A Simple Christmas 2005...

... a resource guide prepared by the
St Philip Neri Peace & Justice Commission

Guidelines to Alternative Giving

"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.
Not as the world gives do I give it to you.
Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid."
(John 14:27)

This Christmas we all would like to have the peace of Christ, the ability to give as Jesus gave, and hearts that are not troubled. These hopes are what's at the heart of alternative giving!

My peace I give to you.
In our consumer society it's easy to forget that Christmas is the celebration of Jesus' birth. With so much emphasis on giving and receiving presents, Christ's gift of peace to us can get lost or forgotten.

This year, experience the peace of Christ: Schedule a period of time each day during Advent to be alone and to pray and study the Scriptures. Allow God to prepare you for the coming of the Prince of Peace.
Share the peace of Christ: Jesus tells us that giving to him means giving to the hungry, the thirsty, the stranger, the sick and the imprisoned. Consider pledging a portion of what you normally spend on Christmas gifts to organizations that serve those in need. Pledge to volunteer your time in the community through the coming year.

I do not give to you as the world gives.
After the Christmas season, many people find themselves deep in debt, having spent hundreds of dollars for presents they cannot really afford. Cultural pressures, trying to meet expectations, or perhaps simply a desire to be loved can be powerful motivations to spend beyond our means. Before you begin your Christmas shopping, consider the following:

Take control of your spending: Read 2 Corinthians 9:5-7. God loves a "cheerful giver," but the text also says "give as you have made up your mind . . . not under compulsion." Don't buy anything you can't pay for this December.
Don't look at catalogues or go window shopping for gift ideas. Instead, begin by thinking about the person to whom you want to give. What message would you like your gift to communicate? The best gifts are ones that share our time and talents; ones that truly express the love and commitment we have made to family, friends and our community.
Consider the messages gifts bring: The gifts we share say something about the values we hold dear. Advertisers, for example, would have us believe that violent games and toy guns make ideal Christmas gifts. But what do games associated with war and killing have to do with celebrating the coming of the Prince of Peace?

Do not let your hearts be troubled.
Give to yourself. Before the Christmas rush begins and the course of events begins to control you, consider ways you can bring comfort to your troubled heart.

Reflect: Think about your past Christmas celebrations. What is it about Christmas and gift giving that you found frustrating or troubling? Make a list. Use the exercise on this website.
Share: Discuss your feelings with household members or friends. See if you can find other people in your church or community who want to change their giving habits.

Remember, your Christmas giving can both honor Christ's birth and show your love and concern for others.

Charity Suggestions for Alternative Giving. Since last Christmas, the people of South/Southeast Asia, Latin America and the US Southeast have been devastated by earthquakes, tsunamis, hurricanes and the destruction they bring. The following organizations are doing good work in each of these regions, bringing hope to the hopeless. You can help.

Catholic Charities USA
P.O. Box 25168, Alexandria VA 22313-9788 (800)919-9338 www.catholiccharitiesusa.org Approximately 96 percent of contributions made to the 2005 Hurricane Relief Fund will be used for emergency response and recovery efforts

Catholic Relief Services
209 West Fayette Street Baltimore, MD 21201 (410) 625-2220 www.catholicrelief.org CRS will touch the lives of more than 600,000 people affected by the tsunami in Indonesia, India, Sri Lanka and Thailand. CRS is also working in South Asia following October's devastating earthquake.

Mercy Corps International
Dept. W PO Box 2669 Portland, OR 97208-2669 www.mercycorps.org
Mercy Corps is working in all four regions with local and national partners to respond to the continuing needs of children and families

Northwest Medical Teams
PO Box 10, Portland, OR 97207. www.nwmedicalteams.org
Northwest Medical Teams is also working in all four regions. 96 percent of contributions goes to programs and services

Return to Simple Christmas 2005 Main Page

Last updated November 22, 2005
A project of St. Philip Neri Catholic Church

	A Simple Christmas 2005...
	... a resource guide prepared by the St Philip Neri Peace & Justice Commission
Guidelines to Alternative Giving "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid." (John 14:27) This Christmas we all would like to have the peace of Christ, the ability to give as Jesus gave, and hearts that are not troubled. These hopes are what's at the heart of alternative giving! My peace I give to you. In our consumer society it's easy to forget that Christmas is the celebration of Jesus' birth. With so much emphasis on giving and receiving presents, Christ's gift of peace to us can get lost or forgotten. This year, experience the peace of Christ: Schedule a period of time each day during Advent to be alone and to pray and study the Scriptures. Allow God to prepare you for the coming of the Prince of Peace. Share the peace of Christ: Jesus tells us that giving to him means giving to the hungry, the thirsty, the stranger, the sick and the imprisoned. Consider pledging a portion of what you normally spend on Christmas gifts to organizations that serve those in need. Pledge to volunteer your time in the community through the coming year. I do not give to you as the world gives. After the Christmas season, many people find themselves deep in debt, having spent hundreds of dollars for presents they cannot really afford. Cultural pressures, trying to meet expectations, or perhaps simply a desire to be loved can be powerful motivations to spend beyond our means. Before you begin your Christmas shopping, consider the following: Take control of your spending: Read 2 Corinthians 9:5-7. God loves a "cheerful giver," but the text also says "give as you have made up your mind . . . not under compulsion." Don't buy anything you can't pay for this December. Don't look at catalogues or go window shopping for gift ideas. Instead, begin by thinking about the person to whom you want to give. What message would you like your gift to communicate? The best gifts are ones that share our time and talents; ones that truly express the love and commitment we have made to family, friends and our community. Consider the messages gifts bring: The gifts we share say something about the values we hold dear. Advertisers, for example, would have us believe that violent games and toy guns make ideal Christmas gifts. But what do games associated with war and killing have to do with celebrating the coming of the Prince of Peace? Do not let your hearts be troubled. Give to yourself. Before the Christmas rush begins and the course of events begins to control you, consider ways you can bring comfort to your troubled heart. Reflect: Think about your past Christmas celebrations. What is it about Christmas and gift giving that you found frustrating or troubling? Make a list. Use the exercise on this website. Share: Discuss your feelings with household members or friends. See if you can find other people in your church or community who want to change their giving habits. Remember, your Christmas giving can both honor Christ's birth and show your love and concern for others. Charity Suggestions for Alternative Giving. Since last Christmas, the people of South/Southeast Asia, Latin America and the US Southeast have been devastated by earthquakes, tsunamis, hurricanes and the destruction they bring. The following organizations are doing good work in each of these regions, bringing hope to the hopeless. You can help. Catholic Charities USA P.O. Box 25168, Alexandria VA 22313-9788 (800)919-9338 www.catholiccharitiesusa.org Approximately 96 percent of contributions made to the 2005 Hurricane Relief Fund will be used for emergency response and recovery efforts Catholic Relief Services 209 West Fayette Street Baltimore, MD 21201 (410) 625-2220 www.catholicrelief.org CRS will touch the lives of more than 600,000 people affected by the tsunami in Indonesia, India, Sri Lanka and Thailand. CRS is also working in South Asia following October's devastating earthquake. Mercy Corps International Dept. W PO Box 2669 Portland, OR 97208-2669 www.mercycorps.org Mercy Corps is working in all four regions with local and national partners to respond to the continuing needs of children and families Northwest Medical Teams PO Box 10, Portland, OR 97207. www.nwmedicalteams.org Northwest Medical Teams is also working in all four regions. 96 percent of contributions goes to programs and services Return to Simple Christmas 2005 Main Page
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Last updated November 22, 2005 A project of St. Philip Neri Catholic Church