Hark!

a few Christmas goodies

Merry Christmas, friends.

On occasion I share a “Stuff I’m Into” post for my subscribers…but today as a little Christmas gift, I am sending this one out to everyone along with my love. (To be clear, I get nothing but joy from sharing things with you guys - the only “paid partnership” I am in is with my subscribers here!)

This Prayer:

God of rough hands and hardened feet,

giving light to the daughters and sons of earth:

in agony of birth and gentleness of newborn skin,

may we discover your ordinary beauty in the heart of our longing world;

through Jesus Christ,

the Icon of the Unseen God.

Amen. (Prayers For An Inclusive Church by Steven Shakespeare)

This Hilarious Story

Act 2 of yesterday’s This American Life on NPR made me need to pull my car over it was so funny. Alex Edelman DELIVERS in this story. Do yourself a favor and listen!

This Art

Ukrainian iconographer, Ivanka Demchuk ← click here to visit her ETSY store - she mailed prints of her work from her home in Lviv, Ukraine.

This Poem

How the Light Comes

by Jan Richardson

I cannot tell you
how the light comes.
What I know
is that it is more ancient
than imagining.

That it travels
across an astounding expanse
to reach us.

That it loves
searching out what is hidden,
what is lost,
what is forgotten
or in peril
or in pain.

That it has a fondness
for the body,
for finding its way
toward flesh,
for tracing the edges
of form,
for shining forth
through the eye,
the hand,
the heart.

I cannot tell you
how the light comes,
but that it does.
That it will.
That it works its way
into the deepest dark
that enfolds you,
though it may seem
long ages in coming
or arrive in a shape you did not foresee.

And so
may we this day
turn ourselves toward it.
May we lift our faces
to let it find us.
May we bend our bodies
to follow the arc it makes.
May we open
and open more
and open still
to the blessed light
that comes.

This Organization

Bright Stars of Bethlehem - Supporting the first University of Arts and Culture in Palestine. Founded by my friends and colleague, Rev. Dr. Mitri Rehab, a Palestinian Lutheran pastor and theologian.

This Lo-fi Christmas Playlist

This Book

Poetry Unbound: 50 Poems To Open Your World by Paidraig O’Touma

My BFF Jodi told me she was reading one of these poems and their equally beautiful accompanying essay by the gorgeous Padraig O’Touma each morning as her meditation practice and as with so many other things in our lives, I quickly copied her. I’m here to say, if you were given a gift card and want to treat yourself - this book is absolutely stunning.

If you are looking for more of a sermon-type thing from me, here’s my Christmas Eve message from 2020 along with link to watch the 18 minute, mini-service I did from my apartment that year:

Tidings of Comfort and Joy

I’ll be leaving in a few hours to go lead a Christmas service at the women’s prison, their first since 2019! Thanks to everyone who supports my work here - it frees me up to be of service inside there!

Sending my love on this Christmas morn. xoxo, Nadia

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