Designed by Bernard Maybeck in 1927, the mansion was remodeled and enlarged in the mid-1990s. This is the same Catholic Faith we live and teach today. The Congregation of Mary Immaculate Queen (Latin: Congregatio Mariae Reginae Immaculatae; CMRI) is a sedevacantist Traditionalist Catholic religious congregation. Be sure to visit our online store, Mary Immaculate Queen Center's web site at http://www.miqcenter.com If you have any questions about the Gift Shop or the Center, please use this email form or call the Sisters at (509) 467-1077. The Sisters of Mary Immaculate Queen are a traditional Catholic Religious Congregation dedicated to preserving and spreading the true Faith and promoting the message of Our Lady of Fatima. They realize that the Church may have its problems, but its still here., Our new community is energized and filled with the Holy Spirit, Sister Mary Eucharista said. The apostolates of the Marian Sisters include teaching and parish work as well as promotion of Catholic publications, all of which serve as means of spreading our holy Faith and the Fatima message. We can only do our best and. She is another Mary; she brings Christ to the world, and the world to Christ. Anima Mariae: , In 1986, the Congregation held its first General Chapter, which established its rule and constitutions, that were later approved by sedevacantist Bishop Robert McKenna ORCM. Go teach all nations, Our Lord commanded his disciples. Results like these do not come without a great deal of effort, a solid curriculum base, and the foundation of a fervent prayer life. EIN 27-4581132 Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist. She thought, I cant believe it, hes the pope.. In the minds of the sisters we had left behind, we had become part of the enemy Church., Those choosing to stay behind included Mary Eucharistas older sister. Fax: (402) 571-3383 Queenship of Mary Community 1030 Baseline Rd Otttawa, ON K2C 0A6 firstname.lastname@example.org (1) 613-601-5278 After listening to Schuckardt for three nights in a row, he became his disciple. With the passing of time a number of the sisters . Sister Mary Eucharista had spent much time in prayer and conversation with Catholics in communion with the Church, culminating with her acceptance of Pope Benedict XVI upon his election. Sister Mary Eucharista entered the CMRI convent at age 21. Romney and Obama trade zingers at Al Smith Dinner UPDATED, Archbishop Cordileone Saddened Over Latest DOMA Ruling. While the enthusiasm for the Holy Father might seem commonplace for a religious, it wasnt for the nuns in Sister Mary Eucharistas community. March 24-26 at Mount St. Michael. Spokane, WA 99217 29 Cameron Lane. As sedevacantists, they do not accept the legitimacy of any of the popes since the close of the Second Vatican Council. Over the course of several meetings, he suggested they stay with the CMRIs a while longer, in an effort to change the minds and hearts of the other sisters. Holy Communion From the Chalice Reintroduced in the UK: What About the US? Theyll go through statements of Pope John XXIII, Paul VI and John Paul II. Phone: (509) 467-0986 ext. She asked men to amend their lives and to cease offending God, to make reparation for sin, to pray and sacrifice for the conversion of sinners, and to pray the daily Rosary for world peace. Souls who perhaps would not have otherwise been exposed to the truth can learn about Christs one true Church through materials printed and distributed by the diligent hands of Sisters zealous women who are well aware that it is by personal sacrifice, humble obedience and a fervent prayer life that they can earn the graces to win souls back to Christ and repair for the sins of mankind. A convent and girls high school in Colbert, Washington about 15 miles north of Spokane. They will decide what is heretical in those statements and use their findings to claim that this person should be deprived of all ecclesiastical office and therefore cant be pope. once more we plummet into the cold winter days which remind us of the earth plunged in the bitter darkness and cold of its fall from God. Bishop Skylstad is pleased with the outcome of the sisters journey. The kids that I taught always told me, Sister, youre always so happy. I told them, Happiness is a choice, and I choose to bloom where Im planted.. Immaculate Heart Sisters. Mother Kathryn Joseph believes fear and a belief that the Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Church are apostates has caused the separation. They celebrate the sacraments in the pre-Vatican II manner, most notably the old Latin (Tridentine) Mass. The Congregation was founded on October 7, 1878 (Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary) in Poland by Blessed Honorat Kozminski, a Polish Franciscan Capuchin. As the media broadcast images of Pope Benedict to the world, including to her communitys home in Spokane, she was excited and moved to tears. . Some of the CMRI nuns contacted Bishop Pivarunas to ask him to do something about the division in their community. She even did the unthinkable: participated in a Holy Hour devotion in an adoration chapel in St. Peters Basilica. Dedicated