December 8 - 14, 2003  

 SOLI/Update

 

    www.stewardshipoflife.org

 

  

Unplug the Christmas Tree
Amid the shopping madness, the crass commercialism, the frenzied festivities and the rest of the Ho Ho Ho surrounding the arrival of the Word made Flesh, here are some signs of intelligent life:
 
--Bill McKibbon, a man of deep faith, a Methodist and advocate of radical simple living, captures the absurdity of the season well in a Washington Post forum. Speaking of his book "Hundred Dollar Holiday: The Case for a More Joyful Christmas" (1998, Simon & Schuster), McKibbon is asked if his philosophy might not hurt the retail sector. 
 
McKibbon replies, "If our economy depends on celebrating the birth of a baby who grew up to tell us all to give everything to the poor by awarding each other motorized tie racks, then capitalism ain't the rational system it's cracked up to be."
 
--Pastor Dana Reardon, our columnist, this week not only talks about buying gifts in the real spirit of Christmas (that is, for people who have actual need -- what a concept!), but also what her congregation learned when a homeless man took up residency in their building, and instead of calling the police, they got to know him.
 
--ELCA World Hunger Appeal, the Lutheran church's big charitable outreach, put together an alternative gift catalog so people can give presents that make a big difference in people's lives. For $30 -- the cost of a Barbie 'Sing With Me' Karaoke Machine -- you can care for an abandoned street child for a month. Wow!
 
--The Lutheran magazine ran a package of stories in its December issue on "Gifts with meaning," including an interview with Alternatives for Simple Living. (Great study guide on the topic, by the way.)
 
Funny how year after year our culture celebrates Christmas with schizophrenic clarity. On the one hand, we love how Ebenezer Scrooge, George Bailey, the Grinch, Charlie Brown and other timeless characters remind us that the true meaning of Christmas is found not in money, but rather in the joy, love, happiness and security that comes in loving community. On the other hand, we max out our credit cards and drive ourselves crazy looking for the "perfect" gift for people who don't need anything.
 
As stewards of God's bounty, we can speak clearly and prophetically about the use of our culture's financial resources at Christmas that cheapens and detracts from the holy day's spiritual and emotional treasure.
 
Rob Blezard, Webmaster

 

New this week: Dec. 4-16

Presiding Bishop's Christmas Message
 "Today, even as citizens of a resourceful, powerful nation, we are haunted by a sense of helplessness and insignificance. The reach and unpredictability of global economic forces make every job and livelihood uncertain. Accelerating change seems to threaten to dissolve community, making us strangers to each other―and even to ourselves." A message of God's hope for our times from Mark S. Hanson, ELCA Presiding Bishop.

 

Church and Money "Certainly we need to encourage the giving of time and talent, but when service becomes a substitute for the tithe, then we are doing a disservice to people who need victory in their lives. Begin to tithe and the committed involvement will follow."  From the Lutheran Laity Movement Archives.

 

This Christmas Make A Different Kind of List
 "In a time when we should be counting our blessings, we are asked to come up with things we don't need so people can know what to get us.  To me this is counterproductive to the meaning of Christmas."  In Dana Reardon's weekly reflection

 

Alternative Gift-Giving Ideas Catalog
Inspired by Dana Reardon's column this week? Great! This online catalog put out ELCA World Hunger has some wonderful ideas on presents for people who really need them. $1 a day feeds and cares for a child for one day. $30 to $50 a month feeds and shelters an orphan or abandoned street child. $20 can help build and stock a fish farm in India. $1,000 can did a well to provide a village with potable water. Your congregation could make it an annual project.  From ELCA World Hunger.

 

Simple living, simple giving
 Interview with Gerald Iverson of Alternatives for Simple Living (www.simpleliving.org). "The American Dream says we will find happiness and meaning in life through stuff," Iverson says. "We say we'll find happiness and meaning through relationships." From The Lutheran magazine. Also check out the insightful study guide written for the piece.

Pass the Blessings, Please!
 "We find Christians who refuse to pass on the blessings they have received from God. In doing so, they miss even better blessings from God. Those living in the StewardLife know they can't hold on to blessings. God expects them to be passed." StewardLife from the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod