Instead of having a Christmas dinner - plan a 'Holiday dinner' the last week of November or the first week of December.  Incorporate Thanksgiving and Christmas all in one. Effective for buying Thanksgiving day decor after the holiday when they are on sale. Theme the party for giving thanks. We are starting a new tradition this year with a Thanksgiving tablecloth that everyone will write what they are thankful for with colored sharpie markers. Then next year we can display the tablecloth and start a new one. Make sure to have everyone put their name and age (for kids). It will be fun to look back over the years and read what you and others have written. On the floor will be baskets for the members to bring canned goods for donating to the food bank. One month before the dinner we are having the families with members on a mission or in the military service ask them to write a letter of thanksgiving home. Then the parents will read them after dinner. Then all in attendance will write or draw a letter to the missionaries or service men/women. We'll gather them and send them out so they will receive them before Christmas - maybe coordinate with any other axillaries - maybe the primary or scouts is putting together kits/gifts to send also.