google-analytics-for-wordpress domain was triggered too early. This is usually an indicator for some code in the plugin or theme running too early. Translations should be loaded at the init action or later. Please see Debugging in WordPress for more information. (This message was added in version 6.7.0.) in /home1/twotidec/public_html/wp-includes/functions.php on line 6121[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Post Header” _builder_version=”4.18.0″ custom_margin=”50px||||false|false” custom_padding=”0px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ width=”100%” max_width=”1600px” custom_padding=”0px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Bellefair||||||||” text_font_size=”33px” min_height=”59px” custom_padding=”3px|||||” hover_enabled=”0″ text_font_size_tablet=”33px” text_font_size_phone=”17px” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n
\u2014Activities<\/span><\/a>\u00a0 Gift Giving<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0Scripture<\/a> <\/span><\/span><\/span>\u00a0Prayer<\/a><\/span> \u00a0\u00a0Literature<\/a><\/span> \u00a0 Reflection <\/a>\u00a0 Carols<\/a><\/span>\u2014<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Bodoni Moda|700|||||||” text_text_color=”#F26552″ text_font_size=”46px” header_font=”Bodoni Moda||||||||” text_font_size_tablet=”46px” text_font_size_phone=”37px” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” text_line_height_tablet=”” text_line_height_phone=”1.1em” text_line_height_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n The Sixth Day of Christmas<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”3_5,2_5″ _builder_version=”4.18.0″ custom_padding=”||0px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”3_5″ _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/12tide.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/6.png” title_text=”6″ _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text module_id=”reflection” _builder_version=”4.18.0″ text_font=”||||||||” text_font_size=”16px” text_line_height=”2em” text_orientation=”justified” custom_padding=”||0px|||” text_font_size_tablet=”15px” text_font_size_phone=”14px” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” locked=”off” inline_fonts=”Bellefair” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n The Sixth Day of Christmas: Feast of the Holy Family<\/em><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n by Chris Pipkin<\/span><\/p>\n So here’s a yuletide newsflash: Christmas is probably not<\/span> about<\/em> spending time with your family.\u00a0 I realize that such a statement flies in the face of a century or so of accumulated commercial Christmas wisdom\u2014the hundreds of inoffensive plays, television specials, and songs where a family finds the “true meaning of Christmas” after losing its source of income, and as a result its members learn to appreciate each other.\u00a0 I’m not saying this is a bad thing to learn.\u00a0 Obviously, relationships do make us happier than getting stuff, and families are important and good.\u00a0 But the effect of this repeated message is to intensify the loneliness of those who are\u2014for whatever reason\u2014separated from their own families at Christmas.\u00a0 Not only have their loved ones been taken from them, but so has (if the holiday specials are right) an essential aspect of Christmas. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Obviously, it’s good to spend time with your family during Christmas, if you have one.\u00a0 It’s probably even your duty.\u00a0 But Christmas is not really about your family, any more than it’s about your presents.\u00a0 We want both, but can do without them if necessary.<\/span><\/p>\n Instead, Christmas is about how a transcendent and immutable God became our family, and gave us his own.\u00a0 This is a gift that all people are in need of, whether they already have a family or not.\u00a0 And it is a gift that God gives throughout the year\u2014though it is possible that Christmas, with its potential darkness, loneliness, and time off from ordinary routine, might make us more aware of our need for it.\u00a0 If this is you, take courage\u2014your heartbreak very well may be a prelude to fulfillment and wholeness beyond that experienced by most human beings.\u00a0 Draw near, and ask him to draw even nearer.<\/span><\/p>\n The Feast Day of the Holy Family is a comparatively recent feast day, and it is mainly celebrated by Roman Catholics.\u00a0 But I think all Christians can benefit from the remembrance of the Holy Family, as surely as they can all benefit from a Methodist hymn like “Hark, the Herald Angels Sing,” or an Anglican devotional writer like C.S. Lewis.\u00a0 The original idea behind the Feast (begun in the 17th Century) is that Christians should use the Holy Family (meaning Jesus, Mary, and Joseph) as a pattern for their own families.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Initially, this sounds misguided, especially to cynical moderns.\u00a0 It sounds a bit like the well-meaning Christmas carols that have lyrics like:<\/span><\/p>\n And through all His wondrous childhood<\/span><\/em> <\/span><\/p>\n The whole thing sounds like a watered-down variant of the Adoptionist heresy: “Be good, like Jesus (or Mary) was, and God will adopt you too.\u00a0 Make sure to be a perfect, attractive member of a perfect, attractive family.”