Enjoying a Christ-Centred Christmas

Confession time. I complain about Christmas from October through the end of December. And, perhaps, you might agree with these sentiments. After all, Christmas is a time to celebrate Jesus’ birth.

But how do you keep Christ in Christmas when you’re already waist deep in the hustle and bustle—decorating trees, shopping for the perfect gifts, Christmas carolling and nativity plays, hosting family and friends, cooking and baking…

Here are some suggestions to reframe your focus so that you can keep Christ as the centre of your Christmas activities and enjoy it in a deeper, more meaningful way.

Decorating The Christmas Tree

As the centrepiece of Christmas decor, the Christmas tree is a great place to showcase the true reason for the season. You can tell the Christmas story through nativity-themed ornaments. As you string the lights, remember Jesus is the light of the world. And, when you get to the top of the tree, whether you prefer a star or an angel, think about the night Jesus was born. Tell your children about the star the wise men followed or the angels that announced Jesus’ birth to the shepherds. Every time you look at your Christmas tree you will see Jesus and the joy He brings.

Watching Christmas Films

The Nativity Story, The Star, and The Ultimate Gift are popular Christian Christmas films. But even those about elves, reindeer, and snowmen can spark conversations about faith, hope, and God’s love at work. So, pop the popcorn, pull up your favourite streaming service, and enjoy a great family night.

Shopping & Buying Gifts

God gave us the most precious gift with the birth of Jesus. Giving is how He showed His great love for us (John 3:16). As you shop for gifts, thank God for Jesus. Be grateful for the blessings you’ve received. Reflect on the love you want to share with your family and friends through your gifts.

Santa Claus

Even Santa? Why not?! Can you not see Christ’s love at work through a man who makes toys and delivers them to children around the world? Show your children God’s love on display. Santa can perfectly illustrate how God uses people to bless others. Would the Jesus who ate with tax collectors and ministered to Samaritan women, denounce a man who makes toys and delivers them to children?

Over to You

The reality is that whether or not you enjoy a Christ-centred Christmas is up to you. Keeping Christ in Christmas is not about denouncing Santa or the commercialisation of the season. It’s more about how you live your life than what you buy. The best way to have a Christ-centred Christmas is to make Him a central part of your celebrations.

Recognise and celebrate the love and character of Christ that is present all around. Take every opportunity to remind yourself, your family, and your friends about the true meaning of Christmas.

Hello and welcome to Elim Oasis church. If you are a new visitor, we have a page for you to get to know us and learn more about planning a visit.
Click here to see more.

Visitors click here.

Planning your Visit

A Warm Hello

The following information is specifically for those planning a visit, so that you know, beforehand, what to expect on a Sunday morning.

Where and When

We meet at the Church Building (details here) for our Sunday Service starting at 10:30 am. We serve tea, coffee and biscuits from 10 am, before the service begins. It is a great way to meet people, or simply take time to find your bearings. All refreshments are free.

Accessibility: There is wheelchair access through the main (side) door, and a sound loop for anyone who needs it. Please let one of the Welcome Team know on your arrival and they will help you to get set up. Note we regret our toilets are not wheelchair friendly, however, we can assist to ensure safe access and use.

Our Service

The main service begins at 10:30 am with a warm welcome from one of our team members. Then follows a time of sung worship; typically have three or four songs lasting approximately 25 minutes. Sometimes a person might pray out loud or read a small passage from the bible. Sometimes people share things that they believe God is saying to the whole church family. This might seem strange the first time you hear it but it’s all part of our connecting with God. We then share news and notices, usually about what’s going on in the life of the church. One of our leaders will then give a sermon that is bible based and that we can apply to our everyday life. We may finish with a final worship song. Sometimes there is an opportunity to receive prayer at the end of the service.

images: Services

Getting Connected

Oasis Life and Prayer

While Sundays are a great way to meet new people, it is often in smaller gatherings that you can really get to know someone. Being part of Elim Oasis Life and Prayer allows you to make new friends, share together and support each other. Seth leads this ministry, so We have a variety of groups that meet throughout the week, some afternoons and some evenings. Check out Small Groups and see if there’s one that you could join, or we can put you in touch with a small group leader who will be more than happy to invite you along to their group.

Serving and Volunteering

If you want to get involved in the life of the church and help us make Sundays run smoothly, you can sign up to serve on a team.

Other Ministries

We also run the following ministries:

Men's Ministries
Women's Ministries
Foodbank

Get in touch with us to plan your visit

If you would like to come and visit the church beforehand you are more than welcome! Get in touch and we can arrange a time that suits you.

Name:

Telephone:

Email Address:
Comments / Questions or anything you would like to say?

Next, we will contact you by email to say hello and help arrange anything necessary for your visit.

Best Wishes

Ness