Smyrna First UMC

 

 

Christmas

 

The season of Christmas begins December 25, and continues for twelve days. The name Christmas comes from the season's first service, the Christ mass -- a celebration of the birth of Christ, which also remembers His sacrificial death and His presence with us in the faith community.

 

The greenery of the church done for Advent remains through the Christmas season. The Advent wreath remains hung and a bow is put around it. Crèche figures are put around altar area along with an apple hung fir tree, a large suspended globe of intersecting wreaths, and the Bethlehem scene.

 

The birth of Jesus Christ is stressed during this season but it is not isolated from the death of Christ and His coming again. Christmas is clearly a celebration of redemption.

 

Christian Customs and Traditions
How Did Christmas Start?

 

From November onward, it is impossible to forget that Christmas is coming. Colored lights decorate many town squares and shops, along with shiny decorations, and artificial snow painted on shop windows. In streets and shops, 'Christmas trees' (real or plastic evergreen 'conifer' trees) will also be decorated with lights and Christmas ornaments.

 

Shopping centers become busier as December approaches and often stay open till late. Shopping center speaker systems will play Christmas 'carols' - the traditional Christmas Christian songs, and groups of people will often sing carols on the streets to raise money for charity. Most places of work will hold a short Christmas party about a week before Christmas. Traditional Christmas foods are enjoyed by all.

 

By mid-December, most homes will also be decorated with Christmas trees, colored lights and paper or plastic decorations around the rooms. Many people also decorate garden trees or house walls with colored electric lights, a custom which has long been popular in U.S.A.

 

In many countries, most people post Christmas greeting cards to their friends and family, and these cards will be hung on the walls of their homes. In UK this year, the British Post Office expects to handle over 100 million cards each day in the three weeks before Christmas.

 

The custom of sending Christmas cards started in Britain in 1840 when the first 'Penny Post' public postal deliveries began. (Helped by the new railway system, the public postal service was the 19th century's communication revolution, just as e-mail is for us today.) As printing methods improved, Christmas cards were produced in large numbers from about 1860. They became even more popular in Britain when a card could be posted in an unsealed envelope for one half-penny - half the price of an ordinary letter.

 

 

Traditionally, Christmas cards showed religious pictures - Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus, or other parts of the Christmas story. Today, pictures are often jokes, winter pictures, Father Christmas, or romantic scenes of life in past times. 'Father Christmas' (or 'Santa Claus') has become the human face of Christmas. Pictures will be seen everywhere of the old man with a long white beard, red coat, and bag of toys. Children are taught that he brings them presents the night before Christmas (or in some countries on December 6th - St. Nicholas' Day), and many children up to the age of 7 or 8 really believe this is true. In most countries, it is said that he lives near the North Pole, and arrives through the sky on a sledge (snow-cart) pulled by reindeer. He comes into houses down the chimney at midnight and places presents for the children in socks or bags by their beds or in front of the family Christmas tree.

 

In shops or at children's parties, someone will dress up as Father Christmas and give small presents to children, or ask them what gifts they want for Christmas. Christmas can be a time of magic and excitement for children.

 

Father Christmas is based on a real person, St. Nicholas, which explains his other name 'Santa Claus' which comes from the Dutch 'Sinterklaas'. Nicholas was a Christian leader from Myra

(in modern-day Turkey) in the 4th century AD. He was very shy, and wanted to give money to poor people without them knowing about it. It is said that one day he climbed the roof of a house and dropped a purse of money down the chimney. It landed in the stocking which a girl had put to dry by the fire! This may explain the belief that Father Christmas comes down the chimney and places gifts in children's stockings.

 

In English-speaking countries, the day following Christmas Day is called 'Boxing Day'. This word comes from the custom which started in the Middle Ages around 800 years ago: churches would open their 'alms box' (boxes in which people had placed gifts of money) and distribute the contents to poor people in the neighborhood on the day after Christmas. The tradition continues today - small gifts are often given to delivery workers such as postal staff and children who deliver newspapers.

 

Today in the West, not many people consider the religious meaning of Christmas. Most people in UK or Europe will not go to a religious church meeting, even at Christmas. It has become a busy race to spend money on presents, and get ready for the Day. In UK, our shops stay open till late Christmas Eve and often open again on Boxing Day with the cut-price 'sales'. (Not much holiday for the poor shop workers!) A visitor from another world would think that Christmas was a festival to the gods of money and shopping.

 

Many people do hope for more than presents at Christmas. We want to somehow return to a time in our childhood (or some other good time in the past), when life was simpler and made more sense, before the troubles of adult life arrived. We feel sure that behind all the fun and decorations, there must somehow be a message, something more, some key to life, hope and happiness. So can we look beyond the way Christmas is celebrated today, and find any real meaning, any message for our lives.

 

Since about 400 AD, Christians have celebrated the birth of Jesus. 'Christ' means 'Messiah' or 'Anointed One' - the title given to Jesus - and 'Mass' was a religious festival. In the West today, the real meaning of Christmas is often forgotten. It has become a non-religious holiday! More children believe in Father Christmas than in Jesus. Christmas Day is a time for eating and drinking too much and watching television.

 

   But the real Christmas story is found in the Christian Bible. It is told in two different

   books – Matthew and Luke. You may think that the story of the birth of Jesus, and the

   way that the West celebrates Christmas today, do not seem to have many

  connections.

