Posts by Betsy Schwarzentraub
Singing the Twelve Days of Christmas
A joyous Christmas season to you! Did you know that “The Twelve Days of Christmas,” that popular song of this worship season, is about the days after Dec. 25th, not before? Each day in the song names one aspect of Christian faith and life for people unable to read or without any books beyond the…
Read MoreWhat Is a Blue Christmas?
What is a “Blue Christmas?” Tomorrow will be the longest night of the year, when Earth’s creatures experience the greatest number of night hours. So it’s not surprising that on that day some people find their experiences of loss, anguish or depression further affected by the long, dark hours. That’s why many churches have a…
Read MoreSt. Nicholas: Giving to Others
December 6th is the feast day for St. Nicholas among Catholic and Orthodox Christians around the globe. So a lot of children are scrambling around to get ready for him to come tonight. As a child, have you ever put out cookies and milk for Santa Claus on Christmas Eve? That comes from a tradition many…
Read MoreNaming the Wonder: Vera C. Rubin
The more I learn, the more I sense “wonder all around,” even in deep space far from our humble planet. American astronomer Vera C. Rubin (1928-2016) has named a few of these stunning, new understandings about those far, far away regions. Like dark matter spinning throughout the universe. And how galaxies whirl around in space…
Read MoreInternational Jewish-Christian Bible Week
Way back in 1941, then-U.S.-President Franklin D. Roosevelt began a National Bible Week, which was traditionally observed during the week of Thanksgiving. Ever since my earliest years of pastoring (well after 1941), I enjoyed celebrating it, and invited church members to read for devotions or study during that week in particular, to remind us of…
Read MoreHenri Nouwen
November first is All Saints Day: a perfect time to think about Henri Nouwen, Dutch Catholic priest, writer, & theologian. He taught for nearly twenty years at the University of Notre Dame, and at both Yale & Harvard Divinity Schools. Then he was pastor for ten years at L’Arche Daybreak, a community of people with…
Read MorePoet Amanda Gorman
Did you hear that incredible young-adult poet recite her poem at President Biden’s presidential inauguration a few years ago? I was awestruck by her passion and love of country, calling us to band together as a nation and pull ourselves out of a dark place. —October 17 is Black Poetry Day, and you might not…
Read MoreLeslie Weatherhead “Awaiting Further Light”
October 14th was Leslie Weatherhead’s birthday. (He lived from 1893 to 1976). Weatherhead was an English Christian theologian (Methodist), and part of the liberal Protestant tradition in his thinking. He served as pastor of the huge City Temple in London from 1936 to 1960. Many traditional church folks considered him controversial because of his beliefs.…
Read MoreMartin Luther’s 95 Theses
Today is Reformation Day, when the academic cleric Martin Luther put up challenging questions to debate on the Wittenburg university campus. He was still working out his beliefs, but had significant concerns about “indulgences.” At that time (1517) the archbishop in northern Germany and Pope Leo X had authorized selling them in part to pay…
Read MoreJuliette Gordon Low
One woman who has helped shape my life is Juliette Gordon (“Daisy”) Low,the founder of the Girl Scouts. On March 12, 1912, in Savannah, Georgia, she organized the very first Girl Scout troop, after working as a Girl Guide leader in England. Currently, more than 1.7 million women have been through Girl Scouts, along with…
Read MoreMartin Luther
October 31st is Reformation Day! Back in 1517, the German professor, Augustinian monk, and hymn writer, Martin Luther, posted his “95 Theses” on a university door for academic debate. No doubt he expected lively debates, but ended up sparking the global Protestant Reformation. Luther also translated the Bible into German from Latin, so everyday Christians…
Read MoreEvelyn Underhill and the Heart’s Desire
One unofficial saint of mine, whom I hope helps shape my life, is Evelyn Underhill, a prominent Christian mystic. The marker on her grave in London says, “Christian – Scholar – Spiritual Guide.” She taught Anglican clergy about the importance of contemplative prayer, and was the first woman to lecture in theology at the University of…
Read MoreA Birthday Moment with Archbishop Desmond Tutu
October seventh is Archbishop Desmond Tutu’s birthday. He has long been a famous hero of mine, due to his justice work in South Africa that reverberated around the world. But The Book of Forgiving, which he co-wrote with his daughter, Mpho Tutu, showed glimpses of his soul. He said that “nothing is unforgivable” and “there…
Read MoreJohn Muir and “The Range of Light” 1
I’m personally grateful for the life and work of John Muir, who gave most of his life to let people know the value and majesty of the wilderness. He publicized the beauty of the wilderness, to persuade Americans to protect it from commercialization. Muir persuaded U.S. President Teddy Roosevelt to camp overnight in Yosemite with…
Read MoreDietrich Bonhoeffer
The writings of Dietrich Bonhoeffer (born on Feb. 4th) show the important interaction of faith, politics, and culture. A German-born theologian and activist in the Resistance Church, Bonhoeffer dared to counter National Socialism and the spread of Nazism. An advocate for the Jews and contributor to a group planning Hitler’s overthrow, he was imprisoned in…
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