Advent Blog

Tag: #Advent2018

  • Rise Up, Shepherd, and Follow

    On this Christmas Eve, I wanted to share with you a favorite hymn of mine, an African American Spiritual called “Rise Up, Shepherd, and Follow (the star of Bethlehem).”  Do you know it? Like the more known, “Go Tell it on the Mountain,” the song was passed down orally by slaves and sung at services…

  • The Winter Solstice 2018

    Good Evening Friends! On this the shortest day of the year: We all have winters in our lives; Darkness fills our world, Fear is present, We have a longing for companionship, Our struggles seem insurmountable, We feel a sadness that abounds, Some will forsake us, Geography can make us feel isolated, Apart from those we…

  • A Message….

    CHRISTMAS is celebration; and celebration is instinct in the heart. With gift and feast, with scarlet ribbon and fresh green bough, with merriment and the sound of music, we commend the day—oasis in the long, long landscape of the commonplace. Through how many centuries, through how many threatening circumstances, has Christmas been celebrated, since that…

  • A Little Evening Advent Humor….

    “Why are Dasher and Dancer always taking Coffee Breaks?  Because they are  Star Bucks.” “Your work holiday party gives you the chance to meet all of the people you’ve been emailing from four feet away.”  from sweatlife_nyc It’s December 18th, but I already ate all of the chocolate from my Advent Calendar. I found a…

  • Mouths of Babes

    14 Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” Matthew 19:14 My three and a half year old granddaughter Lucia, not only came to me, but spoke up:   “Lita, I don’t like it when you are here because you don’t cuddle!” At…

  • In the Bleak Midwinter

    For so many, the darkest days of the year that lead up to December 21st, the first day of winter are bleak.  Last night, I watched coverage about a massive snow storm in Romania and the rainy weekend the Northeast endured where many are wondering when the rain will end. My Sunday was spent in…

  • Hope

    Fall is here and winter is on its way. This is my time for reflection and renewal. The anticipation of Christ’s coming brings me comfort with feelings of Hope for the coming year. “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me,” is my mantra of anticipation. However, there’s actually more encouragement in this…

  • Finding Salvation in the Midst of Advent

    I stumbled on this hymn, which was not previously known to me.  The lyrics tell not just of Advent but the story of salvation. THOU DIDST LEAVE THY THRONE by EMILY S. ELLIOT music by Ira David Sankey Thou didst leave thy throne and thy kingly crown, When thou camest to earth for me But…

  • Grace

    “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2: 8-10 “My grace is sufficient for you, for my…

  • A Lesson from the Jewish New Year

    Happy Rosh Hashanah. Wait!! Isn’t this a Christmas Blog. Well, I’d like to share with you the Christmas lesson that I received during the Jewish New Year. One Saturday morning in September, I was driving through a narrow street. Suddenly I felt the dreaded thud of my car mirror hitting another car. I pulled up…