‘We worship you, Immanuel’
(Melody: ‘O God, our help in ages past’) Lyrics: Anne van Arragon 1941-Music: William Croft 1678-1727
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Age of mystery
As we enter the season when we remember the birth of the Christ Child, I feel called to live into the mystery of the Incarnation. Though I am a scientist, this is no contradiction. The reality science elucidates appears increasingly mysterious. How did light begin? A century ago, science gave us greater certainty. Einstein revised…
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Hands and feet
If I speak in the tongues of mortals and of angels, but do not have love, I am a noisy gong or clanging cymbal. (I Cor. 13:1) Preach the gospel at all times. If necessary, use words. (St. Francis of Assisi) There are 206 bones in a human body. Of these, 54 bones are in…
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Got joy?
“So. Heidi. What gives you joy?” My new friend’s question wasn’t meant to be deep or probing, just a cordial segue into light conversation. Still, I had to think a minute before answering. “My grandkids,” I began. “Motorcycles. Dogs. The outdoors. Writing.” I thought more about it the next day. What brings me joy? It’s…
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An enduring hope
When we are young, we don’t bother to think much about our eventual demise, assuming that a good half century or more stretches before us, if God is willing. During my own youth, I was more likely to worry about what I would fill those future years with so as not to waste the gifts…
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Destination: respite
Sunshine, good coffee and incredible scenery. For seven days in December, I was able to enjoy the beautiful country of New Zealand’s North Island. Our second-born child currently lives in Wellington on a holiday work visa, and it had been 566 days since I had hugged my kid. Cue our team of nurses, a willing…
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Finding love in unlikely places
Sometimes love finds you in a tuk tuk, searching for a computer repair shop. It had been two long weeks of ministry in Sri Lanka. I had traveled to Asia with my non-profit. Every day, after ministering to mothers, I would update my team and our partners back home. I would write blog posts and…
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Patience with everything
Lent begins on Valentine’s Day as if this year is impatient to get under way. I’m sure there is still Christmas chocolate in my cupboard, but here we are, preparing for Easter already. The dates for Lent and Easter have shifted each year with the lunar calendar since 325 when the Council of Nicaea determined…
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Negotiating peace
What leads to the eruption of physical violence – the fist fight, the storming of the Capitol, the bombings, the kidnappings of hostages? What does it take to change the entrenched stories that keep “them” apart from “us”? How do you bring sworn enemies to the same table to discuss peace? These are the questions…
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Holidays | News | World News
Through the veil of sorrow
“We, the Patriarchs and Heads of the Churches in Jerusalem, call upon our congregations to stand strong with those facing [sadness and pain] this year by foregoing any unnecessarily festive activities. We also invite the faithful to advocate, pray and contribute generously as they are able for the relief of the victims of this war…
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Anna’s unexpected blessing
She is not one of the better-known women of the Bible and appears in only a few verses at the beginning of the gospel of Luke (2:36-39). The prophet Anna endured a long life and saw some of the most difficult events in Israel’s troubled history. As a descendant of Jacob’s son Asher, she is…
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A reluctant star welcomes Christ
My kids still occasionally request “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” at bedtime, so I thought of the soothing song of simple, distant wonder as I opened Holy Night and Little Star. This book’s Little Star, however, is not distant and her emotions are not simple; she’s a very relatable astronomical object. Mitali Perkins and Khoa Le’s…
