Family Halloween Party
(Celebration) October 30th, 2010 (10:00 AM to 5:00 PM)
Strong Museum, Rochester. $. (585) 410-6359.
View all calendar events
(Celebration) October 30th, 2010 (10:00 AM to 5:00 PM)
Strong Museum, Rochester. $. (585) 410-6359.
View all calendar events
Pumpkin Bars
3/4 cup flour 3/4 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon 2 eggs 1 cup brown sugar 2/3 cup canned pumpkin 1/4 cup cooking oil 1/2 cup nuts Mix dry... More
3/4 cup flour 3/4 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon 2 eggs 1 cup brown sugar 2/3 cup canned pumpkin 1/4 cup cooking oil 1/2 cup nuts Mix dry... More
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Santa or Jesus?
Posted on Wed, November 25th, 2009
Written by: Father James Fritzen, Christ the King Church, Bayberry
email:
Is Christmas about Santa Claus or about Jesus the Christ, the God-made man? Or both? Whose calendar do we follow – Hallmark’s or the church’s? Is Advent a time of preparation or of celebration?
These are just a few of the questions families wrestle with each year at this time. Our society has been into Christmas since mid-October. On the other hand, our counter-cultural church says Advent marks the beginning of our Christmas preparation – a time of quiet anticipation to ready our hearts and minds for the coming of our Savior. The celebration should hold off until Christmas and the 12 days after Christmas.
But this church tradition and the family traditions many of us enjoyed growing up are vanishing. As a child, I couldn’t wait till Santa came – but wait I did. And during the waiting, the excitement grew until Christmas came and boy, what a celebration it was, flowing over into the days and weeks afterwards! Then as I grew, I realized in parallel fashion, how I needed the emptiness, the reflective time of Advent to appreciate how much I need Christ in my life, how much I need Him to be reborn in me in a special way each Christmas.
Unfortunately, we now tend to crowd our Christmas activities (parties, banquets, visiting, gatherings) into the Advent season and end our celebration on Christmas day. As a result, we miss out not only on the spiritual values of Advent and Christmas, but we also fail to enjoy and savor the rich meaning of these special seasons. Nowadays, we rush through life, we cannot wait to get the present moment over with so that we can move on and on – but where are we going?
When is the last time you and your family participated in Advent? When did you last experience the joy and wonder of Christmas? Without the Advent quiet time of preparation, by the time Dec. 25 gets here, we are sick of the decorations and parties, and so poor Jesus comes into a world that is too tired to welcome Him and celebrate His birthday. Instead of “Joy to the World,” it’s “thank God that’s over.”
What message is being conveyed to the children? Do they really understand that “Jesus is the Reason for the Season?” Is the success of Christmas really based on the number of presents under the tree? Do they even know why we exchange presents? Can they tell you what (or actually who) was the first Christmas Gift?
Without being Scrooge, try to temper the celebrations and focus on the preparations – the celebration will be that much better. Combine the spiritual and material preparations. Review the Christian meaning of the time-honored Christmas customs and symbols.
Actually, for me, Christmas is about both Santa and Jesus. At our Pageant Mass, Santa stops by and visits the manger scene. Santa knows Jesus comes first before He delivers the toys. Santa knows the gifts are meaningless unless they symbolize the love God gave us that first Christmas. As the elves load up his sleigh, Santa gathers up the love of God he can bring to others.
A while back I came upon an interesting piece about Santa. As I recall, it said that Santa not only brings toys to good little girls and boys, he also teaches us the real meaning of Christmas. Why does everyone love Santa Claus? First, he is a joyful individual. We are attracted to happy, positive, joyous people. Next, Santa is interested in making others happy. He increases the happy moments in the lives of everyone he meets. Santa really enjoys his work, gets fun out of his job. Santa is also childlike, simple, humble and sincere. Above all, he is a giver. He gives of himself as a friend to everyone.
Maybe, just maybe, you and I could attain even greater happiness in life, if we imitated Santa more often. Come to think of it, Santa’s way is the way of the Infant Jesus.
This year let’s have a wonderful Advent and an old-fashioned Merry Christmas. May God bless us every one – young and young at heart alike.
You can contact with any questions. Also, feel free to post comments below.
Comments powered by Disqus
Posted on Wed, November 25th, 2009
Written by: Father James Fritzen, Christ the King Church, Bayberry
email:
Is Christmas about Santa Claus or about Jesus the Christ, the God-made man? Or both? Whose calendar do we follow – Hallmark’s or the church’s? Is Advent a time of preparation or of celebration?
These are just a few of the questions families wrestle with each year at this time. Our society has been into Christmas since mid-October. On the other hand, our counter-cultural church says Advent marks the beginning of our Christmas preparation – a time of quiet anticipation to ready our hearts and minds for the coming of our Savior. The celebration should hold off until Christmas and the 12 days after Christmas.
But this church tradition and the family traditions many of us enjoyed growing up are vanishing. As a child, I couldn’t wait till Santa came – but wait I did. And during the waiting, the excitement grew until Christmas came and boy, what a celebration it was, flowing over into the days and weeks afterwards! Then as I grew, I realized in parallel fashion, how I needed the emptiness, the reflective time of Advent to appreciate how much I need Christ in my life, how much I need Him to be reborn in me in a special way each Christmas.
Unfortunately, we now tend to crowd our Christmas activities (parties, banquets, visiting, gatherings) into the Advent season and end our celebration on Christmas day. As a result, we miss out not only on the spiritual values of Advent and Christmas, but we also fail to enjoy and savor the rich meaning of these special seasons. Nowadays, we rush through life, we cannot wait to get the present moment over with so that we can move on and on – but where are we going?
When is the last time you and your family participated in Advent? When did you last experience the joy and wonder of Christmas? Without the Advent quiet time of preparation, by the time Dec. 25 gets here, we are sick of the decorations and parties, and so poor Jesus comes into a world that is too tired to welcome Him and celebrate His birthday. Instead of “Joy to the World,” it’s “thank God that’s over.”
What message is being conveyed to the children? Do they really understand that “Jesus is the Reason for the Season?” Is the success of Christmas really based on the number of presents under the tree? Do they even know why we exchange presents? Can they tell you what (or actually who) was the first Christmas Gift?
Without being Scrooge, try to temper the celebrations and focus on the preparations – the celebration will be that much better. Combine the spiritual and material preparations. Review the Christian meaning of the time-honored Christmas customs and symbols.
Actually, for me, Christmas is about both Santa and Jesus. At our Pageant Mass, Santa stops by and visits the manger scene. Santa knows Jesus comes first before He delivers the toys. Santa knows the gifts are meaningless unless they symbolize the love God gave us that first Christmas. As the elves load up his sleigh, Santa gathers up the love of God he can bring to others.
A while back I came upon an interesting piece about Santa. As I recall, it said that Santa not only brings toys to good little girls and boys, he also teaches us the real meaning of Christmas. Why does everyone love Santa Claus? First, he is a joyful individual. We are attracted to happy, positive, joyous people. Next, Santa is interested in making others happy. He increases the happy moments in the lives of everyone he meets. Santa really enjoys his work, gets fun out of his job. Santa is also childlike, simple, humble and sincere. Above all, he is a giver. He gives of himself as a friend to everyone.
Maybe, just maybe, you and I could attain even greater happiness in life, if we imitated Santa more often. Come to think of it, Santa’s way is the way of the Infant Jesus.
This year let’s have a wonderful Advent and an old-fashioned Merry Christmas. May God bless us every one – young and young at heart alike.
You can contact with any questions. Also, feel free to post comments below.
Comments powered by Disqus