The spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me; he has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed, to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and release to the prisoners; to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor, and the day of vengeance … More Third Sunday in Advent
Here… • I don’t normally start my blogging week on a Saturday night, but as I wrote in response to the executive order on refugees, “things are not normal. It’s just my privilege to live as if they are.” • There are spiritual dangers facing both supporters and opponents of the Trump administration, and one of … More That Was The Week That Was
Last month I wrote three short meditations for my parents’ church’s Hanging of the Greens service. I’ve already shared an Advent-themed piece on candle light. This Christmas Eve I’ll publish the two focused on symbols of Jesus’ birth itself. First up, the flowers that are omnipresent this time of year. One of the complicated joys of Christianity is … More Poinsettias: A Christmas Meditation
Holy Saturday is the moment when darkness has descended and there is nothing to make you think, “It will be all right.” It won’t. It can’t be. The worst has occurred and nothing will ever be the same. That’s how it feels. If you have known, this last week or this last year, a moment … More Keeping Vigil: A Holy Saturday Reflection
On the eve of celebrating the birth of the Prince of Peace, it’s been a bit dispiriting to read the comments section the last couple of days. But I thought I’d solicit some reader responses to a less controversial set of questions: What’s your favorite Christmas (or Advent) carol or other song? Why do you like it so … More Your Favorite Christmas Carols?
From my very first Christmastide as a blogger… Because it’s about the parents of Jesus, it makes for a decent sequel to my previous post. Not just Boxing Day, Return Unwanted Gifts Day, or Two Turtle Doves Day, the second day of Christmas has enormous theological importance: It reminds us that when the angels returned to the … More Best of The Pietist Schoolman: “What Child Is This?”
Earlier this month our church used a Wednesday night to experiment with a more contemplative form of worship. Calling it “Christmas Quiet,” our pastors led us in prayer, meditation, and song. It culminated in Pastor Mark asking us to reread one of Christianity’s most familiar texts using a technique that is both old and, to most evangelical Protestants, … More Christmas Through Mary’s Eyes
Unlikely as the start of this post will make it seem… Spoiler alert for anyone who hasn’t seen the last episode of the second series of Sherlock It’s been observed by many Christian preachers and writers that most of our life is akin to Holy Saturday, that oft-neglected time separating Good Friday and Easter Sunday. For … More “Just One More Miracle…”
Here… • Update on my beardedness: advice taken. • How to have a Cratchit Christmas dinner, all for less than nine bob! (And if you’re feeling more Edwardian than Victorian, try this Downton Abbey Christmas.) • G.W. Carlson served as our special correspondent covering the Clarence Jordan Symposium. • GW’s post covered several of the … More That Was The Week That Was
The Pietist Schoolman 