\u00a0 Yet it’s important to note that, in Scripture, while Jesus, Mary, and Joseph\u00a0were<\/em>\u00a0characterized by their wholehearted response to God, the descriptions\u00a0we\u00a0get of their interactions\u2014I mean the ones drawn from the Gospels rather than from imagination or legend\u2014are complex, full of wrinkles, and by no means cheap.\u00a0 Joseph plans to break off his betrothal to Mary (essentially, to divorce her) when he finds out she is pregnant with Jesus; they have to run away to Egypt; they lose Jesus when he is twelve, and when they catch up with him, he essentially rebukes them and alludes to the fact that Joseph is not his real dad; when he grew up, according to John 7, “not even his brothers believed in him”; critics of his ministry call him a Samaritan, alluding to his potentially non-Jewish parentage; and when people do tell him, “Blessed is the womb that bore you and the breasts that gave you suck,” Jesus himself responds, “Blessed rather are those who know and do the will of God.”\u00a0 To top it all off, while he makes arrangements for Mary from the cross (last minute, anyone?), Jesus’ manner of death brings lasting shame upon her and her late husband.\u00a0 Only the Resurrection changes it all, and it’s not likely that most of Mary’s acquaintances, neighbors, and extended family even believed in that.\u00a0 There is nothing especially tidy or obviously exemplary, in other words, about the Holy Family.\u00a0 This is part of the reason I love the above painting.\u00a0 They are fleeing to Egypt, and they look a bit like they’re quarreling\u2014Joseph keeping his distance from Mary and looking sheepish, while she looks downright peeved with him about something.\u00a0 Presumably, no one besides the viewer of the painting is able to see their halos, marking them out as saintly.\u00a0 And yet, the halos are there.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”2_5″ _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.18.0″ header_font=”Bellefair||||||||” header_text_color=”#000000″ header_font_size=”48px” header_line_height=”1.2em” header_2_font=”Bellefair||||||||” header_2_text_align=”left” header_2_text_color=”#000000″ header_2_font_size=”48px” header_2_line_height=”1.2em” header_3_font=”Bellefair||||||||” header_3_text_color=”#000000″ header_3_font_size=”38px” header_3_line_height=”1.2em” header_4_font=”Bellefair||||||||” header_4_text_color=”#000000″ header_4_font_size=”30px” header_4_line_height=”1.4em” header_5_font=”Bellefair||||||||” header_5_text_color=”#000000″ header_5_font_size=”22px” header_5_line_height=”1.2em” header_6_font=”Montserrat|700||on|||||” header_6_text_color=”#ff4e00″ header_6_font_size=”12px” header_6_letter_spacing=”2px” header_6_line_height=”1.2em” header_font_size_tablet=”42px” header_font_size_phone=”34px” header_font_size_last_edited=”on|tablet” header_2_font_size_tablet=”42px” header_2_font_size_phone=”34px” header_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|tablet” header_3_font_size_tablet=”34px” header_3_font_size_phone=”28px” header_3_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_4_font_size_tablet=”22px” header_4_font_size_phone=”18px” header_4_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_5_font_size_tablet=”” header_5_font_size_phone=”16px” header_5_font_size_last_edited=”on|tablet” border_color_all=”#ff4e00″ border_width_bottom=”4px” text_text_align=”justify” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” header_2_2_font_size_tablet=”42px” header_3_2_font_size_tablet=”42px” header_4_2_font_size_tablet=”42px” header_5_2_font_size_tablet=”42px” header_6_2_font_size_tablet=”42px” header_2_2_font_size_phone=”34px” header_3_2_font_size_phone=”34px” header_4_2_font_size_phone=”34px” header_5_2_font_size_phone=”34px” header_6_2_font_size_phone=”34px” header_2_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|tablet” header_3_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|tablet” header_4_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|tablet” header_5_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|tablet” header_6_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|tablet” header_2_3_font_size_tablet=”34px” header_3_3_font_size_tablet=”34px” header_4_3_font_size_tablet=”34px” header_5_3_font_size_tablet=”34px” header_6_3_font_size_tablet=”34px” header_2_3_font_size_phone=”28px” header_3_3_font_size_phone=”28px” header_4_3_font_size_phone=”28px” header_5_3_font_size_phone=”28px” header_6_3_font_size_phone=”28px” header_2_3_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_3_3_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_4_3_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_5_3_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_6_3_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_2_4_font_size_tablet=”22px” header_3_4_font_size_tablet=”22px” header_4_4_font_size_tablet=”22px” header_5_4_font_size_tablet=”22px” header_6_4_font_size_tablet=”22px” header_2_4_font_size_phone=”18px” header_3_4_font_size_phone=”18px” header_4_4_font_size_phone=”18px” header_5_4_font_size_phone=”18px” header_6_4_font_size_phone=”18px” header_2_4_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_3_4_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_4_4_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_5_4_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_6_4_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_2_5_font_size_phone=”16px” header_3_5_font_size_phone=”16px” header_4_5_font_size_phone=”16px” header_5_5_font_size_phone=”16px” header_6_5_font_size_phone=”16px” header_2_5_font_size_last_edited=”on|tablet” header_3_5_font_size_last_edited=”on|tablet” header_4_5_font_size_last_edited=”on|tablet” header_5_5_font_size_last_edited=”on|tablet” header_6_5_font_size_last_edited=”on|tablet”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.18.0″ text_font=”||||||||” text_font_size=”16px” text_line_height=”2em” text_orientation=”justified” custom_padding=”||57px|||” text_font_size_tablet=”15px” text_font_size_phone=”14px” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n If they are<\/em> the least dysfunctional family ever, they have a funny way of showing it.\u00a0 But they are exemplary, all the same, and more than exemplary.\u00a0 Joseph does plan to divorce Mary at first, but he does what he can to reduce scandal for the sake of a woman who (as far as he knows) has betrayed him.\u00a0 He decides to marry her anyway\u00a0in response to a dream<\/em>.\u00a0 He could have turned over, gone back to sleep, and had a conventional, easy, stable (so to speak) family life with someone else, but he decided to believe the dream actually was a message from God.\u00a0 Mary, meanwhile, could have responded to God’s invitation with a simple, “No thanks!”\u00a0 She could have refused to become God’s family, preferring instead her own good reputation and uncomplicated life.\u00a0 Jesus, meanwhile, could have done everything his earthly parents (who were not omniscient) expected of him, but he did his Father’s will instead.\u00a0<\/p>\n All three of them, as I said before, were characterized by a wholehearted response to God.\u00a0 And, in fact, I believe they did love each other and serve each other, because it is only when human beings give priority to the transcendent\u2014to God himself\u2014that they are able to stop idolizing human relationships.\u00a0 They are, paradoxically,\u00a0more<\/em> free to give themselves to each other when they are themselves centered on God.\u00a0 But they will rarely fit the image other people have of “the perfect family” when they do.\u00a0 They will be better, though not everyone will recognize their oddly tilting halos, aligned with heaven’s horizon rather than earth’s.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n They, of course, are not only a model, but a gift to us.\u00a0 Jesus’ mother and earthly father become ours as well (“Son, behold Thy Mother”).\u00a0 And his brothers–all believers–become our brothers too.\u00a0 Even if those on this side of death so often forget it, it’s a fact, and we can love them like brothers.\u00a0 Most of all, he is able to give us his own family because he first gives us his true Father, and we are fully adopted, wrinkles, complications and all.\u00a0 Our ultimate Holy Family is the Holy Trinity; the love that exists between the Father, Son and Holy Spirit that is at its heart transmutes our very selves and our relationships into a particular and peculiar sanctity.\u00a0 The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, always relating to one another in mutual delight, draw us to their table to, in George Herbert’s words, “sit and eat.”\u00a0 And the amazing thing is that this is a gift to us not only from the Trinity, but also from his family on earth, whose choice of the Perfect made them so very flawed, yet so very fulfilled.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Post Body” _builder_version=”4.16″ locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/12tide.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/simon-berger-oPcoY25CjFY-unsplash.jpg” title_text=”simon-berger-oPcoY25CjFY-unsplash” align=”center” _builder_version=”4.18.0″ max_width=”100%” min_height=”375px” height=”620px” height_tablet=”620px” height_phone=”270px” height_last_edited=”on|phone” max_height=”643px” max_height_tablet=”643px” max_height_phone=”184px” max_height_last_edited=”on|desktop” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text module_id=”activities” _builder_version=”4.18.0″ header_2_font=”Bellefair||||||||” header_2_text_color=”#000000″ header_2_font_size=”48px” header_2_line_height=”1.2em” header_6_font=”Montserrat|700||on|||||” header_6_text_color=”#ff4e00″ header_6_font_size=”12px” header_6_letter_spacing=”2px” header_6_line_height=”1.2em” text_orientation=”center” max_width=”700px” module_alignment=”center” header_2_font_size_tablet=”42px” header_2_font_size_phone=”34px” header_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|desktop” header_6_font_size_tablet=”42px” header_6_font_size_phone=”34px” header_6_font_size_last_edited=”off|phone” text_text_align=”justify” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” header_2_2_font_size_tablet=”42px” header_3_2_font_size_tablet=”42px” header_4_2_font_size_tablet=”42px” header_5_2_font_size_tablet=”42px” header_6_2_font_size_tablet=”42px” header_2_2_font_size_phone=”34px” header_3_2_font_size_phone=”34px” header_4_2_font_size_phone=”34px” header_5_2_font_size_phone=”34px” header_6_2_font_size_phone=”34px” header_2_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|tablet” header_3_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|tablet” header_4_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|tablet” header_5_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|tablet” header_6_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|tablet” header_2_3_font_size_tablet=”34px” header_3_3_font_size_tablet=”34px” header_4_3_font_size_tablet=”34px” header_5_3_font_size_tablet=”34px” header_6_3_font_size_tablet=”34px” header_2_3_font_size_phone=”28px” header_3_3_font_size_phone=”28px” header_4_3_font_size_phone=”28px” header_5_3_font_size_phone=”28px” header_6_3_font_size_phone=”28px” header_2_3_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_3_3_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_4_3_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_5_3_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_6_3_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_2_4_font_size_tablet=”22px” header_3_4_font_size_tablet=”22px” header_4_4_font_size_tablet=”22px” header_5_4_font_size_tablet=”22px” header_6_4_font_size_tablet=”22px” header_2_4_font_size_phone=”18px” header_3_4_font_size_phone=”18px” header_4_4_font_size_phone=”18px” header_5_4_font_size_phone=”18px” header_6_4_font_size_phone=”18px” header_2_4_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_3_4_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_4_4_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_5_4_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_6_4_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_2_5_font_size_phone=”16px” header_3_5_font_size_phone=”16px” header_4_5_font_size_phone=”16px” header_5_5_font_size_phone=”16px” header_6_5_font_size_phone=”16px” header_2_5_font_size_last_edited=”on|tablet” header_3_5_font_size_last_edited=”on|tablet” header_4_5_font_size_last_edited=”on|tablet” header_5_5_font_size_last_edited=”on|tablet” header_6_5_font_size_last_edited=”on|tablet”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.18.0″ text_font=”Bellefair||||||||” text_font_size=”20px” text_line_height=”1.5em” header_font_size=”26px” header_4_font=”Bellefair||||||||” header_4_text_color=”#000000″ header_4_font_size=”24px” header_4_line_height=”1.4em” text_orientation=”justified” custom_padding=”||0px|||” text_font_size_tablet=”15px” text_font_size_phone=”21px” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_4_font_size_tablet=”” header_4_font_size_phone=”24px” header_4_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” text_text_align=”justify” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” header_2_2_font_size_tablet=”42px” header_3_2_font_size_tablet=”42px” header_4_2_font_size_tablet=”42px” header_5_2_font_size_tablet=”42px” header_6_2_font_size_tablet=”42px” header_2_2_font_size_phone=”34px” header_3_2_font_size_phone=”34px” header_4_2_font_size_phone=”34px” header_5_2_font_size_phone=”34px” header_6_2_font_size_phone=”34px” header_2_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|tablet” header_3_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|tablet” header_4_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|tablet” header_5_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|tablet” header_6_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|tablet” header_2_3_font_size_tablet=”34px” header_3_3_font_size_tablet=”34px” header_4_3_font_size_tablet=”34px” header_5_3_font_size_tablet=”34px” header_6_3_font_size_tablet=”34px” header_2_3_font_size_phone=”28px” header_3_3_font_size_phone=”28px” header_4_3_font_size_phone=”28px” header_5_3_font_size_phone=”28px” header_6_3_font_size_phone=”28px” header_2_3_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_3_3_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_4_3_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_5_3_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_6_3_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_2_4_font_size_tablet=”22px” header_3_4_font_size_tablet=”22px” header_4_4_font_size_tablet=”22px” header_5_4_font_size_tablet=”22px” header_6_4_font_size_tablet=”22px” header_2_4_font_size_phone=”18px” header_3_4_font_size_phone=”18px” header_4_4_font_size_phone=”18px” header_5_4_font_size_phone=”18px” header_6_4_font_size_phone=”18px” header_2_4_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_3_4_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_4_4_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_5_4_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_6_4_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_2_5_font_size_phone=”16px” header_3_5_font_size_phone=”16px” header_4_5_font_size_phone=”16px” header_5_5_font_size_phone=”16px” header_6_5_font_size_phone=”16px” header_2_5_font_size_last_edited=”on|tablet” header_3_5_font_size_last_edited=”on|tablet” header_4_5_font_size_last_edited=”on|tablet” header_5_5_font_size_last_edited=”on|tablet” header_6_5_font_size_last_edited=”on|tablet”]<\/p>\n If possible, spend time with family, prioritizing them over work, hobbies, social media, etc.