Over the years, I haven't done much to prepare for Christmas apart from buying presents and attending the occasional Advent retreat. ...read more

This year, I’m making homemade soaps for my daughters as they have very sensitive skin, which tends to worsen during the fall and winter seasons when the indoor heating is on. ...read more

St. Barbara is a saint and martyr (circa +235) venerated in Christianity, specifically in the Catholic and Orthodox Churches. ...read more

Welcome back to Advent. It’s been waiting for you. That season of longing, of hope, of light piercing the dark, like a candle in a cave or a flashlight in a tunnel. ...read more

We’re approaching the First week of Advent and I am thinking about Zechariah. ...read more

What if Mary and Joseph met before their betrothal? How did King Herod and his son feel about the birth of a new king? "Journey to Bethlehem" answers these questions and more. ...read more

? Do you ever get the feeling that you’re not in control of your life? So often we can try to take the driver’s seat, to be in charge of where we’re heading. We can be unsettled when something unexpected happens or disappointed when things don’t go our way. It’s a normal part of being ...read more

? Something we don’t often realize is how Advent coincides with the final weeks of Mary’s pregnancy. Perhaps you have personally experienced being pregnant. Maybe some important women in your life have been pregnant. Your mother certainly has been. Of course, pregnancy is a time filled with ups and downs, highs and lows. It can ...read more

Put yourself in the shoes – or sandals – of a Jewish person 2,000 years ago. Maybe you’re one of Mary’s cousins or one of Joseph’s siblings. Since you were little, your parents and relatives have told you about “the Messiah” – the Chosen one, the Anointed, the one who is to come. This Messiah ...read more

Come, Emmanuel, God’s presence among us, our King, our Judge: save us, Lord our God! Who is resting in the manger of your heart? Before we collectively answer “Jesus,” let’s really ponder on this.  Christmas is coming tomorrow night. How are you setting yourself, your space, your time, and your heart apart for Jesus? Will ...read more