On today’s podcast episode, we’re going to talk together about how to have a Christ-centered Easter celebration. We’re going to talk a bit about the importance of the resurrection, walk through the gospel, and share some ideas to help us point our family to the risen Jesus and His gift of salvation.
We know this time of year the stores are filled with Easter baskets, chocolates, and egg coloring kits but as Christian’s our celebration of Easter focuses on the truth that we serve a risen Lord. Our God is alive, and that truth is where our hope lies. He is Risen! Jesus is Alive!
As a mom and now grandmother I desire our celebration of Easter or as many of us call it The Celebration of the Resurrection, to be Christ-focused. I’m not elaborate in our celebrations, but I desire to be intentional. I want to share more than just our traditional meal together; I want to point my family to the gift of Jesus.
Please visit ThankfulHomemaker.com for the show notes and resources listed in the podcast.
I find comfort in the routines of the day. We all have areas of our lives that need to be taken care of on a daily basis. Having routines set in your day can make the whole day run smoothly, and those routines tend to become habits over time. I am such an advocate of having a morning and evening routine because they have helped to simplify and make my days run smoothly for over 25 years now.
Starting your day with focus and structure does help you to maintain some order and not have a day of complete chaos. Even if the rest of the day turns to chaos, you have already accomplished a lot in that first hour or two of the morning.
Whether you're a morning person, not a morning person a mother with littles or someone who already has some solid routines in place, I hope to have some encouragement for you all today.
For the show notes and resources mentioned in the podcast head to ThankfulHomemaker.com and click on the Podcast Show Notes tab in the menu bar.
There is a favorite book I turn to often to look for encouragement in my role as a wife and mother. God’s Word is always my first destination but a book that I came across several years ago is Feminine Appeal by Carolyn Mahaney. Carolyn is looking at our role as Titus 2 women and what the scripture teaches by taking apart that verse a section at a time. Chapter three is an excellent guide to show us what God’s Word says about loving our children.
The chapter starts off by reminding us as mom’s how good we are at self-sacrificing love. It is a rare experience to meet a woman who doesn’t sacrifice for her children and daily lay down her life to serve them. We are good at that kind of love.
I have two adult children and three grandbabies. I can tell you I fiercely love all my babies – my now grown children and those little grandbabies. This mama would do anything for them and be there in a heartbeat.
Whether we have our own children or spiritual children we have a high calling to love these children and point them to Christ. This high calling of motherhood is truly an honor, and I hope that today I can with the Lord’s help, to help us to grasp this. I’ve talked much about cleaning and homekeeping and scheduling over the years but the moments we get with our children are hopefully pointing them to the reality that life is bigger than cleaning and cooking and that our example would be one of the sacrificial love of Jesus and of laying down your life for another. You are a disciple mama, and you are to be making disciples in your home.
It is a tiring job at times and can seem overwhelming many days, but I hope that you will be reminded today in our time that you can’t do anything without the strength of Christ. In Christ Mama, we can do all things with great joy. So let’s look together at the blessings of loving our children:
For the show notes, links and resources mentioned head to ThankfulHomemaker.com. To get your free copy of my eBook - Motherhood: Delighting in Our Children click here.
We all have habits we already do on a day to day basis. Habits are things that just happen without us thinking about them anymore. We brush our teeth, make our beds, maybe we exercise regularly, eat meals, or wake up and have a cup of coffee. We do these things now without thinking – it’s so good to have things we do without thinking! But a habit isn’t just a by-product of repetition. We can also develop and form new habits.
I can’t determine what habits you would like to develop in your homemaking, but I can encourage you to ponder and start small by doing just one. Maybe you don’t clean the dishes up after dinner immediately and leave them until morning. Would you like to change that habit and do clean up the night before?
How can we as believers "put on" an attitude of love in our homes? What does it look like to "put off" sinful responses and attitudes and "put on" God-honoring attitudes? I'm hoping today to encourage you that as believers we can "put on" attitudes and behaviors that are God-honoring. If we are in Christ, He has equipped us to do so through His presence within us and through our intake of God's truth.
We're working through Ephesians 4:22-24 together today: Ephesians 4:22-24:
22 to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, 23 and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds,24 and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.
We have a new nature when we receive Christ and are born again – we become a totally different individual – we’re now a citizen of heaven
Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation the old has gone the new has come.
~ 2 Corinthians 5:17
The apostle Paul reminds us throughout his epistles that we have a new nature. It affects our mind, heart, knowledge, wisdom, love, desires and every aspect of our being. According to God’s Word, we are new – transformed.
As believers, we now have a new nature. Our behavior is now able to match our new nature because Christ is in us. We are risen with Christ, and we should now behave in accordance with who we are.
For show notes and links mentioned, please head to www.thankfulhomemaker.com and click on the podcast tab in the menu bar.
I’m sharing a message with you today that I gave at a sweet friend’s bridal shower. I had the privilege of watching this young woman as a teenager grow into a lovely, godly woman who as I’m now recording this just got married this weekend. I’m excited for the next season the Lord has for her, but I’m also excited for the season the Lord has us all in right now.
I had such a problem titling this message, and I think you'll understand why when you listen in. The podcast today isn’t just for married women or soon to be married women, but I believe there will be much for all women. We’re going to be talking about our identity in Christ and what it looks like to love one another. I’m focusing on cherishing our husbands, but I think you will see much of this will pertain to all of us in our relationships with each other inside and outside the church too.
You can find the show notes at www.thankfulhomemaker.com
One of the most fundamental ways to manage our homes well is to take the time to plan. Planning is merely deciding in advance the what, why and how things will be done even cleaning. Ladies the time it takes to put together a plan for the care and upkeep of your home is well worth your time and energy. You know the saying that sorta goes like this - “Many women plan to fail because they fail to plan.”
On the other side of that, we can do so much planning and never get to the action part. I love to sit and plan – cleaning would not be my favorite – I say that but it really is getting started, and once I get moving on it I enjoy it because of the instant results you see from it.
I want to remind you here this is a method or methods – I’m sharing three that I use at various times and seasons in my life - that work well for me and my personality. I’m not a naturally organized person and actually can be quite messy. My friends would not say this about me because when they come over, they see a neat and tidy home. I have to work hard to go against the bent of my natural personality in this area. I have trained myself to become a tidy home keeper – not perfect but neat and orderly. I still have my certain drawers and areas that I need to continue to declutter and organize, but overall I have worked to make my home easy to clean and keep orderly.
I desire my home to be a haven for my family. I also don’t want to spend all my time and energy just cleaning my house. I desire to give my family and other relationships my time, so I’ve learned to manage my home well, so it doesn’t control me and take up all my time. I also appreciate having a house ready to offer hospitality and fellowship to others at a moment’s notice.
My point I’m trying to make here is that my cleaning method or methods may not work for you, but I want you as you listen to me today ponder what type of cleaning schedule – if you don’t have one already- would help you to care and manage your home.
Visit www.thankfulhomemaker.com for the Show Notes.
As believers in the Lord Jesus Christ not one of us would desire to remain a babe in the faith. We all desire to grow more in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. Spiritual growth doesn’t happen by osmosis – you have to be disciplined in putting God’s truth in your mind. Spending time with the Lord in His Word will transform our hearts and compel us to obey God’s Word.
As we grow in our understanding of God’s Word we will develop convictions that will determine how we will live or how we hope to live. God’s Word helps us to develop principles that we desire to live our lives by – this is the process of sanctification.
“Sanctification is a process – the process of becoming more like Christ, of growing in holiness. This process begins the instant you are converted and will not end until you meet Jesus face-to-face. Sanctification is about our own choices and behavior. It involves work. Empowered by God’s Spirit, we strive. We fight sin. We study Scripture and pray, even when we don’t feel like it. We flee temptation. We press on; we run hard in the pursuit of holiness. And as we become more and more sanctified, the power of the gospel conforms us more and more closely, with ever-increasing clarity, to the image of Jesus Christ.”
Growing spiritually is the most important step in our role as Christian wives and mothers. I do not have true wisdom to offer my family because true wisdom comes from the Lord and knowledge of Him.
I know what you’re going to say – I barely have time to breath how am I going to fit in time with the Lord.
Stick with me here today because I’m hoping I have some tips that will motivate you or at least seem doable that you can work into your current season of life.
Find the show notes and more information at the blog - www.thankfulhomemaker.com
We all have this vision of working in this perfectly organized home where there is a place for everything, and everything is in its place. We picture saving time and money and less stress in this place, but many times that’s as far as we get. It’s just a vision, and we never get there. I hope today we can see that it isn’t just a dream, but we can get there. There are many ways to declutter, and I’m going to share some methods that have worked for me and I hope will inspire you today to start working away at your clutter piece by piece with me.
I love to work in an orderly workspace. I love order and beauty in my home. Studies have proven that people think clearer and better in uncluttered environments.
Clutter is a real enemy. Clutter can keep us from enjoying our families and homes as it takes up our time, can rob us of our joy, can add stress to our lives and takes up our living space.
I was going to initially share a podcast this week on cleaning schedules (that’s a future one coming soon), but as I started writing it, I realized this is an area that needs to be dealt with before we can start cleaning.
Remember we can’t clean clutter.
You can find the show notes at www.thankfulhomemaker.com
As I’m sharing this with you today, I don’t know what you my listeners are coming to this podcast with. I don’t know the hurts in your lives. Hurtful words, betrayal from a friend, disappointments, and even much darker areas of abuse to unspeakable offenses that many of us could not even fathom.
Many times we can just go on trying to live in a state of normalcy all the while these past hurts are building resentment and bitterness in our hearts. Our God does not want us to be stuck there. In Christ, we have the freedom to be set free.
Forgiveness is a choice. It is not a denial that whatever hurt has been done against you isn’t real, but it does mean you need to face it and be reminded that not forgiving that sin against you is a sin in itself.
For the links and show notes visit www.thankfulhomemaker.com


Waunakee Community School District takes great pride in the students, community, and commitment to excellence. Education is a community endeavor and we encourage you to become involved in our schools and work with us in providing a world class education to the students of the Waunakee Community.
Please visit the Waunakee Community School District website to get a list of all schools in the district as well as registration information.
Waunakee is also home to Saint John the Baptist Catholic elementary school. St. John's prides itself in being a faith-filled Catholic elementary school offering academic excellence in Waunakee. Please visit St. John's website for more information or contact Principal Connie Stark at 608-849-5325.


