One more gift for you to help us savor one more day: Christmas Daybook 12

Thanks for inviting me to be such a regular visitor in your email inbox this season. I'm honored to be welcomed into your space and pray it brings peace.

Watch: O Little Town of Bethlehem, Tim Parsons

The story of the birth of Jesus told by the people of Bethlehem. The story of Christ's arrival in Bethlehem as witnessed by shepherds and then wise men with descriptions from modern-day shepherds, shopkeepers, and residents of Bethlehem.

May I also recommend this excellent sermon from my friend (and fellow Sacramental Life patron) the Reverend Jan Buchanan? She preached at Church of the Apostles this past Sunday and created such a meaningful framework for the work of Christmas in us and through us. (the sermon begins at about the 21-minute mark and concludes around the 54-minute mark)

Read: AM: Psalm 2, 110:1-7; Joshua 1:1-9; Hebrews 11:32-12:2; John 15:1-16 

             PM (Eve of the Epiphany): Psalm 29, 98; Isaiah 66:18-23; Romans 15:7-13 

Pray: A benediction for the closing of Christmas

At the end of this Christmastide and at the beginning of this new calendar year, O Lord, bless us and keep us, along with those we love; make your face to shine upon us and be gracious to us, lift up your countenance upon us and give us peace; we ask this in your holy name. Amen.

Do: Savor one more day of Christmas! Today's the perfect day to keep one more tradition, bake one more recipe, or make one last toast. We usually celebrate some kind of Twelfth Night festivity - if possible with friends. I try to use up the Christmas baking ingredients (the ones we don't usually use any other time of year) and make a half-batch or two of whatever we liked best this year. We simmer one more pot of mulled cider, burn down the Christmas candles, drink the last dregs of our Christmas wine, give a few more gifts (this is often when I give gifts to our neighbors!), play a game, or belt out a few more Christmas carols. (This is the perfect night to really dig into We Three Kings and Go Tell It On the Mountain!)

Selah - A gift to help us pause and calmly think about the weeks and months leading up to this season

However you choose to mark this last day of Christmas, I invite you to take a moment or two to reflect on the journey you've traveled through Advent and Christmastide. Where and when did God feel especially near? Where or when did you feel far from God? What gifts have you received as you've offered your attention to Christ and his people? What, perhaps, feels especially personal that you want to ponder in your heart as Mary?

If you'd like to share anything from your reflection with us, I welcome you to leave a comment below. We'll celebrate with you the goodness of our abundant God.

One last Christmas gift for you: the Love + Hope Reflection Journal!

I've attached one last Christmas gift for us all - an illustrated reflection guide to help look back at 2020 with love and honesty and gratitude and to consider what we desire and need going into 2021. This amazing guide was created by the wonderful Jen Willhoite of Cobbleworks and she made it available to me for a ridiculously generous price. To honor her generosity, I'd love to send more folks to sign up for her newsletter or purchase from her Etsy shop. 

I'll be printing out portions of this guide to spend time in gentle reflection and prayer over the next few days.

Some notes from Jen on downloading: This is a large (50 page) black and white pdf. Thank you for keeping it as a single-use, personal item. You can scroll through the pages, printing none of them or you can print the entire document at a local copy center or at home. Enjoy!

Following the light into Epiphany

What a joy it’s been to mark the weeks of Advent and Christmas together. I’m grateful for your companionship and encouragement along the way!

As we enter the season of Epiphany, may you continue to walk in the light as He is in the light. You can read a bit more about the liturgical history of Epiphanytide here. Essentially, we walk through the accounts of Christ’s life between his birth and before his Passion with emphasis on the moments that Christ was revealed (made manifest) as the Son of God. If the Incarnation is about God becoming man, Epiphany is about God’s marking this man Jesus as a divine Son, sent to reveal God to us. Get ready for some of the most beautiful, captivating accounts of Christ’s life, teaching, and healing in the coming six weeks. Celebrate that Christ came and moved into the neighborhood!

Until next year, friends, let's join the incorrigible Dickens with this joyful pledge and God bless us, everyone!