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\u2014Activities<\/span><\/a>\u00a0 \u00a0Scripture<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/span>\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0Literature<\/a><\/span> \u00a0 Reflection<\/a><\/span>\u2014<\/p>[\/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||||||||” global_colors_info=”{}”] Christmas Eve<\/p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”3_5,2_5″ _builder_version=”4.16″ 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\/pexels-olena-bohovyk-5686476-scaled.jpg” title_text=”pexels-olena-bohovyk-5686476″ _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” hover_enabled=”0″ text_font_size_tablet=”15px” text_font_size_phone=”14px” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″] Christmas predates Christ.<\/em>\u00a0 We have all heard this.\u00a0 Jesus was probably born in the spring, yet the Christian Church has always celebrated his birth at the darkest time of the year.\u00a0 The more dismissive view of this tradition is that it was a way that the Church could co-opt pagan holidays for their own nefarious purposes.\u00a0 The popular Christian counter-explanation for this is the idea that\u2014regardless of when Jesus was actually born\u2014the meteorological symbolism is the chief thing: that when everything was cold and dark, Christ, the true light, entered the world.\u00a0 This certainly resonates with me:\u00a0 The contrast between the light and darkness of the year is pleasurable, as is the juxtaposition of cold and heat.\u00a0 If Christ is the Light of the World, he is brightest when darkness is most pervasive.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Yet even the view that the Christmas is an airbrushed pagan holiday can give us a certain amount of insight into the nature of a God who becomes human, entering our culture from the inside and sanctifying it.\u00a0 <\/span>To explode another myth, while we’re at it\u2014just because he was laid in a manger doesn’t mean Jesus was born in a stable.\u00a0 <\/span>Many scholars think that the word translated “inn” in Luke 2 actually means “guest room.”\u00a0 <\/span>Homes during this time were typically composed of two rooms\u2014a nice inner room for guests, where traveling family stayed, and an outer room in which members of the host family\u2014including animals\u2014stayed as well. Just because Jesus was laid in some poor animal’s food trough does not mean he was born on the edges of town, in some remote stable.\u00a0 <\/span>On the contrary, while he is surely Holy, surely Other, surely miraculous, he is part of the noise, bother, and disruption of humanity from the very beginning.\u00a0 <\/span>There may not have been space within the inner room for yet another family member, but he made his dwelling with people.\u00a0 <\/span>This is paralleled by the story of the shepherds\u2014consummate outsiders whose otherworldly encounter with angels draws them not to further ecstatic mountaintop experiences but rather toward the homely lights of Bethlehem to see a seemingly ordinary human child.<\/p>\n <\/span><\/span><\/p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”2_5″ _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ 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”] If God became fully human\u2014if he lived a life as ‘one of us,’ punctuated by moments of excitement, boredom, pain, pleasure and reflection\u2014why then, there is no moment in our own lives which he has not made holy.\u00a0 <\/span>Every aspect of our own lives is a chance not only to connect to our fellow man, but to Almighty God himself through Christ.\u00a0 <\/span>He is ‘very man of very man.’<\/p>\n \u200bNot only that, but through Christ, the objective has somehow entered the subjective, redeeming and dignifying it.\u00a0 As humans we practice rituals, fasts and feasts even when we try to avoid doing so.\u00a0 We are creatures, subject to time and the changes of the year, and it is natural for us to use tradition to remember what is important, and celebrate it.\u00a0 God, it seems, actually may make appearances in these man-made temples, as he did in Solomon’s.\u00a0 In fact, he loves to.<\/span><\/p>\n This has become my favorite time of year, not only because it celebrates God’s gift, but also the eagerness (not desperate but joyful) with which he makes himself known, even to pagan kings who find him through pagan sciences like astrology\u2014the important thing, as always, was their hearts.\u00a0 He is willing also to sanctify the Christmas Tree and electric stars we have strewn about the earth, and the carols, liturgical and silly.\u00a0 But we must seek him, the source of all beauty, heavenly, earthly, temporary and permanent.\u00a0 And the more we adore, the more we see to adore, both in him and in all that is being drawn up into him, joining the great dance and feast of love which existed before all worlds.