In the 1970 musical Scrooge, even the grumpy Christmas-hating Scrooge eventually realized that “December the 25th is the dearest day of all the year!” (Watch the trailer here.) I never needed any convincing about that. The sound of Andy Williams singing that Christmas was “the most wonderful time of the year” had always filled our […]
‘Twas the night after Christmas, when all through the house Not a creature was hungry, not even a mouse; The stockings still hung there, all limp and bare, With hopes that no tummy aches would soon appear. The children were nestled all snug in their beds, With visions of presents flying through their heads; And […]
Everyone wondered, and no one knew. Knew who Mr. Pemberton was, that is. Oh, they all knew of the Pemberton family. At least the older ones. The cranky old man who used to throw things at them when they were kids. And just because they passed his house! Not because they’d stolen his apples or […]
My husband and I have mostly given up Christmas. Because of the increase in materialism, not because we’ve become Scrooges. Finding true meaningful spirituality amidst the commercial trappings became increasingly difficult. So for several years we did little during the holidays. Then I began to look at Advent. And I found what I call the […]
Francis Junius, a 15th century theologian, once gave an account of his first reading of John chapter 1. He said “he observed such a divinity in the argument, such an authority and majesty in the style, that his flesh trembled, and he was struck with such amazement that for a whole day he scarcely knew […]
It starts earlier and earlier every year, the hype and commercialism. Christmas stuff and Halloween gore side by side in the stores. Ads, articles, and movies all working to make us think we’re missing out on the perfect Christmas. The search for the perfect celebration can make Christmas a frenzy of stress and rush. The […]