 

These chapters tell how Jesus was born as a baby to Mary. This was no ordinary birth! She was not married, she was a virgin, (yes, really!) and an angel had told her she would bear a special baby. Her husband-to-be, Joseph, did not believe her at first. Who would? Then an angel told him in a dream that it was true! Probably no one else believed it. So when they had to travel from their home in Nazareth to Bethlehem (near Jerusalem) , to register their names with the ruling Roman government, they probably escaped many hard words from other people.

 

Arrival in Bethlehem brought worry and upset: there was no room for them to stay at the hotel. There was only space in the stable - the animal house for travelers, donkeys, and horses. Jesus was born that night, and as they had no bed for him, they used an animal feeding box filled with the dry grass the animals ate.

 

 

Christmas cards and pictures today make it all seem very nice. In truth, it must have been dirty and frightening for a young couple, far from their home and families. Possibly the birth was premature after the stress of the journey. This was a very poor place for Jesus to start his life on earth.

 

Christians believe that it was exactly God's plan that things happened this way. They say that it shows that Jesus came as a humble, poor person and not as a strong, rich king. They also claim that the birth of Jesus was told many years before in the books of the prophets.

Five hundred years before, the prophet Micah had said, "But you Bethlehem, though you are small, out of you will come for me, one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times". The prophet Isaiah had written, "A child is born to us! A son is given to us! And he will be our ruler. He will be called, Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. His royal power will continue to grow; his kingdom will always be at peace...." He will rule as King David's successor, basing his power on right and justice, from now until the end of time. These are only two of many prophetic words that told of the birth and life of Jesus, written hundreds of years before His birth.

At that time, sheep farmers were seen by other people as low and of no value. Yet it was to these shepherds that the birth of Jesus was first announced in an amazing dramatic way. That night there were some men looking after sheep in the fields nearby. Suddenly they saw a great light. It was an angel, who said, "Don't be afraid. I have good news for you, and for all people. Someone great has been born today. He is Christ, the great King you have been waiting for. He will save you from all that is wrong and evil. You will find him dressed in baby clothes, lying on a bed of dry grass".

After Jesus was born, wise men came to look for Him, from an area which is now in either Iran or Saudi Arabia. Although they are often called the Three Kings, the Bible does not say how many there were, or that they were kings. Three is only a guess because they brought with them three gifts.

 

They were certainly men of learning - probably today we would call them philosophers or scientists. They had seen an unusual new star in the sky, and knew that it told of the birth of a special king. (The star they saw was probably an exploding supernova, and is known from astronomical records.) They followed the direction of the star- East - and eventually found the place where Mary, Joseph and Jesus were staying. To bring honor to the child, they brought rich gifts: gold, frankincense (a resin which burns with a beautiful smell), and myrrh (plant oil with a very strong sweet smell). These gifts tell us in pictures three key things about Jesus: Gold: a gift fit for a King; Frankincense: burnt in worship of God; Myrrh: a sign of mortal human-ness - it was used to bury the dead.

 

Herod, the evil king of the area, heard about the child, saw Him as a threat, and sent soldiers to kill Jesus. But God told Joseph in a dream to take Mary and the baby and escape to Egypt. They lived there till King Herod died and then went back to live in Nazareth. We read nothing more about the life of Jesus, except for one story when he was 12, until He reached 30. By the way - note one important thing: Jesus was not a white European, and Christianity is not a Western religion. Christmas cards from different countries often show Mary, Joseph and Jesus in the landscape of that country, and with the racial appearance of that nationality, be it black African, Indian, or Japanese. This is good and right - Jesus came to identify with every racial group. He is Everyman for us all.

 

Jesus was indeed the man born to die. But that was not the end of the story. It is still going on, and you can be part of the story, if you wish. No other person has had such an effect on human lives as Jesus. He came back to life again, and millions say they know Him today as a friend and helper in their lives. You owe it to yourself to find out more about Him. Is He who He claimed to be? Can He help us in our lives today? You have nothing to lose! Christmas is the time to stop and think about these important questions.

 

Why Are Candles Such a Major Part of Christmas?

 

The Season of Advent is essentially a season of light. Candles remind us that Jesus is the light of the world. Burning candles in the windows of our home originated from the belief that the lighted windows would guide the Christ Child through the darkness to the house. During medieval times the lighted windows meant certain hospitality to strangers drawn by their gleam. No one was ever turned away, since anyone might be the Christ Child Himself.

 

What Is the Chris tingle Service?

 

Many churches use a special bank or coin folder to collect money during Advent to donate to world hunger or to buy toys for needy children or for some other charity. At the Christingle Service, Christ is celebrated as the Light of the World. This service may have had its beginnings in ancient Wales. During the service Advent offerings were presented and Christingles were given out. Christingles were made from oranges, candles, red tape, toothpicks, and small fruits like raisins. The orange represents the world, the candle, Christ the Light of the World, and the red tape, the blood of Christ. The toothpicks symbolize the four seasons, and the fruit represents the fruit of the earth.

 

 

 

What Is the Jesse Tree?

 

The purpose of a Jesse Tree is to help us become acquainted with some of Jesus' ancestors by reading Scripture and making symbols to remind us of each person. The image is created from a phrase found in the prophet Isaiah: "There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse." The symbols can be hung on a small evergreen tree, or a bare tree branch that has been painted silver or gold, or on a banner. If you choose the banner, embroider or glue on a stump with a living shoot growing from it. You can make the symbols from paper, art foam, felt, or cardboard.

 

What Is Los Posada?

