It’s not too long ago that I was putting my hands up to Beyonce’s “Single Ladies”. But now that I’m married, I’ve reflected on that time in my life and I’ve come to realize a few things. I’d like to share some new found wisdom with all the single gals. But before I dive into the 4 mistakes I made in my singleness, let me share a little of myself with you all.
Single girl, luke-warm life
My singleness remains a vivid memory to me still. For the majority of high school and college I was the quintessential single girl. I focused just enough on school to get good grades, but definitely enjoyed going out with friends, dating, and overall just “being in the mix”. During this time in my life I was living a “luke-warm” existence. While I knew of God, and claimed Jesus as my savior I was living in sin and focusing solely on pleasing my flesh.
After I left school and moved back home with my parents, it was then that God started to move in my life. I wish I could say upon moving home, I got my act together and got saved. However, that wasn’t the case. While I knew God was tugging at my spirit to come to Him, I was still too focused on what most worldly twenty-something females are focused on. Outward beauty, finding “the one”, having a good time, social media, and my budding career.
Well Hello, Mr. Johnson
Fast-forward almost six months. In walks Andrew Johnson, the future love of my life. The first time I really talked with Drew, he asked me about my walk with God. At the time I wasn’t attending church and I wasn’t pursuing a relationship with the Lord either. But I believed in Jesus Christ, and like most halfhearted Christians do, I had given God some credit for my successes and praised Him on social media when all was well. In those first encounters with Drew he challenged me to go deeper, and to pursue the love of Christ. His faith was the cornerstone of his life, and his love for Christ was evident, even while going through a personal storm. I was intrigued, not only by him, but by our awesome God.
After those conversations I took a long hard look at myself, and questioned what it was I was doing with my life. God had sparked something inside my soul, and the flames began to flicker. However, diving head first into Christianity can be a little daunting. One resource Drew and my mother recommended to me was The Purpose Driven Life: What on Earth Am I Here For?by Rick Warren. Through this book I was truly able to grasp why God created me, how we are to be used by Him, and the life we are to lead as Christians. I highly recommend this book to any Christian, young or old, seeking to understand what your purpose is in this life. For more on Purpose Driven Life, click here!
Disclosure: Jazmen Johnson is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com
So Let’s Take it Back
My spiritual journey has been eye-opening, to say the least, but that’s another post. But I will say as I went deeper with Christ and with Andrew, I reflected on my past. I have tons of wonderful recollections from my teens and early twenties, but I also carried painful memories, avoidable moments, and plenty of lapses in judgement. But none of that matters now because, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here” 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV) .
When we turn to Christ, we are given a new life in Him. We don’t have to succumb to our sinful ways, dwell on our past transgressions, or immerse ourselves into cycles of self-loathing. God’s love is enough, Jesus’ blood is enough, and we are enough in Him!God's love is enough, Jesus' blood is enough, and we are enough in Him! Click To Tweet
I would like to share some of the things I wish I had known when I was single and unsaved. God and His word have begun to set me free from societal chains. No matter what stage of life you’re in, this world can fool you. But don’t fall prey to the darkness, be the light. Single women especially, take heart in God! I pray that you’ll learn from a few of my mistakes, reflect on a few of your own, and give them to God.
4 Mistake I Made In My Singleness:
1. Undervaluing myself & Looking for love in all the wrong places
If I had a dollar for every time I gave too much of myself I would be a rich woman, unfortunately. As a young teen I was very influenced by my peers and media. Which led me to seek attention from guys in the wrong ways. This pattern continued in college, and I ended up in one too many situationships. Towards the end of my collegiate career after a potentially life changing chain of events I pulled my head out of my butt, slightly. But by that time I had learned a lot of things the hard way. Ladies, NEVER compromise who you are for the attention of someone else!
“Your approval means nothing to me, because I know you don’t have God’s love within you. For I have come to you in my Father’s name, and you have rejected me. Yet if others come in their own name, you gladly welcome them. No wonder you can’t believe! For you gladly honor each other, but you don’t care about the honor that comes from the one who alone is God” John 5:41-44, (NLT).
What others think of you is none of your business! John was rejected by man, but he didn’t care. He only wanted approval from the most high, our Father. Be like John, reject the world’s standard of what is cool, reject those with no morals, reject anything that compromises who you are in Christ. Remember you are “fearfully and wonderfully made”, you should “know that full well” Psalm 139:14, (NIV).
#2 Participating in worldly Dating practices
Finding new dating prospects was definitely on my mind when I moved back home after college. However, I was no longer familiar with my surroundings or the people. My hometown is known nationally for its growth, and a lot had changed. So what did I do? Sign-up for Tinder and Bumble, of course. For those of you unfamiliar with mobile dating apps, click here. My other go to for meeting new people was going downtown and bar-hopping with friends. Sounds like the perfect plan, right? Wrong!
To each their own, but I personally don’t think dating apps are the best place to find serious, God-fearing men. A lot of people on these apps are more interested in quick flings and hook-ups over serious relationships. And as far as bar hopping is concerned, is it impossible to find a Godly man at the bar, no. But I’m sure they’re few and far between. What our society views as normal dating practices may not lead to the results you would want as a Christian woman. Trust me, been there and done that.
“Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect” Romans 12:2 (NLT).
If you have a desire to be married God will make it so, but the keyword here is God. Get out of your own way and allow God to work. Seek His kingdom and serve His people in the meantime. Your Boaz will come as you lie in wait. Don’t sell yourself short and try to find your mate. When the timing is right God will bring him to you naturally.
#3 Seeking the “perfect” man
I think every woman has dated at least one person they shouldn’t have, maybe more than one in my case. So when I started dating post-grad I made a promise to myself that I wouldn’t settle for less than I deserved. But somehow that became, I only want to date a man that checks more than 90% of my boxes. A few of those boxes were: employed, college educated, handsome, good with money, no baggage (baby-mommas, kids, or crazy), chivalrous, romantic…the list goes on. I was looking for the “perfect” man for me, or the closest thing to it. Knowing good and dang well I was far from perfect myself.
When I met Drew, he was like a breathe of fresh air. He checked most of my boxes, and I thought “Wow, God truly made the perfect man for me”. However, I’ve come to the conclusion that boxes aren’t everything and God isn’t done with either of us yet.
“It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in people. It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in princes” Psalm 118:8-9 (NLT).
There is no such thing as your “perfect prince charming”. We are all imperfect, because we are people. Your boyfriend(s) and husband will make mistakes, not live up to your expectations, frustrate you, and even fail. But if God’s grace is sufficient for you, we must extend the same grace to others. Put your list down. There is nothing wrong with having standards, but don’t disqualify someone’s potential. You never know what type of package your mate will show up in. God has an interesting sense of humor that way.
For more on this topic check out this great article by Tobi Atte of I Just Met Me
#4 Wasting my time
I wasted A LOT of my time; between the ages of 18 and 24 my main focus was on worldly things. It can be so easy to get caught in the traps of this world, especially when it seems everyone is “drinking the Kool-Aid”. Our days are not promised, and we are all called to live for Christ and do His work while we are here. So we must protect ourselves from the perceived normalcies of this world. Utilize your time as a single woman to the best of your ability. Because before you know it, you’ll be married with children, if it is God’s will for you.
“Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do” Ephesians 5:16-17 (NLT)
God has made you single in this season for a reason. And I urge you to seek God with all your heart, while you are only responsible for yourself. Before you can come to love someone else, you must have a solid foundation in God and His love for you. If you don’t, you’ll be seeking to find the epitome of love in your spouse. When in fact, “God is love”, and all loves flows from the source, 1 John 4:8 (NIV). Only God can fulfill all your needs. God is the only man in your life that will never let you down. Spend your singleness wisely, and you will be rewarded not only in this life, but in heaven.
Wrapping it upA relationship with God is the best investment you will ever make. Invest all of yourself in Him: heart, mind, body, and soul. Click To Tweet
Your singleness is a gift from God, choose how and who you spend it with carefully. I had some great times as a single woman, but they don’t necessarily outweigh the heartache. The temptations I failed to resist could have been thwarted had I known God and His word. From one woman to another I leave you with this:
A relationship with God is the best investment you will ever make. Invest all of yourself in Him: heart, mind, body, and soul. That is something you will never regret. And the love you receive from Him will sustain you for all your days, through every season.
Have questions for me, or want more advice? Click here!
With so much love,


