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Safe Conversations for Christians at Christmas – 2020

person pouring wine on glass

Christmas 2020. The chances are Christmas is going to look different for you. You may be spending a lot of Christmas online with people? You might be spending Christmas with different people.

You may be spending Christmas with the same people you normally do.

Either way, Christmas seems to be a time when people talk a bit more than they normally do, and you may not be talking with people that agree with you. You may end up with people who vote Donald Trump, when you vote correctly Biden, or you may find yourself sharing a Turkey with people who voted remain, when you like the idea of Brexit.

Basically… you might find yourself with people you totally disagree with…

So here are a few safe Christian conversation starters that might help over Christmas…

  1. Santa. Best in Green or Red?
  2. What would Jesus build?
  3. Lets open some windows?
  4. How silence can help us connect with the world within us.
  5. Its a bit different this year isn’t it…
  6. Favourite books of the year.
  7. The joy of mince pies
  8. Rob Bell or John Piper?
  9. Coke or Pepsi?
  10. At what point should there be a new church set up for the new “car parks” in Kent?
  11. If Santa and Jesus shared a drink, what would they order?
  12. Rules of PCC top trumps.
  13. Most acceptable online sermon length.
  14. If I had a Bible verse on my mask, what should it be?
  15. More Tea?
  16. This sucks, right?

What should be added?

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Alternative Christmas Talks

hand metal music musician

It’s Christmas time, and let’s face it. Online or not online there are many many sermons out there to be be given. And in some cases, there are Christmas sermons still to be written. If you are looking for Christmas sermon inspiration, here are our list of Alternative Christmas Talks that SOMEONE needs to give…

  1. Mary, Joseph and Family Bubbles.
  2. The Shepherds and Social Distancing.
  3. The Angels. Why they sang facing away form each other.
  4. Worship without singing: The Stable Boy.
  5. Safer outside. The nativity as a Covid safe model.
  6. Masks: Lets embrace wearing real ones in church.
  7. Are we socially distanced from Jesus?
  8. Trust: King Herod, Boris, and Jesus.
  9. Would Angels wear masks?
  10. Don’t be afraid. I bring good news: Vaccines, hope, Jesus.

Any more ideas?

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Alternative Nativities. A Collection.

fashion people lights wooden

Well. Its Christmas in 2020.

Its a bit… well what is there to say about all of this? Church Sofa is a mostly family friendly Church safe blog. So I’m going to say…. “sigh”…

Whilst there appears to be less “funny church things” than there normally are at this time of year… Here are a few nice Nativity things…

When King Herod joins Zoom…

The Snackivity…

When you have the choice between Lego and a new Nativity set…

What should I add here?

Add it below!

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Away In A Manger: Socially Distanced Version

jesus christ figurine

What if.

What if Away In A Manger was written in 2020? Or at least… was written for a Nativity that happened during a socially distanced age?

Would it read something like this?

Step away from the manger
Back away from the bed
Where The little Lord Jesus
Lays down His sweet head

The stars in the sky
Look down from far up high
The little Lord Jesus
Asleep in his bubble

I love Thee, Lord Jesus
Look down from the sky
And stay 2 meters away,
‘Til vaccine is nigh

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How To Have A Christmas Carol Service At Home

white bauble on christmas tree

Its Christmas! (I’m allowed to say that now right?)

Its 2020. Its been a weird year, and lets face it. This Christmas is going to be a little different to the normal. (Sorry – we’re probably gonna get a bit bored of saying “its all a bit different this year”)

As part of this “little different” Christmas, along with everything else, Christmas Carol services are going online.

So. What do you do at home to replicate that Christmas Carol Service feel?

Here are a few ideas…

  1. Probably some sort of internet connection – or phone line.
  2. Turn off the lights.
  3. A Nativity dress up costume, or Santa.
  4. Have access to Youtube, Facebook, or something to watch the church carol service online.
  5. Get Candles lit
  6. Get more Candles lit
  7. Mulled Wine. No, more than that.
  8. Have some sort of advent crown thing. Possibly with candles. Possibly with dry plant attached.
  9. Take bets on how long it will be before someone, somewhere has “issues” with the amount of lit candles.
  10. Have a fire extinguisher on stand by.

Anything I’ve missed?

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Dress up for Christmas, AND SOCIAL DISTANCE!

Its Christmas time! (Tell me you’ve noticed)

Its a time of Christmas jumpers, Christmas shopping, and dressing up in all things… Christmas like?

Its also 2020, so its probably wise to ensure you’re keeping your distance from… everyone.

This could be your chance to have the best of both worlds.

Dress up as a Shepherd for Christmas, and have your own shepherds hook! (Affliate link)

Pick it up from Amazon, and social distance whilst playing a much loved nativity character!

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Online Christmas Carol Service Bingo

We would normally be entering the world of Christmas Carol Services in Churches around the world right now. While some churches may be hosting “something”, lets face it – the church isn’t going to be packed this year.

Normally, I sit there and wonder about how familiar they feel, and out of that feeling – the Christmas Carol Service Bingo Card were born…

While, as everything is a “little different” this year – this years bingo cards are also a little different.

Feel free to print them out and play bingo in your kitchen / on the sofa / back row / shed / bus / bed / supermarket queue in a carpark / where ever church looks like these days…

Obviously don’t shout AMEN if you complete a line, shout HARK! or something… You can say that as loud as you want this year. Unless you actually are in a bus, or a supermarket queue or something.

That might be strange.