 

Los Posada begins nine days before the birth of Jesus, to commemorate the time it took Mary and Joseph to travel from Nazareth to Bethlehem. One way to do this at home is to act it out using nine families who agree to meet at a different home each night or it may be carried out by a single family at home as a part of a traditional ritual. The participants are divided into two groups: the pilgrims and the innkeepers. Two children dress as Mary and Joseph. Moving from house to house, the pilgrims knock and entreat the innkeepers to allow them to enter and spend the night, but each time they are refused. At last, the pilgrims reach a shelter where an altar has been previously set up, and, with great rejoicing, they are allowed to enter.

 

In a church setting a family takes the baby Jesus home on the first Sunday of Advent. Before evening on the next day, the baby is passed to another home along with a devotional thought. The journey continues until Christmas Eve, when the baby is brought to the church by the final family and laid in the manger. The book can become a permanent part of the church's memories.

 

What Is the Legend of the Rosemary?

 

On the night of Jesus' birth, Mary washed her sky-blue cloak and spread it over a shrub of rosemary covered with tiny white blossoms. By morning, the blossoms had been transformed to a brilliant blue. Rosemary is more commonly known as Bible Leaf because it was used as a Bible bookmark in early America. It is believed to be the herbal base of the ointment with which Mary Magdalene anointed Jesus' feet.

 

Other herbs often found around Advent are lavender, the symbol of purity and virtue, and gallium, or our lady's bedstraw. It is probable that gallium was the hay in Jesus' manger bed. Thyme is a symbol of bravery and is associated with all members of the Holy Family.  Purple-leaf sage and statice, with its deep purple leaves represent eternity, as does tansy. The golden flowers of tansy stand for the gifts brought by the three kings.

 

What Scriptures Can Be Used For Trimming the Christmas Tree?

 

Here are some appropriate scriptures to use while trimming the tree: Lights: John 1: 4, 9; 8: 12; Matthew 5: 14-16: Ornaments: Galatians 5: 22-23: Star: Matthew 2: 1-12; Tinsel: 1 Peter 1: 18-19 Icicles: Revelation 22: 1

 

 

 

Why Do Churches Erect A Chrismon Tree?

 

The Chrismon tree should be a living evergreen. The decorations symbolize the genealogy of Christ and of his life, death, and resurrection. The Chrismon ornaments first appeared on a tree in the Lutheran Church of the Ascension in Danville, Virginia. The word Chrismon is a combination of two words, Christ and Monogram. The original symbols used only monograms of Christ.

 

Chrismons use only the colors white and gold. White is the liturgical color for Christmas and refers to Christ's purity and perfection. Gold refers to the majesty and glory of Our Lord. Many churches add strings of tiny white lights to remind us that

Christ is the light of the world.

 

Why Do We Use Luminaries at Christmas?

 

The use of luminaries or little fires began in Mexico. Today churches often line their paths with luminaries to light the way to special advent events. At nighttime, the flickering glow of candles inside white paper bags is a reminder of the campfires of the shepherds on the wonderful night of Jesus' birth. Homemade luminaria can be made by cutting the top of a white gallon milk jug. Because this container will hold more sand, a longer candle can be used.

 

What Is the Origin of the Nativity Scene?

 

Its tradition is attributed to St. Francis of Assisi in 1923. Because the peasants in the Unbrian Hills were unable to read, that meant they didn't know the story of Bethlehem's Babe. Christmas to them was just another day. So, he set up a stable in a cave behind the village church and filled it with real animals, hay, and a manger. He got a young couple from the village to play Mary and Joseph and even asked them to bring their own baby to lie in the manger. Others think the baby was a village orphan because St. Francis knew that after that night the child would always be treated well.

 

If you have a nativity scene in your home begin the first day with an empty stable and fill it day by day until Christmas Eve, when the tiny Christ figure is at last laid in his bed. During Advent let the figures travel within the church building, or room on their journey to the stall. Waiting until Epiphany for the Wise Men to finish their journey will keep the sense of excitement alive for the kids.

 

What Is the Legend of the Poinsettia?

 

This plant blooms at Christmas in Mexico, and is known by its native name, flower of the Holy night. A small Mexican boy had no gift to bring to the Christ Child's manger bed in the village church. As he trudged toward the church, scuffing his feet in the dust of the road, he decided that he could at least offer the Holy Infant the branches from a bush that grew beside the way. He stripped off some of the branches and went to the church, where he reverently placed the green leaves at the manger. As he knelt there, the other children jeered and mocked his offering. Rising tearfully, he looked once more at the branches only to find that a brilliant red star-shaped flower now topped each branch. Even today Christians see in the flaming star of its red bracts the star of Bethlehem.

 

 

What Does The Advent Wreath Symbolize?

 

Like so many other Christmas customs, the origin of the Advent Wreath can be traced back to an ancient pagan custom. The survival of the ancient people depended very heavily upon a successful harvest. So, during the shortest days of the years, they lighted candles on a wheel hoping that whoever controlled the sun would turn the wheel of the earth's orbit to the sun once more. It's only fitting then that the Christian Church adapt the lighting of candles as a Christian custom, since Jesus Christ, God's Son brought His light into our lives.

 

The first Advent wreaths were designed for the home. A spray of evergreen was placed near the hearth reminding every family member of the everlasting life found in Christ. While most of nature slept during the winter, the greenery symbolized the continuation of life. Soon the boughs of the spray were bent and bound together in a circle, symbolizing life without end.

