Message: “Elemental Spirituality: Earth” from Ruth Campbell

This week, we conclude our Advent series with an exploration of peace in difficult circumstances--featuring Maya Angelou's "Amazing Peace" and an interview with former CNN correspondent and Cedar Ridge member Kathleen Koch.

From Series: The Culture of Christmas | More Messages from Ruth Campbell | Download Audio

From Series: "The Culture of Christmas"

It’s something of a cliché: Christmas comes earlier and earlier each year. Long before the Halloween candy has been moved to discount, Christmas decorations emerge on supermarket shelves. “The holidays” permeate our culture for several months, but what exactly are we celebrating? Are there spiritual truths to be gleaned from the myriad cultural references to an event that took place over two thousand years ago? Must Christmas cards feature a nativity scene? What meaning can we find in tinsel and candy canes? And did Grandma really get run over by a reindeer? This Advent, we will unpack some popular Christmas movies, books, poems, and even commercials, as we explore the birth of Jesus and the traditional themes of hope, love, peace, and joy. We will round off the series with an all ages, candle-lit Christmas Eve service of readings and carols.