When was Christmas season? What was Epiphany? What did The Twelve Days of Christmas (Ladies dancing, Lords a leaping) have to do with the church calendar? And what was that word you just said – Epiphany?
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Many of you already know this, but I have a strong German heritage — my father came from a small German community near Brenham and German was his first language.
I may not know what the denomination will look like in the weeks or months to come, but I know what FUMCFW will look like — a community of the faithful seeking to walk in the ways of Jesus.
In the wake of all that is going on around us, in our world and even in our denomination, it seems especially important to use this Lenten season as a time to deeply reflect and consider who we are as a faith community.
Christmas — and all the days leading up to it — and silence? Pairing these two things is not the reality for most people.
My husband, Tom, and I were in Philadelphia for a wedding not too long ago and I couldn’t wait to show him one of my favorite art museums — The Barnes Collection.
This is the first Christmas in my entire life where my mother will not be there to open gifts, nor will she have a chair at the table. Same for my husband in the loss of his mother just one week after mine.
What right do we have to tell God who God can find worthy of love and healing? Let God love, and all we have to do is love one another. Simple.
I’ve been pondering the question, “What makes us a community?” Is it proximity to one another? Is it recognition of faces that we frequently encounter? Is it shared ideas? Mutual passions? Common fears or enemies?
“But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people . . .’” This Christmas Day let us imagine the pure joy of embracing this good news for all people.