fear less, hope more; Eat less, chew more; Whine less, breathe more; Talk less, say more; Hate less, love more; And all good things will be yours! December 9th - Jesus Paid our Way, by: Phil Reed John 3:16

I find it interesting, strange, or perhaps even scary, that I have difficulty remembering yesterday but I can remember something my mother told me 45 years ago. There were four children in my mother’s family, three girls and one boy. Their father was a carpenter and their mother was a seamstress. During the great depression work was hard to find and so they had very little money. I recall my mother telling of how her mother would send her to a butcher shop to get bones for the dog and then she would use it to make soup for the family. In those days they gave the bones away. Many times their mother would walk several miles to and from work rather than spend the 25¢ for bus fare. One Christmas during these lean times the family was called together to make an important decision. The children were told that there was very little money available and so they were to decide whether to get a Christmas present or use the money to take a trip to visit their grandmother. They chose to go visit grandma. Now as a grandparent myself I can just imagine what a joy it was to see those children get out of the car and greet her at the front door. I’m sure that was a Christmas that they all remembered for years to come, I know my mother did. When I think about how they gave up getting a Christmas present in order to go visit their grandmother I realize they treasured their relationship with their grandmother more than material things. That is something money can’t buy and yet is so precious. Isn’t that what life is all about, relationships? Lonely and miserable is the person who doesn’t value relationships. That’s what God wants for us. He wants desperately to have a relationship with us. He loves us so much and He knows us personally. The Bible tells us He knows the number of hairs on our head. He wants us to spend eternity with Him; but man is sinful and sin cannot enter His kingdom. That’s why He sent Jesus to pay the penalty for our sins. Through His death on the cross and His resurrection from the dead we now have victory over sin and death. By accepting Jesus as our savior we can spend eternity with our loving God. What an awesome gift that is and it’s free; Jesus paid our way. God created heaven and earth and everything within them. Therefore He owns everything. There is nothing man can offer God except to love one another and to love Him. We’re not only to have relationships with our fellow human beings but we are to be in a relationship with God as well. He wants us to be with him forever. Prayer: Heavenly father I thank you and praise you for your unfailing love for us. Thank you for Jesus willingness to pay the penalty for our sins so that we might have a relationship with you. Help us to build on that relationship daily until we meet you in your glory. In Jesus precious name, Amen.

Are you willing to give up your presents to be in God’s presence? December 10th - Giving Christmas Trees Away, by: Matt Guild Matthew 25:31-40

During my first four years at UCUMC (1997-2001), part of my job was directing the Changing Hearts (High School) and Crossroad (Middle school) Youth Choirs. Every year our major fundraiser was selling Christmas Trees. Proceeds from this sale helped us make our annual summer concert and mission trip. All of the students in the two youth choirs, their parents, and our volunteer Adult Leaders worked together on this project that began on the Friday after Thanksgiving and lasted until mid-December. That usually meant that we were open every night for two solid weeks and all day on the beginning, middle, and last Saturdays. I’ll let you wrap your mind around what that must have been like for the staffing manager (aka, me), and for the kids and families in the choirs during that time of year. Wow…were we crazy or what? Yet as challenging as it was at times, this was a very successful fundraiser. In those days we were still one of the only churches in this part of town, one of the few Christmas Tree lots anywhere near the church, and our property used to go right up to the old road bed (Old Sugar Creek), so our street visibility at night was spectacular. We had a literal and figurative “corner on the market” for selling Christmas Trees. Still by the end there would always be a dozen or so unsold Christmas Trees on the lot. As we took down our lot, we were faced with the dilemma of disposing them. Some of them ended up in Lake Norman just off the dock at the Swartzel’s house. Others were sold at below cost to random Christmas Tree salesmen who needed some more for their lots. But even after those things were done, we still had more to get rid of. That’s where the blessing came to the Christmas Tree Removal Technician (aka, me). In those days our church had a partnership with the Rockwell and Hemphill Heights Communities in Derita. I called their Community President, Robert Smith and asked him if he knew of anyone who needed a Christmas Tree. Robert checked called me back with several names, and I delivered Christmas Trees to those homes. Although it was not easy loading Christmas Trees into the old (OLD) church van, and then carrying the trees into the homes of various people, it was a meaningful Christmas activity for me. To see the smiles on the peoples’ faces and hear the joy in their voices as I carried the Christmas Tree into their living rooms truly blessed my heart and lifted my spirit. Throughout my career as a school and church music director, I have always felt that I was “bringing Christmas” to people through music. But it was in taking Christmas Trees to people who would otherwise not have one that made me feel like I was “giving Christmas away.” Jesus talked about how when we feed the hungry, clothe the naked, or visit the prisoners that we are “doing that unto Him.” I think that perhaps my Christmas Tree deliveries may have been a little like that. I know that the blessings I received from Him in those times were very special. Merry Christmas! December 11th - It Is Still Magical, by: Chad Cozad Isaiah 7:14

