The Work of Christmas | Christmastide Season 2024-2025
“When the song of the angels is stilled, When the star in the sky is gone, When the kings and princes are home, When the shepherds are back with their flock, The work of Christmas begins: To find the lost, To heal the broken, To feed the hungry, To release the prisoner, To rebuild the nations, To bring peace among others, To make music in the heart.” -Howard Thurman
Introduction:
Christmastide is the season between Christmas and Ephiphany, the 12 days of Christmas. During this time, we remember that the Work of Christmas is just beginning anew as we reflect on the hope that comes with the birth of Christ on earth and remember that Christ taught us to care for the poor, free the oppressed, and to love God and neighbor. Each day, you are provided with an opportunity to study and reflect on the work of some of our partner organizations related to our priority areas as a faith community. You are also invited to use this form, as many times as you like, to note your interest from the “Action” suggestions below: https://firstchurchseattle.breezechms.com/form/0c9494 (or use the QR code below).
Day One: Wednesday, Dec 25th – Christmas
“But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for see, I am brining you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord.” (Luke 2:10).
Focus: First Church’s Shared Breakfast Program – Each Sunday morning, we serve a warm meal to anyone that is hungry.
Action: Sign-up to become a volunteer at Shared Breakfast. We are especially in need of Assistant Cooks, Dishwashers, Grant
Writers, and Musicians to provide a welcoming atmosphere for our guests. Or visit and support a local food bank.
Day Two: Thursday, Dec 26th
“Therefore, siblings in faith, select from among yourselves seven people of good standing, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may appoint to this task.” (Acts 6:3)
Focus: Washington Immigrant Solidarity Network (WAISN), (https://waisn.org/) – Through our relationship with the Church Council of Greater Seattle, we are connected to WAISN, with is the largest immigrant-led coalition in the State of Washington.
Action: Commit to attending a WAISN’s rapid response network training, or stay connected with their work through their website.
Day Three: Friday, Dec 27th
“And now, my children, listen to me: happy are those who keep my ways. Hear instruction and be wise, and do not neglect it.” (Proverbs 8:32)
Focus: Mending Wings (https://mendingwings.net/) – A Native led organization that “exists to empower and heal Native youth through leadership development, cultural retention and revitalization programs, spirituality and [the Tribes] ways of live.” The Greater Northwest Episcopal Area gathers youth each summer to participate in Mending Wing’s Students Learning About Mission (S.L.A.M.), offering an “indigenous perspective on missions and Christianity vs. a western perspective.”
Action: To understand the harm that has been done by Western society to the Indigenous People in North America, we need to immerse ourselves in learning experiences. Consider setting up a group to go visit the Duwamish Longhouse Cultural Center in Seattle and then reflect on that experience, or sign-up to participate in our Land Acknowledgement Next Steps Sub-Committee, or express your interest in participating in a S.L.A.M. Trip this upcoming summer.
Day Four: Saturday, Dec 28th
“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.” (Revelation 21:1)
Focus: Earth Ministry (https://earthministry.org/) – First Church is part of Earth Ministry, which organizes people of faith to “transform faith into action for the well-being of communities and the environment.”
Action: Check out their webpage to see how to become more involved in advocacy for environmental justice. Day Five: Sunday, Dec 29th
“Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.” (Colossians 3:14)
Focus: Furniture Repair Bank (https://www.repairbank.org/) – This organization works to “revive unwanted furniture and provide it to families in need, addressing climate issues and creating a positive impact locally.”
Action: Consider volunteering with the Furniture Repair Bank.
Day Six: Monday, Dec 30th
“And what I say to you I say to all: Keep awake.” (Mark 13:37)
Focus: Early Response Teams (ERT’s) – United Methodists provide a strong presence during the Relief/Recovery phases following natural disasters. United Methodists Volunteers in Mission (UMVIM) provide trainings through the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) focused on providing a caring Christian presence in the aftermath of disasters.
Action: Consider becoming trained as an Early Response Team member, or note interest to participate in local UMVIM projects.
Day Seven: Tuesday, Dec 31st – New Year’s Eve
“Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12).
Focus: Food Lifeline (https://foodlifeline.org/)– First Church periodically sends a volunteer team to Food Lifeline’s Hunger Solution Center, a large warehouse where food is made ready for distribution to people facing hunger. Food Lifeline operates throughout all of Western Washington, across 17 counties, and has distributed more than 71 Million pounds of food.
Action: Consider signing up to volunteer at Food Lifeline, either as an individual or with a First Church team. Shifts are only 2 hrs. Day Eight: Wednesday, Jan 1st – New Year’s Day / Holy Name of Jesus
“For everything there is a season and a time for every matter under heaven.” (Ecclesiastes 3:1)
Focus: Faith Action Network (FAN) (https://fanwa.org/) – First Church is part of FAN which “is a statewide, multifaith partnership striving for just, compassionate, and sustainable communities through courageous advocacy and public action.”
Action: Save the date of February 20th to attend FAN’s Interfaith Advocacy Day with a team from First Church. You’ll learn about FAN’s priority areas, gain tools for advocacy, and participate in speaking with state congressional representatives.
Day Nine: Thursday, Jan 2nd
“But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, fully of mercy and good fruits, without a trace of partiality or hypocrisy.” (James 3:17).
Focus: Neighborhood House (NH) (https://nhwa.org/) – NH provides services to address the needs of entire families, with a focus on low-income communities, public housing residents, immigrants, and refugees. First Church works with NH to provide Welcome Kits for families moving into new stable housing.
Action: Consider ways to volunteer with NH as an individual. They have opportunities for their After School Youth program and for Citizenship Class volunteers, and more! (https://nhwa.org/get-involved/volunteer/)
Day Ten: Friday, Jan 3rd
“No one after lighting a lamp hides it under a jar or puts it under a bed; rather, one puts it on a lampstand, so that those who enter may see the light.” (Luke 8:16).
Focus: Reconciling Ministries Network (RMN) (https://rmnetwork.org/) – RMN “is committed to intersectional justice across and beyond the United Methodist connection, working for the full participation of all LGBTQ+ people through the life and leadership of the Church.” First Church is a Reconciling Church.
Action: Consider signing up to be a reconciling individual or look further into what it means to be a reconciling individual. Make a commitment today on how you will participate with our Pride Parade welcoming and hospitality event this year in June.
Day Eleven: Saturday, Jan 4th
“Blessed be God’s glorious name forever; may God’s glory fill the whole earth. Amen and Amen.” (Psalm 72:19).
Focus: The General Board of Church & Society (GBCS) of the United Methodist Church (https://www.umcjustice.org/) – GBCS is “dedicated to the work of living faith, seeking justice, and pursuing peace.”
Action: Sign-up to be a Justice Advocate. Participate in advocacy through the prepared legislative Action Alerts of GBCS.
Day Twelve: Sunday, Jan 5th
“And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14).
Focus: The General Commission on Religion & Race (GCORR) (https://www.gcorr.org/) – GCORR was started in 1968 “to hold the newly formed United Methodist Church accountable in its commitment to reject the sin of racism in every aspect of the life of the church.” Our Bishop has called us to continue working towards eliminating racism in our society. One way we do that is by examining our own privileges and studying the perspectives of persons without the same privileges as ourselves.
Action: Consider participating in our First Church “in their own words” book study group, or get a group together to visit art exhibits that represent cultures other than your own, or attend an event held by Seattle Arts and Lectures to hear from artists, poets, and authors about their life experiences.