The church year never fails!

This is so exciting to me.  I don't know how I ever missed  forgot it! [Follow the link for a clearer explanation]

[The Gesimas are] particularly of value for us Lutherans, because the readings for each of the three Sundays of Gesimatide correspond with what came to be called the three "solas" in the Lutheran Reformation!

Septuagesima Sunday, "70 Days". By Grace Alone. (27 Jan 2013)
Introit.Psalm 18:5,6,7. Verse Psalm 18:2,3.Collect.O Lord, we beseech Thee favourably to hear the prayers of Thy people that we, who are justly punished for our offences, may be mercifully delivered by The goodness, for the glory of Thy name, through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Our Saviour, who liveth etc.Epistle.1 Cor 9:24 - 10:5.Gospel.Matthew 20:1-16. The Workers in the Vinyard. Sola gratia, by grace alone.

Sexagesima Sunday, "60 Days". By Scripture Alone. (3 Feb 2013)
Introit.Psalm 44:23-26. Verse Psalm 44:2.Collect.O God, who seest that we put not our trust in anything that we do, mercifully grant that by Thy power we may be defended against all adversity, through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Our Lord, who liveth etc.Epistle.2 Cor 11:19 - 12.9Gospel.Luke 8:4-15. The Sower and the Seed. Sola scriptura, by scripture alone.

Quinquagesima Sunday, "50 Days". By Faith Alone. (10 February 2013)
Introit.Psalm 31:3,4. Verse Psalm 31:1.Collect.O Lord, we beseech Thee, mercifully hear our prayers and, having set us free from the bonds of sin, defend us from all evil, through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Our Lord, who liveth etc.Epistle.1 Cor 13:1-13.Gospel.Luke 18:31-43. Healing the Blind Man. Sola fide, by faith alone.

More at Past Elder

Christmas Books, Unwrapped

This Advent and Christmas the kids and I unwrapped a Christmas book a week, and a book a day during the 12 days of Christmas.  It was a lot of fun, and I look forward to doing it again next year, and adding more books I find at garage sales this summer.

I was very relaxed about what constituted a "Christmas book."  About 1/3 are about Christ's birth, 1/3 are just fun Santa Claus, Nutcracker or Moral Story books, and 1/3 are about snow.  (Does anyone else have an huge collection of "snow" books?  Katy and the Big Snow, White Snow, Bright Snow, Snow, Stopping by the Woods on a Snowy Evening, The Snowman....)

Our church even gifted the children with an Epiphany book, The Visit of the Wise Men.  

Some of our favorites:

The Metropolitan Museum of Art's The Christmas Story.  Beautiful medieval and renaissance art accompanies King James text from the Gospels.  Not a children's book, but the kids love it, because there is so much to look at in the pictures.  

Christmas Day in the Morning by Pearl S. Buck.  A tale of a farm boy finding joy in loving his neighbor, his neighbor being his father.

Jan Brett's Christmas Treasury.  This book is the first I've read of Jan Brett.  Her art is gorgeous and very detailed.  There is a wild, northern European pagan feel sometimes to her tales (see The Trouble with Trolls), but nothing offensive.

Babar and Father Christmas.  We're big Jean de Brunhoff fans here.  How can you not love passages like this? 

 [The dwarves] all set to immediately.  They undress him, and give him a good alcohol rub, working over him energetically with big brushes.  The dwarf chemist give him some brandy.  Then finally, Babar drinks a fine bowl of hot soup with Father Christmas and thanks him from the bottom of his heart."

Some I'm interested in for next year:

The Legend of St. Nicholas

Christmas Cookies: Bite-sized Holiday Lessons 

Stephen's Feast

Good King Wenceslas

Corgiville Christmas

We Three Kings

What's your favorite Advent/Christmas/Epiphany book?

There is Nothing New Under the Sun

Cool Lutheran mama who had the same idea I did:

Of Green Tables


I posted a comment on Aubri's blog about the Feast of the Circumcision and Name of Jesus (January 1) I'll repost here:

I always have a particular season or feast of the year that I enjoy or ponder more than others. The Circumcision and Name of Jesus is it this year: That He began shedding blood for us when He was only 8 days old, that He began fulfilling the law perfectly, that He was given the Name that He then freely gives to us in Baptism.

What is your favorite church year season or feast this year and why?