 

Today's Advent wreaths combine a circle of evergreens with four candles. Each Advent Sunday a candle is lit. If the Advent wreath is used in church the candles are the liturgical colors of the season - purple or deep blue. The exception is the third Sunday in which the candle may be rose. This Sunday is Gaudete Sunday. Gaudete means to rejoice. Since this Sunday is more joyous than the others of Advent, a rose candle is used instead of purple. If the Advent wreath is in the home the color of the candles may be red or white.

 

The significance of the candles lies in their progressive illumination: light out of darkness. Every time we light a candle we are reminded of Jesus' words when he said: "I am the light of the world". Each of the candles of Advent also represent an attribute. The candle of hope symbolizes the hope of Israel for the Messiah and the Christian hope for the coming again of Christ in final victory. The candle of preparation symbolizes the preparation for the comings (past, present, and future) of Christ. The candle of joy symbolizes our joy at the coming of Christ. The candle of love symbolizes God's love for the world in giving his only Son to be our Savior. They may also symbolize characters from the biblical story: prophets, angels, shepherds, Magi.

 

Christians and Christmas

 

Christmas as a holiday was not observed until well after the biblical era. The early church of the New Testament celebrated Jesus' resurrection, but not His birth. In fact, Christmas was not given any kind of official recognition by the church until the mid-fifth century.

 

Partly because so many Christmas customs seem to have their roots in paganism, Christians were often resistant in early America and rejected Christmas celebrations altogether. They deliberately worked on December 25 to show their disdain. A law passed in England in 1644 reflected a similar Puritan influence; the law made Christmas Day an official working day. For a time in England it was literally illegal to cook plum pudding or mince pie for the holidays.

 

Christians today are generally not opposed to celebrating Christmas. The holiday itself is nothing, and observing it is not a question of right or wrong. As Paul wrote: "One man regards one day above another, another regards every day alike. Let each man be fully convinced in his own mind. He who observes the day, observes it for the Lord, and He who observes the day, observes it for the Lord, and he who eats, does so for the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who eats not, for the Lord he does not eat, and gives thanks to God" (Romans 14: 5-6). Every day - including Christmas - is a celebration for us who know and love Him.

 

How we observe Christmas is the central issue. Do we observe it for the Lord's sake or for our own sinful self-gratification? Do we even think about why and how we celebrate it? That is the heart of the matter. Christmas is an opportunity for us to exalt Jesus Christ. We ought to take advantage of it.

 

Where Did Christmas Trees Come From?

 

Christmas trees seem to have their origins in the ancient celebrations of Saturnalia. The Romans decorated their temples with greenery and candles. Roman soldiers conquering the British Isles found Druids who worshiped mistletoe and Saxons who used holly and ivy in religious ceremonies. All those things found their way into Christmas customs.

 

Interestingly, however, the first person to have lighted a Christmas tree may have been Martin Luther, father of the Reformation. He introduced the practice of putting candles on trees to celebrate Christmas, citing Isaiah 60: 13 as biblical authority for the practice, "The glory of Lebanon will come to you, the juniper, the box tree, and the cypress together, to beautify the place of My sanctuary; and I shall make the place of My feet glorious".

 

When Was the First Christmas?

 

No one really knows when Christ was born. It probably was not December 25, because Scripture says there were shepherds in the fields watching over their flocks, and that would have been highly unlikely in the middle of winter.

 

Our focus on December 25 came from the Roman holiday called Saturnalia. This was a pagan observance of the birthday of the unconquered sun. Saturnalia began December 19 each year, which in the northern hemisphere, is when the days start getting longer, and continued with seven days of wild revelry. Many of our Christmas customs have their origins in Saturnalia, which was marked by feasting, parades, special music, gift giving, lighted candles, and green trees. As Christianity spread through the Roman empire, the pagan holiday was given Christian connotations.

 

In 336 Emperor Constantine declared Christ's birthday an official Roman holiday. Some church leaders, such as Chrysostom, rebuked Christians for adopting a pagan holiday, but December 25 has endured as the date we celebrate Christ's birth.

 

The First Christmas Cards

 

The original Christmas card is thought to have been sent by a British army officer named Dobson in 1844. The first commercially produced Christmas cards were sold in England by Sir Henry Cold and J.C. Horsley in 1846. Those first cards outraged Christians, because they portrayed a group of people drinking. It was at least twenty-five years before Christmas cards were widely used. Since then, cards have become a major industry. Each year Americans spend over one billion dollars on Christmas cards, not counting postage.

 

What is the Significance of Holly?

 

Christian tradition assigns significance to holly. According to tradition the pointy leaves represent the thorns of Christ's Crown. The perennial green leaves represent eternal life. The red berries represent the blood she for our salvation. There is even a tradition that holly was used to make the crown of thorns. At that time the berries were yellow. In honor to the blood shed by Christ the berries turned red. While holly is most often pictured as having red berries the berries come in other colors too. One tradition say that white berries represent Jesus purity, green berries the cross of wood, and black berries his death.

 

What is the Legend of the Rosemary?

 

Humility is the main idea behind the legends about rosemary. Many Nativity sets picture Mary wearing blue. According to one legend Mary's blue cloak is where rosemary got it's color. The flowers are said to have been white. Then as Mary, Joseph and the baby Jesus were fleeing to Egypt, Mary laid her cloak on a rosemary bush. Since that time rosemary has been blue.

 

Another legend says that Mary washed Jesus clothes in a stream while fleeing to Egypt and she laid them on a rosemary bush to let them dry. In honor for the humble service they gave the Savior rosemary were made blue. It is also said that the humble rosemary will never grow higher than Jesus and that if it outlives Jesus' 33 years it will not grow up but out.

