Monthly Archives: December 2016

One of the ways you can tell the Holy Spirit is at work in a congregation is by the fruits of the Spirit.  At JOY, I see many fruits.  One of the fruits I see time and time again is … Continue reading →

It’s funny how we sometimes write similar things in our blogs without conferring.  Recently, you read Wayne’s rewrite of Clement Moore’s “Twas the Night Before Christmas.”  Today you get mine. Searching For Meaning ‘Twas the sixth day of Christmas when … Continue reading →

The lesson for today in my Benedictine Daily Prayer book begins this way: “For this is the message you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another” (1John:3:11). It’s a wonderful message for Christmas, and yet far … Continue reading →

We have just celebrated the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. As we enter a new year let us remember what Paul has said to us about the faithfulness we have in this savior that was born. “Therefore, since we … Continue reading →

Sometimes we think of Christmas as Dec. 25th only. As Judy pointed out yesterday, the church season and traditional Christmas carols remind us there’s more than one day to Christmas. I am still thinking about Pastor Wayne’s Sunday sermon that … Continue reading →

Yes, we’re all familiar with the old English Christmas carol . . . on the second day of Christmas my true love gave to me, two turtle doves.   It’s a carol to challenge our memories as we try to keep … Continue reading →

 Last week I described the Moravian Lovefeast Service, which is held on special occasions, one of which is Christmas Eve. Like all Lovefeasts the Christmas service consists mostly of singing; this service is especially joyous, because the Church sings Christmas … Continue reading →

Everyone knows what we celebrate on Christmas Day, right?  The birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ!  So, what’s the deal with Christmas Eve?  What are we celebrating today?  Christmas Eve is a day for preparation and anticipation building to Christmas … Continue reading →

Tomorrow is Christmas Eve, and you’ll receive a blog about the legend of the talking animals.  So today, on the eve of Christmas Eve, you’re getting theological thoughts about the baby Jesus… Setting the stage: God is in heaven sitting … Continue reading →

Here’s a verse I wrote one November day after visiting a shopping mall in Philadelphia: “Twas the Week of Thanksgiving” (With apologies to Clement Moore) Twas the week of Thanksgiving And all through the mall, Every creature was stirring, You … Continue reading →