The first Christmas comes and goes, and most people don’t notice. Mary, Joseph, the shepherds, and a few others catch a glimpse of what is happening, but they’re just a handful.
Formations 12.25.2022: Of Course, She Knew
December 18, 2022 by
If you grew up in a particular kind of Christian subculture, you can’t beat Mark Lowry for quirky humor and good old-fashioned Southern Gospel music.
Connections 12.25.2022: Pondering Traditions
December 18, 2022 by
The other day I saw a social media post aimed at newly married folks. It said, in effect, whatever you do, you do not question your spouse’s family’s Christmas traditions.
Formations 10.09.2022: From the Heart
October 2, 2022 by
Years ago, I attended a workshop on worship renewal led by Robert Webber, who was one of the top names in that field in the 1990s and early 2000s.
Connections 07.17.2022: Preparing and Learning
July 10, 2022 by
The second part of our lesson text tells the familiar story of sisters Martha and Mary—one focused on working and one focused on listening (vv. 38-42). Martha often gets shamed for her bustling busyness.
Crossroads: Mary’s Song
December 27, 2021 by
I loved talking about Jesus as a child and teenager. I tried to share Jesus with my friends. There was a time when a good friend of mine was having a hard time. Her parents were fighting a lot, and their family was struggling. So I shared God’s peace with her. I told her about difficult times that I had been through.
Connections 12.19.2021: A Friend in Pregnancy
December 12, 2021 by
Soon after I became pregnant with our first daughter in 2004, I learned that my best friend—already the mother of two—was pregnant as well.
Connections 04.04.2021: Here, There, and Wherever
March 28, 2021 by
Look at Mary. She is right here. She is standing outside the tomb, weeping. She has already discovered the empty tomb.
Connections 12.20.2020: Faithful to Send Jesus
December 13, 2020 by
I thought about opening with these words: “Put yourself in Mary’s place.” But then I realized that we can’t do that.
Formations 06.21.2020: The Family of God
June 14, 2020 by
The scene with Jesus’ mother and the Beloved Disciple at the cross is unique to the Fourth Gospel. In the Synoptic Gospels, however, there’s another story with a similar them.
Formations 12.08.2019: Happy Holidays
December 1, 2019 by
How many traditions can you name surrounding the birth of Jesus? Some of these traditions are purely secular; others are deeply religious.
Formations 12.01.2019: A Frightening Call
November 24, 2019 by
Some things haven’t changed since biblical times. For a couple (especially a Christian couple) who is in a relationship but not yet married, the potential for pregnancy can be frightening and even shameful.
The Bell Lap, a Lenten Devotion
April 9, 2019 by
In long-distance swimming, the last two lengths of the pool are called “the bell lap.” When swimmers reach the final 2 lengths of the pool in competitions, an official rings a bell.
Advent Devotions: Joy
December 25, 2018 by
Merry Christmas! Technically, Advent is over, but as I’ve said before, even though the Christ child has come, in a way, we are still waiting. We wait with hope. We wait with peace. We wait with love. And today, we wait with joy.
Crossroads: The Candle of Bethlehem/Peace
December 11, 2017 by
Welcome to the second week of Advent! This week, our focus lies on Mary and Joseph, a couple who were waiting for the changes that come with a big transition: a new baby.
Help During Times of Darkness
April 25, 2017 by
A few years ago, I was driving home from church on a Wednesday night when the greatest number of emergency vehicles that I had ever seen whizzed past me on the other side of the highway, their bright lights flickering and sirens blaring. I soon discovered that a fertilizer plant in the neighboring town of West, Texas had exploded.
Connections 12.11.2016: The Upside Down
December 4, 2016 by
I came—and that I come—to Mary’s song as a person of privilege. My late parents would have scoffed at that statement. They worked in textile mills. They bought very used cars. We lived in a small, two-bedroom, one-bath house. But still—we never missed a meal, we always had decent clothes, and the house was warm and dry.
Connections 12.04.2016: Imagining the Details
November 27, 2016 by
This account about Mary unsettles me because it seems to leave out a few things. I remember, very early in my marriage, worrying about getting pregnant too soon. John and I were still adjusting to living in the same apartment.
Formations 06.26.2016: Mary Magdalene and the Gardener
June 19, 2016 by
Halfway through drafting this post, I realized I was guilty of oversimplification in order to find a moral in this story. I hadn’t determined if I would praise Mary for recognizing Jesus’ resurrection or chide her for missing it at first.
Connections 01.31.2016: When Death Comes
January 24, 2016 by
Death came into my life during the night when I was around ten years old, taking with it a beautiful white dog named Princess. A few more dogs followed over the years, one of which I raised from a tiny puppy.
Crossroads: The Bethlehem Candle or Candle of Love
December 7, 2015 by
Mary and Joseph waited for a miracle to happen for nine months. They knew that Jesus, the Son of God, would change their whole lives. And so they waited with anticipation for Jesus’ birth.
Formations 12.06.2015: The Cost of Poverty
November 29, 2015 by
About forty workshop participants recently learned valuable lessons about the realities of poverty by taking part in a simulation called The Cost of Poverty (or COPE). In the simulation, participants are matched together at random and given roles based on real-life poverty scenarios.
That Dark Thursday Night: A Maundy Thursday Reading
April 2, 2015 by
“Go into the city,” he said. “A friend of mine will show you a large, upper room, furnished and ready.” Strange. Peter and I rounded a corner and there, coming out of a narrow alley was a man we didn’t know, but he looked at us as if we were expected.
Crossroads: The Candle of Preparation – Mary and Joseph
December 7, 2014 by
This week we light the second candle on the Advent wreath. This candle is often referred to as the Candle of Preparation, or the Bethlehem Candle. As we light the second candle, our focus centers on Mary and Joseph, the earthly parents of Jesus, the Christ child.
Crossroads: The Candle of Prophecy – Elizabeth and Zechariah
November 30, 2014 by
Welcome to the first week of Advent, a time of waiting and preparation as we prepare for the birth of Christ. This week you will light the first purple candle, the candle of prophecy and hope.
Crossroads: Experiences of Grief – Mary, Martha
September 1, 2014 by
One of the saddest experiences in life is when someone or something we love dies. I remember the first time one of my pets died. Blackey was our family cat.