St. John the Apostle

Friday, December, 25 “...Now I have seen and testified that he is the Son of God.” John 1:34 Merry Christmas! The Apostle John bears witness to the coming of the Light of the World, the only Son of God, briefly retelling some of the history we have learned through the Jesse Tree. The Chi-Rho monogram is a combination of the first two letters for the Greek word of Christos, Christ as seen on the ornament today. The introduction of St. John’s Gospel, verses 1-34, will take you

Thursday, December 24 The angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; for behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For today in the city of David a savior has been born for you who is Messiah and Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.” Luke 2:10-12 Christ Jesus is born and laid in a lowly manger, depicted on our ornament today. Shepherds are instructed by angels to

Wednesday, December 23 “...Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star at its rising and have come to do him homage.” Matthew 2:2 The three magi look for Jesus, guided by the light of a star, shining brightly above his birthplace. They prostrate themselves before the manger and do not turn the child and his parents over to King Herod. The white candle on today’s ornament symbolizes Christ; the glow reminds us of the halo of light that signifies his divinity and pow

Tuesday, December 22 He asked for…behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joesph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home. For it is through the Holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her. She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins…” Matthew 1:20-22 Joseph trusted God that Mary had conceived a child through the Holy Spirit and would bear the Savior who w

Sunday, December 20 (Fourth Sunday of Advent) ...Elizabeth, filled with the holy Spirit, cried out in a loud voice and said, “Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb...” Luke 1:41-42 Mary travels to visit her cousin Elizabeth, who has conceived a child in old age through a miracle. The child in her womb, John the Baptist, leaps with joy when Mary, pregnant with Jesus, arrives. Our ornament today celebrates the motherhood shared by these women.

Saturday, December 19 John answered them all, saying, “I am baptizing you with water, but one mightier than I is coming. I am not worthy to loosen the thongs of his sandals. He will baptize you with the holy Spirit and fire.” Luke 3:16 John the Baptist proclaims the coming of a new savior and renewed life for all through the repentance of sins. The ornament today features a scallop shell, a traditional symbol of baptism in addition to pilgrimages and spreading the word of the

Friday, December 18 I will stand at my guard post, and station myself upon the rampart; I will keep watch to see what he will say to me, and what answer he will give to my complaint. Habakkuk 2:1 The ornament today shows a watchtower, reminding us that the prophet Habakkuk stood upon an allegorical watchtower, waiting for the anointed one the LORD would send to end violence and wickedness. Find details that help us understand the church’s desire for us to experience waiting d

Thursday, December 17 “‘Oh, that my head were a spring of water, my eyes a fountain of tears, That I might weep day and night over the slain from the daughter of my people!’” Jeremiah 8:23 The LORD speaks to Jeremiah while he is in exile, describing his grief as an endless fountain of tears because his people have returned to worshiping idols. The ornament today is depicted by an eye with tears. Read more about Jeremiah in Jeremiah 1:4-10, 2:4-13, 7:1-15 and 8:22-9:1-11.