What are your "alternatives"?

This past few weeks, in the entry way to The Ecumenical Church, there have been some tables set up.  At those tables have been some very important people... no, not Senators or Congress persons.  These are people who actually view their jobs as important, and useful!  The folks who stand at those tables have been there to help you and I understand and participate in some of the mission of The Ecumenical Church.

You see, a church is only as effective as it's ability to reach beyond it's own doors and walls. A church that only thinks as works to serve itself is a self centered Church.  And, like self centered people, self centered Churches aren't of much use to God.  God want us, if we claim to be followers of Jesus, to move beyond thinking of ourselves and our personal agendas.  God wants us to come to Him so that we might be given His agenda.  That is very hard for most of us.  We are steeped in traditions of pulling ourselves up by our bootstraps and told that the way to succeed is by looking out for "number one".  This is only true is by "number one" we mean God!
 
These folks who sit at the tables in our Narthex... They are there to encourage and help us move beyond the usual Christmas time attitude of consumerism.  They are there to encourage and help us with "alternative giving".  This is something that we should remember throughout the year and not just at Christmas.  Alternative Giving is rather than buying all the toys and "stuff" that is advertized on TV, look at the idea of giving gifts that don't rust, fade or break.  Did you know that for a pretty minimal cost you can help a family in Latin America buy a cow, or a family in India a water buffalo?  Rabbits in Mexico can help a family start a business that will feed them for years to come and chickens for a family provides eggs to sell and eat.  When we begin to think outside of ourselves we begin to think like Jesus.  The Apostle Paul said it this way in Philippians;  Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, ⁴ not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. ⁵ In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: ⁶ Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; ⁷ rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. ⁸ And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross! ⁹ Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, ¹⁰ that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,  in heaven and on earth and under the earth, ¹¹ and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.  Philippians 2: 3-11


As you go about your Christmas shopping... think "alternative".  In doing this you will be thinking about eternity. 

May you have the greatest Christmas of your life!
Peace and Joy in Jesus,
Pastor Bill