Tea towels and blue dresses dug out from dusty cupboards, not forgetting where we put the baby Jesus (Wesley Caerphilly keep her under the pulpit wrapped in a white cloth so as not to scare the children).
http://natwivity.com/
If your looking for a fresh take on the Nativity story you can look at the Natwivity where the story unfolds in 140 character chunks throughout December, a great way of sharing and broadcasting the wonder of the Christmas Story and the Reason for the Season.
Advent is a real time for preperation, and not just remembering to book your 12lb Free Range Turkey and Christmas Sausage Meat from the butchers but also remembering the preperation that Mary and Joseph put in as they prepared for their baby Jesus to be born. In many ways a special baby as he is the "Son of God" but in many ways also a human baby. Mary went through the normal pain and trouble of pregnancy and childbirth as Jesus came into the world to be like us, through the ikkyness and risk of natural childbirth.
I've been preparing for the Nativity play at the Amelia Trust Farm on a Monday for a few weeks, doing little bits, finding where the outdoor lights are hidden, working out which wires need to be disconnected so that the wrong lights don't come on and blind people as we walk around telling the familiar story but in an every fresh way, altering the route does something to it but the unpredictability of involving real animals in the story is the one thing that for me makes it fresh every time I think about it as you really can't tell a Donkey that he has to behave for the next half an hour and not get frightened by the annoying lady who won't turn her camera flash off until he's safely back in his warm stable.
For some young people Christmas wishes can be as simple, yet difficult as "to see my dad" and in a time of buying mountains of presents we need to remember those for whom their 1 true wish cannot be made true this Christmas.
Lord, this is my prayer
Not only on Christmas Day
But until I see You face to face
May I live my life this way:
Just like the baby Jesus
I ever hope to be,
Resting in Your loving arms
Trusting in Your sovereignty.
And like the growing Christ child
In wisdom daily learning,
May I ever seek to know You
With my mind and spirit yearning.
Like the Son so faithful
Let me follow in Your light,
Meek and bold, humble and strong
Not afraid to face the night.
Nor cowardly to suffer
And stand for truth alone,
Knowing that Your kingdom
Awaits my going home.
Not afraid to sacrifice
Though great may be the cost,
Mindful how You rescued me
From broken-hearted loss.
Like my risen Savior
The babe, the child, the Son,
May my life forever speak
Of who You are and all You've done.
So while this world rejoices
And celebrates Your birth,
I treasure You, the greatest gift
Unequaled in Your worth.
I long to hear the same words
That welcomed home Your Son,
"Come, good and faithful servant,"
Your Master says, "Well done."
And may heaven welcome others
Who will join with me in praise
Because I lived for Jesus Christ
Not only Christmas Day
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