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60 years ago – December 20, 1948

An article, “Bethlehem --- The Christmas City”, tells the story of the Moravian beginnings of Bethlehem, Pa. “Our Christmas Prayer” poem (below)..

Celebrating Christmas in times of uncertainty, economic losses

Christmas is almost here — theologically a season of anticipation and then joy — many Americans are scared and worried. They’re afraid of losing their jobs, their homes, their life savings.

And through this Advent season, many congregations have been trying to find ways to respond to the stunning and swift economic downturn, as it reverberates through the lives of parishioners and their communities.

Contemplating the Infant Jesus

Whenever Mother Teresa would hear someone describe the order she founded as a community of “activists,” she would immediately correct them. She and the other members of the Missionaries of Charity were, she insisted,  “contemplatives.” She would point out that whenever new persons joined her community they were required to spend weeks reading the Gospels and contemplating the Host, so that they might be able to recognize Jesus when they go out onto the streets to look for him  “in His dreadful disguise among the poorest of the poor.”

American Red Cross veteran chosen to head PDA

[caption id="attachment_19971" align="alignright" width="144"]James Ackley[/caption]LOUISVILLE — James (Randy) Ackley, whose 14 years with the American Red Cross (ARC) included heading up that agency’s response to the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, has been named coordinator for Presbyterian Disaster Assistance [www.pcusa.org/pda] (PDA) of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). He begins his new work here Dec. 15.

Losing Jesus

When my family moved from Atlanta to Columbia three years ago, we could identify only one thing lost in the move. Baby Jesus.

     He was the centerpiece, obviously, of a hand-carved, olive wood crèche. Given to us by a friend after a trip to Israel and Palestine, the pieces came carefully wrapped in an Arabic newspaper. Although my husband and I each brought our own manger scenes into our marriage, this exquisitely beautiful one from the Holy Land quickly assumed the prominent place on the living room mantel.

Obituary: Alexei II: Russian Patriarch who saw in big changes

(ENI)--Patriarch Alexei II of the Russian Orthodox Church, who died December 5 at the age of 79, will go down in history..

Celebrations, books, seminars mark Calvin’s anniversary in 2009

It must be at least whispered: in post-modern America, in an age of “spiritual but not religious,” the name of John Calvin isn’t often rolling off of people’s tongues. Tina Fey, yes. John Calvin, not so much.

Advent: Needed like never before

Churches large and small are good and ready for Advent this year.

Joseph’s Apology

I hold an advantage — like the young, I still knew

that in matters of love everything’s possible

and good assured.

Mary’s Mercy Song

My son’s menacing mercy split followers —

cleaving them as a plow tears earth to hold seed —

foes too—as a hammer bursts rock to shard.

Judgment and discretion in giving, receiving

… always be rich enough to be generous ( II Cor. 9:11)                                   

The New English Bible translates thusly Paul’s words about giving and wealth. In chapter nine, he writes about the provision of aid for some of his people, noting it is superfluous for me to write to you — the need being so obvious. Well, superfluous as we might wish it, we, like Paul, find it is necessary to write or call to get donations.

Amendment 08-B: Response to Wheeler, Loudon articles

On November 3, 2006, the Rev. Brent Dugan, beloved pastor of the Community Church of Ben Avon (Pa.) and devoted colleague of mine in Pittsburgh Presbytery, killed himself. A local TV station was poised to out him on the evening news as a gay man who was possibly violating the rules of his church. In this crisis, Brent was more willing to face God with Jesus at his side in death than to face us in Pittsburgh Presbytery.

Rival Anglican denomination announced for North America

(ENI) — Episcopalians in North America unhappy with what they say is the "liberal turn" of the U.S. branch of Anglicanism have announced they are forming an alternative denomination, or province.

Nigeria “vulnerable” to religious violence “unless government acts”

(ENI) — The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom has called for immediate intervention by the Nigerian government after the deaths of hundreds of people in religious and ethnic violence in the West African nation.

Immokalee workers reach agreement with Subway

MIAMI — Subway, the third largest fast-food chain in the world and the biggest fast-food buyer of Florida tomatoes, reached an agreement Dec. 2 with the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)-backed Coalition of Immokalee Workers to help improve wages and working conditions for the workers who pick the sandwich shop giant’s tomatoes.

The Christmas Dash

It has begun, Lord, that sporting event in which we all

      are participants: the hundred-yard dash to Christmas.

Importing peace for Christmas

LOUISVILLE — As the Christmas season approaches, Peter Mann hopes his fellow Presbyterians will think about the land of Jesus’ birth when they consider gift ideas.  Mann is president of Import Peace [www.importpeace.org], a non-profit organization that sells high quality, organic olive oil produced in Palestine. “A lot of church members buy it to give away as gifts,” says the Presbyterian elder from Lake Shore, Minn. “It is an alternative gift that is fair-trade certified.”

UPDATED: Legend lost: William C. Placher dies

[caption id="attachment_19944" align="alignleft" width="252"]William Placher[/caption]

William C. Placher, the LaFollette Distinguished Professor in the Humanities at Wabash College in Crawfordsville, Ind., passed away unexpectedly Nov. 30 in Minnesota at age 60. At the time of his death, Placher was on leave from Wabash and was serving a one-year appointment as the Kilian McDonnell Writer-In-Residence at the Collegeville Institute for Ecumenical and Cultural Research at St. John's University in Collegeville, Minn.

A memorial service was held December 6 in the Pioneer Chapel on the Wabash College campus.