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”
Tag Archives: family life
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 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 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”
Advent 2022 Day 20
The heart is on our ornament today. How fitting it is for the season of Advent. Zimmerman uses 1John 4:7-8, “Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love, does not know God, because God is love.”Continue reading “Advent 2022 Day 20”
Advent 2022 Day 17
The image for today is a pine cone. Zimmerman relates how evergreen trees have become a symbol for Christmas and how “God’s presence in our lives is forever.” Zimmerman starts her reflection by saying, “By now many homes have set up their Christmas trees.” Immediately my heart skipped a beat because we are really runningContinue reading “Advent 2022 Day 17”
Advent 2022 Day 15
A pocket watch is the picture on the ornament today. Zimmerman talks to the children about how hard it is to wait! My family was just talking about this yesterday. My youngest son and daughter agreed that Advent used to seem like an eternity. Now, it speeds by, and my son, at least, would likeContinue reading “Advent 2022 Day 15”
Aren’t 2022 Day 13
A feather is the picture on today’s ornament. Zimmerman tells the children a story about how young eagles learn to fly. “The mother takes the eaglet upon her wing and flies high above the earth. She shakes the tiny bird off, forcing it to make its first attempt at flying. If she sees her babyContinue reading “Aren’t 2022 Day 13”
Advent 2022 Day 12
Today’s ornament is inscribed with a crown. In her reflection for the children, Zimmerman reflects that, “The Jewish people knew kings; they expected an earthly king” to come and rule over them. What they received was a, “tiny helpless baby.” It must have taken a while, for those Jews who knew Jesus, to wrap theirContinue reading “Advent 2022 Day 12”
The Last Lap (and what comes next) 