Yes. Have a great day. Keep reading for my explanation…
I was enjoying listening to a YouTuber’s live broadcast the other day. He was sharing a wonderful perspective of how we, as people, struggle with really living the life Christ would want us to live. Specifically sharing how he will hear the voice of the Holy Spirit and what those moments are like. It was a very nice introspective breakdown of his reaction when he’s moved by the Holy Spirit.
I Read It In The Comments
While he was sharing, there was the infamous live chat running away with comments. One of the commentators, more so a troll posing as a practicing Muslim, was arguing how Jesus wasn’t God. I did not engage as it would be a waste of time to play with a troll. However, it did stir a response in me and I remembered when I gave an answer to a kid who asked me “How can Jesus be the son-of-God, and the God, at the same time?”.
Answering The Question
This is a great question, a question that I wasn’t prepared to answer. I had just accepted that Jesus was the son-of-God and God at the same time. Tho if we are going to have relationship with God we do need some clarity on how we relate to Him. We do see God as a Father in the old testament, a friend in the gospels, and as a brother. These are all very relatable relationship types. In John 14, Jesus tells us the Holy Spirit is a comforter to us. In Romans 8 we read the same Spirit that raised Jesus Christ from the dead lives in us.
So, back to the question. I begin to answer, not having an answer, and suddenly the answer came out of me. I begin to explain the following.
“Let us make man in our own image…”
In Genesis 1:26 God says “Let us make man in our own image…”. God said “us” because He is the Holy Trinity, and we were made in His image as triune beings. We have a soul, a spirit and a body. God has a soul, a spirit, and a body. The Bible teaches the Holy Trinity is the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. God the Father is the soul, Jesus is the Son, and the Holy Spirit is the spirit.
We Are Triune Beings
Yep (I suspect some might be raising an eyebrow and continuing skeptically), I said we are “triune beings”. My basis is from Genesis, granted there is a lot of other interpretations on what that verse could mean. Think about the people you know, think about when you first met them and what you know about them now. At first you were able to recognize their face, or their figure. Then you began to learn more about how your friend thinks, you began to relate with each other on a deeper level. If you were talking on the phone with your friend you could make out a joke or sarcasm based on the inflection in their voice. You could imagine your friend’s facial expressions and arm movements even tho they were not there in person. You could even guess how your friend would react to an event or unique situation that only you witnessed. You went from knowing who they were when you recognized their bodily form, to knowing their soul (their behaviour, decision making, and emotional reactions), to even knowing their spirit (the part of them that’s “there” when they aren’t physically present).
Jesus Shows Us How To Be A Triune Being
Jesus is the way. He shows us how to be present with God in every moment. Jesus, was a man who’s soul was God the Father, and who’s spirit was the Holy Spirit. In John 14 He said “whatever you see me do you see the father do”. In Romans 8 it’s written “the same Spirit the raised Jesus from the dead now lives in you”.
Father, Son, and… Holy Ghost?
I hope this helps some people have an easier time accepting Jesus is the son-of-God and God at the same time. It’s similar to saying I am the body of Adam and the soul of Adam at the same time. There’s one more thing to all this revelation, as believers in Christ Jesus, we have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit living with our spirit. There is a part of us that’s already joined with God. It’s through that connection we should seek to know God better, we need to know the Holy Spirit. If we continue our lives without pursuing a relationship with the Holy Spirit, it would be like getting married and ignoring our spouse day after day.


File Name: nine lessons and carols order of service 2018 .zip
- A Festival of Nine Lessons & Carols: The Centenary Service (Download)
- A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols Order of Service
- 2018 Service of Nine Lessons and Carols Held
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A Festival of Nine Lessons & Carols: The Centenary Service (Download)
The story of the fall of humanity , the promise of the Messiah , and the birth of Jesus is told in nine short Bible readings or lessons from Genesis, the prophetic books and the Gospels, interspersed with the singing of Christmas carols , hymns and choir anthems. Up to the late 19th century, the singing of Christmas carols was normally performed by singers visiting people's houses, and carols — generally considered to be secular in content — had been excluded from Christian worship. In the Victorian era , the rising popularity of hymnody encouraged church musicians to introduce carols into worship. At around this time, the composer and organist John Stainer was compiling a collection, Christmas Carols New and Old , and during Christmas he introduced carols into the service of Choral Evensong at St Paul's Cathedral in London. The Choir of the Cathedral will sing a number of carols in the Cathedral on Christmas Eve, the service commencing at 10pm. We understand that this is at the wish of many of the leading parishioners and others.
A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols Order of Service
Music at All Saints. Live Music in June. Current Music List. Boys, join the choir! Bach Project Sept
When Stephen Cleobury came to King's in he was keen to demonstrate a commitment to contemporary music for the College's liturgies. The more recent commissions are:. Judith Weir became the first composer to have written two commissions for this service with O mercy divine for choir and cello. It is available to listen at King's College Recordings. For Vine, the poem 'inventively encapsulates the core Christian principles of community, generosity and kindness. The Finnish composer Einojuhani Rautavaara composed the commissioned carol for , which was simply called 'Christmas Carol'.
The nine lessons, interspersed with Carols were read by representatives from various units of the University. Reading: Mrs. Reading: Prof. Michael Tagoe, Ag. Provost, College of Education.
Christmas Eve at 3 pm you will find in this order of service, and add it, duly little service for Christmas Eve – nine carols and nine tiny lessons.
2018 Service of Nine Lessons and Carols Held
Longe will now light the Christmas Tree. This year they had asked us SHCJ sisters, who are the parish sisters for the church, to join some fathers to make our own little choir and sing some carols. We had an interesting practice in the church choir loft with 5 of us from Keffi Street and two fathers, the assistant parish priest, Fr. Victor Okhiria, who organized the evening, and Fr. The Lessons were shortened and read by children and adults; Sr.
It was constructed out of the grief and horror of the First World War, which had ended only 6 weeks before Christmas Eve in When the war broke out in , he volunteered as a military chaplain, and witnessed the horrors of trench warfare on the Western front. Battle is indescribable, unimaginable. A continuous firework of light balls goes up from the German trenches.
Стратмор шагнул вперед, нащупывая ногой место, где начинались ступеньки узенькой лестницы. Переложив берет-ту в левую руку, правой он взялся за перила. Он прекрасно знал, что левой рукой стрелял так же плохо, как и правой, к тому же правая рука была ему нужна, чтобы поддерживать равновесие. Грохнуться с этой лестницы означало до конца дней остаться калекой, а его представления о жизни на пенсии никак не увязывались с инвалидным креслом.
Никогда не забывай, Чед, что Большой Брат знает. Большой Брат.
Мидж смотрела на цифры, не веря своим глазам. - Этот файл, тот, что загрузили вчера вечером… - Ну. - Шифр еще не вскрыт. Время ввода - двадцать три тридцать семь и восемь секунд, однако время завершения дешифровки не указано.
Чед? - В дверях его кабинета возникла Мидж Милкен, эксперт внутренней безопасности Фонтейна.


It’s that time of year for the annual Thanksgiving “Day of Blessings”, were we provide a Thanksgiving Meal to multiple families (200 or more) in our community. What a blessing it is to receive for each of these families!
Make your donation of $50.00 or more to sponsor a meal for a family. Put it in the Offering during church or you can tag it in the Easytithe electronically. The money will need to be turned in by November 5th.
Jeff Williamson, HCN Youth Pastor


Monthly Archives: May 2012
Isn’t a follower of Jesus somebody who simply acknowledges him as ‘Lord’ and behaves as though this is so? Is that what God really wants from us?
If you answered ‘yes’, then what is the problem with Satan?…
‘When he saw Jesus, he cried out, and fell down before him, and with a loud voice said, ”What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God most high? I beg thee, torment me not.” ‘ Luke 8:28
Here is external worship. The devil is religious; he prays: he prays in a humble posture; he falls down before Christ, he lies prostrate; he prays earnestly, he cries with a loud voice; he uses respectable, honourable, adoring expressions – ‘Jesus, thou Son of God most high’… Nothing was wanting but love. (From The Good God by Mike Reeves, 2012)
Becoming a follower of Jesus causes a change in heart, rather than simply a change in actions. God wants our love, not for us to mindlessly carry out religious acts because we feel we have to. I dread to think of a God who gets kicks out of that.
The triune God is a million miles away from a ‘policeman in the sky’. I’ll be posting more on this at some point…


Months ago, a German reader of my articles wrote to me about Pastor Latzel of Germany. He told me that the pastor was preaching boldly the Word of God, and was getting into much trouble because of it. He was even in trouble with a council of pastors. They said that he was preaching hate speech!
Why, you ask? Pastor Latzel preaches that the God of the Bible is NOT the god of Islam – Allah. He preaches against Chrislam and says that it is a deception from the devil. He will not budge from the Word of God. He knows that he may wind up in jail, or worse; but preaching the Truth from God’s Word is most important to this brother in Christ.
Pope Francis is telling the world that God and Allah are the same. This does not surprise me in the least. Catholicism is a cult…
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Bible Study – everyone can learn God’s truth
It’s time to return to Bible study. As the world becomes more unsettled and rebellious towards God, Christians might be tempted to despair. But God has given us a precious gift to anchor our souls for these very days—His Word, the Holy Bible. God’s Word is the way He communicates His love, power, and care for us. We in turn, receive joy, strength, and hope when we study it. Never in the history of the world have there been more resources to help explain the sacred Scriptures, and Sacra Script has united reliable Christian scholarship with cutting-edge technology to produce innovative Bible studies just for you and your community. Bible study should not ignore the original settings of the Scriptures, they dig through the ancient context and language of the Bible, unlocking the true meaning of God’s Word, which in turn, lead to a true understanding of our magnificent Creator.
Casting our anchor
Sacra Script Bible studies don’t ebb and flow with the tide of modern-day culture. We have cast our anchor into the original setting of the Bible because God’s truth never changes. Understanding the ancient context of God’s Word means that you can uncover the timelessness of His character and redemptive plan for all believers in Christ. You will understand His-story more completely and your place in it. Studying the Bible is the key to knowing God more fully. Growth just doesn’t come any other way.
Study with us
Trustworthy scholarship, simple explanations, and distinctive illustrations, maps, and timelines are the hallmark of our unique resources. Bible study that will transform your life. You’ll never be sorry that you’ve dug deeper into God’s Word. A treasure-trove of biblical truths and godly understanding awaits.
Knowing God through His Word is the most wonderful treasure you will ever acquire, and any Bible study from Sacra Script can not only help you increase your biblical knowledge, but help you gain confidence in your Savior, transforming your very life as you put your Christian faith into action. Once you can grasp the overall picture of God’s story through meaningful study, you will truly know who God is, through Jesus Christ. You will understand more intimately what God has done for the world, and how your soul can rest in hope for the future. Our bible studies help you learn to know God and understand the meaning of His Word. Each of our Bible studies is modeled on Christ’s example of teaching as illustrated in Luke 24. When Jesus encountered a couple of his followers on the road to Emmaus, he called them foolish for not recognizing that everything that Moses and the prophets wrote concerned him (Luke 24:25-27). These followers knew the Old Testament well, but they did not understand how Jesus was the fulfillment of these Scriptures.
Like Jesus on the road to Emmaus, each Bible study that we are producing explains the meaning of Scripture (Luke 24:32). Each of our Bible studies examine the text in its original setting. We carefully explain the meaning by highlighting the necessary history, cultural issues, grammar, geography, chronology, and other helpful details. Each book of the Bible is explained within the overall story of Scripture, revealing how it points to or is fulfilled by Christ.