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.18.0″ text_font=”||||||||” text_font_size=”16px” text_line_height=”2em” text_orientation=”justified” text_font_size_tablet=”16px” text_font_size_phone=”10px” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” text_text_align=”justify” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” header_2_2_font_size_tablet=”42px” header_3_2_font_size_tablet=”42px” header_4_2_font_size_tablet=”42px” header_5_2_font_size_tablet=”42px” header_6_2_font_size_tablet=”42px” header_2_2_font_size_phone=”34px” header_3_2_font_size_phone=”34px” header_4_2_font_size_phone=”34px” header_5_2_font_size_phone=”34px” header_6_2_font_size_phone=”34px” header_2_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|tablet” header_3_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|tablet” header_4_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|tablet” header_5_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|tablet” header_6_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|tablet” header_2_3_font_size_tablet=”34px” header_3_3_font_size_tablet=”34px” header_4_3_font_size_tablet=”34px” header_5_3_font_size_tablet=”34px” header_6_3_font_size_tablet=”34px” header_2_3_font_size_phone=”28px” header_3_3_font_size_phone=”28px” header_4_3_font_size_phone=”28px” header_5_3_font_size_phone=”28px” header_6_3_font_size_phone=”28px” header_2_3_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_3_3_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_4_3_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_5_3_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_6_3_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_2_4_font_size_tablet=”22px” header_3_4_font_size_tablet=”22px” header_4_4_font_size_tablet=”22px” header_5_4_font_size_tablet=”22px” header_6_4_font_size_tablet=”22px” header_2_4_font_size_phone=”18px” header_3_4_font_size_phone=”18px” header_4_4_font_size_phone=”18px” header_5_4_font_size_phone=”18px” header_6_4_font_size_phone=”18px” header_2_4_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_3_4_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_4_4_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_5_4_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_6_4_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_2_5_font_size_phone=”16px” header_3_5_font_size_phone=”16px” header_4_5_font_size_phone=”16px” header_5_5_font_size_phone=”16px” header_6_5_font_size_phone=”16px” header_2_5_font_size_last_edited=”on|tablet” header_3_5_font_size_last_edited=”on|tablet” header_4_5_font_size_last_edited=”on|tablet” header_5_5_font_size_last_edited=”on|tablet” header_6_5_font_size_last_edited=”on|tablet”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Comments” _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_margin=”-109px|||||” saved_tabs=”all” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text module_id=”giftgiving” _builder_version=”4.18.0″ header_2_font=”Bellefair||||||||” header_2_text_color=”#000000″ header_2_font_size=”48px” header_2_line_height=”1.2em” header_6_font=”Montserrat|700||on|||||” header_6_text_color=”#ff4e00″ header_6_font_size=”12px” header_6_letter_spacing=”2px” header_6_line_height=”1.2em” text_orientation=”center” max_width=”700px” module_alignment=”center” hover_enabled=”0″ header_2_font_size_tablet=”42px” header_2_font_size_phone=”34px” header_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|desktop” header_6_font_size_tablet=”42px” header_6_font_size_phone=”34px” header_6_font_size_last_edited=”off|phone” text_text_align=”justify” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” header_2_2_font_size_tablet=”42px” header_3_2_font_size_tablet=”42px” header_4_2_font_size_tablet=”42px” header_5_2_font_size_tablet=”42px” header_6_2_font_size_tablet=”42px” header_2_2_font_size_phone=”34px” header_3_2_font_size_phone=”34px” header_4_2_font_size_phone=”34px” header_5_2_font_size_phone=”34px” header_6_2_font_size_phone=”34px” header_2_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|tablet” header_3_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|tablet” header_4_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|tablet” header_5_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|tablet” header_6_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|tablet” header_2_3_font_size_tablet=”34px” header_3_3_font_size_tablet=”34px” header_4_3_font_size_tablet=”34px” header_5_3_font_size_tablet=”34px” header_6_3_font_size_tablet=”34px” header_2_3_font_size_phone=”28px” header_3_3_font_size_phone=”28px” header_4_3_font_size_phone=”28px” header_5_3_font_size_phone=”28px” header_6_3_font_size_phone=”28px” header_2_3_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_3_3_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_4_3_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_5_3_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_6_3_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_2_4_font_size_tablet=”22px” header_3_4_font_size_tablet=”22px” header_4_4_font_size_tablet=”22px” header_5_4_font_size_tablet=”22px” header_6_4_font_size_tablet=”22px” header_2_4_font_size_phone=”18px” header_3_4_font_size_phone=”18px” header_4_4_font_size_phone=”18px” header_5_4_font_size_phone=”18px” header_6_4_font_size_phone=”18px” header_2_4_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_3_4_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_4_4_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_5_4_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_6_4_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_2_5_font_size_phone=”16px” header_3_5_font_size_phone=”16px” header_4_5_font_size_phone=”16px” header_5_5_font_size_phone=”16px” header_6_5_font_size_phone=”16px” header_2_5_font_size_last_edited=”on|tablet” header_3_5_font_size_last_edited=”on|tablet” header_4_5_font_size_last_edited=”on|tablet” header_5_5_font_size_last_edited=”on|tablet” header_6_5_font_size_last_edited=”on|tablet” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_3,2_3″ _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/12tide.