 

What is the Significance of the Christmas Rose?

 

Like the legend of the poinsettia the legend associated with the Christmas rose begins with a poor girl. She stood outside the stable where Jesus was born and she cried because she had nothing to give Jesus. An angel took her tears and made them a rose at her feet.

 

What is the Meaning of the Ivy and Evergreen?

 

Like the evergreens, ivy is seen as a symbol of eternal life and is used in Christmas decorations but not to the extent of pine, fir, mistletoe and holly. According to legend evergreen trees were not always green. Before the birth of Christ they lost their leaves each winter like other trees. But while Mary, Joseph and Jesus were on their way to Egypt they were forced to hide from Herod's soldiers in a clump of cedar trees. To hide the holy family the trees brought forth green needles and the cedars white berries turned blue so that Mary's blue robe blended in. Since that day evergreen trees have kept their color all year round. Another related legend says that a pine tree hid the holy family and that the baby Jesus left the imprint of his hand forever in their fruit and that if you cut a pine cone lengthwise you can still see the imprint of that tiny hand.

 

What is the Legend of the Christmas Tree?

 

While the legend of the origins of the Christmas tree is interesting the history is equally fascinating. It is known that back long before Jesus, Germanic peoples adorned evergreen trees in winter solstice ceremonies of sorts. The origins of the Christian Christmas Tree can be traced to St. Boniface (8th century) who as a missionary to the Germanic tribes used the triangular shape of evergreen trees as a symbol of the trinity.

 

A legend attached to this origin says that St. Boniface came upon some people preparing to sacrifice a child to an oak tree. In an attempt to stop the sacrifice, he grabbed the ceremonial ax and in one blow cut down the oak tree. When it fell, a small fir tree sprang from its stump. This legend is probably a way of chronicling in story form that St. Boniface replaced the worship of the Germanic gods, symbolized by the old oak tree with the new Christian religion, symbolized by the Christianized fir tree.

 

By the 11th century evergreen trees were decorated with apples and bread to symbolize the Tree of Life and the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil told about in Genesis. It was referred to as the Paradise tree and used in religious plays. The Paradise tree became a popular decoration in homes and churches.

 

 

There is also the oft repeated story that Martin Luther in the 16th century, originated the use of Christmas trees. It is said that on his way home from a Christmas eve service he saw the starlight glistening off the icicles on an evergreen tree. It so reminded him of Jesus, the light of the world that he cut the small tree down and took it inside and decorated it with candles to illustrate what he saw.

 

The tradition of the Christmas tree appears to have been exported to England through royalty from Germany and later to America by German and English immigrants. More recently the secular Christmas Tree had been further Christianized by the invention of the Chrismon tree.

 

What is the Significance of Mistletoe?

 

In winter, trees lose their leaves revealing the perennially green mistletoe. Ancient druids noted this fact. Later, Christians latched onto this and proclaimed the mistletoe a symbol of eternal life.

 

How Did Santa Clause Exist

 

The model for Santa Claus was a fourth-century Christian bishop named Saint Nicholas. Little is know about the real Nicholas, except that he was probably the bishop of Lycia. In the Middle Ages, when it became popular to venerate saints, legends about Nicholas began to flourish. One said he had given three bags of gold to the daughters of a poor man so that the girls would not have to earn their dowries through prostitution. Another claimed he had miraculously restored three little boys to life after they had been cut up for bacon. Thus Nicholas became known as a giver of gifts and the patron saint of children. His day is December 6.

 

Nicholas was particularly popular in Holland. It is there that the custom linking Nicholas to Christmas seem to have first begun. Dutch children expected the friendly saint to visit them during the night on December 5, and they developed the custom of placing their wooden shoes by the fireplace to be filled with gifts. Santa Claus is the Americanization of his Dutch name, Sinterklas.

 

By the time Santa Claus became a part of American lore, children had discovered that you can get a lot more gifts in a sock than you can in a wooden shoe, so that adjustment to the custom was made in the mid-nineteenth century.

 

Clement Moore, an American poet, may be more responsible than any other person for popularizing the myth of Santa Claus. He wrote A Visit from St. Nicholas in 1822 which begins with the famous line, "Twas the Night before Christmas" and it was published in the Troy New York Sentinel. It was immediately popular and has endured ever since.

 

The Children's Stocking Tree

 

In 1885 a church pioneered what would become a beautiful tradition. The church decided to have a Children's Stocking Tree, with the plan that every Sunday in the season of Advent, the children would have an opportunity to put their offering in little crocheted stockings and hang that offering on their own special tree.

 

It became an outstanding success so they continued it every year. All the children in the church, and all the children in the worship service were encouraged to put their offering in one of the little stockings, and at the proper time, come forward and hang their stockings on the tree. Children in the nursery received their stockings there, and someone stood at the doors to the Sanctuary to give stockings to the children as they entered. Each year the offering given was to be especially used for children. What a great opportunity for a child to feel he/she can play a special part in helping other children.

 

The Lovefeast

 

The Moravian Lovefeast is an adaptation from the old Moravian custom which dates to the 15th century. The first Lovefeast in America dates from 1736, when John Wesley was introduced to it while serving as an Anglican missionary to Savannah, GA. Wesley, founder of the Methodist movement in England, adapted the Lovefeast for the Methodist Societies and incorporated it into the worship life of the Methodists. It symbolizes oneness in Jesus Christ as we share a meal together.

