“Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn’t before! ‘Maybe Christmas,’ he thought, ‘doesn’t come from a store. Maybe Christmas… perhaps… means a little bit more!” 

 

Dr. Seuss

Almost every year around Christmas, we make Christmas cookies. Some of our favorite Christmas memories are when we decorate too many (Mom’s opinion, not ours) sugar cookies. In the past, we’ve invited friends over and ate too many cookies, drank too much cocoa, and turned the Christmas carols up too loud. These memories are really special to us, and not just because of the cookies. Several hours of fun, bonding time with friends and family; this, unlike many other parts of the holiday season, cannot be bought at the store. These are precious moments of time when even the smallest acts of kindness show how much love you have for the people around you.

Making Christmas cookies takes time, a valuable resource in your life. By giving up that time to make cookies for your friends and family, it shows how much you love them, and you didn’t need to buy them fancy presents. The cookies come from your heart. That is what the Grinch learned at the end of the story; even after he stole their presents, the Whos still sang together, expressing their love for one another. And, our love for each other (and our love for cookies) is the best gift we can give or receive.

Laurel Vernon *with an assist from Elise Vernon

Third Week of Advent

I rejoiced with those who said to me, “Let us go to the house of the LORD.”

 

Psalm 122:1

Since childhood, I have loved going to church. I grew up attending a small country church, and every Sunday was as much a reunion with family and friends as it was a time to worship God, sing hymns, and study the Bible. Church services, for me, have always been about communion with God and community with others.

During the past two years, as we have dealt with the restrictions of the COVID-19 pandemic, church connection has largely been online. Our homes have become the “house of the Lord,” with help from Vimeo and YouTube. We can still care for others, even if social distancing, sanitizers and masks are required. It’s possible to lift up family and friends with a thoughtful social media post, email, text or call, even if we can’t visit in person. And on the occasions when we can go to church services in person, perform acts of service or spend time with others, we treasure those times even more than we did before.

Our waiting for the end of pandemic restrictions is much like our preparation for the coming of Jesus during Advent. Even when everything seems dismal and dispiriting, we know that the time will come to celebrate the birth of Jesus. And as Christians, we also look forward to the day when Jesus will come again, when we will gather with Him and our loved ones in the “house of the Lord” – His Kingdom – in a joyful reunion for eternity, never to be parted again.

Caroline Cardwell

 “Love came down at Christmas, love all lovely, love divine, love was born at Christmas, star and angels gave the sign.” 

 

From Love Came Down at Christmas (Rossetti)

Don’t you LOVE Christmastime!

Trinity Advent books always have been something I love to read during this season.

“LOVE CAME DOWN AT CHRISTMAS.” I was not familiar with this particular Christmas poem, by Rossetti. So, I did a little research.

“LOVE CAME DOWN AT CHRISTMAS” is a Christmas poem written by Christina Rossetti. The poem was first published in a diary, back in 1885. Some years later, around 1893, this poem was included in a collection of verses titled, “CHRISTMASTIDE.”

Many composers have set this lovely poem to music as a Christmas carol. Also, it has been sung as a traditional Irish melody, “Garton”.

Jars of Clay (who has performed at Trinity) gave the poem a modern boost in their 2007 Christmas album. Which brings me to the December 11 date for this Advent collection.

After an American composer set the text for solo soprano, harp, and 4-part chorus, later, a new setting was arranged. This time by a British composer. And so, on December 11, the choir performed the poem/song at Trafalgar Square Christmas Tree!

LOVE IS ON THE WAY!

O God our Father, send into the darkness of this troubled world, the light and love of your son.

Let the star of hope touch the minds of us all with the bright beams of mercy and truth and love,
so that we can walk the way that was revealed to us by the shepherds of Bethlehem- walk with JOY to the manger!

God, who has declared thy love to men by the birth of your holy child at Bethlehem, let us welcome him. And his love for us!

Indeed, LOVE IS ON THE WAY!

Connie Harter Burton

 O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree, Your boughs can teach a lesson That constant faith and hope sublime Lend strength and comfort through all time. O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree, Your boughs can teach a lesson.

 

O Christmas Tree

“Yea! We’re Going to Decorate the Christmas Tree. Christmas Is Coming”

What a thrilling time of anticipation for us all as we decorate our tree. Maybe friends or family members will help us do it. The sweet smell of the tree reminds us of outside winter. The glow of the twinkling lights shine warmth and brightness into the room. The ornaments may be homemade or may represent our trips or hobbies. There may even be a beautifully wrapped present with a big red bow under the tree.