<\/span><\/p>[\/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\/10\/1-3.png” title_text=”1″ align=”center” force_fullwidth=”on” _builder_version=”4.18.0″ 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” 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″] In this fourteenth-century poem, the famous Sir Gawain is searching the land for a strange and enormous Green Knight, for he promised last Christmas to allow him to strike his head off\u2014and he always keeps his promises. He has said farewell to Arthur’s Court at Camelot and is passing through the inhospitable wilderness as he searches for death. But he realizes it is approaching Christmas, and he becomes anxious that he will not be able to attend a Christmas Eve Mass. I begin my translation in the midst of a description of the monsters Gawain must fight in the wilderness, as well as the extreme cold of this time of year.<\/em><\/span> \nBy a mount on that morning the man rides\nInto a deep wood that was wild and weird,\nHigh hills on each side, and under woods\nOf hoary oaks full huge, a hundred together;\nThe hazel and the hawthorne were all thus entwined,\nWith rough ragged moss that ran everywhere,\nWith many cheerless birds upon bare twigs,\nThat piteously piped there for pain of the cold.\nThe hero on horseback hurries beneath them\nThrough much marshland and mire, remaining alone,\nFretting o’er his fate, lest he should fail\nTo see the service of that Sire that on that same night\nOf a girl was given our guilt to destroy.\nAnd therefore sighing he said: ‘I beseech Thee, Lord,\nAnd Mary, who is mildest mother so dear,\nOf some harbor where highly I might hear mass\nAnd Thy Matins tomorrow, meekly I ask,\nAnd thereto priestly I pray my Pater and Ave\n And Creed.’\nHe rode in his prayer\nAnd cried for each misdeed.\nHe crossed himself with care\nAnd said: ‘Christ’s Cross me speed.’\n\nHe’d not signed himself so but thrice\nBefore seeing through the sedge a stronghold secure,\nAbove a green, on high ground, garnished by boughs\nOf many thickset trunks attending the moat,\nA castle the comlookest that ever knight saw\nPerched on a plain, a park all about… (lines 720-768)\n\n\nSir Gawain has found a human dwelling in which to celebrate Christmas. But his challenges are, it turns out, just beginning.\n\n*that is, dragons. I’ve kept the original \u201cWorms\u201d to preserve the alliteration.\n^There isn’t a very good translation for “woodwose.” These are wild men who live in the forest.\n<\/p>[\/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_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=”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” 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″] Isaiah 59:15-21 (NIV),\u00a0Psalm 132 (KJV),\u00a0Luke 1 (ESV)<\/span><\/p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Footer” _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”||||false|false” saved_tabs=”all” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”2_3,1_3″ custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” _builder_version=”4.18.0″ max_width=”1220px” overflow-x=”hidden” overflow-y=”hidden” custom_padding=”48px||140px|70px|false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”48px|||48px|false|false” custom_padding_phone=”20px|||20px|false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”4.18.0″ background_color=”#F26552″ z_index=”12″ custom_padding=”160px|30px|80px|30px|false|true” custom_padding_tablet=”||48px||false|true” custom_padding_phone=”” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|tablet” box_shadow_style=”preset4″ box_shadow_horizontal=”-210px” box_shadow_vertical=”0px” box_shadow_spread=”48px” box_shadow_color=”#000000″ box_shadow_horizontal_tablet=”-120px” box_shadow_horizontal_phone=”-120px” box_shadow_horizontal_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_divider color=”#ff4e00″ divider_weight=”2px” _builder_version=”4.16″ transform_rotate=”0deg|0deg|-45deg” positioning=”absolute” vertical_offset=”60px” horizontal_offset=”-135px” width=”420px” custom_margin=”||||false|false” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_divider][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ header_3_font=”Caveat||||||||” header_3_text_color=”#000000″ header_3_font_size=”200px” header_3_line_height=”0.4em” positioning=”absolute” z_index=”1″ header_3_font_size_tablet=”150px” header_3_font_size_phone=”120px” header_3_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”] less stress<\/p>\n <\/p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”100px||||false|false” scroll_vertical_motion_enable=”on” scroll_vertical_motion=”0|50|50|100|2|0|-2″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/12tide.