| Author | Message | ||
| Tracey Registered user Username: Tracey Post Number: 97 Registered: 9-2004 |
So gang, what are some of your favorite memories about Christmas? What is Christmas like for you now as far as what you enjoy and what fills you up spiritually about it now? I love Christmas time.. Seems like everyone is nice and they don't know why! | ||
| Lydell Registered user Username: Lydell Post Number: 655 Registered: 7-2000 |
Our first Christmas after we married was spent in Oberndorf, Austria, the place where "Silent Night" was first sung. We went Christmas caroling (attempting to sing some of the songs in German) by candlelight. There was a full moon, and about a foot of snow on the ground. It was so beautiful! The Austrian people seemed to enjoy it. The lady at one home became so excited when she opened her door. Turns out she was American, had married an Austrian man years before, and had been feeling a bit home sick. I was raised in a Christian home. I can look back to many Christmases as I was growing up as times when I came to understand the gospel, beginning with one of my earliest memories of rocking a dolly carefully and singing "Away in a Manger", pretending it was the baby Jesus. Yeah, the theology is not straight there, but I understood that this was a very! precious baby that had been born. | ||
| Belvalew Registered user Username: Belvalew Post Number: 67 Registered: 7-2004 |
Good question. I have mixed memories having to do with Christmas. Since we were strict Adventists my family didn't even have a Christmas tree and decorations until my sister decided we wanted to enter into the festivities even if they were pagan. My mother couldn't wait to get rid of the thing the day after Christmas, however. Her attitude about gifts and such softened a bit as she got older, but she was always a bit awkward about the holiday and wanted to make sure we knew that all of the symbols had nothing to do with the actual birth of Christ. Dad seemed to thoroughly enjoy the season and my best memories are of helping him put together the jigsaw puzzle he inevitably got for Christmas while my sis and I helped Mom cook a special dinner. As a liberated Adventist (read Former) I still have some the hang-ups about Yule Logs, Santa Claus, and all of that, but I remember caroling with my friends while Ingathering, and then going to someone's home after for hot chocolate and good company. Thankfully, there weren't that many in our Adventist community who forbade hot chocolate and cookies on cold winter nights. Every Christmas while in Academy I enjoyed singing in the Choir, and we had a skilled enough group that we could belt out the Hallelujia Chorus and make you want to cry it was so good. I enjoy having Christ at the center of Christmas now. It really doesn't matter when he was born, only that he was, and that because of that birth I never have to die. God is so good to us. He really doesn't have to be, but he is! Belva | ||
| Flyinglady Registered user Username: Flyinglady Post Number: 795 Registered: 3-2004 |
My child hood memories of Christmas are mixed. I am sure it was not due to adventism as my Mom had all kinds of problems. So with my son, I tried to make it Christ filled. When he left home after college I spent Christmas with SDA friends and had a lovely time. I have spend one Christmas here in NV (2002) and 2003 in Texas with my son and daughter in law. I am looking forward to Christmas as a Christian with Christ being in the center of it. I received a notice of the SDA Christmas program tomorrow, but I will not be able to attend. I am being a "MAJOR sabbath breaker" as I am going snow skiing with friends from work and am looking forward to it and not feeling guilty at all. I have not been skiing since I was 2 months pregnant and my son is now 33 years of age. So wish me luck and God speed as I learn to ski in my senior years. God is awesome and I will be careful. Diana | ||
| Lydell Registered user Username: Lydell Post Number: 656 Registered: 7-2000 |
and Diana.....always remember, when you think, "yeah I'm tired but just one more run and then I'll rest..." THAT'S when you need to immediately sit down and rest. Trust me! Otherwise you WILL hurt yourself. ha | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 1033 Registered: 12-2003 |
How did the skiing go, Diana? One of my cameo Christmas memories was my junior year at Walla Walla College. On the Saturday night just before the week we went home (or maybe the week before that!) a bunch of the music majors and some of the faculty got together in the big lobby of the Fine Arts Building. They rolled out a baby grand piano from a practice room. It had Christmas lights placed all around the lid that was raised to expose the strings. Then they passed out books of English madrigals, and we sat around the piano, picked our parts, and sang madrigals for a couple of hours or so. 'Twas such fun! (I know; it's a bit esoteric, but it was quite entertaining and satisfying for a bunch of music majors!) Richard and I discovered that Christmas was a completely new season for us after we found the gospel. It's no longer merely a day memorializing Jesus' birth; now it's the celebration of the miracle that began the saga of our salvation. It really seems sacred now instead of materialistic. It's wonderful! Praise God! Colleen | ||
| Susan_2 Registered user Username: Susan_2 Post Number: 1179 Registered: 11-2002 |
