On the 17th we are going to look at Jesus birth through a different lens. Instead of Christmas cards and Silent Night or even the Gospel accounts of his birth we are going to explore what the book of Revelation says about it. In Revelation we find a spiritual war in Heaven and on earth sorrounding the birth of Jesus. The God of the universe took the battle into the heart of his enemies teritory when he took on flesh as a little baby. We spent time brainstorming around this subject in two areas: what are the typical depictions of Christmas and what might be some parralels to this other way of viewing Jesus birth. Here were some of the ideas:
Traditional Christmas IdeasArt:
Christmas Cards
Candy Canes on tables
Ornaments on tables
Norman Rockwell or Currier and Ives Artwork
Video Clips:
Charlie Brown Christmas
Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer
Elf
A Christmas Story (You'll Shoot Your Eye Out)
Cingular Commercial spoofing A Christmas Story (You'll Run the Bill Up)
Colbert Report - Nativity Scene Interview Area
The Nativity Story Trailer
Talladega Nights Clips – Praying to Baby Jesus
Music:Rob Thomas - New York City Christmas
Goo Goo Dolls - Better Days
Silent Night
Hark the Herald Angels Sing
Angels We Have Heard on High
Oh Holy Night
Away in a Manger
Other:
Have people share about their Christmas traditions
Non-Traditional Christmas Ideas
Songs:
The Killers new Christmas song
Sufjan Stevens new Christmas 5-disc set
Unveil - Rebecca St. James
Wonder As You Wander
Onward Christian Soldiers
Here I Am to Worship
One Small Child – David Meece
Video Clips
Saturday Night Live - TV Funhouse Charlie Brown Chrstmas Spoof with Jesus
Maybe something froma movie with a hero making a daring raid into the center of enemy territory - kinda like Rambo? Other ideas?
We could use any other art ideas you have. Thanks for taking a few minutes to consider ways we can make our worship gatherings better, more of an expression of our community as a whole and a place people can encounter God.
