Lent Blog

Exuberant, life-giving God: As Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, was moved to bless Mary’s child, so fill us with your Spirit that our neighbors’ hidden hopes may be brought to fruition to the glory of your name, through the fruit of Mary’s womb, Jesus Christ. Amen. Last week I heard the phrase “The present […]

Advent Waiting and wanting Is waiting all about wanting? Waiting for treasure. Waiting for love. Waiting for passage. Waiting for arrival. Waiting for release. Waiting for relief. Waiting for peace. Ahh… Christmas Day. All’s turmoil And then all is fulfillment–or not. Once the wanting is past, the waiting is finished, the treasure, the love, the […]

After all the gifts at Christmas are opened; parents, grandparents, and siblings oftentimes ask, what was the best gift you received…celebrities get asked on TV and commercials throughout Advent, show the excitement of receiving high-ticket items.   But we all have seen a young child playing more with the cardboard box than the toy inside. […]

“In the old days, there was a person in every town who would light the street lamps with a flame he carried at the end of a long pole.  On the street corners, the lamps waited to be lit.  Sometimes, however the street lamps were not easily accessible…there were lamps in forsaken places.  Someone had […]

Today we celebrate the coming of the Christ light into the darkness of our world.  Scandinavians, who live in deep darkness through the winter especially celebrate the coming of the light which overcomes the darkness of their world. Historically, December 13th, before changing to the Gregorian calendar, was the Winter Solstice, the longest night of the year. Thus, […]

One of my favorite activities to do each Advent is to read a story of Christmas to a child or an elder.  It is virtually free, as you can check a book out of the library.  Reading aloud will bring joy–I promise to both you and the listener.  Here is a short list of options […]

Sometimes the “holly, jolly” feelings are difficult during Advent.  We have all had to celebrate a first Christmas without a loved one.  2014 might be that kind of Advent for you and your family, as it is for my family, where we will celebrate the first Christmas without my Nana.  My Nana contributed so much […]

The Advent Song Now we light the first candle It must stand alone We wait for the little child who laid in a manger Now we light the second candle Then we can see better We wait for God, our Father to give his Son down here Now we light the third candle It is […]

As the days get shorter and the weather outside is sometimes “frightful,” how about plan a movie night or two with an Advent or Christmas theme?  I am going to go out on a limb here and not include some of our favorites like “Its a Wonderful Life” and dig deep for some movies you may […]

During Advent, I like to serve comfort food. While the Miso in this recipe is optional, if you do use, you’ll find it adds a wonderful, rather mysterious, taste to this dish. It’s an umami sort of mystery. Try it. I bought my Miso from Amazon. Butternut Squash Mash Ingredients 1 tablespoon canola or olive […]