I can remember as a child being crazy excited about Christmas. I loved the colorful lights, the smell of the real Christmas tree and the Christmas cookies. It was as if everything that was good about the world exploded in one season. I couldn’t wait to see the Christmas decorations go up on the street light poles in downtown Concord. The city would put lights on the huge holly tree across from the library. The whole world was transformed into something magical. We would always decorate the tree as a family. My mom would make pop- overs and I would put the Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer record on the stereo. We spent the evening placing lights and hanging ornaments and throwing tinsel (some of you may be too young to remember this but it was shiny strips of metallic-looking plastic that you threw on the tree to make it shiny). All of these activities led up to Christmas Eve. This is the night the real magic would happen for me. We would always drive around and look at Christmas lights and then go to candlelight mass. That night we were able to open one present, a kind of teaser gift for Christmas morning. After we opened the gift, mom would read us the Christmas story from the Gospel of Luke. Then we went to bed. I rarely slept. I knew that something magical would happen. Now I am older. Many years have passed since I stayed awake on Christmas Eve but the night is still magical. I still know that the night is special. I still love the smell of the real Christmas tree. I spend time enjoying the Joy, Generosity, Giving and Selflessness of the season. I LOVE CHRISTMAS!!!!! I know that it holds the promise of a new and better tomorrow. This is the celebration of the day that the world changed. This is the celebration of centuries of waiting. Emmanuel came and He is with us. AND THAT IS WORTH CELEBRATING!!!!!!! December 12th - A Child’s Gift & the Gift of a Child, by: Kristen Hickling Exodus 20:12

When I think back to my childhood and Christmas I was always in awe of the magic of the advent season. But, I recall so vividly one year that I really wanted to do something for my Mom and Dad. I got an allowance but saved that money to spend on a gift for my Sister. So, it came down to Christmas Eve and I was so frustrated that I didn’t have anything to give them. I decided I had to think outside the box. What could a little girl give to her Mom and Dad? I had remembered that someone had given us a big box of oranges and grapefruits so I decided that I would put some of those in their stockings. I don’t know why their stockings….but that’s what I did. I couldn’t wait for the next morning and for Mom and Dad to look in their stockings to see what I had done. I was more excited about that than I was opening my gifts. I know Mom and Dad had to think I was crazy, but they both made a big deal about the orange and grapefruit in their stocking. I was so proud of myself. I know this seems like a silly story, but it just goes to show that you can be any age (even a little girl) and want to give to others especially those you love. God loved us so much that He sent His Son in the form of a baby to live and walk among us on this Earth. This was His everlasting gift to us. The sole purpose of Him entering this sin filled world was for us. US! Take time to use that childlike awe of Christmas to be in awe of the gift the Father gave you. What Love the Father has for us His children! Thank you Father for your glorious eternal gift…..not an orange or a grapefruit. December 13th - God is Still Giving, by: Laura Jones John 3:16