to preserving and spreading the traditional Catholic Faith and the Fatima Message, the priests, Brothers and Sisters of the Congregation of Mary Immaculate Queen (CMRI) are responsible for over 90 traditional Catholic churches and Mass centers both in the U.S. and abroad, as well as at least 13 schools staffed by religious, several The CMRIs would eventually make their headquarters at Mount St. Michael, a former Jesuit seminary in Spokane they had purchased. The Marian Sisters will use the information you provide below to send you our quarterly newsletter and occasional announcements letting you know important news about the Sisters. CMRI Part 2: Corrections and Today, the Congregation of Mary Immaculate Queen is led by Superior General Mark Pivarunas, who also had himself ordained a priest and bishop without approval of Church authorities. It also reminds people of how the Catholic Faith was lived when Sisters in full habit were common of things like the Latin Mass (which, of course, we attend daily), of the Baltimore Catechism, of the nuns insistence on girls dressing modestly, of reverence in church, of respect and order in the classroom, and of the quiet joy that comes from living a life of love of God. Spokane, WA 99217 The Sisters of St. Francis of Mary Immaculate (Joliet Franciscans) and the University of St. Francis gifted one of Bethany House's young women with just that a four-year college education," said Sr. Joyce Shanabarger, OSF, Bethany House of Hospitality board member. Back then, all of the Congregations printing was sent out to a commercial print shop. As the media broadcast images of Benedict, she was excited and moved to tears. They will always be special to me. In fact, we thought the Catholic Church left us. Congregation of the Missionary Sisters of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Queen of Mercy of the Diocese of Lincoln. The Life and Thoughts of Rev. People often stop us and thank us for wearing this symbol of consecration to Gods service, often lamenting that they have not seen a nun in habit for many years.  Local media in 1984 reported that there were 5000 followers of the group in the United States, 800 of whom live in the Spokane area. He had been a seminarian for both the Los Angeles and San Francisco archdioceses, had flirted with sedevacantism and then, after study, rejected it. Some do not accept John XXIII, who called the Council, either. Their Marian spiritis evident intheir full-length blue habits, complete with Rosary and Miraculous Medal, and in their determination to do all their actions to Jesus through Mary.. Anyone in the hierarchy who was even suspected of heresy was deprived of office. BOX 74, MALONGWE - UGANDA Tel: +256773125047 E-mail: email@example.com. See details. Speaking tours & Coeur d'Alene beginnings (1967 to 1971), devotion of the practice of Total Consecration to the Virgin Mary, Learn how and when to remove this template message, "CMRI's Marian Spirit: Total Consecration to the Blessed Virgin", "CMRI Directory of Traditional Latin Masses (U.S.)", "Thomas A. DRAHMAN Obituary (1938 - 2020) Spokesman-Review", "Alvina URBAN Obituary (2013) Spokesman-Review", "All broadcasts for Mary Immaculate Queen Church - Rathdrum, ID", "Church changes left traditionalist behind", "Bishop Schuckardt, CMRI, Mount Saint Michaels", "Superior General: Bishop Mark A. Pivarunas, CMRI", "12 Anti-Semitic Radical Traditionalist Catholic Groups", "O'Neil v. Schuckhardt | 733 P.2d 693 (1986) | p2d69311426", "Sexual Abuse Lawsuit Filed Against Holy Innocents' Catholic School in Waite Park", "Woman claims sexual abuse by 'secretive' family that ran Catholic school", "Holy Innocents Catholic School sued over allegation of sexual abuse", Preconciliar rites after the Second Vatican Council, List of communities using the Tridentine Mass, Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest, Personal Apostolic Administration of Saint John Mary Vianney, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Congregation_of_Mary_Immaculate_Queen&oldid=1139506502, Christian organizations established in 1967, Articles needing additional references from August 2022, All articles needing additional references, Pages using Template:Post-nominals with customized linking, Articles lacking reliable references from August 2022, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, The Drahman family has been involved with the CMRI since the early 1970s. Omaha, NE 68134 Salasian sister of mary immaculate (ssmi) Poor clares of perpetual adoration (pcpa) Associates of mary, queen of apostles (smra) Missionaries of charity (mc) Little handmaids of the church (lhc) Catechist sisters of the immaculate heart of mary queen of angels (cic) Missionary sisters of the immaculate (pime sisters) Located in the basement of the Mount, it was first operated by the Marian priests and Brothers. Sorrowful Mother Holy Card. Leaven of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Today, the CMRIs are led by Bishop Pivarunas, who was also ordained a priest and bishop illicitly. 