Forty years ago I was the youth minister at a church in a county seat town. There was a strong tradition in this church of providing a live nativity scene every year, and it was… read more

Christmas Eve Candlelighting Service Scripture Readings: Isaiah 9:2-7; Psalm 96; Titus 2:11-14; Luke 2:1-20.   [Tonight’s Christmas Eve Service is based on the song… read more

Luke 2:1-20 A Sunday school teacher asked her class why Joseph and Mary took Jesus with them to Jerusalem. A small child replied, “They couldn’t get a… read more

Isaiah 9:2-7 We tend to romanticize Christmas, but we don’t do it on purpose. We are reasonable, logical, and hardheaded, but the magic of the season gets to us in spite of … read more

This seven-week series for the beginning of Advent through Epiphany Sunday is based on the Gospel readings from Year A of the Revised Common Lectionary, and emphasizes themes … read more

A Service of Carols, Lessons, and Prayers is traditional for some churches, in others it can be an additional service to your planned worship times or added with some adaptations. … read more