His Power in Our Weakness
Jan 17, 2021 • Pastor Ben Dixon
The book of Revelation begins with the apostle John seeing a vision of the glorified Christ that was so powerful he could not remain standing. Through this vision, Jesus gave John a message for the seven prominent churches of Asia Minor that he had a pastoral relationship with. Jesus had something specific to say to each of the seven churches in addition to the unfolding future events that would be true for all of them. In our passage today, we will read the message that was given to the church at Philadelphia. As you will see, the church was small and seemingly weak but we know that in our weakness the power of Christ can be revealed. This lesson shows us that our impact in this world is not based on our numbers, gifts, or influence but rather it is based on our dependence upon the One who has all power over all things!


Jeremy and Leanne Johnson moved from Seattle in 2012 to join the team at North Point. They have two daughters who have their mom's beauty and their dad's last name. Leanne can most likely be found at one of our church lobbies talking to as many people as possible. Jeremy can most likely be found at one of our local Waffle Houses, making it a Waffle Home. They love the opportunity to create a safe place for people to find and follow Jesus. Pastor Jeremy is a gifted communicator. He has a unique gift of preaching The Word in a way that stirs the heart.


Fri., Dec. 4, 2020 between 2:00 and 6:00
Meals prepared by Cottage Gourmet
Free-will offering. Proceeds to Pro-Life organizations
Call 320-274-8074 to pre-order by Nov. 30
Leave you order, full name and phone number
Hot dish choices: Macaroni and Cheese, Chicken Alfredo or Beef Goulash
Hot dish is frozen and serves 3-4. Includes bread.
Dec. 4: Drive by St. Ignatius Catholic Church to collect pre-ordered meals
35 Birch St. E.
Sponsored by St. Ignatius Council of Catholic Women


“It seems like only yesterday I walked into your office for the first time. The time seems to have passsed quickly although the hard work that brought me this far felt like it dragged. When I first saw you, I thought, "Can I get better?" In my wildest imaginings I could never be the person I am today. You helped me see my worth in God's eyes, to truly believe in my specialness, to have self-respect and self-confidence. You helped me to dig the real me out of the rubble of my life. You helped me appreciate my life and learn from it. You gave me so many hours, so many prayers, so many invaluable tools. Thank you for being God's obedient servant."
A past client
"Thank you for being such a great friend. Thank you for helping me focus on what is really important in life. Thank you for helping me love myself, so I can love others more. Your support and prayers to help me and my family has been such a blessing. Make a beautiful day and may God continue to bless you so you will be able to bless others."
A past client
"David has the wisdom of Solomon and the compassion of Jesus. He is truly anointed to minister to the hurting and broken. He helped turn my life around when other counselors could not."
From a depressed and suicidal client
"Our marriage was falling apart. I lost hope of ever loving my wife and I wanted out. We were treating each other as enemies. Then a friend recommended Out of Zion Counseling Ministry. I thought, 'If he can't help us, it's over'. In the first visit, he assessed our situation and gave us hope. We have learned and have grown so much. Now we have a good marriage. I love my wife more than ever."
From a distraught married couple
"I want to tell you David how grateful I am to you for all of your help, kindness, and compassion. You have a real heat for God and out of that flows a loving heart for his people. I see you as a very Godly man in character, who has been blessed greatly because of your faithfulness to God. I would encourage you to keep on fighting the good fight of faith, keep on loving, keep on walking in his ways. I believe you are touching many lives for good. I know you say that being a senior pastor is not your calling, but I would say to you that you have been more of a pastor to me than any pastor I know, including the Church I am attending now. I respect you greatly. You are truly a good friend in Christ."
From a past client


Faith based grants for churches is a wonderful method a congregation can supplement their funding in order to stay on par with the programs and also solutions it gives to the participants as well as public. Towns around the nation rely on churches in order to help with numerous social issues influencing the neighborhood where they are based.
Churches give social solutions that a community, particularly in a clinically depressed area, could refrain from doing without. Many of these churchgoers take care of the homeless, run food cupboards, soup kitchens, and also collect money for the poor.
Trying to stay on par with the demand for all this is hard for churches and also they can to be pushed to the spending plan restriction when trying to run the church yet still have the ability to keep up with the social services it uses.
The economic climate has boosted the demand for assistance and also services from those who are in need; nevertheless these churches typically lack the funding to supply this extra assistance.
Churches that have their non- profit standing could request confidence based grants which would certainly provide the funding should run their typical solutions and supply extra assistance to individuals in need.
If the church decides to consider church grants as a method to supplement their funding it have to be signed up as a 501 (c) (3) by the IRS that declares an entity as a philanthropic company. When registered the church needs to choose just what jobs and also solutions they would such as the not-for-profit grant to fund, after that begin browsing the web for faith-based grants for those certain areas of requirement.
The best area to begin the search for federal government nonprofit grants is Catalogue of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) on the internet at https://www.cfda.gov Structures and organizations can be looked into online to see if they have not-for-profit grants that match a program or service that the church is offering.
As soon as grants are found the church could finish the grant application procedure to attempt as well as obtain the grant honor. It might be a long overwhelming procedure however the moment is worth it if the church is awarded the not-for-profit grant.


Springville Camp And Conference Center
A Christian Retreat For All Seasons
Who We are
Are you planning a retreat, conference, training session, or spiritual getaway?
We are a Christian camp, conference and retreat facility specializing in hosting ministry events for other Christian organizations. We offer a wide variety of meeting spaces, lodging, and activities to help make your event a success. Our beautiful grounds are settled in the foothills of the Appalachians, and our 30-acre lake gives a serene atmosphere for any function. Whether you’re wanting a space for a fast-paced, fun-filled camp experience, or a serene, peaceful place to bond with your group, Springville Camp and Conference Center can give you the ability to make it a truly special occasion.
We are located just around 25 minutes outside of Birmingham, Alabama, making it the perfect place to get away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Our scenic views and mountainous surroundings offer a beautiful opportunity for hiking, fishing, and canoeing, or enjoying a night sitting around a campfire at one of our many outdoor venues.
Want to See More?
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|Office Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday thru Friday.|
Visitors are always welcome at Calvary.
CHRISTIAN FORMATION CLASS INFORMATION
|Calling All Calvary Campers and Friends|
A Calvary Camp Holy Eucharist will be celebrated at 3 p.m. on the fourth Sunday here at Calvary Church, in the Refectory. All are welcome! Campers, families, staff, alumni, and friends please join us and spread the good news.
Episcopalians offered resources for responding to gun violence
Episcopal dioceses and other related organizations are recommending resources to help Episcopalians and others respond to violence, especially gun-related violence. There are resources for responding to gun violence, advocating for gun law reform, liturgical resources, and ways to be involved. Click here.
|The Annual Appeal|
Mark and Michelle Rust
|The Multimedia Page - Look and Listen|
|An amazing video|
We recently had a small drone filming in and around Calvary.
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|May 20, 2018|
|Sunday, May 20, 2018: THE DAY OF PENTECOST: Whitsunday
The Holy Eucharist will be celebrated at 8 a.m., 9 a.m., and 11 a.m.
Christian Formation classes for children and youth at 10 a.m.
Nursery care is available during the 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. services.


