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SLIDES:1 -3: Jesus is the reason for the season. We take advantage to bring the message of Jesus in our neighborhood.4: We can read John 3.16 on one of our front doors.5-7: in the evening our set up looks great with Christmas lights and snow: people cannot miss it.8 – we can read in French, of course: “QUEBEC FOR JESUS” figuring in the Christmas crown.9: Christmas tree has a special place in our home. It has always been a great tradition among French people. Even today, although most people have rejected the Church in Quebec, somehow, people still want to decorate their house for the Christmas Season.10: Lorraine & Donald11: our flock.12 – 15: outdoor is also a family tradition. When possible, we bring friends that are lonely with us.16 : gifts under the Christmas tree looks always attractive for grandchildren.17 -20: a lot of discussions are taking place around Christmas meals.Every New Year Day year we try to keep the tradition of our “All Day Open House.”. This is a great time to invite friends, neighbors, relatives, church people. Many people are alone without family or experiencing broken family. We gather around the table to eat and discuss; we have a sharing time to share highlights of past year; we sing Christians songs and share God stories. This traditional “Open House” has been a highlight in our lives. WE also help the local Church to serve meals and Christmas food basket.21- All this makes sense because of the Gift of Jesus.As you stay on SLIDE 21, you can read the following text that Donald wrote the first year he became Christian. LETTER TO JESUS, THE GREAT “FORGOTTEN” OF CHRISTMAS!Jesus, in a few days we will celebrate Christmas. It is your birthday? Isn’t it? We see in the streets people preparing for the Party as we observe huge decorations that are so beautiful and lights so rich in color. Now, all we need is a little bit of snow...Christmas is mysterious. This holiday mobilizes the whole world as one notes the hype done in the newspapers, music in shopping centers, on the radio and the TV. Young people long for Christmas. Teens are looking forward to having their Christmas break. It is also a time when parents negotiate good behavior with children for gifts they will receive on Christmas Day. Parents challenge their hearts to obey, to clean up their room, to study and behave well… And children learn quickly this “Chritsmas game” of negotiation and compromise in exchange of gifts - material gains ... And all this lasts only couple weeks.Christmas is also a time of joy, of reflection where the need for peace is strongly expressed around us and all over the world. In this sense, it is a period of pause that allows us to refuel, before embarking the next year.And you, Jésus, in all this?When I look at my own life, I have played that “Christmas Game” for so long as my parents, my friends, my culture taught and trained me. Anyway I did not know anything else about Christmas except this period of holiday, unpacking gifts, "party," meetings with friends (es). Christmas was expected in my heart because Christmas made "ME" feel good ... I used to believe in you, Jesus, but with a "historical" faith, like a legend, a Christmas tale. But I The Chritsmas Game did not change my heart, my life…And, Jésus, you in all this?Today, now that I am reconciled with God and following you Jesus, I can say that it is different. Also, I understand a little more what you can feel at your Christmas, your Birth Day. I say that I understand what you can feel, because it's my birthday on Valentine's Day. It's my party and it's not really my party…. Everyone wishes Valentine's Day. People make it the feast of lovers, of friendship, chocolate, red packaging, etc…I see that traders long to make money selling chocolate and greeting cards and restaurant meals. And for the worst, even that day, which is supposed to be my “birth day,” people expect a lot from me: gifts, chocolate!, red greetings. Just like you for Christmas, Jesus, Valentine Day is not my Party… it is commercial and gifts party. That make me feel disappointed and sad ... and, I understand better you now, how you can feel at Christmas Season…And you, Jesus, in all this?When I think of You, the fact that you paid of your death for us, to restore our relationship, our friendship with God, that you accepted in humility to become a man to really ensure our salvation. You have taught us that love is to give up oneself, to do good serving others by shifting from words to deeds. Thank you Jesus for such love, for being the way, the truth and the life, and for giving us a new and different meaning now when we look at the cross. Lead us Jesus to the people who seek God (Psalm 14.2) to people who need to know this new hope and Good News and get reconciled with you.Jesus, you are the reason for this Season!. ................
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