On the church calendar, we are about to begin advent. A time of waiting for Christ’s return. A time of preparing our hearts for that eventuality. And also a time of preparation as we contemplate Christmas. With their children, many parents and guardians will mark the month of December with an advent calendar, counting down until Christmas, the traditional time to celebrate Christ’s birth. In North American society, it is a time to prepare the house, the mailings and decorat

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving, a tradition ripe with folklore, harvest celebrations and family gatherings. Nearly every Thanksgiving, no matter what table I sit at, no matter who else is at the table, there is a chance for each person to share what they are thankful for. After about the third person, most other thanksgivings are repeats: family, good health, food and shelter, etc. What if we try something different this year? Think of someone who has hurt you, or someone who

On a recent weekend, I presided at a wedding on Saturday and presided at a baptism on Sunday. It strikes me that they are more related than I thought. A wedding, a civil union, a decision for two to form one family, is a new beginning. Those present hear the promises, promise to support the couple and pray for them. Scripture and God’s blessings are invoked. A baptism is a new beginning. A child, youth or adult, always having been loved and treasured by God, is now named an

“Now if that is how God cares for the wild flowers in the fields which are here today and gone tomorrow, will He not all the more care for you?” (Matthew 6:30) “Autumn trees ask us not to worry. They, like Jesus, suggest that we trust rather than worry. So often in autumn, I want to lean my head against a tree and ask what it feels like to lose so much, to be so empty.” What is it like to be empty and wait for God to refill you? “It sounds so simple, so easy. It isn’t eas