I was taught that any Christian reference to Christmas or Easter was a sin. So, whatever we did was totally secular. The secular aspect was o.k. I got to sit on Santa's lap at the JC Penney store and pretend that what I was telling him I wanted was real. My parents always seemed to like looking at the pretty lights in the neighborhoods that did the displays. We had a family reunion every year on the Sunday between Christmas and New Years. My parents made sure I knew it was NOT a Christmas celebration but was only being held that time of year because it was a conveinent time because the kids were out of school and all the adults were off work. Even though all the kids got scads of presents wrapped in Christmas paper I was made certain that I knew they were NOT Christmas presents because we didn't partisipate in pagan celebrations. They were only in Christmas paper because that was the kind of wrapping paper that was on sale this time of year. I was made very sure to know that no where in the Bible are we commanded to observe Christs birth and any reference to His birth is a sin. My parents have never had a Christmas tree because they say a Christmas tree is a BIG SIN. Even as big as not observing Sabbath or eating pork. It is really weird. So, as an adult I have never given my parents a gift which I think hurts my moms feelings because she always gives me a present this time of year and tells me it is not a Christmas present. I am not kidding one teeny-tiny little bit when I say that my religious training as a child was bazaar at best and totally schitzopherenic at worst. Now, to currently. It will be five years ago Christmas eve that I first snuck into St. John's lutheran Church. I came in late and I left early. I loved it. And, I've been attending there ever since. At St. John's Christmas is not one day but it is 40 days, the Advent Season. I really like the entire ordeal. I do not give Christmas presents, nor do I expect to get any. I just love going to church on Christmas eve to refelect on the miracle that happened around 2000 years ago. I love being in the church. | ||
| Dd Registered user Username: Dd Post Number: 237 Registered: 7-2004 |
Several years ago I was the Minister of Music at a small SDA church. I was in the second or third year of my Bible study and the realization that the REAL glory of Jesus is that He IS God. That year, as I planned the special Christmas musical church service the Saturday before Christmas, it was clear to me that the Christmas story/typical nativity scene was not just baby Jesus, the manger, lamb, and hay but that there was "The Tree", also. A friend of mine made a rough-looking cross that we put behind the manger scene on the platform. The last song we sang in the program was "Silent Night" followed by "When I Survey the Wonderous Cross". It was beautiful and so very sacred. It will stand out for many years as my favorite memory of Christmas. | ||
| Dd Registered user Username: Dd Post Number: 238 Registered: 7-2004 |
Oh yes...one of the older gentlemen in the choir (the lead bass singer with a beautiful voice) refused to sing in the program because of the cross being in the church!! | ||
| Jeremy Registered user Username: Jeremy Post Number: 157 Registered: 10-2004 |
Dd, Hehe, I was waiting for you to say something like that about someone not liking the cross, and was surprised when I came to the end of your first post with no such story. ;-) So sad, really.  Jeremy | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 1034 Registered: 12-2003 |
Dd, what a wonderful setting and ending for your program! I can understand why it still stands out as your favorite Christmas memory. The first Christmas after discovering the depth and truth of Jesus is astonishing. Colleen | ||
| Flyinglady Registered user Username: Flyinglady Post Number: 800 Registered: 3-2004 |
Lydell, We ended up getting to the ski area to late to ski, so we will try again. Even when I skiied before I always stopped when I wanted to have one more run. So when we do go again, I will be very careful. Now a question for all of you? Do you have an occasional drink now that you are no longer SDA? I had 2 drinks during the evening spaced apart and felt fine. I did not get drunk. It was done with moderation. Diana | ||
| Lydell Registered user Username: Lydell Post Number: 657 Registered: 7-2000 |
no Diana, I don't drink. For one thing there is a family history of alcoholics here and there in the family tree of both mine and my husbands families. The other reason is that we have several friends who are former/recovering alcoholics. I think it would be a lousy example for them, and just plain unkind. | ||
| Carol_2 Registered user Username: Carol_2 Post Number: 208 Registered: 2-2002 |
