Have you heard the one about Jesus and Satan, a computing contest and a power outage? I’ll spare you, but the joke came to mind while I was thinking through the question about how Jesus saves in light of a particular text from Matthew’s Gospel. In that scripture Joseph is told to name Mary’s baby […]
Arts & Culture
Posted inUncategorized
A year of faith and resilience: Faith Coalition’s commitment to justice
As we come to the close of 2025, the Faith Coalition for the Common Good is deeply thankful for the opportunity to share in the work alongside a community of resilient, courageous and powerful leaders. This work is not done in isolation, it is built through relationship, trust and collective commitment to justice. The evolution […]
Posted inFilm
Song Sung Blue an inspiring tale, Marty Supreme grows taxing
Blue a Song of Inspiration Craig Brewer managed to change my mind about two things with his surprising Song Sung Blue. I was wrong about the purpose of musical tribute acts and Kate Hudson. As for the latter, based on her past output, she always struck me an actress of limited means. After seeing her […]
Posted inPoetry
My mother wrote this lullaby for my oldest sister on her first Christmas, 1925.
Sleep, little baby, the daylight is fading; Dim yellow stars the dark heavens adorn; Once, long ago, in a Bethlehem manger The little Lord Jesus was born. Lullaby, lullaby, sleep, little baby, sleep. Sleep, little baby, my arms are about thee, A circle of love which enfolds thee secure; So Mary cradled the wee baby […]
Posted inArts Features
The real story of A Christmas Carol
The well-loved tale of redemption popular this time of year, A Christmas Carol, wasn’t sparked by joy, but sorrow. When London journalist and author Charles Dickens wrote what became the most copied secular Christmas fiction, he was dejected, financially stressed and fighting for societal reform. To publish Scrooge’s trials in time for Christmas, he had […]
Posted inIT Picks
Annual event rings in new year with style
Head downtown on New Year’s Eve for this annual family-friendly event at three iconic locations. This year’s event features children’s activities at the ALPLM and Hoogland Center, a special around-the-world midnight countdown with confetti cannons at the ALPLM, ice skating at Union Square Park and a dazzling fireworks spectacular. A full schedule of activities starts […]
Posted inCommunity & Lifestyle
A sacred journey
“and she gave birth to her firstborn son …” – Luke 2:7 During my tenure as the pastor of Westminster Presbyterian Church, one of the annual highlights each year was anticipating which newborn baby within the congregation would play the esteemed role of baby Jesus in our annual Christmas pageant. A human baby Jesus in […]
Posted inIT Picks
Two holiday classics return to big screen
There’s just something magical about seeing movies on the big screen. It’s even better when the movie is a classic movie from the past. This weekend, Legacy Theatre is screening two timeless holiday classics – It’s A Wonderful Life and White Christmas. So here’s your chance to see one or both on the big screen […]
Posted inPoetry
Grandma’s thoughts on a poem
It was a beautiful afternoon the day before Christmas. The house was colorfully decorated, the cafeteria dinner ready for the family of children, grandchildren and friends. The tall stately tree was glimmering with silver and colored light. The air was full of mystery and joy. All day little feet as well as larger ones were […]
Posted inFilm
Fire and Ash stunning but too long, Ella McKay loses its focus
Visually stunning Fire and Ash undone by length When L’Arrivee d’un train a La Ciotat (Arrival of a Train at La Ciotat) was shown at the Lumiere Brothers studio in 1896, viewers apparently recoiled as they saw the locomotive pull in, certain that the engine coming toward them would do them harm. While that may […]
Posted inCommunity & Lifestyle
WQNA returning to local airwaves soon
After six long years of fits and starts, community radio station WQNA is nearly ready to begin broadcasting again, this time from the space in the Myers building in downtown Springfield that most recently housed Prairie State Hemp. In 2019, the Capital Area Career Center unceremoniously pulled the plug on the station which, starting in […]
Posted inCommunity & Lifestyle
Just win? At UIS, success runs deeper
Raiders owner Al Davis made “Just win, baby” a famous rallying cry in the NFL. Some people assume that motto applies to college sports, too. And while winning is absolutely part of what we do at the University of Illinois Springfield — and yes, we enjoy it tremendously — it isn’t our only goal. In […]