From the Author’s Note
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was one of the great figures of the civil rights movement. In preparing to write this book, I read biographies of him. I learned that as a child he was determined to “use big words.” I reread his autobiography, speeches, sermons, and articles. I found his “big words” They are simple and direct, yet profound and poetic.
From the Illustrator’s Note
When I close my eyes and think about Dr. King’s life, the main image that comes to me over and over again is that of stained-glass windows in a church. For me, the windows are metaphors in a lot of ways. In the dark, they blaze out at you like beams of light. The multi-colors symbolize multi races. Stained-glass windows are also a vehicle to tell the story of Jesus. And whether you’re on the inside or the outside, windows allow you to look past where you are. I use metaphors throughout my work. The four candles in the last picture, for example, represent the four girls who were killed in the sixteenth Street Baptist church. Their light shines on.


Each Day of Recollection will begin with Coffee and a snack at 9:30, include two sessions, Mass and lunch, and conclude by 2:15pm. The suggested offering for the day is $25.
Sept. 7 Pope Francis, Call for the Church Today: The Joy of the Gospel; Fr. Ken Laverone OFM
Oct. 5 Pope Francis, The Holiness of Creation: Laudato Si; Fr. Paul Botenhagen OFM
Nov. 2 Pope Francis, Becoming Holy: Gaudete et Exulate; Fr. Ken Laverone OFM
Dec. 5 Am I Strong & Brave Enough For the End? Fr. Paul Botenhagen OFM
Dec. 12 Pope Francis and Mary; Fr. Ken Laverone OFM
Dec. 19 Why Should I Rejoice and Be Glad? Fr. Paul Botenhagen OFM


Celebrating Sicilian-style Easter in Singapore
Updated: Apr 5, 2022
Sicily is one of the regions in Italy where Easter is celebrated in a big way. Easter is one of the most important calendar year in Sicily where every city and village is filled with ceremonies and celebrations which attract visitors from all over Italy and overseas to visit.
Sicily has always been rich in cultural diversity. The Sicilian Easter holiday does not only represent the traditional religious processions from the resurrection. The Jewish in Sicily celebrates this occasion as liberation from evil and sin. The Albanian and Greek community in Palermo celebrates this Holy Week with their own interpretation of the resurrection journey. The celebrations in Trapani came from Spanish origin as the typical tradition of rituals of Holy Week in Andalusia and Easter in Seville. In Palermo, the highlight of Easter is the representation of the Last Supper and the devotion to Santa Maria's sorrow which have been a tradition that they carried out since the Roman days.
The diversity of culture in Sicily influenced the food which is served in Sicily for the Easter festivity too. Lamb is a customary Easter dish that is cooked with different local recipes in Sicily and the whole Italy. For Christians, the lamb is more a representation of Jesus crucification and sacrifice as “the lamb of God”. The sacrificial lamb is mentioned in the Old Testament, when God asks Abraham to sacrifice his son. This year at Gattopardo, Chef Giovanni has prepared his family's recipe to represent the cultural diversity in Sicily - Spit-Roasted Whole Lamb with Grilled Corn Cous Cous & Smoked Anchovies Gremolata.
Fish is served in Easter as the catalyst for the disciples to recognize the resurrected Jesus beside the shore. It also was a symbol for early Christians because the Greek word ichthus -- "fish" -- forms an acrostic consisting of the first letters of the phrase "Jesus Christ, the Son of God." As part of our Easter Brunch Menu, we'll be serving Salt-Baked Giant Seabass with Sicilian Caponata.
No Easter is complete without the breaking of the Colomba di Pasqua. A colomba cake is not only a Sicilian tradition, it is a culinary symbol of Easter in Italy. The colomba is a traditional dove-shaped cake featuring a rich, soft dough with a slightly chewy texture. Shaped similar to panettone, filled with candied orange peel. Our kitchen is serving Colomba di Pasqua with Dolce de Leche & Bronte Pistachio Gelato to complete your Sicilian Easter Brunch at Gattopardo.
Other dishes to complete your Sicilian Easter Experience at Gattopardo are:
Fresh Apulia Burrata Cheese with Charred Courgettes, Green Chili Pesto & Garlic Focaccia
Seared Yellowfin Tuna Salad with Salmoriglio Dressings
Sicilian Wagyu Beef Arancini with Arrabiata Sauce
Spaghetti with Fruits of the Sea & Bottarga
Naturally, the Sicilian way of Easter celebration is completed with the serving of lots of wine during the meal.
Join us for this Easter Festivity Brunch on Sunday, 17 April 2022 from 12 - 2.30pm OR 2.30 - 5pm. $108++ per person including free flow of artisanal soft drinks & juices / $168++ per person including free flow of wines & prosecco.


Diocese of Chester
Programme of repairs to landmark Grade I listed 18th century church
We were appointed as architects to lead a project of repairs to this landmark Grade I listed 18th century church.
The present church, built in brickwork between 1740-42, stands on the site of a medieval church, which was demolished with the exception of the lower levels of the stone tower. The tower was then raised in 1786 to its current height with a parapet and pinnacles. In 1839-40 the church was further extended by one bay on the West end either side of the tower with a porch added facing the street.
The church is rectangular in plan form, seven bays long with two tiers of windows, round headed above and segment arch headed below. The Venetian East window is set in a pediment brick projection with niches either side.
Phase 1 - we were commissioned to undertake the Quinquennial Inspection of the Church. The recommendation within the report was that the replacement of the roof finish should be undertaken as a priority repair item along with associated structural timber repairs. The church was covered in concrete tiles which were heavily degraded and the replacement of these with Welsh slate formed the basis of a successful grant application to English Heritage under the Listed Places of Worship Repair Scheme, with a grant being awarded.
Phase 2 - BTP worked with the Church on a second phase of priority repairs, which received HLF grant funding. The works involved repairs to an ornate decorative ceiling to the nave of the Church and the replacement/reinstatement of cast iron windows.
BTP has helped to deliver an innovative development of sustainable,...


The Hansen Family
Norman, Nancy, Steven & Melanie Hansen are the founding family of MiracleAir and have been involved in service in Nicaragua Since 2015. Over the past year God has opened up the door for them to serve the Caribbean coast of Nicaragua with a beautiful Found Bush Hawk amphibious plane. God's hand has been evident in the formation of this ministry and the Hansen's believe God will use MiracleAir to save lives, ease suffering and spread the good new of Jesus soon coming.
As MiracleAir's first student missionary, Melanie completed her year of service in May of 2022. What an incredible blessing it has been to have our daughter working with us as a student missionary in Nicaragua. She has directly impacted more than 600 individuals with dental care and oral hygiene education. She will be attending Southern Adventist University in Tennessee in the fall studying elementary education and working at the student missions office.


