With: A Christmas Newsletter
Gatherings, Immanuel, Wall Street's Most Famous Evangelical, Roanoke, Just one Neighbor, Caroling
Christmas joy is found in the traditional American trappings that sparkles, comforts, and delights. It gives us all a chance to reach out and connect with neighbors, friends and family in ways that don’t always happen in the rest of the year. The traditional and the biblical need not cancel one another.
And there is a particular joy among those who worship Jesus who entered our world as a real human child–flesh that he added to his deity. However you celebrate this season, it would honor me if you read aloud (as poetry is meant to be) this bit of verse about the reason Jesus, the Christ-child, needed to put on flesh.
Take a walk with me and a friend through beautiful downtown Roanoke, VA, all dressed up for Christmas…
“Justice has a long reach. It’s patient. It lies in wait. It moves and brews until it appears into the public sphere. When truth triumphs, it is spectacular.”
This story (click here) is about a criminal who helped fund Ravi Zacharias’ brutal legacy. Exposing his empire of sand is a warning to all who would exploit women for their own celebrity and power. This power is what Mary speaks of when she praises God for his justice that will surely come and swiftly.
Christmas is THE season of song
This last stave (of A Christmas Carol) is a celebration of light and laughter: Ebenezer embodies the Christmas Carol as he moves through church, town, and homes with the lightness and uninhibited joy of a child. -from Signs, Signifiers Blog Ebenezer Scrooge/A Christmas Carol
Here is some of my favorite Christmas music with links embedded in the titles:
Handel's Messiah 2024 at Duke Chapel
UnTwisted Scripture
And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant.
Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation.
He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.
He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly; he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty.
He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, according to the promise he made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants forever.” Luke 1:46-55