1969: (December): 327 IHM Sisters, the majority out of 560 Sisters, decided to ask to be released from their vows. We, the Missionary Sisters of the Precious Blood, CPS (the abbreviation CPS stands for Congregatio Pretiosi Sanguinis in Latin), are an international congregation of women, founded by the Trappist Abbot Francis Pfanner in Mariannhill, near Durban, South Africa, on the 8thof September 1885. The Sisters who work at our apostolic center have a modest printing apostolate and maintain the web site of the Congregation. Another initiative announced was the creation of a memorial for victims of abuse. Jim Graves Jim Graves is a Catholic writer and editor living in Newport Beach, California. Those choosing to stay behind included Mary Eucharistas own older sister. As the number of Sisters grew, they themselves began to do more of the work on their publications. Two new women are novices for the Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Church. Through the publishing apostolate, the Marian Sisters take part in the missionary work of the Church by assisting the clergy to teach and spread the true Faith far and wide. Their Marian spirit is evident in their full-length blue habits, complete with Rosary and Miraculous Medal, and in their determination to do all their actions "to Jesus through Mary." Sister Mary Eucharistas acceptance of Benedict as the true Pope caused an irreparable split in her community and would ultimately lead her and 14 other nuns to leave a place they had come to love. See details. Michaelangelo once said, Trifles make up perfection, but perfection is no trifle. The Sisters take this one step further, by taking to heart the words of our Divine Savior, Be ye perfect, even as your Heavenly Father is perfect.. Brazilian Charity Caring for Children Who Survived Abortions Issues Urgent Appeal, Memento Mori: Remember You Are Going to Die, The Meat of the Matter: St. Patricks Day and the Lenten Fast, Pope Francis Inexhaustible Font of Words: 10 Gems From the Heart Over 10 Years. Fr. That didnt sit well with Sister Mary Eucharista: I cant speak openly in my own house?. It is with profound gratitude and appreciation of their courage that we received them into full communion with the Church, he said. online store, Mary Immaculate Queen Center, The Reign of Mary, CMRI's Quarterly Magazine, Spiritual Aids for Confraternity Members for January, February and March, Mater Dei Seminarys Free Monthly Newsletter, CMRI: Congregation of Mary Immaculate Queen, Discovering the Rose Garden: The Story of Our Conversion, Excommunicated! In 1969, Sister Mary Eucharistas parents learned of a new traditional Catholic school being founded in Coeur dAlene, a northern Idaho resort area that has long been a draw for traditionalist Catholics. On August 15, 1995, the woman identified herself as Mary, Queen of Help. , On June 3, 1984, Schuckardt and a small group of his followers were expelled from the CMRI and left the Spokane area, taking the name Tridentine Latin Rite Church (TLRC). The glistening snow is a dim reflection of the luster of her spotless soul, and soon the cold will be melted by the furnace of her loving heart. Some of the more extreme practices of the community subsided after Schuckardts abrupt departure, and Sister Mary Eucharista was pleased: I was absolutely blissful. MATHARI - NYERI Name of the convent: St. Joseph's convent Place :Nyeri Country :Kenya, East Africa Sign up to receive a weekly email with news, analysis, and commentary from a voice you can trust! Box 119 Laton, CA 93242 (209) 923-4935 fax: (209) 923-CATH Phone: (559) 923-4935 Fax: (559) 923-2284 Top COLORADO Shrine of the Stations of the Cross P.O. Its head was the charismatic Francis Schuckardt (1937-2006), who was originally part of the Blue Army apostolate committed to spreading the message of Our Lady of Fatima. St. Michael, retaining the CMRI name and the bulk of the church property. Algeria - Our Lady of Africa; Angola - Immaculate Heart of Mary; Cameroon- Immaculate heart of Mary James O'Doherty, our Founder, placed the school in the hands of our heavenly Mother, Mary Immaculate Queen. Phone: (509) 467-0986 ext. Fax: (509) 467-2425 Ultimately, she did. But while I understand them, I can never go back unless they return to full communion with the Church., Sister Mary Eucharista was born in Southern California into a pious Catholic family. Colorful posters, bulletin boards and artwork provide visual lessons in the Faith to visitors as well as students. He lives at a CMRI seminary in Omaha, and oversees dozens of churches in the US, Canada, and New Zealand. In fact, Father Puskorius asked Duddy to teach philosophy at the school in lieu of paying tuition for his children. Fax: (509) 467-2425 This society was founded in Paris on 15 October 1872, by the Abbe' Henri Chaumont and Madam Carre De Malberg to live by and spread evangelical charity in the world. Founded over 100 years ago in Western Ukraine, the Sisters Servants strive to follow the example of their patroness, Mary, the Immaculate Mother of God. The bishop recalled meeting some of the CMRI nuns previously at the Spokane airport, when they had coincidentally been taking the same flight. She took part in a pilgrimage to Rome, and saw rank-and-file Catholics going to confession and praying the Rosary, and was struck by their reverence in church. More information Comments More like this More like this Mantellate Sisters Servants of Mary Clayton - Community of Mary Immaculate Queen. Its not that Sister Mary Eucharista rejected Tradition in the Church. His work has appeared in the National Catholic Register, Our Sunday Visitor, Cal Catholic Daily and Catholic World Report. Father said I betrayed him, and that I was a liar because I said I wouldnt share my views on the Church that contrasted with their beliefs.. These include The Reign of Mary, a quarterly Catholic magazine edited by the Marian priests, a Catholic calendar, numerous encyclicals, booklets, pamphlets, and leaflets. Mother Ludmilla) living at Mount Saint Michael in Spokane were expelled from the congregation because they had come to disagree with the congregation's stance of sedevacantism. Little Sisters of Mary Immaculate of Gulu, LSMIG The Secretary General ARU Secretariat. For more information about our privacy practices, please visit our website. Sister was raised with her six brothers on a sheep and goat ranch in Southwest Texas. But then as technology changed, the presses were replaced with large multi-function color copiers. Some of the nuns agreed to remain silent15 did not. $12.95. Box 326 511 Church Place San Luis, CO 81152 Top Connecticut Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes 50 Montfort Road P.O. Contact by Email, Congregation of Mary Immaculate Queen (CMRI) 2023, Why We Believe the Chair of Peter is Vacant, Meditations for the 15 Mysteries of the Rosary, CMRI: Congregation of Mary Immaculate Queen. Special Report Their Marian spirit is evidenced by their full-length blue habits, complete with Rosary and Miraculous Medal, while their spirituality is based on Total Consecration to the Blessed Virgin Mary as taught by St. Louis Marie de Montfort. , In August 1989, Father Tarcisius Pivarunas (Mark Pivarunas) was elected as the Superior General of the congregation. Little by little, the Sisters learned to use the electric folder, the stitcher, the darkroom camera, and even the printing presses. Some of the SMMC sisters distribute Communion to patients at Spokanes Sacred Heart Hospital (another sign of their rebirth, as in the CMRI community, only the priest is allowed to touch the Host). But it wasnt easy. Lincoln, NE. She became a teacher in the Mount St. Marys school, St. Michaels Academy, teaching a variety of subjects, including theology. Schuckardt led the community until 1984. FAQ's. Our prayers for unity were answered. It offers the Tridentine Mass and claims to preach the traditional Catholic faith, rejecting the Second Vatican Council and upholds a right . The centers mailing list then consisted of about 10,000 names and every envelope was addressed by hand. But, in the end, I thought God was calling me to religious life, she said. But it wasnt easy. Hence, I wouldnt talk religion with my sister unless she brought it up.. Reproduction of material from this website without written permission, or unlicensed commercial use or 2020 Fatima Conference: "I am the Lady of the Rosary": The following accusations of sexual abuse have been made public: On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Mount St. Michael She recalled, I had an epiphany in one sitting. Local clergy in union with Rome were good models for the sisters of the mainstream Church as well. He didnt approve of the Mounts sedvacantism, but since it was not taught in the classroom, he decided it would not have an adverse effect on his children. The fruit of prayer is faith. , The CMRI hold the Fatima conference at Mt. He had made the journey from ardent sedevacantist to full communion with the Church but kept quiet about his views so he could continue teaching. *indicates required It is iridescent, representing the expedient image that Chinas leaders desire to present to the world, to entice or intimidate, to lure or frighten. Sisters Servants of Mary Immaculate Welcome to the website of the Congregation of the Sisters Servants of Mary Immaculate of the American Province. I used to want the longest life, perfect health and happiness, but really it is that feeling that I am so glad that this isnt all there is and that we have heaven to wait for, and that well be with Jesus, and there will be no more tears Amber VanVickle (1982-2023), The headquarters of the charity, which serves as a consecrated family to 46 disabled children, were badly damaged in major flooding near Rio de Janeiro last year. It is still a period of discernment for the Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Church; some have already left to found new religious communities. And they really returned to their hard-core sedevacantism, preaching it from the pulpit and at St. Michaels Academy. The apostolates of the Marian Sisters include teaching and parish work as well as promotion of Catholic publications. The Sisters of Mary Queen of Heaven Missionaries have a sincere desire to embrace God's graces and serve the poor and unfortunate children of their country, through mercy, love and charity. Chicoine accused Schuckadrt of abuse & drug addiction.


