Incarnational hope hastens hence on bud, breeze, and blossom grieving rynds banished in lilac scents. Hark, the Epiphany Hymn rings haste from its loveliest biding-place. A lavish breach of winter’s curt hard sword an ardent repudiation of death’s dark pall the out-viening sun of the Christus Lord. Hark, the Epiphany hymn rings haste From its loveliest biding-place At the refectory …
Epiphany: “Midnight Bright as Noon”
The King of Glory sends his Son To make his entrance on this earth; Behold the midnight bright as noon, And heavenly hosts declare his birth. About the young Redeemer’s head What wonders and what glories meet! An unknown star arose, and led The eastern sages to his feet. Simeon and Anna both conspire The infant-Saviour to proclaim; Inward they …
Collapsing Under the Weight of Its Own Absurdity
Forty years after the landmark Roe v. Wade decision of the Supreme Court unilaterally changed the laws protecting the sanctity of life in every state in the nation, abortion activists are reeling–having lost whatever moral high ground they once claime…
Litanies for Childermas
Deuteronomy 30:19; Proverbs 24:10-11; John 10:10; John 3:16 Pastor: Heaven and earth bear witness: the Lord has set before us life and death. All: He has set before us blessing and cursing. Pastor: Therefore, let us choose life that we and our covenant children after us may live. Reader 1: If we faint in the day of adversity, our …
Sanctity of Life Sunday
Often called Childermas or Kindermord, the Sunday between Christmas and Epiphany traditionally solemnizes the slaughter of the children of Judea by Herod. It provides focus for the Christian Community’s calling and commitment to protect and preserve the sanctity of all human life. Immediately after the birth of Jesus, after the shepherds heard the “Gloria in Excelsis Deo,” after the Wise …
Childermas or Kindermord
Often called Childermas or Kindermord, the Sunday between Christmas and Epiphany traditionally solemnizes the slaughter of the children of Judea by Herod. It provides focus for the Christian’s commitment to protect and preserve the sanctity of all human life—thus serving as a prophetic warning against the practicioners of abandonment and infanticide in the age of antiquity, oblacy and pessiary in …
William Dunbar’s “Incarnation” (1512)
Rorate coeli desuper! Hevins, distil your balmy schouris! For now is risen the bricht day-ster, Fro the rose Mary, flour of flouris: The cleir Sone, quhom no cloud devouris, Surmounting Phebus in the Est, Is cumin of his hevinly touris: Et nobis Puer natus est. Archangellis, angellis, and dompnationis, Tronis, potestatis, and marteiris seir, And all ye hevinly operationis, Ster, …
Merry Christmas, Ya’ll
T’was the run before Christmas and all down the road not a creature was stirring, t’was the runner’s abode. The snow had been falling for many an hour, and it covered all things with it’s powdery shower. Preparations were finished for our Christmas delight, I just needed to run before sleeping the night. My footfalls were silent not a sound …
Born! Thanks Be To God!
Christ, by highest heaven adored Christ, the everlasting Lord; Late in time behold Him come Offspring of a virgin’s womb. Veiled in flesh the Godhead see; Hail th’ Incarnate Deity, Pleased as man with man to dwell; Jesus, our Emmanuel. Come, Desire of nations come, Fix in us Thy humble home; Rise, the Woman’s conquering Seed, Bruise in us the …
Deo Gracias!
Adam lay i-bowndyn, bowndyn in a bond, Fowre thows and wynter thowt he not to long. And al was for an appil, an appil that he tok. As clerkes fyndyn wretyn in here book. Ne hadde the appil take ben, the appil taken ben, Ne hadde never our lady a ben hevene quen. Blyssid be the tyme that appil take …
Merry Christmas, Y’all!
T’was the run before Christmasand all down the roadnot a creature was stirring,t’was the runner’s abode.The snow had been fallingfor many an hour,and it covered all thingswith it’s powdery shower.Preparations were finishedfor our Christmas delight,&nbs…
Born! Thanks Be to God!
Christ, by highest heaven adoredChrist, the everlasting Lord;Late in time behold Him comeOffspring of a virgin’s womb.Veiled in flesh the Godhead see;Hail th’ Incarnate Deity,Pleased as man with man to dwell;Jesus, our Emmanuel.Come, Desire of nations …
Bah Humbug! As Far As The Curse Is Found
1. Humbug is an old word of indeterminate etymology meaning “spectacle” or “hoax” or “jest,” often referring to some unjustified reputation or publicity. 2. Of course, the word is most often associated with Ebenezer Scrooge, a character created by Charles Dickens in The Christmas Carol. He famously dismissed Christmas declaring, “Bah! Humbug!” Interestingly, variations of the term make appearances in any number of …
Bah! Humbug! As Far As the Curse Is Found
1. Humbug is an old word of indeterminate etymology meaning “spectacle” or “hoax” or “jest,” often referring to some unjustified reputation or publicity.2. Of course, the word is most often associated with Ebenezer Scrooge, a char…
Of the Father’s Love Begotten
Rarely in one carol does an author encompass the entirety of the Redemption story from creation, the prophets, the nativity, and the eternal glory of the Triune God, but the Imperial Roman poet, Aurelius Clemens Prudentius (348-413), skillfully weaves the redemptive narrative throughout the verses of the fine Advent poem, Corde Natus Ex Parentis. Consequently, its lyrics are also dense …