Tag Archives: Grow Christians Christmas

Forward Today: Enjoy the Gift of Christmas

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In this week’s edition of our weekly newsletter, Scott reflects on Christmas–a season we can (and should!) celebrate for the full 12 days.

Dear friends in Christ,

 

Christmas is nearly upon us. Gifts have been purchased. Meals have been planned. Sermons are done. Anthems and liturgies are rehearsed. Perhaps a strategy for last-minute trips to the mall has been crafted. Maybe you are a person who sings in a choir or is involved with the liturgy of Christmas. Maybe you are a person who cooks a big meal. Or maybe you are a person who enjoys the work of others at home or at church. Whatever our role, soon we will sing our praises and enjoy family traditions.
 
It would be pretty easy to move on from Christmas on December 26. That’s what our culture is about to do. But we know a different way. The season of Christmas begins with our Christmas Eve celebration and carries on right through January 6, the Feast of the Epiphany. It’s twelve days long! That’s where the song came from!

 

By Mihalko Golev [Public domain] via Wikimedia Commons

 

This year, Forward Movement wants to help you enjoy the gift of Christmas for a full twelve days. Our website devoted to faith at home, Grow Christians, will offer something on each one of the twelve days of Christmas. Loosely inspired by the song, each day will bring an activity or something to reflect on. You can follow along by signing up for emails at growchristians.org or visiting the site. We’ll also be sharing the posts on Forward Movement’s Facebook and Twitter feeds.
 
After all the busy-ness of getting ready for Christmas, enjoy the full season! I love singing carols and listening to Christmas music for the whole season, when I can celebrate the wondrous gift of the season without the worry and anxiety of preparing and doing.
 
May you be richly blessed in these final days of Advent and then celebrate the peace and the joy of Jesus Christ for the full Christmas season.
 
In quiet hope and silent preparation, I am,

 

Yours faithfully, 
 
Scott Gunn
Executive Director

 

To get future reflections from Scott in your inbox, subscribe to Forward Today.

Welcome to #12Days, a Daily Resource for Christmas

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Forward Movement invites you to celebrate the full season of Christmas with a gift of 12 Days. This free resource produced by Forward Movement and created by author and mom Mary Ann Frishman features daily mediations on the gift of Jesus that can help your family celebrate the 12 days of Christmas, starting December 25 and running through January 6, Epiphany.

Using the familiar framework of a beloved English Christmas carol, 12 Days shines a light on simple ways to engage faith and deepen conversations among family and friends—including thoughtful questions for discussion, optional activities, suggestions for Bible reading, and familiar songs to sing. Christmas lasts longer than we often allow ourselves to enjoy—come and stay a little while longer. The mediations will be posted each day on GrowChristians.org and can be easily shared at home, in the car, on a trip, and on your social media channels at #12Days. Come, let us adore him!