In an article for Christian History magazine, Elesha Coffman offers a fascinating history of Advent and Christmas traditions. While some might be tempted to scoff at certain traditions, a closer look reveals ample evidence of a longing all of humanity shares for the Christ who has come:

The first church official to propose special activities for the pre-Christmas period was Perpetuus, bishop of Tours, ...

A young bride to be was very nervous on the day before her wedding, so she went to speak with her minister. "I'm afraid I might not make it through the ceremony properly," she confessed.

The minister assured her that everything would be fine: "When you enter the church tomorrow and the processional begins, you will be walking down the same aisle you've walked many times before. Concentrate on that ...

What A Girl Wants is about a 17-year-old girl, Daphne, who longs to meet the father she has never known. Her parents separated before she was born, and she now lives with her mother in New York. Daphne eventually flies to England in hopes of beginning a relationship with her father.

At the start of the movie, Daphne works as a waitress at an outdoor wedding. Her mother, the wedding singer, announces, ...

In 1931, when my husband Vernon and I were working in Kochi, Japan, I helped at a home for girls. At that time 65 girls from poor families were being trained in the Christian way of life. Along with music, Bible study, and English language classes, they were learning practical skills like cooking, sewing, and embroidery.

Some of the girls, after leaving the school, continued their education to become ...

When Katie Hosking decided to break up with her fiancé, it was only 12 days before the wedding. Along with her parents, Katie had reserved a country club for the reception. With 150 invited guests, the cost was $6,200. Club policy required 60 days notice for any cancellation, meaning the Hoskings were required to pay the full amount.

The family decided to have a party anyway. In place of wedding guests, ...

George, age 92, and Jane, age 89, are all excited about their decision to get married. They go for a stroll to discuss wedding plans, and on the way they pass a drugstore. The elderly couple enters the store where George asks to speak to the owner.

“We're about to get married,” George informs him. “Do you sell heart medication?"

"Of course we do," the owner replies.

"How about support-hose to help with ...

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At the reception, waiters in tuxedos offered luscious hors d’oeuvres and exotic beverages. The bride and groom approached a beautiful glass and grass staircase that led to the top floor… followed by their guests.

At the top of the stairs, a maitre d’ with a bound book greeted the guests outside the doors.

“May I have your name, please?”

“I am Ruthanna Metzgar and this is my husband, Roy.”

He searched ...

Shall We Dance is the story of John Clark (Richard Gere), an estate lawyer with a charming wife and loving family. Nevertheless, John feels something missing in his life. Each evening on his commute home, John sees a beautiful woman, Pauline (Jennifer Lopez), staring with a lost expression through the window of a dance studio. Haunted by her gaze, John impulsively jumps off the train one night and ...

Joni Eareckson Tada, who was paralyzed in a diving accident as a teenager, draws parallels between her wedding day, and Christ's love for his church.

I felt awkward as my girlfriends strained to shift my paralyzed body into a cumbersome wedding gown. No amount of corseting and binding my body gave me a perfect shape. The dress just didn't fit well. Then, as I was wheeling into the church, I glanced ...

Knowing that couples getting married are usually too nervous to be attentive, I decided to use an object to focus the sermon ideas of one wedding I performed. I talked about the wisdom of Jesus who took simple, everyday objects and connected them to a transcendent spiritual meaning.

Then I held up an ordinary mug I purchased at a grocery store. I used the cup as a symbol of the shared spiritual journey ...