Our favourite things...

Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens
Bright copper kettles and warm woollen mittens
Brown paper packages tied up with strings
These are a few of my favourite things …

There won’t be much chance of escaping it over the festive period – the Sound of Music is as much a feature of many people’s Christmases as turkey, mince pies and the Grinch. But much as cute animals, beautiful plants and presents are to be enjoyed, it strikes us that there are many things far more wonderful about celebrating Christmas with our brothers and sisters in Christ in our local congregations.

So here are some of the things members of The Good Book Blog team love most about Christmas with their respective churches:

Helen (Blog Editor)
I’m tempted to say the bacon butties we all eat together on Christmas morning before the service begins but even more than that I love the Christmas readings – it’s so rare to get so many in one service. The prophets longed for the coming of the Messiah and their words are simply dripping with anticipation, the angels’ proclamations are triumphant, ushering in the incarnation – it’s great to be able to join together to celebrate God’s salvation plan that stretches from creation to new creation.

Dean (Marketing Manager)
For me, it would be two-fold. As a Church family it's the coming together on Christmas morning - young and not so young, families, kids, the whole mix across the church - to celebrate Jesus' birth and shout it to the world. Secondly - it's the opportunities that Christmas services bring to meet new people coming through our doors and those who only come on "special" occasions. A relaxed and friendly time to be able to share the gospel with those who may not otherwise hear it and to show how normal we are as Christians and as a church.

Rachel (Editorial Intern)
The Sunday School Nativity at our carol service. Sure the costumes are the same every year, but when Mary's clutching that baby doll it's always very cute!

Tim (Creative Director)
I love welcoming people to church on Christmas day. Kids come clutching gifts, or in their Spiderman Pyjamas. Parents wearing tinsel and horrific Christmas jumpers. I tend to stand at the back and greet people as they arrive, particularly looking out for families with small children that I don't know. We see a huge number of people who don't come at any other time of year, and it's our opportunity to "make an impression" with them - and to show them why it might be great to come with their kids at other times of year as well.

Carl (Senior Editor)
I love the Sunday after Christmas. When the rest of the world has to go "back to normal" and leave Christmas behind, the central story of Christmas continues to matter. The Sunday after Christmas always reminds me that the best thing about Christmas is something I can enjoy all year round.

Feel free to add your own highlights too …