The famous “three” were attuned to nature and saw in a star-studded sky the one that would guide them to travel—most likely bringing with them support folks, family, and friends—to One who was worthy of their efforts. They brought their gifts as an expression of worship. And they went home another way to keep the Precious One safe.
May our journey to this Christmas be filled with such wisdom.
December 2024 Tips
“God so loved the world…” Most often Christians hear John 3:16 in relationship to personal salvation. But look again at what God loves enough to send God’s own Son as a gift—the world! All of creation, not just humans. If God so loved the world, then we need to also. Choose at least one aspect of creation and love it through your gifts.
Creation Justice ident
Change the usual pre-Christmas conversation of “What do you want for Christmas?” to a focus on “What do you need?” You may find hints or right-out requests for something that would be especially helpful or meaningful and that may also be kind to the environment.
If a loved one says, “I don’t need anything for Christmas,” choose a thoughtful gift that is zero-waste, such as a shampoo bar, a package of wooden clothes pins to use instead of plastic “chip clips,” preserves from local farmers, some bamboo toilet paper, a bracelet made of plastic recovered from an ocean, a packet of seeds for wildflowers. Sustainable gifts spark lasting change.
If you don’t wish to receive presents, let that be known. Invite the gift givers to shower you with their presence instead. What can you do together that you would enjoy and create good memories and stories? Find opportunities for caring together for creation and working for justice.
Buying clothes for Christmas gifts, read the labels. Choose items made of natural fibers (organic cotton, linen, wool, silk, hemp, bamboo) or recycled fibers as a gift also to marine life. Fossil-fuel-based polyester, nylon, acrylic, spandex, lycra when washed release microplastics into water systems and then the food chain, harming sea creatures and ultimately humans.
Far away family and friends appreciate the gift you give through your cards and notes. Stay in touch with friends and family with digital cards. The cost is low, especially if your list is long, and the subscription covers a full year of reaching out to family and friends. The cost to the environment is also very low.
Focus on “enough” with holiday foods. Food waste that ends up in landfills becomes methane, which exacerbates climate change. Feast with gratitude and joy—and with the goal of little to no waste. Compost any scraps or leftovers as a gift to earth.
Have a conversation—not a confrontation—with your teen about any gifted money. Invite them to think about investing in their future and Creation’s. Help them explore possibilities related to their interests or concerns, such as organizations that care for wildlife, replant trees, support ocean clean up, or address justice issues. Ultimately, remember the money was a gift to them—not you. Your gift is to be a thinking partner.
Turn Christmas clean up into an educational and fun game for the children. Challenge them to find the wrapping and packaging that can be reused and what can be recycled. Shiny, glittery, metallic, and plastic in all forms are no-no’s for recycling, but could they be saved and reused? The game may be a gift that impacts choices they make for years to come.
When disposing of a cut Christmas tree, give your tree as a gift to Earth. Some places will pick up the trees and grind them into wood chips for paths in parks or for mulch. Other people find that they can cut up a tree and bury the pieces, which allows the decaying tree to add nutrients to the soil. Don’t burn the tree. That sends carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
VIDEOS: “A MINUTE FOR MOTHER EARTH”!
A series of very short videos to help your congregation recognize God’s call in the midst of climate-related issues. Each “Minute” is based on the curriculum, Wake Up World, A Curriculum on the Climate Crisis for Faith and Community Groups (available free on the website and in print form from Cokesbury). Access the complete series of “Minutes” free at www.wakeupworld.earth.