PowerPoint Presentation

Christmas...1

2

MONEYHow will you spend yours...3Christmas 2006...4

5Britain spent around17 billion pounds on giftsThats 378 per person6Whats the best present you have ever been given?7

8How did you feel when you opened it?9LovedAmazedExcitedHappyAstoundedThankfulValuedUnderstoodMoved10What could you do to make someone feel that way too?11

What gift could you give them?12

TimeHow will you spend yours?13You have 336 hours of Christmas holiday14how will you spend that time?15Sleeping

Shopping

Eating

Wrapping Presents

Time with family

T.V.

Hanging out with friends

At Church

16Think of a good time you spent with someone else at Christmas...17What made that time so good?18What can you do to help people enjoy their time this Christmas?19ListenBe patientLaughSharePlayTalkBe presentBe willing20What memories might you create?21

EnergyHow will you spend yours...22Do you have the Christmas spirit?23

24Have others noticed?25Being nice to relativesSmiling at people in the street Helping around the houseAre you...Spending time with friendsSinging festive tunesputting up decorationsspreading goodwill26How can you make Christmas a special time for others this year? 27Jims story http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger2/6309/1010/228/z/158234/gse_multipart66046.jpg

28Talkie bit - Story:

Jim is an older guy, hes married with 4 kids and has three grandkids, and he lives in Texas, America. His life is pretty normal but he discovered something amazing last Christmas time. He says this about his family we have often spent money that we didn't have, gone into debt that took months to overcome, and [seen] Christmas as the ultimate consumer activity with Jesus thrown in as a kind of superstitious blessings.

Last year Jim and his family decided to celebrate in a different way. The names of each family member were put into a hat and they took turns to draw one name out. They no longer had to buy loads of presents for all their relatives but they had to do something extra special for the name they picked. Something that showed they loved that person, they knew their likes and dislikes and was a gift that cost the giver something of them self. This is what Jim writes...

Last year our youngest daughter, Amanda, drew my name. I've been a runner for most of my life, and she has never been one. For Christmas, she registered both of us for a 10K fun run that was scheduled for the following February. [We] then spent the time between Christmas and the run training together. When the day came, we ran the entire 10K together. On the wall in my bedroom, I have a picture of us crossing the finish line. It is one of my treasures because my little girl, thought about who I was, and took some time to give something of herself to me.

He says I can't stop the world from making Christmas what it makes it. But, I can - and I will - spend the Advent Season this year slowing down, spending time with family and friends, giving myself to them, celebrating their presence in my life. I think thats a more lasting gift than anything you can buy.

Example: Insert your own example of something a parent/friend did for you, if you want to extend/personalise it.

Theres just three more slides I want you guys to think about...29How can you spend your money, time or energy to make the Christmas season something more special?30it is in giving that we receive31Spend wisely.32Resources

Photos from www.flickr.co.ukStory from www.faithwalking.blogspot.comSuggested music: Somewhere in my Memory from the Home Alone Soundtrack33