Molly and Me

I was listening to the book Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix today while cleaning my house. (Shout out to Libby and the Public Library System!). I was in my kitchen finishing when I came to the scene where Molly Weasley is trying to get rid of a boggart. Quick note: a boggart is a shape shifter that turns into whatever the person isContinue reading “Molly and Me”

Working for Justice

“As followers of Jesus, we have the authority and responsibility to pursue what is right in the world, to work for justice in light of the harsh reality in which we live, where vast systems of oppression keep our communities disinvested and disempowered. We must be vigilant, for the ‘powers that be’ will challenge usContinue reading “Working for Justice”

Advent 2022 December 24th

An angel graces our ornament for today, Christmas Eve. How appropriate it is that we hang an image of this heavenly being on the Advent tree. Zimmerman uses Luke 2: 9-11, “An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angelContinue reading “Advent 2022 December 24th”

Advent 2022 Day 27

Today’s ornament is the Chi Rho. It is the first two letters of the Greek word for Christ. Zimmerman reflects with the children on names, their own names given by their parents, and the name Christian, given by their baptism. She says that our names stay with us always, they identify who we are. “Christian,Continue reading “Advent 2022 Day 27”

Advent 2022 Day 26

Today the picture on the ornament is a penny. Zimmerman reflects with the children about money. She says, “Money, by itself, is not good or bad. It’s what people do — or don’t do — with their money that is good or bad,” depending on the choices they make. I think it is interesting toContinue reading “Advent 2022 Day 26”

Advent 2022 Day 25

Today the ornament is a picture of a ring. Zimmerman uses the very familiar reading from 1 Corinthians 13: 4-7,13, “Love is patient, love is kind, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs…” These are the verses that many married couples choose to have proclaimed at theirContinue reading “Advent 2022 Day 25”

Advent 2022 Day 24

Ashes are the picture on the ornament for today. Zimmerman uses Genesis 3:19 to reflect. “By the sweat of your brow will you eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return.” At first glance it feels like thisContinue reading “Advent 2022 Day 24”

Advent 2022 Day 23

The ornament today is a picture of wafers and grapes. Zimmerman speaks about the Last Supper and tells how Jesus took the bread and wine at that meal and blessed it. He then asked that every time his followers gathered together, they should, “do this in remembrance of me.” For Catholics, this blessing of theContinue reading “Advent 2022 Day 23”

Advent 2022 Day 22

A palm branch is the picture on the ornament for today. Zimmerman inserts the story of Palm Sunday into her reflection narrative. When I am surrounded by my crèche sets, Christmas lights, and our newly decorated Christmas tree, it is jarring to recall where this story ends up. The little baby, whose birth we areContinue reading “Advent 2022 Day 22”

Advent 2022 Day 21

Today’s ornament is a picture of a fishing lure. Zimmerman uses Luke 5:1-11 to illustrate her reflection. These verses tell the story of the tired fishermen, who had been up through the night, fishing without a catch. Jesus borrows their boat, preaches from it for a while, and then turns to Peter and asks himContinue reading “Advent 2022 Day 21”