Departure of a Humble Giant.
I recently received this moving obituary of Charles
Condamines, an international revolutionary who fought for the poor and
persecuted in Chile and Africa, written by his friend Jose Cifuentes.
In the light of renewed interest in what happened
in Chile in the aftermath of the release of James Dean Bradfield's 'Even
in Exile' album, I asked to share it here. I believe it shows that Charles'
life was an example of commitment to social justice and peace, despite
all the odds.
Charles Condamines, our dear Charles.
Charles, a former French priest, arrived in Chile in
1970 in the early days of the Allende government. As soon as he arrived,
he saw the glaring difference between the lives of the very poor and
the very wealthy. He decided to go and live in a shanty town in Talca,
not in order to preach, but in order to inspire people to break free
from poverty and exploitation. Such were his convictions and his willingness
to live by these, that at the time, he was viewed with suspicion and
incredulity both by the Catholic church and by traditional leftist politicians.
Carlos, as we called him in Chile, was deemed to be untrustworthy, as
it was clear he would not follow anyone blindly, whether this be the
clergy or career politicians.
In the shanty towns of Arturo Prat and Che Guevara in Talca, Carlos
created communities for life made up of young university students. Led
by his example, he sowed seeds which were later to grow into young leaders,
spurred by his encouragement of critical thinking and dedication to
tackling poverty and social justice.
As well as teaching Marxism and Christianity in the University of Chile
Talca, Carlos worked as a social researcher in the Bishop Manuel
Larrain Foundation in Talca. There, amongst other projects, he published
an investigation which exposed the human rights degradations experienced
by domestic workers in Talca. He also published various think pieces
which aimed to provoke a social conscience in workers, students, and
the traditionally conservative Catholic establishment.
For Carlos, the duty of every Christian was to be a revolutionary,
and the duty of every revolutionary was to create a revolution
no more, no less. Carlos actions spoke much louder than his words.
Both Camilo Torres and Che Guevara were inspirations to his own life
Carlos believed firmly that the Catholic Church should exist to serve
the poor, and this drove him to found the Christians for Socialism movement
in Chile. This was based on the ideology of Liberation Theology, whose
vison was enshrined in a public declaration signed by 80 priests, witnessed
by Fidel Castro in Cuba. This declaration recognised that Cuban society
was much closer to Gods will for humanity on earth. While this
outraged the leaders of the Catholic Church, it opened the minds of
thousands of Catholic Chileans, until then trapped in the prejudicial
thinking of the Chilean right wing.
The reality of Carloss daily life in Talca strongly
impacted many Christians, Marxists and Agnostics in Chile. His influence
was especially strongly felt by many more traditional Catholics who
till then believed in a God who was distinct from the daily lives of
the poor and marginalised. Carloss presence helped them question
As well as those who admired and respected Carlos and his life choices,
there were also those who felt uncomfortable with these, and who did
not hesitate to use their privileges to isolate and undermine him.
In his personal and political life, Carlos never sorted his relationships
according to political affiliations, nor did he blindly follow any political
persuasion. He simply treated every man or woman as a brother or sister,
even if he often profoundly disagreed with anothers political
Allende's election in Chile offered hope of a fairer
world until he was overthrown by Pinochet
It is painful to say goodbye to such a gentle, giant fighter for humanity,
a prophet amongst us, helping us along the and highs and lows towards
a fairer, safer and more peaceful word. Carlos belongs to that generation
of men and women who believed that a fairer world was possible, like
in Chile with Salvador Allende, and who gave their all for these dreams,
despite the consequences. These are the gentle giants which history
has given us and from whom, hopefully, new generations will learn to
distinguish words from actions, and the importance of living your values.
The military coup in Chile forced Carlos to leave Chile under threat
of death, and he was only able to do so thanks to the generous and brave
intervention of the then French Consulate in Santiago who personally
escorted Carlos to the steps of the aeroplane, in order to prevent his
abduction by the Chilean secret police. On the 11th of September 1973,
with the complicity of the US Nixon administration, and the Chilean
Catholic church, fascism and its bonfire of hate, succeeded in breaking
The Coup in Chile, 1973
The military coup caused Carlos to fall and to stumble, but he soon
got up again, and from his home country of France he continued to dedicate
his life denouncing the atrocities of Pinochets regime. At the
same time he opened doors and gave hope to hundreds of Chilean and Latin
American refugees exiled in France.
For Carlos, his commitment to the oppressed and persecuted was not limited
to Chile. With his characteristic passion for social justice and liberation
he created several humanitarian projects in countries across Africa.
Carlos was not only an activist committed to serving the oppressed,
but was also a brilliant intellectual capable of pointing out inconsistences
as often as necessary, without thought for the consequences. Thus, straight
after the military coup in Chile he published his first book The
Chilean Catholic Church: Complicity or Resistance where he published
ample evidence of the corruption and hypocrisy of the Church leadership
in their collaboration with the civil-military dictatorship. Shortly
before his cruel illness limited his physical abilities, he published
his second book in France I was a priest, now I am not even a
Christian, where he relived his life, particularly the time spent
amongst the shanty towns of Chile, his commitment and his persecution
which ultimately led him to have to leave Chile. Until his very last
breath, he remained true to his vison of a God which was a God of the
oppressed and persecuted. His own experienced showed him that cynicism,
egoism, ambition, cowardice and hypocrisy were alive and well amongst
the revered leaders of the church to whom he had devoted his life. It
was thus profoundly painful to him to disrobe and give up the cassock.
Not only this, but he also denounced those businessmen dressed up as
pastors and priests. Carlos said to hell with that God of
the military, of the loan sharks, the career politicians. This was a
true expression of his beliefs, of his life, the ultimate act of liberation
During his last few years in France, and while still in reasonably good
health, together with his wife friends and neighbours, Carlos supported
the development of a small agricultural cooperative, as a means of reducing
the negative impact of large monopolies on the ability of local people
to eat well. At the same time Carlos, his wife and friends fought for
the humane treatment of Libyan and other refugees in France. In his
inimitable way, Carlos not only theorised about social injustices but
also took personal action in this space whenever it was needed.
I had the personal honour and privilege of knowing Carlos and living
with him for three years of my life in the Poblacion Arturo Prat in
Chile. I was then a young Catholic with a very conservative and right-wing
mindset. Yet Carlos never reproached or criticised my prejudicial views,
rather he invited me to follow my own path together with the poor and
marginalised. Without ever trying to convince me of the merits of a
particular viewpoint, the example of his own life enabled me to transform
my own life beyond what I could have imagined. One night in the shack
we lived in, Carlos read to me the following: And let me tell
you, at the risk of seeming ridiculous, that the true revolutionary
is motivated by real feelings of love, in particular for those who are
suffering. Carlos then asked me if I knew who had written those
words. I said no, but that they had a deep impact on me. He replies
Ernesto Che Guevara.
A gentle giant is leaving us, one of the greatest, who preferred to
shine humbly and discreetly. One who never tired nor hesitated to call
out as evil those who had sowed so much destruction.
New generations will come and new men and women will come who, like
Carlos, are not limited by national borders, ideologies, beliefs, or
politics, and who will remind us that his struggle, like our own, has
not been in vain.
From many humble corners of Chile we extend our arms fraternally, in
these painful moments to your wife Elizabeth, your children Hadrien
and Magali, and your grandchildren.
Compañero Carlos Condamines, presente, hasta la Victoria, siempre
! Comrade Carlos Condamines you are present, until victory, always!
Your Chilean, French and African brothers and sisters.
Jose Cifuentes (Translation by Rocio Cifuentes)
James Dean Bradfield's album about Victor Jara, with inspiring lyrics
by Patrick Jones, has sparked new interest in those who resisted Fascism


Thursday, December 24, 2009
I love Christmas!!! There is just a special spirit about it that just makes me happier. I love that this special time as been set aside all over the world to remember the birth of the Savior of the World. To feel and know the love that He has for us! I love giving people presents and i love watching them open them knowing they will love them! I love feeling the excitement that the little children have for Santa Clause to come to their house and leave presents under the tree. There is just a feeling in the air that makes you want to be a better person and make everyday of the year Christmas for your family and friends. I LOVE IT!!! It makes me want to be able to get everyone i know something awesome for Christmas, or make them something!!! I love Christmas Carols and the happiness that they put in the spirit around me! I love little boys who love Christmas so much that they go around singing "jingle bells, jinble bells" because that's the only part they know. I love everything about Christmas!!! I love most of all our Savior Jesus Christ who was born to Mary and came into the world to "bring to pass the immortality and eterenal life of man"! That He loves all of us so much that he came to the world. ( i can't even comprehend that love yet) He gave us the opportunity to come here and prove our love to Him and His father! To live a righteous life and be able to return to His presence one day to feel the Happy magic spirit of Christmas for Eternity!!!
Posted by Rach at 9:52 AM


The effects of global warming are the environmental and social changes caused (directly or indirectly) by human emissions of greenhouse gases. Biblical, this would occur at the end time.
Just as in the time of Noah who warned of the judgment and destruction to come. Noah was treated as an extremist, until flood came, but Noah’s ark was floating.
=Global warming is a sign of the nearness of the second coming of Jesus Christ.
Luke 17:26-30New International Version (NIV)
26 “Just as it was in the days of Noah, so also will it be in the days of the Son of Man. 27 People were eating, drinking, marrying and being given in marriage up to the day Noah entered the ark. Then the flood came and destroyed them all.
28 “It was the same in the days of Lot. People were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building. 29 But the day Lot left Sodom, fire and sulfur rained down from heaven and destroyed them all.
30 “It will be just like this on the day the Son of Man is revealed


I have frequent nightmares about being sent away from home as a child, violently handed over to sadistic strangers, and thrown into an empty cell of solitary confinement.
I will never really get over it.
But I am thankful for the experience. It will always haunt me, and yet I am stronger for having endured it.
But for God’s sake: Parents, please don’t ever send your children away without their consent! For a child to be violently wrenched from the security of their family and their friends and their natural home environment is an inexcusable abuse.
But I forgive my parents. Or at least I sincerely try.
They truly meant no harm.
They knew not what they did.
And unlike my Jesus who suffered without any guilt, I know that the pain I caused my parents was worthy of the agony I was forced to endure.
And unlike the evildoers who crucified Christ, my parents truly believed that my nails and thorns were in my best interest. In fact, they were genuinely convinced that my torment was “treatment,” and that breaking my heart was a benevolent act of love.
And perhaps they were right. So how can I blame them?
So I can’t be bitter about those trials. I can only be honest. Because truth is the prelude to forgiveness; and forgiveness is the prelude to redemption; and redemption betroths reconciliation.
I know that I was crucified out of love rather than hate. And I can live with that. Because I have to live with the realization that I have crucified many others with my apathy and indifference and arrogance and evil. The sins of my parents were sins of weakness and ignorance and confusion and doubt. But my own sins have been much more deliberate, much more intentional, and therefore much more indefensible.
Yes, these nightmares still haunt me. I don’t want to be sent away again! I still fear that some nefarious “they” will come to take me away, forcing me to wear a green hospital robe, placing me in a padded room, and declaring me a “criminal” or a “lunatic.” And in a society run by the criminally insane, I realize that the truth tellers will always be considered outlaws. Incarcerate them, anesthetize them, mock them, and slay them – but by all means silence them.
But maybe these nightmares emanate from the large, dark beam that is firmly implanted in my own subconscious eye. Maybe my dreams still torment me because I have yet learned to truly forgive, to truly move forward, to truly bathe in the love and light of Christ. Most of all I am haunted by my own grudges. And I am too old to bear this weight any longer.
Please, Lord Jesus: take this yoke upon Yourself. I want peace with my family. And I really, really just want to get some sleep. And if I must be sent away again, Lord please, send me home to You.
Selam, +Gebre Menfes Kidus+


