Merry Christmas - 2015

As experienced in St. John, USVI Sun Times

We wish you a Merry Christmas filled with wonder and delight.

Hopefully this guy found you?

Enjoy your day.

Blessings,

Joel

Feast of St. Nicholas, 2014

National Museum of Medieval History, Korca Albania

Happy Feast of St Nicholas to you. Did you find anything in your shoes this morning? If you left them outside where we are, they'd likely been overflowing with water. We've got tons of rain this year on St. Nicholas' Feast Day.

I particularly like the icon pictured here, as it shows some of Nicholas' life events. A Google search under images will give you other images, too.

On this Feast Day of the patron saint of sailors and voyagers, children and marriageable maidens, paupers, and others,  you might think about ways you can secretly help out others, following in his example. The St. Nicholas Center has lots of history and resources. If nothing else, the sailing community has always been a friendly compassionate bunch who helps one another out. I've been on the receiving end, and I continue to try and pay it forward, too. Hmmm, what to do this year?

So here's to Saint Nicholas!

May Saint Nick be at your tiller!

Blessed Be,

Joel

Happy St. Nicholas Day - 2013

National Museum of Medieval History, Korca Albania

Happy Feast of St Nicholas to you. Did you find anything in your shoes this morning? If you left them outside where we are, they'd likely been frozen solid. We've got cold weather this year on St. Nicholas' Feast Day.

I particularly like the icon pictured here, as it shows some of Nicholas' life events. A Google search under images will give you other images, too.

On this Feast Day of the patron saint of sailors and voyagers, children and marriageable maidens, paupers, and others,  you might think about ways you can secretly help out others, following in his example. The St. Nicholas Center has lots of history and resources. If nothing else, the sailing community has always been a friendly compassionate bunch who helps one another out. I've been on the receiving end, and I continue to try and pay it forward, too. Hmmm, what to do this year?

So here's to Saint Nicholas!

May Saint Nick be at your tiller!

Blessed Be,

Joel

What Santa Does After Christmas?

So, is this how Santa(s) spends some down time?

Remember for 1/2 the world, this starts the summer season.

Merry Christmas.

Blessed Be,

Joel

Advent Calendar 6 December 2009

Second Sunday of Advent: Feast of St. Nicolas, patron of children and sailors

Revised Common Lectionary Readings: Malachi 3:1-4; Luke 1:68-79; Philippians 1:3-11; Luke 3:1-6

This week, the concept of covenant caught my eye while studying today’s readings. Indeed we are in covenant with one another and the world around us, not to mention in covenant with God. Although we hope for peace on earth during the Christmas season – or at least a lull in the violence – today’s passages remind us that we are to live in peace and justice, indeed in righteousness with God, one another, and creation. Challenging lessons when what we read in the newspapers, hear on the radio and see on TV are but invitations to buy, purchase and spend money on Christmas gifts. Yet today’s scripture invites us to ask, who are making the products we purchase? Under what conditions do they toil? And in a world that is becoming increasing aware of limited oil resources, how far did these items travel to get to us? Tough questions without easy answers. But there is hope. God continues to invite all of to re-enter the covenant. Again and again, the invitation beckons forth. How do we respond?