A Brief History
One of the many Catholic traditions is the Marian devotion. We, the Filipinos, especially the Bicolanos, have that extraordinary, exceptional, and devoted love for Mother Mary — the Mother of Jesus and our Mother, too. We believe that she will intercede for us and will lift our prayers up to God. Thus, there is strong belief and unshakable faith that our prayers are answered through the intercession of the Blessed Mother.
She has been called many names in different regions of the Philippines. Some of them are the following: Nuestra Señora de Caridad to Ilocanos; Our Lady of Manaoag to the people of Pangasinan; Lady of Piat to Cagayanos; Nuestra Señora del Rosario de la Naval or Nuestra Señora de Antipolo to the Tagalogs and many others. Perhaps, one of her most notable names is Our Lady of Peñafrancia, more warmly called INA or Mother, to the Bicolanos. This intense devotion to Mother Mary by the Bicolanos can be traced back in Spain.
Near Salamanca, Spain, there is a village called San Martin de Castañar located at the foot of Peña de Francia hill. A man named Simon Vela and his companions found on May 19, 1434 an image of Mary, now fondly called Our Lady of Peñafrancia. Details of this event are still contained in an official document duly notarized and kept in the archives of the village.
Around 1700, the Covarruibias family of San Martin de Castañar migrated to the Philippines, and settled in Cavite. One of their sons was named Miguel who became sickly while studying in the University of Sto Tomas in Manila. Miguel was a great devotee of Our Lady of Peñafrancia. He found a painting of the image found by Simon Vela, and would place the painting on whatever part of his body that greatly pained him. This gave him relief from his suffering. “So many are the miracles that have happened that I cannot count them. All I could say is that I am the miracle of her miracles.” Miguel said.
Miguel de Covarruibias came to Naga upon the invitation of Bishop Andres Gonzales (1685-1709) to join him in his diocese of Nueva Caceres. There, Miguel became an ordained diocesan priest and later on, the Vicar General of the Diocese.
A lot of miraculous events happened in Naga during this period. One of the most prominent story is about a dog killed, its neck slashed and its blood used to coat or paint the newly carved replica of the statue of Our Lady of Peñafrancia in Spain made by a local artisan. The dead dog was dumped into the river, but it swam alive once again, as witnessed by hundreds of people. Many other miracles that happened were attributed to Our Lady, and its news spread like wildfire. Thus, the devotees also increased in number. She became more popular not only to the natives, but also to the Chinese community. These were all documented in Father Miguel’s letters of 1710 and 1711. His letter to the Dominican Fathers of Salamanca, Spain in 1712 reported many miracles through the intercession of Our Lady. As the devotees grew in number, the devotion also spread outside the Diocese of Nueva Caceres, which before comprised not only the Bicol region, but also includes Tayabas (now Quezon), Marinduque, Laguna up to Palanan, Isabela along the Cordillera ranges.
Succeeding Bishops of Nueva Caceres also contributed in propagating this devotion. Bishop Isidro Arrival (1740-1751) built the initial stone church, later called “Sanctuaries de Peñafrancia”, on the banks of the Bicol River. Bishop Francisco Gainza (1862-1879) enlarged the sanctuary, wrote the history of Peñafrancia, and edited the Novena of Our Lady in Spanish, and in the Bicol dialect. Almost a century later, the English translation was done by Monseigneur Florencio Yllana in 1945.
Like the biblical “mustard seed” , the Peñafrancia devotion today is like a “giant tree”, whose branches extend to other parts of the world like America, Europe, Australia, and Asia. The love story between our Lady of Peñafrancia, whom we lovingly call “Ina”, and us, her children, is never ending.
Today, we have Bicol and Tagalog novena translations. Devotees from all over the world are enjoying the fruits of this Marian devotion, and the aid of Our Lady of Peñafrancia. On her feast day, pilgrims gather once more at her shrine to pay her homage for favors received.
BIG CELEBRATION this SEPTEMBER 2010 IN NAGA CITY
“300 YEARS OF DEVOTION”
“GROWING IN HOLINESS UNDER THE MANTLE OF INA”
The Feast of Our Lady of Peñafrancia is a one-week affair that starts on the second Friday of September when the miraculous Ina is transferred from her shrine to the centuries-old Naga Metropolitan Cathedral. This procession is locally called traslacion where the miraculous images of Our Lady of Peñafrancia and of the Divino Rostro journey to the Metropolitan Cathedral of Naga City for a Novena and Holy Masses. This began in 1885 and ushers in the week long festivities in the locality. A nine-day novena and prayers are held in her honor. This event is considered as the biggest and most popular religious event in the Philippines.
The feast begins with the Virgin’s image (which is a copy of the Madonna in Spain) being brought to the Naga Cathedral, where millions of Bicolanos, devotees, and pilgrims are holding a novena. Showing to the whole Christian world their unshakable faith and loyalty to the Lady, their Divine Mother, the people kneel on the ground and bow their heads, as the Virgin passes through downtown Naga atop a colorful pagoda, which also carries her various images and icons.
During the traslacion, which passes through the main streets of Naga, the miraculous Ina of the Bicolanos is borne on the rugged, muscular shoulders of barefooted voyadores, who form a human barricade to protect the Virgin from the unruly crowd.
Devotees adhere to the towering pagoda, mindless of the scorching sun, in an impressive display of faith. Novena and prayers for nine consecutive days are held. High ranking officials and other powerful people vie for the honor of sponsoring a certain night’s novena. Bicolanos also visit their relatives and friends for merriment, sharing food, drinks, and prayers. On the last day, the Virgin is returned to her shrine, crossing the Naga River.
The evening procession is flanked by thousands of devotees and pilgrims in boats carrying thousands of lit candles, while kneeling and bowing their heads in prayer. When the image reaches her destination, the followers joyfully shout “Viva la Virgin” (Long Live the Virgin!) to the heavens.
A multicolored pagoda carrying the images/icons of the Virgin of Peñafrancia and the Divino Rostro will pass through the Bicol River. The fluvial procession marks the return of the Virgin from the Naga Metropolitan Cathedral to her home shrine at the Basilica.
Millions of Bicolanos will once again show to the whole Christian world their strong faith and loyalty to their Heavenly Mother. Again, we will hear the triumphant sounding shouts of VIVA LA VIRGEN! VIVA! VIVA EL DIVINO ROSTRO! VIVA!
See you in Naga City this September 2010: 300 Years Celebration!


I trust You with the times and seasons of my life. I pray that your make Yourself known to me and to my family and that we will follow Your ways. Instead of trying to control my life, I turn it over to You. O Lord, forgive me for ever doubting Your Presence in my life. I know that all blessings come from You. Your grace is sufficient for me and is not bound by limitations. It is through faith that that I may receive Your grace and with faith comes trust, obedience and salvation.
Whenever fear overwhelms me, I shall seek You, whispering the name of Jesus, knowing that He hears me and will answer me. Jesus says seek Me, and you will find Me.
In Jesus name, Amen.
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Annual Fall Bible Conference
Dates: October 27-29, 2017
We are excited about our sixth annual Bible Conference, with speaker Rev. Charles McCracken.
Charles E. McCracken is an international Bible teacher and conference speaker, long-time friend of Israel and advocate for the Jewish people. With 40 plus years of ministry experience, Rev. McCracken is known for authenticity in communicating biblical truth that makes his presentations relevant for those seeking to understand the significance of Israel and the church in Bible prophecy. He staunchly supports the nation of Israel and the Jewish people’s right to exist and live in peace.
October 27-29, 2017
Friday, 7:00 PM: Israel’s Unprecedented Call
8:00 PM: Israel’s Unique Relationship
Saturday, 7:00 PM: Israel’s Divine Protection
8:00 PM: Israel’s Glorious Future
Sunday, 10:30 AM: Israel’s Magnificent Climax


World Record Academy: People's Salvation Cathedral in Bucharest has "largest Orthodox iconostasis"
The People's Salvation Cathedral, under construction in Bucharest, has set the "new world record for the largest Orthodox iconostasis," the World Record Academy has said.
The iconostasis, a wall of icons and religious paintings separating the nave from the sanctuary, has 23.8 meters in length and a height of 17 meters.
The People's Salvation Cathedral, built nearby the supersized Palace of Parliament, is set to serve as the patriarchal cathedral of the Romanian Orthodox Church.
The iconostasis will be covered with mosaics on both sides, with over 800 sqm of mosaics in total. A team of 45 mosaic and fresco specialists, led by iconographer Daniel Codrescu, worked for ten months on the cathedral's iconostasis, the World Record Academy said in a presentation of the project.
The cathedral, the largest in the country, was consecrated in November 2018, with the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople Bartholomew I and Metropolitan Chrysostomos of Patras attending the event.
During his visit to Romania in 2019, Pope Francis also visited the site.
Construction works on the cathedral started in 2010, and EUR 110 million investments were made by 2018.


