Ten Things to Do for Christmas

Post Author: The Rev. Lisa M. Erdeljon

It’s that time of year: Christmas. And as clergy, we are often tasked with making sure everyone else’s Christmas goes perfectly. Sometimes, that means we forget about our own Christmases. In the spirit of giving (and preparing, re: Advent), here is a list of 10 things to do as we get closer to Christmas. Whether this is your very first ordained Christmas or your 20th, I’m sure you’ll find something here.

1. Sleep.
This might sound odd as a “Thing to Remember”, but how many of us have woken up at 4am, with our brains running a million miles a minute, trying to make one grand list of all the lists that we need to make? That is why sleep is first on this Christmas Do’s list. Go ahead: get up and make those lists… and then go back to bed. Naps don’t have to be a once-a-day kind of thing—take as many as you need. Also, it’s okay to go to bed at 5pm on Christmas Day, and anyone who says otherwise doesn’t know what it’s like to be “on” as clergy have to be “on” for Christmas services. Our bodies need to rest, and after all the work we do for Christmas and in Advent, we deserve sleep.

2. Feast!
It doesn’t have to be a massive, traditional meal, like a Feast of Seven Fishes, but you need food. Plan ahead and have your favorite food around. Some people do sushi or Chinese from the local Asian restaurant, some people do a bowl of their favorite cereal, some people are ambitious and do a church potluck with everyone else serving food at the various Christmas Eve services. Whatever your plan is—have food. And eat it! Just like sleep, our bodies need food. 

3. Open Presents.
Seriously. Even if they’re  presents you bought for yourself. Wrap them a few days early, and then open them. It doesn’t have to be on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, either. Sometimes my presents don’t get opened until December 26 or 27, and that’s okay. In fact, one clergy couple decided presents were from the Three Wise Men on Epiphany—so their big present opening celebration was January 6. Still, open presents. It helps remind us of the magic of the season.

Lisa’s dog, Bedi, enjoying Christmas presents on Christmas morning

4. Call/Text/Facetime/Visit Family and/or Friends.
Maybe you aren’t on the best of terms with your family or maybe you got into a Christmas-stress-fueled fight with your best friend. That doesn’t matter. Contact them. Wish them a Merry Christmas. At the least, send them a picture of the pretty flower arrangements at your church. I believe a large part of the Christmas holiday is about being with people we love and who love us. After all, if God is love, then we should definitely honor the gift She gave us (as in Baby Jesus) by loving all those around us. Plus, I feel like you may regret not reaching out more than reaching out—unless your family is toxic and you need to protect yourself. But that is why you should reach out to friends, too.

5. Be Still.
We are clergy. We are busy. We plan liturgies and prepare bulletins. We support those who might struggle with the cheer of the Christmas season, all while we have our own struggles at this time of year. Add to the clerical and spiritual demands any needs from family and friends, and you could probably manage to spend December 20 through December 26 not sitting down at all. Don’t do that. Instead, set some time aside to be still. Literally: sit or stand or strike your favorite yoga pose, and do nothing. Don’t think of anything, don’t say anything. Just breathe. Deep, lung stretching breaths. Like food and sleep, your body and brain need stillness and quiet, too.

6. Dress “Up.”
Maybe you are the type to have a cute new dress or fancy new top. Maybe you’re the type to pick your oldest, rattiest pair of sweatpants. Whatever you wear, do so intentionally. Pick a Christmas outfit to wear when you are celebrating as you (not as Pastor or Mother or Rev. or Preacher). I have a clergy friend who gets matching Christmas pajamas for the family, and while the kids have become moody teens, they still all wear their matching Christmas pajamas for all of Christmas day. Also, plan ahead, so the clothes are clean. The last thing you want to do on December 24 or 25 is run loads of laundry.

7. Decorate.
Maybe you have a Christmas tree up from Halloween to Valentine’s Day. Maybe you seriously considered not putting up any Christmas decorations  at all. Whatever your decorating style is, at least do something. Put out that cheesy snowman that your crazy aunt gave you three Christmases ago. Throw some lights on that front bush (seriously, they now make lights that can be thrown on a bush like a blanket—how genius!) Maybe even play some Christmas music (if you’re not too tired of hearing Santa Baby in all the stores you’ve been to these past couple of months). Even if you are sick or spending this Christmas alone for the first time, Christmas decorations will help cheer you up.

8. Welcome everyone equally.
This one is a little bit different because it’s about church service. When you are done with each church service, and you are shaking hands or greeting people or whatever you do, welcome everyone equally. Don’t say, “Are you visiting?” because 9 times out of 10, the person you ask is a founding member or a massive donor or someone else equally as important to the church. They will be offended. They will correct you. And, if you are anything like me, you will probably play that exchange back, in your head, over and over and over again. I like to say, “It’s so good to see you!” Or simply, “Merry Christmas! Thank you for coming!” This is what I say to the church member who is also kind of my best friend (I know, bad boundaries!) and also the random person who maybe has never come to my church and maybe never will again. It’s just easier and safer to say the same thing to everyone. Plus, I’m pretty sure God has opinions about welcoming everyone.

9. Clean your house.
No really, clean your house. One deep clean ahead of Christmas. Future you will thank past you. Whether you live alone in a 200 square-foot apartment or with your spouse and kids in a comfortable home—clean it. If the entire place is too daunting, deep clean a small space, like a bathroom. Cleaning your house will give you time to think about something other than church. It will also totally count as exercise. Plus, rarely do people in ministry see tangible results of their work—a cleaning rag shows tangible results with dust. And then, once your home is clean, let it go. Leave the pieces of wrapping paper on the floor, let that dog or cat hair gather in the corners, leave dirty dishes in the sink. Start with a clean slate, and then let it go.

10. Be Gentle with Yourself. 
Christmas is hard. It can be very stressful and a very blatant reminder of all the pain you might be feeling right now. Even if you are about to experience the absolute best Christmas ever experienced, something about the seemingly forced cheer always seems to add a level of sadness to the holiday. It’s okay if you aren’t able to do any of the above items. It’s also okay if you go above and beyond, inadvertently pushing past and through those boundaries you worked so hard to maintain during the rest of the year. Whatever you do, remember that you are a child of God. God gave us Jesus as a gift to remind us that we are loved and we are worthy of that love. Simply because we are who we are: God’s children. Merry Christmas!