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An abundant Christmas

Picture
...Because we don't often celebrate the sacrament, our understanding of the theology that underpins it has diminished. What a pity! ...
The time when your parish priest may have made a 'friendly' Christmas jab at 'how full the Church looks'  is well behind us. While well-meaning (and perhaps served with a 'side-helping' of guilt), we know comments like these only alienate those who rarely come to mass. We probably share some of our presider's frustration: we want people to be part of our church community, to discover the richness of Christ discovered among us. We want our visitors to come to Mass every Sunday, with us, because we are better for their participation.

I have read countless articles lamenting the commercalisation of Christmas. I wonder if it is time to get past this and see the world as it is: graced. If we view this coming season with abundance, what do we discover? Our churches are fuller! The story of Jesus' birth is announced everywhere we look! These are opportunities for evangelisation, not something to complain about. God is discovered not only in our churches. God is discovered in the mystery and fullness of creation. We don't have a Divine monopoly. God is bigger than us.  

Sure, Christmas is over-commercialised. But with all the buying, there is a tremendous amount of giving. Caritas Australia and St Vincent de Paul both report that there is a peak in donations during December. Abundance!

St Francis is thought to have said, 'Go out and preach the gospel and if necessary, use words'. When people come back to our church after an absence, how do we choose to be 'missionary disciples'? I wonder if it is about our intentionality. When our ministry teams meet, do we consider the needs of new community members, from their perspective? For example, do we encourage existing community members to learn someone's name? Do we have welcome packs ready (ones that do not seem to be focused on planned giving)? Do we ensure that all the words to the liturgy are available? Are Mass times available for the coming weekend? Are invitations to become involved in parish life available? People returning at Christmas offers an opportunity to demonstrate how parish life is at the heart of sacramentality. 

It is critical that we are not geo-centric. Even though our temporary parishioners may be visiting on holiday, our discipleship is not restricted to our parish. These invitations are always extended on behalf of Christ to the Church. So, consider advertising the Archdiocesan webpage that lists parishes and mass times for the whole Archdiocese. Better yet, offer to introduce someone. Imagine if you said to a visitor, ' I know you are visiting us here. Let me call <local> parish, I am sure someone there would love to welcome you and introduce you to other members of their community!' A genuine, personal invitation to be a part of a community can be the most transformational and effective form of evangelisation. 

Christmas is often referred to as the 'Season of Joy'. It is easy to complain about Christmas, but when viewed with abundance, there is so much for which to be thankful!

By James Robinson, Education Officer, Liturgy Brisbane
​
Additional Resources:
  • Evangelisation Brisbane has recently released a downloadable booklet for Advent. 'Spreading Joy: Advent Christmas Calendar' has information about the Advent Wreath, Jesse Tree and the Nativity Scene. Download from the EB Website.
  • The last LITed featured curated resources and articles on the Season of Advent. Available in the Archive section.
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  • Mystery and Mission
  • Archive
    • Conversion, Healing, Penance
    • Desiderio Desideravi
    • In Search of Peace
    • Word of God Sunday
    • Living Lent >
      • Forty Lenten Ideas
      • Lent is a time to grow in the faith
      • Walking the Stations of the Cross this Lent
    • Saints and Souls >
      • Saintly Endeavours
      • Let the Dead Have November
      • Why We Pray for the Faithful Departed
    • Lay Liturgical Ministry >
      • Talents for Ministry
      • Nine Steps to Becoming a Better Lector
      • Ministers of Communion​
    • Music Matters >
      • Repertoire and Renewal
      • Liturgical Song and Evangelisation ​
      • 5 tips for effective music ministry
    • 50 Days of Easter >
      • Celebrating Easter's 50 Days
      • Aspects of the Ascension
      • Reflections for Pentecost Sunday
    • Saint Joseph >
      • Patris corde (With a Father's Heart)
      • Celebrating St Joseph in the Liturgy
      • St Joseph in Scripture
    • Christmas 2020 >
      • On the Meaning and Importance of the Nativity Scene
      • Botticelli - The Mystical Nativity
      • The Season of Christmas
    • Planning for Christmas 2020 >
      • Planning Christmas Masses 2020
      • Re-emerging With Purpose
      • Beyond Welcome: Show, Don't Tell
    • Signs and Symbols >
      • Sacramental Signs and Symbols
      • The cross reminds us of the sacrifices of the Christian life
      • Signs & Symbols: A Reflection
    • Looking Forward >
      • Solemnities on Saturdays
      • Our Family at Mass in the Age of Technology
      • Is your RCIA open all year-round? - Embracing 'Pyjama Catechesis'
    • Eucharist as Living Memory >
      • Memory is not Something Private
      • So what's wrong with a Virtual Mass?
      • The Middle of Nowhere
    • What have we learned from lockdown? >
      • Church After Coronavirus - New Understandings of Social MIssion
      • Virus and Vocation
      • Real Presence and Virtual Liturgies
    • Celebrating Holy Week in COVID times​ >
      • Coronavirus and the Eucharist
      • How to celebrate the liturgy when there is no Mass
      • Holy Week At Home
    • Solidarity and Unity >
      • Taking Communion to those who Self-Isolate
      • Peace and Solidarity
      • United to Christ We Are Never Alone
    • Preparing for Lent >
      • The Weeks of Lent in the Australian Imagination
      • How to Prepare for Lent
      • It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Lent
    • Liturgy with Children >
      • Using the Lectionary for Masses with Children
      • Praying Morning Prayer with Primary School Children
      • Directory for Masses with Children
    • Praying For Rain >
      • National Drought Prayer Campaign
      • Praying for Rain - Prayer Resources
      • A Ritual of Lament
    • Christian Initiation >
      • CATECHUMENATE - Rolling Year Round
      • Inculturating Christian Life in the Digital World
      • Tweens and Teens in the RCIA
    • Season of Creation >
      • Season of Creation September 1 - October 4
      • The Cosmic Song of 'Laudato Si'
    • Ordinary Time >
      • The Season of Ordinary Time
      • Sunday - The Original Feast
      • Luke's Gospel
    • Saints and Feasts >
      • Mary and the Saints
      • Saints and Martyrs
      • Who Are the Saints?
    • Eucharist >
      • The Centrality of the Eucharist
      • Space Matters
      • Can you drink the cup?
    • Altar Servers
    • Ministers of the Word
    • Children's Liturgy of the Word on Sundays
    • Advent Issues >
      • Advent Resources >
        • Advent
        • Music in Advent
        • Advent BOB
      • The Season of Advent
    • Liturgy Preparation
    • Communion
    • A pastoral map to baptism
    • The Role of the Deacon
    • Music Ministry
    • Reconciliation
    • Women Deacons, Music Choices and Lent
    • Data Projectors
    • The Christmas Season >
      • The Book of Blessings
      • Formation in Liturgy
    • The Year of Youth
    • Should we celebrate Australia Day?
    • Marriage
    • Easter Triduum
    • ANZAC Day
    • Funerals
    • The problem of translation
    • Advent resources for families
  • Subscribe