Christmas

Focus As you quiet yourself for this brief time, be willing to be open to God in whatever way that may take place. Read Galatians 4:21–5:1 (NRSV) Tell me, you who desire to be subject to the law, will you not listen to the law? For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one […]

Reflect During Advent of 1954, an article by C.S. Lewis was published in Britain. (You can find the article, “Xmas and Christmas” in the collection God in the Dock. The article was a speculation as to what might be written by fourth century B.C. historian Herodotus if he were to visit modern Britain in December. […]

Liturgy For The First Week In Advent  (inspired by the 2008 Catechism for Cumberland Presbyterians) By T. J. Malinoski One:            We have good news, good news!  God is drawing near in the coming of the Christ Child.  What does this mean? All:             This means that we are part of God’s creation, made in God’s image […]

Written by Dusty Luthy Thanksgiving and Christmas can often bring out the best in humanity. Schools, churches and community organizations are flush with food drives and turkey giveaways for families in need. Red kettles are out and volunteers are ringing bells or performing musical shimmies to entice us to give. There are opportunities for Angel […]

We will have much to be thankful for when Thanksgiving rolls around this year. Not that we don’t have plenty of reasons to be grateful already, but in this, the ugliest election year most of us have ever endured, we have been “blessed” with myriad more reasons than usual. First and foremost, we will be […]

Focus Prepare yourself to discern what is and what is not of God today. Still yourself so you can hear how God is calling you. Read Isaiah 61:1-7 (NRSV) The spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me; he has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed, […]

As the Christmas season approaches, so too does the seemingly inevitable onslaught of talking heads ginning up concern about some pervasive conspiracy to take Christ out of Christmas—the “war on Christmas” as it has become known in infotainment-speak. It’s a story-line that has no doubt been very profitable for those who promote it, but frankly, […]