I received the gift I always wanted, but I didn’t expect all the responsibility that came along with it.
Christmas
Christmas Cultures
We can mix and exchange the cultural celebrations of Christmas if we do not exchange Jesus Christ for any of them.
No One is “Left Out”!
By Dawn Moore, Souderton Mennonite Church I had heard there would be a dancing star, singing angels, and a band of clever shepherds in the Christmas Eve musical at Souderton […]
Already and Not Yet
Recognizing What is and Hoping for What is Yet to Come – Revelation 7:9-14 by Marta Castillo When a baby is born, even when still in the womb, they already are […]
Waiting for transformation
In an instant, my resin flocked Koala bear figurine was transformed; accidently knocked off my dresser and crushed beneath my cousin’s feet while we played.
Tearfully, I scooped up the pieces and brought them to my Pop Pop. He gave me a hug.
Delivering Christ to a waiting world
Christmas.
I have long been ambivalent about this holy season. Don’t get me wrong. I LOVE Christmas—the anticipation of Advent, the children’s pageant, singing “Silent Night” by candlelight with guitar accompaniment, the live nativity, the retelling of the familiar story, the making and wrapping of gifts.
But I also dread its coming—the gaudy lawn decorations, inane songs like “Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer” blaring from the radio, the excesses of the celebration. I lament with Linus its commercialization and long to discover if the Grinch’s Whoville observation is farther reaching and that it can, indeed, come “without packages, boxes, or bags.”
Christmas light, shining into the new year
by Emily Ralph, eralphservant@mosaicmennonites.org Ubaldo Rodriguez, pastor of New Hope, Baltimore, stood in the Walmart parking lot on Christmas afternoon, at a loss. Even in the midday light, there was […]
A thrill of hope, the weary soul rejoices
by Tom Albright, Ripple Allentown
Christmas Eve, and Allentown has had its 4th murder in a week. What are people thinking? Is it about money? Passion? Retribution? Evil? Fear? Lack of choices?
It is a hard week full of the usual busyness and expectations that accompany the holiday. Where is the Christmas spirit? Where is the hope? I found myself awake at 3am again. It is not fear, but sadness, futility, and concern.