At LeaderWorks, we are all about helping church leaders do their work. To that end, we posted a new idea for helping your church give in the final month of the year: make a Christmas Wish List for your church! Still, you deserve more than a lump of coal, so take a break and write…
Four Meditations for the Nine Lessons and Carols
Here is a question about the wonderful parish tradition of Lessons and Carols: Is there room for a brief homily or meditation during this service? Is there an opportunity to present the gospel from the lectern (through the nine lessons) AND through the pulpit? John Yates III thinks so. He has done so for the…
An Ordinary Book to Read for Advent
A Review of Liturgy of the Ordinary by Tish Harrison Warren. People don’t always like the word ‘ordinary.’ We like things to be ‘awesome’ or ‘fresh’ or ‘exciting’ — anything but ordinary. In teaching and writing about the Church Year, I’ve noticed that a lot of people are confused by the fact that the calendar…
Going Back to Church for Christmas Eve
“Its been a while. Going to the Christmas Eve service seems like the right thing to do. For the kids. For me. For God.” “Its been a while since I’ve been to church, and I’m not sure how I feel about going back. I’m not sure if I’ll feel good or guilty. Not sure if…
Observing Advent as a Family
In less than a week, Advent will begin. Pinterest boards and blogs overflow with beautiful, meaningful ways to celebrate Advent. Truthfully when I look at some plans that other parents can implement with their kids, I’m overwhelmed. Dinner at my house usually involves three little kids, lots of food on the floor, at least one…
What is Advent?
Advent is the beginning of the Church Year. It is a time of anticipation, a time of preparation, and a time of remembrance. Advent and Christmas are often confused. The confusion arises because most North Americans begin celebrating Christmas before it arrives. Waking up the day after the American Thanksgiving Day, folks start singing Christmas carols, and…
Advent: Prepare the Way (Part 2)
How can we “go to the Jordan” of our own honest confession this Advent? (Note: To learn more about Advent, read this book.) Augustine, in The Confessions, talks about how he ignored God and did his own thing for most of his early life. But then he writes, “I was at a later time moved to do…
Advent: John the Baptist and Me (Part 1)
John the Baptist looms large on the horizon during Advent. Why John? Isn’t this after the birth of Christ? Why would we read this before Christmas? John’s ministry was to prepare the way for Christ, and we are doing this during Advent. You may remember the beautiful story of the baby who leaped for joy… (Note: To…
Themes of Advent
Advent is right around the corner. But what are the themes of Advent? The overarching theme of Advent derives from John the Baptist’s words: “Prepare the Way of the Lord!” What Does Advent Mean? Advent starts with an apocalyptic theme on the first Sunday. You might be wondering what the Second Coming of Christ has…