“For God so loved … God so loved who? You? Me? The Bible says the World but put your name there because if you had been the only person in the world God still loved you so much “… that He gave His only Son,” We are all God’s sons and daughters but Jesus was His only Son. His Son that had been with Him from the beginning. As a parent and grandparent, I cannot think of a greater sacrifice. I would give my own life before I would give my child or grandchild. But to give His only Son just for you, just for me. God being all knowing and all caring sent His only Son as an innocent baby to be born not in a palace but in a lowly stable- not to kings but to lowly shepherds. To grow up not with royalty but as a carpenter’s son. To amaze the leaders in the synagogue with His knowledge. To become a man that walked everywhere He went; never to condemn but to love even those that would send Him to His death and He still said “Father, Forgive them for they know not what they do.” They put His only Son to a painful death But He Still Gave His Only Son for you, for me. And God is still giving. He gives us the sunrise and the sunset. He gives us the ocean and the mountains. He gives us the flowers and the trees. He gives us the seasons. He gives us the world around us. He gives us family and friends. All because God so loved You and Me. What will you give Him? December 14th - One Green Jacket, by: Bert Giles Galatians 6:9-10

December 1999 – I was sitting in the back of a pick-up truck on the outskirts of Tijuana, Mexico, helping deliver shoe boxes of gifts provided by Samaritan’s Purse through their Operation Christmas Child project. We also handed out literature in Spanish that explained the Christmas story and what Jesus had done in dying on the cross and rising from the grave. I will never forget the looks on the faces of those more than 700 children that we gave boxes to that day and also the look of gratitude from their parents. There was one other face that I distinctly remember from that day – an older gentleman, named Jose. Jose was a local man who had been with us all day, showing us where to go, helping to get the people lined up and organized, and assisting with handing out the boxes and brochures. Jose and I ended up working in the pick-up truck together, side-by-side. He spoke no English and I only knew about ten words of Spanish but somehow we managed to communicate what we needed from each other. As the sun was setting and we were finishing up for the day, I noticed that the wind was beginning to pick up and it was getting very chilly. I went back to the truck to get my favorite pullover – it was a forest-green, hooded, Old Navy windbreaker. It had been a gift to me from a friend. We worked for about another 30-45 minutes until it was so dark and everyone had left or gone inside the nearby church for a meal. I noticed that Jose was speaking with one of the men who I knew, from a previous mission trip to Tijuana, named Charlie. Charlie was fluent in Spanish so I asked what was going on. Charlie said that he had thanked Jose for helping us during the day and wondered if there was anything we could do for him. Jose said the cold season was approaching and sometimes it would rain and he didn’t have a jacket to keep him warm or a hat to keep the rain off. Charlie told him we didn’t have any clothes with us and he couldn’t help him with this situation. Jose said he understood and started to walk away. As Charlie relayed this story to me, I felt God say to me, “You have a jacket that would be perfect for Jose” and I said to God, “But this is my favorite jacket and it was a gift” and God said “You have several jackets at home – the person who gave you the gift will understand” and so I asked Charlie to come with me and translate. I took off my jacket and gave it to Jose. He couldn’t believe it and as I helped him pull the jacket on and his head popped through the top of the jacket I saw the most wonderful, toothless smile that I have ever seen. The deep lines around his sparkling eyes seemed to release a little bit of tension and he threw his arms around my neck and hugged me tight and kept saying, “Gracias, mi amigo”. After another hug, he walked off into the darkness of the night showing off his new coat to anyone who would listen to him. I often think about Jose and if he still has my coat. I hope it helped to keep his body warm, but more importantly, I hope it helped to keep his heart warm and knows that the God we both love and serve is the same in Mexico as He is in America and everywhere else in the world. It doesn’t matter where we find ourselves – the face of God we all look into is always the same. At Christmas as a little baby or at Easter as a crucified and then risen Lord; our neighbor across the street or the homeless in the parking lot at Wal-Mart; the co-worker in the next cubicle or the Hispanic man wearing a green jacket. December 15th - A Simple Reminder, by: Anne Churchill Isaiah 9:6-7, Luke 2:8-12