/ˌtestəˈmōnē ˈtē /
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So many things in life are unplanned. Some call it luck or fate, some believe its divine intervention. For Testimony Tees it was His sheer inspiration. While traveling with a friend, we were sharing our favorite scripture passages and suddenly found ourselves creating “definitions” of powerful words utilizing His words. By the time we reached our destination, we had our first thirteen Testimony Tees!
Since that day, our little idea has become a big passion. Now we’re sharing with the world our empowering testimony to God’s word – Testimony Tees! Browse through our current T-shirts to find your favorite scripture passage or, create your own design with an inspirational word and message crafted just for you or a loved one.
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I committed last year to reading through the entire Bible in 2009. I am pleased to report that I met my goal on Dec. 31.
I knew I needed some type of plan, so in December 2008 I started looking at various ways I could do this. I looked at a bookstore at some “One Year Bibles” and also researched a bit on the Internet. In the end I did not see the need to purchase a new Bible but, rather, I found a plan that prescribed daily readings from the Old and New Testaments, Psalms and Proverbs.
For the most part I stayed current, but I definitely had to catch up at times.
I did not use a commentary other than occasionally looking at some of the margin notes in the Bible I use, which is a New American Standard version, and at times looking up words in the dictionary. I was purposeful about not using commentary because I wanted to read it on my own and try as best I could to read it objectively.
Here are some of my observations:
-- I LOVE the story of the Bible, which I grasped more than ever. To my detriment, I had previously read the Bible in a more piece-meal fashion and missed the “plot.”
-- I have more questions than answers about the afterlife. There are indications that people “perish,” there are indications of a “lake of fire” and there are indications that it all just ends for some folks after life here on Earth. There are also numerous references to a life more beautiful than we could ever imagine after this one is done.
-- I am convinced that God created us all as equals, even though He has throughout history given favor to the children of Israel. There are references throughout the New Testament of God’s love for ALL.
-- God is extremely patient and kind but there are times in the Old Testament where He had to get firm with people.
-- The seeming contradictions in the Bible don’t bother me. I believe God wrote the Bible through humans who had different perspectives. Obviously I won’t understand it all in this life.
-- Nothing that I read gives me any reason to believe that there is not the possibility of life on other planets or in other galaxies. Ultimately, I won't be surprised either way.
-- I am more convinced than ever that Jesus is the absolute only begotten son of the Heavenly Father.
-- I see how people can use the Bible to support their political views on either side, but I still think it’s a dangerous proposition.
-- If I had to pick a favorite book of the Bible, it would be a four-way tie among Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.
Great takeaways and congratulations on reaching your goal!
My favorite books are Luke and Nehemiah.
Congratulations, Bob, on completing your read-through!
I found your observations to be quite interesting, and I agree with much of what you said.
I take a rather simplistic approach to some of the things folks question about the Bible. I've never had issues with many of the ideas/contradictions that bother other people. Maybe it's insight, maybe rationalization, or maybe
My favorite Gospel is Luke. My favorite book overall.... probably Philippians. In the OT I love Genesis and Daniel.
Truly my favorite book of all time! (yes, I'll eventually get to a "favorite five" entry for books)
Great observations Bob, I think you're heading for a good afterlife...but I prefer to think of it as when real life REALLY begins
Good point, Steve. And we miss that a lot, don't we?
My favorite book is Ecclesiastes and Proverbs, as well as Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Ruth is a nice story too.
Loved your observations about the Bible. I'm reading just the Old Testament this year. Do it every 4 years. Every time I get a new perspective and appreciation for the people and God's way of teaching them (and me) about what's important to Him. I heard a comment once that I'll try to remember well enough to share: God is a Father who loves His children enough to allow them to make mistakes and opportunities to repent and learn the value of following His plan. It's the safest, perhaps shortest route back to Him.
My favorite book(s) of the Bible is usually the one I'm currently reading. I am so very grateful that God cares enough to leave us with great keys to understanding. I'm also grateful for those faithful men, prophets, who under God's instruction, recorded their experiences to help us draw closer to our Eternal Father, through Jesus Christ, the Savior and Redeemer for all mankind.
Thanks for this post, Bob. I don't visit here often enough. (I love the King James Translation, LDS edition. The footnotes, etc., are awesome!)
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Hillside Trail, El Camino de Santiago, Spain
Photograph by James Kloote
This summer I took a month long hiking trip in Spain called El Camino de Santiago. On this morning, I hiked up the hillside for several hours until I finally made it to the top.
El Camino de Santiago, the Way of St. James, has existed for more than a thousand years. One of the most important Christian pilgrimages during medieval times, legend has it that Saint James’s remains were carried by boat from Jerusalem to northern Spain where he was buried in what is now the city of Santiago de Compostela.
In 1987, the route was declared the first European Cultural Route by the Council of Europe and it has been named as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.


Red Sea Crossing, Truth or Fiction?
The Bible story of
Israel's miraculous crossing of the Red Sea, which later overwhelmed the Egyptian army, has long been questioned by agnostics, who also question the large number ascribed to the Israelites 600,000 men, implying a total of 2,000,000 or more.
Did the Red Sea Crossing really happened as recorded in the Bible in Exodus?
Here is some hard evidence as proof.
Red Sea Crossing, Truth or Fiction? Reviewed by Elvis G. on 11:49:00 AM Rating:


Baron & I went to Athens, Tennessee, this weekend to visit his sister, brother-in-law, and their two adorable daughters. We got there Friday night, and on Saturday we went on a hike with some of the families from the church where Tim preaches. It was a great time! I really enjoyed spending time admiring God's creation. Here are some pics from the hike!
(P.S. I've done two posts today, so if you haven't read the first one, please scroll down!)


Answered By: Alison Gowers Last Updated: Jul 09, 2020 Views: 46171
How you reference the Catechism of the Catholic Church depends on the style you are using (please consult your course outline).
APA 6th and APA 7th Style
You will find an in-text and reference list example for the Catechism in the APA Referencing Guide - Religious & Classical Works on the Catechism tab. Follow direct links below.
Chicago Notes & Bibliography
You will find an example footnote and bibliography for the Catechism in the Chicago Referencing Guide - Religious & Classical Works page. Follow direct link below.


At present, there are fifteen situations going on in my church that I am either sad or burdened about. I know it may seem unusual to know that there are fifteen, but it occurred to me the other day that there were so many prayer burdens pressing upon my heart, that I ought to count them all. On top of all of those concerns is the added burden that my prayer life hasn't produced the results that I've been wanting; namely for all of these burdens to be "fixed" or rectified.
I keep meditating on the verse: "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble." I need a lot of grace and so I've been thinking about praying for humility. I say "thinking about" because I worry that a prayer for humility will result in a chain of bad circumstances or events brought to me by God in order to produce that humility. And I feel that I run into enough of these without praying for more of them. (That line of thinking is probably the proof that I need a lot more humility.)
And so then my my mind turns to wondering if I can ask God to make me humble with a caveat: that the humility would come without trials or testing. And then my mind turns to fasting. It seems to me that fasting would be a way to humble oneself on purpose. My husband has fasted off and on over the years, but the truth is that I've heard very little teaching on the subject and so I wonder about the hows and whys of this little talked about discipline and then I stumbled onto Bill Bright's website about fasting.
But as for me, when they were sick,
My clothing was sackcloth;
I humbled myself with fasting;
And my prayer would return to my own heart.
I'm pretty sure that this should be a regular part of my life. And so-- these fifteen things that are weighing me down will be the impetus for a new discipline in my life. May God pour His grace out on me.


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Earlier on Sunday the 25th Nov, 2018, The Executive Governor of Kogi State, His Excellency, Alh. Yahaya Bello in company of his Cabinet Members, National Assembly Member, Party Officials and Local Government Administrators from across the 3 Senatorial Zones joined Dignitaries at Christ the King Catholic Parish, Okene to celebrate the Centenary Anniversary of the Church as the Distinguished Special Guest of Honor.
Governor Bello in his address congratulated the church on her 100 years of existence in Ebiraland. He extolled the leadership of the church both present and past for their steadfastness in the path of the Lord which has contributed immensely to the peace and harmony in Ebiraland and Kogi Central in general.
He urged the churches to continue to preach the gospel of love, peace, unity and religious tolerance while inking the signature of his New Direction Administration of zero insecurity, massive human and infrastructural development, agricultural revolution, and all the goods.
To his host church, CKC, Okene, His Excellency in the spirit of the celebration, graciously made a personal donation of two million naira (N2, 000,000) and a pledge of a brand new coaster bus to aid the ministry in her evangelism.
Governor Bello equally extended the kind gesture in the sum of five hundred thousand naira (N500, 000) each to ten other churches across Kogi Central to support their renovation/roofing/furniture/ electronic project as the case maybe.
The benefiting churches includes:
1. Gospel Assembly Church Nagazi, Adavi.
2. Mountain Crusader Church, Ihucheba, Adavi.
3. St. Andrew Anglican Church Lafia, Okene.
4. Deeper Life Church, Obehira, Okene.
5. St. Paul, Okengwe, Okene.
6. Christ Apostolic Church, Oboroke, Okehi.
7. St. Peter Anglican Church, Ihima, Okehi.
8. Gospel Assembly Church, Iruvusechi Eganyi, Ajaokuta.
9. First Baptist Church, Ajaokuta.
10. Catholic Church, Ogori, Ogori-Magongo.
Speaking earlier, the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Chief Edward David Onoja in a message described His Excellency as a symbol of religious tolerance and a completely detribalized leader whose exemplary leadership quality has been a unifying factor among the ethnic groups and across religious divides in the state.
In his words, Governor Bello is an embodiment of faith, hope and love as enshrined in the scripture.
The Parish Priest, Rev. Fr. Ezekiel Awolumate in his welcome address earlier, appreciated the Governor and his entourage for deeming it fit to join the church in the centenary celebration.
The Royal Father of the Day, the Ohinoyi of Ebiraland, HRM Dr. Ado Ibrahim, CON in a remark enjoined the church to continue to pray for the land and the Executive Governor for Divine guidance and protection to enable him pilot the affairs of the state aright.
The Dean of Okene Deanary, Rev. Fr. Ododo Francis Jude in a “Vote of Thanks” described the “Executive Homage” of His Excellency as unprecedented, as it is the first time in the 100 years of its existence, a sitting governor is honoring the Ancient House of God in the land.
He, on behalf of other churches appreciated the Governor for his kind gesture towards the churches saying His Excellency has further endeared himself to the hearts of the good people of the Christian Faith in the State with that singular act of his.
Highlights of the reception was traditional musical interludes by Ebira Choir of the church and the decoration of Governor Bello with the Centenary Commemorative Muffler.