Holy Trinity Cathedral was consecrated at a special service on Saturday 28th of October 2017 at 3pm.
Consecration marks the successful completion of the Selwyn’s Vision – let’s finish what history started project to complete and consecrate Holy Trinity Cathedral.
Consecration is the offering of the Cathedral back to God, for His glory and purposes. This celebration acknowledged the many who over generations have contributed, and continue to contribute, to the life and work of Holy Trinity Cathedral.
The final team of organ builders from Nicholson’s have completed their installation work of the new Cathedral organ. As a result the last vestiges of scaffolding and fencing have been removed from the Chancel crossing, and for the first time in nearly three years the Cathedral no longer resembles a building site. Nicholson’s foreman, Tim Bennett, together with his team of Darren, Gavin and Paul, were with us for 6 weeks over March/April, and it was with some sadness that we farewelled them as they have, over the course of the total installation, become very much a part of the Cathedral team.
But all is not quite finished. A team of two voicers from Nicholsons will be joining us in mid-May for the final voicing and tuning of the organ, and our UK-based organ consultant, Mr Paul Hale, will travel to Auckland at the end of May to assist in the final handover process from Nicholson’s to Holy Trinity Cathedral.
Another milestone event for the Selwyn’s Vision project will be the first public playing of the new organ at the Trinity Sunday Service of Choral Eucharist at 10am on 11 June 2017.
The time gap between our first public use of the new Cathedral organ in June, and the Opening Recital on 16 September, is very deliberate. Such a large and new instrument will require a considerable “settling in” period to ensure its five thousand pipes, hundreds of metres of cabling, over 100 circuit boards, plus its complex web of blowers and soundboards, all operate as designed, and in tune. And then there’s the not insignificant challenge for Philip Smith, Cathedral Organist, and Michael Stoddart, Director of Music, to become totally familiar with the playing of this magnificent instrument.
Simon Pierce and his team from Pierce Pipe Organs, Brisbane, are nearing the end of their complete restoration of the beautiful George Croft organ in St Mary’s-in-Holy Trinity.
Finishing work continues apace this week ahead of the Opening Recital on Saturday evening, 7.30pm, 25 March 2017, 108 years to the day since the first opening recital.
The last few stops are being installed, and tonal finishing is almost complete.
Simon has had a team of three working with him for the last six weeks, with Derek, Kyle, Lochlan, Jamie and Julie traversing the Tasman at regular intervals.
Simon hosted the organ equivalent of a “roof shout” last week, an opportunity to celebrate the near-completion of the restoration, where everyone was unanimous in their praise for the sound and appearance of the instrument.
Simon and his wife Julie will be special guests at the Recital on Saturday. Cathedral Organist, Philip Smith, and Director of Music, Michael Stoddart, will be pulling out all the stops for the recital!
The Opening Recital on Saturday 25 March is the first of a series of four recitals. Tickets are available from iTicket or at the door on the night.
A very busy six weeks for the Nicholson & Co team. Two 40ft containers have arrived and been unpacked; the Main and West cases and façade pipes have been installed; and the building frames, soundboards and wind system are all in place.
But the most exciting part of this phase was the lifting of the fixed console. This console weighs over 400kg and was lifted to its permanent home above the Marsden Chapel using a hoist system between two scaffold towers.
Team One have returned to the UK and we look forward to welcoming Team Two tomorrow for the completion of the installation.
The first weeks of January saw the installation of two massive scaffolding towers, and preparatory works of steel and painting undertaken, ready for the organ builders’ arrival on 23 January.
The first of two containers arrived from the Nicholson & Co factory, Malvern, UK, on 24 January and the install of the North organ has commenced.
The North organ will be a mirror image of the South organ, although the internal components will be different. It is programmed for completion by Easter 2017, after which the voicing of the entire organ will commence.
Welcome back to the first of the Nicholson & Co organ building teams for the North organ install.


Southern Baptist Church
Macedonia Baptist Church
Serving the Lord in the Edith Community
Faith is more than religion. It's about a relationship between a person and God. Together, we make faith worth living.
Our children and youth are going to camp this year at Cedar Glades Baptist Encampment. It is for children going into 4th grade thru 12th grade. The cost is $100.00. See Bro. Charles for details and registration. All students and adult sponsors need to be signed up by Sunday, May 28, 2017.


Midway International Airport's chapel is a peaceful oasis in a busy airport; a place for silent prayer, as well as a place for worship and liturgies. It is also a place to bow your head in prayer while lifting up your heart and spirit. Prayer books, rugs, rosaries, worship materials and Juma'ablution (wudu) facilities are also available.
Mezzanine Level on Concourse C, inside the security checkpoint above the triangle food court.
For more information, please call the Chapel Office at (773) 686-2636.
You may also visit Airport Chapels for more information.
Schedule of Masses and Services
The Sacrament of Reconciliation is available 10 minutes before each Mass and also by appointment.
- Monday through Friday: 11:30 a.m.
- Saturday: 4:00 p.m.
- Sunday: 7:00 a.m., 9:00 a.m., and 11:00 a.m.
- Saturday and Sunday: 10:00 a.m. and noon
Holy Day Schedules
Seasonal holy day Mass and Worship schedules can be found here.
Click these links for the current Ash Wednesday schedule and the future dates of Easter (and Ash Wednesday) until the year 2100.
The Catholic Chaplaincy
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago
View Schedule of Masses and Services
Confessions 10 minutes before each Mass or anytime on request.
Rev. Michael G. Zaniolo, STL, CAC, Chaplain
Rev. George McKenna, Associate Chaplain
The Muslim Chaplaincy
The Muslim Community Center of Chicago
There is a prayer rug and time schedule for daily prayer available.
Mr.Qazi M. Biabani, Imam and Khateeb
The Protestant Chaplaincy
The Moody Church
Christian, Protestant, Non-Denominational Sunday Worship
View Schedule of Services. Special services and pastoral care by request.
Rev. Dr. Hutz H. Hertzberg, Chaplain


No matter who you are, or where you are on life’s journey, you are welcome at Meadowbrook. As a Congregational church, we celebrate our rich Pilgrim heritage while embracing the diversity of all people who are seeking to grow their faith. At Meadowbrook, you will find a warm, inviting, and inclusive Jesus-centered community. There is a place for all who come through our doors.
We worship the Lord on Sundays at 10 am in our Meeting House–known outside the Congregationalist vein of Christianity as the sanctuary. Following worship, all are welcome to our Fellowship Hall for coffee, treats, and an opportunity to talk with members and other visitors.
Where do I park and enter?
Entering the church driveway from Meadowbrook Road, the entrance doors are on the north side of the building to the left of the entry drive. Parking is available on both the north side and at the back of the church. If you park in the back section of the parking lot, feel free to walk around to the north entrance. The greeters will provide directions once in the church.
Is the Meeting House handicap-accessible?
The north entrance to the church is barrier-free and accessible to all. Our ushers and greeters are readily available for anyone needing assistance.
Is there a dress code?
There is no dress code. You will find a mixed bag of styles from jeans and casual attire to sports coats and dresses. Wear what is comfortable for you; God’s much more interested in your heart than what you’re wearing!
Where do children go during service?
Children and youth are certainly welcome to stay for worship in our Meeting House. After a brief Children’s Message–delivered about 15 minutes into the service–most children and youth leave for Church School. Those who wish to stay for the service with their guardian(s) are welcome to do so. Nursery care is available for little ones. Children and youth join the adults in Fellowship Hall for refreshments following the service.
Who is invited to take communion?
All are welcome at Meadowbrook’s communion table. You do not have to be a member of our congregation or any church to partake in the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper (the Eucharist). The congregation remains seated during communion whilst trays of bread and cups are passed to each pew.
21355 Meadowbrook Road
Novi, Michigan 48375
Just north of Eight Mile Road, one mile west of Haggerty


Mass Shootings Sign of Societal Collapse
The tragic surge of mass shootings across America is neither the result of presidential rhetoric nor the result of lax gun laws. The Columbine massacre occurred on Bill Clinton’s watch when the assault gun ban was in effect. Sandy Hook happened during the Obama Presidency.
No, the continuing explosion in violence in America—which includes the daily killing of innocents in large, Democrat-run cities like Chicago – is a consequence of the progressive abandonment of religious values and moral principles that are leading to societal collapse on a level not seen since the fall of the Roman Empire. These values and principles, rooted in Biblical law and Christianity for more than 2000 years, dictated a respect for the dignity of human life which has all but disintegrated throughout the Western World over the last half-century.
The embrace of a soulless secularism which can trace its origins at least to the days of the French Revolution all the way through the godless communist ideology of Marx in the mid-19th century to the Cultural Revolution of the 1960s has reaped a bloody harvest of death and destruction unparalleled in human history.
The irony of this reality is that the agents of death and destruction are the very ones who determined that God should be dethroned and Man raised in his place. That the worship of God should be replaced with the Worship of Man. And, the result of their efforts in the 20th century: Two of the worst wars in human history, costing the lives of over 80 million people. The mass exterminations of Hitler, Stalin and Mao which led to the deaths of over 100 million. Pol Pot’s annihiliation of half of Cambodia’s population. Mass murder by totalitarian regimes throughout Africa and on and on. All in the name of “progress” and creating a “new man.” A “new man” without God.
This repudiation of the value of human life by the cultural Marxists and secularists in American society is manifested by the murder of over 60 million unborn babies since Roe v. Wade in 1973 – a holocaust of shame that permanently disfigures the face of America. And, it is manifested by what we saw happen recently in Gilroy, California, Dayton, Ohio, and El Paso, Texas. For if any society can so callously and brutally destroy its most innocent and defenseless, what message does that society transmit to others about the value of human life?
Do you like my commentaries and podcasts? Help me get the message out to a wider audience by making a donation today. Thank you for your support!


