Powerpoint for sermon "The Evolution of Christmas In America". United Church of God. Given by Doug Collison, Pastor UCG Paducah, Cape Girardeau, Poplar Bluff, Henderson

1. United Church of GodUnited Church of God
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5. Washington IrvingWashington Irving

6. A History of New YorkA History of New York
“And the sage Oloffe dreamed a dream—and, lo!
the good St. Nicholas came riding over the tops of
the trees, in that self-same wagon wherein he
brings his yearly presents to children. And he
descended hard by where the heroes of
Communipaw had made their late repast. And he
lit his pipe by the fire, and sat himself down and
smoked; and as he smoked the smoke from his
pipe ascended into the air, and spread like a cloud
overhead. And Oloffe bethought him, and he
hastened and climbed up to the top of one of the
tallest trees, and saw that the smoke spread over a
great extent of country—

7. A History of New YorkA History of New York
and as he considered it more attentively he fancied
that the great volume of smoke assumed a variety
of marvelous forms, where in dim obscurity he
saw shadowed out palaces and domes and lofty
spires, all of which lasted but a moment, and then
faded away, until the whole rolled off, and nothing
but the green woods were left. And when St.
Nicholas had smoked his pipe he twisted it in his
hatband, and laying his finger beside his nose,
gave the astonished Van Kortlandt a very
significant look, then mounting his wagon, he
returned over the treetops and disappeared.”

8. Clement C. MooreClement C. Moore

9. The Night Before ChristmasThe Night Before Christmas
“the stump of a pipe he held tight in
his teeth, And the smoke it encircled
his head like a wreath; “
“And laying his finger aside of his
nose, And giving a nod, up the
chimney he rose”.

10. Common Insult?Common Insult?
?

11. A Christmas CarolA Christmas Carol
SCROOGE

12. NY Sun Editorial - 1897NY Sun Editorial - 1897
Dear Editor—I am 8 years old. Some
of my little friends say there is no
Santa Claus. Papa says, “If you see
it in The Sun, it’s so.” Please tell me
the truth, is there a Santa Claus?
Virginia O’Hanlon

13. NY Sun Editorial - 1897NY Sun Editorial - 1897
“Yes, VIRGINIA, there is a Santa Claus. He exists
as certainly as love and generosity and devotion
exist, and you know that they abound and give to
your life its highest beauty and joy. “
Alas! how dreary would be the world if there were
no Santa Claus. It would be as dreary as if there
were no VIRGINIAS. There would be no childlike
faith then, no poetry, no romance to make
tolerable this existence. We should have no
enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The eternal
light with which childhood fills the world would
be extinguished.

14. What’s the Missing Word?What’s the Missing Word?
"A merry Christmas, uncle! God save you!" cried a
cheerful voice. It was the voice of Scrooge's nephew, who
came upon him so quickly that this was the first intimation
he had of his approach.
"Bah!" said Scrooge, "______!"
He had so heated himself with rapid walking in the fog and
frost, this nephew of Scrooge's, that he was all in a glow;
his face was ruddy and handsome; his eyes sparkled, and
his breath smoked again.
"Christmas a ______, uncle!" said Scrooge's nephew.
"You don't mean that, I am sure?"
"I do," said Scrooge.

15. Humbug DefinitionHumbug Definition
humbug (hŭm bŭg )►ˈ ˌ
n. Something intended to deceive; a
hoax or fraud.
n. A person who claims to be other
than what he or she is; an impostor.
n. Nonsense; rubbish.

16. Scrooges PersonalityScrooges Personality
Nasty
Sarcastic
Cold Hearted
Selfish
Greedy

17. A Heart of FleshA Heart of Flesh
Ezekiel 36:26 I will give you a new
heart and put a new spirit within you;
I will take the heart of stone out of
your flesh and give you a heart of
flesh.

18. A TransformationA Transformation
Galatians 5:19 Now the works of the flesh are evident,
which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness,
lewdness,
Galatians 5:20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions,
jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions,
dissensions, heresies,
Galatians 5:21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries,
and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I
also told you in time past, that those who practice
such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy,
peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness,
faithfulness,
Galatians 5:23 gentleness, self-control. Against such

19. A Growth ProcessA Growth Process
Ephesians 4:11 And He Himself gave some
to be apostles, some prophets, some
evangelists, and some pastors and teachers,
Ephesians 4:12 for the equipping of the
saints for the work of ministry, for the
edifying of the body of Christ,
Ephesians 4:13 till we all come to the unity
of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son
of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of
the stature of the fullness of Christ;

20. A Growth ProcessA Growth Process
Ephesians 4:14 that we should no
longer be children, tossed to and fro and
carried about with every wind of
doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the
cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting,
Ephesians 4:15 but, speaking the truth
in love, may grow up in all things into
Him who is the head—Christ—

21. What Scrooge LackedWhat Scrooge Lacked
Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the
Spirit is love, joy, peace,
longsuffering, kindness, goodness,
faithfulness,
Galatians 5:23 gentleness, self-
control. Against such there is no law.

22. A Good ReputationA Good Reputation
Titus 2:7 in all things showing
yourself to be a pattern of good
works; in doctrine showing integrity,
reverence, incorruptibility,
Titus 2:8 sound speech that cannot
be condemned, that one who is an
opponent may be ashamed, having
nothing evil to say of you.

23. A Good ReputationA Good Reputation
Titus 3:1 Remind them to be subject
to rulers and authorities, to obey, to
be ready for every good work,
Titus 3:2 to speak evil of no one, to
be peaceable, gentle, showing all
humility to all men.

24. Rejoice & Don’t Be AnxiousRejoice & Don’t Be Anxious
Philippians 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always.
Again I will say, rejoice!
Philippians 4:5 Let your gentleness be
known to all men. The Lord is at hand.
Philippians 4:6 Be anxious for nothing, but
in everything by prayer and supplication,
with thanksgiving, let your requests be made
known to God;
Philippians 4:7 and the peace of God, which
surpasses all understanding, will guard your
hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

25. Meditate on What’s TrueMeditate on What’s True
Philippians 4:8 Finally, brethren,
whatever things are true, whatever
things are noble, whatever things are
just, whatever things are pure, whatever
things are lovely, whatever things are of
good report, if there is any virtue and if
there is anything praiseworthy—
meditate on these things.

26. United Church of GodUnited Church of God
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