by revruss November 29, 2023
Feasts and Festivals

What Are You Doing for Advent?

Advent is almost upon us. What are your plans? Find some ideas below. Want a more holy Advent? It's as easy as 3, 2, 1! (Okay, that may be an oversimplification, but it is a pretty easy, yet effective, approach) https://youtu.be/R0fIzeBF5DA?si=mTVwHhnEHJNKQlWk Need some ideas for your Advent spiritual discipline? Here you go. https://youtu.be/izV41yoYGvI?si=q5sVHYZVswh1cYlu And don't forget to make use of this free resource from Beyond Sunday. https://youtu.be/yXmBoNS44Lo?si=EFmeqs34xrNWbBIu Wishing you a happy and meaningful ...

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by revruss December 9, 2020
Feasts and Festivals

To Hear The Angels Sing

It’s an under-rated, under-utilized hymn. To tell the truth, I’d never paid much attention to it until this year, when it really struck a chord (no pun intended…unless you like that sort of thing) with me. It Came Upon a Midnight Clear was written in 1849 by a Unitarian pastor in Wayland, Massachusetts. What is different about this carol is that only the first verse speaks of what happened on the night ...

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by revruss November 28, 2020
Feasts and Festivals

Wonderful time? Who says?

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Who says that? Who thinks that? The shopping malls and the spinning DJs and the airport terminals? Like we aren’t terminal. Like we don’t love people who are dying. Like hibernating hate didn’t wake up when we were half asleep. Like all the little children in the world are going to join hands and sing. Like hurricanes do no harm. Like we aren’t afraid. It’s the most wonderful time of the ...

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by revruss December 24, 2019
Feasts and Festivals

The Misunderstood InnKeeper

I have gotten a bad rap. I’m not even in Luke’s version of the nativity story and yet, in Christmas pageant after Christmas pageant for the last 2000 years, I’m made out to be the bad guy. I mean, I’m no Herod, but still…I don’t come off looking good. Somehow, I became the guy who turned poor Joseph and great-with-child Mary away from the inn so that her baby had to ...

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by revruss December 2, 2019
Unsolicited Opinions

Five Mantras to Get You Through Christmas

This year, the time between Thanksgiving and Christmas is one of the shortest ever. So you barely have time to finish off those leftovers before the Christmas onslaught begins. While many of you will have wonderful holiday experiences and make lasting heart-warming memories, time with family does not always (often?) look like something out of a Hallmark Christmas movie. There are bad histories, old grudges and deeply held resentments ...

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by revruss December 26, 2018
Faith Practices

The Work of Christmas Begins

When the song of the angels is stilled,When the star in the sky is gone,When the kings and the princes are home,When the shepherds are back with their flocks,The work of Christmas begins:To find the lost,To heal the broken,To feed the hungry,To release the prisoner,To rebuild the nations,To bring peace among people,To make music in the heart. Howard Thurman.

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by revruss December 21, 2018
Pop Culture

My Favorite Christmas Song

I'm so excited that there is a fairly new live version of my favorite Christmas song, sung by Dar Williams. It's about literally welcoming people to the table, which is my favorite image of what the Kingdom of God is like.  If we can't welcome those who don't believe exactly what we do, especially at Christmas, then we're kinda missing the boat trying to be more like Jesus.  May you welcome ...

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by revruss December 6, 2018
Faith Practices , Pop Culture

The Rebel Jesus

Are you awaiting the Rebel Jesus?  The streets are filled with laughter and lightAnd the music of the seasonAnd the merchants' windows are all brightWith the faces of the childrenAnd the families hurrying to their homesAs the sky darkens and freezesWill be gathering around the hearths and tablesGiving thanks for all God's gracesAnd the birth of the rebel Jesus They call him by the "Prince of Peace"And they call him by "The ...

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by revruss November 23, 2018
Faith Practices

Getting Ready to Get Ready

Now is the time (as you recover from your Thanksgiving food coma) to be intentional about creating a meaningful Advent and Christmas season for yourself and the people you love. Join us. Sign up here for the free mini course, Getting Ready to Get Ready. Isn't a better Christmas worth 15 minutes a day for five days? Sign up today. 

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by revruss November 20, 2018
Pop Culture

Best Thanksgiving Movies

If you're too full after Thanksgiving to move and go out to the movies, here are a few to view in-home. Pieces of April is not just my favorite Thanksgiving movie, but one of my favorite movies of all time. It's a tale of redemption. My husband tells me I think everything is a tale of redemption--but this story truly is. Planes, Trains and Automobiles has been out there for awhile, but, ...

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by revruss December 22, 2017
Faith Practices , Pop Culture

Doubting Believer Favorite Christmas Songs Installment Three

Maybe this Christmas Ron Sexsmith captures what we all hope for at Christmas. Maybe this will be the year. The one where we access everything we truly want out of Christmas. Maybe... If this kind of Christmas is the one you've been seeking, then don't leave it to chance. Don't just hope for "maybe." Love deeper Choose to forgive Open Doors Shine the light Be grateful Participate in the incarnation by letting the Word be ...

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