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/6-2.png” title_text=”6″ _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text module_id=”literature” _builder_version=”4.18.0″ header_2_font=”Bellefair||||||||” header_2_text_color=”#000000″ header_2_font_size=”48px” header_2_line_height=”1.2em” header_6_font=”Montserrat|700||on|||||” header_6_text_color=”#ff4e00″ header_6_font_size=”12px” header_6_letter_spacing=”2px” header_6_line_height=”1.2em” text_orientation=”center” max_width=”700px” module_alignment=”center” header_2_font_size_tablet=”42px” header_2_font_size_phone=”34px” header_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|desktop” header_6_font_size_tablet=”42px” header_6_font_size_phone=”34px” header_6_font_size_last_edited=”off|phone” text_text_align=”justify” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” header_2_2_font_size_tablet=”42px” header_3_2_font_size_tablet=”42px” header_4_2_font_size_tablet=”42px” header_5_2_font_size_tablet=”42px” header_6_2_font_size_tablet=”42px” header_2_2_font_size_phone=”34px” header_3_2_font_size_phone=”34px” header_4_2_font_size_phone=”34px” header_5_2_font_size_phone=”34px” header_6_2_font_size_phone=”34px” header_2_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|tablet” header_3_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|tablet” header_4_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|tablet” header_5_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|tablet” header_6_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|tablet” header_2_3_font_size_tablet=”34px” header_3_3_font_size_tablet=”34px” header_4_3_font_size_tablet=”34px” header_5_3_font_size_tablet=”34px” header_6_3_font_size_tablet=”34px” header_2_3_font_size_phone=”28px” header_3_3_font_size_phone=”28px” header_4_3_font_size_phone=”28px” header_5_3_font_size_phone=”28px” header_6_3_font_size_phone=”28px” header_2_3_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_3_3_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_4_3_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_5_3_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_6_3_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_2_4_font_size_tablet=”22px” header_3_4_font_size_tablet=”22px” header_4_4_font_size_tablet=”22px” header_5_4_font_size_tablet=”22px” header_6_4_font_size_tablet=”22px” header_2_4_font_size_phone=”18px” header_3_4_font_size_phone=”18px” header_4_4_font_size_phone=”18px” header_5_4_font_size_phone=”18px” header_6_4_font_size_phone=”18px” header_2_4_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_3_4_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_4_4_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_5_4_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_6_4_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_2_5_font_size_phone=”16px” header_3_5_font_size_phone=”16px” header_4_5_font_size_phone=”16px” header_5_5_font_size_phone=”16px” header_6_5_font_size_phone=”16px” header_2_5_font_size_last_edited=”on|tablet” header_3_5_font_size_last_edited=”on|tablet” header_4_5_font_size_last_edited=”on|tablet” header_5_5_font_size_last_edited=”on|tablet” header_6_5_font_size_last_edited=”on|tablet”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”-158px|auto||auto||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” min_height=”50px” custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”-200px||||false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_padding=”1px||0px|||” dsm_modules_readmore=”on” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n By G.K. Chesterton For men are homesick in their homes,<\/span> Here we have battle and blazing eyes,<\/span> A child in a foul stable,<\/span> This world is wild as an old wife’s tale,<\/span> To an open house in the evening<\/span> [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Comments” _builder_version=”4.16″ min_height=”630.8px” custom_padding=”0px|||||” saved_tabs=”all” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ min_height=”257.5px” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text module_id=”prayer” _builder_version=”4.18.0″ header_2_font=”Bellefair||||||||” header_2_text_color=”#000000″ header_2_font_size=”48px” header_2_line_height=”1.2em” header_6_font=”Montserrat|700||on|||||” header_6_text_color=”#ff4e00″ header_6_font_size=”12px” header_6_letter_spacing=”2px” header_6_line_height=”1.2em” text_orientation=”center” max_width=”700px” module_alignment=”center” header_2_font_size_tablet=”42px” header_2_font_size_phone=”34px” header_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|desktop” header_6_font_size_tablet=”42px” header_6_font_size_phone=”34px” header_6_font_size_last_edited=”off|phone” text_text_align=”justify” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” header_2_2_font_size_tablet=”42px” header_3_2_font_size_tablet=”42px” header_4_2_font_size_tablet=”42px” header_5_2_font_size_tablet=”42px” header_6_2_font_size_tablet=”42px” header_2_2_font_size_phone=”34px” header_3_2_font_size_phone=”34px” header_4_2_font_size_phone=”34px” header_5_2_font_size_phone=”34px” header_6_2_font_size_phone=”34px