Need an escape from the hustle and bustle? Take some time to watch The Nativity in Movies!
This film is a compilation of nine films from 1905 - 2006 depicting the portrayal of the birth of Christ. Though this compilation primarily revolves around The Nativity Story (2006) starring Keisha Castle-Hughes and Oscar Isaac, pivotal points are emphasized by older versions of the story in film. It is set to contemporary music with a wonderful balance between the dialog and music.
Here are some fun facts about The Nativity Story
I know it is hard to find the time (a little over and hour long) this time of year but the film is so worthwhile as we remember the Reason for the season!
Showing posts with label Advent. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Advent. Show all posts
Friday, December 16, 2011
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Monday, November 28, 2011
Advent and The Sanctity of Life
As we prepare our hearts for the coming of the newborn King in the season of Advent, let us consider the Christ child growing in Mary's womb and what a precious gift He is to us. He came, born of woman, to bring salvation to all who believe.
Powerful.
His message is one of love, not of destruction. His message is life-giving, not killing. His message is one of redemption and eternal life, not slavery to sin and damnation.
God creates us in love, for love.
Love doesn't kill unborn babies.
All life is precious.
Powerful.
His message is one of love, not of destruction. His message is life-giving, not killing. His message is one of redemption and eternal life, not slavery to sin and damnation.
God creates us in love, for love.
Love doesn't kill unborn babies.
All life is precious.
Anglicans for Life is an organization dedicated to ending abortion and euthanasia, protecting embryos from research abuse, and promoting abstinence and adoption. You can follow them on facebook and twitter or go to their website to sign up for e-mail updates and/or print newsletter.
As an avid supporter of sanctity of life issues, I was shocked to learn in the July issue of the Anglicans for Life newsletter the following facts:
3% of abortions are "for the health of the mother" I'm not sure how health of the mother is defined since it really is a nebulous term. It can be somewhat subjective and/or prejudiced by the situation...and perhaps the medical professional giving advice as most maternal health situations allow a baby to mature to viability.
1% of abortions are due to rape/incest.
3% of abortions are due to "health of the child" after genetic testing reveals a genetic abnormality -- and we know that 90 plus percent of children with Down syndrome are terminated...
93% of abortions are those of convenience - also known as elective. 74% of those are pressured by others to seek abortion.
What a tragedy. I'm sure God weeps as He watches His children murder innocents...
.
Advent - Preparing for the Master's Return
As we all well know, Advent is a time of preparation for the coming of the Christ child, God incarnate, and a time of preparation for the second coming of our Lord. It is a season of quiet anticipation, a season of hope. It is also a penitential season - though the post-modern culture doesn't like to make much of a fuss about preparing our hearts and souls. On the first Sunday in Advent, we heard the words of Jesus according to St. Mark:
Serious words. Urgent words...
Though awake, are my heart and soul asleep? Is my work done? Am I ready for the Master's return?
As I ponder the preparations for the great celebration of Christmas (decorating, baking, shopping, etc.), I must make it my priority to prepare my heart and soul for the Master's return. He really won't care about the trees, the wreath, the mantle or the cookies. He cares about our love for Him, our commitment to living out His Word - as we seek to love one another, meet the needs of the sick, the poor, the needy and make Him know to others.
So, I must set my heart in order and live out my priorities. The decorations, baking and shopping can wait until the real work is done. Spending time in keeping Advent, time in His Word, fasting, searching my heart for things that need to change and service to those in need have a great deal more urgency and relevance in the eyes of God.
Please visit Kerry, at A Ten O'Clock Scholar, as she hosts the Nativity Carnival - Keeping Advent through Epiphany.
"But of that day or that hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Take heed, watch, for you do not know when the time will come. It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his servants in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to be on the watch. Watch therefore -- for you do knot know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or a cockcrow, or in the morning -- lest he come suddenly and find you asleep. And what I say to you I say to all: Watch." (Mark 13:32-37, ESV)
Serious words. Urgent words...
Though awake, are my heart and soul asleep? Is my work done? Am I ready for the Master's return?