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Untitled-design-39.png” title_text=”Untitled design-39″ align=”right” _builder_version=”4.18.0″ max_width=”240px” max_width_tablet=”320px” max_width_phone=”150px” max_width_last_edited=”on|tablet” module_alignment=”right” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_social_media_follow _builder_version=”4.16″ text_orientation=”right” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_social_media_follow_network social_network=”facebook” icon_color=”#000000″ _builder_version=”4.16″ background_color=”rgba(0,0,0,0)” background_enable_color=”on” motion_trigger_start=”middle” global_colors_info=”{}” follow_button=”off” url_new_window=”on”]facebook[\/et_pb_social_media_follow_network][et_pb_social_media_follow_network social_network=”twitter” icon_color=”#000000″ _builder_version=”4.16″ background_color=”rgba(0,0,0,0)” background_enable_color=”on” motion_trigger_start=”middle” global_colors_info=”{}” follow_button=”off” url_new_window=”on”]twitter[\/et_pb_social_media_follow_network][et_pb_social_media_follow_network social_network=”instagram” icon_color=”#000000″ _builder_version=”4.16″ background_color=”rgba(0,0,0,0)” background_enable_color=”on” motion_trigger_start=”middle” global_colors_info=”{}” follow_button=”off” url_new_window=”on”]instagram[\/et_pb_social_media_follow_network][et_pb_social_media_follow_network social_network=”youtube” icon_color=”#000000″ _builder_version=”4.16″ background_color=”rgba(0,0,0,0)” background_enable_color=”on” motion_trigger_start=”middle” global_colors_info=”{}” follow_button=”off” url_new_window=”on”]youtube[\/et_pb_social_media_follow_network][et_pb_social_media_follow_network social_network=”pinterest” icon_color=”#000000″ _builder_version=”4.16″ background_color=”rgba(0,0,0,0)” background_enable_color=”on” global_colors_info=”{}” follow_button=”off” url_new_window=”on”]pinterest[\/et_pb_social_media_follow_network][\/et_pb_social_media_follow][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Twelve Tide begins tomorrow! Merry Christmas\u2014we hope the excitement continues throughout the 12 days!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":680,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"1080","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-679","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\n“If God became fully human\u2014if he lived a life as ‘one of us,’ punctuated by moments of excitement, boredom, pain, pleasure and reflection\u2014why then, there is no moment in our own lives which he has not made holy.”\u00a0<\/span><\/h4>[\/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_font_size_tablet=”15px” text_font_size_phone=”14px” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]
December 24<\/h6>\n
Activities & Prayer<\/h2>[\/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=”4.16″ text_font=”||||||||” text_font_size=”16px” text_line_height=”2em” header_4_font=”Bellefair||||||||” header_4_text_color=”#000000″ header_4_font_size=”30px” header_4_line_height=”1.4em” text_orientation=”justified” text_font_size_tablet=”15px” text_font_size_phone=”14px” 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”]
O God, you have caused this holy night to shine with the brightness of the true Light: Grant that we, who have known the mystery of that Light on earth, may also enjoy him perfectly in heaven; where with you and the Holy Spirit he lives and reigns, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.<\/span><\/span><\/h4>\n
\n
<\/ul>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ 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”]
\n
Sir Gawain and the Green Knight<\/h6>\n
Literature<\/h2>[\/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=”{}”][dsm_floating_multi_images floating_speed=”7208ms” _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][dsm_floating_multi_images_child src=”https:\/\/12tide.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/gawainlady.jpeg” horizontal_align=”49%” vertical_align=”5%” _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” background_enable_color=”off” background_enable_image=”off” width=”77%” max_width=”29%” max_width_tablet=”29%” max_width_phone=”88%” max_width_last_edited=”on|phone” min_height=”298px” height=”575px” max_height=”1000px” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/dsm_floating_multi_images_child][dsm_floating_multi_images_child src=”https:\/\/12tide.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/medieval-manuscript.jpeg” horizontal_align=”20%” vertical_align=”-13%” _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” max_width=”31%” hover_transition_duration=”850ms” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/dsm_floating_multi_images_child][\/dsm_floating_multi_images][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”-158px|auto||auto||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” inline_fonts=”Alegreya Sans” global_colors_info=”{}”]
\u200b
Somewhile with Worms* he wars and with wolves also,
Somewhile with woodwoses^ that dwelt in the rocks,
Both with bulls and bears, and boars elsewhile,
And trolls that tramped down from the high hill.
