Skip to content
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • Log In
  • Subscribe
  • Renew
  • Donate
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • Log In
  • Subscribe
  • Renew
  • Donate
The Baptist Paper
Search
Close
The Baptist Paper
Search
Close
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your state news
  • Classifieds
  • Request a free trial
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your state news
  • Classifieds
  • Request a free trial

First person: Make the most of your Christmas traditions

  • December 24, 2022
  • Gateway Seminary
  • Church Life, Featured, First Person, Latest News
girl and boy reading book sitting between man and woman beside Christmas tree
(Unsplash photo)

First person: Make the most of your Christmas traditions

One of our favorite Christmas traditions is listening to Christmas music.

During the holiday season, we enjoy a remarkable Christmas program at our church, hymn singing in worship services at our church, some Christmas musicals on television, downloads of Christmas albums by favorite artists, and satellite radio songs of the season as we drive, while shopping or attending Christmas events.

All in all — a musical overdose of Christmas set to music.

The music at Christmas is special for several reasons.

First, the familiarity of frequently repeated hymns and songs means dozens of them can be sung from memory. Second, the biblical content is strong — particularly focused on themes like faith, hope and love. Finally, the songs lend themselves to all kinds of dramatic interpretations through skits, pantomimes, costumes, and other external effects. When you combine all this, the music during the Yule season is special.

One of our favorite Christmas memories is a duet some friends sung, year after year, in our church in Oregon. They did it so well it became a Christmas tradition. Our memories of their version are still better than any professionally recorded version. Another family memory is singing Silent Night as part of candlelight services.

While our boys weren’t much into emotive experiences, even they participated in this service wholeheartedly. The boys still groaned when we later made them drive around looking at Christmas lights (singing along with Ann’s favorite musical collection). We usually bribed them with the promise of pizza after, which kept them passably agreeable during the drive. Christmas makes us all a little softer around the edges.

Enjoy your Christmas services this weekend. Allow the music to bond you with your church family, remind you of biblical truth about the birth of Jesus, and move you emotionally through visual reminders of the Nativity. And, even if they gripe a bit, take your boys (and girls) to look at Christmas lights accompanied by the songs of Christmas (use a pizza if necessary).

Merry Christmas!


EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was written by Jeff Iorg and originally published by the Gateway. 

Share with others:

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Email

Latest News

  • Ministers’ tax guide released by GuideStone
    Ministers’ tax guide released by GuideStone
    January 31, 2023/
    0 Comments
  • Pastor kidnapped, slain in northeast Nigeria; 2 other Christians killed in Delta region
    Pastor kidnapped, slain in northeast Nigeria; 2 other Christians killed in Delta region
    January 31, 2023/
    0 Comments
  • ‘Scars from our past’ are opportunity for NC family to share freedom with others
    ‘Scars from our past’ are opportunity for NC family to share freedom with others
    January 31, 2023/
    0 Comments

Sign up for the Highlights

Get all latest content delivered to your email a few times a month.
Email is required Email is not valid
Thanks for your subscription.
Failed to subscribe, please contact admin.

Related Posts

Ministers’ tax guide released by GuideStone

GuideStone Financial Resources has released its most popular annual publication, the 2023 Ministers’ Tax Guide for 2022 Returns, available now for GuideStone members at GuideStone.org/TaxGuide.

Pastor kidnapped, slain in northeast Nigeria; 2 other Christians killed in Delta region

A church pastor in northeast Nigeria was slain on Jan. 26, and anti-Christian violence continued to grow in the southern part of the country with

‘Scars from our past’ are opportunity for NC family to share freedom with others

Dayna and Zeb Cook’s story is one that they deem similar to most — one marked by beauty that only God could make from ashes.

NM missions team partners with IMB missionaries in Brazil

Assisting a small Brazilian church, a team of New Mexicans shared the gospel, trained church members in evangelism and helped the congregation host a recent

Want to receive news highlights throughout the week? Sign up here!

Email is required Email is not valid
Thanks for your subscription.
Failed to subscribe, please contact admin.

About

  • Our Story
  • Our Team
  • Our Partners
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Contact us
  • Our Story
  • Our Team
  • Our Partners
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Contact us

Explore

  • State-specific news
  • Archive
  • Opinion pieces
  • Sunday School lessons
  • Persecuted Church
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • State-specific news
  • Archive
  • Opinion pieces
  • Sunday School lessons
  • Persecuted Church
  • Podcasts
  • Videos

Submissions

  • Story suggestions
  • Your Voice/Letter to the Editor
  • Photos / Videos
  • Corrections/other
  • Submission Policy
  • Story suggestions
  • Your Voice/Letter to the Editor
  • Photos / Videos
  • Corrections/other
  • Submission Policy

Subscribe

  • Subscribe
  • Renew subscription
  • Gift a subscription
  • Start a new member subscription
  • Start a new group subscription
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Hosted Church
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Request free trial
  • Subscribe
  • Renew subscription
  • Gift a subscription
  • Start a new member subscription
  • Start a new group subscription
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Hosted Church
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Request free trial
The Baptist Paper
Address:
3310 Independence Dr.
Birmingham, AL 35209
Copyright © 2023 TAB Media Group
  • Privacy/Terms of Use
  • Help
  • FAQ
  • Privacy/Terms of Use
  • Help
  • FAQ

Email:
news@thebaptistpaper.org

  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Editorials
  • Archive
  • Your state news
  • Opinions
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Persecuted Church
  • Submit your news
  • Photo Galleries
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Editorials
  • Archive
  • Your state news
  • Opinions
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Persecuted Church
  • Submit your news
  • Photo Galleries
  • Our Team
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Subscribe
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Hosted Church
  • Donate
  • Contact us
  • Our Team
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Subscribe
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Hosted Church
  • Donate
  • Contact us

Log Out?

Lost your password?

Log In

Lost your password?

Log in

Become a part of our community!
Forgot your password? Get help
Privacy/Terms of Use

Reset password

Recover your password
A password reset link will be e-mailed to you.
Privacy/Terms of Use
Back to
Login
×
Close Panel