I have an occasional drink...I like red wine. Actually the times in my life when I drank more heavily and really partied, when I was younger, was as an SDA. Moderation is what I stress, in all things, to my kids. But it can definitely be a problem for many, and probably should be avoided if there is any sign of weakness or tendency to over-indulge in that area, or anytime it will be a bad witness to someone or cause someone to stumble! Lydell, what part of Alabama are you in? We sold our house, as we're building a place up in the Blue Ridge Mountains, and are now living in the Douglasville area of Georgia, which is only I think about 30 minutes from the Alabama border. I think I've asked this before but have forgotten. If you're not too terribly far I thought maybe some day I could get Sabra and do a "girl's road trip," and visit your church. Still have an interest in getting to know some of the formers in this part of the country. Sounds like we have quite a few in Florida. Thanks for all the prayers for my friends May and David. So far no doors have been shut. May spent Friday in contact with KY and GA adoption attorneys, and looks like things can happen quickly. The girl is seeing a doctor for the first time tomorrow, and everyone decided to wait and see how that goes. My friends are willing to take this baby even if there are problems, but the mother of the pregnant teen wants to wait and make final decisions after her doctor's visit. If anyone missed the prayer request, it was posted last Thursday, but there were two prayer threads going. Please continue praying for God's will, and for the life of this innocent little baby. Love you all, Carol2 | ||
| Susan_2 Registered user Username: Susan_2 Post Number: 1181 Registered: 11-2002 |
How interesting-just yesterday I asked my son if he knew where the Blue Ridge Mts. were. He said he didn't know but thought they were in the south somewhere. Now I know. Thanks. About drinking-we always had wone and whisky in our house. Didn't drink it too often but it was there mostly to offer to guests. That was one of the things about the SDA and EGW that my family believed were wrong on. I, too don't drink much. I have wine at Communion. I like rum and have probably several glasses of rum per week. I DO NOT like beer. ICK! The kids like it though. The funny thing is that my best friend from te SDA high school I attended, her family was SDA and they had a very well stocked full bar in their house. And, her dad would offer us drinks, we were just kids, 15 and 16 years old. Her dad, the prominant SDA fixed us kids Rum and Coke, Long Island Teas, and most anything else we'd want. Sometimes he'd even tell us, "Hey, why don't you try this. Let me know if you like it." And, he'd fix us something new. You just can't tell what goes on behind closed doors. This family was most definately SDA. Red wine gives me a headache. I think it's the yeast but I'm not sure. Maybe it's the fermenting process. But, the little bit we get at Communion does not give me a headache. That's good. Hey, guys, when you drink tequlia do you swallow the worm? Is the story about guys who swollow the worm true? Ha! Ha! | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 1038 Registered: 12-2003 |
I have had wine a very few times in the past, but when Richard and I started doing FAF, we agreed not to drink. We decided that if we are doing ministry with and for people on the edge of leaving Adventism, we needed to avoid that potential stumbling block. Colleen | ||
| Raven Registered user Username: Raven Post Number: 114 Registered: 7-2004 |
I've never had alcohol in my entire life, and I used to think it was essential to totally abstain from alcohol. I now see there is only a Biblical mandate for moderation, not abstaining. However, I have no interest in it. It smells very repulsive to me and I like to know I'm completely in control at all times--even if I am boring. | ||
| Susan_2 Registered user Username: Susan_2 Post Number: 1182 Registered: 11-2002 |
Colleen, Raven, You Others, Being active Christians don't you have wine for Communion? I just wouldn't think it's right to have Communion without wine. It's the Blood of Christ, Jesus said, "Take. Drink for this is my blood which I shed for you". How can you have a valid Communion without wine? BTW, Raven, I think I have the same deep revulsion towards seafood that comes in shells such as lobster, crab, clam, etc. that you have towards alcohol. Just the thought of putting those disguesting sea animals into my mouth totally grosses me out. Most everyone I know is totally surprised when I tell them I've never tasted clam chowder and then they are more surprised when I tell them I have no desire or even courosity to taste it. I have even been bribbed with some pretty good offers to eat clam chowder and I've truned every offer down. | ||
| Loneviking Registered user Username: Loneviking Post Number: 291 Registered: 7-2000 |
That's O.K., Susan 2. You just pass those disgusting little creatures over here along with another Sam Adams.  If it's cold outside there's nothing like Irish coffee (Irish Cream and coffee) or B52's (Irish cream, Kahlua and coffee). Then, there's always Drambouhie whenever my back starts acting up. Oh man, I'm glad this isn't an SDA forum---I'd be flamed for sure! | ||
| Mrcato Registered user Username: Mrcato Post Number: 11 Registered: 12-2003 |
Colleen, I admire the stand you and Richard took concerning FAF and alcohol...it's a blessing to see how you put the need of the 'whole' over personal needs...I love rum cake and some mixed drinks on rare occasions...I love sauteeing kale in some white wine !! Susan 2, in the church I grew up in (Baptist) we used real wine for communion (my grandfather was the lead deacon and kept it in the refrigerator at his house LOL) I never had the nerve to sample it straight out of the fridge though...i figured he or my grandmom would have the bottle marked LOL. But no church I've had communion in since then has used wine for communion :-( |
