On September 21st, Christians worldwide will celebrate the Feast of St. Matthew, a day dedicated to honoring the remarkable life and enduring legacy of one of the beloved apostles. Known both as Matthew and Levi in the Bible, this apostle underwent a profound transformation through his encounter with Jesus, going from a despised tax collector…
The Liturgical Home: The Feast of St. Bartholomew
On August 24th, the Church celebrates St. Bartholomew, one of the twelve apostles of Jesus according to the New Testament. The Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke each mention Bartholomew by name (Matt. 10:13, Mark 3:18, Luke 6:14). In the Gospel of John, he is called Nathanael (John 1:43-44) and initially asks “Can anything good…
The Liturgical Home: The Feast of the Transfiguration
The Feast of the Transfiguration, celebrated on August 6th, is a momentous event in the life of Christ and in the Christian tradition. It holds profound significance as it reveals a glimpse of the divine glory of Jesus Christ. The Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke all recount the Transfiguration. In these accounts, Jesus, accompanied…
The Liturgical Home: The Feast of St. James the Elder
The Feast of St. James the Elder on July 25th is a special occasion to honor the life and legacy of this beloved apostle. Two apostles and three total New Testament saints are named James. Therefore, the Church uses the title “Saint James the Elder” or “Saint James the Great” to distinguish this James, the…
The Liturgical Home: The Feast of St. Mary Magdalene
The Church will celebrate the Feast of St. Mary Magdalene on July 22nd. Mary Magdalene, known as the “Apostle to the Apostles,” holds a special place in Christian history. Her humble faith and love for Jesus have made her an enduring symbol of devotion. All four Gospels mention her, and she plays a significant role…
The Liturgical Home: The Nativity of John the Baptist
The Nativity of John the Baptist, celebrated on June 24th and also known as the Summer Christmas, Nativity of the Forerunner, or Johnmas (I love that one!), is the special day we commemorate John the Baptist’s birth. It was once a highly celebrated feast day, though it doesn’t receive the recognition it once did, which…
The Liturgical Home: Shrove Tuesday
It’s time for Shrove Tuesday, also called Pancake Day, Mardi Gras, and Carnival. And I’m excited, not only because we will eat pancakes but also because it means we are only a day away from Lent, my favorite season of the year! The End of the Carnival The word Carnival comes from the Latin expression,…
The Liturgical Home: Saint Nicholas Day
Nicholas became the Bishop of Myra in the 4th century and took part in the great church council of Nicaea that gave us the Nicene Creed.
Try These 3 “Las Posadas” Recipes This Advent!
Want more Advent recipes, devotions, and traditions to try at home? Check out A Thrill of Hope: Celebrating Advent at Home (Revised and Expanded for 2020)! Picture this. Every evening during the last nine days before Christmas, a great crowd forms in the village streets. A small child dressed as an angel leads the figures of…
Baking the Body: How to Make Homemade Communion Bread for Your Church
For the past ten years, I’ve made homemade Communion bread from the same handwritten recipe on a molasses-stained scrap from a yellow legal pad. A team of volunteer bread-bakers in my small church plant now shares this recipe. They follow it each week to bring homemade loaves to our Communion table. I’ve got absolutely nothing…
