Chatting Around the Christmas Tree

The gifts are open, the “egg-istrata” has been eaten, and the grandkids are spoiled! Join us for one last “Chatting Around the Christmas Tree” as we share our personal highlights from Christmas Day.
We love you, we appreciate you, and we wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
What was the best part of your Christmas?
#ChristmasDay #StaffStories #ChurchLife #HolidayJoy #MerryChristmas #NewYearAnticipation

The countdown is finally over—it’s Christmas Eve! Join the Church @ 434 staff as we celebrate the night before Christmas with laughter, memories of “unconventional” gift wrapping, and the excitement of what’s under the tree tomorrow morning.
Most importantly, we take a moment to reflect on the greatest gift ever given: the first Christmas. We hope your holiday is filled with useful gifts, great joy, and the love of God.
Merry Christmas from all of us at The Church @ 434!
#ChristmasTraditions #ChristmasEve #ChurchLife #GiftIdeas #WrappingGifts #ChristmasCountdown #FaithAndFamily

Welcome back to “Chatting Around the Christmas Tree!” Today, we’re putting the staff on the spot with a question that gets to the heart (and the stomach) of the holidays: If you could make any dish an official Christmas staple, what would it be?
Join us for a fun conversation about the foods that remind us of home, the traditions our adult kids still demand, and why Santa might actually prefer a chocolate-covered bowl of ice cream over cookies.
We love sharing these moments of our lives with you as we count down to the second-best Christmas ever!
#ChurchFamily #ChristmasCountdown #HolidayChat #GettingToKnowUs #StaffStories #FaithAndFun

We all have that one Christmas movie we love but are a little embarrassed to admit to. Today, the Church @ 434 staff is getting vulnerable! From “mushy” Hallmark romances and Bill Murray’s irreverent classics to Muppets and “shoot-em-up” holiday heists, we’re revealing the movies that make our holiday list (even if we watch them alone with a moose cup of eggnog).
What is YOUR secret Christmas movie? The one you don’t want anyone to know you like?
#ChristmasMovies #GuiltyPleasures #HolidayConfessions #ChristmasCountdown #Scrooged #EmmetOtter

Every year at 434, we gather around the Christmas tree to hear the legends of holidays past. But no story is more legendary—or more awkward—than Richard Israel’s infamous Duluth underwear gift. From “next-level” comfort to “parachute-sized” surprises, find out why Richard’s wife wasn’t exactly thrilled with her Christmas present. It’s the thought that counts… right?
#ChristmasFail #GiftGiving #HusbandFail #HolidayHumor #UnderwearStory #ChurchFamily

From German pickles to… underwear? The staff at The Church at 434 is sitting down for another round of “Chatting Around the Christmas Tree,” and things are getting a little weird! Today, we’re diving into our memory banks to uncover the strangest, most unusual, and flat-out tackiest Christmas decorations we’ve ever seen (or owned).
Stick around to hear about the voice-activated squirrel that nearly gave us a heart attack and the “unique” tree topper that Scott’s family will never forget.
What is the strangest Christmas decoration you’ve ever seen?
#ChristmasTraditions #ChristmasDecor #FunnyChristmas #HolidayLaughs #ChristmasPickle

We all know the story of Christmas, but how do the traditions we love actually begin?
In this episode of “Chatting Around the Christmas Tree,” the Church @ 434 staff takes a lighthearted look at the “characters” of the season. We challenge ourselves to create a brand-new Christmas mascot from scratch. While the conversation leads us to some hilarious places—including a wrestling legend and a gift-giving primate—it reminds us that the joy of the season is often found in the memories and laughter we share with one another.
Watch as Jeff, Richard, Michael, Chris, LeeAnn, and Scott attempt to navigate the portal of creativity to find the next big holiday icon.
#ChristmasSpirit #FaithAndFun #HolidayTraditions #CreativeChristmas #CommunityLaughter