I. Love. Christmas. Period. I could sit in front of a Christmas tree for hours just smelling it and watching the lights. I love to pick out that perfect present for a family member. I love the general excitement that comes with the season. My mom is the opposite. Although she doesn’t hate Christmas, she sees a Christmas tree as a mess. She dreads breaking out the ornaments. She cringes at the thought of braving stores during December. She thinks the season is stressful. But one thing my mom always gets excited about is the Nativity Scene. That was one Christmas decoration she never complained about. She took great care in picking out each figurine and placing it in just the right place. She has a handmade wooden stable complete with a light and a hook to hang a star. And she always made us wait until Christmas Eve to place baby Jesus in the manger. Looking back I realize that my mom has it right. She has the real meaning for Christmas down. The Christmas tree, lights, ornaments, and presents are extras…Christmas will go on without them. Jesus is the real reason for the season; the Nativity Scene is her reminder. One of my reminders is a candlelight Christmas Eve service. Growing up I saw these services as a chore. While most of my friends were visiting grandparents, opening presents, and feasting on fudge, I was stuck going to church. But through the years I came to enjoy these services and now Christmas isn’t the same without them. These Christmas traditions help me refocus on the greatest gift of all. God gave His Son to us so that we may have eternal life. Jesus gave up His heavenly princedom to be our friend, comforter, counselor, ruler, and our Savior. The king of creation came to save us from our sins. That is something to be excited about! So this Christmas, find your reminder of Jesus’ birth; find your symbol that makes you excited about our Savior. Mine is a Christmas Eve service. My mom’s is a Nativity Scene. What’s yours? December 16th - Ready to Give, by: Kelly McKinnon 2 Corinthians 9:1-15

Samaritan’s Purse, Salvation Army, Angel Tree, Room In The Inn, the Rescue Mission. It seems that this time of year brings so many opportunities to give. I don’t think any of us really mind giving, but all the requests can be a bit overwhelming. How do we manage “Giving Christmas Away” without giving frustrated or giving out of guilt or compulsion? We have to prepare. 2 Corinthians 9:7 says to “decide in our hearts what we should give”. This means that our hearts should be in tune with the Lord so that we can remember that “God has blessed us abundantly” and “given us all we need” (v 8). When we prepare to give from a place of remembering what God has done for us, we can give generously without comparing our gifts to others or feeling like we’ve been manipulated into giving. Being prepared and giving with the right attitude helps others to see the goodness of God and give thanks. God has and will give us the grace to be generous givers on every occasion. We just have to be ready. December 17th - Sharing the Love of Christ, by: Lee Zeigler Matthew 25:31-46

I think we all have fond memories of Christmas at some time in our past, whether it was when we were a child or when our own children were very young, and we found it easier to experience the “magic” of Christmas. For me, Christmas was a family experience that started Christmas Eve Night at one grandparents’ home with breakfast for dinner, extended family gift exchange, and fireworks; then moved into Christmas morning with more breakfast, immediate family gift exchange; then on to my other grandparents’ home for late lunch or early dinner and extended family gift exchange. Later in my teenage years, the youth group at my church started something similar to the Angel Tree that we do today at UCUMC. We would go through social services and adopt a family or two, depending on the sizes of the families, for Christmas. Just like the Angel Tree that we do today, there would be a tree up with all the names and a gift or two that each person in the family requested. The Church family would take the names from the tree, acquire the gifts for the families, and return the gifts wrapped to the church. On Christmas Eve morning, one of our youth leaders and a couple youth would take the church van and pick up the families and bring them to the church where we would have a Christmas party with their family and our youth group. When the family first arrived, it was always awkward because no one knew each other, but after some games and other activities, the place was full of smiles on everybody’s faces. We would have lunch together and give the parents the gifts the church had supplied. The highlight for me was being able to participate in the sharing of the love of Christ to those in our community, revealing to me that missions existed right in my neighborhood. This experience started instilling in me the importance of giving to others who are less fortunate and placed in me a heart to share the love of Christ with others. Matthew 25:40 states: “The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me’… ”(NIV). This is after the ones who are being let into the kingdom asked when did we “feed you, clothe you, give you drink or visit you?” Christ explains that when we minister to the needs of others, we are ministering to Him. Christmas is a great time to share the love of Christ by giving to others who are in need; and not only this time of year, but let this Christmas be the start of a year long mission for you and your family. December 18th - The Rest of the Year, by: Ben Deese Philippians 4:13

