Serving others, being good citizens, making good decisions—these are qualities The Lutheran Schools strive to instill in all their students. The Christmas season is a great opportunity for our schools and their students to demonstrate all of those qualities. From sending gifts around the world, to sponsoring families in need, to entertaining older adults, students of The Lutheran Schools spread the spirit of Christmas in many ways. Here are just a few examples-
One of the most ambitious projects took place at Central Lutheran School in New Haven, where students packed 436 shoeboxes with gifts for less fortunate children all over the globe. Central’s effort was part of Operation Christmas Child, a program of Samaritan’s Purse, an international nondenominational evangelical Christian organization. St John-Emmanuel also packed 57 shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child making it an all school activity.
Sponsoring children and families in need was also part of spreading Christmas cheer. For example, students at Concordia Lutheran High School and Holy Cross sponsored families through the Christmas Bureau (CLHS sponsored 50 families), and Wyneken sponsored families through Lutheran Social Services’ Adopt a Family.
...And all the donations for food banks! Bethlehem-Ossian, Central Lutheran, St Peter’s, St John-Kendallville and St John-Emmanuel all collected food and monetary donations for community food banks.
But the hallmark of our schools is sharing the Good News of Jesus birth and Lutheran Schools share this boldly in their Christmas programs and concerts and leading worship services. Be it the cherished Christmas Eve Service at St Paul’s with its Ungemach liturgy, the community gift of the Embassy Concert by Concordia Lutheran High School’s award winning music department or the Advent services led by preschool students or elementary school students at all of our schools, Lutheran Schools share Jesus.
In a day when uncertainty and trouble of all kinds get the headlines, Lutheran Schools emphasize the need for service and loving our neighbors. It’s what our Savior did- loved us, loved the world. Christmas is about Jesus and we see that in a busy December in Lutheran Schools. But it's a busy that is done with joy, a joy that we share with the world.
Merry Christmas from The Lutheran Schools and The Lutheran Schools Partnership.