As I ponder the preparations for the great celebration of Christmas (decorating, baking, shopping, etc.), I must make it my priority to prepare my heart and soul for the Master's return. He really won't care about the trees, the wreath, the mantle or the cookies. He cares about our love for Him, our commitment to living out His Word - as we seek to love one another, meet the needs of the sick, the poor, the needy and make Him know to others.
So, I must set my heart in order and live out my priorities. The decorations, baking and shopping can wait until the real work is done. Spending time in keeping Advent, time in His Word, fasting, searching my heart for things that need to change and service to those in need have a great deal more urgency and relevance in the eyes of God.
Please visit Kerry, at A Ten O'Clock Scholar, as she hosts the Nativity Carnival - Keeping Advent through Epiphany.
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Third Annual Advent Carnival ...
is up!
Kerry, at A Ten O'Clock Scholar, is hosting The Third Annual Advent Carnival. Please go take a look at some very talented bloggers post about family Advent traditions and insightful essays about the Advent season.
Enjoy!
Kerry, at A Ten O'Clock Scholar, is hosting The Third Annual Advent Carnival. Please go take a look at some very talented bloggers post about family Advent traditions and insightful essays about the Advent season.
Enjoy!
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Movies for Advent and Christmas
I don’t know if I’ve shared here that I don’t watch TV – other than an occasional show on Food Network and the nightly local news. Most people find me odd but I just can’t get into what the popular culture find amusing or interesting. I know there is still some quality programming out there but I find it much more interesting to lose myself in a good book or read your blogs!
My husband and I do share a passion for movies – especially the old stuff and BBC productions. We find it relaxing to pop in a movie and let go of our day before we begin more intimate conversation beyond the daily necessary communications.
Much of our collection of DVDs revolves around the church year. I thought I would share with you a tradition in our house – our collection of Advent and Christmas movies.
On the more serious side:
The Bells of St. Mary's (1945) with Bing Crosby and Ingrid Bergman
It’s a Wonderful Life (1947) with James Stewart and Donna Reed
Miracle on 34th Street (1947) with Maureen O’Hara and Edmund Gwenn
The Bishop’s Wife (1948) with Cary Grant, Loretta Young, David Niven
A Christmas Carol (1951) with Alastair Sim
The Twilight Zone TV Episode – The Night of the Meek (1960) with Art Carney
Mary, Mother of Jesus (1999) with Christine Bale and Pernilla August
The Nativity Story (2006) with Keisha Castle-Hughes and Oscar Issac
The Nativity in Movies, a compilation of nine films portraying the birth of Christ
A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965) with Chris Doran and Ann Altieri
For fun
Holiday Inn (1942) with Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire
White Christmas (1954) with Bing Crosby, Rosemary Clooney, Danny Kaye
The Santa Clause (all three) with Tim Allen
Frosty the Snowman (1969) with Jimmy Durante and Billy DeWolfe
Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964) with Burl Ives
Dr. Suess’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas (1966) with Boris Karloff
Elf (2003) with Will Ferrel and James Caan
Christmas Vacation (1989) with Chevy Chase and Beverly D'Angelo
New for this year
Polar Express with Tom Hanks (2004)
Any suggestions to add to our collection?
My husband and I do share a passion for movies – especially the old stuff and BBC productions. We find it relaxing to pop in a movie and let go of our day before we begin more intimate conversation beyond the daily necessary communications.
Much of our collection of DVDs revolves around the church year. I thought I would share with you a tradition in our house – our collection of Advent and Christmas movies.