The future of Richmond Catholic secondary school education just became a lot brighter. Today, after many months of collaborative strategic planning, we are proud to announce:
The Benedictine Schools of Richmond
This newly-formed entity will unify these two pillars of Richmond’s Catholic community — Saint Gertrude High School and Benedictine College Preparatory — on the same campus. Both schools will retain their names and operate distinct, single-sex educational programs. Of equal importance, this formalization places both schools in strong positions for growth and program development.
Beginning in the 2021-22 school year, just in time for its Centennial Celebration, Saint Gertrude will begin relocating to the 50-acre property in Goochland County currently home to Benedictine Prep. The boys’ school will remain in its current facility. For the girls, a new, state-of-the-art academic building is being planned. Together, the schools will share a peaceful, modern, and sprawling campus including the campus’s new, world-class athletic facilities.
Our schools have long been united in our distinct missions and spirit, in our belief in the unique benefit of single-sex education, and in our educational philosophies rooted in the Rule of Saint Benedict. For the better part of a century, our schools even shared a city block. Where the schools were once located 400 feet apart in the Museum District, they’ll soon be just 600 feet apart in Goochland County.
Indeed, this announcement is about much more than a new home for Saint Gertrude. It is about strengthening the foundation of Catholic education for our young men and women, now and well into the future.
As the Sisters and the Monks began to discuss the possibilities of a new, formal partnership and co-location, we considered diligently this opportunity through the lens of our respective values, missions, and visions. Our Orders feel wholeheartedly that such a partnership meets that high bar.
As Benedictine has experienced since its move from downtown (and as Saint Gertrude will experience in the coming years), the Goochland location is ideal not only for reflection and peace, but also for growth and innovation in education. And while single-sex education will always be a cornerstone of our schools, such a partnership will foster an even closer and nurturing community through which we strengthen each other. Proximity will allow the schools to share in their long-standing traditions while maintaining each school’s distinctiveness.
We understand you may have questions about what this exciting announcement means for you and your family. We encourage you to join our Heads of School Sister Cecilia Dwyer, OSB (Saint Gertrude) and Mr. Jesse Grapes (Benedictine) as they welcome our communities for a series of Town Hall meetings.
Tuesday, January 21, 5:30 p.m. at BCP
Wednesday, January 22, 7:30 a.m. at SGHS
Wednesday, January 22, 5:30 p.m. at SGHS
Thursday, January 23, 7:30 a.m. at BCP
Thursday, January 23, 5:30 p.m. at SGHS
Friday, January 24, 7:30 a.m. at BCP
Members of either school community may attend whichever meeting best suits their schedule.
On behalf of the Monks and Sisters of our Benedictine Orders, we look forward to beginning this journey with you and with your beloved children.
Sr. Joanna Burley, OSB
Benedictine Sisters of Virginia
Fr. Jonathan Licari, OSB
Mother Mary of the Church Abbey


Bishop Conlon Talks about the Importance of Families Forming Missionary Disciples, Part 1
|Joliet Missionary Disciples||Dec 9, 2020|
Bishop Emeritus R. Daniel Conlon, from the Diocese of Joliet, recently shared his thoughts on the importance of families forming missionary disciples.
In part 1, he eloquently shares his thoughts why it make sense that families lead the way in forming disciples in the short audio above. Click on the audio above to hear it and stay tuned as part 2 will be arriving next week.
“From the beginning of history, God has been generous with his love towards his children (cf. LG, 2), so that they could attain fullness of life in Jesus Christ (cf. Jn 10:10). Through the Sacraments of Christian Initiation, God invites families to enter into this life, to proclaim it and to communicate it to others (cf. LG, 41). As Pope Francis forcefully reminds us, the mission of the family always extends outside itself in service to our brothers and sisters. Each family is asked to participate in the Church’s mission in a unique and privileged manner. ‘In virtue of their Baptism, all members of the People of God have become missionary disciples.’ ” (EG, 120).
— The Vocation and Mission of the Family in the Church and in the Contemporary World: The Final Report of the Synod of Bishops to Pope Francis
“The family that prays together stays together.”
— Venerable Father Patrick Peyton
“It is in the family that children, from the tenderest age, can learn to perceive the meaning of God, also thanks to the teaching and example of their parents: to live in an atmosphere marked by God’s presence.”
— Pope Benedict XVI
“The family’s catechetical activity has a special character, which is in a sense irreplaceable. This special character has been rightly stressed by the Church, particularly by the Second Vatican Council (118). Education in the faith by parents, which should begin from the children’s tenderest age (119), is already being given when the members of a family help each other to grow in faith through the witness of their Christian lives, a witness that is often without words but which perseveres throughout a day-to-day life lived in accordance with the Gospel. This catechesis is more incisive when, in the course of family events (such as the reception of the sacraments, the celebration of great liturgical feasts, the birth of a child, a bereavement) care is taken to explain in the home the Christian or religious content of these events. But that is not enough: Christian parents must strive to follow and repeat, within the setting of family life, the more methodical teaching received elsewhere. The fact that these truths about the main questions of faith and Christian living are thus repeated within a family setting impregnated with love and respect will often make it possible to influence the children in a decisive way for life. The parents themselves profit from the effort that this demands of them, for in a catechetical dialogue of this sort each individual both receives and gives.
— Pope John Paul II’s 1979 Apostolic Exhortation, Catechesi Tradendae.


WELCOME! So What Is This All about?
I would like to welcome you to my online spiritual journal! THANK YOU for stopping by! I hope that something you read, hear, or see here will bless you today and moving forward. I wanted to answer a few questions about this blog and its purpose.
This is not simply a blog with my thoughts and musings on a variety of topics. Though I may eventually have a blog of that sort (especially dealing with the social justice issues many of you know I’m quite passionate about), this is an online spiritual journal. What’s that? A journal is defined as “a daily record of news and events of a personal nature; a diary.” For me, a spiritual journal is a regular record of one’s spiritual walk with Christ. I have been “journaling” for more than a year and it is an incredible blessing while praying, writing, reviewing, and reflecting. I write my heart to God and His words to me, songs and scriptures, and notes and reflections (with dates) from my time spent with Him alone and with His people.
This online spiritual journal is an extension of that. I am essentially sharing from my walk with God with the hopes that someone will be blessed. More specifically, I hope you will be inspired, encouraged, challenged, and pushed toward greater relationship, in love and surrender, with Him. I’ll open up about some of the things I’m thinking about, moved by, and learning from Him. I hope a greater desire for Jesus is sparked, rekindled, or intensified in you, enough to cause growth and progress in your walk, wherever you currently are.
So what can you expect? Scriptures, songs, videos of all sorts, quotes, links, brief thoughts, longer posts, tips for building your relationship with Him, etc., at least a few times every week, likely more. I clearly don’t know it all but I’m striving and growing, falling more in love and giving more of myself away each day as I walk with Him. I think sharing some of this process might help somebody else. I’m really excited and I hope you are too. That’s all for now folks. Feel free to share, follow the blog, etc. I hope it’s a blessing. I love you but not nearly as much as He does! God bless you and have a wonderful day!
Check out older posts HERE.


Investitur of the Grand Priory in Wiesbaden Germany 16 June 2012
On 16th and 17th
of June, 2012, the 144th Investiture weekend of the Grand Priory in Germany took
place in the historical city of Wiesbaden, Germany. The festive weekend kicked
off with a Reception offered by the Grand Prior of Germany, Chev. Thaddeus
Freiherr von Lison, and the Grand Master of the Order of St. Stanislas, Chev.
Jan Zbigniew Count Potocki and his lady wife, Dame Ewa Countess Potocka, on
Friday evening at the Parish Hall of the Sacred Family Church, where drinks and
snack were served to welcome all guests.This event was the perfect occasion for
old friends to meet again and for new friendships and acquaintances could be
made. Everybody were indeed very satisfied and privileged this year to be a
witness of the 144th Investiture of the Grand Priory in Germany and blessed by
so many St Stanislas Companions, Postulants and invited honoured guests coming
from far and wide. The Grand Prior, Thaddäus Freiherr von Lison, welcomed to the
reception and expressed the hope that everyone would have a memorable and
enjoyable time during this Investiture Weekend. A wonderful feeling of warmth
and companionship prevailed throughout the evening with everyone mingling.
Conversations were interesting, lively as well as diverse and quite
Next day, on Saturday morning, the
meeting point for the start of the Investiture of 16th June 2012 was
the Church of the Sacred Family
in Wiesbaden .
Dhe atmosphere was full of great
anticipation and excitement with everyone resplendent in the mantels of St
Stanislas. Our Master of Ceremony, Chevalier Herbert Class, called everyone to
order. The Banner of the Malopolska Priory was carried by Chev. Wolfgang Gusel
and the ceremonial sword carried by Chev. Marek Kramarski, the Grand Prior of
The solemn celebration of the Holy Mass
took place with Parson Priest Dr. Adam Prorok, conducting together with Father
Dr. Andrzej Majewski a wonderful mass. In his sermon, he spoke over the sense of
honour, service to mankind, the contribution to conciliation and peace which
underlines the essence of duty of a Companion of the Order of St. Stanislas.
He ended the liturgy with his
congratulations to the “new Knights and Ladies and those who have received new
honours in the Order of the St. Stanislas".
We showed him our special gratitude for his holy blessings and time-proven
inspired words of eternal wisdom. He had spoken eloquently and extensively about
the life, work and sacrifice of the Martyr Saint Stanislas, to the audience.
Yet, they were inspired by the effect this Polish Saint had on the life of his
Die Investitur wurde durch die Hymne des Ordens begonnen durch unseren
Konfrater, Daniel Baron von Lison, der dieses festliche Musikstück selbst
The Master Ceremony, Herbert Class,
called for the Investiture Ceremony. The Grand Master, Count Jan Zbigniew
Potocki, opened the proceedings
with words of welcome to all Companions, Postulants and guests of the Grand
Priory of Germany.The proper Investiture Service was
carried out presided by Grand Master Jan Zbigniew Count Potocki, Grand Prior of
Germany, Thaddäus Freiherr von Lison, Grand Prior of Poland, Marek Kramarski,
Prior of Kujawy, Dame Barbara Bromont Sławinska.
The Master of Ceremony presented to the
Grand Master the Postulants which were to be formally invested in the order.
many newly invested Dames and Knights, this was a high, if not the highest
moment of glory and honor in their lives, giving them a new vision and mission
in life. All the Postulants were accompanied and
supported by their family and friends who, together with the other members and
guests, succeeded to create a wonderful atmosphere of unity and solemnity in the
postulant first knelt dow in front of the Grand Master and was ceremonially
welcomed. Gentlemen were gently dubbed on their shoulders with the ceremonial
sword and ladies gently touched by hand on their head. Following this ritual,
their mantels were wrapped round their shoulders, decorations were given and
words of welcome and congratulations were spoken by the Grand Master, the Priest
and the presiding dignitaries to each postulant.All promotions were presented, commented
and esteemed as well deserved, since all the selected members had been working
very hard for in humanitarian activities over a number of years.
As well in the church as outside on the
forecourt, the official Photographer took many photographs of all participants
assembled to ensure that such a special day was suitably marked for the future.
Following this, all Chevaliers, Dames and Guests were invited to proceed to the
Gala Dinner which was to be served in the luxury Dorint Pallace Hotel in
Wiesbaden.At the early afternoon, all participants of the Order of St.
Stanislas with their guests assembled in Dorint Hotel for the festive Dinner to
celebrate their acceptance and their promotions with the traditional charm and
warmth of those occasions. It was just the perfect place for this occasion, the
plates, wines and drinks were tasty and outstanding. The time was used also for
stories, conversations, speeches, greetings and exchanges of ideas. Here, too,
congratulations are to be expressed to the organizers and hosts of this most
festive and memorable event. The culminating event took place at the
evening with the Gala event, the Paramusix Benefit Gala Concert with many
superlatives. It took place in the Herzog-Friedrich-August Hall with its superb
interior of high artistic quality, which is one of the most splendid end
representative buildings of the city of Wiesbaden. The meticulously renovated
Herzog-Friedrich-August Hall, the largest and most beautiful room of the Casino
Building Society, is a perfect, stylish setting for such a venue. For the
musical treat, a number of top artists participated in this concert.
See more about the Charity Concert