 

The Candle Service, is a service where each worshiper receives a handmade beeswax candle which is lighted. In 1741, pastor Johannes von Watteville, gave the children in the service lighted candles trimmed with red ribbons.

 

The flame of the candle represented the sacrifice of Christ for humanity. The message of the candle was, and is, that this flame of love will burn forever to His joy and our salvation. The Christmas Star is a many-pointed star which originated in Niesky, Germany, around 1850. The rays of the star symbolize he greatness of God who made the universe, the star which led he wise men to he Christ Child, and the Divine Star, Christ Himself.

 

Lessons and Carols

 

The Nine Lessons and Carols has its focal point in the coming of Christ. It is ordered around Scripture readings that pertain to Christ's coming, followed by songs and prayers.

 

Hanging of the Greens:  This is the act of decorating the church in the spirit of Advent and Christmas.

 

Advent Wreath: The Advent Wreath symbolizes the coming of Christ. Sample texts accompany the lighting of the candles

 

Advent Dance:  This dance may be used with the prayers centering around the Advent wreath.

 

Epiphany

 

During the season of Epiphany, which begins January 6, we celebrate the visitation of the magi to the holy family. It's name comes from the Greek word epiphania, and means manifestation because the focus of this season is the manifestation of Christ as the light of all the world.

 

 

 

The liturgical colors for Christmas and Epiphany are white and gold. The signs of the Christmas season include the Chrismon tree, nativity scene, stars, angels, poinsettias, and roses. The symbols of the season of Epiphany are the magi.

 

Lent

 

Lent is a season of penitence within the Christian year. Christian historians remind us that during the initial years of Christianity Lent was seen as a way of preparing, training, and initiating people into the church at Easter.

 

Today Lent is observed by the church as a way of preparing and disciplining ourselves for participation in the church's celebration of Christ's death and resurrection. We cannot arrive at the fullness of Easter joy unless we remember those tragic events which preceded that joyful day. It is easy to skip over that triumphant entry into Jerusalem which was quickly turned into shouts of "crucify him."

 

It is easy to forget how easily those words, "I'll follow you anywhere," can be turned into, "I don't know him." Close supportive fellowship can quickly turn into abandonment. On that day a life of love, care, and healing quickly hung on a cross to die the death of a criminal.

 

Through a time of spiritual disciplines, such as prayer, fasting, meditation, tithing, and Bible study we are given a chance to reflect on who we are and who our Lord is for us. We are given an opportunity to repent of our sins and know the joy of forgiveness, to purge our soul of all that holds us back from having a joyful relationship with our Lord, and with our brothers and sisters in Christ. Purple is the liturgical color for Lent and it represents repentance, royalty, and mourning.

 

The penitential season of Lent begins with the observance of Ash Wednesday. It is the doorway to Lent. On this day, the Church opens the door of Lent and invites the children of God inside. They are then shown the great treasure of the church: the Via Dolorosa. This is the pathway our Lord took to the cross.

 

Holy week, the week from Palm Sunday to Easter begins with the celebration of Jesus' triumphant entry into Jerusalem. It is one of the few joyous times in Lent. Although He entered humbly, riding on a lowly donkey, the people greeted Jesus as if He were a king, waving palm branches and shouting "Hosanna, blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord." Most likely the authorities were frightened by the people's seeming allegiance to this new messiah figure, but in a few days many of the same crowd were shouting "crucify Him!"

 

Maundy Thursday remembers the night Jesus gathered His disciples to share a Passover meal. Passover was the celebration of God's bringing the Hebrew people out of bondage to the Pharaoh of Egypt. Moses had pleaded for their freedom. The Hebrews were told to slay a lamb and place its blood on the doorposts of their homes to avoid the plague that struck the Egyptians. Death passed over. They were saved by the blood of the lamb. Jesus reinterpreted the meaning of the Passover feast for His disciples in terms of His own ministry. He became the Lamb of God. His body was to be broken and His blood shed. His emphasis changed from the physical salvation the Hebrews experienced in Egypt to a spiritual salvation.

 

At the meal together, Jesus washed the feet of the disciples and gave them a new commandment: that they love one another. The word Maundy comes from the Lain Mandatum, meaning commandment. We hear the same root word in the English word mandate.

 

While from a human perspective, it was a bad Friday, from a post­-resurrection perspective, seeing what God did, we call the Friday before Easter "Good Friday." Some people explain the origin as a word change from God's Friday to Good Friday. This same change occurs in the English “God be wi' ye” to our modern goodbye. Scriptures tell us that while Jesus was on the cross, the world became dark, and so our service on Good Friday is one of increasing darkness as the Scriptures are read and the sanctuary is stripped of decoration and symbols.

 

Lent Traditions and Customs

 

Ash Wednesday

 

Begins another season of preparation by beckoning us to focus on ourselves in relation to Jesus Christ. On this day we are invited to reflect on the way to the cross - Jesus' journey to Jerusalem and to the crucifixion. It is also a time to reflect on our experience of Christ as we move along our way through the season.

 

Palm Sunday

 

The Sunday before Easter is known as Palm Sunday. This was when Jesus rode into Jerusalem. People gathered around Him, throwing their garments along His path and waving palm branches and singing, "Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!" Palm Sunday is the beginning of Holy Week.

