It could be a heartwarming sight to see a pile of colourfully wrapped presents sitting snug under a twinkling Christmas tree. But post-celebrations, the resulting pile of products can even sometimes leave us just a little bit guilty, as if we do not already own enough ‘stuff’. And does it sometimes feel a bit boring to provide the standard socks, underpants, chocolates and smelly toiletries?
That’s why it could possibly be a blessing to provide experiences reasonably than things for Christmas presents. There are many options that may result in treasured memories reasonably than fuller cupboards.
If your beloved shares your faith, there may be an added dimension which you can gift an experience that may nourish and support them of their walk with Christ. But there are also loads of selections to easily provide a fun, educational or interesting experience too. Here are some ideas to make it easier to determine:
Gift a retreat or a pilgrimage
Whether a brief break to British pilgrimage sites similar to Lindisfarne and Iona, or the more ambitious (and expensive) option to move abroad, the gift of a break to concentrate on their relationship with God is an actual treasure.
There are a number of places that could be interesting sites to organize a visit to, depending on your beloved’s interests and inspirations. Perhaps you recognize that TV programmes similar to the BBC’s Pilgrimage or The Big Silence sparked interest, and so somewhere like Worth Abbey or a hotel within the vicinity of their favourite place might make an appropriate present.
Another idea is to centre trips around their favourite Christian hero or movement. For example, Holland’s Haarlem houses the ‘Corrie ten Boom House,’ a museum which is the positioning of the ‘Hiding Place’ where the much-loved Christian heroine hid Jews throughout the Holocaust. Geneva houses the ‘Museum of the Reformation‘ which seems a superb focus of a visit for the passionately Reformed Christian in your life. And the Papal Basilica of St Francis of Assisi in Italy is a wonderful technique to learn more in regards to the great saint and his inspiring lifetime of poverty and devotion to Christ.
In practice, the gift could be so simple as booking the hotel and/or transport and presenting the receipt in a pretty card. The Retreat Association, which describes itself as “Christian ecumenical” and works with various UK sites, offers the choice of gift vouchers.
Concert or performance
It’s possible to maintain to a spiritual theme when gifting performances of music and art too. If you are lucky you would possibly have a performance of considered one of the nice choral sacred works coming up in your local area. Although the plain selection of Handel’s Messiah is often performed before Christmas, there are numerous others – even tickets for the Easter masterpieces like Bach’s St Matthew Passion could be something to look ahead to.
Alternatively, Christian acts could be on tour within the upcoming months. Google is pretty much as good a way as any to seek out local concert events, or you’ll be able to seek for choirs in your area.
Of course should you broaden into the secular world, there are numerous more options, including tickets to see their favourite band (or on a budget, a tribute act of the favourite). If you’d prefer to maintain the timing near Christmas, there are sometimes ballets and other Christmas-themed events in the vacation period. Check the web sites of your local theatres and concert halls to seek out out what’s on.
Christian festivals and speakers
It’s not low-cost to go to any of the large worship events lately, so an all-inclusive package could be a pleasant surprise, especially in the event that they are gifted a hotel stay reasonably than resorting to camping! A less expensive option could be tickets to listen to or see a speaker or creator who’s of interest to your beloved. At a much higher price bracket, many Christians are featured on Christian cruise ship breaks, so it could be possible to gift a ship trip with the one that most inspires them.
Charity gifts
Your favourite charity will likely offer a donation packaged as a present. For example, Christian development charity World Vision’s gifts start at £6 for a warm blanket to almost £1000 to repair a borehole. If you need inspiration, a much wider range is obtainable at www.goodgifts.org, from helping people in other countries to funding allotments for the homeless.
Learning a latest skill
Has your beloved uttered the words, “I’ve at all times desired to know the right way to…”? You could make their dreams and buy an appropriate course, day workshop or similar event.
Most local colleges run skills courses within the evening, from learning a language to a craft, gaining cooking skills to playing a musical instrument. There are also many holiday options for individuals who love a selected hobby, skill or activity, from a choral break to food tasting and learning cooking skills.
Membership to historic sites
It’s expensive to get into old spiritual sites within the UK lately, with entry to ruined abbeys similar to Rievaulx often as much as £15 per person. Why not gift a membership to the gatekeepers like The National Trust or English Heritage, and set a goal of visiting as many pilgrimage sites together as possible in that point period? Local cathedrals even have annual memberships that allow more access, which has the added bonus of supporting their work.
Spa day
While it is very worthwhile to gift something of a spiritual or charitable nature, if your beloved has had a tough 12 months, a spa break could be the proper technique to treat them to a well-deserved rest and show that you just appreciate them. Although big luxurious spas are sometimes very expensive, a less expensive option is typically the 4 star local hotels which have swimming pools, saunas and treatment rooms and sometimes offer day packages.
Adventure and sports
If your gift recipient is an adrenaline junkie, how a few day’s class or workshop to participate in an unusual activity similar to windsurfing, abseiling or climbing? If you are very flush you would possibly stretch to a brief break or holiday on that theme.
Your own time!
Sometimes the gift of you is probably the most appreciated of all. Can you spare more time for your beloved, or organise some days out together, especially should you’re often busy? If money is tight this has the added option of not needing to be expensive – an easy picnic and a phone turned to silent is all that’s required.
Heather Tomlinson is a contract Christian author. Find more of her work at https://heathertomlinson.substack.com/Â or via X (twitter) @heathertomli
