Father Joshua J. Whitfield provides a reflection on the readings and gospel for the 3rd Sunday of Advent, Dec. 14, 2025.

Advent has been observed by the Christian church since the 4th or 5th century. It begins on the fourth Sunday before ...

For many people who observe Christian traditions, Advent is a special season that begins on Dec. 1 and lasts until Dec. 24, leading up to the celebration of Jesus Christ’s birth at Christmas. As the ...

(RNS) — The Scripture readings during Advent are a mix of comfort and challenge. On the one hand, the readings from Deutero-Isaiah (Isaiah 40-56) offer us comfort. The author was speaking to Jewish ...

It would be easy to conclude that Advent calendars — usually with 25 compartments that reveal a treat, image or scripture, used to count down the days from Dec. 1 to Christmas Eve — represent just ...

The first candle of the Advent wreath is known in some traditions as the “hope candle” or the “prophet’s candle.” It reminds us of the prophets of Israel who looked forward to God doing something new ...

But, as the pastor pointed out today, Christmas is an issue of the heart. We can put up lights and decorations, have five or ...

A pleasant, calm and relaxing evening at the Advent by Candlelight event at First Presbyterian Church of Birmingham helped guests focus on the true meaning of Christmas and leave behind the usual ...

Scripture scholar and Blessed Sacrament Fr. Eugene LaVerdiere used to describe the scene in which the angel Gabriel seeks and speaks to Mary as one that could be played out spectacularly on film. It ...

Like most things in 2020, this will be an Advent unlike any other. But each day, you can still take a few minutes to reflect on the coming of our savior at Christmas with short reflections on ...