Daily devotional to keep Christ in Christmas with the name of Christ: Emmanuel--two scriptures, a song, and a reflection question.

I am from a small town. One small town in fact, Piedmont, Alabama. It is a beautiful little place nestled in the foothills of Appalachia. It has some of the most gorgeous mountains in the fall and…

A short daily devotional to Keep Christ in Christmas focusing on the name: Purifier. Devotional includes a scripture, a quote, a quote from the October 2021 General Conference, a song or hymn plus reflection/discussion questions.

A letter to yesterday's Indianapolis Star had an interesting response to the annual "keep Christ in Christmas" hubbub. What if Christians kept just

For God so loved the world –He gave his Son! Immanuel –God with us! And because God is love – he has commanded us to love Him and to love others (Matt 22:36) – not just at Christmas time –but ALL the time! So I want to give you 15 practical ways to keep Christ...

Are you searching for ways to keep yourself and children focused on Christ this year instead of toys, candy, elves, and reindeer? Check out this awesome Blog hop hosted by Monica at Equpping Catholic Families. Participating Blogs are listed at the end of this post. Download at this Blog only Advent is a time to wait and participate! Feel to use this open-ended printable for Advent in any way that helps your children prepare for Christ. Some ideas starters may include: Make a bookmark with each candle to use as reminder to keep Christ in Christmas. Use the printable as a planner for preparation during the four weeks before Christmas. Cut out the candles and attach them to a “paper headband” to make an Advent hat or center piece. Write or draw a picture on each candle of things done to prepare our hearts for Christ. Other Related Posts Free Advent Clip Art from Charlotte's Clips And other ideas for Advent Free Saint Nicholas Clip art and Craft from Charlotte's Clips Christmas Nativity - craft ideas Christmas Is Love An Emergent Reader for Advent St. Nicholas Miter Craft Free Printable Thank you cards with Baby Jesus For more ways to Keep Christ in Christmas, Please visit other Linked up Blogs Equipping Catholic Families: Keep Christ in Christmas Simply Homeschool Living Advent Series 12/1 - 12/25 Fifth of Five Keeping Christ in Christmas - Blog Link-up 2013 Coffee Moments with Sam The Light of Hope Hand-Maid With Love: CHRISTmas Presence: Keep Christ in Christmas 2013 Edition Open Window Making hay while the Advent wreath shines Faith Filled Freebies: Keep Christ in Christmas Written by the Finger of God: Not Christmas as Usual On the Way Home: Keep Christ in Christmas Sue Elvis Writes: Bring Christ to Others Mommy Bares All Why Celebrate Christmas Even After #YolandaPH Canadian Catholic Mom Keeping The Little Ones Focused: An Advent Link-Up Mountain of Grace Homeschooling Keep Christ in Christmas Em’s Estuary: Keeping Christ in Christmas Happy Little Homemaker: December Devotion: Immaculate Conception Adoro Ergo Sum: How We Keep Christ in Christmas JoyAlive.net: O Come, O Come, Emmanuel Home to 4 Kiddos Keep Christ in Christmas Embedded Faith Boldly Be the Christ in Christmas City Girl, Country Home Emmanuel Is With Us. Are we WITH HIM? Journey to Wisdom: Trusting in your Awkward Fiats Joy of Nine9 Waiting in Joyful Expectation Like a Child Splendor in the Home Ideas For Keeping Advent and Christmas Holy Training Happy Hearts 10 Ways to Celebrate the New Liturgical Year A Catholic Life Advent: The Beginning of the Liturgical Year & Source of Rich Meditations Designs by Birgit: Elf on a Shelf and Santa Claus Catholic Inspired: Faith-Centered Family Christmas A Slice of Smith Life: How we keep Christ in Christmas Catholic All Year: Three Reasons I love Advent Mary the Defender: Christmas The Battle Begins Truly Rich Mom: Keep Christ in Christmas Day By Day in Our World: 40 Days Seeking Him and Keeping Christ in Christmas Diapers and Drivel: Keeping Christ in Christmas Raising Soldiers 4 Christ: Keeping Christ in Christmas Rosary Mom Keep Christ In Christmas With A Teenager Tercets: Keeping Christ in Christmas: Join Church Ministries Campfires and Cleats How We Keep Christ in Christmas Life Unabridged: Celebrating the Fullness of the Advent and Christmas Season Homeschooling With Joy Keeping Christ in Christmas Mrs Domestic Bliss Gingerbread Nativity The Chic Traveller Keeping Christ in Christmas California to Korea Keeping Christ in Christmas Dominique's Desk Keeping Christ in Christmas Our ABC Life: An Advent Update Journey Living: Anno Domini The Road to Rome: Advent Prayer and Reflection Resources Life of Fortunate Chances: Keeping Christ in Christmas Quidquid Est, Est!: Reblog: Advent Posts

