Lutheran Witness: December 2009

By the time you read this, not only Advent but the Christmas season will be in full swing. In the days ahead, many of us will, at one time or another, recall our family traditions and past family celebrations: trimming the tree, tromping through the snow to the children’s service on Christmas Eve, the Christmas morning choral concert, exchanging gifts—Christmas Eve or Christmas Day?—alternating between the homes of grandparents and aunts and uncles for Christmas Day dinner.

Yet, at the heart of it all, as so vividly expressed by Luther’s famous Christmas hymn, “From Heaven Above to Earth I Come”—the focus of two of our stories this month—is the birth of God’s Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ.

From the President: Sunshine and Peace

From the Editor: To the Reader

Features:

‘Christmas Magic’— Raymond L. Hartwig

‘From Heaven Above’ —William H. Otte

The Invitation— Erin Dalpini

Amid the Glitz: A Christmas Reminder — Sharon Plawin

Departments:

Lifeline

Letters

Notices

Q & A

Family Counselor

Shedding Some Light

Searching Scripture

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