A Christmas Theology of Ho! Ho!
The sainted Armin “Red” Moellering’s musings on a Santa Claus ornament
Two Advent Hymns
James Marriott plays organ overtures to “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” and “Lift Up Your Heads, Ye Mighty Gates.”
The Music of Advent
Jim Marriott dives into the rich hymnody of Advent
Encouragement for Preaching Christmas
A voice from the past on preaching the gospel at Christmas…and beyond
“Holy Rude”
An Advent-Christmas devotional reflection from Francis “Rev” Rossow
Come, Lord Jesus: A New Sermon Series
Mart Thompson talks about his new Advent-Christmas sermon series
He Came Down To Earth From Heaven
Welcome all wonders in one sight ! Eternity shut in a span! Summer in winter! Day in night! Heaven in earth! And God in man! Great little one, whose all-embracing birth Lifts earth to Heaven, stoops Heaven to earth! (Richard Crashaw, Quem Vidistis Pastores) Adventus Domini: The coming of the Lord—it is the great theme ..
Word and Work: The Song of Christmas
Singer-songwriter Peter Mayer reflects on nearly twenty years of singing the songs of Christmas
Christmas Peace
As we near Christmas, I am struck by how old the world is, how little it has changed, in spite of our celebration that a new world was beginning in a manger in Bethlehem. The reports from the news of tragedy and turmoil throughout the world continue to shout down my “Christmas cheer.” Especially the images from ..
Christmas 2 • Luke 2:40–52 • January 3, 2016
By Thomas Manteufel This story shows the holy family in Jerusalem at the feast of Passover. According to Deuteronomy 16:16, all male Israelites were obligated (though the women were not forbidden to show devotion in this way also) to come to the Lord’s house to celebrate the feasts of Passover, Weeks, and Booths. The young ..
Christmas 1 • Luke 2:22–40 • December 27, 2015
By Todd Jones Joy to the world, Christmas has come! For many, the joy of this holiday season is in the opened gifts and the abundant food and beverage options. The glow of that Christmas is fading fast. Our text today challenges us to rediscover the joy that gave a song of love for the ..
Hope Rising: Preaching Luke
David Schmitt on preaching Luke from Advent to Easter in Year C. Need we say more?
Christmas 1 • Galatians 4:4–7 • December 28, 2014
By Glenn A. Nielsen The celebration of Christmas begins, in stores and media, months before December 25. Advent has led up to the church’s celebrations of Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Now, three days later, the season of Christmas continues. But what is left to say? What is left now that the children’s program has brought the trip to ..
Lessons and Carols
On the last day before Christmas break, campus chapel had a brief service of Lessons and Carols–a bit of proleptic Christmas joy in the midst of Advent repentance and expectation. The music was both solemn and celebratory and included bells, guitar, clarinet, violin, piano, percussion, upright bass, and organ. We cannot share the music here, but the outline of the service and the special collects written for the occasion are reproduced below–a Christmas gift to you, our readers
Preaching the Voices (from the Edge)
Apparently, David Schmitt has been thinking about life on the edge
A “Church” that Never Saw “Christmas”
Ancient ruins and our not-so-ancient “Christmas”