Beverly Varnado at One Ringing Bell

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Happy Easter!

April 24, 2011

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He is Risen, indeed!

Happy Easter!

Easter

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Bells Across the Snow for those who are sad

For many, the Christmas season is a hard time for various reasons. For some, the loss of loved ones is more keenly felt this time of year. For others the bright wrapping and lilting carols stand in contrast to an ongoing struggle with sadness, or serious illness. That’s why I’ve always appreciated that on Christmas Eve the devotional, Streams in the Desert, carries the poem , “Bells Across the Snow” by one of my favorite hymn writers, Frances Ridley Harvegal (Take My Life and Let it Be). It speaks to the tension between sorrow and joy, which almost everyone at some time in their life, experiences at Christmas. O Christmas, merry Christmas! Is it really come again, With its memories and greetings, With its joy and with its pain? There's a minor in the carol, And a shadow in the light, And a spray of cypress twining With the holly wreath to-night. And the hush is never broken By laughter light and low, As we listen in the starlight To the "bells across the...

When you need to simply trust

While attending another church to see neighbor children sing on a recent Advent Sunday, I experienced a poignant moment. At the end of the service, a sweet four-year-old sat in my lap, and as the directions for communion were explained, I had a bit of uncertainty about where the child I held would go while I took communion and when I should move forward. She had no uncertainty. She hopped off my lap, took my hand, and began leading me forward. Of course, I thought. She does this with her mother. She knows exactly what to do. Several hours later, I still pondered that experience. As so many of us do this time of year, my brain sometimes spins—checking the lists twice and that sort of thing. It can all get so complicated. “Whoever becomes simple and elemental again, like this child, will rank high in God’s kingdom” (Matthew 18:3). Jesus spoke these words to illustrate to the disciples who would be greatest in the kingdom, but they also tell us where our hearts need to be to live th...

Every Shining Christmas

Every Shining Christmas Some years every dream’s fulfilled, there’s joy in every place. Some years there are disappointments, in our hearts an empty space. Some years hopes are high with babies to be born. Some years there are shadows falling, someone to be mourned, but still, Every blessed Christmas, Yes, every shining Christmas I’ll take my place with those who sing your praise. And through tears of joy or tears of sorrow The bright star to Bethlehem I’ll follow And worship you with all my heart once more. Some years our legs are strong, we’re running hard the race. Some years with a body weak, we stumble to the pace. Some years in abundance, some years with less, But at Christmas, as always, your sweet name we confess. Every blessed Christmas, Yes, every shining Christmas I’ll take my place with those who sing your praise. And through tears of joy or tears of sorrow The bright star to Bethlehem I’ll follow And worship you with all my heart once more...

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