Liturgy for Holy Name Day

This liturgy was originally written to celebrate Jesus naming day celebrated January 1st as a wonderfully refreshing Christian celebration for starting the new year.  It can also be used for an morning or evening prayer during the 12 days of Christmas too – though of course there are only 6 days left. May we join [...]

That’s My King

Jesus is only one of the names by which we remember the Son of God.  Throughout the scriptures Christ is called by many names, most of which we rarely think about.  Yet our understanding of Christ and even of God is limited when we only know him by a few names.  To call him Christ [...]

What’s In A Name?

January 1st, in the Christian calendar is not the beginning of a new year.  This is the day we celebrate the circumcision of Christ.  Since our cultures are more squeamish than were those of our ancestors, modern calendars usually list it as the feast of the Holy Name of Jesus.   Just like every Jewish [...]

Previewing 2009 with MSA

As we look ahead to 2009, we find ourselves facing a spreading global recession that is putting growing numbers of our neighbors near and far in serious peril. At MSA, we hope to help followers of Jesus respond to the current crisis creatively and effectively in 2009. Please consider joining us with support and participation. [...]

More Christmas Prayers

This morning I have been reading through some Advent meditations sent to me by our good friend Mark Pierson in New Zealand  Unfortunately they arrived too late to use for Advent but Mark’s reflections are always refreshing and provocative.  I have adapted one here that really impacted me this morning: God moved into the neighbouhood, [...]

The Twelve Days of Christmas

Here is an interesting bit of Christmas trivia that shows how creatively Christians have always managed to ensure that followers of Christ are trained in the tenets of their faith.  The Christmas song The Twelve Days of Christmas, is not really the nonsense rhyme its seems to be. According to kirkweb.org, the song was written [...]

A Christmas Prayer

I am sitting in our dining room looking out onto the snowiest landscape I have ever seen here in Seattle.  About 12″ of snow covers our yard and garden and there is the possibility of more to come.  We are all anticipating a white Christmas. The fun aspect of the snow is that it has [...]

Who Gets the Bailout?

I don’t normally blog on Sunday but with most of the roads closed, 6″ of snow on the ground and more to come my Sunday routines have changed.  This article courtesy of Jordon Cooper in Saskatoon  Canada caught my eye.  One has to wonder who is the government bailing out?  Obviously Christmas cheer for some. [...]

OnLine Segregation: The New Form of Discrimination?

In light of the thoughts expressed in my last post I thought that you might appreciate this article from Sojo.net  The New Digital Divide by Andrew Sears of TechMission As more people get online, they are encountering another type of digital divide: the online segregation of Christians. … You can see a similar segregation reflected [...]

Are We Looking Forward to Christmas?

Christmas is less than a week away and we are looking out on a snow covered Seattle with a clear cold day ahead of us.  I am about to go upstairs to Ricci and Eliacin Rosario Kilmer’s apartment for morning prayers.  In the comfort of my warm home I am reminded once again of what [...]