They visited. They worshiped. They prayed. They sang. They saved the bulletin. Who are they? They are a UK couple who took a once in a lifetime cruise to the United States. Docked in D.C., they ventured into Alexandria and came to church. Our church, Emmanuel. Cleaning out her parents’ South Hampton, England home, their granddaughter, Jo Ashley, found…
January 6. A day of Epiphany in more ways than one. On the liturgical calendar, January 6 is the most ancient day for celebrating the birth of Jesus. ‘Tis the day of his birthday party when the three kings traversed afar and followed a star and brought him three gifts. It is the 12th of…
Read more Day of Fright, Twelfth Night & the Gift of the Magi
Like many of you, I enjoy several traditions which happen this time of year: I love receiving Christmas cards, particularly when they include pictures and updates on people I know and love and unfortunately don’t get to see as often as I’d like. This time of year I like to walk Max right around dusk…
Hi everyone. Thank you for either attending a Christmas Eve or Christmas Day service in person, by zoom or by selecting Emmanuel at Home. 22 months into the pandemic I had certainly hoped we would find ourselves in a different place; but alas, here we are. Unfortunately, like millions of others around the globe and…
“Blessed is she who believes.” Luke 1:45 Having spent the first 50 years of my life as a member of the Catholic Church, praying through Jesus, the Great Intercessor, to God, we were also taught to pray through Mary, the Mother of God, also as an intercessor – someone who intercedes on our behalf. Mary…
Blue. Blessed Mother Blue. Blessed Virgin Mary Blue. There is no sexier color in the Crayola Crayon box than Blessed Mother Blue. That is, of course, if you are a little Catholic girl. And it’s Advent. Please, Baby Jesus, bless me with Blessed Mother Blue! Now Mary (quite impossibly!) is very, very much what every…
While the church is a bit fussy about music in Advent, I confess to being obsessed with the “mall muzak” of the holiday season. Ever since I was a little kid, Jingle Bells has brought me joy; O Come, All Ye Faithful has given me comfort. The chaos of my childhood home not withstanding. I loved to sing — though Sister…
I’m recording this message from home on Wednesday before Thanksgiving – so a Happy Thanksgiving shout-out to all of you for tomorrow. I hope you have a wonderful and delicious day surrounded by love. You deserve that. Okay, on to our First Sunday of Advent homily: It should be no secret or surprise to anyone…
Recently, I bought a new car! A shiny apple green Hyundai Venue. Compared to my little old blue sedan, driving the Venue, makes me feel something like an astronaut. My 2013 Accent had a radio with a USB port so I could listen to music. The Venue has something called Apple Carplay, along with the equivalent of an…
Something is in the air. You can smell it. You can taste it. You can feel it deep down. November nights press right up against the windows. Black tree limbs scrape against brooding skies. Swaddled in sweaters, dead leaves crunch beneath our feet. Daylight slips away. Horror lurks in the shadows, as darkness overtakes the…
You must be logged in to post a comment.