You probably know that the Christian year begins with the first Sunday of Advent (the fourth Sunday before Christmas) and that Christmas is the second season in this year. Did you know that the “liturgical” season of Christmas is only twelve days long – lasting from Christmas through Epiphany whenContinue Reading

Some parts of the Bible come with questions and assumptions. The story of the visitors from the East is one.  “Jesus was born in Bethlehem near Jerusalem during the reign of King Herod.  After Jesus’ birth a group of spiritual priests from the East came to Jerusalem and inquired of the people, “Where is theContinue Reading

Have you ever found yourself DONE with Christmas as of December 25? You’ve spent weeks (maybe months) doing parties, presents, decorating, cooking, more presents, more gatherings, then church services and you are just done, Done, DONE! with Christmas? Or you’ve studied the Matthew 1 & 2 and Luke 1 &Continue Reading

Today is a celebration! We’ve traveled through Matthew 1 and much of Luke 1-2 and, although the Christmas Story isn’t over yet, it’s still a fabulous day to celebrate Emmanuel who is with us!! Merry Christmas!! Today let us focus on three songs which help us celebrate Jesus’s birth.  “GoContinue Reading

“The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge,    my shield and the horn of my salvation. Out of the brightness of his presence    bolts of lightning blazed forth.The Lord thundered from heaven;    the voice of the Most High resounded. He brought me out into a spacious place;    he rescued me because he delighted in me.”Continue Reading

(We have been working our way through the Christmas Story in Luke 1-2 and Matthew 1. Mary and Joseph have been visited by angels, endured very challenging circumstances, and finally watched the birth of the God of the Universe in a shelter for animals, before being sent to Egypt toContinue Reading

(We have been working our way through the Christmas Story in Luke 1-2 and Matthew 1. Mary and Joseph have been visited by angels, endured very challenging circumstances, and finally watched the birth of the God of the Universe in a shelter for animals, before being visited by local shepherdsContinue Reading

(We have been working our way through the Christmas Story in Luke 1-2 and Matthew 1. Mary and Joseph have been visited by angels, endured very challenging circumstances, and finally watched the birth of the God of the Universe in a shelter for animals, before being visited by local shepherds whoContinue Reading

(We have been working our way through the Christmas Story in Luke 1-2 and Matthew 1. Mary and Joseph have been visited by angels, endured very challenging circumstances, and finally watched the birth of the God of the Universe in a shelter for animals, before being visited by local shepherds whoContinue Reading

(We continue our look at the Christmas Story in Luke 2. Yesterday, we focused on Joseph’s response to Gabriel’s announcement that he was supposed to take Mary for his wife, even though she was pregnant by the Holy Spirit.) Let’s go back to Joseph.  Joseph could have chosen to doubtContinue Reading