The New Year! The 2,020th year of the Common Era, and Anno Domini. And as Wikipedia points out, “the 20th year of the 3rd millennium, the 20th year of the 21st century, and the 1st year of” a brand new decade. Yet, all I can think about is an icon of the late 20th Century, Barbara Walters, taking over Times Square and saying (after the ball drops) “I’m Barbara Walters, and this is 2020.” With the start of a new decade, the beginning of a new year - what are your hopes and dreams? Another Eagle’s Superbowl victory - or perhaps a World Series win for the Cubs (er - Philly’s). Perhaps your 2020 wish might be health, a triumph over a disease for a loved one. Some might be hoping for just well be

When the world was dark and the city was quiet, you came. You crept in beside us. And no one knew. Only the few who dared to believe that God might do something different. Will you do the same this Christmas, Lord? Will you come into the darkness of today's world not the friendly darkness as when sleep rescues us from tiredness, but the fearful darkness, in which people have stopped believing that war will end or that food will come or that a government will change or that the Church cares? Will you come into that darkness and do something different to save your people from death and despair? Will you come into the quietness of this city, not the friendly quietness as when lovers hold hands,

When the world was dark and the city was quiet, you came. You crept in beside us.

What is your favorite Christmas carol? Is it a grand hymn like "Hark! the Harold Angels Sing" (and yes there is an “!” in the title - the ELW [Evangelical Lutheran Worship] says so). Is it something somber like "In the Bleak Midwinter" or calming like "Silent Night"? Tonight, Wednesday, at 6:30 we will be singing Christmas carols - perhaps even a few of your favorites! In the nearly fully decorated sanctuary, we will join friends from the community and sing a few Christmas carols. Think about what your favorite Christmas carol might be… Got it? Now, what does your Christmas carol say about you? I know that many of us might have taken a quiz like this online or have read articles, but below a

What is your favorite Christmas carol? Is it a grand hymn like "Hark! the Harold Angels Sing" (and yes there is an “!” in the title - the EL

Who cares? If men go to hell, who cares? I’ll wait a few minutes as you go through all the ways that can be said. Sarcastically. Woefully. Shruggingly. Joyfully. Questioningly. "If Men Go to Hell, Who Cares?" is the name of a hymn written in 1939 by E.M. Bartlett. While the world rushes on in its folly and sin And millions go down in despair To reign where demons are shrieking within If men go to hell, who cares? While the people of earth are forgetting the Lord And church pews are empty and bare; There comes to my heart these pitiful words, If men go to hell, who cares? And if that’s not enough to lift your spirit, there's the chorus: Who cares, (who cares), who cares (who cares), O Lord, w

I remember as a child getting Advent calendars from my grandmother. You probably know what I am talking about, the calendars with a winter scene or Santa Claus on them with tiny perforated doors revealing a piece of chocolate each day as we get closer to Christmas. Increasing the anticipation of a child knowing that there is a larger chocolate on Christmas Eve. After eating a chocolate from one last year I realized just how not so ‘fine’ those chocolates were. Perhaps they should use a more refined chocolate for adults. But don’t count out the Advent calendar for adults just yet… There are calendars that have Legos, or coffee, or tea. There is this calendar that I would find amusing, it has