A Dog in the Manger

A Dog in the Manger

“’I want to put Jesus in the manger!”

You did it last year. It’s my turn.”

No, I’m the oldest, I get to do it.”

Well, I’m the youngest, I think I should!”

Maggie grabbed the figure from Jack and accidentally dropped it face down on the hard floor.

“Now you’ve done it,” cried Jack.”’—Jim Simons, A Dog in the Manger and Other Christmas Stories (Rowman and Littlefield 2015) p 1.

Jim Simons is an Episcopal priest who decides to write and tell a story for his Christmas Eve sermon every year, which eventually now births into this collection of Christmas sermons called A Dog in the Manger.   Simons reminds us that Jesus tells stories, and the birth narratives consist of two different stories told by two authors, Luke and Matthew. He reminds us that the Christmas season is a time to tell stories about our roots, parents and grandparents, and early life.

Simon’s stories are entertaining, with a deep and meaningful message of hope that Jesus’ birth brings, signifying the deep love of God for each of us. The stories are fiction, but no doubt have come from his life experiences. The book’s title comes from the first story about a puppy whose passion is going around town, returning home to his new owner, all the baby Jesuses from outdoor nativity displays.

  I bought the book a few years ago when I was preaching more often, looking for material for sermons for the Christmas season. I often preach about Christmas pageants, because I have been involved in so many. At least half of Simons’ stories are related to these dramas that consistently add new and unexpected incarnational wisdom to Christmas.

This past year, I have been reading many spiritual nonfiction writings in preparation for this book and two others. As Advent approaches, I know I have been hungry for stories, and serendipitously, this book appears in my stack for Christmas. My goal has been to read at least one story or at least half a story a day, but I cannot put the book down most days. Indeed, perhaps one factor for this craving has been the months I have put reading fiction on hold. A Dog in the Manger is precisely what I needed at the beginning of this liturgical year. I will share it with you if, by chance, you hear a similar call.

Joanna. https://www.joannaseibert.com/

 

Morning Devotions

 Morning Devotions

Guest Writer: Kate Moorehead

Blessed Lord, who caused all Holy Scriptures to be written for our learning: Grant us so to hear them, read, mark and inwardly digest them, that we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life…

                                                                                                            Collect, BCP p. 236

To All Who May Receive This Message,

In March of 2020, the coronavirus came to us suddenly. Like so many, I was alone and frightened. I was praying one morning when I had a very clear thought.

            Go to your prayer desk.

Those were the words that came to my mind.  I immediately understood them to mean that I should film myself at my prayer desk. In other words, bring people with me as I do my daily devotions, so I did, having no idea what I was doing.

In four months, I will have been filming for four years!  And every day, between 450-600 people watch the devotions. I feel that the Holy Spirit is using these devotions to reach out to people so they can digest the Bible in small bites.

If you would like to join me for 4-6 minutes each day, just click this link to sign up https://www.jaxcathedral.org/morning-devotions/

God bless you!

With love in Christ,

Kate+

Joanna. joannseibert.com

God With Us

God With Us

“And the Word became flesh and lived among us.”—John 1:14.

I have used many meaningful books to prepare for Christmas during the Advent season each year. I keep returning to God With Us, Rediscovering the Meaning of Christmas, first published in 2007 by Paraclete Press and edited by Greg Pennoyer and Gregory Wolfe. There are scripture readings, essays by six well-known religious authors, and prayers, but I most connect with the paintings with each lesson. Some days, I only find time to look at the illustrations and say the prayer, but they both seem to stay with me. Eugene Peterson explains it in the introduction. “Over and over again, they (artists) rescue us from a life in which the wonder has leaked out.”  

On other days, I read everything, including remarkable essays about the meaning of the feast day of that week. I especially enjoy the readings during the twelve days of Christmas, when the pace has slowed, and there is more time to digest what this smorgasbord feast of word and art presents us. The book is now in paperback without the pictures, so treasure it if you can find the hardback.