Category Archives: Spiritual Formation

Building a Cradle for Jesus

By Chaplain Mike Where meek souls will Receive Him still The dear Christ enters in. • “O Little Town of Bethlehem,” Brooks I am not good at working with my hands to fashion beautiful artistic creations. Never have been and probably never will be. I’m better with books and people and such, and have notContinue reading “Building a Cradle for Jesus”

Church Year Spirituality: Faith of Our Family

By Chaplain Mike When I was a pastor in local non-denominational congregations, I found it difficult to maintain a sense of cohesion and togetherness within the church’s program. Each church, of course, had its own traditions, and they created a certain level of family identity and oneness. But I’m talking about something deeper than whenContinue reading “Church Year Spirituality: Faith of Our Family”

Church Year Spirituality: Some Resources

By Chaplain Mike Over this past week, many have asked about resources for understanding and keeping the Church Year. I have compiled a starter list here in three categories: Books that give an overview of the Church Year to help individuals, families, and churches grasp its basic concepts and begin participating in Church Year spirituality.Continue reading “Church Year Spirituality: Some Resources”

Church Year Spirituality: The Eastern Orthodox Calendar

Note from CM: In our “Church Year Spirituality” series, I have focused on the calendar of the Western church, and have done so in an intentionally general way. This is the church to which I belong, and so I speak from that perspective. I have not focused on specific differences between traditions within the WesternContinue reading “Church Year Spirituality: The Eastern Orthodox Calendar”

Church Year Spirituality: Practical Wisdom

By Chaplain Mike The freest time in our adult life was after we were married and before we had children. Having graduated from college, we were no longer bound by a school schedule. We lived in a small, iconic Vermont village where the pace of life was slow, the program of our church modest, andContinue reading “Church Year Spirituality: Practical Wisdom”

Church Year Spirituality: The Main Thing

By Chaplain Mike For to me, to live is Christ (Phil 1:21) And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. (Heb 12:1-2, NLT) Joan Chittister calls following the Church Year, “the attempt toContinue reading “Church Year Spirituality: The Main Thing”

Church Year Spirituality: Living in God’s Story

By Chaplain Mike In our introduction to this series, “Church Year Spirituality,” I gave five primary reasons why I think it advantageous for Christians to form their spiritual lives — their walk with God through Christ — around the liturgical year. It enables us to live in God’s story. It keeps the main thing theContinue reading “Church Year Spirituality: Living in God’s Story”

Church Year Spirituality

By Chaplain Mike Next Sunday is the final Lord’s Day in the Church Year. Christians who follow the liturgical calendar will begin a new year of living in the Gospel with the commencement of Advent on Nov. 28. The diagram on the right gives an overview of the annual Church calendar. Advent is the seasonContinue reading “Church Year Spirituality”