Saint Mary of the Assumption509 W. Magnolia Avenue, Fort Worth, Texas 76104
At the time of its founding in 1909 the parish boundaries of the Church of St. Mary of the Assumption were described as “all the territory contained within the following . . . on the north by the T & P Railroad; on the south it extends into the country; on the east by the M K & T Railroad; on the west it extends into the country.” These were generous boundaries to say the least! The third Catholic Church to be established in the City of Fort Worth, St. Mary’s is the “mother church” of all the other parishes south and west of the city.
The first Mass at St. Mary’s was celebrated on May 4, 1909, in the small wooden building that constituted the first Church. After a fire destroyed that building in 1922, the present Church was constructed and the first Mass was celebrated on July 20, 1924. A jewel of Romanesque architecture, the new St. Mary’s instantly became a prominent landmark on Magnolia Avenue and a center of worship, education and social activity for the near south side of Fort Worth. Initially, St. Mary’s was under the care of priests of the Congregation of the Mission (Vincentians). In 1928, the Order of St. Benedict (Benedictines) began a ministry that was to last for half a century. Their tenure saw the development of Laneri High School (now Cassata Learning Center) and St. Mary’s School, both staffed by Benedictines. The current rectory was constructed during that time. Priests of the Society of the Divine Savior (Salvatorians) staffed the parish from 1978 until 1982. That year the Society of Mary (Marianists) assumed pastoral care of the parish.
St. Mary’s Now
With the arrival in 2001 of Fr. David L. Bristow and Deacon Héctor L. Salvá, St. Mary’s came to be staffed for the first time by a priest and deacon of the Diocese of Fort Worth. St. Mary’s has seen many changes since its founding in 1909. The parish bounds no longer extend “into the country.” Now it is comprised of a large area in the rapidly revitalizing center of Fort Worth. Once a parish made up largely of Irish immigrants, the St. Mary’s of today is an arch-typical multicultural Church. This fact is reflected in the weekly Mass schedule which includes Masses in English, Spanish and Latin. What was once St. Mary’s School is now the parish Religious Formation Center as well as the location of numerous community gatherings. St. Mary of the Assumption Church, on Magnolia Avenue in Fort Worth, Texas — the grand lady of Catholic life on the near south side for over 100 years, is a vibrant, pastoral witness to the “faith once delivered to the saints.”
A Historical Monument
The Texas Historical Commission plaque reads as follows:
St. Mary of the Assumption, Roman Catholic Church
The first mass for this Roman Catholic parish was held in 1909 in a small wooden church which burned in 1922. This Romanesque revival structure was designed by the well-known firm of Sanguinet, Staats and Hedrick. It was dedicated July 20 1924, by the Most Rev. Joseph P. Lynch, Bishop of Dallas. The bells were installed in 1956. This parish has been guided by the Vincentian, Benedictine, and Salvatorian religious orders.
Recorded Texas Historic Landmark-1979


You are always welcome to help. As the body of Christ, we all play our part to help each other and serve the church as a
whole. As a member of TRA you are welcome to join any of our service teams (hyperlink to link to list of service units). We have
a lot of choices, so feel free to pick according to your passions and interests. The list of Teams is below:
Our passion to take care of individuals. Our mission is to be a welcoming presence in the house of God. Our smiling faces
make give the church a welcoming and inviting atmosphere especially to first timers. We are also hyper vigilant during
worship services to ensure order is maintained.
The Rock Voices
Our passion is worship. We are a musical ensemble of singers also known as TRVOP, with a passion for God and music.
We express our love for God through different genres of music including jazz, rock, soul and pop etc. Every service, we lead
the church into God’s presence through inspired praise and worship.
We have a core mission to maintain law and order in the church. We also see to the proper running of the pastor's itinerary,
pick up guest ministers among other roles. This department is made up of trained and well seasoned men and women
(Military and Paramilitary experience is a plus but not a prerequisite for service in the protocol department).
Our focus is the needy (poor and helpless). An initiative of The Rock Assembly, our aim is to assist the less privileged
members of our community, by empowering them spiritually and physically through the word of God and consistent mentorship.
We reach out to people by providing for their needs with food stuff, clothes and even financial support for business start-up.
We run TRA’s compassion and benevolence day on a quarterly basis (after 2nd service on the last Sunday of the month).
Facility Management Team
Our focus is to keep order. We oversee the church facilities and ensure they are in good condition. Our duties range
from maintenance of equipments and facilities (both in and outside the church auditorium to cleanliness of the environment.
We also assess health and safety risks before all services.
To minister God's word and message of hope by providing informational resource materials and church literature to enhance
awareness & communication - through the Elev8 Magazine, Website, Social Media, Facebook, Online Ads & Flyers.
Our focus is to ensure you remember the sermon. We are majorly focused on ensuring that the messages heard on the pulpit are
readily available at minimal price. We oversee the recording of audio messages and ensure adequate connection of
sound systems etc.
Our focus is cameras. We love them and we use them in recording activities and events of the TRA. We oversee the video
coverage of all the programs in church and the television ministry. We meet every Saturday either in the morning or evening
(as agreed by the other unit members).
Our focus is traffic order. We are also known as Traffic Wardens, we control crowd coming and going out of the church
auditorium including the cars to enable ease of movement and driving. We usually meet after service on Sunday.
Intercessory (Steam Team)
Our focus is prayer. We prayerfully intercede for the members of the church and church services; we are also known as
the ‘prayer warriors’ of the church and fondly known as ‘The Steam Team’ as we always steam up the atmosphere before
any meeting starts off. Our meeting days are usually 5:45p.m to 6:15p.m on Wednesdays and 8a.m to 8:45a.m on Sundays.
Hospitality/Medical (Eden Keepers)
Our focus is hospitality; taking care of you. We oversee reception for 1st time guests and also greet guests at the gate before
our Sunday services, we are called Eden Keepers. We have medical personnel who are always at hand to help during and
Information Management Team
Our focus is for the little detail. We see to the management of guest’s details most especially the first timers in the house. These
details are then passed to cluster heads for follow up, while we email, text and call our guests after every Sunday service. We
usually meet Sundays after service for brief meetings.
Our passion is listening to you. We provide counseling to members of the church either individually or as a group. E.g. marriage
counseling, Psychotherapy etc. We provide the essential guidance needed in living a victorious Christian life (see Prov. 15:22).
To join any of the team, email your name and area of interest to: firstname.lastname@example.org


Lies of the enemy:
1. You're a failure.
2. You're such a loser.
3. No one wants you.
4. You're not qualified.
5. Everyone else is better than you.
Your true identity: ACCEPTED
Ephesians 1:6 - To the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.
Beloved in this instance refers to Christ. God's grace makes us accepted in Christ, and who greater is there to accept us?
1 Peter 2: 4-5 - As you come to Him, the living Stone - rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to Him - you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
Jesus, the son of the living God, was rejected by mankind, but he was always seen as chosen and precious and accepted by the Father. In the same way, God has chosen all of us. Whether the people in your life accept and love you or whether like Christ, you have been rejected and outcast, your acceptance with the Holy Father is still the same and is unconditional. In addition, God recognizes the hardships you are going through while remaining faithful to them. He counts these as spiritual sacrifices and sees these as acceptable as well. Your struggles are acceptable to Christ.
Hebrews 4:16 - Let us therefore come boldly before the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
I don't know about you, but I rarely approach anything boldly. I'm getting better, but typically, I prefer to timidly approach things and test the water before getting too close. Hebrews states that we are to come boldly before the Lord and obtain..... What I gather from this is that we are so completely and fully accepted by God we can come to him like a child does to a loving parent and boldly as for and get the things that we need without fear.
You are never rejected by the Father. You are ACCEPTED by the only one whose acceptance really matters.


This paper will follow this basic structure. Taking the four apologetic systems: Fideistic Apologetics, Presupposition Apologetics, Evidential Apologetics, and Classical apologetics, the paper will identify and critique the foundational starting point upon which practitioners of these methods build their apologies. The systems will be dealt with in the aforementioned order. Each system’s apologetic method will be briefly described followed by an analysis of the starting point from which each system originates. After that, the starting point will be critiqued for its efficacy or legitimacy as a foundation for apologetics. Ultimately this paper will conclude that the foundations of Classical Apologetics are the strongest leading to the most effective and comprehensive apologetic method.
True biblical theology is built on the supernatural. Christ’s virgin birth, His ministry filled with miraculous healings, His physical resurrection from the dead, and His bodily ascension into heaven are simply a few of the numerous miracles essential to orthodox Christian doctrine. This is to say nothing of the miracles in the Old Testament or those preformed by the apostles. Such is the magnitude of the possibility of miracle as a precondition to Christian theology, that without it orthodox Christianity would collapse. The apostle Paul put it succinctly in 1 Cor. 15:14, “And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain.”


Each service focuses on an aspect of Eckankar and lasts about an hour. Our services feature readings from the ECK works, singing HU—a prayer to God, and may include creative arts and talks on the topic of the day.
Join us for an opportunity to bring more insight and divine love into your life. Experience the Light and Sound of God. Services may be followed by fellowship where light refreshments are served.
(Howard, Montgomery, and Prince George’s Counties):
3rd Sunday 11:00 AM: ECK Light and Sound Service
When: July 21, 2019 at 11:00 AM
Where: Central Maryland Eckankar Center. 1738 Elton Rd. Suite 104. Silver Spring, MD 20903
Facilitator: Stephen W. Vanscoyoc, (ECK Cleric)
Topic: Humility: Seeing and Treating Others as Soul.
Quote: How to gain Humility – Do one small thing for someone else each day expecting nothing in return and don’t talk about it. Harold Klemp, Drumbeat of time, Pages 17-18.
We all have stories of surprise and inner direction that illustrates a time we have received a gift or a service of Love that caused our heart to soar, either as giver or receiver. God knows and sends out messages to just the right being to fulfill the task at hand. Come explore how to awaken our inner ears and eyes so we may follow that sweet urging that guides us to gifting someone in need.
(Baltimore and Harford Counties, and Baltimore City):
4th Sunday 11:00 AM: ECK Light and Sound Service
When: July 28, 2019 11:00 AM-12:30 PM
Where: Baltimore Eckankar Center. 2318 N. Charles Street Baltimore, MD 21218
Facilitator: Steve Vanscoyoc (Eck Cleric)
Topic: Humility: Seeing and treating others as Soul.
- Fellowship after service. Please feel free to bring a snack to share.
(Carroll, Frederick, Washington, Allegheny, and Garrett Counties):
(Calvert, Charles, and St. Mary’s Counties)
(Anne Arundel and Eastern Shore Counties)


