CAMPUS AND AREA
University Daily Kansan, November 26, 1984
Page 7
Christmas is not just for shopping
Families enjoy simplified holiday
By DAN HOWELL Staff Reporter
The Christmas shopping season is counting down. For some, it's a mad rush from stores to parties to more stores.
For others, preparing for Christmas means sidestepping the seasonal frenzy. Instead, it means preparing themselves and their families.
Patti Mersmann, who lives near Lawrence with her husband Tom and six children, has taught a class at her church the past two years on how to title the Christmas Machine," the title of a book she uses in the class.
"THE BASIC PREMISE is to have people think about what they really value in Christmas, then put their time and money into it," she said last week.
The book, by Jo Robinson and Jean Coppock Staehl, has the subtitle "How to Have the Christmas You've Always Wanted" The Mermsmann are members at First United Methodist Church, 946 Vermont St.
Mersmann said that the book's intent was not anti-commercial but that it sometimes had such an effect.
"When you simplify your Christmas, you buy fewer things," she said.
makes both life better. But the book does not argue for more attention to religion or church, but discusses ways to make a family celebration more meaningful and enjoyable, she said.
Don Conrad, campus pastor at University Lutheran Church, 2104 W. 15th St., said the church did not wage a campaign against commercialism, but simply followed the Christian calendar as closely as possible.
CONRAD SAID THE church would observe Advent, the traditional season of preparation for Christ.
Advent includes four Sundays before Christmas, which this year are Dec. 2, 9, 16 and 23. The season traditionally emphasizes penience as the way to be ready to receive Christ.
"We generally hold off with the Christmas music until Christmas or the last Sunday before the students go home," he said.
University Lutheran members also
have prepared a day-by-day devotional booklet for Advent, he said.
Trish Bransky, the graduate student, edited the booklet, which she said helped people stop and think about the holiday.
"It elaborates and gives 20th-century significance to something that can seem old and dry," she said.
She said the contributors, mostly students, had been given Bible verses as starting points. Most related the verses to everyday experiences such as light coming through a window or public issues such as nuclear weapons.
Mersmann said homemade decorations, presents and wrappings could make the holiday more satisfying. He didn't do much, who typically don't do those.
BRANSKY SAID THE church also made decoration to celebrate the day.
"Men tend to have just a few basic jobs at Christmas; put the lights on the tree, buy a present for their wives, and so on," she said. "It points out how overwhelming the wife or woman's job is at Christmas."
The book suggests ways of involving all members of the family, she said. Those suggestions range from personalized wrapping paper made from a roll of blank paper to ideas for easy recipes and handmade gifts.
She said her family found a way to save money and give new meaning to the holiday: start with an agreed spending limit, then give some of the savings to someone else's Christmas.
MERSMANN SAID HER children were excited last year when the family adopted two local families through a church program. Under the program, families provide Christmas presents for needy families.
Conrad said University Lutheran also would have an evening of hymn singing and lessons on Epiphany Day, Jan. 6.
Epiphany means the manifestation of God in Christ, and Epiphany Day ends the twelve-day season of Christmas. In some parts of the world, Jan. 6 is celebrated as Christ's birthday.
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NOTICE:
The Student Senate is accepting applications for the following Senate Staff Positions:
- Executive Secretary
- Treasurer
- Administrative Assistant
- A.S.K. Director
- Sports Council
Applications may be picked up at the Student Senate Office, 105B. Kansas Union.
Due date is 5 p.m., Fri., Nov. 30th Paid for by Student Senate
Hitch a ride home for the holidays.
Or even if you need a rider, place an ad in the Kansan's new classified Ride Board column.
Regular classified rates will apply, and you'll get 10% off with your KUID when you bring your ad in over the counter. Or complete the form below and mail it to 119 Stauffer-Flint Hall.
The Ride Board will begin on Wednesday, November 28, so place your ad today!
Find your ride—in the Kansan.
RIDE BOARD CLASSIFIED AD
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Phone ___
Write ad here:
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WORDS 1 DAY 3 DAYS 5 DAYS
0-15 2.60 3.15 3.75
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7:30 TUESDAY $2
JAMES STEWART
DORIS DAY IN
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THE MAN WHO
KNEW TOO
MUCH
A WORKSHOP CLASS
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7:30 WEDNESDAY $1.50
Two documentaries directed by Robert Flaherty MAN OF ARAN and MOANA
7:30 THURSDAY $1.50 Classic Samuri Film YOJIMBO
FRIDAY & SATURDAY
3:30 & 7 p.m. $1.50
Plus: Once Upon a Mouse
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with Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers
Woodruff Auditorium