To the tune of Hyfrydol (“Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus”); also works with Beach Spring and JeffersonBy Joanna Harader (2022) Through the line of Joseph, Mary,Tamar, Judah, Rahab, Ruth,Comes a savior for the nations,born Messiah of humble birth.God’s eternal presence with usThrough the ages grace imparts.Holy power in fragile infantResting in his parents’ hearts. Mary welcomes…
Advent begins in less than two weeks! That means it is a busy time for me both as a pastor and as an Advent devotional writer. I feel deeply encouraged and honored by the excitement people have expressed for my book Expecting Emmanuel: Eight Women Who Prepared the Way. I know that many of you…
I have received my author copies of Expecting Emmanuel and the book officially launches tomorrow (September 6, 2022)! Those of you who have pre-ordered should receive your books soon, and hopefully you will be able to find the book in your local bookstore well before Advent begins. Launch Party, Party, Party I want to extend…
Expecting Emmanuel officially launches two weeks from today, and I would love for you to join me on Zoom to celebrate. September 6 at 7 p.m. Central time You can join with this Zoom link If you’re on Facebook, check out the launch event page and let me know you’re coming! During the event, we’ll…
This piece was originally published at RevGalBlogPals on December 14, 2020. As the Narrative Lectionary moves into the Gospel of Luke, most of the people in the (virtual) pews will find themselves in more familiar territory. Mary, Gabriel, Elizabeth, “My soul magnifies the Lord.” Ahhhh. There is, I think, a temptation to relish the familiarity;…
It seems that most blessings are for peace(if not love, or faith, or some other such vague ideal)–A few words to calm you down and get you out the door.But this is not that kind of a blessing.It will not make everything OKOr pretend you can escape trouble—for yourself or for this world. This blessing…
(Luke 1:5-25) After the Angel Gabriel’s lengthy proclamation to Zechariah, the father-to-be responds, “How will I know this is so?” Most people assume that Zechariah is questioning the fact that Elizabeth will become pregnant at such an advanced aged. But really, what kind of a stupid question would that be? “How will I know this…
Week 2: Peace As a pastor, I know that Advent is a time of preparation, a time of pondering, a time of patient waiting. It is a season to contemplate the growing darkness of our days and appreciate the promise held in the darkness of Mary’s womb. It is a time pregnant with the possibility of…
I was working on our Christmas Eve program Friday when I heard the news about the shootings in Connecticut. Shootings at an elementary school. An elementary school. Dead bodies–little bodies–sprawled on the floor. Bloody children. Wailing parents. It was hard to get back into the Christmas spirit after hearing that news. Hard to write about the coming of…
Spacious Faith 