In the chaos of the holiday seasons, we often lose sight of what we are celebrating. In order to combat the chaos and keep Christ in Christmas, we have some intentional Christmas activities that we’ve added to our everyday life to keep our focus on the true Reason for the season. hide Truth in the… Read More »Intentional Christmas Activities

Enter to win a free copy of Stella Nova: the Christian family board game that keeps Christ in Christmas! Giveaway ends November 30th.

Today we continue with the ‘ways to keep Christ in Christmas’. We will also learn how we can pay it forward this Christmas and throughout the New Year 2013. For our art feature, we loo…

Jam packed resources including Christ-Centered Christmas Music, Advents, Crafts, Treats, Gifts, Traditions, and MORE!

Meaningful ways to keep Christ in Christmas. Enjoy activities, service projects, and family fun all with a focus on Christ!

Christmas is all about Jesus, and Christian families need to be intentional about keeping Christ in Christmas. This post explores ideas and resources to help families keep Christ in Christmas.

Even though I am a cradle-Catholic, I never grew up celebrating Advent. Not intentionally, anyway. We went to mass during the Advent season, but I guess I just didn't pay much attention, and I figured our family's Advent wreath was just part of our regular holiday decorations. I honestly had very little understanding of what Advent was up until a few years ago. Since then, I have been on a slow, but steady, journey to celebrate Advent with my family. So what is Advent? For Catholics, Advent starts the beginning of the liturgical year, and is a season of anticipation for both the birth of Jesus Christ and Jesus' second coming. It is celebrated the four weeks leading up to Christmas. What I love about Advent is that it helps us focus on the reason for the season: Jesus. All those other details (Christmas gifts, cards, baking, decorating, etc) become less stressful for me, if they are put in their proper places, as ways to glorify God and celebrate His only Son. This 2 minute video gives a great overview of Advent: Now, here's some music to get us anticipating the birth of Jesus! Advent by Jessica P on Grooveshark FYI - Only when you try to compile a list of Advent songs, do you realize that pretty much every Christmas song has to do with post-Jesus' birth. Thus, a 5 song playlist that includes 4 versions of O Come, Emmanuel (which are all pretty awesome, by the way.) Being pretty new to celebrating Advent, our family is trying to add one new tradition each year until we have some basics covered. I do not want it to be overwhelming or feel like one more thing piled onto the already crazy list of "stuff" to do. The important thing is preparing our hearts for Jesus. I will remind myself: Advent does not have to be Pinterest-worthy. So, here are some simple ways to celebrate Advent with your family: Advent wreath Advent Wreath An Advent wreath is a pretty simple tradition to start. We bought ours on Amazon.com, along with the candles, for a very reasonable price. You can also make one quite easily. Here is a quick read about how this German custom started. This page on Catholic Culture provides the blessing, prayers, and explanation of what to do with your Advent wreath, and Our Sunday Visitor has an Advent guide, as well. On the first Sunday of Advent (December 1st this year) , we will be blessing our Advent wreath and lighting the first purple candle, along with a prayer. This is done each night of Advent. By the second week, we will be lighting the two purple candles, and the third week sees the additional lighting of the pink "joyous" candle. The fourth, and final, Sunday of Advent observes the lighting of the last purple candle. The Advent wreath is a simple, yet significant way to incorporate our preparation for the birth of Christ into our daily lives. Advent calendar This is a tradition that you are probably familiar with. There are so many different Advent calendars, and you can buy them at stores, online, or make your own. Last year, my 4 year-old, Grace, looked forward to it everyday, and I'm sure she's excited to get her little sister in on the fun. Sometimes we end up with more than one, which is no problem for us! But to emphasize the true meaning of Advent and Christmas, I want to be sure that at least one of my Advent calendars is religious. Loyola Press has an awesome online Advent calendar for kids, which is also printable. Here is one from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops that can be used online or printed. It includes the Catholic feast days, suggested prayers, and activities that can be done to prepare for Christmas. Interactive and Printable Advent Calendar USCCB This printable Family Advent Poster from Good Ground Press includes works of charity, fun activities, feast days, and a focus on family. Family Advent Poster Good Ground Press I also love this fabric Advent calendar because the kids can add a new piece to the nativity scene each day. I am thinking of making this with paper nativity pieces. Fabric Advent Calendar Jesse Tree Jesse Tree Up until a couple of years ago, I'd never even heard of the Jesse Tree. So what is it? The Jesse Tree is an Advent tradition that focuses on Jesus' family tree, as shown in the image on the left. For more information about the background, check out this article. Similar to the Advent calendar, a new symbol or ornament is hung on the Jesse Tree each day of Advent. As the ornament is hung, a corresponding bible passage is read. There are so many different ways to do a Jesse Tree: some simple, some complex. I even Googled it for you. You're welcome. Felt Jesse Tree Catholicseeking More Printable Jesse Tree Ornaments Domestic-Church Because I'm making a Jesse Tree for the first time this year, I am starting out simple. I'm printing the symbols and having my 4 year-old, Grace, color them. The printable symbols can be found here or here. Since I'm going with low-key, we will either make a tree poster or hang them on a small Christmas tree if I can find one. Other resources Looking for some basic printouts on Advent? Check out this page: Advent Ideas, Activities, and Calendar Good Ground Press Here is a short video from Catholic News Service with ideas for how to celebrate Advent: May your family have a blessed Advent! - Jessica

