"Spend Less"

Pastor Laura Guy

December 6, 2009

Here's an instant replay of what happened in worship:

Pastor Laura invited everyone to join her in using a daily online Advent devotion at www.followingthestar.org.
We heard a story about a commercial with the tagline, "Finally, Christmas the way it was meant to be!" We thought about how Christmas was "meant to be." For most of us, the picture of an ideal Christmas involves lots of presents.
We looked at some over-the-top gift ideas. It's easy to see how our obsession with buying gifts just for the sake of having something to give could lead us to buy useless stuff people don't really need.
We read the story in the Bible that launched the idea of giving gifts at Christmas - the story of the Magi in Matt 2:1-12. Isn't it interesting that the wise men gave their gifts to Jesus, not to each other? What would happen if people gave as much to Jesus, the work of Jesus, as they do to gift purchases? That would mean we'd have $215 billion to spend on clean water, vaccines, housing, food, and all kinds of ways to alleviate suffering. Let's challenge ourselves to set a budget we can afford for gifts, then set aside a portion - maybe 10% - to give as a birthday gift to Jesus.
We learned about Saint Nicholas, the real Saint Nicholas, who gave gifts to people in secret. That is at least as much fun as giving gifts to relatives who don't really need anything.
We thought about how to continue to have plenty of gifts under the tree, even if we spend less. We can wrap homemade gifts, fair trade gifts, and even gifts purchased at thrift stores.
We prayed that God would help us find ways to give more - to Jesus and to others - by spending less.
We celebrated communion at the table of love.