December 13th marks the traditional Scandinavian holiday of St. Lucia Day. It is a celebration of light in the darkest month of the year. Traditionally, the eldest girl in the family dresses in white with a crown of candles on her head. Songs are sung and coffee and pastries are served. Here is a short…

Many years ago, I stumbled across a book called, The Spiritual Traveler New York City:  The Guide to Sacred Spaces and Peaceful Places by Edward F. Bergman.  At the time, I lived across the river in Hoboken, NJ and the thought of being a spiritual traveler in the city I love, NYC was really motivating.  I…

Matthew tells us that the birth of Jesus fulfilled a prophecy given about seven centuries earlier by the prophet Isaiah: “Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel,” which means, “God is with us.” God is with us. I must admit that I am a Dr. Seuss lover…

For many folks, the days before Christmas can be stressful, but still exciting and merry. For some of us, against the backdrop of our chaotic world, the confounding gift choices, commercials with warm family gatherings, and chords of Joy to the World may actually prompt us to feel inadequate, sad or lonely. I’m not talking…

  Then the star appeared again, the same star they had seen in the eastern skies. It led them on until it hovered over the place of the child. They could hardly contain themselves: They were in the right place! They had arrived at the right time! Matthew 2:8-10  This fall, I have found myself…

One Christmas the only thing I wanted was a Cabbage Patch Kid doll, I had wanted one for years, but this was going to be the year. Both my sister and I had asked for one and though they were expensive, we thought maybe, just maybe this year we would be so lucky. Well, Christmas…

1 Peter 5: 6-7 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.  During one of my morning prayers, the Lord placed in my heart the words “It will be given.” In my thoughts I heard “Myrna…this…

So I’ve been asked to write for a blog; an advent blog to be more specific. I’m not sure I’m the right girl for the job. I am embarrassed to admit this, but I’m not sure I’ve ever written a blog post before my life! Blurbs, articles, grant proposals, a zillion journal entries and a…

Advent – As Christians, we know it as the coming or second coming of Christ – our belief and Hope. Gratitude is defined as ‘the quality of being thankful; readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness’. What do I see as relational between these two? I see the HOPE expressed by our waiting…

My entire life, words – be they in a book, a poem, sung or prayed – have always fed, sustained, calmed and emboldened me. And so, given the heartbreaking events of the last few weeks, I turn to words to inform and guide. Recently, I heard a Wise One share with a Student that if…