Most Christmas traditions have deep historical roots. Here are five of my favorites: Christmas Trees Evergreen fir trees have always been popular as winter decorations. Ancient peoples displayed the branches as a reminder that spring would eventually come. Romans put branches of fir trees around temples to honor Saturn, the god of agriculture. The [...]
This is a tough one. In no particular order, I would include... -Go Tell It on the Mountain -Love Came Down at Christmas -Christians and the Pagans (Dar Williams) -Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas -O Holy Night When asked to name my favorite Christmas songs, I always include O Holy Night. It’s one [...]
In her sermon on the second Sunday in Advent, my colleague Amy Miracle asked “Where does it hurt?” She encouraged us to talk with God about our pain and the pain of the world. Poet Ann Weems helps us acknowledge the pain we’ve carried with us into the pandemic and now into Advent in [...]
Last week was Thanksgiving, a time when we are invited to name that for which we are grateful. Given all of the challenges of these days, naming our gratitude seems more important than ever. I want to return to the six-word story form. In May, I invited you to share your six-word story about the [...]
We are aware that on this week of Thanksgiving 2020, we aren’t all in the same place. Some of us are living in a space of gratitude. For some of us, we are experiencing more fear and sadness than thankfulness. So today, we are offering two different devotions – one that leans more towards gratitude [...]
“Most people are like electric wires: what comes in is what goes out. Someone calls us a name, and we call them a name back.” Franciscan priest and author Richard Rohr names our experience with his words. All too often, in our anxiety, we pass on the same energy that is given to us. [...]
Back: Jon McQuillin, Monte York - Front: Diane Hymans, Kathy Carnahan During the pandemic, four Broad Streeters who live at Ohio Living Westminster Thurber have been gathering for worship. On Sundays at 1:30 p.m., they gather in Monte York’s apartment. They wear masks and sit in a socially distanced way. Together, they watch [...]
Bill Boggs, Broad Street’s Director of Music Ministry, grew up on the west side of Columbus. He and his family attended Westminster Presbyterian Church on Schoolhouse Lane. On Sundays, as worship concluded with the postlude, young Bill would hurry over to sit next to Charles, the church organist, to watch him play. Later, during [...]
During this strange and unpredictable year, Broad Street’s middle and high schoolers have been attending a Youth Group that looks a little different than normal. As we’ve gathered outside six feet apart, our youth have been teaching us fun and unique ways to stay connected during these isolating times. Wearing masks, each week we share [...]
Somewhere along the line, curiosity got a bad reputation. Curiosity killed the cat. Curiosity led Pandora to open a box full of misery. But, I think this is a good time to embrace curiosity. Curiosity, I would argue is an excellent antidote to uncertainty and fear. Celeste Ng is a novelist who wrote Little Fires [...]