On the more serious side:
The Bells of St. Mary's (1945) with Bing Crosby and Ingrid Bergman
It’s a Wonderful Life (1947) with James Stewart and Donna Reed
Miracle on 34th Street (1947) with Maureen O’Hara and Edmund Gwenn
The Bishop’s Wife (1948) with Cary Grant, Loretta Young, David Niven
A Christmas Carol (1951) with Alastair Sim
The Twilight Zone TV Episode – The Night of the Meek (1960) with Art Carney
Mary, Mother of Jesus (1999) with Christine Bale and Pernilla August
The Nativity Story (2006) with Keisha Castle-Hughes and Oscar Issac
The Nativity in Movies, a compilation of nine films portraying the birth of Christ
A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965) with Chris Doran and Ann Altieri
For fun
Holiday Inn (1942) with Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire
White Christmas (1954) with Bing Crosby, Rosemary Clooney, Danny Kaye
The Santa Clause (all three) with Tim Allen
Frosty the Snowman (1969) with Jimmy Durante and Billy DeWolfe
Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964) with Burl Ives
Dr. Suess’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas (1966) with Boris Karloff
Elf (2003) with Will Ferrel and James Caan
Christmas Vacation (1989) with Chevy Chase and Beverly D'Angelo
New for this year
Polar Express with Tom Hanks (2004)
Any suggestions to add to our collection?
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Escaping into Advent
Has anybody else noticed that Christmas merchandise has been on display since before Halloween? The stores and streets are decorated for Christmas and we haven’t experienced Advent yet!
Those of us in liturgical denominations are governed by the liturgical calendar. This calendar marks for us the seasons in the church year, days of feasts and fasts, vigils and commemorations, giving us a rhythm to our days and our lives. Those of us who center our lives on the liturgical calendar understand the richness and beauty offered in the depths of observing planned and purposeful seasons of the church year.
Advent marks the beginning of our liturgical year – a period of expectant waiting for the arrival of our Savior. In Advent which begins this Sunday, we wait as the Hebrews waited for the birth of the Messiah while waiting for the second coming of Jesus the Christ.
As we experience Advent in our preparations for the coming of Jesus in the places we offer ourselves to the Lord by saying the Daily Office, participating in the Liturgy, perhaps even going to confession - or experiencing the rich traditions of Advent by lighting the candles on the Advent wreath, opening the little windows on our Advent calendar or decorating the Jesse tree our anticipation builds as we await His coming.
All these things set the season of Advent apart from Christmas. For me, Christmas is trivialized and marginalized without Advent. It seems that Christmas has evolved to something that no longer belongs to God but to a fallen world.
So, I’ll not be participating in the secular extravagance of the holiday that has been hijacked by the commercial sector and much of today's society. Oh, I will have the work of Christmas done but I’m escaping into Advent. You won’t find me at the mall or grand Christmas celebrations this Advent. I hope instead to be sitting quietly with my Advent reading and focusing on His coming, knowing the great joy about to come while so many are waiting in long lines or spending too much time money on things that are only transiently meaningful.
I’ll be spending my time reliving with awe in His Word the powerful unfolding of God’s plan for His creation. Because Jesus came - fully human and fully divine - to redeem us and offer us eternal salvation...and promises to come again, I know hope. Because He came I want to live my life differently. I want my life to reflect Him and I can only do that by knowing Him more intimately so I’ll be better prepared when He comes again.
And I’ll be praying about how to make some more changes in what I can do to make my Advent experience deeper and more profound. Do you feel a need to make some changes this year? Take a look at Christmas Change "to reject a culture of consumerism and self indulgence, that yes, has even permeated the Christian community. To incarnate Christ in the everyday. To love lavishly the unlovable, in heart first, then in word and deed."
My Advent reading this year
Daily Reflections for Advent and Christmas, Waiting in Joyful Hope 2009-2010 by Robert Morneau
Watch for the Light: Readings for Advent and Christmas published by Plough Publishing House
Christmastide: Prayers for Advent through Epiphany from The Divine Hours by Phyllis Tickle
Thank you Kerry, at A Ten O'Clock Scholar for hosting The Carnival of Anglican Advent Traditions - a part of Carnivals of the Church Year hosted by Homemaking Through the Church Year and A Ten O'Clock Scholar
Those of us in liturgical denominations are governed by the liturgical calendar. This calendar marks for us the seasons in the church year, days of feasts and fasts, vigils and commemorations, giving us a rhythm to our days and our lives. Those of us who center our lives on the liturgical calendar understand the richness and beauty offered in the depths of observing planned and purposeful seasons of the church year.
