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The Night Will Soon Be Ending
By Emily Cook The glitter of Christmas has a way of highlighting the brokenness of the world for me. When Christmas is about the merely material side of things, it is as if the world gathers to string lights on platitudes and empty hopes, or to put frosting on a rotting cookie. I see the emptiness of the platitudes, the rottenness of the gifts the world offers. Mere Christmas lights are not bright enough to truly pierce the darkness of this broken place, of our aching hearts. And yet, we gather with our brothers and sisters in Christ, and we sing: The night will soon be ending; the dawn cannot…
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Comfort, yes, comfort My people; tell her that her iniquity is pardoned!
By Mary Abrahamson “Comfort, comfort ye my people, Speak ye peace,” thus saith our God. “Comfort those who sit in darkness, Mourning ‘neath their sorrow’s load. Speak ye to Jerusalem Of the peace that waits for them; Tell her that her sins I cover, And her warfare now is over. Yea, her sins our God will pardon, Blotting out each dark misdeed; All that well deserved His anger He no more will see or heed. She hath suffered many a day; Now her griefs have passed away. God will change her pining sadness Into ever-springing gladness. Hark the herald’s voice is crying In the desert far and near, Bidding all…
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On Advent Hymnody
By Elisabeth Urtel Savior, Show Thy Power and Glory Yea, amen! Let all adore Thee, High on Thine eternal throne; Savior, take the power and glory, Claim the kingdom for Thine own. The above quotes the last verse of “Lo, He Comes With Clouds Descending,” a 1758 Charles Wesley hymn cherished especially in the Anglican tradition, imparted to Lutherans through modern English hymnals. Residing in either the Advent or End Times piece of your service book, it may be used to teach several facets of the resurrection and second coming of Christ. However, understanding this part correctly is crucial to preserving the personal union. In singing “Savior, take Thy power…
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Advent and Discipline
By Amanda Markel It seems people are talking about New Year’s resolutions before the Christmas wrapping paper has been cleaned up (if not sooner). There’s something about the start of a new year that inspires people to make a fresh start, to try something new, to improve something about themselves. I’m not a big fan of New Year’s resolutions (how many of them are still kept by the time you get to spring?), but I do think focusing on some new disciplines at the beginning a new church year church year is a great practice. The first Sunday in Advent has ushered in that new church year…have you considered how…
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Another Take on Advent Preparations
By Allison Hull I’m going to talk about something controversial. It might get some very heated so you may want to click back to another page. Seriously, you’ve been warned. I’m talking about Advent. How to celebrate it as opposed to Christmas. Now, I’ve been talking to a number of people and this subject gets everyone riled up for some reason. Everyone thinks they’ve got the right idea about how to celebrate it, especially if you’re religious. One thing we can all agree on is that it’s a time of preparation. My husband is a huge Christmas fan. He listens to the music in July, watches Elf and Jingle All…
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Stuff Some Rolls in your Purse (on bringing the liturgy home)
By Emily Cook It’s time for the Divine Service! Our Sunday Feast! Here, the gifts of God are poured out in so much abundance that one can hardly take it all in! It’s going to be a party! Oh wait, I have children. Never mind. It’s going to be a battle. If you have children, you know they aren’t exactly interested in taking it all in. They’re not there for the “food,” so to speak. They are their to wave to their friends, to drop the offering with a loud clatter on the floor, to lick the hymnals, and to color on their dress pants. So what’s a mother to…
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Why to Attend Advent Midweek Services
By Amanda Markel Today marks the first Wednesday in Advent, and that means most Lutheran churches will have a midweek service tonight. These services often take the form of Vespers or Evening Prayer, which are services especially appropriate to this time of year. Both services use the Magnificat, Mary’s beautiful song, which she sang after being visited by the angel, as the main Canticle. What better time of year to sing along with Mary the words: “For the Mighty One has done great things to me, and holy is His name; and His mercy is on those who fear Him from generation to generation.” In addition to the Magnificat, the…
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Observing Advent with Children
By Amanda Markel The days leading up to Christmas are busy days, and are made even busier for families with small children. It can be easy to lose track of what we’re preparing for, and focus on the more worldly aspects of the Christmas season. But, we also have the gift of the church year, which sets aside the weeks before Christmas as the penitential season of Advent—a time to slow down and reflect on Christ’s coming, both as a baby in Bethlehem, and on His eventual return. You may be wondering how to get your children’s focus off of Santa and gifts and cookies, and on to Christ. There…