The Baptism of Christ by Saint John the Baptist … a fifth century mosaic in the Neonian Baptistry in Ravenna (Photograph: Patrick Comerford, 2017) Patrick Comerford Sunday 16 December 2018 The Third Sunday of Advent, Gaudete Sunday 11.30 a.m.: Saint Brendan’s, Kilnaughtin (Tarbert), Co Kerry, the Parish Eucharist (Holy Communion 2). Readings: Zephaniah 3: 14-20; Canticle Song of Isaiah (CD 43, No 6), Philippians 4: 4-7; Luke 3: 7-18. ‘God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. Even now the axe is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire’ … (Luke 3: 8-9) (Photograph: Patrick Comerford, 2018) May I speak to you in the name of God, + Father, Son and Holy Spirit, Amen. In the four weeks of Advent, we recall the Patriarchs and Matriarchs (Advent I), the Prophets (Advent II), Saint John the Baptist (Advent III) and the Virgin Mary (Advent IV). This morning, as we think about the message of Saint John the Baptist as the Forerunner of Christ, the readings remind us of the promises proclaimed by the prophets, and Saint Paul’s promise to the Philippians of Christ is coming again. Zephaniah invites Jerusalem to rejoice because salvation is at hand. Isaiah promises a future in which we ‘will draw water from the waters of salvation.’ Saint Paul promises the Church in Philippi that ‘the Lord is near.’ And Saint John the Baptist proclaims that ‘one who is more powerful than I is coming’ as he proclaims ‘the good news to the people.’ Zephaniah is one of the 12 ‘Minor Prophets’ in the Old Testament. His name means ‘Yahweh has hidden,’ ‘Yahweh has protected,’ or ‘Yahweh hides.’ Zephaniah was the great-great-grandson of Hezekiah, who had been the king of Judah (715-687 BC). In Chapter 3, he speaks of the people of Jerusalem and their crimes. They have failed to listen to God, to accept his advice, to trust in him or to draw near to him. He has destroyed other nations as a warning to Jerusalem, but Jerusalem has ignored this warning. In spite of this, in this morning’s reading (Zephaniah 3: 14-20), the prophet invites Jerusalem to rejoice because salvation is at hand. God has intervened, and he now dwells with his people and protects them. God’s promise of coming home to the new Jerusalem means oppressors are vanquished, the lame are saved, the outcast become insiders, shame is turned into praise, misfortunes are reversed, in a promise that is for ‘all the peoples of the earth.’ Our Canticle, ‘The Song of Isaiah’ (Isaiah 12: 2-6), is in a similar vein to our reading from Zephaniah. God will gather the remnant, the remaining faithful, from throughout the world, when the Messiah comes. In our epistle reading (Philippians 4: 4-7), Saint Paul urges his readers to behave towards one another with gentleness. In a well-known blessing, he promises that God’s peace will protect them. This peace ‘surpasses all understanding,’ it is beyond the grasp of the human mind and brings with it more than we can ever expect: ‘And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus’ (verse 7). In our Gospel reading (Luke 3: 7-18), we hear Saint John the Baptist deliver a message of forgiveness of sins and the advent of a new relationship between the people and God. He addresses the crowds, telling them they are vipers and accusing them of being baptised without any intention of starting a new, ethical, life. Saint Luke gives four examples of behaviour that exemplifies a new life: We should see to it that those who are poor have clothes and those who are hungry have food to eat. We should not pile on debts on those who cannot pay them. We should not oppress others. And if we are comfortable ourselves, then we should be satisfied with our lot. Perhaps Saint John is also reminding us that we must constantly question our own behaviour and be open