Of all the secular Christmas decorations, the Christmas tree brings the hope and expectations of the upcoming season – family time, delicious food, no school and sharing gifts with loved ones. Like the warmth and hope our tree gives in anticipating Christmas, Advent offers anticipation for Christ to come into our lives daily and for him to come among us again.

As Christians, we celebrate Jesus’ birth at Christmas, but we know the big story is that he loves us and gives us a way to live with him eternally. Daily God (and Jesus) offer us comfort and grace. Sometimes we feel like we just had a hug from God! We have hope for our lives because Jesus taught us how to be good people and how to be his followers. We communicate with him through prayer to talk about anything. We feel that God is alive in us, needing us to work with him to shape us to be our best self.

So, this Christmas season, as you sit by your beautiful, twinkling Christmas tree, think of the hope, love, grace and comfort that God gives us every season. After all, God is the best present of all time!

Jan Reynolds

 O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree, Your boughs can teach a lesson That constant faith and hope sublime Lend strength and comfort through all time. O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree, Your boughs can teach a lesson.

 

O Christmas Tree

“Yea! We’re Going to Decorate the Christmas Tree. Christmas Is Coming”

What a thrilling time of anticipation for us all as we decorate our tree. Maybe friends or family members will help us do it. The sweet smell of the tree reminds us of outside winter. The glow of the twinkling lights shine warmth and brightness into the room. The ornaments may be homemade or may represent our trips or hobbies. There may even be a beautifully wrapped present with a big red bow under the tree.

Of all the secular Christmas decorations, the Christmas tree brings the hope and expectations of the upcoming season – family time, delicious food, no school and sharing gifts with loved ones. Like the warmth and hope our tree gives in anticipating Christmas, Advent offers anticipation for Christ to come into our lives daily and for him to come among us again.

As Christians, we celebrate Jesus’ birth at Christmas, but we know the big story is that he loves us and gives us a way to live with him eternally. Daily God (and Jesus) offer us comfort and grace. Sometimes we feel like we just had a hug from God! We have hope for our lives because Jesus taught us how to be good people and how to be his followers. We communicate with him through prayer to talk about anything. We feel that God is alive in us, needing us to work with him to shape us to be our best self.

So, this Christmas season, as you sit by your beautiful, twinkling Christmas tree, think of the hope, love, grace and comfort that God gives us every season. After all, God is the best present of all time!

Jan Reynolds

When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.

Luke 1:41

When we think about Christmas, sometimes we see it as the end of the story. For us, it comes at the end of a calendar year and we quickly move on to the new year. But really, the birth of Jesus is only the beginning. God sent Jesus to Earth to make a way to have a relationship with us and that’s a really big deal for us! It’s where hope begins.

It’s easy for us to see this picture of Mary and Elizabeth, filled with joy and hope–filled with the presence of the Holy Spirit as they anticipate the birth of Jesus. However, I’m reminded of just how inconvenient, unconventional and burdensome this endeavor was for Mary–and yet there is immense joy and hope. There is peace in the presence of the Holy Spirit.

Friends, does anticipating Christmas seem inconvenient, unconventional or burdensome to you this year? Maybe you have lost ones you love, have struggled with your health, have had a big move or change or loss of work. Sometimes, if we are honest, it can be challenging to look in anticipation to the hope of Christmas when we can’t see past the valid burdens we carry.

Mary carried burdens. As a young, unmarried woman such a pregnancy would have accompanied many social and relational dynamics that would have been a whirlwind that would not have favored Mary. Not to mention, pregnancy and delivering a baby is no small undertaking.

Whether you are struggling to embrace this season or are excited that the Christmas season is upon us, I pray you will be like Mary and embrace the promise and hope of the season, despite the real struggles we face. After all, that is what the hope of Jesus is all about.

Romans says these words, “I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13 NLT

Where in your life do you feel like you need more hope, joy, or peace? Memorize this verse, inserting your own name where you see the word “you.” Then, pray it that way, asking God to completely fill you up with hope as we anticipate the birth of Christ.

Jenna Bush

Artwork: “Jump for Joy” www.artbycorby.etsy.com