” header_2_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|tablet” header_3_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|tablet” header_4_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|tablet” header_5_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|tablet” header_6_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|tablet” header_2_3_font_size_tablet=”34px” header_3_3_font_size_tablet=”34px” header_4_3_font_size_tablet=”34px” header_5_3_font_size_tablet=”34px” header_6_3_font_size_tablet=”34px” header_2_3_font_size_phone=”28px” header_3_3_font_size_phone=”28px” header_4_3_font_size_phone=”28px” header_5_3_font_size_phone=”28px” header_6_3_font_size_phone=”28px” header_2_3_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_3_3_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_4_3_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_5_3_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_6_3_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_2_4_font_size_tablet=”22px” header_3_4_font_size_tablet=”22px” header_4_4_font_size_tablet=”22px” header_5_4_font_size_tablet=”22px” header_6_4_font_size_tablet=”22px” header_2_4_font_size_phone=”18px” header_3_4_font_size_phone=”18px” header_4_4_font_size_phone=”18px” header_5_4_font_size_phone=”18px” header_6_4_font_size_phone=”18px” header_2_4_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_3_4_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_4_4_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_5_4_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_6_4_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_2_5_font_size_phone=”16px” header_3_5_font_size_phone=”16px” header_4_5_font_size_phone=”16px” header_5_5_font_size_phone=”16px” header_6_5_font_size_phone=”16px” header_2_5_font_size_last_edited=”on|tablet” header_3_5_font_size_last_edited=”on|tablet” header_4_5_font_size_last_edited=”on|tablet” header_5_5_font_size_last_edited=”on|tablet” header_6_5_font_size_last_edited=”on|tablet”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.18.0″ text_font=”||||||||” text_font_size=”16px” text_line_height=”2em” text_orientation=”justified” text_text_align=”justify” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” header_2_2_font_size_tablet=”42px” header_3_2_font_size_tablet=”42px” header_4_2_font_size_tablet=”42px” header_5_2_font_size_tablet=”42px” header_6_2_font_size_tablet=”42px” header_2_2_font_size_phone=”34px” header_3_2_font_size_phone=”34px” header_4_2_font_size_phone=”34px” header_5_2_font_size_phone=”34px” header_6_2_font_size_phone=”34px” header_2_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|tablet” header_3_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|tablet” header_4_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|tablet” header_5_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|tablet” header_6_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|tablet” header_2_3_font_size_tablet=”34px” header_3_3_font_size_tablet=”34px” header_4_3_font_size_tablet=”34px” header_5_3_font_size_tablet=”34px” header_6_3_font_size_tablet=”34px” header_2_3_font_size_phone=”28px” header_3_3_font_size_phone=”28px” header_4_3_font_size_phone=”28px” header_5_3_font_size_phone=”28px” header_6_3_font_size_phone=”28px” header_2_3_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_3_3_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_4_3_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_5_3_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_6_3_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_2_4_font_size_tablet=”22px” header_3_4_font_size_tablet=”22px” header_4_4_font_size_tablet=”22px” header_5_4_font_size_tablet=”22px” header_6_4_font_size_tablet=”22px” header_2_4_font_size_phone=”18px” header_3_4_font_size_phone=”18px” header_4_4_font_size_phone=”18px” header_5_4_font_size_phone=”18px” header_6_4_font_size_phone=”18px” header_2_4_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_3_4_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_4_4_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_5_4_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_6_4_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_2_5_font_size_phone=”16px” header_3_5_font_size_phone=”16px” header_4_5_font_size_phone=”16px” header_5_5_font_size_phone=”16px” header_6_5_font_size_phone=”16px” header_2_5_font_size_last_edited=”on|tablet” header_3_5_font_size_last_edited=”on|tablet” header_4_5_font_size_last_edited=”on|tablet” header_5_5_font_size_last_edited=”on|tablet” header_6_5_font_size_last_edited=”on|tablet”]<\/p>\n \u00a0Almighty God, you have poured upon us the new light of your incarnate Word: Grant that this light, enkindled in our hearts, may shine forth in our lives; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.\u00a0<\/span>Amen<\/em>\u200b.