A woman’s touch has traditionally meant “a little something extra to bring grace, charm and beauty to a situation” – a decorative option. However, as is so often in life, the decorative of one era becomes the essential for another.
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Posts Tagged ‘Advent’
A Woman’s Touch
Posted by Sharon Pearson on March 16th, 2012
Posted in Featured, Spirituality |
Tags: Advent, incarnation, Lent, meditation, resurrection, spirituality, women 
Comments OffFear and Faith Development
Posted by Sharon Pearson on January 31st, 2012
Are there aspects of the entire life of Jesus and the story imparted by the Gospels that might intimidate us, frighten us, or cause us some hesitation or consternation?
| Posted in Featured, Spirituality |
Tags: Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, faith development, fear, God, Magi Comments OffThe Season for Stories
Posted by Sharon Pearson on December 29th, 2011
With all the preparation that Advent has encouraged, how do we hear the story of a couple far from their home, nestled in the scratchy, smelly floor of a stable preparing to give birth to God’s son? How can we hear an age-old story again as if it were for the first-time? What makes the retelling of the story important?
| Posted in Community, Featured, Ministry |
Tags: Advent, children's ministry, Christian formation, Christmas, curriculum, Epiphany, storytelling, teacher training Comments OffThe Feast of the Baptism of Our Lord
Posted by Sharon Pearson on December 27th, 2011
On January 8th we will celebrate the Feast of the Baptism of our Lord, the first Sunday after the Epiphany. This season often gets left behind in the humble abode in Bethlehem where we have followed our three mysterious kings, and in our minds brings an end to the Christmas season.
| Posted in Featured, Ministry, Spirituality |
Tags: Advent, Baptism, Baptismal Covenant, Christian formation, Christmas, Epiphany, Jesus Comments OffThe Incarnation Cycle
Posted by Sharon Pearson on December 24th, 2011
The Incarnation cycle focuses on the mystery of the Word becoming flesh and dwelling among us. The Redemption cycle calls to mind the saving work of that same incarnate Word in the death and resurrection of Jesus and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the disciples.
| Posted in Featured, Spirituality |
Tags: Advent, Baptism, Christmas, Epiphany, incarnation, prayer, resources Comments OffSing the Vision, Loudly
Posted by Sharon Pearson on December 21st, 2011
Sounds, voices, and music have a powerful emotional impact on us. The spiritual center of the brain is where sound and emotions are processed.
|“Feeling Blue” during Christmas
Posted by Sharon Pearson on December 19th, 2011
For many people, the Christmas holiday season does not bring with it the joy and happiness that is constantly advertised on television, in shopping malls, in catalogs or in greetings cards. The constant refrain of the happiness of the Christmas Season, about getting together with family and friends reminds many people of what they have lost or have never had.
| Posted in Community, Featured, Ministry |
Tags: Advent, Blue Christmas, Christmas, hospitality, mission, worship Comments OffThe “O” Antiphons
Posted by Sharon Pearson on December 18th, 2011
The seven “O Antiphons” originated in the daily monastic prayer of the eighth and ninth centuries. They are short, scripture-based prayers invoking various titles used for Christ. They express the deep longing for the Messiah’s coming that is a characteristic of Advent. The ninth century hymn, “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” is based on one of the antiphons.
| Posted in Community, Featured, Spirituality |
Tags: Advent, Christianity, music, worship Comments OffChristmas Evangelism
Posted by Sharon Pearson on December 12th, 2011
There will be a lot of people in most of our churches on Christmas Eve, and perhaps at special services in Advent and Epiphany. Certainly, some will be out of town family and friends. But equally certainly, some will be in-towners worshipping at Christmas and perhaps seeking, if only unconsciously, a church home.
| Posted in Community, Featured, Ministry |
Tags: Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, evangelism, hospitality, worship 1 Comment »Reflections on the Incarnation
Posted by Sharon Pearson on December 11th, 2011
The incarnation is more than an article of faith reserved for theological textbooks. It is a statement about the manner in which God chooses to relate to creation and to human beings.
| Posted in Featured, Spirituality |
Tags: Advent, Christianity, Christmas, incarnation, mission Comments OffWas Christ born on December 25th?
Posted by Sharon Pearson on December 9th, 2011
Given the primitive recording procedures current at the time, there is of course no way the Church could ever have determined the actual date of Christ’s birth. Instead, they went one better, and came us with a public relations coup which one liturgical scholar has described as ‘sheer pastoral genius.’
| Posted in Featured, Spirituality |
Tags: Advent, Christmas, Feast of the Incarnation, theotokos, Virgin Mary, worship Comments OffThe Nature of Advent
Posted by Sharon Pearson on December 8th, 2011
Advent can teach us how to face change – at work, at home and in our lives. It may be difficult to grasp, but in order to move forward, we often need to ‘let things die.’ Advent gives us many symbolic representations of how we can embrace this concept, even in today’s fast paced world of downsizing, new technology and cultural changes.
| Posted in Featured, Spirituality |
Tags: Advent, Christmas, environment, future, God, meditation, spirituality Comments Off
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