tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39346914973347225322011-04-21T13:19:54.577-07:00imagining christmas traditions that prioritize relationships, justice, and creativityKC Revolutionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02329238714864405468noreply@blogger.comBlogger161100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3934691497334722532.post-38943143947182141072008-12-25T00:00:00.000-08:002008-12-15T07:22:59.100-08:00

The invitation is three-fold (see the links to the right for more):*Pause More: Carve out non-frantic time with family and friends, and time for personal reflection. *Spend Less: Last year, the average family planned to spend $850 on holiday gifts. Set a budget, say "no" to over-consumption, and "yes" to creative and ethical gift-giving. *Share More: Locally and globally there are many

KC Revolutionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02329238714864405468noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3934691497334722532.post-85689787768818817152008-12-23T13:42:00.000-08:002008-12-23T14:04:07.673-08:00

During revolution's worship gatherings this advent (at least until this last sunday), we sang very few "christmas" songs. We sang ones of anticipation (O Come, O Come Emmanuel; Come Thou Long Expected Jesus) - but not the ones of celebration. . .trying to build up that sense of longing, holding back while the radios and stores drown us in rudolf and 'santa baby,' letting loose on Christmas Eve

KC Revolutionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02329238714864405468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3934691497334722532.post-60819500669061421792008-12-20T17:00:00.000-08:002008-12-20T17:09:20.974-08:00

I doubt that many of us are deeply aware that tonight is the longest night of the year, and today is the shortest day of the year, in the northern hemisphere (Winter Solstice). It's not really a major event in our urban culture. But December 25th was chosen as the date for Christmas over three hundred years after Jesus was born because there was a Roman Winter Solstice festival on that day

KC Revolutionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02329238714864405468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3934691497334722532.post-67953266845888745262008-12-19T09:35:00.000-08:002008-12-19T09:39:44.126-08:00

you're invited to bundle up and meet a group going caroling at the plaza, singing "normal" carols as well as a handful of creative anti-consumerism ones. Singing voices, protest signs, dressing up, bringing cookies or cider are OPTIONAL, while a willingness to be seriously silly and receive a variety of responses (most were pretty positive last year. . .) is required. Our sub-par singing (and

brennanhomiakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00021742618659440957noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3934691497334722532.post-56339350022070742912008-12-15T18:33:00.000-08:002008-12-20T17:06:50.695-08:00

although the real "12 days of christmas" is supposed to start Christmas day and go through Epiphany (when you take the decorations down), i thought this a relevant post for now. These are abbreviated from a list created by NCC Eco-Justice. . .1. Send Electronic Christmas Cards (or use Recycled Paper Cards)2. Make Your Own Decorations (wreath, garland, ornaments, etc)3. Buy a Living, Local

KC Revolutionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02329238714864405468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3934691497334722532.post-46802189070769220172008-12-13T17:47:00.000-08:002008-12-13T18:27:30.291-08:00

PBS' Religion and Ethics Newsweekly reports some good news out of the recession:The Christian relief organization World Vision commissioned a survey recently which found that because of the recession 71% of Americans say they will spend less money on holiday presents this year, and nearly half (49%) say they are more likely to give a charitable gift. But for those that do, animals have become a

KC Revolutionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02329238714864405468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3934691497334722532.post-43832068344207814392008-12-12T11:11:00.000-08:002008-12-15T07:11:18.861-08:00

This year, the story of the Visitation caught my attention in a new way. It's a little six-verse story hidden between the high-drama Annunciation (the angel Gabriel visits Mary and foretells the birth of Jesus) and the famous Magnificat (Mary's song of praise and her vision of a transformed world):39 In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country, 40where she

KC Revolutionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02329238714864405468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3934691497334722532.post-72740940761260647772008-12-08T16:57:00.000-08:002008-12-09T11:50:10.460-08:00

a good friend in texas shared this with me recently:I come by my tea drinking habits naturally. My mother starts heating hot water for tea as soon as she wakes up; so did my grandmother. I don’t remember Mother ever fixing coffee except for company. She still keeps her china teacup near the stove all day, pouring boiling water over the same teabag over and over again to get every last bit of