During the holiday season the volunteer activity sky rockets. Throughout the year you will find me involved in more things than I feel like I have time for. Why cant we give THIS Christmas volunteering time away and devote more of ourselves on a day to day basis. I’m by no means saying for us to not volunteer more during the holidays, but what I am saying is for us to devote more time to volunteering the other 364 days throughout the year. God gave His only son for us the least we can do is devote more of our time to doing His work. My challenge for you in 2014 is that you find someway to give more of yourself to God and what He wants you to do. IF you are having trouble doing this say this simple prayer: God , show me where You want me and I will give my all because You gave Your Son for me before I even knew you. December 19th - All Is Well, by: Edith Blafield John 3:17

Thirty years ago this December, I was pregnant with our son, Colin. Besides being a special Christmastime for us, I was honored to sing the part of Mary in our church’s Christmas Cantata. Several people suggested that it was a shame that I couldn’t deliver in time for the cantata so that I would have our baby be Baby Jesus! (I was not due until the middle of January.) I was truly blessed to have sung that through God, all things are possible - even the wonder of a virgin birth. (Not in my case!) Since that time, I have looked forward to sharing my voice with anyone who will listen of God’s incredible gift of Jesus’ birth. “For God sent his Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved,” - John 3:17. God loves us so much that over 2000 years ago, He provided this wondrous gift for me and for you-even before our existence! Last Christmas Eve, I sang a song entitled, “All is Well.” The last verse says: Born is now Emmanuel Born is our LORD and Savior Sing Alleluia! Sing Alleluia! Sing Alleluia! All is well!

And it is! I pray that during this season you will search for Him and open your heart to His greatest miracle of Jesus Christ, for through Jesus, ALL IS WELL, indeed! December 20th - The Best Gift of All, by: Raina Cook 2 Timothy 4:2

Giving Christmas away is more than checking off wish lists, swapping sprinkled covered cookies with family and friends, or sending cards full of heartfelt wishes. When I think about the hustle and busyness that seems to come earlier and earlier each year thanks to television ads, stocked shelves full of holiday decor, and radio stations broadcasting songs with lyrics about snowman and reindeer, I find myself feeling overwhelmed and anxious. To be honest, I think sometimes we get caught up in these images and traditions (and sometimes expectations) that we forget what giving Christmas away really looks like. Giving Christmas away doesn’t have to be an action we only do when prompted by the smell of peppermint candles or the sound of holiday tunes, but rather sharing the Good News of the miraculous birth of Jesus and all He has done for us each day. How can we share Jesus with others through our acts of love and forgiveness on a daily basis? Shouldn’t that be what “giving Christmas away” really means rather than just an outwardly expression of love that we perform through gift giving that we do on or around the twenty-fifth of December? Our Heavenly Father was gracious enough to give us His Son so we don’t have to live a life of bondage by our sins and He gives us grace and unfailing love everyday of the year. To quote one of my favorite holiday movies... “That’s the gift that keeps on giving throughout the entire year!” And I am not referring to the jelly of the month club! It is my prayer and hope that we can give the love of Christ away even after the presents have been unwrapped, the last cookie has been dunked in milk, and the final strand of lights have been packed away. The days following Christmas Day can sometimes give us a sense of emptiness if we focus on those worldly expectations. Just because we remove the stockings doesn’t mean we forget about the best gift of all, the Prince of Peace. December 21st - Christmas Travels, by: Alisha Springer Luke 2:1-5

