As we prepare to celebrate the birth of Jesus, we’re excited to invite your family to share what makes Christmas and His birth special to you. In the coming weeks, reflect on what you cherish most about the true meaning of Christmas and consider sharing your tradition with our church family. Whether it’s a special family event, a story, poem, letter, song, photo, beloved recipe, or your own personal heartfelt wish, we are asking you to share your Christmas Reflection with us - it will be a blessing to many. In the days leading up to Christmas, we will share these submissions with our church, right here, as a way help us all grow in faith and connection together.
God bless you this Christmas season!
To make a submission email your image, idea, etc. to our office at: renewcarroll@gmail.com
12/20/24
From The Casebeer Family:
“Matching pajamas is a tradition we enjoy every year. We open them up on Christmas Eve. It’s a way to relax together and then we usually play board games, and just hang out. We are excited to add Drake to the mix this year too!"
“While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.” (Luke 2:6-7 NIV)
12/18/24
From Missy Promes:
“Christmas was always a magical time. On Christmas Eve we could pick one gift to open before we went to church. Amazingly enough, it was always an outfit to wear to church. Singing Silent Night was and has always been the highlight on Christmas Eve. I can still see my moms face looking at that lit candle. After church we would set out cookies and milk on the table by the patio door. We didn't have a chimney so Santa always came in the patio door. We set a piece of tinfoil in front of the door hoping he would step on it when he came in. On Christmas morning I remember racing over to that cookie plate to make sure Santa ate his cookies, drank his milk and stepped on the tinfoil and sure enough he always did. Seeing the unwrapped Santa gifts and wrapped gifts from mom and dad was so exciting. Santa would set the biggest gift right in front of the tree. Such great memories. I carried many of these traditions on with our kids because I wanted them to feel the magic that I did as a child. We always kept baby Jesus out of the nativity scene until Christmas morning so the first thing when they woke up was put Jesus with Mary and Joseph. We wanted them to understand first and foremost the reason for the season.”
“…an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, ‘Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.’” (Matthew 1:20-21 NIV)
12/16/24
FROM TAYLOR HIRCOCK:
“Every Christmas/New Year's season I look forward to listening to this song [from the band, King’s Kaleidoscope]. It takes a familiar, traditional song meant to remember friends and loved ones "for old time's sake" and elevates it by using the same sentiment to declare the truths of Christ. Each refrain of "All glory be to Christ" is echoing something profound and beautiful to reflect upon.”
“…the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.” (Matthew 4:16 NIV)
12/9/24
FROM MERI JO SOE:
“In 2020, I started a new tradition of reading the devotional “The Greatest Gift” by Ann Voskamp. I put together the picture ornaments that are available to print from her website. I included several friends in this tradition and gave them a twig as a tree and the ornaments. Now we all text each other on the 1st of December and get excited to read this book each year.”
“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.” (Micah 5:2 NIV)
12/6/24
FROM MELISSA SANDERS:
“Each Christmas season our family likes to hand deliver Christmas cards to those who are local to us. The Twist: The girls have to get the Christmas card in the mailbox without getting caught! While trying to deliver to the Collison’s house, Andi thought Annabelle had the card while Annabelle thought Andi was carrying the card. It's safe to say that this tradition always brings out some laughter.”
“…the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.” (Isaiah 7:14 NIV)
12/3/24
From Michelle Kennedy:
"Dad was stationed at Shepard Air Force Base in Texas in the late 1960’s. For one of those years, he served temporary duty in Thailand, and we stayed stateside. Dad left behind my 7 year old sister and my pregnant Mom, and 8 year old me. All of our extended family lived in Iowa so Mom must have felt isolated. Military life though - We were lucky with this whole other “family!” Airmen and their families insured our needs were met and clearly understood the stress for Mom. I remember our church family’s role of helping Mom with meals and babysitting so she could have a break. What a blessing! We loved writing to Dad and couldn’t wait to hear back. Christmas traditions continued without Dad, and that included reading of Jesus birth and singing Away in the Manager on Christmas Eve. It seemed extra special that year. On another note: On April 20th, Mom sent a Red Cross message to Dad “Baby girl #3. Rosalie.”
“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6 NIV)
Thanks for reading. Lord bless you, friend.
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