Looking forward to a Christian Christmas
The Jesse Tree The idea comes from Isaiah 11:1: “There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse, And a Branch shall grow out of his roots.†Long ago I decorated our Christmas tree as a “Jesse” tree, but if you use a small artificial tree or a branch in a vase (…
History of Christmas Celebration The Western Roman church chose December 25 as its primary celebration of the birth of Christ, as documented by the decree of Pope Liberius in 354 A.D. Gradually the Eastern and Western sections of the Church began to merge their celebrations. In a sermon preached in 386 A.D., Chrysostom urged the…
Christmas in Sweden In Sweden, with their Lutheran tradition, the celebration begins with the Advent. The lighting of each Sunday candle on the advent wreath readies the heart for wonderful Christmas festivities. With the Saint Lucia ceremony, on December 13, the season begins in earnest in Sweden: the youngest daughter puts on a white robe…
Print this tag for your gifts The earth has grown old with its burden of care But at Christmas it always is young, The heart of the jewel burns lustrous and fair And its soul full of music breaks the air, When the song of angels is sung. ~Phillips Brooks