Travel on Christmas day?? That was what my husband insisted that our family do for Christmas 2012. But that was something other people did, not me! This was only our third Christmas together as a married couple, and our first with our almost one year old twins, Raymond and Kennedy. I certainly was not ready to give up what I had ALWAYS done on Christmas for 30 plus years! Did we end up traveling to Ohio to visit Collin’s family on Christmas day? Yes we did. Even though I really wanted to have another year of Christmas Day as I’d always known it, making this change made me think about what Christmas really was to me. Was it really that important to keep the same traditions every year? Or, was it more important now to think about what traditions and messages I was sending to my children? I decided it was definitely now time to let go of the past and focus on the future, THEIR future. Last year Christmas day became a travel day to visit Collin’s family for a week, as it most likely will be for years to come. We stopped to have lunch at a rest stop and saw other people at the same rest stop eating fast food for lunch on Christmas day (much to my surprise)! And believe it or not, Santa had arrived in Ohio too and had left presents for our twins. Apparently he can leave presents for children at more than one house! So, what did I learn from that first Christmas as a family of four? First, I realized that the most important gift I can give my children at Christmas is to immerse them in the Christmas story and pray that they look forward to experiencing baby Jesus in the manger more than anticipating Santa’s arrival with his reindeer. I realized that as long as I make that my top priority over the Christmas season, it really doesn’t matter what exactly we do on Christmas Day. Jesus is a part of our lives everyday, not just Christmas Day. I want my children to appreciate traditions and family over Christmas, but most of all I want to share with them every chance I get, why Christmas even exists. My twins are almost two now and I have seen God working through them to speak to me many times over the past two years. From something as simple as Raymond smiling and laughing over leaves “falling from the sky”, to Kennedy asking to say the blessing before a meal multiple times. I now must give them the greatest gift of all at Christmas, the gift of learning about and knowing their Lord and Savior. In fact, I must give that to them EVERY day. During this Christmas season, I challenge you to think about what you are “giving” to your children. Are you giving them a message that Santa or Jesus is more important? Are you giving them opportunities to give to others over the Christmas season through Operation Christmas Child, serving a meal at a homeless shelter, or providing a few gifts for a local family in need? Those are the things we as parents should be thinking about. Jesus is the greatest gift we have ever received, and everyone, especially our children deserve to experience and know that. December 22nd - Value Others Above Yourself, by: Brian Baylor Philippians 2:3

Perhaps I am alone, but I have been convicted lately of how completely inward and selfish I can be. Therefore, instead of writing a devotion I want you to join me in a challenge.

Follow these simple steps... 1. Today do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather in humility value others above yourself. Spend today - every moment - placing the needs of others before your own. 2. Journal. Document your experience. Write it down. How is God working in you? How is God working through you? How is God working in others? 3. Share. Send me a summary of your experience (brian.ucumc@gmail. com). Share with me an perhaps others about this experience.* 4. Pray. Ask the Lord to help you live everyday this way and I will do the same. If we are going to be a church that gives Christmas away - lets spend today doing so together.

*Any items shared with me might be published in church communications as an encouragement to others (unless otherwise specified). December 23rd - The Day I “Gave Christmas Away”, by: Nan Ratchford John 4:1-30

