Start a tradition of Christmas service in your family!

We really need a new family photo!

In 2009, the family of Ed and Kriss Gates started a new family Christmas tradition. As we prepare for our third year of this tradition, we invite all readers to consider starting a similar tradition in your family. This tradition has helped us focus on serving our communities and one another during the annual celebration of the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

For years, the six Gates children and their spouses exchanged gifts every Christmas. In 2009, with families spread across five state throughout the country, we realized we were spending nearly as much money on shipping costs as we were on gifts.

For our new tradition, we decided to perform acts of service in the name of the sibling whose name we were assigned at random. A friend drew names and notified each of us of the person we were to use to inspire our service. On Christmas Day, we revealed who we had and how we served on their behalf by posting our stories on The Gates Family Season of Service blog.

We hope you will come back to our blog on Christmas morning to read about the service performed this year. If you would like to read about past years, here are two links to guide you:

2009 Season of Service    |    2010 Season of Service

A few friends have started this tradition in their family. If you do, we would love to hear about your experience. And if you allow, we will link to your blog and ask you to link back to ours.