If we relied on Mark, we would have to stretch to get a story worth a Christmas carol. Mark has no shepherds keeping watch over their flocks by night, no Mary, no Joseph, no manger, no wise men, no Herod.
Crossroads: Peace
December 4, 2023 by Leave a Comment
dish detergent, water, and food coloring. We started with clear water, and then we began to talk about all the hard things that can happen in life.
Formations 12.10.2023: A More Intentional Advent
December 3, 2023 by
When my daughters were small, the Advent season carried a spirit of gleeful anticipation. They couldn’t wait for Christmas!
Connections 12.10.2023: Who Needs Good News?
December 3, 2023 by
Advent catches me off-guard every year with the reminder that God may be “in his heaven” but all is not, in fact, right with the world.
Light the Candles and Push Back the Darkness
November 29, 2023 by
During Advent, in churches and private homes around the world, candles are lighted and the stages of the journey to Bethlehem are observed. It is the time when we sing familiar hymns commemorating the birth of the Christ child.
A View from the Pew: Who Is the Christmas Program For?
November 28, 2023 by
It’s that time of year when the church sanctuary is transformed into downtown Bethlehem circa first century AD, and the parking lot may or may not host some sheep.
Crossroads: Hope
November 27, 2023 by Leave a Comment
I saw the Star Wars movies much later than many others. I was in my early twenties before I watched any of them, but when I did, I found a familiar story: of hope.
Connections 12.03.2023: Mental Health
November 26, 2023 by
I had a phone call with my cousin and lifelong best friend last night. We discussed personal struggles and mental health issues.
Formations 12.03.2023: A Kingdom of Peace and Justice
November 26, 2023 by
Isaiah 9 expresses a great sigh of relief on the part of the beleaguered people of Judah.
Crossroads: For the Least of These
November 23, 2023 by Leave a Comment
My youth group went to serve lunch at a homeless shelter when I was a teenager. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I wanted to help. We began by helping prepare the food and by making sandwiches for the people to take with them when they left.
Thanksgiving Supper
November 22, 2023 by Leave a Comment
At 10:30 on Thanksgiving Day, I am standing in a long line waiting for a box of Thanksgiving. We are not in a restaurant, as you might expect, but in a nondescript building—a VFW hall, Rotary Club hall, or Jehovah’s Witness Kingdom Hall.
Flame: Advent Prayer Bags
November 21, 2023 by Leave a Comment
Lately, I’ve seen a variety of lovely ideas online for helping children and families to get involved with the Advent season. Drawing on some of the ideas I’ve seen, I’ve come up with a little bag of items that will take children through some of the main Advent themes.