The Gift of Tradition

I think we can all agree that life can get very exhausting sometimes. We’re entering a season when many holidays are approaching, and with them can come stress and fatigue. I will be honest, though: I enjoy this time of year in September not just because it’s my wife’s and my birthday month, but also because I get to see the creativity in each family’s traditions for certain holidays. Traditions are the pillars that support the framework of who your family is. With them come stories and history that reveal joy that the surrounding community can sometimes witness.
 
I’ve seen traditions like Halloween cookouts, where people in our neighborhood invite neighbors to join in. My family’s Thanksgiving traditions include cooking certain foods and playing certain games. For Christmas, we read The Night Before Christmas on Christmas Eve, right before everyone goes to bed, and pass around the first gift to everyone. Traditions matter because, for some, they’re part of who we are.
 
However, even though there is a lot of joy during these upcoming holidays, there is also hardship and sadness. I believe the church and the traditions each ministry brings to the congregation can help those who sometimes lose joy in certain seasons. I am currently working with our youth to create traditions that define who we are as a ministry, along with creating opportunities to bring new traditions to the families in our community.
 
​In December, we will have the Live Nativity led by our youth. It’s an event where we tell the story that changed the world, and we hope it becomes a tradition for families in our church and community throughout Advent. In February, we will host a gala dinner, and all money raised will go toward our summer mission trip. This event will be an annual tradition where church members can have an evening to themselves and enjoy a beautiful meal served by the youth group.
 
You see, the church, along with its ministries, creates opportunities people can look forward to year after year, which then become traditions in their own lives. Northbrook is constantly coming up with new ideas and visions, helping people of every age look forward and reminding us of all that God is continually at work through every season.
 
As we approach this busy time of year, I challenge you to think about your personal traditions, see how they affect your life or possibly the life of someone else. Then, if you need a new tradition for your family for any season, come out to Northbrook, where you can find the joy of Christ in pumpkins, trunk-or-treats, Christmas trees, food drives, craft shows, service projects, gala dinners, VBS, mission trips, and so much more.
 
My prayer is that you continue to build on your own traditions, but trust in the church and community to make new ones. I hope to see you and your family in one of the upcoming seasons.
 
Peace,
Erich Wills
Minister of Youth & Missions