Piloting Faith: When Christmas with the family gets crazy...

A Word for the Day...

Christmas is almost upon us. We will gather in our churches, listen to the Christmas story, sing carols and go home with our families. That's when the fun begins. Being with family during the holidays can be super stressful, even if you have a great family. If that's true for you, I have an idea. Let's turn this holiday season into a game.

Every family has quirky things that they do. Mom starts asking you deeply personal questions in front of the rest of the family. Your uncle drinks too much and goes on a political rant. Your nieces and nephews run around the house like little terrorists. Your spouse sits at the table silently judging you for being related to sweet but crazy people. Whatever "holiday with the family" is for you; it's probably predictable.

Author Martha Beck had an idea for getting through these moments. Before you all get together, make a BINGO card. In each square, put one thing you know someone in the family will do or one thing you know will happen. In particular, put the ones that drive you crazy.

When the family gathers, have your BINGO card either in your mind or maybe in your pocket. When one of those things happens, mark it on your card. Before the night is over, you might have BINGO! Of course, you could also put really nice things about your family in the boxes if you want to be a nice Christian...up to you.

I think God moves in the world with a playful spirit. Life together isn't always easy, but if we can find the humor in it, it starts feeling more like a fun adventure meant for our betterment.

Merry Christmas, dear ones. I hope it's a time filled with love, joy and laughter.

- Rev. Cameron Trimble, author of Piloting Church: Helping Your Congregation Take Flight

Prayer for the Week

God is always giving birth
and getting born somewhere,
in human skin and breath,
in hands outstretched,
in hearts broke open
in endings, and in new beginnings.
God has promised to be our midwife,
our companion on the journey as we carve our humble path,
as we find our way towards love that is honest and just,
as we seek forgiveness and restoration,
as we experience the loneliness of being the only one in our particular skin,
as we find our way into ,community that will share our pain
and celebrate every
body in our midst,
as we gather our courage for the journey ahead.

An Advent Blessing from Rev. Shawna Bowman