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Yearly Archives: 2015
Adoration of the Magi bark painting from Papua New Guinea
The organization Wycliffe Bible Translators is committed to translating the Bible not only into all the world’s written languages but into its visual languages as well. In 2011 Wycliffe missionary Peter Brook commissioned artist Nanias Maira, who belongs to the … Continue reading
Posted in Non-Western Art
Tagged christianity in papua new guinea, kwoma christian art, nanias maira, peter brook
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John O’Donohue reads his poem “The Nativity”
Renowned Irish poet John O’Donohue (1956–2008) wrote a poem on each of the Fifteen Mysteries of the Rosary, a set of meditations on key events in the life of Jesus. These are published, along with other poems, in his 2001 … Continue reading
Christmas isn’t over
Excerpt from The Vigil: Keeping Watch in the Season of Christ’s Coming by Wendy M. Wright, pp. 116–17: The church does not abandon the celebration of Christmas on December twenty-sixth. Liturgically, the season stretches out for twelve more days and culminates … Continue reading
More Nativity Paintings from around the World
Four years ago on Christmas Day I posted a selection of nativity paintings originating mainly in non-Western cultures. Each year since then that post has ranked as one of the five most-read posts on this site, with over twelve thousand views to … Continue reading
The Two Genealogies of Jesus, the Curse of Jeconiah, and the Royal Line of David
Several passages in the Hebrew Bible (which Christians refer to as the Old Testament) prophesy that David’s throne will be established forever: 2 Samuel 7:12–16; Psalm 89:3–4, 132:11; Isaiah 16:5; and Jeremiah 33:17. Jews, therefore, have taken that to mean … Continue reading
Jesus as the Root/Shoot/Branch of Jesse
The Tree of Jesse—a representation of Jesus’s genealogy in the form of a tree—was a popular subject in medieval Christian art. Its name derives from the messianic prophecy of Isaiah 11:1 and 10: “There shall come forth a shoot from … Continue reading
A new song on the Beatitudes
The Beatitudes are a catalog of blessings that form the introductory portion of Jesus’s Sermon on the Mount. Disappointed by the lack of musical adaptations of this important Gospel text, some musicians at Hope College in Holland, Michigan—whose students have been studying the Beatitudes this … Continue reading
Instead of Santa, Christkindl
In many parts of Germany the secret delivery of gifts on Christmas Eve is attributed not to Santa Claus but to the Christkind (“Christ Child”)—or, in diminutive form, Christkindl. The idea that the baby Jesus is responsible for such a … Continue reading
Roundup: Jazz Advent medley, whitewashed Jesuses spark lawsuit, Christ as Shanti Data, Kitschmas gift ideas, and a South Park ditty
Jazz Advent medley: The video below is taken from a 2012 Advent service at Citylife Presbyterian Church in Boston. It features a jazz arrangement of “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” by Sam JC Lee (he’s the one on the double … Continue reading
Posted in Jesus Kitsch, Music, Pop Culture, Roundup
Tagged citylife music, fair-skinned jesus, jazz christmas, man sues met, sam jc lee, south park christmas
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