 

Holy Week

 

The dramatic conclusion to the Lenten season. Beginning with the celebrativeness of Palm Sunday, moving to the darkness of betrayal on Maundy Thursday, with a Tenebrae and communion service, on to the grim reality of crucifixion on Good Friday, and finally to the breaking of resurrection light on Easter Sunday, where we find that our journey puts us in touch with a myriad of emotions and realities.

 

Lenten Candles

 

Have to do with the opposite of Advent. On the first Sunday of Lent, the service opens with all six purple candles and the Christ candle lit. Following a reading, a purple candle is snuffed out, meaning that the next Sunday the service will start with five purple candles lit. An additional candle is snuffed out each Sunday of Lent until on Good Friday, only the Christ candle remains lit. After a reading, it too is snuffed out, representing Jesus' death.

 

 

 Seder Service

 

A holy feast of remembrance, a time to thank God for His deliverance of the ancient Israelites out of Egyptian bondage. For Jewish and Gentile believers who know the true Redeemer of Israel - the Messiah Jesus - Passover has added significance. It is observed as a time of gratitude for God's total redemption and deliverance of humanity from the bondage of sin.

 

Maundy Thursday

 

Takes its name from the new mandate or commandment Jesus gave His disciples to "love one another" and from the institution of the Last Supper to be done "in remembrance of me." Worshipers are requested to sit in silent meditation as soon as they are seated in the pews. Let the solemnity of this hour, as when Jesus had fellowship with His disciples in the shadow of the Cross, lead us to thoughtful reverence. And let us leave in silence contemplating the events commemorated by this evening's service.

 

The Tenebrae Service

 

Includes an adaptation from an early fourth century observance, called Tenebrae (Service of Darkness) . The Tenebrae follows the Communion, at which time the sanctuary is darkened, and attention is centered on the eight candles in front. Seven portions of Scripture are read, each depicting an added shadow during the last hours of Jesus' earthly life. As the candles are extinguished and darkness deepens around us, we recall the desertion of Christ by His disciples and friends, a darkness of the soul which lasted until Easter morning. The single remaining lighted candle is symbolic of Christ, the Light of the World. The carrying out of this candle is in recollection that the Light of the World was put to death at our hands.

 

Good Friday

 

Commemorates Jesus' trial, crucifixion, and death (Matthew 26:57-27:66) . Jesus is associated with the paschal lamb in the Exodus story. The blood of the Passover lamb caused the angel of death to "pass over" the Israelites. John the Baptist calls Jesus "The Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world." John 1:29

 

Good Friday Stations of the Cross

 

A traditional way of participating in the passion of Christ as a part of Good Friday services. Its inspiration came from the desire to imitate the journeys of early Christian pilgrims to the Holy Land, especially to the place of Christ's redemptive suffering. Each station represents an event in the passion story. Most versions of the Stations of the Cross include some events passed down by oral tradition, but usually only those stations with a biblical basis make up this wonderful service.

 

 

 

The Great Triduum

 

Begins on the evening of Holy Thursday with the commemoration of the institution of Communion. The transition from Holy Thursday to Good Friday is provided by stripping the church of its customary ornamentation after the Holy Thursday Communion. Worshipers return to a bare and undecorated church for the continuation of the triduum on Good Friday. The triduum concludes with the Paschal vigil, or First Service of Easter, which begins late on Holy Saturday, (Easter Eve) or before dawn on the morning of Easter day.

 

The Veneration of the Cross Service

 

Is made up of three parts: the reading of Scripture, the carrying of the cross into the sanctuary, and the reception of communion elements.

 

Love on a Cross

 

Is a seven-week Lenten series on God's love, involving seven weekly topics, seven weekly symbols, and forty-two daily devotions leading to Easter. Beginning on Ash Wednesday, a large Valentine heart is erected on the cross. Each worshiper receives a small wooden cross with a valentine on it which, during the week, is put on a chain and worn around their neck.

 

We begin Easter Sunday with a Sunrise Service to recall the women's anxious early morning visit to the tomb, which they found empty. There they received the news, "He is not here, He is risen!" and from the garden tomb area they ran to tell the fearful disciples. We Christians worship on the "first day of the week" rather than the Jewish Sabbath, because we celebrate the resurrection each Sunday. Many have said you can't fully celebrate the risen Lord unless you have known Him through Lent, Palm Sunday, the Last Supper and the crucifixion. Holy Week is just that: the holiest of weeks. It's a week for Christians to be in prayer and at worship.

 

Lent is a season of simplicity. It is a time to strip away the false and expose the truth. Hospitality demands hat a church be clean and free from clutter, including the mess that sometime surrounds the bulletin boards, music racks, and lost-and-found cabinets. There should be a genuine austerity, a plainness that communicates a season when we get back to basics.

 

Easter

 

Easter is a festival of the Christian Church that commemorates the resurrection of Christ. It is celebrated on the first Sunday following the full moon that occurs on or after March 21-or one week later if the full moon falls on Sunday. Easter was originally a pagan festival honoring Estore, a Teutonic goddess of light and spring. At the time of the vernal equinox, sacrifices were offered in her honor. As early as the eighth century, the word was used to designate the annual Christian celebration of the resurrection of Christ. The only appearance of the word Easter in the Bible is a mistranslation of Pascha , the Greek word for "Passover" (Acts 12:4).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Easter Traditions and Customs

 

Easter Lilies

 

Used to decorate churches and homes. The large, pure white blossoms of the Easter Lilies remind Christians of the pure new life that comes to them through the Resurrection of Jesus.  The new plant life that appears in spring symbolizes new life.

