Practicing a Christ-Centered Christmas Classroom Materials
Posted by tom | Nov 21, 2007For those with interest here is material I'm beginning to assemble/organize from the Practicing a Christ-centered. Note to participants: feel free to use the comment box to help me remember pieces I've left out and give comments on what you've found helpful/unhelpful.
Blog posts:
Relational Gift-giving -- some tips
The Advent Conspiracy
Christmas in September? -- why dig into this topic
Practicing a Christ-centered Christmas -- return to for book and link suggestions
Christ of Christmas -- how the idea behind the class emerged
Syllabus:
How does one not become immersed in and pursue a nostalgic, commercialized, feel-good Christmas? Share the fears, challenges, special moments, and customs of your past Christmases. Celebrate the Word becoming flesh and blood, and moving into the neighborhood through Scripture, song, and various spiritual practices. Receive insight to embrace the call and find accountability to reproduce the likeness of Jesus during this upcoming Christmas season.
Sept 9 What is Christmas?
-Introduction of idea behind the Practicing a Christ-centered Christmas class; gauge where the participants are at in relationship to the topic; and hear what resources were available within those present
-Handout: Practicing_a_Christ-centered_Christmas[1].pdf
-Handout: A Latin American Christmas Creed
-Circle the room to hear why people are taking the class and one unique aspect with regard to how their family celebrates Christmas, see Christmas in September?
Sept 16 Who is Christ?
-Charlie Brown Christmas: Linus' speech
-Handout: NPR story (note: a number of stories are available on NPR)
-Go around the room to hear Who is Jesus? from members of the class
September 23 No class
September 30 Who is God? Who is Jesus?
-Discussion of the Trinity
-Handout (during conversation): Christology: Jesus Christ, diagram from James A Fowler's Trinity, and James B. Torrance's Worship, Community & the Triune God of Grace (p.30)
-Show and respond to Father Christmas scene in The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe (2005)
-Handout: Teased by Caspian as film recommendation for the spring
-Close: Joy to the World, refer to material from The Theology of Christmas Music
October 7 How does one crack the Christmas Code? (Note: have a whole presentation for this one, could span more than 1 week as one walks through/introduces Advent, How Does One Crack the Christmas Code.doc)
-Discuss scene from The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993) with regard to how we try to reshape Christ, Christmas in our own image
-Use Advent Wreath with candles as a visual image as one walks through the Advent Wreath
Oct 14 No Class
October 21 History of Christmas
-Presentation on the History of Christmas: check back later, Gerry Bowler's The World Encyclopedia of Christmas was a helpful resource
-Conclude with singing O Come, O Come Emmanuel and giving wqotw piece for further background
October 28 The Nativity Story
-Placing ourselves in the Biblical story through scenes from The Nativity Story
-Focus on the messyness of the family situation, the journey, the magi, and our life today
-Close with Amazing Grace and comment on the life of Wilberforce/Newton, recommendation of the film Amazing Grace
November 4 Messy Nature of Christmas and Who is St. Nicholas?
-Showed section from A&E Biography Santa Claus on St. Nicholas Note: Program study guide posted on A&E's site
-Discuss the emergence of Santa Clause
-Return to the true nature of Christmas through a review of material on Athanasius
November 11 Media, Consumerism Christmas
-Movies: stories of a postmodern generation: handout, use with discussion of Chevy Chase's Christmas Vacation with regard to how we interact with family, neighbors, colleagues at Christmas time (note: showed scene of 'house lighting and the arrival of unexpected family guests')
-Articles: What do you want for Christmas? by David Hall, What do you want for Christmas.pdf, and Advent article by Graham Standish, Advent_Graham_Standish.pdf
-Discussion of the Christmas surge after Halloween in the stores with merchandise and music
-Close: Come thou Fount of Every Blessing
November 18 Keeping CHRIST in Christmas
-Going Against the Culture
-Bombarding them with Christian Alternatives
-Sharing and Starting New Family Traditions
-How do you teach the importance of Christmas in your homes?
-Handout: Raise Your Hand, Better Homes and Gardens, November 2007, pp.172-3.
November 25 Wrap-up
-Begin Advent Reflections, encouraging Watch for the Light (the basis of my upcoming Advent Class)
-Where is your heart as you enter Advent?
-What resolutions do you have?
-Family devotional recommendation (would like to offer this as an advent activity in 2008: Jesse Tree)
-Looking for some simple, helfpul material: check out Christianity Today Advent Resources
Christianity Today Christmas Resources
Well this is very good thing to spread the Jesus in this beautiful world and your daily classes on practicing Jesus Christ is marvelous its a great thing to express and it can be helpful for many who are in need and I have read the classes given in this post and I am looking forward for other class.
Posted by Jesus, Dec 14 2007, 04:11