"Will you help us spread Christmas cheer?" Now is the time of year when we are often asked to chip in a few extra dollars when checking out at the store to spread Christmas cheer. Whether it is supporting a medical research initiative, a local non-profit, or Christmas gifts for those in need, all are ways in which joy can be shared. The word for the third week of Advent is JOY. It harkens us back to the spirit of

Are you longing for peace? If so, you are in good company. This time of year brings a lot of stress upon us. Many are grieving a loss and anticipating a much different holiday season than ever before. Many are trying to make ends meet and to make the holidays possible. Many are stressing about getting everything done in the timelines given to us. Many are searching for the perfect gift with no luck in sight. Many are feeling the weight

We've all heard this from time to time. When life seems to be really tough, we tell ourselves and those we love to hold fast because we trust that the pain won't last forever. This is a part of human life. We know there will be seasons that seem unbearable, but we also know that what we are experiencing is only temporary. Our Christian faith holds fast in the promise that God's light will come into the darkness and offer

Believe it or not, Thanksgiving is 1 week away and many of us are preparing to host a meal for our loved ones. And just three days after that begins the season of Advent which is the time of preparing for Christmas and the birth of Christ in our midst. If you're anything like me, the idea of preparing can be daunting. There is so much to do and so little time to do it. When the to-do lists continue to grow, so does