What Christmas means to me
Kernowyouth asked almost 50 youth leaders & church leaders across the county for their comments on what Christmas means to them. Here are those who replied...
NIGEL BIRD, Falmouth
"Christmas for us has always been a family event. Usually we are travelling between various family members to fill meal obligations (always hard work!) or catch up and spend time with those we lose touch with in the busy-ness of everyday life.
Always settled in front of an open fire on Christmas Eve at some point!! The excitement of the kids and their mystery of stockings is heartwarming!
Christmas day, and the focus is getting to Church to celebrate the reason for the season! Meeting with friends and family around the Centre of the festivities always keeps the tinsel in perspective.
Definitely a time to rejoice for so many wonderful things in life and in the Gift of Jesus!"
PETE GREY, IKON
"For my family and I it is a time to spend time together. With us all having jobs and some us having to still work over the Christmas period we try to arrange day, preferably Christmas day to spend together. We'll have presents and of course a good Christmas dinner. For me this year, that will be all as I'm working Christmas day night shift so I'll be in bed for a little bit on the Christmas day afternoon!! Have a good one."
MAX ROWSE DE FRANCO, CCYC
"In the month of December my festivities start with a Christmas celebration with Mid Cornwall Lifestyles a charity that support people with disabilities we’re hoping for a nice buffet and good music. Then a dear friend is coming and visit from Italy and I’m spending a few days in London with them. Christmas day last year we went to church and we helped with a Christmas lunch for people who didn’t have anywhere to go i.e.: international students. Then we visited some friends. On Boxing Day we celebrate my wife’s birthday."
Mark Oliver, Bodmin
"Christmas, to me, is the big reminder that God loved me enough to come and get me. The creator becoming part of his creation. He spoke a word and the milky way came into being and now he has to learn to talk. His holiness burned in heaven like an awesome fire and now he is having his nappy changed by a teenage girl. He sat on a throne with angels doing his bidding and now he lies in a manger waiting to be fed. It's great to be loved that much isn't it? Happy Christmas"
Alison Hardy
"Christmas is an opportunity to dress up and put on an amusing and thought-provoking play, which may or may not have anything to do with the Christmas story but always contains a Christian message, to a packed church expecting to be entertained/encouraged at the sight of the village youngsters. Last year a 16 year-old lad played Mary giving birth at the altar, this year the knights are off on a crusade with hobby horses and stuffed dragons. For some reason it's very popular."
.
Dr Andy Dye, CCYC
"Christmas means to me.....
busyness...everything gets so hectic.
presents!....its a must...
carols.....he Christmas sound.
food...mince pies and plenty of meat.
pickled onions and pickled cabbage.....its a family thing.
ah family......got to be with them.
and
most of all.
the biggest miracle of all.
God as a a baby.
Ruler of all....vulnerable naked in a food trough.
God connecting with humans by becoming human.
Light of hope."
David & Viv Viol, Cornwall Prayer Initiative
"For us it is a time of looking back and remembering all the blessings of the past 12 months and a time of expectant looking forward to celebrating the first coming of Jesus and His once and for all sacrifice. It is a time of being thankful and getting ready for a new year."
Jayne Holmes, Gorran Haven
"What Christmas means to me - I love Christmas, I always have, I love the decorations, the house is full of them at the moment. I love the Christmas songs and carols. I love buying and wrapping presents for my family and friends. I even love writing all the Christmas cards out. At the moment I am preparing three parties for different days over the next week, why? Because it gives me the opportunity to tell people about the most wonderful thing I love about Christmas, can I introduce you to Him? His name is Jesus, He was born in a dirty, smelly stable and yet He is the most important person to have been born. I met Him when I was 11 years old, (don't tell anyone I am now 46) and Jesus has been my greatest and best friend, He has never left me, He is always with me. How wonderful is that? Read John chapter 3 verse 16, it explains it so much better than I can. So yes that is what Christmas means to me."
Alex Lamb, Truro
"To me christmas is a time to chill out, relax meet up with old frends, sleep in my own bed and a time to be with my family."
Marc Stephens, Redruth
"What Christmas means to me - As a dad to 3 little ones 5,4 and 17 months, I often find myself asking the question can we protect them from consumerism? Myself like many other youthleaders I'm sure, see the effects it has on them when they hit teenage years. Young people, childeren and adults are constantly being bombarded with messages of buy this, buy that and even if a newer version will be out in 6 months, it does not matter because we are under constant pressure to keep up with society.
It is a sad fact that is what Christmas has turned into. However in the word CHRIST...MAS I don't see any definition of consumerism or societal pressure. All I see is Celebration of Christ. Something so small yet so profound, so life changing. Christ was born to accomplish one thing and that was to die and rise from the dead in total victory, and yes He did some cool stuff in His 3 year ministry.
What does Christmas mean to me is to ask what does Christ mean to me. Christmas is about Love, giving and gratefully recieving, it's about humility and it's about family. For me it is also about reflection and thinking about future choices knowing the choices I make each day could effect the rest of my life."
Phil Hadley, CCYC
Christmas means being in that special place where I can appreciate a little more of the wonder of God coming into the world as a baby in a manger. Bethlehem in Judea that first Christmas was an awesome place to be because there eternity stepped into time, the Creator became a created being, the King of Heaven started his mission to save the world. That's good news & I want my family, my friends & work colleagues to know why I celebrate Christmas."
Why don't you tell us what Christmas means to you on our Discuss page?
This article was first published Christmas 2007. It was updated with new entries for 2008. The new entries are the people whose names are in block capitals. (c) Kernowyouth 2008.
Home Search Youth Groups Games Features Questions? MyPlace
Kernow Youth is powered by Chocolate Now!
Create your own chocolate selection from a range of over 40 luxury Belgian Chocolates.
Free gift-wrap, and a fast chocolate delivery service to UK and Europe.