I love Lent. Every year, its solemnity descends on Ash Wednesday and carries through to Holy Week, and I feel like I'm better able to dive deeper into my faith. I'm never successful in my Lenten disciplines, but I try again year after year, and each time I grow closer to God, which is, I … Continue reading To break every yoke
Tag: faith
On Lent & Faith
To talk about Lent, I need to talk to you about my faith journey. I was baptized as an infant at St.John’s Episcopal Church, in Norman, Oklahoma. In our faith tradition, we believe that through infant baptism we are sealed by the Holy Spirit and marked as Christ’s own forever. We also believe that sacraments, … Continue reading On Lent & Faith
On the 500th Anniversary of the Protestant Reformation, or: I’m sorry, Luther, I’m just not that into you
Today churches all over the world will celebrate the 500th anniversary of Martin Luther’s theses and the Protestant Reformation with music, sermons, tree plantings, workshops, and more. Like most folks raised in the Christian tradition, I’m no stranger to Luther. My husband was raised in a Lutheran tradition, with numerous Lutheran clergy relatives. When I … Continue reading On the 500th Anniversary of the Protestant Reformation, or: I’m sorry, Luther, I’m just not that into you
His countenance was modified, his clothing was aflame
Each week in celebration of the Holy Eucharist, we proclaim the mystery (indeed, mystery!) of our faith: Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again. That's it, just those three little (huge) bits. And within the Nicene Creed, we acknowledge one God in three expressions. First: the Father, the Almighty, maker … Continue reading His countenance was modified, his clothing was aflame
Here I am again, knowing I just can't know who this human inside of me is. I don't get to pick, I don't get to know until she decides to let me know. And I trust with even more faith than I should be humanly capable of possessing that I will love this child, with more love than I have, with more love than I know to exist in the whole world, but it really seems impossible to love anything more than I love my little, tangible family right now.
Snowy, Snowy Days
February in New York can be cold and gray, sludgy ex-snow lining the sidewalks, so you'd think a February vacation to someplace warm, with sun and beaches, places that don't require wool clothing or a can of de-icer carried on your person, might be in order. Or you could be like us, and drive five … Continue reading Snowy, Snowy Days
On the Twelfth Day of Christmas, I did some ruminating on faith, family, candles and cocoa
Even as a kid, perhaps especially as a kid, I found comfort in the liturgical calendar. There were some big markers in my little kiddo life— from the time I was born until I was five, we lived in Oklahoma and attended an Episcopal church. I remembered it as a structured place, with candles and … Continue reading On the Twelfth Day of Christmas, I did some ruminating on faith, family, candles and cocoa
Whitewashed Tombs
I’ve been start-stopping this post for two weeks now, since the Eric Garner decision was announced. I am utterly unqualified to write it, and my voice in all of this absolutely does not matter. I don’t say that out of false modesty, but out of respect for those who are and should be driving this … Continue reading Whitewashed Tombs
matins
I woke up more slowly than usual. Mike had already fed Winnie. She brought me a ball in bed, clambering up on top of the bedspread and proudly displayed her new ball-kicking skills into my bedhead. It was a soft ball. We gathered up the day’s supplies (applesauce, clean dress, new stuffed bunny with a … Continue reading matins
This Family Anderson 