Advent marks the beginning of our liturgical year – a period of expectant waiting for the arrival of our Savior. In Advent which begins this Sunday, we wait as the Hebrews waited for the birth of the Messiah while waiting for the second coming of Jesus the Christ.
As we experience Advent in our preparations for the coming of Jesus in the places we offer ourselves to the Lord by saying the Daily Office, participating in the Liturgy, perhaps even going to confession - or experiencing the rich traditions of Advent by lighting the candles on the Advent wreath, opening the little windows on our Advent calendar or decorating the Jesse tree our anticipation builds as we await His coming.
All these things set the season of Advent apart from Christmas. For me, Christmas is trivialized and marginalized without Advent. It seems that Christmas has evolved to something that no longer belongs to God but to a fallen world.
So, I’ll not be participating in the secular extravagance of the holiday that has been hijacked by the commercial sector and much of today's society. Oh, I will have the work of Christmas done but I’m escaping into Advent. You won’t find me at the mall or grand Christmas celebrations this Advent. I hope instead to be sitting quietly with my Advent reading and focusing on His coming, knowing the great joy about to come while so many are waiting in long lines or spending too much time money on things that are only transiently meaningful.
I’ll be spending my time reliving with awe in His Word the powerful unfolding of God’s plan for His creation. Because Jesus came - fully human and fully divine - to redeem us and offer us eternal salvation...and promises to come again, I know hope. Because He came I want to live my life differently. I want my life to reflect Him and I can only do that by knowing Him more intimately so I’ll be better prepared when He comes again.
And I’ll be praying about how to make some more changes in what I can do to make my Advent experience deeper and more profound. Do you feel a need to make some changes this year? Take a look at Christmas Change "to reject a culture of consumerism and self indulgence, that yes, has even permeated the Christian community. To incarnate Christ in the everyday. To love lavishly the unlovable, in heart first, then in word and deed."
My Advent reading this year
Daily Reflections for Advent and Christmas, Waiting in Joyful Hope 2009-2010 by Robert Morneau
Watch for the Light: Readings for Advent and Christmas published by Plough Publishing House
Christmastide: Prayers for Advent through Epiphany from The Divine Hours by Phyllis Tickle
Thank you Kerry, at A Ten O'Clock Scholar for hosting The Carnival of Anglican Advent Traditions - a part of Carnivals of the Church Year hosted by Homemaking Through the Church Year and A Ten O'Clock Scholar
Friday, November 28, 2008
Anglican Advent Traditions Carnival 2008 is Up!
Kerry, at A Ten O'Clock Scholar is hosting Anglican Advent Traditions Carnival 2008. Stop by and take a look!
Thursday, November 27, 2008
The Archbishop of Canterbury on Advent
The first Sunday in Advent is almost here! Here is Rowen Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury in a moving presentation on the meaning of Advent for Christians:
H/T BabyBlue and Ruth Gledhill
H/T BabyBlue and Ruth Gledhill
Sunday, December 16, 2007
Advent Festival of Lessons and Carols
Our diocese has the Festival of Lessons and Carols as part of our Advent every year. It is the story of the fall of humanity, the promise of the Messiah and the birth of Jesus as told in the Bible along with Advent hymns/carols.
The tradition of Advent Lessons and Carols was established in England at the chapel of Kings College, Cambridge University, in Cambridge in 1918. The service is based on an earlier Order by E. W. Benson, former Archbishop of Canterbury, and continues on today around the world in Anglican churches. It is broadcast on BBC radio and picked up by some U.S. public radio stations.
Our service last evening was worthy of national broadcasting. The readings and our diocesan choir did a magnificent rendition of an historic tradition which I found quite moving. This period of waiting and preparation for the Christ Child with restrained joy gives meaning to the true celebration of Christmas. It gives a name to the longing in my heart for our Savior. The Babe about to be born in a stable (or cave) to save the world and soon to return as Judge and King. I can't wait to sing Joy to the World on Christmas Day!
Saturday, December 15, 2007
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