25 Ideas for returning CHRIST to CHRISTmas

Imagine the lead-up to December 25th, where every New Zealander, from young to old, encounters nativity scenes woven into the fabric of their daily journey.

Hope Project Christmas aspires to make CHRIST the CENTREPIECE at Christmas by encouraging individuals to display NATIVITIES wherever they can.

Here are some ideas:

1. Purchase and use nativity-related Christmas cards. Many shopping chains, $2 shops and Christian book stories stock them some ideas here
2. Post nativity-related pictures on social media when saying ‘Merry Christmas’ Download graphics
3. Enhance your Christmas decorations with nativity elements. When purchasing decorations, prioritise nativity-themed items to help drive their demand and reshape the market.
4. Decorate windows or glass doors with Nativity window decal   – which  you can purchase here.
5. Create Nativity lighting displays to go on church or home roofs, or in front of a building. Find ideas here
6. Create or buy large nativity set that will stand out on your home lawn.
7. Those with businesses likewise return nativity imagery to their window display or building decorations, lights and decal. You can download graphics for decal, poster designs and more here
8. Businesses return Christmas carols with nativity-related lyrics to their in-store music playlists if they have been removed.
9. Church small groups run relaxed year-end social celebrations to which friends are invited, respectfully including nativity imagery, and the story that springs from it.
10. Businesses, churches and individuals put up billboards that include nativity imagery. You can download billboard designs here– which we could also edit for you upon request.
11. Intentionally and prominently include nativity imagery in promotional materials you create for your Christmas events, rather than using ‘Santa’ imagery, bells, snow and the like.
12. As churches, seek to facilitate community Christmas and Christmas carol gatherings that esteem family and community, while respecting the actual Christmas tradition, Christmas story and values history that explain why it became a cultural festival in our nation.
13. Unite with other churches to create children’s Christmas gifts or Christmas food parcels for families – to gift them to families you know, or to work with an organisations like Oranga Tamariki – to empower them to give gifts to families they work with (this already happens in a number of areas).
14. As churches, be diligent to participate in Christmas parades, maintaining a respectful nativity-related New Zealand perspective within them – noting stories and ideas here and here
15. Develop a nativity experience at your church for the public – noting ideas here, here and here.
16. Use and gift the ‘3D Wooden Nativity’ or ‘Nativity Decal’ purchase here
17. Regarding the story of Ruatara’s invitation to Marsden, resulting in the first Christian message to Maori – and on Christmas Day… …tell the story or gift a printed copy of ‘The First Kiwi Christmas’ illustrated history story for age 4-7 from Big Book Publishing purchase here
18. Regarding the amazing original of the Santa Claus tradition – tell the story or gift, ‘Gifts at Christmas – the story of Saint Nicholas‘ to someone (a children’s story about his life, suiting ages 4-7) – which you can purchase here
19. Use ‘Advent Calendars,’ which you can buy online  (or from the Warehouse if they sell them like they did at Christmas 2023) or encourage friends to participate via social media – searching ideas here
20. Share Christmas video resources on your social media – noting some ideas here
21. Starting on the evening on December 1st, read a chapter of the gospel according to Luke each day until Christmas. There are 24 chapters, and this would give you and your family a wonderful understanding of the birth and life if our glorious redeemer, Jesus. (Thanks Liz Akers for this suggestion!). Don’t forget to share your personal insights during this time of reflection.
22. Get copies of this bicultural Christmas activity-book/magazine for children from Maori Postal to children – and offer it to families or local schools. Who knows who might accept the gift! Find this here
23. Find Christmas themed children’s resources for your Kid’s Church/Sunday School here
24. MULTIPLY THE EFFECT – by promoting the VISION of doing something to return CHRIST in CHRISTmas to others – whether sympathetic family, friends or your church (noting this PowerPoint , flyer and 60 second video exist to help).
25. Financially support the Hope Project Christmas media campaign – so we can do more – noting that we invest money in this to (a) promote the idea to churches nationally by various means while (b) strategically engaging (with paid boosting) in social media to ensure that wide-reaching audiences see the CHRIST of CHRISTmas on those platforms. We work with intelligence, strategy and intent. Please donate here to support this effort and similar ongoing Christian work.

There are things we can do together that we cannot do apart.

The New Zealand Church has the capacity to see Christ retained in Christmas in this nation – but only if we have a vision for this, and will work in unison toward it.

Let’s unite in this simple vision to see Christ returned to Christmas!