Advent Conspiracy is a site that has been launched by Imago Dei. The site is all about rejecting consumerism this Christmas, and instead focusing on Compassion, and worshipping Christ.
I will be posting some thoughts about Christmas soon, but tonight I just wanted to share this list of relational gift ideas from the sight
Spending Time Together:
Here’s some creative ways to give the gift of spending time together during the holidays.
Prepare a feast with a meal, candles and ambiance music
Buy your child a baseball bat for a trip to the batting cages together
Wrap a pound of local coffee or a tin of favorite tea with a date to get together with a close friend
Nutcracker Suite ballet tickets for a trip with another child
Wrap popcorn and a classic DVD for a movie night with a friend
Host Monday night football and make some homemade pizzas
Wrap 2 copies of a classic book (check out Powell’s) to read with a friend
Hot cocoa, bundling up, & walking through the Christmas lit streets in town
Creative Coupons:
Creative coupons are a way of relationally giving away your skills, talents or time to bless someone close to you. You can make these out of paper or card-stock and feel free to decorate ‘em up!
“Babysitting” for those parents who could use a night out
“Yard work” for an elderly person in your life
“Massage” for that person who’s been working a bit too hard lately
“Road trip” to get on an out-of-town adventure together with your child
“Free Pint” to get together and talk theology and what God is doing in your lives
“Car Maintenance” to change the oil in a friend’s car if you know how
“House project” to help them build that shed, clean the garage, fix the porch, etc.- any house project you could both do together
Bath & Body:
You can make some great bath & body products without ever setting foot in the mall. Here are some great websites where you can find recipes for these and similar products.
Brown sugar body scrub: www.pioneerthinking.com
Facial soaps: www.bellahandmadesoap.com
Scented candles: www.cajuncandles.com
“ReadyMade”:
“ReadyMade” magazine is the most creative resource out there for some really fun, interesting and creative handmade craft projects. Check out their website at www.readymademag.com for some great ideas or for $25 bucks you & a few friends could go in together on their great book “How to Make (Almost) Everything”.
· Messenger bag (no sewing required)
· Stylish doormat from clothespins
· Classic picture frame from a hardcover book
· Closet organizer from shoe boxes and hangers
· Designer clock made from chopsticks
· Wine rack from coat hangers
· Picnic tote from a blanket
· Terry apron from hand towels
· Action-figure snow-globe
· CD Holder made from Lego’s or FedEx tubes
Things to Make:
A recipe book with your favorite recipes for a neighbor
A photo album of the kids for the distant relatives
With the kids hand-paint some new pottery mugs or
dishes at a ceramics store
A memory book with photos, ticket stubs, etc. of things you’ve done together
Record an interview with grandparents on the history of their life to give the family
Build a raised garden bed for herbs or vegetables
A DVD of your life these days for that long-distance friend, take a tour of your town, house, job etc…
Paint or draw a picture
Scrabble board appreciation-arrange an old scrabble board of words that express memories and attributes of that special person. Glue the pieces down and put a picture hanger on the back for them to hang it up as art!
Of course, Martha Stewart has a ton of gift ideas to make that are really nice and many of them are low cost www.marthastewart.com/crafts
Food & Drink:
If the quickest way to the heart is through the stomach, here are some ideas of some great things to bake for others during the Christmas season! Some websites you can look to for creative recipe ideas are: www.christmas-baking.com , www.epicurious.com , www.foodnetwork.com , www.recipezaar.com Here are some of the types of recipes we found there:
Sweet Potato Pie (with Gingersnap Crust)
Vanilla Hot Cocoa Mix
Holiday Biscotti with Cranberries
Nutmeg Scented Scones
Old-fashioned Peanut Brittle
Mixed Nut Spiced Toffee
Peppermint Bark
Chocolate Truffles
Cinnamon Streusel Cider Muffins
Filed under: Christianity, Christmas, Church, Faith, Family, God, Jesus, Missional, community | Tagged: Advent, Compassion, Consumerism, culture, Holidays
