Imagine you are a shepherd in ancient Israel: Your job is mundane, dirty, and maybe even a little frightening. You’re out in the wilderness, away from town, and the only light you see at night comes from the fire around which you are huddled and the moon hanging overhead. With that small field of [...]
Join us at 9:30 a.m. on the 19th for an Advent reunion in Hollis Hall Our time of “Picturing Advent” will begin with Henry Tanner’s striking depiction of “The Annunciation” as Mary receives the news of her expectancy. This stunning painting raises questions both of Mary’s reaction and of how Tanner’s own background may [...]
Thy Kingdom Come The Last Temptation "I will give you all their authority and splendor; it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to." -Luke 4:6 As prophesied, Israel’s true king came, born in the royal city of Bethlehem, born King of the Jews to reign on [...]
Political and social unrest dominate the news, and economic distress grips the entire world. People are easily overcome with a sense of hopelessness and fear. As we approach Christmas this year, it seems appropriate to refocus our attention on the reason we celebrate at all. Christ entered history in times like ours: the Mediterranean [...]
The church season of Advent begins this Sunday. Advent is our opportunity to live in the tension between God’s presence and absence. It’s a celebration of a past event and an anticipation of a future one. It’s disappointment at the world’s darkness and hope for its light. It’s a season of preparing for something [...]
