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Posts Tagged ‘christmas’

Nineteenth century minister Edmund Sears, who held to original Unitarianism during a time of radical upheaval in the Church, was the author of many theological works that were influential even outside of Unitarian Christianity. But it was his poem of peace, written in the mid-1800s when the whole world seemed torn by war, that has [...]

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Today is St. Lucia’s Day, the first of the 12 Days of Light honoring the Star of Bethlehem. Tonight we light up the decorations! But, today is also a good time to reflect on the importance of Christmas.

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The AUR liturgical year opens with a series of holidays emphasizing the multi-cultural, multi-faith scope of American Reform Unitarian Christianity. All Corners Day on November 12 honors “Pious Outsiders” from other nations and faiths. The Thanksgiving season is famously devoted to peaceful cooperation between different ethnic and religious communities. And, these holidays culminate on January [...]

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The birth of Jesus Christ may be the “reason for the season,” but for millions of children the man of the moment is Santa Claus. While it is widely known that the Santa Claus of Christmas is derived from St. Nicholas, few know much about the original Saint Nick beyond the fact that he did [...]

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Below is the American Unitarian Reform liturgical calendar for the Christmas Season. Since this season is not fixed, the ultimate Thursdays for the first two dozenals are not identified on the calendar.  The last dozenal, the Twelve Days of Christmas, has no ultimate Thursday as such. Advent Eve / Feast of Andrew – (Nov 30) [...]

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The Reform celebrates the beginning of the Christmas Season with Advent/Annunciation on December 1st. This differs significantly from other Christian traditions, which celebrate Advent four Sundays before Christmas, and celebrate the Annunciation (the day on which Mary was told by the Angel Gabriel that she would conceive Jesus) on 25 March, a materialist nine months [...]

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A new graphic depicting the American Unitarian Reform liturgical calendar has been added to AUR’s LC page.  The chart shows the 10-Day Gap, and the rough dates for the Four Great Thursdays: Harvest (or Thanksgiving) Thursday, Garden (or Gethsemane) Thursday, Ascension Thursday, and Declaration Thursday. Please note, of course, that the seasons from Carnival through Pentecost can vary broadly from [...]

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Today is St. Lucia’s Day, the first of the 12 Days of Light honoring the Star of Bethlehem.  Time to put up the lit decorations!  But, also a good time to reflect on the importance of Christmas. A celebration of the Nativity was never a foregone conclusion in Christianity. Tertullian’s list of major holidays among [...]

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The AUR liturgical year opens with a series of holidays emphasizing the multi-cultural, multi-faith nature of American Reform Unitarian Christianity. All Corners Day on November 12 honors “Pious Outsiders” from other nations and faiths.  The Thanksgiving season is famously devoted to peaceful cooperation between different ethnic and religious communities.  And, these holidays culminate on January 6 with [...]

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Today is Saint Nicholas Day! While it is widely known that the Santa Claus of Christmas is derived from St. Nicholas, few know much about the original Saint Nick beyond the fact that he did not live at the North Pole, own flying reindeer, or employ a workshop full of elves. Nicholas of Myra was [...]

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