Christ Centered Christmas

Last year we had a Christmas party where we talked about family traditions and centering Christmas more around Christ.  It was for the stake leaders.  This year we took the book "A Christ Centered Christmas" around to the bishops with their invite to our house to celebrate Christmas and talk about those things that are "working" for their family to simplify and bring the spirit of Christ more into their family celebrations. 

I saw a Pinterest Christmas decoration that looked really fun and so last Saturday, we spent the morning stapling lights to our family room ceiling and hanging Christmas tree balls down with fish line.  It is so very atmospheric.  We ate leftovers for Sunday dinner ( pretty standard and some interesting meals on Sundays) in the family room to enjoy the fireplace and Christmas lights.  It was great.



 We also went past the Payson temple on Saturday as we were shopping. 

The pictures do not do it justice.  We were literally blown away.  We oohed and awed for a while as we sat there soaking in the beautiful and majestic temple before our eyes.  It was tingly just thinking about serving in that special place...and not having to get up at 3:30 a.m. anymore--my greatest hope. Sacrifice is really good for me but I do like my sleep.


So begins our attempts to focus more on a Christ centered Christmas.  It begins with Mary. 
On lds.org is the Bible video:  An Angel Foretell Christ's Birth to Mary.  It begins...
26 And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,

 27 To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary.

 28 And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.

 29 And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be.

 30 And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.

 31 And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus.

 32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:

 33 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.

 34 Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?

 35 And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.

 36 And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren.

 37 For with God nothing shall be impossible.

 38 And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.

The book reminds us that we need to find a moment to ponder the events of that sacred night in Bethlehem and what Mary might have pondered in her heart.  

Then put out your figure of Mary from a nativity set.  

I have nativities from Japan, Africa, South America, Mexico, Austria...many nativities that I love--like the one Natalie made me and I am going to put Mary out from all of them!