January 10, 2023, Class Update: The Meaning of Christmas

Greetings everyone!

It was great to be back together as we start a new year and the Post-Epiphany Ordinary Time.

The Christmas Season of our church calendar officially ended on January 9.

During our most recent class this week, we took some time to explore the meaning of the Christams Season and its feasts.

Nativity scene at the Cathedral of St. Mary in Austin, TX

We looked more closely at the words of the Gloria chant from Mass.

Christmas is all about the Good News that God did the mind-boggling act of taking on human flesh and being born as a baby, to accompany us always.  (Remember the baby-guessing game and my teddy bear?)

One of my parents likely took this photo of me with my Teddy Bear when I was about 4.

My co-worker Dianna photographed me with my Teddy on Bring a Stuffed Friend to Work Day a few years ago at the Orland Park Public Library.


He came as Savior of all the World: On Epiphany, which was Sunday, January 8, we recall that Magi came from a faraway land to Israel to worship Christ and bring Him gifts.

Nativity scenes from around the world on display in the Pine Room this past Sunday


The Christmas Season ends with the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, which was January 9 this year.  This Feast focuses on a story when Jesus was an adult and was baptized in the Jordan River.  The Holy Spirit came to anoint Him and God called Him His Beloved Son.  Jesus was anointed for a mission in HIs baptism, and so are all of us:  We are called to bring the Good News into the world, and shine the Light He has brought to our hearts.

The activity for this week is to take just a few minutes to listen to a Christmas carol, which you can find in this playlist.

After you listen to any one of them, go to this link, and submit a reflection with a line in that song that stood out to you and why.

Please note, if you click on "Show More" in the gray box description below the video screen, you can click on the blue text of the minute/second marker and skip to any of the other songs.

You get extra credit if you listen to more than one, and enhanced extra credit if you listen to all of them.

In our next class, the plan is to spend a little bit of time focusing on what it means to be a disciple of Jesus Christ.  We also have a very special guest who will be visiting.

As usual, please feel free to contact me with questions, etc.

We remain connected as One Church, living in the Light of our Lord Jesus Christ, born to save us and all the world:
All my relations.

Rejoice in this Good News and proclaim it!

God's blessings,
Paul

P.S. This song "Christmas Angels" by Michael W. Smith, was our opening prayer, which incorporates lyrics from other Christmas carol(s).

I showed a short clip from the 2006 movie The Nativity Story: Specifically, we watched the scene of the Angel announcing the Good News of Christ's Birth to the shepherds in this longer clip.  You get enhanced extra credit if you watch the entire movie, about 1 hour and 30 minutes.

Nativity Scene in Ascension Church

Sun dog halo I saw on Christmas Eve morning last month.  A Great Light truly shines upon us in Jesus Christ.

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