“There is a “plethora” of Christmas music out there, but which song truly captures the spirit of the season for you? Today on Chatting Around the Christmas Tree, we whittle it down. We challenge the staff to cut through the noise and select the one song they could live with—every hour of every day—through the 25th.
It’s a conversation about nostalgia, instrumental peace, and the songs that “count your blessings.” Let music be the soundtrack that carries you through the season.
#ChristmasTraditions #MusicTherapy #HolidaySpirit #ChristmasQuestions #MeaningOfChristmas #HolidayMusic

“Your imagination can run wild, and anything and everything can happen.”
Join the Church of 434 staff as we tackle the ultimate holiday hypothetical: Dinner with any fictional character. The conversation takes some hilarious turns, featuring cameos from Red One, Frozen, and even Die Hard. Whether it’s asking Santa for his logistical secrets over a ribeye or chilling with The Rock, we want to know where your imagination takes you this holiday season.
#ChristmasSpirit #Imagination #HolidaySeason #PopCulture #QandA #ChatAroundTheChristmasTree #ChristmasVibes

If you could be stuck in a Christmas movie for just one day, which one would you pick? The Church at 434 staff takes on this debate, and the answers get wild!
From fixing the plot holes in White Christmas and riding Clark Griswold’s saucer sled, to a very un-pastoral plan to take out Mr. Potter in It’s a Wonderful Life—this conversation has it all. Join us around the tree for some laughs and let us know: which movie world would YOU choose?
#HolidayMovies #ClassicChristmas #QuestionOfTheDay #MovieMagic #ChristmasTraditions

In the hustle of the holiday season, it’s easy to feel like we can never take a day off—much like Santa’s elves. In this episode of “Chatting Around the Christmas Tree,” we start with a fun question: What do elves do for fun? But the conversation leads us to a much deeper truth.
Are you rushing through December, or are you experiencing it? We invite you to take a few hours for yourself, step away from the stress, and remember what we are truly celebrating. Let’s find rest and refocus on Jesus together.
#Advent #SlowDown #ChristmasDevotional #JesusIsTheReason #MentalHealth #SpiritualRest #ChurchFamily

Traditions make up the fabric of our holidays—but if you could start a new one for everyone, what would it be?
Welcome back to “Chatting Around the Christmas Tree.” Today, the staff dives into a creative hypothetical question that reveals a lot about how we view the holidays. From “mandating” that families take turns opening gifts to foster unity, to a “Brewster’s Millions” style of giving away money to strangers, we explore ways to make the season more meaningful. (And yes, we also talk about mandatory food choices and banning fake trees!).
Whether your traditions are silly or sacred, we hope this conversation inspires you to find ways to point your family back to the true gift of Christmas: the baby in the manger.
#Christmas #FaithAndFamily #NewTraditions #ReasonForTheSeason #ChurchCommunity #Generosity #ChristmasVlog #HolidaySpirit

We’re asking the hard-hitting questions on this episode of Chatting Around the Christmas Tree. Today, Richard sits in the hot seat to answer the one question everyone is whispering about: “Why do they call you Sugar Nuts?”
The answer involves a road trip, some candied almonds, and a moment of accidental self-sabotage that he will never live down. Join the Church of 434 staff for a massive laugh and a lesson on why you should never give yourself a nickname!
Challenge: Do you have a nickname that stuck?
#SugarNuts #NicknameFail #ChristmasHumor #FunnyNicknames #HolidayVibes #RoadTripStories

What is the most useless gift you’ve ever received… and did you actually use it?
Join the Church of 434 staff in the Upper Room as we kick off our “Chatting Around the Christmas Tree” countdown! In this episode, Jeff puts the team on the spot to confess their weirdest presents—from salt guns and novelty socks to a flock of screaming plastic goats.
But amidst the laughter and the re-gifting confessions, there is a deeper truth to uncover: A gift never fulfills its purpose until it is actually used. Are you maximizing the greatest gift given to you this season?
#ChristmasCountdown #BadGifts #ChristmasHumor #TheGreatestGift #ScreamingGoat #HolidayCheer