Download the most popular apps for Android devices, free and featured apps for Android
27 Aug 2019 There are Bible apps, prayer apps, sermon apps, and more. If you don't already have the Bible app on your phone, it's time to download it. The most comprehensive research on event apps. 120 apps compared and more than 350 event app implementations reviewed. Download PDF Download the Bible App! Customize your Bible with Highlights, Bookmarks, and JESUS film, Lumo Project & more CUSTOMIZE YOUR FREE BIBLE ○ Verse 5 Jun 2017 This little change saves me over $80 a month and I felt more FREE. I bought an iPod Touch so I can stay up-to-date with all Insta-Snap-Book happenings and all the other Why you need it: It's the ESSENTIAL Bible App. 11 Oct 2018 One of the most popular Bible apps on the App Store even uses your email to bombard you with SPAM, something else I detest. Sure, you can This treasure is greater than all technology. We dedicate some effort to spreading God's word. You'll find both Bible apps here developed by us, and also some recommendations of third party apps.
8 Jul 2013 YouVersion, a popular Bible app that launched alongside Apple's App a long way and I've since gotten rid of the other Bible apps I was using. He also pointed out that some users consider the app “more sacred, only in 4 Feb 2019 We've got the five best Kindle Fire Bible apps for you plus one app you The YouVersion Bible app from Life Church is the most popular Bible Analyze revenue and download data estimates and category rankings for top mobile reference apps. Data on e-Sword LT: Bible Study and other apps by Rick 27 Aug 2019 There are Bible apps, prayer apps, sermon apps, and more. If you don't already have the Bible app on your phone, it's time to download it. The most comprehensive research on event apps. 120 apps compared and more than 350 event app implementations reviewed. Download PDF Download the Bible App! Customize your Bible with Highlights, Bookmarks, and JESUS film, Lumo Project & more CUSTOMIZE YOUR FREE BIBLE ○ Verse
At home, at school or at the Sunday School! Children’S Bible Titles === ? Children's Bible Comic Book ? Children's Bible Movie ? Children's Psalms ? The Genesis (Comic book & Movie) ? The Exodus (Comic book & Movie) ? Kings and Prophets… Read reviews, compare customer ratings, see screenshots, and learn more about PocketSword. Download PocketSword and enjoy it on your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch. is the first Bible application that I ever downloaded to my phone. Like many of the Bible apps out there, you can choose between versions, adjust font settings, colors, and take notes. Read and study God's Word with Bible study software that has in-depth resources such as commentaries, Greek and Hebrew word tools, concordances, and more. Bible Reading and Bible Study with the Olive Tree Bible App from Olive Tree Bible Software on your iPhone, iPad, Android, Mac, Windows, and Kindle Fire A bible mp3 downloads free information is a other USIS proposed on a anything cause of a game's location Reports, to recomend the chip of the F. A hold State acts darkly shown on a comprehensiveness island phone now aligned from card fans.
3 Jan 2018 Nine years ago, YouVersion's Bible app was one of the first 200 free apps in the brand-new Apple App Store. Within seven years, it had been 19 Jul 2019 Android market presents with quite a lot of Bible Apps. It's just a matter of The more you stay on Android, the better Android gets. So, with Additionally, by downloading this app, you will be able to read the Bible offline also, Our generous partners make it possible for us to offer 2,027 Bible versions in 1,355 The Bible App's interface is available in more than 60 languages, allowing Bible App: Getting 100 Million Downloads is More Psychology Than Miracles The market for religious apps is fiercely competitive; searching for “bible” in the 6 Dec 2019 More people engaged with the Bible App this year than any previous year. Editorial Reviews. Review. "Nice Bible. Goods words" Merelva Debbie. From the Author. Gabriel Kennedy writes about topics in the mind, body, spirit niche. What are the most popular Bible apps for the iPhone? When many people rating a particular app, that's a strong indicator of its popularity. Here's the list of the 15
Get daily devotionals right to your smartphone. Just download these free daily devotional apps to your Android or iOS device


It is alarming in life how all other sins are forgivable, but blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is not. The term blasphemy is closely associated with sins that are intentionally done to provoke God and question the purity of His power.
In Mark 3:28, Jesus teaches that all sins can be forgiven except blaspheming the Holy Spirit. So, how do you know if you have blasphemed against the Holy Spirit?
You know you have blasphemed the Holy Spirit when you speak ill of his works or link his power to that of Satan. However, Christians who believe in Jesus Christ and walk like Jesus cannot blaspheme the Holy Spirit.
We have been granted the Holy Spirit as our only guide and to convict us of our sins. When we fail to adhere to the conviction of the Holy Spirit and work in disregard of the power of the Holy Spirit, we are sinning grievously against God.
So, what is blasphemy against the Holy Spirit? Why did Jesus say blasphemy against the Holy Spirit was unforgivable? What are the consequences of blasphemy against the Holy Spirit?
Is unintentional blasphemy against the Holy Spirit forgiven? Continue reading to get the answers to these questions and more.
What is blasphemy against the Holy Spirit?
Theologians suggest that blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is grievous and happens when a person denies God’s manifestation and credits the work of the Holy Spirit to Satan. God forgives any sin man seeks pardon for.
However, if we go contrary to the voice of the Holy Spirit, whom we all seek pardon for our sins, we begin to silence His belief, leading to the loss of His convicting power.
This eventually blocks the working of God in our lives because we push the Holy Spirit to the extreme ends of our lives.
Therefore, if you find yourself talking evil of the manifesting work of the Holy Spirit or wholly associating his work with evil, you will be committing the unpardoned sin of blaspheming against the Holy Spirit.
So what is blasphemy against the Holy Spirit?
Many think it means renouncing God, which is like cursing God. Jesus’ words, as recorded in Mathew’s gospel Chapter 12, verses 32, say that “Whoever speaks a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come.”
Jesus is warning that sinning against the Holy Spirit is just like attributing God’s work to Satan. Christians are reminded to honor God as the father, who is equal to the Holy Spirit. He who pardons their sins deserves all the greatest glory, and sinning against Him invites an unforgivable punishment.


We are happy to answer any questions you may have, but before you call
or write we suggest that you look over our FAQ (Frequently
Asked Questions). Most questions are answered
somewhere in our complete
catalog. The sections of the catalog are listed along the right-hand side of
this and every page. You may also find our SiteMap useful.
If you have a question that you are unable to find the answer to,
please contact us any of the following ways.
ďNine years ago we had Mark come and teach CWG at the church we pastored in Ontario, Canada. The principles he taught guided us in hearing the Lordís voice until that voice eventually led us and our five children here to Kiev, Ukraine to work with YWAM as missionaries. Those same CWG principles kept us here during difficult days of lawlessness and lack in the nation. Recently, we had Mark come to Kiev and teach over 900 Ukrainians in these same principles and the response was overwhelming, with hundreds expressing a new release of Godís voice in their lives as well as the way they see and understand Godís character. Many pastors are now asking for return visits from Mark. Markís book is now being translated into Russian and we are looking forward to many from this former atheistic communist nation to be transformed with Communion With God as one of our primary tools.Ē
ó Dan & Gwen Slade,
Youth with a Mission, Kiev, Ukraine


60 years is a long time. Full of hard and wonderful moments, and a kind of refinement into one through the covenant of marriage few have the opportunity or courage to endure.
I am so thankful for you Grandma and Grandpa, and your legacy of Love.
One of the (many) lessons I've learned from my grandparents is the discipline of prayer. Almost a year ago, we went through one of the hardest seasons of our life. I was overdue and sleeplessly awaiting Samuel's birth when Kent (Geoff's sister's husband) tested positive for Ebola. I learned from others how much my grandparents especially were praying and interceding for us that week - during a time when emotion overwhelmed and words failed us when we prayed.
We are so thankful that Kent and Amber were willing to embrace the emotional roller coaster and spend valuable time to record the details of their calling and the incredible journey that it required of them during the Ebola outbreak.
I have been able to read most of the book ahead of its official release (family perk), finding a few minutes here and there as Samuel allows. I don't cry too easily, but I cried through most pages of this. It was hard to relive that week. But so wonderful to know more of the story than was possible even with all the catch up conversations and precious moments we've had together since.
So many of the details and updates we received a year ago that we couldn't share with you in their present moments are included in the book. So many details that I missed out entirely are recorded as well (that whole giving birth partway through that week of crisis caused me to miss a few details...).
Samuel was, naturally, very excited to see his aunt and uncle in the bookstore tonight.
It is an incredible story, of Kent and Amber, but also of many other heroes in this story. Those caring for the suffering in the Ebola outbreak, those who cared for Kent directly, and those who cared for our family and handling everything from a "Black Ops" evacuation, to simply knowing when to take the kids outside to play when things got tense.
The book would be entirely too long if all those who sacrificed love, care, and service to our family were featured. I personally know of countless stories not even mentioned. But many such stories are featured in Called for Life, and I encourage you to read of their honor and service, and to be inspired to love your neighbor likewise.
Love. It's a calling for life.


I then whispered to Andy, “Buddy, you’re so tall!” He quickly pulled away from me, looked straight into my eyes and smiled without saying a word. He was so thrilled. He turned to my wife and joyfully exclaimed, “I’m tall mommy!”
What I said to him in a whisper he repeated with a shout. I never
anticipated my observation would touch him so deeply. This was a special moment. Special because Andy did something very simple, yet significant. He believed what I said about him. He believed what I told him. He received with assurance that what daddy was telling him was true. When I whispered, “you’re so tall,” Andy didn’t go grab a yardstick and measure himself. He
didn’t even glance down at his feet to see his bare ankles that were not
supposed to be showing. I told him he was tall, and he believed
It filled me with joy to see my son taking me at my word, especially
regarding what I said about him, a child I so dearly love. How often does God speak to us through his Holy Spirit, only for us to disregard it, ignore it, or simply not believe it to be true?
The Bible contains remarkable declarations about us. Here's one: "For we are God's masterpiece" (Eph 2:10).
And this one: “God created human beings in His own image. In the image of God He created them" (Gen 1:27). What do we do when we hear these?
My son believed what I said about him. He had no reason to doubt. God tells us in His Word we are made in His image...that we are masterpieces of creation. Yet we struggle to find value in ourselves.
Rest in His fondness for you as He shares, "I have loved you with an everlasting love" and that "God will never leave you nor forsake you" (Jer 31:3 & Deut 31:6).
What do we do with these words of hope spoken by God? Do we put our heads down and sigh, doubting it is true? Maybe mumble, "its not true for me." Or do we listen to what God says to us...about us...look up in stunned silence, smile and quickly turn to the nearest soul and repeat enthusiastically what He says?
The Psalmist declared, “You created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.” He got it, he believed God at His Word. I was so happy my son took me at my mine, simply believing what I said about him. I wonder how life would change for us if we did the same...if we believed what God says about us: that he loves us, created us, and wants to be with us, forever.


