Frank Chiapperino » finance http://frankchiapperino.com Tue, 15 May 2012 01:58:43 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 Keeping Christmas Simple http://frankchiapperino.com/2008/12/02/keeping-christmas-simple/ http://frankchiapperino.com/2008/12/02/keeping-christmas-simple/#comments Wed, 03 Dec 2008 03:42:00 +0000 frank http://frankchiapperino.com/?p=293

This year we are doing something a little different at CCV and in the Chiapperino home. We are going to be keeping our Christmas simple. It is an attempt we have made every year, mostly out of necessity, but this year we are approaching the simplicity with great intention. Our home will be participating in the CCV Christmas Covenant. Here is what the covenant is all about:

As members of the CCV family, we will seek to make Christ the center of our Christmas holiday celebration by…

1. Creating a modest budget and committing not to buy any gifts on credit.

2. Adopting a child from the CCV sharing tree.

3. Reading the Christmas story, Luke 2:1-20, on Christmas Eve and asking, “What’s the greatest gift Jesus gave you this year?” and ending in prayer.

4. Creating a “savings jar”, saving money from Thanksgiving until Christmas Eve; bringing the savings to CCV’s Christmas Eve services to be given to an annual benevolence event (Casas Por Cristo or an African mission that will take place next year).

5. Making a gift “from the heart” for people in your immediate or extended family that cannot be purchased.

By signing this Christmas Covenant, I/we agree to partner with others from CCV to make Christ the center of this Christmas holiday.

This week all four of us will sign the form (the boys in crayon!) and turn it in during offering. Here is the plan so far:
  • Modest budget – we are 99% done with our shopping, it has been modest, and it has all been bought with cash.
  • Adopt a child – we are actually helping quite a few people this year. Our Home Team is filling bags for those in need at a local soup kitchen, we are also helping kids in need in the Norristown school district (where one of our group members is a teacher), and helping with the CCV sharing tree. If you attend CCV and you are not part of a group I would encourage you to sign up during this month. New groups are launching in January. I love serving others with my Home Team!
  • Read Luke 2 – I will do this Christmas Eve
  • Savings Jar – We have already started filling it!
  • Make a gift – hmmm… I’m not very crafty, I will need Shelli’s help on this one!

Even if you are not part of CCV consider keeping Christmas simple this year with your family. How can you make it a Christ centered Christmas instead of a consumer Christmas? If you have any ideas I would love to hear them! Leave a comment to share and fill me in on how you handle the holiday.

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