Christmas Tea with Do Not Depart: Series Wrap-Up

Remembering Christmas Teas of the past, the contributors to Do Not Depart endeavored to recreate the ambience and recall memories that make Christmas— Christmas. In this “wrap-up” post you will find links to every post in the series.

Ultimately the goal of the Christmas Tea series was to celebrate Jesus Christ Emmanuel and our life in Him.

JESUS

The ONE who saves us from sin and death.

CHRIST

The Messiah who frees us from every entanglement.

EMMANUEL

God who is “with us” and in us.

Week 1

Kicking off our series, Ali shared how her baking of Scottish shortbread connects her family to her Scottish roots and identity in Shortbread, Family, and Identity in Christ. As comforting as it is to share family identity, Ali writes about the beauty of our shared identity in Christ. She writes, “We have the same joys (the joy of the Lord is our strength) the same love (we love because He first loved us), and we are connected into the ‘togetherness’ that is His body.”

Week 2

Only a baker at Christmastime, Jaime shares her tried-and-true yeast bread recipe. In her post, His Word Proves True, she explains how baking yeast bread is a practice of patience and promise. Pointing us to The Word Made Flesh, she writes, “Like bread in a proving drawer God’s Word is actively working, even in moments of stillness, to bring about his perfect purpose.”

Once a year Lisa pulls out the recipe for Miss Miriam’s Surprise bars. The bars require some extra work, but the delight of the first bite makes it worth it. In her post, Wait for It– Expect a Surprise from Jesus (+a Christmas Recipe), Lisa reminds us that “It’s the same with Jesus. Sometimes we have to wait a little longer than we expect to see what He’s up to. But His gifts are always worth the wait….His surprises are the best kind.”

Week 3

In The Gift of Presence, I reminisce about my friend Luella, her famous yeast roll recipe, and the gift of her presence in my life. My memories of her prompt me to think of Jesus and His presence as “God with us.” Connecting the two thoughts I wrote, “My friendship with Luella proves that when we connect and encourage one another in love we practice the presence of Christ.

If you listen closely, you will hear the music and laughter spilling out of Shootin’ Star Ranch as you read Grace that Jingles. Jennifer’s vivid account of Christmas spent at her grandparents’ home is alive with grace and joy only Jesus can bring. She writes, “…grace given and grace received free us up for joy, and for laughter.” Her Nana’s Spanish Coffee Cake is sure to delight as well.

Week 4

In her post, The Simple Sweetness of Christmas, Kelli reminds us that Christmas does not have to be complicated, hectic, or crazy. We often make it that way to measure up to an idea of Christmas perfection. She shares a simple fudge recipe to point out that the absolute best things can be simple and sweet. Kelli says, “The first Christmas was messy… but it was simple and sweet and perfect as well.”

In her post, Christmas in a Teacup, guest contributor Marilyn Armstrong shares how our gracious God multiplies our giving, expanding the value of our humble gifts. She writes, “Christmas in a teacup is God’s unending story of giving, persevering, sharing, joy, friendship, and so much more continues to be written.”

Week 5

Rounding out our Christmas Tea series, Cheri Novak, guest contributor, encourages us to build community, despite current circumstances. In The Gift of Community she challenges us, “I hope you will join me in identifying new members of your tribe and finding the ones with whom you can share and receive Christ’s love in the new year.”

Although impossible to replicate a Christmas Tea in a virtual setting, it is my hope that our collected recipes, memories, and reflections on God’s Word have blessed you throughout the Christmas season. A verse Marilyn shared, is a perfect closing for this series:

“Gather the goodwill of Christmas.

Tuck it safely inside your heart.

And give it away, one kind moment at a time, throughout the year.”

— Author Unknown

From all of us at DoNotDepart.com, Happy New Year!