KC Revolutionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02329238714864405468noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3934691497334722532.post-50231278179580214512008-12-08T16:18:00.000-08:002008-12-08T16:35:20.064-08:00

well, the choir was on the movie What Would Jesus Buy? (we will go anti-consumerism caroling the last Saturday before Christmas) but the creativity and the cider were definitely flowing yesterday afternoon.this is the second time in two weeks i've had the opportunity to create a unique, beautiful, and affordable christmas gift because of two generous artists (one a textile artist, one a potter)

KC Revolutionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02329238714864405468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3934691497334722532.post-7715643395452313742008-12-04T13:25:00.000-08:002008-12-15T07:37:43.800-08:00

this friday night is the Eve of the Feast of Saint Nicholas, a night when children around the world put out stockings for small, simple (often edible) gifts.There are many stories about Nicholas that are worth learning and re-telling. The one that most caught my attention this year is the one about how Nicholas heard of three impoverished young maidens who were about to be sold into slavery by

KC Revolutionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02329238714864405468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3934691497334722532.post-62710716699154244692008-12-01T10:22:00.000-08:002008-12-01T11:23:20.918-08:00

On this Cyber Monday, I invite you to find your favorite online advent devotional. A few of them allow you to print off the resources in advance - making it easier to read while lighting your advent wreath. Here is a short annotated list; the list of links to the right includes additional sites.Following the StarA collaboration focusing on expectation and longing. Each day includes five movements

KC Revolutionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02329238714864405468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3934691497334722532.post-15920827340269480642008-11-27T16:00:00.000-08:002008-11-27T16:16:39.421-08:00

Get out your fireworks, and begin the countdown this Saturday night . . .the beginning of the Christian year is here! What? you're not having a New Year's Eve party? Well, I guess I'm not either. But I am looking forward to the moment when we light that first advent candle . . .and I'm trying to live into another calendar.The Christian liturgical year has different rhythms, colors, and festivals

KC Revolutionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02329238714864405468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3934691497334722532.post-3794401270508252712008-11-22T08:38:00.000-08:002008-11-22T10:24:00.095-08:00

Advent begins next Sunday - will you have a wreath ready? Advent is a 4-week season of waiting - a time of preparation and anticipation leading up to Christmas. Advent marks the beginning of the Christian year (more on that in a post soon to come).According to Christine Sine, "the tradition of Advent wreaths actually began because farmers took the wheels of their wagons during the wet winter

KC Revolutionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02329238714864405468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3934691497334722532.post-17348987987697565872008-11-18T14:12:00.000-08:002008-11-18T14:44:55.130-08:00

is this one of the "harsh realities" of our struggling economy, or is it a new(old) sanity? Layaway is considered the opposite of the credit card: pay-as-you-go rather than buy now, pay later. (it's actually a new concept for me - i remember the section at kmart being near the bathroom, but i've never personally tried it, or known what it was). Wal-Mart's not doing it . . .but Kmart, Sears, and

KC Revolutionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02329238714864405468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3934691497334722532.post-1987311495382665932008-11-14T12:48:00.000-08:002008-11-14T12:55:50.094-08:00

check it out: make something day. They have some ideas - but mainly, i appreciate the idea of taking a time when you're together with friends or family, and creating something (instead of shopping). This is a 'next step' from Buy Nothing Day - the day after thanksgiving, when all the stores have dramatic sales.

KC Revolutionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02329238714864405468noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3934691497334722532.post-22630200151939324882008-11-10T17:40:00.000-08:002008-11-10T18:03:42.276-08:00

Our sunday night soup potluck conversation culminated in sharing how each of us might try something new this Christmas season:- christmas morning, share digital photos from the year (instead of gifts)- give our child just 3 gifts- instead of buying ethical gifts for everyone, draw a name and give 1 gift (and go out to dinner w/ partner, rather than buying gifts)- spend more time with family- go

KC Revolutionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02329238714864405468noreply@blogger.com0