I’ve been talking to a lot of people who are struggling emotionally this Christmas. Some grieve the loss of a precious person in their life. Others’ speak of our negative political landscape. Decisions made in Washington may run counter to our deepest values and beliefs. Dire predictions about our rapidly changing climate and Washington’s tepid […]
Each year, the church I volunteer at raises funds for toys that will be distributed to our local Community Outreach agency. Parents are given a time when they can pick out gifts for their children. Our youth are tasked with going out and spending the money raised at church to buy gifts for teens – […]
Luke alone tells us of Mary’s journey to her cousin Elizabeth’s home after she learns she will be the mother of the long awaited Messiah. There must have been something about Mary’s face, a light – a radiance, that wasn’t there before. Elizabeth is moved to greet her with wonder. Mary for her part cries […]
In the busyness of this season we can easily be distracted and lose our focus on the important. Margaret Bundy Moss’s Poem “Walk Softly” reminds me to pause for wonder as I travel through Advent days. “Walk softly As you go through Christmas, That each step may bring you Down the starlit path To the […]
An Advent Devotion for December 2 Read James 5:7-8 “Be patient, therefore, beloved, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits for the precious crop from the earth, being patient with it until it receives the early and the late rains. You also must be patient. Strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the […]
The trouble with Jesus is that he says stuff that is inconvenient to our way of thinking and being. It was something so simple really. An email with an appeal to help persecuted Christians. Normally, my mind would leap to Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq or some other area of the world where Christians live in danger […]
When my children were small, I acquired an advent wreath which quickly became part of our Christmas Celebration. The four weeks of advent were times when we would gather around the table to light a candle, read a devotion and sing a carol. What I should tell you though, is that singing has never been […]
