| Every Christmas season, if you are Christian, you | | | | members Christian gifts as Christmas gifts will be |
| should always remember and honor the birth of | | | | truly special to their lives all year long. They serve |
| Christ. Giving Christian gifts to your family, friends | | | | as a reminder of our love for Christ, and our |
| and fellow church members is one of the | | | | Father in Heaven. They will also serve as symbols |
| appropriate ways of celebrating the birth of Jesus | | | | of encouragement. They emphasize on our family |
| Christ, and in the traditional gift-giving aspect of | | | | core values that all Christians hold dear, and want |
| Christmas as portrayed in the Book of Matthew. | | | | to pass along to family, friends and fellow church |
| Christians believe that the birth of Jesus fulfilled | | | | members. They are a visual reminder of the |
| many prophecies made hundreds of years before | | | | Christian way of life for anyone who displays |
| his birth. In the book of Matthew we are told that | | | | them. |
| wise men (Magi) came from the east and | | | | There is a wide variety of Christian gifts in the |
| traveled many miles to worship and give gifts of | | | | market place to choose from. Christian themed: |
| gold, frankincense, and myrrh to honor the birth | | | | pictures, figurines, statues, plaques, planters, |
| of the Christ child, the messiah; The King of Kings! | | | | lamps, candleholders, nightlights, stained glass, wall |
| Remembering the birth of Jesus is a central way | | | | hangings, wind chimes, and water fountains just to |
| that Christians should always celebrate Christmas. | | | | name a few. |
| Over the centuries Christians have held this | | | | Angels are also very popular, and make wonderful |
| tradition as part of the celebration of Christ's birth. | | | | Christmas gifts too! The Bible tells us that |
| Did you know that the word "Christmas" | | | | Archangels, Seraphim, Cherabim, Thrones, and |
| originated as a contraction of the two words | | | | Guardian angels are the servants and messengers |
| "Christ's mass"? Did you know that the word | | | | of God. They are invaluable as emissaries |
| "holidays" originated as a contraction of the two | | | | between God and man, heaven and earth. |
| words "Holy days"? | | | | Shepherds from the fields surrounding Bethlehem |
| Did you know that the Santa Claus of today was | | | | were told of Christ's birth by an angel, and were |
| really Saint Nicholas? He was a devoted Christian | | | | the first to see the child. They sometimes warn |
| man born in the third century who lived in Myra, a | | | | us of danger and protect us from evil. |
| small town in Turkey. He became so Christ-like in | | | | Traditions of holiday gift-giving in the United |
| his character that when the town needed a | | | | States have grown more complicated and more |
| Bishop they elected him! Legend is told that Saint | | | | stressful over the years. What to give? To whom |
| Nicholas would put on a disguise and go out and | | | | should I give? How much should I give? In this |
| give gifts to all the poor children. After he died, | | | | Christmas season I hope that you will celebrate |
| the people in the region continued his tradition to | | | | and follow what the holiday is truly about, and |
| give to the poor anonymously. | | | | give thanks to God for the birth of Jesus Christ! |
| Giving your family, friends and fellow church | | | | |