On a cold, snowy Christmas Eve, while traveling to Greensboro, NC to spend Christmas with family and friends, I had no idea what was about to take place the next day in the Wal-Mart parking lot. God pierced my heart with two questions: 1) Are you my brother’s keeper? 2) What have you done to Christmas away? The Wal-Mart parking lot was filled with after Christmas shoppers. As I watched all of the shoppers, I noticed an older woman walking around asking people for money to help her out. Christmas day was cold and snow was falling that seemed to fill up the sky. The woman only wore a thin, green t-shirt with no undergarments and a pair of black tennis shoes with black pants. Her arms were shaking from the cold and she was hugging herself to try to stay warm. When I glanced at her face, I could see the stress of being cold and how broken she felt. The burden of life was pulling her down. I wondered where her family was…or her friends…or her church? She was homeless. This could have been me. I had enough money and a warm jacket to get me back to Charlotte. With a broken heart, I knew I needed to do something to help this woman. I gave her the money I had and my jacket so that she could be warm. We prayed together and hugged each other with tears falling down our faces. As we parted, I looked back to see if she was ok. She was nowhere to be seen. I prayed and asked God to keep her warm and safe. I was reminded of the woman that Jesus met at the well and wondered if this woman could have been like her. She was a sinner…just like me. Jesus forgave her…and me! Jesus gave us the water of eternal life…what a GREAT gift!! Jesus told us to go in peace and sin no more. My life changed that Christmas Day! No longer will I wonder if I am my “brother’s keeper”…I am! That day…in a Wal-Mart parking lot…I “gave Christmas away!” Merry Christmas! God Bless You! December 24th - The Big and the Small, by: Tom & Cindy Leap Luke 2:8-20

One of the things we always enjoyed as our children were growing up was watching and listening as they chose gifts for each other. As the decided on gifts, we tried to instill to them that the importance of a gift was not the price tag or wrapping, but the sentiment and sacrifice behind it. We wanted them to appreciate the beauty and the bigness in their giving, regardless of the cost in terms of dollars. A few years ago, in another place, we witnessed another example of “big” giving by a child as we participated in our church’s Live Nativity. It was a Sunday evening, the night of the Chancel Choir cantata service; there were many people stopping by. One of the shepherds was great with kids, and he would talk with them and quiz them on who the characters were, making the children feel a part of the nativity. We remember one of those children quite vividly. He was small, probably no more than 5 years old with straight, black hair & almond-shaped eyes. He had come with his parents, who smiled as he named all the characters. Before he left, the shepherd handed the boy a piece of “gold” from the Magi’s box. The boy, obviously very excited at this “gift,” paused and bowed to the manger, then scurried back to his parents to share the gift with them. Even though this was not the first child to have received such a “gift” from the shepherd, his response was special and it warmed our hearts as we stood in the night air. The plan had been to close the nativity during the cantata service, but several of us felt an urging to remain in the stable. Maybe it was the animals that needed attending or not wanting the cars that passed to stop for an empty manger. Whatever the reason, our stay was rewarded with yet another lesson in giving and gratitude as something quite unexpected happened. Out of the shadows came the almond-eyed child and his parents. In the child’s hands was a small case. He took out a violin and bow and there, before the manger, he raised the violin to his chin and proceeded to play for us, to play for Jesus, “Silent Night.” Standing there speechless as he finished, we applauded and bowed to him. He responded with “Jingle Bells” and “Deck the Halls.” It would be a stretch to say the boy’s music was flawless; it had its share of screeches and moans. However, his joy and gratitude were unmistakable. And, while the congregation inside heard the beautiful music of a talented and well- rehearsed choir, outside in the lowly stable, a few of us were blessed by the music of an angel. That moment brought to mind these words from a poem by Christina Rosetti: “What can I give him, poor as I am? If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb. If I were a Wise Man, I’d do my part. Yet what can I give him, I’ll give Him my heart.” May we experience Christmas as through the eyes of children, seeing the “big” in the “small” and giving the gift of our hearts with joy and gratitude to Him. December 25th - Your Own Adventures Matthew 2:1-2, 9-11

Over the past month, we have shared with you numerous examples of how UCUMC Staff and lay leaders have Given Christmas Away in their lives. Just like the Magi in the above verses gave Jesus gifts of “gold, frankincense, and myrrh,” we are challenging you to Give Christmas Away to those around you. What was your experience? Write your reflections on this past month or on a way you and your family are Giving Christmas Away below. We’d love to hear your experience too! Share it with us by emailing Anne Churchill at [email protected] or Bert Giles at [email protected]. Merry Christmas!

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704-369-8000 • www.ucumc.org Giving Christmas Away