An NPR article published yesterday was entitled “An earnest defense of America’s silliest holiday: Groundhog Day.” And it is silly! There are top hats, there’s a famous rodent who sees his shadow, and there’s even a comedy film from the ‘90s highlighting the silliness of both of those things. But as the article points out, there is a depth to this day that is easy to miss – one which we invite you to explore this year.

Today is National Bible Sunday, a day that falls on different days, and means something different, depending on your denomination and country. So to be precise, it is actually ONE of the Bible Sundays. While some folks remember observing it during their childhood, there isn’t a whole lot of information available about this day online, but there is a helpful suggestion on the National Today website to “dust off your Bible!”

Tomorrow is King Day, and the beginning of the National Civil Rights Museum’s yearlong observance called “Community Over Chaos,” a special event tied to the 60^th anniversary of the Selma March and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Given what we know about the ways in which Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s religious faith influenced his activism, centering community in the days to come is a powerful way to live out your faith.

The holidays may be joyful, but they can also be exhausting. As we begin the new year, refill your proverbial cup with this activity inspired by the “Take What You Need, Give What You Can” bulletin boards found in some schools. Most of us don’t have a bulletin board at home, so you can use your refrigerator, a countertop in your home, or even the notes app on your phone!

Today marks the “official” end of the Christmas season, and we will be marking the occasion by making one more stop on our journey to visit Desert Mission families and experience their holiday traditions. But this one is unique because it’s not a Christmas tradition per se – it’s a very special way to ring in the new year, courtesy of Mike P!