I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing. Galatians 2:21
I love your voice…and your songs specially…very relaxing songs….I really like it…I hope to hear more of your songs…
I’ve listened to it half a dozen times in a row before.
If you haven’t done so already- go to their You Tube page, you’ll more than likely be blessed by their other songs.


Churches Together in Shirley are putting together an online Christmas event that will air for all to watch on the evening of Sunday 20th December, as we can't do any traditional carol services this year.
We would like to ask for a brief moment of your time to help us with a small project as part of this.
Please clickon the link below to watch a 2 minute video to find out more!
If you are able to help us, this is what we need... Children are asked to draw an A4 size picture of one of the following scenes from the Nativity story:
• Just Mary
• Mary and Gabriel
• Mary and Joseph on the way to Bethlehem
• Mary, Joseph and Jesus in a stable
• Shepherds and Gabriel
• Shepherds visiting the stable
• Wise Men (Magi) Travelling, following a star
• Wise Men giving gifts to the family (ideally without shepherds included)
• Joseph, Mary and Jesus going to Egypt
Pictures can be brought in to school by Thursday 3rd December or posted through St James by the park Church office letter box, 133 Church Street, Shirley.
A variety of pictures will be chosen to be included in the final presentation. They will be photographed and made into a video that tells the whole story.
Please could each child put their first name, age, and school on the back so that this can be included on screen.
Thanks to Mr Maddock and Mr Lomath for inviting us to take part in this!


Here at Kidd’s Kids we recognize the impact COVID-19 is having on many individuals and small businesses. We hope this list of resources can be helpful during this unprecedented time. Keep Lookin’ Up.
The Salvation Army:
To meet the increased need for physical, emotional, financial and spiritual support, The Salvation Army has multiple resources available throughout the region. This information is specific to their North Texas chapter, and we encourage you to visit the site of your local Salvation Army chapter.
Drive-through grocery services
In response to a once-in-a-lifetime pandemic, The Salvation Army of North Texas is operating 13 drive-through grocery service locations in Collin, Dallas, Denton, Ellis and Tarrant counties to support families experiencing a loss in income or lowered wages. To find a list of drive-through grocery service locations and hours of operations, please visit SalvationArmyNTX.org.
Emotional and spiritual care hotline
With stay-at-home orders compounding stress and loneliness, The Salvation Army of North Texas is operating an emotional and spiritual care hotline for people impacted by the Coronavirus outbreak. Staffed with trained professionals, the hotline is open seven days a week from 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. CST at (844) 458-HOPE (4673)
Financial assistance is available
Jobless claims are reaching an all-time high. Through partnership with local governmental entities, The Salvation Army of North Texas is providing financial assistance to help families pay rent/mortgage, maintain utility service and purchase prescription medication. More information can be found at SalvationArmyNTX.org.
Implemented educational programming and activities for school-aged children
To support children impacted by school closures, The Salvation Army of North Texas is distributing educational activity kits to children at shelters and low-income families in the community to provide fun opportunities for kids to continue their education. The kits include educational curriculum, school supplies, arts and crafts, and food.
Increasing food delivery to seniors and veterans.
Case managers are delivering food to people in permanent supportive housing, rapid re-housing and high-utilizer programs.


WAYS TO GET INVOLVED
Thank you for choosing the Lord's Daily Bread to volunteer and spend your valuable energy to help another person in need. On any given day, we may need individuals to assist with the following:
Feeding the homeless with us on Saturdays and Wednesdays!
Let's provide Denver's homeless with a place to restore their lives.
Join us in making the Community Center a place where transformation happens!
In addition to monetary donations we accept non-perishable food, clothing, toiletries and blankets.


Objectives and principles of the ‘Studienhaus’
The society 'Evangelisches Studienhaus’ is responsible for the student house. Since 2010, the 'Studienhaus' has been in Riehen and is led by the pastors of the Swiss Reformed Church in the village church in Riehen Revs. Dan and Martina Holder.
The president of the society is Thilo Arend-Heidbrinck. Together with the board of the society and its members, the vision is for students of theology to experience Christian community and spiritual life while studying.
In addition to joint prayer times, evenings of theological reading and community events there is also the opportunity for spiritual direction by the ministers leading the house. The ‘Studienhaus’ maintains close contacts with the local Swiss reformed congregation. During semester time there are regular ‘Guest Evenings’ open to students and members of the congregation where a guest lecturer from the university or from other academic institutions is invited to speak on relevant topics from church and theology.
The objectives and principles of the ‘Studienhaus’ can be briefly described using the following terms:
Integral to the Christian theological enterprise is a faithful und trusting devotion to the message of Jesus Christ as it is attested to in Scripture. We trust that God's Word and his commands are relevant and effective in our generation and have meaning for us.
Freedom and Responsibility
Within the scope of the theological enterprise there must be freedom and responsibility to relate matters of faith with intellectual and current discourses in society and science (compare "fides quaerens intellectum" - Anselm). The ‘Studienhaus’ promotes such study and encourages the students in it.
Hope and Joy
Forms and expressions of church life and styles of piety change with the times. Those entrusted with theological leadership must search for ways to connect Christian hope to the service of Christ's Church and the world. This is founded in the confidence and joy that not we but Jesus Christ himself is the "author and perfecter of our faith" (Hebrews 12:2).
Leaders of the house
The leaders of the 'Studienhaus' and the house coordinator have committed themselves to running the house according to the guidelines of the society 'Evangelisches Studienhaus'.
The leaders of the 'Studienhaus' are responsible for interviews with those wishing to be admitted to the house and then make their recommendation to the board of the society.
The house coordinator is responsible for the practicalities and everyday running of the house (showing the rooms, handing over keys, looking after the house, helping with contacts in the Church).
Leaders of the house:
Scociety Evangelische Studienhaus
The society 'Evangelisches Studienhaus' runs the Studienhaus and rents the rooms.
The house coordinator is Regina Keilwerth. She is responsible for the practical running of the house and for the rental agreements.
Regina Keilwerth: email@example.com


Unless the Lord builds the house,
They labor in vain who build it
For years, I’ve been trying to make my family my ministry. This makes sense to me because they need something I have. Why would I not spend myself on behalf of them? But I’ve felt a lot of spiritual resistance. Not a feeling like it’s bad to pour into them. It’s more like an inclination they are not the “cause” God intended for me to pursue. It feels like I’m taking the pencil out of an the hand of architect who is drawing up the best plan for the best house full of healed people.
None of our interactions seem to have The Spirit’s involvement. And for that reason alone, I’m relinquishing control. I don’t want to. I want to see this mess fixed. But If I’m not successful in brining my family Jesus with every encoutner, then my efforts are wasted.


Two Catholic churches on Milwaukee’s upper east side will be without their pastor just as Advent begins while an investigation is launched into whether he broke his priestly vows and whether the Archdiocese of Milwaukee knew about the situation and did not address it.
Fr. Mark Payne, of St. Monica in Whitefish Bay and St. Eugene in Fox Point, was put on administrative leave Friday because of publicity from a story published the day before by The Pillar, a national website focusing on the information about the Catholic Church.
Fr. Nathan Reeseman, the Milwaukee Archdiocesan Vicar for Clergy, emailed a letter to parishioners of St. Monica and St. Eugene on Friday outlining the actions taken under the leadership of Archbishop Jerome Listecki. Reeseman said the archdiocese had been aware of questions about Payne’s lifestyle, which were the crux of the report by The Pillar.
The website said Payne has owned a condo with a man since 2003, that the man had depicted them as a couple on social media posts, and that the man had been hired temporarily last year to teach theology at St. Monica’s School. Catholic priests take a vow of celibacy, a tradition dating back to the Middle Ages.
“The Archdiocese had been made aware of concerns that were noted in the news story,” the email from Reeseman said. “Father was told his hiring of the grade school teacher was not appropriate. Father Payne assured us that he is faithful to his priestly vows and that the information painted a misleading picture of the situation. We offered him the opportunity to clear up any possible misunderstandings before taking the step of initiating a formal investigation.”
However, it said, given The Pillar’s report, it had decided to go ahead. Reeseman’s email said Listecki is also going ahead with a formal canonical investigation, to be conducted by someone from another diocese, to avoid the appearance of bias.
Payne also serves as judicial vicar in the archdiocese, a senior ranking leadership position. In that role, he leads a tribunal in providing justice for people approaching the church’s court system, and advises the archbishop on canonical issues. Canon law is a code of ecclesiastical laws governing the Catholic Church.
Payne did not respond to an email Saturday from the Journal Sentinel.
He took over the two upper east eide parishes after serving at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church on Milwaukee’s south side until June 2022.
Deacon Stan Lowe, pastoral coordinator at St. Matthias Catholic Church, will serve as administrator of St. Monica and St. Eugene, according to Reeseman. Fr. Matthew Jacob, pastor at Lumen Christi Catholic Church, will serve as supervising priest, he said. An acting judicial vicar has yet to be named.
Christmas Day this year marks the 100th anniversary of St. Monica parish. Reeseman indicated archdiocesan officials were painfully aware that people in the pews would be filled with emotion as all this unfolds.
“We understand this news will be upsetting and we ask for your prayers and patience as we move through this process,” Reesman wrote.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee Archdiocese puts pastor or two Catholic parishes on leave


"For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them." Matthew 18:20
There will be a new Sunday School class starting Sunday, Aug. 13 in the Great Room. Join us at 10 a.m. for a study of the movie “The Gospel of John.” All are invited.
The Women’s Sunday School class will begin a new study of The Sermon on the Mount on Sunday, Aug. 6. Study guides are $6. Please email the church office for more information on either of these studies.