Sen. Ted Cruz stuck to his guns regarding his support for Israel even after being booed by some audience members at a Christian dinner event. The tenacious senator from Texas was speaking at a Gala Solidarity Dinner for In Defense of Christians (IDC), a group that aims to raise awareness of persecuted minority communities in the Middle East, highlighting the plight of Christians in that region. Cruz was the keynote speaker for the sold-out dinner gala held in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday.
According to The Daily Caller, Cruz said that “Christians have no greater ally than Israel.” Some audience members reacted negatively, booing and yelling, “stop it!”
Interruptions intensified as Cruz continued:
“Those who hate Jews hate Christians. If those in this room will not recognize that, then my heart weeps. If you hate the Jewish people you are not reflecting the teachings of Christ. And the very same people who persecute and murder Christians right now, who crucify Christians, who behead children, are the very same people who target Jews for their faith, for the same reason.”
The booing continued, prompting IDC president Toufic Baaklini to come to the stage to ask for the crowd to listen to Cruz. The senator, never known to be shy, had had enough. Cruz concluded:
“If you will not stand with Israel and the Jews, then I will not stand with you. Good night, and God bless.”


|Galatians 5:22-23 SVG|
February 1, 2019
This is a digital download for a Galatians 5:22-23 SVG cut file. This design features the bible verse But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23. There is a dove on top and a beautiful elegant square […]
|Choose Kindness SVG|
January 28, 2019
This is a digital download for a Choose Kindness SVG cut file. This design features the words choose kindness above a heart silhouette. Excellent idea for teacher gifts, classroom decoration, t-shirts, and more.


God’s Telephone Number
The result from a caller who dials the wrong or incomplete number of God could be unanswered prayer due to his disobedience or constant breaking of the commandments of God (Zechariah 7:5-13). If we continue to harden our hearts to His words or find pleasure in breaking His commandments, this makes Him unhappy with us, and He is unlikely to answer us when we call Him.
Making a prayer with the wrong motives or intentions is another way your prayer might become unanswered. The Bible says, “Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.” (James 4:3)Therefore, when we ask the Lord in prayer for a request, let us ensure it is done with good intentions so that we can receive it from Him.
Also, if an incomplete or wrong number of God is dialed, the caller can’t reach God except via His divine mercy. The Lord is also able to answer the prayers of a sinner who seeks forgiveness and true repentance. Actually, some sinners could even have their prayers answered instantly by God if they plead to Him for urgent help, however, this depends on the Almighty God, who does such things according to His abundant grace and mercy. He is a merciful God. He loves us so much and wants us to move closer to him.
That’s why the Scripture says, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” (Eph.2:8-9) Generally, in one way or the other we do sin. That’s why the Lord is telling us that it’s not by the works a man has done that we are saved. It’s by His grace. The saving mentioned here is the redemption of our sins by the Lord Jesus. That can prove to us how merciful the Lord is. His mercies are new every day. (Lam. 3:22-23)
The Greatest Thing That Happened To You
Friends, I want to point out to you that the greatest thing to have happened to you is that you not only are a Christian, but you are fortunate to have God in your life. Without an exaggeration, you have a God who loves you so much and wants the best for you. The advantages of knowing God and being a Christian are unquantifiable.
With God, we can face tomorrow. With God, we can do great things that other people might consider impossible by faith. The good news for you as a Christian is that if you can see God as your everything, you won’t have to worry about the present or even what the future will bring.
Appreciating God More
I am not sure if you know how lucky you are. You are serving the almighty God, the most powerful; the creator of the heavens and the earth and all that is in it. When you are able to realize the fullness of the value of the God you have, then you will take Him more seriously. There are different things people place value on. Mention to someone the total value of the entire material wealth on earth, however, it’s worthless to even the least percentage of the riches from the Kingdom of God. When we deviate from the commandments of our creator, it reduces the full blessings we should receive from Him.
God’s Telephone number that we have is unknown to those who don’t share our religious faith. “An unbeliever might not realize the importance of the commandments of God, but we who are fortunate to have it should be very grateful to our God. Whatever the Lord gives us as a commandment is meant to help us and to give us peace and rest.”
The God we serve is not evil. He knows how weak we are as humans and that the devil is moving around to cause an uproar among us. We should not take this lightly when the scripture says, “Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.”(Rev. 12:12) The fallen angel knows that God loves us so much; He experienced the fullness of the glory of our God when He was in Heaven. He knew how powerful our God is and how we can constantly benefit from our God when we stay close to Him. That is why the devil is moving around the globe with his antics of deception, to make us fall into temptations that could rob us from more of God’s blessings.
That is why you should never underestimate the preaching of the Gospel. When God says “don’t,” He knows the bad consequences those things would bring upon us if we engage in the opposite behavior. His grace has been the major benefit we have been enjoying for long. If God has to take into considerations all of our sins, He might not even answer us when we call unto Him.
As a Christian, you must continue to guard yourself with his words and always stay alert watching against the temptation that could break you from the cord of intimate relationship with God. This will bring you more peace and prosperity in life. In the Lord’s Prayer as taught to us by the Lord Jesus, God was addressed as “Our Father, who art in Heaven.” (Mathew 6: 9) Did you notice the power in that phrase? God is your Father who is in Heaven; He loves you more than your biological father, and that’s no doubt. Henceforth, make haste to foster a mutual relationship with your heavenly Father.
Are you still not sure how much your Heavenly Father loves you? Let me take you through some experiences I have had with our Heavenly Father since I became I Christian. Maybe some of these experiences might make you appreciate something more about Him.
65 Sayings Inspired From My Sleep’s Dream
In this Book, I want to state truthfully that I am the original owner of these sayings. They are purely my ideas.
Origin Of My Sayings
These sayings were truly inspired from a midnight dream; hence I want to explain how these ideas came to me.
The Dream That Resulted To The Origin Of My Saying
The source of this saying could be traced to a midnight dream I had in 2003. In the dream, I found myself in a Classroom with empty chairs. I didn’t know which school it was, but the classroom look similar to the normal secondary classroom settings in Nigeria. While in the classroom, I saw a saying written on the chalkboard that reads: “A drug is a root that comes from money in such a level.” The saying was not attributed to anyone. I continue starring at that saying until I woke up. When I woke up, I remembered the dream, and went for a pen to write down the saying. I was curious to know the writer of the saying so, I Googled it online, but it didn’t show the writer. In addition, I haven’t been able to get the exact meaning of that saying on the chalkboard. Maybe whoever is reading this book, can know the meaning. However, I observed that since the day I wrote the saying I read in my dream, I received more inspirational sayings. These sayings started pouring into my mind. It was as if someone was silently uttering those statements to me. That turning point made me always carry a pen and a pocket notebook with me. Whenever I receive a saying, I would edit it or leave it as it is. Gradually, the saying increase day by day until I could complete these 65. I am entirely confident that these are inspirations from the Almighty God, who is the fountain of knowledge and wisdom. I had the feeling that even if God is not the writer of that saying, I believe His intention was to reveal inspiration to me through that writing on the chalkboard. I believe the inspiration came so that I could reveal the ideas from the sayings to my fellow man. These sayings would be useful to me and other persons.
The Changes That Happened To My Sayings In China
Initially, the entire sayings were made of up 5 pages. Meanwhile, a new dimension happened to the sayings in Southwest Jiao tong University, Chengdu, China where I had my intensive Chinese Language study.
The New Dimension
In the morning of a new day in 2009, I was having an Intensive Chinese Language class, when my course teacher, Wang Hai Ling, noticed the 5 sheets of paper containing my sayings on my desk. She noticed it was in English, and she asked what I’d written. I told her the papers contained the sayings I developed. She sought permission to have a look, which I granted. After reading some of the sayings, she was surprised at the writing. She advised me to write the meaning of each of my saying so that whoever read it could have a better understanding of what the meaning is. I’d never thought of it that way before. Therefore, the suggestion of Teacher Wang Hai Ling was what motivated me to write the meanings of all my sayings in this book. The following are some samples of the sayings with their titles, meaning and the lessons from them:
Saying number 15. Lost but Gained. “There is no complete loser in life; a man will gain some and lose some.”
To lose is simply defined as “to fail to keep, preserve, or maintain: to lose one’s balance; to lose one’s figure.” A loser is someone that lost something. For instance, a man could lose a job, a sports team could lose a match, a politician could lose nomination or an election. Generally speaking, nobody is a complete loser, because if a man loses, he would also derive some beneficial experience on how he could get what he lost another day. The following are some examples. If a man loses his job, he should be happy that he hasn’t lost his life, because when there is life, he would surely get another job. Also, he would also learn why he lost his job. If he was sacked due to his ineffective service, he would surely learn from that. Aside from that, he must have gained some working experience from where he was formerly employed that would be useful to him in the future. When politicians lose an important election, they could be offered another appointment by the winning party as a compensation for the post they lost. So they are not complete losers because they lost something and gained something in return.
When we struggle hard for something and we do not get it, we should never see ourselves as a loser. It is certain that we would learn a lesson from what happened, and such lesson itself is a gain that would empower us to do better another
Saying number 55: Equality in the Graveyard. “The graveyard is the only place where there is no barrier between the rich and the poor.”
Undoubtedly, the graveyard is a place where the remains of the dead are buried in large numbers. It’s a silent place. There are many barriers between the rich and the poor in our present day world “The barrier ranges from the lifestyles between the rich and the poor; the quality of the food eaten and many other differences. Notable among the differences is that it’s not every place the rich visit that also grants entrance to the poor. Most of the rich live in expensive and beautiful houses owned by them while the majority of the poor live in an affordable rented houses. Interestingly, despite the barriers between the rich and the poor, when they both die, they will be buried in the graveyard. In the graveyard, the barrier automatically ends. Except through personal recognition of names, it would be difficult to differentiate between the grave of a late billionaire and a wretched man. The billionaire would not be buried in a castle or in a golden grave.
Whether we are poor or rich, we should learn to love one another. We should treat one another as family. We brought nothing into the world and we won’t take anything away from this world. If you are rich, do not avoid the poor; do not oppress the poor. There may be barriers between you and the poor today because of your wealthy status, but remember that when you die, your remains would be buried beside the poor in the graveyard.


