The Friday after Thanksgiving has a calm all its own. Usually the big meal is behind us, the dishes are done, and the leftovers are waiting in the fridge (because of course one of the best things about Thanksgiving is the leftovers). Maybe there’s football on in the background, maybe you’re finishing a second (or third) round of pie, or maybe today you’re just enjoying a slower pace.
It’s one of the rare moments in the year when everything can feel unhurried—right before the whirlwind of December arrives. In just a few days, schedules will tighten, events will stack up, and Christmas will be everywhere.
But before all that begins, I want to pause with you here, in this quiet space after Thanksgiving and before the season ramps up, and say this: Christmas doesn’t have to sweep us along. We can choose to step into it intentionally, with a posture of openness and expectation for how God might show up.
So before the pace picks up, here are three simple practices to help us move through Christmas with meaning instead of momentum:
Three Simple Ways to Make This Season Meaningful
1. Make Worship a Priority
If you’re looking for one step that can anchor the entire season, start with worship. Weekly worship has a way of grounding us—of slowing the rush and making room for God’s hope, peace, joy, and love to take root. Worship is that pause in our week that helps us reset and take a breath so we can walk through our weeks with more intention.
This Sunday is the perfect place to begin. We’ll celebrate the impact of Ignite, and we’ll launch our new series, Remix Christmas, a fresh take on the nativity story that helps us see the story and characters in new and meaningful ways.
2. Get Our Advent Devotional
This year, we’re stepping into Advent together with a simple rhythm of a weekly devotional—slowing down, rediscovering wonder, and taking small, intentional steps of faith. The online devotional is short, accessible, and designed to fit real life. Plus there are kid-friendly advent videos and family challenges that bring to life the Christmas story for all ages. You can sign up through the link below to receive the devotion in your inbox every Saturday.
3. Serve on Christmas Eve
There’s something powerful about serving on the night we celebrate God stepping into the world. Greeting, helping with kids, preparing the space—every role helps create an environment where someone else can encounter Jesus. And serving has a way of transforming Christmas Eve from something you attend into something you help create, adding meaning and depth to the season. You can sign up to serve through the link below.
As we step into the Christmas Season, my hope is that IT doesn’t just blur by but actually gives you a chance to breathe, reset, and notice the moments that matter. December can get loud fast, and sometimes all we need is a little intention to find some peace and joy in the middle of it.
I’m also really excited for what’s ahead for Good Shepherd. There’s a lot of good momentum and a lot to look forward to, and I’m grateful we get to walk through this season together. Let’s step into it with a sense of curiosity and expectation for what these next few weeks might hold.
Peace,
Matt
