Archive for The Gathering Place "The Gathering Place" is a web community where people can gather and make new friends, share ideas, enjoy a few laughs and learn about many interesting things together. It is a safe place where friends can correspond with each other about what they love.
Christmas letters are fun. If you have never written one, why not give it a try?
One thing to remember is that you should always write in the first person. Whoever writes the letter is the “I” of that letter. Everyone else is mentioned but only one person writes. Write a few sentences about everyone in your family. Make it personal and not just statistical.
Try to be positive in your comments. If it has been a really bad try to tell what the Lord has taught you through the trial. Also, you could tell of how supportive your family, friends and church family have been. You don’t want your letter to be a sad experience for the reader.
Be honest in what you say and don’t take advantage of the season to boost about yourself and your family. No one wants to hear about your perfect life, family, job, etc. If you feel you must stretch the truth so someone will think you are special, forget it. It won’t matter to your friends if they really are your friends.
Keep the letter at a good reasonable length. No one wants to read a book about your year. A good rule of thumb is to keep it between 500 and 750 words. Leave the reader wanting to know more. Be sure to provide them with the current information about you. Include your address, phone number and email address in the letter so they can contact you.
It is always nice to include pictures. You can add them in the envelope or download them from your computer into your letter that you will print on your computer.
Last but not least, you can use your letter as a witnessing tool. You can use any of many scriptures appropriate to the season. You can remind people about the true meaning of Christmas. Christmas letters can be a non-threatening way to share God’s love.
Make your friends smile this year when your Christmas letter arrives.
shazbot3
Thank you very much for that idea, Elena. I never have done this before, but it sure sounds like it could be a fun thing to do
Elena
I haven't done it either but I found that article in an old "Home Life" magazine (Southern Baptist publication) so I decided to shorten it by about 75% when I typed it. I think I covered everything that is necessary though. I don't like typing well enough to type all of any article.
Mary
It seems that every year we get more Christmas letters. I wrote a single page this year, printed it on colored paper that I got for 5 cents a sheet, added a pretty Christmas sticker and put a copy in with every card. I have enough leftover boxes of cards to send them one more year and then I think I might just mail Christmas letters to everyone.
I agree with the basics you gave us Elena, keep it short, positive, include a little bit about everyone and remind people whose birthday we are celebrating. Every year we get one or two that go month by month and stretch on to 3 or 4 pages but I get weary reading them and don't want to bore people by doing the same thing. If people to know more details they know where to find us.
Elena
Thanks for your input on the subject, Mary. They concluded their article the same way you just concluded your paragraph. If the people want to know more about you and your life they can then contact you.
