Christmas

    Hymn Guide: Hark! The Herald Angels Sing

    Posted on December 13, 2024
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    The majestic Christmas carol, “Hark! the Herald Angels Sing,” celebrates both the birth of Christ and the saving work he came to do. First written by Charles Wesley, with small but significant modifications by George Whitefield, it reflects the confidence of the Great Awakening in the glorious grace of God.

    12 Christmas Books for Kids

    Posted on December 10, 2024
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    In our family, we store our Christmas books in the attic for most of the year. So it is a cause of great delight, near the beginning of Advent, when we bring them out again. In these books, we find wonderful stories to celebrate the birth of Christ. To be clear, these are not adaptations…

    Eighth Day Prayers: Advent, Christmas, Epiphany header

    Review: Eighth Day Prayers (Volume 1)

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    Eighth Day Prayers: Daily Hope for Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany, takes the focus on Christ’s incarnation deep into the heart, inviting us to a place of deep spiritual reflection in God’s presence as we enter the darkest yet most hopeful time of the year.

    Today in the Spirit: Christmas 1B

    Posted on December 24, 2023
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    The Church’s messaging on the Sundays following Christmas Day might best be summed up as promises fulfilled with more to come, or light shining with ever-increasing brightness. The Christmas 1 readings are the same all three years. It is on this Sunday that we receive as a Gospel selection the famous prologue to John’s Gospel,…

    The True Story of Santa Claus

    Posted on December 6, 2023
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    Is Santa real? Yes, he is, and his true story involves a 4th-century bishop, a 19th-century Anglican, liturgical vestments, and an altercation with a heretic. The true story is so fabulous that only the kids would believe it!

    Today in the Spirit: Christmas Day A

    Posted on December 19, 2022
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    Two days prior to the delivery of a package Amazon sends you an email saying, “Your package will arrive soon;” then again one day prior, “Your package will arrive tomorrow;” then, finally, on the day of delivery, “Your package has arrived.” It is all exciting; the early notifications play an important role in building up…

    Parish Project: Making Advent Wreaths

    Posted on November 26, 2022
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    Advent is a perfect season to connect church and home. Here are ideas for making Advent wreaths together at church, together with ways to use them at home. Why Advent Wreaths? The purpose of Advent is to prepare our hearts to celebrate the coming of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, both the first and…