Born in St. Kitts in 1875, Emma Francis was the daughter of a Moravian minister. After the death of her mother, she felt a call to missionary work. Francis moved to Germany to study at Bible House. When she finished her missionary education, Bible House’s board considered placing her as a missionary in Sudan, but decided that she would not …
Daniel Alexander Payne was the first African American to attend a Lutheran seminary. Born to free African Americans in Charleston, SC in 1811, Payne wished to provide education to the enslaved. Slave codes enacted following slave revolts made it illegal to teach slaves, so Payne moved north to Pennsylvania. In 1835, Payne accepted a scholarship specifically intended for an African …
The Heart of It All 24 December 2024 Thanks to all our contributors who have helped us undertake this email journey to Bethlehem! Over the last month, we’ve opened new windows of surprise and blessing in our virtual Advent calendar. In the process, we pray we’ve obeyed John the Baptist’s call to prepare the way of the Lord! For everyone …
Christ Our Shepherd Lutheran Church Advent 2024 Devotions Music Monday December 23, 2024 “Carol of the Bells” played by the Plaid Pajama Players Please enjoy this colorful, festive rendition of “Carol of the Bells” from 2020 played by the Plaid Pajama Players.
Christ Our Shepherd Lutheran Church Advent 2024 Devotions Fun Friday December 20, 2024 “The Gift” by Chuck & Susie McVea The following Advent devotion was written by Chuck and Susie McVea, who joined Christ Our Shepherd in the Spring of 2022. Chuck passed away in March of this year. Please enjoy this beautiful reading by Kendra Milburn.
Christ Our Shepherd Lutheran Church Advent Devotions 2024 Tradition Thursday: Brother’s Keeper December 19, 2024 Jo Hopkins “Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?” “I don’t know,” he replied. “Am I my brother’s keeper?” Genesis 4:9 I lost my one and only brother in November. I am thinking of him now in a way I hadn’t …
A Dazzling Dozen 18 December 2024 What’s your favorite (or least favorite) Christmas carol? A top answer to both questions is “The Twelve Days of Christmas.” You should have heard our Hops & Hymns crew belt it out at Line Creek Brewery two Sunday nights ago! Even if one groans when invited to sing along, the story behind the song …
Christ Our Shepherd Lutheran Church Advent Devotions 2024 Tradition Tuesday: Love December 17, 2024 Vicki Cromley “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil …
Christ Our Shepherd Lutheran Church Advent Devotions 2024 Music Monday December 16, 2024 O Come, All Ye Faithful Please enjoy this very creative and beautiful rendition of “O Come, All Ye Faithful” from the 2020 virtual Love Feast.
Christ Our Shepherd Advent Devotions 2024 Fun Friday December 13, 2024 Animated Nativity Story by Latter Day Kids Today’s Advent devotion is well suited for our youngest congregants. We hope you enjoy this charming, animated Nativity story from the YouTube channel, Latter Day Kids.