Communal Christmas Formation

Through worship and community, Christmas shapes us together.

Bermie Dizon, Elder, Glendora, California, U.S.

When we think of Christmas, our thoughts may drift to a day filled with family, gifts, and the warmth of celebration. But Christmas extends far beyond a single day. This twelve-day season is a celebration of the life-changing truth that Christ has come into the world.

Likewise, when we think of spiritual formation, our thoughts may drift to private, personal practices. But corporate, collective formation is important also. Let’s consider how our congregations can engage in formational activities that foster hope, faith, and love.

Hope Avenue (Worship)

1. 1. Christmas Eve Service: Hold a reflective service featuring carols, Scripture readings, and a candlelight ceremony.
   2. Nativity Play in Church: Involve children and adults in reenacting the Christmas story, bringing the narrative of Christ’s birth to life.
   3. Carol Singing: Organize a worship service centered around singing Christmas carols; invite the community as an engagement effort.
   4. Decorations: Encourage everyone to participate in decorating your worship space. We are formed by traditions and symbols that engage our senses. Leave the decorations up until Epiphany.

Faith Avenue (Discipleship)

1. 1. Bible Study: Lead a study series focusing on Jesus’ birth through the Magi in the Gospels, allowing believers to explore the deeper meaning of Christmas.
   2. Discipleship Groups: In your small groups, discuss how the birth of Christ influences daily life and faith.
   3. Prayer Vigils: Host a prayer vigil focused on the needs of the community.

Love Avenue (Engagement)

1. 1. Christmas Food Drive: Collect and distribute food to families in need after Christmas day. Needs don’t end on December 26.
   2. Toy Drive: Invite neighbors to your Christmas gathering and distribute the toys to children.
   3. Christmas Care Packages: Assemble and distribute care packages to isolated community members. The period after holiday visitors have gone home can be a lonely time.
   4. Invite Friends and Neighbors: Invite friends and neighbors to gatherings. Many people experience let down and loneliness after Christmas day.

Celebrating Cultural Diversity

As a denomination, we follow the historic, orthodox worship calendar. While we are unified in this, the symbols, songs, foods, and practices we use to embody this season vary greatly by culture.

The birth of Jesus Christ is a universal story, but how it is celebrated can and should recognize the diverse expressions of faith across different cultures. Each culture brings a unique richness to the season — a celebration of the many ways God reveals himself to his people Whether it’s songs that have been sung for generations, decorations with significant meanings, foods that bring families together, or specific practices that have spiritual depth within that culture. These elements embody the Christmas season and are integral to the way people connect with the message of Christ’s birth. For example, in the Philippines, where I was born, lighted lanterns are an integral part of the Christmas culture. These lanterns symbolize the star that pointed to Jesus. Each nation has its ways of celebrating Christmas but all point to Jesus.

The expressions of our worship can be as diverse as God’s body. Promoting only the Christmas traditions of the northern hemisphere, Western culture might unintentionally suggest that one culture is superior to others.

It is likely that your church community and your neighborhood includes people who are not of the dominant culture. It may be a powerful step for leaders to invite members to share their Christmas traditions, which could be incorporated into the congregation’s Avenues.

This inclusion can transform worship into a more intimate experience, where individuals and families see their stories reflected in the broader narrative of Jesus’ birth. It can also send a message to our neighborhood that the gospel is not bound by one culture or expression, emphasizing that Christ is truly for all people, in all places. This is formational.

GCI is a diverse, global body; may we celebrate Christmas in a way that is both culturally respectful and deeply Christ-centered. This approach recognizes the universal nature of Christ’s mission, honors the diversity of God’s creation, and fosters unity within the body.