Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod

Countdown to Christmas: The Season of Advent

December 8, 2014 by info@3QuartersToday.com

Getting ready for Christmas is not just about the lights, the tree, the cookies, or the presents. The season of Advent, preparing for the birth of Jesus Christ is the real reason for the season. Advent is about the anticipation of the coming of Christ. In the middle of all the hectic rushing around preparing for our “worldly” Christmas, Advent reminds us to slow down and reflect on the real gift of Christmas, the gift of God’s own Son.

Advent in Narnia: Reflections for the Season

The birth of Jesus Christ is the real reason for the season.

I prepare in many ways, but during this special church season, we add vesper services on Wednesday nights.

It’s a shorter liturgical service, without communion. Pastor reads the Christmas story during the reading, one section at a time, one week at a time, and then brings it to life during the sermon.

I play the piano for Wednesday night Advent services, and I love to sit quietly in front of the church and absorb the message and hear the congregation sing. It fills the church and my soul.

The Advent hymns help me prepare for Christmas and reflect on the true meaning of the season. It’s not just about gifts, presents, and the hectic pace everyone sets for them.

On Sunday I help the kids get ready for the childrens’ program on Christmas Eve, not only do I play during Advent services but for the Christmas Eve program. The organist and I rotate songs and end with a piano-organ duet to Joy to the World.

God Is in the Manger: Reflections on Advent and Christmas Purple Ribbon Advent Wreath Purchase Nativity Advent Candle set
Nativity Advent Wreath

The church is decorated not only with an Advent wreath and candles, but poinsettias, candles, and the blue vestments of Advent. I love many of the church seasons, but the season of Advent and Christmas as two of my favorite.

God’s Blessings and Easter Miracle Stories

April 20, 2014 by info@3QuartersToday.com

Easter Miracle Stories Can Happen

I believe in Gods’ blessings and the Easter miracle stories because I witnessed a personal Easter miracle.

Miracles from Heaven: A Little Girl and Her Amazing Story of Healing

Many of you hear of Easter miracles, stories testimonials and casually dismiss their validity. You may patiently listen, smile, and nod your head. But truly not believe.

I did the same. But no longer. My father was dying in a hospital. The doctors and nurses were saying any minute, any hour. But I witnessed my own miracle on Easter.

All we need to do is believe and have faith. It’s that simple. Christ died for us on Good Friday many years ago and through the miracle of his Resurrection showed how we can have everlasting life.

For by Grace you have been saved through faith and it is not your doing, but a Gift from God (Ephesians 2:8).

Easter has a special meaning for me and the traditional Easter hymns bring me back to certain times in my life when I have witnessed miracles.

There are true life miracle stories that happen every day. Stories that have no explanation that can only be attributed to the grace of God.

My Easter Miracle Story

In 1995 I received a call from my Mother on Good Friday. Dad was in the hospital and not expected to make it through the weekend.

I immediately flew 1500 miles to Connecticut and we started a 24-hour bedside vigil.

The years of emphysema and COPD had taken a toll, Dad was laying in the hospital bed, nonresponsive and hooked to machines that beeped his life story.

I had the overnight shift on Saturday night and spent the hours repeatedly putting his oxygen mask back on his face, as he kept pulling it down. The nurses came in and asked me what I wanted them to do if he stopped breathing.

They did not expect my Father to live through the night.

I just gave them a stern and outraged look and said, “He can hear you, we aren’t going to talk about it.” You see, my Father had not yet met his brand new granddaughter, who had just been born a few months earlier.

The next morning was Easter, and I left the hospital when I Mom arrived to attend Easter Service at my home church of Grace Episcopal in Broad Brook CT. Traditional Easter songs have always moved me in ways I can’t explain.

I sat in the back, in one of the Mother rocking chairs with my baby girl, and listened to the traditional Easter hymns in that small church. I prayed, I held my baby girl, rocked her, and wept. The He’s Risen hymn touched my heart and soul and I can’t explain the feeling I felt.

It was a warmth, a radiating “tingle” throughout my entire body that did not cease. I tried to sing, but could not because of the lump in my throat.

Pretty Flower Christian Happy Easter Card
by ChristianGiftIdea

I prayed for an Easter miracle.

After church, I went anxiously to the hospital. My Dad was sitting up and drinking coffee.

I have no explanation except as an example of the many Easter miracle stories that abound. Afterward, I learned he was on seven prayer lists that morning.