 

The Easter Bunny

 

The roots of the Easter bunny stem from German folklore. The first edible Easter bunnies were made in Germany during the early 1800s. They were made of pastry and sugar. It is thought that bunnies were chosen because of their fertility. They served as symbols of the new life during the Spring season.

 

Easter Eggs

 

The custom of exchanging eggs began in ancient times. The ancient Egyptians and Persians often dyed eggs in spring colors and gave them to their friends as gifts. The Persians believed that the earth had hatched from a giant egg. Early Christians of Mesopotamis were the first to use colored eggs for Easter. In some European countries, people colored eggs red to represent the joy of the resurrection. In England, friends often wrote messages and dates on the eggs they exchanged. Elaborate candy eggs with a window in one end and tiny scenes inside were popular gifts in the 1800's. The egg is also symbolic of Christ rising from the tomb, both in the way the chick emerges from the egg and to represent the stone that was rolled in front of the tomb.

 

Pentecost

 

Pentecost means fiftieth or 50 days after Jesus' resurrection. In Jewish tradition before Christ, this ancient feast day celebrated the harvest festival, the fruit of the first grain. 50 days after Passover is described in Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. They celebrated the gift of God's covenant with His people, plus the Mosaic Law, both given to them through Moses at Mt. Sinai, amid fire, wind, storm clouds, and thunder. To the Hebrews, these signs were the characteristics of God, not the Spirit, the third Person in the Trinity.

 

Pentecost is often called Whitsunday, which may refer either to the wearing of white robes by candidates for Baptism or to the old Anglo-Saxon word wit meaning wisdom, an allusion to the outpouring of the Spirit of wisdom in Ephesians 1: 17.

 

The Pentecost color is red, denoting the burning characteristics of the Spirit, and for blood, which is life and belongs only to God. There are several symbols for Pentecost. The dove is a sign of God's gentleness and holiness, and for his love and peace. Water is a sign for eternal life and salvation. Fire represents the presence and glory of God who purifies and cleanses. It is also a picture of God's burning anger in judgment. Breath and wind symbolize the movement of air that sustains life and that is given all around us by God Himself. It is also a picture of the Holy Spirit who works within us to make us more like Jesus Christ.

 

 

Ordinary Time

 

Ordinary Time is the longest Liturgical Season in the church Calendar. The season is divided into two separate times. The first and shortest time period is between Christmas and Lent with 4-9 Sundays after Epiphany. The second time period is between Pentecost and Advent, 23-28 weeks. Green is the predominant color and is seen as new growth found in plants and trees in Spring, and Summer. Green also reflects the triumph of life over death; hope, love, and regeneration to a new life in Christ.

 

Red is used on Pentecost and indicates the fire of the Holy Spirit and the burning love of God for His people, through the blood shed by His Beloved Son. White is used for such times as Epiphany and Transfiguration.

 

Some of the symbols of this season are the Tree of Life which indicates our position in Christ. The Victory Banquet of Jesus Christ symbolizes Christ as the Bread of Life that triumphs over death. Some churches celebrate this season by encouraging worshipers to attend church dressed in casual clothing.

 

In addition to following the Christian year, City Road also celebrates its corporate faith with several special services each year. These include the following:

 

All Saints Day

 

A Sunday morning service in October focusing upon the saints of Christendom and upon City Road members who have passed away during the previous year.

 

Infant Baptism

 

The congregation focuses upon families with infants and recognizes its responsibility to nurture these children in the Christian faith along with their parents.

 

Christmas Eve Services

 

SFUMC observes two Christmas Eve services. The earlier family service is more contemporary and includes the traditional carols. The 11:00 p.m. service focuses on a Methodist Mass and is offered in the more traditional sense.

 

Communion

 

Each month a celebration of communion is held during morning worship. This is a meaningful time that continually reminds us that we are a resurrection community of faith. Communion is traditionally led by the minister, staff, and laity of the church.

 

Ash Wednesday

This service marks the beginning of the season of Lent.

 

Maundy Thursday

 

A special Holy Communion observance during Holy Week that focuses upon the passion of Christ.

 

World Communion Sunday

 

The first Sunday in October, Christians around the world celebrate Holy Communion.

 

Commemoration of Events in the Life of Christ

 

Name of Jesus

 

Recalls Jesus' circumcision and naming as recorded in Luke 2: 21. It is observed on January 1.

 

Presentation of Christ

 

Recalls the presentation of Jesus in the temple. It is celebrated on the fortieth day after Christmas, February 2.

 

Annunciation

 

The angel's announcement to Mary regarding the birth of Jesus is observed on March 25, nine months before Christmas.

 

Visitation

 

Celebrated on May 31 and recalls the visit of Mary to Elizabeth.

 

Feast of the Transfiguration

 

Reenacts the experience of Peter, James, and John on Mount Tabor. (August 6)

 

 

Nativity of John the Baptist

 

Observed on June 24 and recalls the birth of John the Baptist.

 

Corpus Christi Sunday

 

Observed on the Thursday or the Sunday after Trinity Sunday and is a memorial of the Eucharist, especially the blood of Christ.

 

Holy Cross Day

 

Observed on September 14 and focuses on the cross of Christ.

 

Triumph of the Cross

 

Observed on September 14, to commemorate the day tradition holds that the cross was discovered.

 

Feast of Dedication

 

Remembers the rebuilding and reconsecration of the temple after the victory of the Maccabees over the Syrians in A.D. 165. It is observed on the first Sunday in October.