We wake this morning to a brand-new world. In the depths of the night, amid toil and travail, blood, sweat and tears, Christ has been born. The biggest move God ever made. Setting aside glory and magnitude and certainty, voluntarily becoming less and less until starting afresh with us, taking in that first cold breath … More Christmas

  God, we are your people, made in your holy image. We come before you this day joined in prayer for peace. Our sin, both individual and institutional, as well as the adept way we turn a blind eye to it, has caught up with us. Our world seems to be imploding, and we are … More Peace: A Prayer for the Fourth Sunday of Advent

Children sing I’ve got the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart! and I agree with that sentiment. There is a lot of joy available, worthy of being mentioned four times, but the down part is true, too. Very often, the joy is buried deep below the surface, hidden under layers of information and … More Joy: A Poem for the Third Sunday of Advent

When I was small, love was small, too. Not small as in limited, but small as in contained, tidy, not far-flung. I knew exactly whom I loved and who loved me, and it felt a certain way without variation – safe, warm, pleasant. I could draw love – crayon hearts around my family, my friends, … More Love: A Poem for the Second Sunday in Advent