Thank you for that Easter miracle and those last few days with my Dad. Christ is Risen indeed, and Jesus gives life.

Add Church Name to Easter Button
by ChristianGiftIdea

Hymns to Enjoy this Happy Easter

To me, these hymns are Easter. They are my favorite traditional hymns and I look forward to singing Jesus Christ is Risen Today hymn during church every Easter morning. I do have to admit there is always a lump in my throat as I remember sitting in my hometown Episcopal church praying for my Father.

Jesus Christ is Risen Today Hymn

Traditional Easter songs cross over various denominations. The following Christian hymns and music are sung in churches of various denominations including Episcopal, Lutheran and Catholic churches.

Christ the Lord is Risen Today Hymn

My favorite traditional Easter hymn is “Christ the Lord is Risen Today.” It reminds me of not only my own Easter miracle story but God’s grace in my life every day.

He’s Risen, He’s Risen Hymn

Another favorite hymn in both the Lutheran and Episcopal church is the He’s Risen Hymn. It’s also one of mine. The majesty of the He’s Risen hymn played by an organ is magnificent and will send a chill through your soul.

Thank you for reading and listening. If you have a favorite Easter Hymn or Easter miracle stories please share them, below.

Remember Easter is not just one day, but all year round. Christ is Risen!

Have a Happy Easter and look for Easter miracle stories in your life, not just on Easter, but every day.

If you love the traditional Easter songs and are looking for Easter hymns and sheet music for the piano try the music books below.

Lorie Line – The Heritage Collection Volume 6 – Piano Solo Personality Heritage Collection 2 by Lorie Line (2000-09-29)Christ Is Risen! – 26 Easter Songs Celebrating the Resurrection A Month of Sundays: Easter and Lent (Sacred Performer Collections)

Faith, It’s Not Just Black and White

March 23, 2011 by info@3QuartersToday.com

Sometimes faith is shades of gray. As some of you know who have been reading my blog my mother died in January of 2011. It has taken years to go through her things and absorb the life I never learned about. There are some things I still don’t understand, family history I don’t know. But through her death God opened a door.

Faith is God stretches beyond all comprehension — Faith, it’s not just black and white…

Although she made sure my brother and I were baptized, attended Sunday school and church every week, it was only out of duty and respect to my God Mother Granny Turcotte. After we were confirmed, she never stepped foot in church again. The topic of religion and faith often brought a scornful look to her face and I never knew why because my faith has always brought me a great deal of comfort.

I grew up in a small country church, Grace Episcopal in Broad Brook Connecticut, and God brought me to the Lutheran church in college. My church home now is Missouri Synod Trinity Lutheran in Murdock Nebraska.

Not only did my Mother cut herself from God, but from family and friends. She didn’t think it was important to create relationships with relatives and her children. I rarely saw any of my aunts and uncles who lived in Oklahoma and California. The few cousins I knew as a child drifted as I got older.

There was one family member that consistently and faithfully maintained contact, a niece, my cousin Gail. I found saved cards, photos, and letters in my Mothers desk of an older cousin I never knew and never met. In February a forwarded letter from Gail arrived in my mailbox, so I reached out with the news of Mom’s passing, including my email address. An email arrived a week later.

Here is where God’s grace and divine intervention becomes apparent.

Chicken Soup for the Soul: Devotional Stories Chicken Soup for the Christian Woman’s Soul:

Gail and I learned quite a bit from each other the next week. Her Mother (Mom’s sister) was also not religious. We lived very parallel lives and had similar experiences and troubling childhoods with both of us having a difficult relationship with our Mothers.

During the normal course of telling each other about our lives Gail stated that she is a faithful member of Missouri Synod Trinity Lutheran Church in Woodward Oklahoma. This news brought goosebumps, tears to my eyes, a lump in my throat, and a prayer of thanks to God. How can this be a coincidence? I believe it’s not.

What does it mean? I don’t know. But I do take comfort in this has to be a sign, a message, an indication of God’s hand in our lives. Acknowledgment that to everything there is a purpose. Wait and the message will be revealed. Listen and hear God’s word in the world around us, from the people around us.

Better yet, when you find yourself in church pray for your family, your friends, those who have lost faith, who are lost. The Lord Jesus Christ will find them and guide them home. Gail’s Mother, my aunt, and the last of the five brothers and sisters, died last week. I truly believe our prayers that were delivered up to God were received and now our Mothers are safely and lovingly in the arms of Jesus and are at peace.

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