One of my most memorable seminary professors at Yale, Dr. Joel Baden, often reminded our class: “To understand a story, we must know both the beginning and the end.”

I had a dear great-aunt who loved to give gifts at Christmas. We did not see her often, so I was surprised when we arrived at her home and she had a gift for me.

Happy New Year! The New Year almost inevitably arrives with the promise and hope of what 2026 may bring.

Happy Second Day of Christmas!

The season of Advent consists of four weeks of preparation for the coming of Jesus. In the shops, it’s been going for about four months. But it’s here!

This past week, I spent a few days in New York City to celebrate my birthday. From the giant Christmas tree in Rockefeller Center to the dazzling light display at Saks Fifth Avenue, the city did not disappoint.

I’m not sure exactly what counts as a “palooza,” but this weekend at Bethesda-by-the-Sea will be something of an Advent-palooza, as we dive deeply into this season of hope and expectation. 

Each year as I prepare for Thanksgiving, I am reminded why this holiday remains, perhaps, my favorite in the American calendar.