Advent Reflection on Hospitality

Today’s gospel reflects a decision. To accept God’s calling and risk rejection from society, or to hear what God asks of us and to say no. “Here I am, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word” Mary made the decision to possibly sacrifice her perceived innocence, her future marriage, and her womb with more certainty than I could ever imagine. She said yes to becoming the mother of Jesus even though it meant that she would be an outcast. Lydia’s House is a prime example of the hospitality of taking in (and thus

Advent Reflection on Joy

There is a profound difference between happiness and joy. Happiness is circumstantial. It’s easy to obtain but also easy to lose. That’s certainly been true in my own life. Lots of things make me happy – thing like going to a good concert or just sitting at a coffee shop and drinking a warm drink. We’re told that everyone is entitled to the pursuit of happiness, but that’s just it, isn’t it? It’s always a pursuit because the coffee gets cold or the concert comes to an end. We have good moments and bad moments, but it’s really hard to

Advent Reflection on Freedom

Galatians 5 reads: “For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’” As I reflected on freedom for the better part of this week, Galatians 5 wouldn’t leave my mind. I kept thinking “There’s a lot of ways that passage could read. It could say “For

The Lydia’s House 12 Days of Christmas

During this Advent and Christmas season, we at Lydia’s House are celebrating with 12 special events over the course of the next three weeks.  We couldn’t be more excited about it!  For many of our guests, the holiday season has been less than joyful in the past, so we’re hopeful that Christmas 2014 can be a way to reclaim the hope, freedom, joy, and welcome that Christ offers us through the incarnation.  We’ll make Christmas cookies with volunteer Anne Housholder, sing carols to the elderly with the help of the Puopolo family, and watch the movie Elf on loan from

First Sunday of Advent: Hope

When I was 14 I spent a summer on the islands that line the coast of Georgia. It was a science and ecology camp and we spent most days studying sea creatures or discussing the ecology of the sulfur scented marshes. One evening stands out particularly in my mind. It was the night of the new moon, and the counselors took us down to the shore by flashlight. The area was a wildlife preserve and had none of the boardwalk lights I typically associated with a beach. I remember thinking the stars were especially bright in the absence of artificial