Ever wondered why your guacamole wasn’t “guacamole” enough? Or why your tzatziki sauce wasn’t quite right? This Advent season, your international KCM family – from Latin America to Greece – have prepared a bountiful family celebration! Receive recipes you can collect and add to your kitchen arsenal.
Learn how to make maple-glazed turkey, and serve with a side of bannock – a delicious bread enjoyed by Indigenous Canadians. Learn the culture and traditions of your brothers and sisters in India, and South Africa. Experience how countries within each KCM region celebrates Jesus during Christmas. Travel the world – leave your passport at home! Join your international family in a virtual cook-along; enjoy 13 countries, countless recipes and much more. There is something for everyone!
Bountiful Worship
Where ever you go, all over the world, Jesus is at the centre of Christmas. It’s the only time of year believers and non-believers think about the Birth of Jesus together. The KCM Advent calendar, takes you from the top of the world, to the bottom, and all the way around; would you like to know what we discovered? The way we celebrate Christmas might be different, the food we eat may look and taste unfamiliar, but the reason for joy this season is Jesus. All over the world, Jesus is at the heart of Christmas. He is the same Jesus in Australia, and the same Jesus in France. The same Jesus who parted the red sea for Moses, was born in a manger, so by His blood you can have the victory today! Hallelujah!
Every Christmas we rejoice not just because its the season for joy, but because The Prince of Peace made us joint heirs to the Kingdom of God! Because He was born in a manger, with the purity of the kingdom of God and the kingdom of mankind in one body. Baby Jesus, surrounded by stable animals, in the silent, stillness of nights darkness, was fully man, and fully God – the Only One from before time to eternity. He is the reason we rejoice.
We rejoice because the Son of God calls us His siblings. Jesus’ birth made us joint heirs. You and I are part of His family – the most victorious, most loving, everlasting family. Join us, your family, on this years Advent Cook-along Christmas.
A Celebration of Eternal Gifts
Christmas is also a time of giving and receiving gifts. Of all the gifts that we receive, the best ones come from above. Our heavenly Father has given—and continues to give—us the most wonderful gifts of all… now and throughout the year. And Christmas is the perfect time to reflect on these eternal gifts
Salvation – There is no greater gift than the gift of salvation! This gift was given through Jesus’ birth, death and resurrection. Ephesians 2:8 tells us that “God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God.”
Peace That Passes All Understanding – Philippians 4:7 says, “And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (KJV). No matter how stressful the situation we are in, we can rely on a God-given peace that makes no sense to the world
Provision – Other people may worry about the ups and downs of the economy, but we don’t have to because God has promised to provide for us. “And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19).
Direct Line to God – Mark 11:24 tells us, “You can pray for anything, and if you believe that you’ve received it, it will be yours.” This applies to material things as well things like peace, safety and favor. We have a direct line to our heavenly Father.
Joy – John 15:11 says, “I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow!” These are Jesus’ words directly to us. Our joy doesn’t come from outside circumstances but from the Holy Spirit who resides within us.
Heaven on Earth – Luke 17:21 tells us, “You won’t be able to say, ‘Here it is!’ or ‘It’s over there!’ For the Kingdom of God is already among you.” What does this mean for us? It means that the Kingdom is available to us at all times because Jesus lives within us. We can create a Kingdom life, right here!
Family and Friends – God places people in our lives to be a blessing to us, so we can also bless others. Your family, friends and church family are your greatest blessing and your biggest support system. The Bible explains this in Ephesians 4:15-16, “Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.”
Grace – Grace is God’s unmerited favour, His special gift to us. Romans 11:6 says, “Since it is through God’s kindness, then it is not by their good works. For in that case, God’s grace would not be what it really is—free and undeserved.”
Healing – First Peter 2:24 is used quite a bit, and it is an incredibly powerful verse. Although you have probably heard this over and over, try to read it with fresh eyes: “He personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. By his wounds, you are healed.” Because of what Jesus did for us on the cross, we have access to the healing power of God.
Abundant life – In John 10:10, Jesus tells us that “the thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly” (KJV). Abundance is an excess of something. If we have a life of abundance, it is a life that is overflowing—overflowing with love, peace, and grace.
As we celebrate the birth of our greatest gift of all, don’t lose sight of these 10 eternal truths of Christmas and all He has blessed us with.
