When our spirits despair and we deny our blessedness, Forgive us, O God. When we ignore the mighty things you have done, When we doubt your mercy, Forgive us, O God. When we are proud in the thoughts of our hearts, When our power rests on the oppression of others, When our wealth causes others…
There is so, so much in this Epiphany story. Good stuff. And hard stuff. Deep theological insights. Profound truths about the human condition. But this year it is the star that is pulling me in. And on one hand it feels like I should pay attention to some of the more earthly, serious aspects of…
How is the Divine related to the human? How does the omnipotent deal with the vulnerable? What is the relationship of the Creator with the the created? How does the infinite interact with the finite? The Gospel birth narratives—all three of them–give a startling answer. Here’s how John puts it: “The Word became flesh and…
Emmanuel. God with us. Really. In the flesh. The incarnation means that in the most real and concrete way, God is connected to the physical reality of this planet. God has inhabited a human body with skin, hair, blood, bone. God has had dirt under fingernails, has drunk thirstily from the offered cup. God has…
Just for fun, I thought I’d share a slightly edited version of a piece I wrote several years ago. (How long ago? You ask. Well, the baby who is mentioned started middle school this year.) I am grateful to now have older children and slightly less chaotic holiday preparations. ‘Twas the week before Christmas, and…
One of the downsides of a theological education (and/or an overactive theological imagination) is an inability to sing some favorite old hymns with naive gusto. During this Christmas season in particular, we simply know too much about the biblical story (and the reality of childbirth and babies in general) to fully believe all of the…
In these darkening days, we come seeking peace. We seek serenity within ourselves. We seek harmony within our families. We seek goodwill among our neighbors. We seek a ceasefire among all nations. We seek not just the absence of conflict, But the presence of shalom– the abiding peace the healing life the unrelenting justice that…
O come, O come, Emmanuel– God with us. Come into our brokenness; Come into our joy. come into our captivity; Come into our freedom. Come into our fear; Come into our compassion. Our souls have had their fill. Have mercy upon us, O God, And come, O come, Emmanuel.
We come to prepare the way: The way for Christ. We come to hear the good news: the hope of Christ. We come longing for divine hope to enter our hearts, to enter our world. We come to cry out together in the wilderness: “Oh, kingdom of heaven come near.” We come to be part…
I’ve posted this before, and I offer it again. At our house we worship together before the present-opening begins. (You will note that it is a short service.) May you know the deep peace of Christ during this holy season. – – – – – Scripture: from Isaiah 9 The people who walked in darkness…
Spacious Faith 