Keep Christ in Christmas Committee

Chariman: SK Joseph L Shankle

Promote the true spirit of Christmas in our homes, schools, parishes and communities. Councils will evangelize society through their faithful acts, celebrations and a variety of activities. The Knights of Columbus offers multiple activities that promote Christmas and the season of Advent in their proper context: Journey to the Inn, Light Up for Christ, Crèche or Advent Wreath Blessing, and the Christmas Poster Contest. These programs are centered on the example of the Holy Family and the Nativity of Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. The new Keep Christ in Christmas (KCIC) program brings all KCIC activities together under one umbrella. It encourages councils to compel their neighbors to shift from a preoccupation with materialism to the light of Christ and the spirit of giving. KCIC activities include whatever efforts best suit the parish and community of a particular council and do not need to originate from the Supreme Council. Information from Supreme for this committee:

• Sponsor a “Keep Christ in Christmas” billboard. Billboard posters are available from Christ Is Christmas/P.O. Box 20717/Roanoke, VA 24018/telephone: 800-722-5032/www.christischristmas.com.
• Distribute “Keep Christ in Christmas” materials, available through Christ Is Christmas (see above) or the Supreme Council Supply Department.
• Create your own Advent calendar of actions you can take each day to bring you closer to Christ. Write your scheduled activities on a calendar posted prominently. Your activities can be for your own personal enrichment or to help those around you. Your council can create a similar Advent project calendar full of small community service projects for members to undertake daily.
• Promote Advent wreaths in your council bulletin as a means for families to mark the time of preparation for the coming celebration of Christ’s birth. Urge members to participate with a wreath in their homes.
• Organize a parish nativity play, with children from your parish or local parochial school playing the parts.
• Volunteer to work in a soup kitchen in your community during the Christmas season.
• Encourage children in your parish to give gifts they made or gifts of themselves.
• Buy Christmas cards with religious themes.
• Visit hospitals and nursing homes during the Christmas season. Present each patient with a religious Christmas card. Bring a supply of cards large enough that you can give the patients cards they can send to family and friends. Offer to help write and mail cards if necessary.
• Order and display or distribute “Keep Christ in Christmas” printed materials available from the Supreme Council Supply Department. Posters (#2760, E,F,S; #2757, E, #4554, E,F,S; #4555, E) are available for only the cost of mailing.
• Sponsor “Keep Christ in Christmas” spot announcements on radio and television. Pre- recorded public service announcements for radio and television are available from the Supreme Council Department of Fraternal Services.
• Participate in the Orderwide “Light Up For Christ” program to help share the light of the Advent season with your community and the world. Plan a Christmas tree or nativity scene lighting ceremony for the first Tuesday in December. Then, at precisely 8 p.m., local time, throw the switch to “Light Up For Christ.”