This Christmas week, we explore of the God of impossible things. If the impossible story of God becoming a human is true, then that changes everything, for everyone, forever. I am particularly mindful this week of those who feel unwelcome at church or those for whom Christmas might be a particular struggle - I pray you will feel the truth of Emmanuel - of God with us (all of us!), both inside and outside of church walls.
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Here are some resources I hope will help you to engage with this week's topic in a deeper way for yourself:
1. Beautiful advent IG post from author Laura Kelly Fanucci
2. Video: Christmas Chapel Music - advent and Christmas music we recorded for our community who couldn't attend church in December of 2020
3. Podcast: Unlocking Us with Brene Brown and Fr. Richard Rohr, on Breathing Under Water, Falling Upward, and Unlearning Certainty, part one of two
4. Children's Book: Jesus' Christmas Party, by Nicholas Allen
5. Song: One Day, by Christina Wells
6. Song: Wonder (Spontaneous), by Bethel Music, Amanda Cook
7. Song: Then shall the eyes of the blind be opened, from Handel's Messiah, performed by Oregon Bach Festival Choir and Orchestra
8. Song: Night of Silence/Silent Night, by Marty Haugen
9. Video: Silent Night on harp, performed by my friend, Peter Vaughan-Vail. Thank you, Peter, for the gift of your harp music in each and every episode of Raised Catholic. You and your music are a gift.
10. 4th Sunday of Advent mass at St. Cecilia's Boston - don't miss this homily by Fr. John Unni