to God’s way and God’s will. At the time, people were expecting the Messiah to come at any moment. Perhaps they hoped that Saint John the Baptist was going to restore Israel’s fortunes and that God’s power would triumph in the here and now. But Saint John tells them that the baptism he offers is vastly inferior to the Baptism of Jesus, and that even he will be found unworthy when Christ comes. What do we expect when Christ comes? And how are we going to celebrate this? The great German theologian and martyr Dietrich Bonhoeffer, once wrote: ‘Who among us will celebrate Christmas correctly? Whoever finally lays down all power, all honor, all reputation, all vanity, all arrogance, all individualism beside the manger; whoever remains lowly and lets God alone be high; whoever looks at the child in the manger and sees the glory of God precisely in his lowliness.’ There is a popular posting on social media for the past two weeks that asks: ‘Want to keep “Christ” in Christmas?’ And the reply is: ‘Feed the hungry, comfort the afflicted, love the outcast, forgive the wrongdoer, inspire the hopeless.’ It seems like a good summary of the message of the Prophets and the challenge of Saint John the Baptist. But, as we move into the last week or so of Advent, it seems to me to be a good summary of the message of Christ and the message of Christmas too. And so, may all we think, say and do, be to the praise, honour and glory of God, + Father, Son and Holy Spirit, Amen. The Baptism of Christ by Saint John the Baptist … a fresco in a church in the mountain village of Maroulas, near Rethymnon in Crete (Photograph: Patrick Comerford) Luke 3: 7-18: 7 John said to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, ‘You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Bear fruits worthy of repentance. Do not begin to say to yourselves, “We have Abraham as our ancestor”; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. 9 Even now the axe is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.’ 10 And the crowds asked him, ‘What then should we do?’ 11 In reply he said to them, ‘Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none; and whoever has food must do likewise.’ 12 Even tax-collectors came to be baptized, and they asked him, ‘Teacher, what should we do?’ 13 He said to them, ‘Collect no more than the amount prescribed for you.’ 14 Soldiers also asked him, ‘And we, what should we do?’ He said to them, ‘Do not extort money from anyone by threats or false accusation, and be satisfied with your wages.’ 15 As the people were filled with expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah, 16 John answered all of them by saying, ‘I baptize you with water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 17 His winnowing-fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing-floor and to gather the wheat into his granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.’ ‘The Holy City’ … a colourful picture by Thetis Blacker in the Royal Foundation of Saint Katharine in Limehouse in London’s East End (Photograph: Patrick Comerford, 2018) Liturgical colour: Violet (Purple) or Pink. The liturgical provisions suggest that Gloria is omitted in Advent, and it is traditional in Anglicanism to omit Gloria at the end of canticles and psalms during Advent. Penitential Kyries: Turn to us again, O God our Saviour, and let your anger cease from us. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Show us your mercy, O Lord, and grant us your salvation. Christ, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Your salvation is near for those that fear you, that glory may dwell in our land. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Third Sunday of Advent, 16 December 2018 (Pink Candle): Saint John the Baptist Lord Jesus, your cousin John prepared the way for your coming. Bless all who speak out against injustice and wrong: so may the light of your truth burn brightly, and the world become a fairer and just home for all. (A prayer from USPG) The Collect: O Lord Jesus Christ, who at your first coming sent your messenger to prepare your way before you: Grant that the ministers and stewards of your mysteries may likewise so prepare and make ready your way by turning the hearts of the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, that at your second coming to judge the world we may be found an acceptable people in your sight; for you are alive and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end. The Advent Collect: The Advent Collect is said after the Collect of the Day until Christmas Eve: Almighty God, Give us grace to cast away the works of darkness and to put on the armour of light now in the time of this mortal life in which your Son Jesus Christ came to us in great humility; that on the last day when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge the living and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Introduction to the Peace: In the tender mercy of our God, the dayspring from on high shall break upon us, to give light to those who dwell in darkness and in the shadow of death, and to guide our feet into the way of peace. (Luke 1: 78, 79) Preface: Salvation is your gift through the coming of your Son our Saviour Jesus Christ, and by him you will make all things new when he returns in glory to judge the world: The Post-Communion Prayer: Father, we give you thanks for these heavenly gifts. Kindle us with the fire of your Spirit that when Christ comes again we may shine as lights before his face; who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Blessing: Christ the sun of righteousness shine upon you, gladden your hearts and scatter the darkness from before you: ‘And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus’ (Philippians 4: 7) … a sculpture in Saint Bene’t’s Church, Cambridge (Photograph: Patrick Comerford) Hymns: 281, Rejoice, the Lord is King! (CD 17) Canticle: Song of Isaiah (CD 43, No 6) 135, O come, O come, Emmanuel (CD 8) 136, On Jordan’s bank the Baptist’s cry (CD 8) ‘On Jordan’s bank the Baptist’s cry’ (Hymn 136) … the Baptism of Christ by Saint the Baptist depicted at the Duomo in Florence (Photograph: Patrick Comerford) Scripture quotations are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicised Edition copyright © 1989, 1995, National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. http://nrsvbibles.org

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How To Make Your Own Jesse Tree Many people ask this time of year, What is a Jesse Tree? It's one of my favorite traditions that we have been doing for years. It never gets old, and it's a wonderful way to keep the holiday about Jesus. So, search

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Your home is a beautiful reflection of who you are, and at no time is that more true than during the holiday season. I want my home to be welcoming, inviting, and joyful during the holidays. But more than anything else, my priority is to keep Christ at the center of my Christmas celebrations. UseContinue Reading

Today we continue with the ‘ways to keep Christ in Christmas’. We will also learn how we can pay it forward this Christmas and throughout the New Year 2013. For our art feature, we loo…

In the chaos of the holiday seasons, we often lose sight of what we are celebrating. In order to combat the chaos and keep Christ in Christmas, we have some intentional Christmas activities that we’ve added to our everyday life to keep our focus on the true Reason for the season. hide Truth in the… Read More »Intentional Christmas Activities