I’m Kristin. Thanks for stopping by! I’m a wife, mama, dreamer, farmhouse lover, Jesus follower, plant juice believer, adoption advocate, and so much more. I believe we all need little more grace and dream chasing. I believe in women who are doing what they love, while also striving to create a home that builds a legacy. I believe our life is a book of stories, and God is the author of each chapter. I hope to share with you what I learn during those chapters of life right here. If you’ve read this far, then we should definitely be friends!
FOLLOW ALONG ON INSTAGRAM


Dumbarton has, and will always be, a church for the people who need it. As a trans kid, I will always be glad that it was there for me.
Religion has always been a familiar subject, a comfortable mainstay of my childhood. While my mother and father have different faith backgrounds, they agreed to expose me to faith, allow me to experience weekly church attendance and activities, but decided not to baptize me until I could make the decision for myself.
My mom was raised as a Methodist, so I went with her to various Methodist churches in the area. But every few years, it seemed, we’d tire of the current church, and move on to someplace new. It was the church politics, maybe, or the changing of pastors, or even simply a feeling as though something was missing. That even though we went to church, would sing the hymns and read the scripture, it felt more like going through the motions. So, after trying a few different churches, when I was about seven years old, we were invited to Dumbarton UMC to attend the baptism for the daughter of a family friend. My mother felt that something about Dumbarton was special, and it warranted another visit. So we went back. It was one of the better choices we’d ever make.
Sometimes, with certain things, you just know. There’s a sense of belonging, a little click, somewhere in the back of your mind, and everything feels as though it’s fallen into place. For the past nine years, we’ve been attending Dumbarton, and we’ve never looked back. From the very beginning, it was clear that this was the church for us. Because the one thing that has always been found wanting from our various churches has been a community.
Community will always be important. No matter who you are, you will always seek connection and support from the people around you. And religion is a place to nurture that connection, to feel as though you are cared for and loved by something greater than yourself, and that the act of loving is inherently holy. Churches, by virtue of creation, preserve the space for divinity to exist in the context of kindness. But many churches fall short of this ideal, much as they may not see it (or may wish not to). Through one way or another, one group or another finds themselves left out of a community, barred from the simple act of loving and being loved. Any person, any collective, will always find themselves imperfect, but Dumbarton will always do its best to grow, and to learn, and to accept all people, with all the fierceness and warmth that they have.
This is a congregation that takes on the responsibilities of being Methodists in the fullest and most whole sense of the word. There is an active desire, an active choice, to care for every single person who steps through the heavy lavender-colored doors, to the fullest of their ability. It is not conditional, it does not waver, and it certainly is not shy. Dumbarton chooses, every day, to be a community, and to keep that community there, for all who need it. It’s a small church, but the members do all that they can to learn, to understand, to be better and do better, and most certainly, to love.
As a child who has grown up in this church, Dumbarton has loved me from the ages of seven to 16. They have loved me as I was baptized, promised to support me and to nurture me. When, at the age of 10, I decided that Christianity was not for me, I was continually welcomed with wide-open arms. Through the years, I have explored my own identity, and what better a space to do so in a space that was not just accepting, but delighted that I was asking questions, that I was learning more about myself. As an agnostic nonbinary lesbian, the place where I have always been so wholly accepted has been the one that most people would not guess.
Navigating Christianity as a gay or trans person will always be difficult, and it can leave many people struggling to find a church that truly feels like home to them. But Dumbarton UMC feels like a church that loves me for all that I am, and I think that’s all that anyone could ask for.
Adam Michelman is a high school sophomore from Alexandria, Va., and this is their first contribution to the Blade.


After a very brief illness, Marlene passed away with her daughter at her side in the Welland Hospital at the age of 88. She is reunited with her late husband Raymond and son Keith. Proud mother of Bob (Georgia) and Kimberly (Mike) Fazio. Devoted grandmother of Ashton (Brian), Cassie, Miles, Kaitlyn (Brad) and Michael. Marlene’s eyes lit up at the mention of her great grandson Kevin Robert. She is also survived by brother Arthur (Gerry) Cross and a large and loving extended family that includes her niece Cheryl Porter who provided wonderful care and enjoyed many card games with Marlene. Predeceased by her brothers William and Stanley and sister Joan.
Marlene worked as a clerk for Willoughby Township and later the Town of Fort Erie. She met many wonderful and lifelong friends there, including Anne Kline who since retirement enjoyed their Wednesday liquid lunch get togethers at South Coast. Social activities and community came close second to family in importance. The Willoughby Firehall Ladies Auxiliary, as well as euchre at the Ridgeway Legion provided opportunities to be involved and be with friends. While the Toronto Maple Leafs and Blue Jays were her teams and she constantly cheered them on, her biggest encouragement and love were saved for her family.
Williams Funeral Services 722 Ridge Rd. N. Ridgeway entrusted with arrangements. A private visiting will take place followed by a Funeral Mass at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church Snyder. If so desired, donations to the St. Joseph’s Catholic Church Cemetery would be appreciated by the family.


Once again, drunk men are the favorite targets of moralistic legends. "El padre sin cabeza" (the headless priest) is a Costa Rican legend that, like "La segua," admonishes and attempts to correct improper behaviour. Nevertheless, the remarkable aspect about this tale of a headless priest is the emphasis that is placed on the religious, thus highlighting a culture-specific aspect of Latin American Gothic. But before embarking on an analysis of the legend, we should get on with the gritty stuff.
On a balmy night during colonial times, a peasant wandered aimlessly around the deserted town square. The square, as in any Latin American town, stood in front of the church and was comprised of a park full of trees, a fountain and benches, used by the town dwellers who would sit in the lazy hours of the day and watch life go by. Our protagonist had been drinking a little bit too much and decided to sit on one of these benches, in spite of how late it was. The warm wind picked up some leaves which landed on his feet. He leaned down to brush these away , but as he sat up, he noticed that within the church which he was facing,candles were lit, and music seemed to be coming from the inside. As in a trance, he walked into the church, past the empty rows of benches, looking up at the saints on the white-washed walls, walls that had been stained by the dark marks left by the lighting of candles and incense throughout the years. As he approached the front of the church, he noticed that there was a figure of a priest reciting mass in Latin. Feeling the weight of his sins and overwhelmed by this mystical experience, the peasant approached the priest. But as the priest turned towards him, the horror was revealed! In the place of the head only a terrorific stump remained, and the figure held his bloody head with his outstretched arms. The peasant ran outside of the church but was left literally speechless by this encounter. With time, the peasant gained his power of speech and changed his sinful ways for good.
There has been some research conducted about the historical origin for this legend, but as with any folkloric tale, what is truly fascinating here is the information that is transmitted about a culture and its idiosyncrasies. "El padre sin cabeza" conveys the central role that the Catholic tradition plays in Latin American culture, especially the feeling of guilt that constantly pursues people. I believe that the issue of guilt, generated by this religious tradition, creates an extremely fertile ground for Gothic creations. This legend says that apart from the drinking, the protagonist became overwhelmed by the weight of his sins; even though he was attracted to the religious atmosphere of the eerie mass, perhaps he needed to be scared out of his wits in order to truly repent and find the "right path."
The other interesting aspect of the legend is that of speech. The priest, despite being headless, is still able to recite mass in Latin. The peasant, on the other hand, has not lost his head, but does loose the power of speech. An immediate interpretation would emphasize the issue of terror/horror and interpret the loss of speech as a product of this horrific, almost sublime encounter. However, one may also argue that the peasant has been humbled, thus silenced, by the power of the God and the church. This would also explain why the headless priest is still able to transmit God’s word. Furthermore, Catholic tradition stresses the importance of speech whilst confessing one’s sins; if sins are not spoken, they will never be forgiven. In other words, speech, redemption and confession are intertwined in the Catholic tradition, and I believe that this comes across in some Latin American legends.
As a conclusion, I would like to stress the point on Catholicism and guilt as being key in understanding the Latin American Gothic. Even though I have discussed what I believe to be an important characteristic of this kind of literature, the question from last time remains. Is a legend like "El padre sin cabeza" Gothic? Could it be Gothic in Latin America and not Gothic in an European context? Or vice-versa? Is the guilt that is transmitted in Latin American Gothic different to the guilt that fuels Gothic texts from other countries?
Tiny URL for this post: http://tinyurl.com/2uznlvk


Welcome to Elizabeth Lee United Methodist Church!
Elizabeth Lee United Methodist Church is located in downtown Chickamauga, GA just 15 miles from Chattanooga, TN. Our pastor, Rev Jennie Andone, would like to extend a warm welcome to anyone looking for a church, people interested in the Christian faith, or for friends and family visiting who are looking for a friendly, inviting church atmosphere for Sunday morning worship. Our worship services are held on Sunday mornings at 9AM and 11AM with Sunday School at 10AM. We look forward to meeting and worshiping with you!
Physical Address: 139 Cove Road, Chickamauga, Georgia 30707, United States.
ELUMC Email List: CLICK HERE to be added to the ELUMC Mailing List
Stewardship Journey: Click HERE
Safe Sanctuary Policy: ELUMC_SafeSanctuaryPolicy.pdf
Liability Form: ELUMC_LiabilityForm.pdf
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 126, Chickamauga, GA, 30707
Verse of the day:
Copyright © 2014 Elizabeth Lee United Methodist Church - Web Design By FreeChurchWebDesigns.com
139 Cove Road, Chickamauga, Georgia 30707, United States -- Phone:706-375-2182