Christmas – Entangled States

All posts tagged: Christmas

American Christmas was an adaptive response to divisive forces in US society

December 20, 2023

With ‘White Christmas,’ Irving Berlin and Bing Crosby helped make Christmas a holiday that all Americans could celebrate: Christmas in America had always reflected a mix of influences, from ancient Roman celebrations of the winter solstice to the Norse festival known as Yule. Catholics in Europe had celebrated Christmas with public merriment since the Middle Ages, but Protestants often denounced the holiday as a vestige of paganism. These religious tensions spilled over to the American […]

The Two Kings: The Second Sunday of Christmas

January 2, 2021

by Nicholas Knisely

Religion / Sermons and audio

Each story of Christmas is filled with meaning and carries messages that speak to from across the centuries. This year, on this second Sunday in Christmas Season, we hear the story of the Flight into Egypt – how Joseph fled Herod’s wrath that a rival had been born. And this year we can reflect on the contrast between the earthly ruler and the heaven sent king.

A short service of Lessons and Carols from St. George’s School

December 12, 2020

by Nicholas Knisely

Religion / Sermons and audio

One of my favorite events each December is attending (and participating) in the Service of Lessons and Carols in the chapel at St. George’s School here in Rhode Island. My first one was soon after I was ordained the Episcopal Bishop of Rhode Island and it’s become our family tradition each year since. This year, with the school rightly limiting people’s access to the hilltop it wasn’t possible for people from the community to participate. […]