Tag Archives: Jesus
Christmas 2014
2. Advent
After service today, I strolled through the farmer’s market, as I often love to do. Green all the way today: some great looking French beans (the thin ones) and some fresh celery (with celery it is always important to buy organic, as it tends to soak up everything). And yes: besides the nourishing vegetables — a glazed donut too — not organic.
On the way to the car, I walked by a bank that always has some stuffed bears in the window that make me smile. To my surprise: two polar bears, instead of the customary three black bears! A pleasant arctic change of pace. To keep the cold in perspective though: I then saw a man tying his Christmas tree to the top of his car: “Pretty cool, tying a Christmas tree to a surf rack — only in California”, he said to me and grinned, as he saw me looking at the tree logistics.
Today is the 2. Advent: symbolized by the candle of peace — the birth of Christ.
Have a blessed Sunday and week. In Jesus name, Amen.
1. Advent
Easter – Christ has risen
Good Friday
Palm Sunday
Easter Monday
In Germany, Easter Monday is also a holiday — alas not here. I do hope, that the crocus have prevailed in their fight against the snow by now, as purple, orange, white, and lavender exclamation points to Spring. This morning it rained very heavy for a while, and then, just in time for Easter, it stopped. as the sun pieced the white fluffy clouds and lit up the magnolia blossoms. People brought flowers from their garden to decorate the cross. Christ has risen! The pastor and his wife made lemonade and lemon tarts, respectively — by means of a generous donation from an old lemon tree in their back yard.
The pastor’s wife also told me, that when she was young and living in the Midwest, it always rained at noon on Good Friday. She said, that her mother told her, that God was crying for his son.
It was also my god-daughter’s birthday today, as well as my cat Calvin’s — making it easy to remember. Since Easter is not complete without colored eggs for me, I dyed some last night. Guess which one is his…
On a side note, as I sat in my back yard with a cup of coffee, a hummingbird came within just a few feet of me, and started chirping at me, leaving me dumbfounded. My son Patrick later told me on the phone, that my dad had instructed the hummingbird from heaven, to wish me a happy birthday.
Have a blessed week,
In Jesus name,
Matthias Leue
Holy Week
Today was Palm Sunday, the beginning of Holy Week. In the Lutheran churches I have attended here in California, they often use real palm leaves to decorate the church, something reserved for warm climates, unlike my native country, where the crocus and snow drops are still struggling to welcome Easter this year I’m told. In some years, depending on which date Easter falls on, the daffodils shine brightly in the sun for Easter in all their yellow, orange, and white exuberance. The literal translation from German for daffodil means Easter bell (Osterglocke).
The photo above, is of some palm leaves I had the privilege to photograph in Venezuela some years back. I love the symmetry of the leaves, and the soft light falling through them.
Palm Sunday is almost over. Now comes the walk to the cross of my Lord on Good Friday, and then the joyous Easter celebration of his resurrection on Sunday.
In Jesus name,
Matthias Leue