Prepare for a magical evening filled with Christmas joy and musical splendor! We warmly welcome you to the atmospheric Saint Martin's Church in Koekelare for an enchanting Christmas concert, where some of Belgium's most talented artists will share the stage.
Let yourself be enchanted by the unique voices of the legendary Sandra Kim, the charismatic Udo, and the captivating Garry Hagger as they take you on a musical journey filled with timeless classics and heartwarming melodies.
This is an evening you won't want to miss, where friendship and music come together to celebrate the Christmas season in style. Make sure you're there and let the Christmas magic begin!
THE FLOOR PLAN IS INDICATIVE - from every seat, the stage will be visible.
- Gold tickets: € 35
- Silver tickets: € 30
- Bronze tickets: € 25
Where does the event happen?
When does the event happen?
Add to Calendar
A service fee of 0,95 € per ticket will be added to the order total.


One of the most impressive features of the landscape is the distant glimpse of a church tower or spire, outlined against the sky and the horizon. In our urban areas the churches reach high above the roofscape and, despite dating in some cases back to the Middle Ages, compete with some of the most modern office and apartment blocks for the prize of being the tallest building in town. In our rural areas they are the great focus of villages and the agricultural landscape, providing witness to the centuries over which people have worked the land. They are also a great friend to the traveller, for they are easy destinations to head towards and provide a comforting promise of nearby rest and refreshment in the village pub.
Steeplechasing is now mostly associated with National Hunt horse racing, but traditionally it was a term used to describe any form of cross country sporting pursuit. Whether on foot or horseback, the ‘race’ was to be the first to reach the churches whose steeples were visible. So, steeplechasing is still something which can be done today – by car, by walking or by bike. Visiting the tallest churches in our own locality, county or region is an interesting way of exploring local histories and communities. Finding the tallest church towers or spires isn’t always easy, though, as the measured heights aren’t necessarily known or recorded.
So where are the record places in your own locality? In the West Midlands of England, a ‘steeplechase’ across the region’s six ceremonial counties in search of the tallest church towers and steeples would take in the following record places.
Herefordshire. St.Peter’s, Peterchurch has a spire that is 56.7m in height. This rural village sits in the “Golden Valley” of south west Herefordshire, 15km west of Hereford, and the church dates back to Norman times. The original spire was half removed in 1949 for safety reasons, but was replaced in 1972 with a spire built in fibreglass (Grid Reference SO34523854).
Shropshire. St Mary’s, St. Mary’s Place, Shrewsbury was founded before the 13th century. The spire, which is 42m high, was added to the existing West Tower in the late 15th century. The church became redundant in 1987 and is now managed by the Churches Conservation Trust (Grid Reference SJ49251264).
Staffordshire. Staffordshire’s tallest is the 76.8m high central spire of Lichfield Cathedral. The cathedral, dedicated to St Chad, the first Bishop of Mercia, has its origins in 669AD, but the present cathedral was constructed in the years following 1195 AD. The central spire was rebuilt in the late 17th century (Grid Reference SK11500970).
Warwickshire. The county’s tallest spire is at St Gregory’s, Mill Lane, Tredington, 3km north of Shipston-on Stour, and is 64m high. The church dates from the 10th century but is mostly 12th-14th century, while the unusual octagonal spire dates from the 15th century (Grid Reference SP25924357).
West Midlands. The ceremonial county of the West Midlands, which includes the seven metropolitan boroughs of Wolverhampton, Walsall, Dudley, Sandwell, Birmingham, Solihull and Coventry, has the tallest spire in the region. The 90m spire of the original Coventry cathedral, built in the 14th century and dedicated to St. Michael, made it the 7th tallest church in the UK. Although the cathedral was destroyed by bombing in 1940, the tower, spire and part of the outer wall remain, sited alongside the modern Coventry Cathedral (Grid Reference SP33607900).
Worcestershire. Worcestershire’s tallest is the 62m tower of Worcester Cathedral. It is the third tower on the cathedral (the first fell down, and the second was taken down for safety reasons!), and was completed in 1374, although the origins of the cathedral are the Worcester Priory on the same site, dating from 680AD (Grid Reference SO85005450)
The tallest churches of the West Midlands are a diverse variety of cathedrals and parish churches, therefore. But where would you have to go to visit the tallest in the UK? Salisbury Cathedral, in Wiltshire has the tallest spire of all at 123m (Grid ReferenceSO14262951), while the tallest parish church is St James Church in Louth (Lincolnshire) whose spire is 89.9m tall (Grid Reference TF32668739.
The Must Get Out More Question !
Where are the tallest church towers/spires in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland?
The Answer to the Last Question
Where in the UK is the oldest football ground in the world which is still in use?
(Hint- it isn’t a club ground in the main professional leagues in the UK!)
The oldest football ground in the world which is still in use is in Chapeltown, Lancashire, which is 5km north of Bolton in Greater Manchester. The pitch is opposite the Chetham Arms pub on High Street and is now part of the Tower Community Centre. Games were played as early as 1856, and it became the home of Turton FC from 1871. The pitch was taken over by Old Boltonians AFC in 1952. (Grid Reference SD73401580)
The Record Locations
You can use the Grid References provided to locate record locations on a map at www.streetmap.co.uk


Tomorrow is St. George’s Day and here at VALKYRIE (GB) LIMITED, we like to celebrate our patron saint. St. George’s Day used to be a national holiday in England. It is now an observance that is celebrated with parades, dancing and other activities. Flags with the image of St. George’s cross are flown on many buildings, and people wear a red rose on their lapel. Church services on the Sunday closest to 23rd April often include the hymn ‘Jerusalem’, written by William Blake.
St. George was born sometime around the year 280 in what is now Turkey. He was a soldier and rose up through the ranks of the Roman army, eventually becoming a personal guard to the Emperor’ Diocletian. He was executed for being a Christian on 23rd April 303 and is buried in the town of Lod in Israel.
St. George’s Day was once celebrated as widely as Christmas. But the celebrations waned by the end of the 18th century after England had united with Scotland on 1st May 1707. In recent times, there has been a push, involving campaigns and petitions to make the day a public holiday in England.
St. George is the patron saint of a number of other countries including: Bulgaria, Ethiopia, Georgia, Greece, Portugal and Russia. Around the world, a number of days are devoted to St. George, including 23rd April and dates in November and December of the Gregorian calendar.
The most widely recognised symbol of St. George’s Day is St. George’s cross. This is a red cross on a white background, which is often displayed as a flag. It is used as England’s national flag, forming part of the Union Jack, the national flag of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Saint George’s cross was originally the flag of the maritime Republic of Genoa. Around 1190, the King of England started paying the Doge of Genoa to protect ships originally from the city of London and the rest of England that sailed in the Mediterranean.
During the crusades in the 1100s and 1200s, English knights used St. George’s cross as part of their uniform. It has been the official flag of England for centuries, but the Union Flag, a combination of St George’s cross, St Andrew’s cross and St Patrick’s cross, is the national flag of the United Kingdom. In more recent times the flag of St. George has become popular in supporting the national sporting teams of England. It also has a prominent place on the arms of the City of London and the flags of the city of Barcelona, Spain, and the country of Georgia.
The most famous legend of St. George is of him slaying a dragon. In the Middle Ages the dragon was commonly used to represent the Devil. The slaying of the dragon by St. George was first credited to him in the 12th century, long after his death.
Here at VALKYRIE (GB) LIMITED, we’d like to wish you all a very happy St. George’s Day!