Monthly Archives: December 2021

A brand-new pastor and his wife, newly assigned to reopen a church in suburban Brooklyn, arrived in early October.  They were excited but the church was very run down and needed much work.  They set a goal to have everything … Continue reading →

The week of Christmas has arrived.  You can do the countdown on your fingers now.   We’re expectant, we’re anxious.  Something big is happening, and it’s coming soon.  I don’t know your plans for the week to come.   Maybe you’re putting … Continue reading →

I generally laugh when some of the Pepto Bismol commercials come on the television.  You have surely have heard their jingle about, “Nausea, heartburn, indigestion, upset stomach, diarrhea.” I’m laughing as I write this, as it does make me giggle when I … Continue reading →

I read about the “celebration plate” in the Living Lutheran magazine in the last couple of years.  I thought it was a nice idea, but sort of put it in the back of my head.  Last summer I found the … Continue reading →

Growing up in the North Country of New England, Christmas always heralded the darkest time of the year.  It gets dim at 3:30 PM and dark at 4 PM. It can be a demoralizing time of the year. However, there … Continue reading →

“The true meaning of Christmas is pretty hard to take. . . . It makes it perfectly clear that we children of men were and are so bad, so utterly evil, that God had to take the last and most … Continue reading →

“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans[b] of Judah,out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel,whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.”  Micah 5:2 We may not know much about Bethlehem, … Continue reading →

It is the day after a “JOYful Christmas Celebration”. The first-ever concert at Joy featuring only our congregational talent. Some had never “performed” publicly, excluding Sunday worship. I am tremendously honored and proud of them. They gave a gift that … Continue reading →

The Advent candle yesterday was pink, the color of the joy and happiness we’ll experience when Jesus comes again.   Oh, what a day that will be!  Robed in all his glory, we’ll see him face to face.  We’ll see our … Continue reading →

I have a large desktop calendar mounted on a wall with easy visibility to see upcoming birthdates, anniversaries, appointments, events and of course, holidays. Planning and preparation are important to successfully maneuvering through a busy schedule.  As Joseph and Mary prepared … Continue reading →