My reflection on today’s Advent word – our last of the season – is short and sweet. You are beloved. Just as God spoke to Jesus as he was baptized, proclaiming, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased,” God also speaks that to each one of us. In the...
Yesterday, I had the opportunity to teach our Sacred Stories class with our Pre-K through 2nd graders. Throughout the Advent season, they have learned about all of the people who show us the way to Bethlehem. The first week, they learned about the prophet Isaiah. The second...
My family has been discussing the Advent Word each day, and when my son asked what today’s word is, I told him - “restore.” He responded, “Oh, like when Jesus restored hope in the people and taught them new ways of loving.” Well … yes … exactly. Thank...
I will admit that I looked at the Advent Word for today with a bit of trepidation. “Go”? I don’t need any more “go” in my life! Especially at this time of year, I feel like I am going all the time. But then I took a look at the word for...
One of my “go-to” books is “To Bless the Space Between Us” by John O’Donohue. This book has a blessing for just about everything – for life’s transitions, for various emotions, for family members, for callings, for beginnings, for endings. ...
I often think of that first Christmas gathering in the stable as a form of worship. The shepherds had heard about the birth of this special child from the angels, and they just had to find the child to give him glory and honor. Luke’s Gospel tells us that when they left the stable, they...
This past Sunday, the topic for our high school Confirmation class was prayer. We talked a little about prayer, but most of the class was spent praying. Jeff and I wanted to introduce the class to different types of prayer in order to expand their ideas of what prayer can be. They tried a breath...
Several times throughout the Gospels, the disciples seem slow to learn what Jesus is trying to teach them. They don’t understand his parables, they are surprised by his miracles, and they ask questions about things they should already know. Their confusion makes sense … Jesus was...
When we celebrate Christmas, we know all about the impact the birth of this tiny baby has had - and continues to have - on the world. At the time of Jesus’ birth, though, people were likely not so sure. Mary, however, did have an idea of how the world would turn with the birth of Jesus. In...
Whenever I look at a nativity scene, I am always aware of how many disparate creatures gathered together to celebrate the baby Jesus. Where else would one find new parents, a little baby, barn animals, shepherds, and angels gathered in the same place? Not to mention the magi, who arrived later...