Had he not been steadfast and served the Savior,
Doubtless he would have been driven to his death.
For war worried him not so much as winter\u2014far worse–
When the cold clear water from the clouds was shed
And froze ‘ere it could fall to the faded earth.
Near slain with the sleet he slept in his armor
More nights than enough, between naked rocks
While once clamorous waters that ran from the crest
Now hung high over his head in hard icicles.
Thus in peril and pain and plights full hard
Through country comes this knight until Christmas Eve,
Alone.
The knight well at that tide
To Mary made his moan
That she would kindly guide
And bring him to some home…<\/p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _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=”{}”]Do not be afraid<\/h6>\n
Daily Scripture<\/h2>[\/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”]
Join<\/h3>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_signup mailchimp_list=”elegantthemestest|1ea2bbd026″ layout=”top_bottom” first_name_field=”off” last_name_field=”off” title=”Get the Devotionals to your Inbox” _builder_version=”4.18.0″ form_field_background_color=”rgba(0,0,0,0)” form_field_text_color=”#000000″ form_field_focus_background_color=”rgba(0,0,0,0)” header_font=”Bellefair||||||||” header_text_color=”#000000″ header_font_size=”48px” header_line_height=”1.2em” form_field_font=”Montserrat|600||on|||||” form_field_text_align=”center” form_field_font_size=”11px” form_field_letter_spacing=”3px” use_background_color=”off” custom_button=”on” button_text_size=”11px” button_text_color=”#fff0ec” button_bg_color=”#000000″ button_border_width=”0px” button_border_radius=”0px” button_letter_spacing=”2px” button_font=”Montserrat|600||on|||||” button_custom_padding=”20px|30px|20px|30px|true|true” text_orientation=”center” background_layout=”light” max_width=”550px” module_alignment=”center” header_font_size_tablet=”42px” header_font_size_phone=”34px” header_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” border_radii_fields=”on|0px|0px|0px|0px” border_color_all_fields=”#000000″ border_width_bottom_fields=”1px” global_colors_info=”{}” button_bg_color__hover=”#ff4e00″ button_bg_color__hover_enabled=”on|desktop”][\/et_pb_signup][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ text_font=”|600||on|||||” text_text_color=”#000000″ text_letter_spacing=”8px” text_line_height=”1.8em” positioning=”absolute” position_origin_a=”bottom_right” vertical_offset=”-120px” horizontal_offset=”-120px” z_index=”1″ vertical_offset_tablet=”-240px” vertical_offset_phone=”” vertical_offset_last_edited=”on|tablet” horizontal_offset_tablet=”0px” horizontal_offset_phone=”” horizontal_offset_last_edited=”on|tablet” position_origin_a_tablet=”bottom_left” position_origin_a_phone=”” position_origin_a_last_edited=”on|phone” position_origin_f_tablet=”” position_origin_f_phone=”” position_origin_f_last_edited=”on|tablet” position_origin_r_tablet=”” position_origin_r_phone=”” position_origin_r_last_edited=”on|tablet” width=”240px” height=”240px” custom_padding=”120px|10px|0px|120px|false|false” link_option_url=”#” scroll_rotating=”0|50|50|100|0\u00b0|0\u00b0|-45\u00b0” motion_trigger_start=”top” positioning_tablet=”” positioning_phone=”” positioning_last_edited=”on|tablet” border_radii=”on|100%|100%|100%|100%” border_width_all=”2px” border_color_all=”#000000″ locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” text_text_color__hover_enabled=”on|desktop” text_text_color__hover=”#ff4e00″ border_color_all__hover_enabled=”on|desktop” border_color_all__hover=”#ff4e00″]