After a week of attempting to be able to add comments to my post on the church website, I give up and start to post here. Hopefully you have found this site and can join the conversation.

Week one we read Chapter 1 of Christmas is Not Your Birthday by Michael Slaughter. The chapter began with a discussion of our individual image of God and how that effects our thinking? What did that stir in your  thinking? Has your image of God changed over you lifetime? In what ways?

Michael then goes on to discuss how we melt Jesus and Santa Claus together resulting in a distorted understanding of what the incarnation of God looks like. I was especially delighted to read this reminder:
...everything about Jesus' life stood in start contrast to worldly priorities and values. He arrived on the scene not in strength but in weakness. He was born a Palestinian Jew, into a community of marginalized, oppressed people, spending his early years as a refugee in Africa, eluding political genocide. His formative years were spent in a nondescript village, as a member of a working class family... (p.2)

Reminds me of Tukwila and our current economic struggles. A perfect setting for Christ to be born, misunderstood, persecuted, and lost in a society working toward values of wealth and personal security. What images come to mind for you?

The author then goes on to speak of how he has led his church, Ginghamsburg United Methodist, Kansas City, to approach Christmas in a new way. His faith has led him to believe that giving away ones life is the way to deeper meaning. "So, it should be no surprise that a meaningful Christmas is not found in mindless spending, eating, and stress." (p.13) Thoughts?

What are your Christmas traditions/activities that lead to deeper meaning for you? What would you like to change?