Tag: Advent

Dream Joseph, Dream

Frederick Beuchner in his book Peculiar Treasures tells a story about Jesus’ daddy — the Dreamer. Thank you very much Fred. Let me paraphrase it here. After hearing Mary’s news and confronted with a nightmare of a marriage,  Joseph does what any self respecting man would do.  He decides to hit the hay and catch some ZZZZ’s.  As…

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St. Nick’s Advent Calendar!

Happy St. Nicholas Day, December 6! Have you heard this Advent carol? It is sung to an 18th century dance tune! Prepare the Way, O Zion, your Christ is drawing near!Let every hill and valley a level way appear.Greet one who comes in glory, foretold in sacred story,Oh, blest is Christ that came in God’s…

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Impatience!

If you looked up the word “impatience” in the dictionary, you would see a picture of my dad.😊 When I was growing up, my dad did not like to wait. He would not take us anywhere he anticipated crowds or lines. He would never go to a restaurant without a reservation. When we went to…

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A Field Guide to Angels: An Advent Almanac

Advent 2022 begins Sunday, November 27th. Angels.   Every year, when they were little, my children donned cardboard wings in the Christmas pageant. And through the centuries gilded angel wings have graced a bazillion Christmas cards. Angels. Pretty, poetic symbols.  Anachronistic theology of the Middle Ages.  Superstition in the scientific age.  Right?  Yet every Sunday we confess that “We…

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Brooding on Vipers

I don’t know much about snakes. Really, I don’t know anything. I think they’re weird animals – not at all cuddly, frankly a little creepy, they’re just not my thing. But this line from John the Baptist stands out to me every time I hear it: “you brood of vipers.” Turns out, vipers are interesting. They are venomous, of course, and can cause serious bodily harm…

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