"How are you spending Christmas? "

That question invariably comes up at pre-Christmas parties and gatherings. As the Day draws near—or as we close the store, leave school, or say goodbye for a welcome year-end holiday—the question pops up, “And so, how are you spending the holidays?”

Since I participate in several “Christmases” (no doubt, you do as well), my own answer depends on who’s asking, and how much they want to know. May these reflections spark your own thinking about how you spend Christmas Past, Christmas Present or Christmas Future.

I hate the Christmas Crush.

First, a full disclosure: Christmas is not my favorite holiday. I hate with Scrooge-like disdain the Christmas Crush. It is so commercialized, and I never know what to get anyone. Nor do I know what I want or need, so that makes me a lousy one to shop for, as well.

Still, I can’t stand the thought of someone else going without—not if I have the means to help. Hence I will shop for a needy guy and his mother—a MOM client whom I’ve known ever since I got here. Thanks to hundreds of you donor families, almost 300 such matches will be made, connecting neighbors for good and “Sharing Christmas” with the needy.

Act now, and we can still match you up with a family in need. Middleton Outreach Ministry also makes available “alternative gift cards”—that is, for the person on your gift list who has a lot—you give $50 worth of housing help, utility help or dairy products—earmarked for those with very little.

Much as I hate spending money in response to the Christmas Crush, I will spend time to be with others. I will go to their special events—to the Christmas programs at civic and service clubs, even an InterFaith Awareness event. My wife and I must choose between a crush of competing openhouses and office parties (even MOM has two this year).

Yet, at this time of year, I burn with cabin fever for an escape—usually planning a summertime family reunion and spending—as my Christmas gift—whatever it takes to get my far-flung family together.

I love the Christmas Crèche.

When my firstborn, Eric, came into the world 26 years ago, his mother and I set up a manger scene and placed our 2-month-old baby there—a scene reenacted for years to come.

Christmas for me is still about the babe in the manger and retelling that age-old story behind the crèche. So, together with other family, we will witness a Christmas cantata (at High Point Church, December 17, when our 2-month-old niece plays the baby Jesus). We’ll see a powerful new Christmas movie (“The Nativity Story”), at least once, and Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” for the umpteenth time. We’ll worship at a Christmas Eve service, or two.

The Christ Child reveals God’s grace to all, one person at a time. At MOM, we draw names for playing “Secret Santa”—where we act kindly and give small, unsigned gifts to the surprise and delight of all. In secret, and expecting nothing in return (at least from that person). We even play the “white elephant” game, wrapping up, as unknown presents, the unclaimed (and weird) stuff donated to MOM, as well as other goodies.

We change hours for Christmas Week.

The MOM Office at 7432 Hubbard Ave will be closed from noon December 22 through December 26. The Office reopens December 27-29, but with reduced hours, 9-12noon. The Food Pantry & Clothing Closet (at the Distribution Center, 8710 Montclair Drive) will be closed December 24 through January 1. But donations can be received at the MOM Office during this time, and emergency food bags will be available to MOM clients c/o the MOM Office instead of the DC.

You may be asking, Why close MOM around the holidays? Someone raised this very question last Thanksgiving when MOM’s Pantry (and every other in Dane County) closed for the immediate day(s) after. The answer has to do with the MOM employees and volunteers. As much as we love doing for others, there comes a time when our own families come first.

Y’all come to the ChristmasFest.

Together with 200+ MOM volunteers and an equal number of guests, I will enjoy ChristmasFest at St. Bernard’s Church, December 25, noon-2pm. As always (for 30 years or so), we offer this community-wide dinner. So come one, come all. O Come all ye Faithful. Call 836-7338 to contribute or participate however you can.

After the feeding of the 400, I retreat with the extended family on Sue’s side for a second dinner and gift exchange. We linger for good conversation. But not as long as usual, as Sue and I are called elsewhere—to spend Christmas at Urbana ’06.

We’re spending Christmas at Urbana ’06.

The week after Christmas, Sue and I (for the first time together) are investing a week with the InterVarsity Christian Fellowship staff and volunteers who put on the world’s largest student missions convention. This event, known simply as “Urbana,” is held every three years and is being hosted for the first time in St. Louis (MO), instead of Urbana (IL). At this new location, more adults can attend and sort out God’s call to be all they can be—in the marketplace, in AIDS communities, in the inner city, in hurricane ravaged cities, as well as taking the Gospel into all the world.

As you savor favorite memories of Christmas Past, enjoy Christmas Present, and plan for Christmas Future, take care. Take of yourself, and take care of at least one other family or neighbor, as when Dickens’ Scrooge finally took care of his employee Bob Cratchit and the cripple Tiny Tim. Tell your “Bob” and “Tim” how much they mean to you, to others, and to God. That will have been a Christmas well spent.

With the Cratchits, Merry Christmas and God bless us, everyone.

© 2005 Middleton Outreach Ministry

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