\u00a0 (From the Book of Common Prayer)<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text module_id=”scripture” _builder_version=”4.18.0″ header_2_font=”Bellefair||||||||” header_2_text_color=”#000000″ header_2_font_size=”48px” header_2_line_height=”1.2em” header_6_font=”Montserrat|700||on|||||” header_6_text_color=”#ff4e00″ header_6_font_size=”12px” header_6_letter_spacing=”2px” header_6_line_height=”1.2em” text_orientation=”center” max_width=”700px” module_alignment=”center” header_2_font_size_tablet=”42px” header_2_font_size_phone=”34px” header_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|desktop” header_6_font_size_tablet=”42px” header_6_font_size_phone=”34px” header_6_font_size_last_edited=”off|phone” text_text_align=”justify” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” header_2_2_font_size_tablet=”42px” header_3_2_font_size_tablet=”42px” header_4_2_font_size_tablet=”42px” header_5_2_font_size_tablet=”42px” header_6_2_font_size_tablet=”42px” header_2_2_font_size_phone=”34px” header_3_2_font_size_phone=”34px” header_4_2_font_size_phone=”34px” header_5_2_font_size_phone=”34px” header_6_2_font_size_phone=”34px” header_2_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|tablet” header_3_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|tablet” header_4_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|tablet” header_5_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|tablet” header_6_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|tablet” header_2_3_font_size_tablet=”34px” header_3_3_font_size_tablet=”34px” header_4_3_font_size_tablet=”34px” header_5_3_font_size_tablet=”34px” header_6_3_font_size_tablet=”34px” header_2_3_font_size_phone=”28px” header_3_3_font_size_phone=”28px” header_4_3_font_size_phone=”28px” header_5_3_font_size_phone=”28px” header_6_3_font_size_phone=”28px” header_2_3_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_3_3_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_4_3_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_5_3_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_6_3_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_2_4_font_size_tablet=”22px” header_3_4_font_size_tablet=”22px” header_4_4_font_size_tablet=”22px” header_5_4_font_size_tablet=”22px” header_6_4_font_size_tablet=”22px” header_2_4_font_size_phone=”18px” header_3_4_font_size_phone=”18px” header_4_4_font_size_phone=”18px” header_5_4_font_size_phone=”18px” header_6_4_font_size_phone=”18px” header_2_4_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_3_4_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_4_4_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_5_4_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_6_4_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_2_5_font_size_phone=”16px” header_3_5_font_size_phone=”16px” header_4_5_font_size_phone=”16px” header_5_5_font_size_phone=”16px” header_6_5_font_size_phone=”16px” header_2_5_font_size_last_edited=”on|tablet” header_3_5_font_size_last_edited=”on|tablet” header_4_5_font_size_last_edited=”on|tablet” header_5_5_font_size_last_edited=”on|tablet” header_6_5_font_size_last_edited=”on|tablet”]<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Use a lectionary from your own tradition:<\/em><\/p>\n
He would honor and obey,
Love and watch the lowly maiden,
In whose gentle arms He lay:
Christian children all must be
Mild, obedient, good as He.<\/em>
For he is our childhood’s pattern…”<\/em>
(From\u00a0<\/span>Once in Royal David’s City<\/em>)<\/span><\/p>\n“[I]t is only when human beings give priority to the transcendent\u2014to God himself\u2014that they are able to stop idolizing human relationships.\u00a0 They are, paradoxically,\u00a0more<\/em> free to give themselves to each other when they are themselves centered on God.\u00a0 But they will rarely fit the image other people have of “the perfect family” when they do.\u00a0 They will be better, though not everyone will recognize their oddly tilting halos, aligned with heaven’s horizon rather than earth’s “<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h4>\n
December 30<\/h6>\n
Activities<\/h2>\n
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presents!<\/h6>\n
Gift Giving<\/h2>\n
\n
G.K. Chesterton, “Christmas Poem”<\/h6>\n
Literature<\/h2>\n
\u200b<\/em>
\u200b<\/em>There fared a mother driven forth<\/span>
Out of an inn to roam;<\/span>
In the place where she was homeless<\/span>
All men are at home.<\/span>
The crazy stable close at hand,<\/span>
With shaking timber and shifting sand,<\/span>
Grew a stronger thing to abide and stand<\/span>
Than the square stones of Rome.<\/span><\/p>\n
And strangers under the sun,<\/span>
And they lay their heads in a foreign land<\/span>
Whenever the day is done.<\/span><\/p>\n
And chance and honour and high surprise,<\/span>
But our homes are under miraculous skies<\/span>
Where the yule tale was begun.<\/span><\/p>\n
Where the beasts feed and foam;<\/span>
Only where He was homeless<\/span>
Are you and I at home;<\/span>
We have hands that fashion and heads that know,<\/span>
But our hearts we lost—how long ago!<\/span>
In a place no chart nor ship can show<\/span>
Under the sky’s dome.<\/span><\/p>\n
And strange the plain things are,<\/span>
The earth is enough and the air is enough<\/span>
For our wonder and our war;<\/span>
But our rest is as far as the fire-drake swings<\/span>
And our peace is put in impossible things<\/span>
Where clashed and thundered unthinkable wings<\/span>
Round an incredible star.<\/span><\/p>\n
Home shall all men come,<\/span>
To an older place than Eden<\/span>
And a taller town than Rome.<\/span>
To the end of the way of the wandering star,<\/span>
To the things that cannot be and that are,<\/span>
To the place where God was homeless<\/span>
And all men are at home.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/h6>\n
Prayer<\/h2>\n
<\/h6>\n
Daily Scripture<\/h2>\n