On the first Sunday of Advent after church, I get to go home and do one of my most favorite things. No, it is not decorate a Christmas tree—we will wait until the week of Christmas to do that. On the first Sunday of Advent, in my family, we set up our nativities.
A Crowded Stable
As I stared at the crowds amassed around our holy family, it occurred to me that with our first child, other than the occasional comment on our parenting and her stranger glare reserved demeanor, we were pretty much left alone as parents to sink or float.
The Feast of Saint John: God is Light
“This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light and in him there is no darkness at […]
The Small Wonders of the Season
I saw an Instagram post this past week made by a residential program for women who are trying to piece their lives back together after varying circumstances. The picture in the post showed a small child holding a Christmas ornament, the young son of one of the women. The child was entranced with the sparkly red ball in his hands.
Re-Imagining Mary
Mary was a distant figure for me before having children. As a child she was the part in the nativity I never got to play (my short brown hair meant that I always lost out to my long blond-haired friends). As an adult, to me she was the venerated saint of Catholics, whose hailing brought a comfort I did not understand. I knew she was important, but I could not relate to her.
Making Connections: The Good Book Club in Action
Sharing these stories and a time of wondering has led us to connect to the Scripture and one another in a new
way.
How We Keep Advent: Books, Nativity, Devotionals… and Milkshakes too.
We do not keep elves on any of our shelves to send behavior reports to the North Pole. Christ came for us while we were yet on the naughty list.
5 Ways We Decorate for Advent and Christmas
Since we became Episcopalian, the way I bring the season into my home has become even more fun and meaningful.
A (Texas) Advent Story
One story of an Advent remembered. The tree-trimming, sweet-making, church-going kind.
Fun and Faith Formation under the Tree – a Gift Guide!
Here’s a list of gift ideas integrating fun, family and faith. Works for godparents and grandparents too!