Skip to main content

Christmas Calling

Some of my fondest memories of Christmas as a kid were not only Christmas mornings, but the evenings...and all through New Year’s Day! Why was that you might ask? Well because it was the custom for people to go Christmas Calling. Never heard of Christmas calling or “calling” as it was often called? You are not alone - many haven’t, since it seems to have faded away with time. So what is Christmas Calling you are wondering? It was simply stopping over at your neighbors and friends’ homes to wish them a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year and having a short visit. There were ALWAYS food and drinks offered…immediately after “taking” their coats and hats and asking them to have a seat. My “job” was often answering the doorbell, inviting them in and hanging up their coats. Sometimes folks (as they were called then) would phone first, and sometimes they just saw the porch light on and stopped in. Kids didn’t usually accompany their parents, but the ones in the home were allowed to listen to all the great stories and ask occasional questions, but not in an obtrusive way. It was really a great time of family and community building, friendships being renewed and strengthened, and it was great for kids to be exposed to some decent adult conversation. Sound like fun? Yes, it sure was, in fact it was great!
What do you think? Would you like to try it? Give some friends, family or neighbors a call and ask if you can stop by, (or invite them over) to wish them a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Perhaps, bring a gift of Christmas cookies or a card for them…. you may be surprised to find out how much fun it is and how your friendships will be strengthened and renewed. There may even be an opening for a conversation about the true meaning of Christmas or to pray with them. How about it?!
-Pastor Gary A. Smith (Repost from 12/25/16)

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

To Trick Or Treat Or Not

  As new believers in Christ and young parents, my wife and I really struggled with Halloween and whether we would allow our kids to participate in it or not.   While growing up, Halloween was such an intriguing time of the year, with ghosts, witches, goblins, ghouls and all sorts of eerie stuff, how fun, since I was taught all these things weren’t real.   As I got older, and a little too old to roam about town looking for treats and tricks, I would help my parents hand out treats for the Trick or Treaters that came to our house.   It was fun putting candy into their bags, looking at all the clever and creative costumes, and trying to guess who was behind the masks.   Sometimes we would even recognize neighborhood kids who were way too old to be out Trick or Treating! I also have a memory of another side of our innocent candy collecting adventures.   It was when my friend Jack and I were invited in by a man with the promise of candy.   He kept stalli...
Post a Comment
Read more

SECULAR HUMANISM – AMERICAN’S NEW RELIGION

  Though the evidence of Secular Humanism can be found everywhere in our culture few individuals seem to be able to define it or identify its pernicious presence. Many do not recognize that Secular Humanism has become America’s new religion; for this very reason we must learn what it is and how it is affecting us. We need to seek answers to these questions: What is it? What does it teach? Where is it at work in our society today? First let us define it: (I have taken the liberty to copy this brief definition from a commentary of the late Bible scholar Dr. Donald C. Stamps.) “Secular humanism teaches that humanity, the universe and all that exists consist only of matter and energy shaped into their present form by impersonal chance. It teaches that humans have not been created by a personal God, but are the product of a chance process of evolution. It rejects belief in a personal, infinite God and denies that the Bible is God’s inspired revelation to the human race (atheis...
Post a Comment
Read more

THE APOSTASY and THE SECRET POWER OF LAWLESSNESS

  This is the 4th article in my End Time series. The Apostle Paul wrote these words of scripture to the church in Thessalonica. “Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we ask you, brothers and sisters, not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by the teaching allegedly from us—whether by a prophecy or by word of mouth or by letter—asserting that the day of the Lord has already come. Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God.” “Don’t you remember that when I was with you I used to tell you these things? And now you know what is holding him back, so that he may be revealed at the proper time. For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who...
Post a Comment
Read more