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The beauty of Christmas amidst everyday chaos

Faith

Comfortably slumped in an uncomfortable wooden chair, listening to the four young adults joyfully singing Christmas carols in the corner of the shelter cafeteria, I felt the first tear drop from my eye. Surprised, it brought me out of the sleepy reverie I had been enjoying. I sneakily reached up to wipe away the glistening track down my cheek before anyone could see it. … Only to find the solitary tear had turned into a dam break out of both eyes. Finally, I gave in, and with “Away in a Manger” and “Silent Night” as the soundtrack, I had a good, cathartic cry, right there ...

Observing Advent offers something for even non-Christians

Faith

This past week, the Christian calendar entered the season of Advent, and depending upon who you ask, you might hear an entirely different explanation of what this means. Trust me, it’s confusing even to many of us Jesus followers! At its essence, Advent is a time of waiting and preparing for Jesus’ coming. But zooming out, Advent celebrates the coming of Jesus from three perspectives: first physically, as the Messiah’s birth story, which famously took place in Bethlehem; second, spiritually in the coming of Christ in a believer’s heart; and third, as in the eschatological ...

Faith Briefs for Dec. 5

Faith

Camp Foley pancake breakfast HRS 6th grade students and their parents are hosting a pancake breakfast from 8 a.m. to noon Sunday at Carlin Hall. Enjoy pancakes, eggs, sausage, juice, milk and coffee. A silent auction and breakfast will help support the 6th grade students travel to Camp Foley in the spring. Tickets may be purchased at the school or at the door.

Faith Briefs for Nov. 28

Faith

Birthday cake packing event St. Mary’s Cottonwood CCW is sponsoring a birthday cake packing event after Mass on Sunday, Dec. 7. Bring the ingredients for a cake (box cake mix + can of soda or angel food cake mix) and frosting/topping. Add candles and sprinkles if you’d like. Baking pans will be provided. Ideas for cake recipes are located in the back of church. Cake kits will be donated to the local food shelves. Jackpot bingo at St. Leo Church Catholic United Financial will be hosting a jackpot bingo at the St. Leo Catholic Church on Sunday, Dec. 7. Warm up games begin at 12:30 ...

Ditch being grateful for the ‘things’

Faith

I think what most of us get wrong about gratitude is we believe the source of our gratitude emanates from things, both tangible and intangible, that we possess. Right? So many of us take stock of our lives and think, “Well, I have a beautiful house; my family is healthy; we have plenty of food; and I even have productive, fulfilling work. I am blessed!” The reality, though, is the source of true gratitude comes from recognition of the one inexplicably beautiful life we are given. In my humble experience, those very few who are unequivocally intertwined with the true source of ...

Homelessness, hunger exist even if you don’t see it

Faith

This weekend America is wrapping up “Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week,” an annual recognition held the week before Thanksgiving “to draw attention to the problems of hunger and homelessness.” As with most awareness campaigns, for many of us they don’t truly raise our consciousness until they become all too real personally. For instance, Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week will likely fly well below the radar for the vast majority of Americans. And admittedly, up until 15 months ago, it did for me too, a pastor nonetheless. But friends, if you put any stock in ...