SOME OC CHURCHES "GET IT"

Churches get back to basics for Christmas
Economic downturn inspires many faithful to give, not get.
By ERIKA CHAVEZ
The Orange County Register


As the twinkling lights and merry music made their dependable yearly debut, pastor John Thomas sensed a shift in the mood of those around him.

It came up time and again with members of his Soul Survivor Church in Costa Mesa: the consumerism, the commercialism, the Black Friday shopping sprees for the biggest, newest, next big thing. "It all strikes an uncomfortable tone," he said. "People were feeling like something's not quite right. The true spirit of Christmas has been hijacked by our culture."

It's a sentiment that's increasingly common in churches throughout Orange County, especially as job losses mount, home foreclosures rise, and most everybody is feeling the pinch.

Many churches responded by calling on their members to focus on giving instead of getting.

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