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Father Dubreul built the central portion of the present seminary in 1878: the building was completed by Father Magnien.All that remains from the old days is the sisters house, in which Mother Seton began her work as a Sister of Charity, and the seminary chapel, built in 1806, which long served as a parish church and was regarded in those days as a gem of architecture.They were considered as clergy of the cathedral and are credited with having introduced into the United States some of the dignity and splendour of old-world Catholic worship.
Ciquard worked among the Indians of Maine ; Levadoux, Dilhet, and Richard among the French and the Indians of Illinois and Michigan.The Sulpicians came to the United States at the very rise of the American Hierarchy.When the French Revolution was threatening to involve them in the impending ruin of the Church the superior-general, Father Emery, looking for a place of refuge abroad, was meditating an establishment at Gallipolis, a French settlement on the Ohio ; but the papal nuncio at Paris, Cardinal Dugnani, made the happier suggestion of Baltimore, which had just been erected into the first American see.He was the close friend and trusted adviser of Cardinal Gibbons, who said of him some time after his death: "I had been so much accustomed to consult the venerable Abbé on important questions, and to lean upon him in every emergency, that . The largest of our American seminaries, and national in its scope, it draws its students from every quarter of the country.
It has always taken a leading part in the seminary conferences of the Catholic Educational Association.
The almost hopeless condition may be judged from the fact that during each of the first three years there were only five students and in the next year, 1794, only two, nearly all of whom were from Europe ; from 1795 to 1797 there were none at all.


An injured woman in hospital with leg raised. As they hid under the pews, many worshippers were shot in their legs. Grace was being shared when the first shot rang out.
For dozens of worshippers at the St Francis Catholic Church in Owo, south-western Nigeria, the Lord’s prayer turned into a viaticum – the final prayer.
The armed men that burst through the church doors around 11:30 on Sunday set off dynamite that had congregants scampering to escape the explosions.
As worshipers rushed for the other two exits in the chaos, they were met by more armed men, followed by more shots and loud bangs.
At the end, eyewitnesses say at least 50 bodies – some of them children – were left strewn across the church floors, while many more were injured.
There was blood on the altar, blood on the floor, bodies on the pews.
It is still not clear how many people have died and or were injured. But the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Ondo says the church, which is one of the biggest parishes in Ondo state, can hold up to 1,200 people. It was full at the time of the attack.
They bore the weight and pain in silence while the killers went about, picking off worshippers hiding under the pews.
Dynamite residue still litters the church, while the vestry – where many hid – bears testimony to the chaos.
Shoes, bible pages soaked in blood, purses and other personal belongings are still scattered about.
For members of this quiet community in Ondo state, the church was more than a place of worship – it has been a part of their lives since birth.
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This was a surprise attack. Owo is relatively peaceful and has been spared the wanton killings that seem to happen weekly across Nigeria.
Attacks on churches have happened before – it was a tactic of Islamist militant group Boko Haram, but the gruesomeness of this attack has shocked many.
This was a congregation of the aged and the very young. Worshippers had turned up in their Sunday best for the Pentecost service, which marks the birth of the church and official end of the Easter season.
For orthodox Nigerian Christians, first Sundays of the month are also significant. They are usually full of colourful thanksgivings led by families and parish groups and this would have been no different.
People are walking about with a blank stare, wondering how their lives have changed forever.
There is still a crowd at two local hospitals where volunteers rushed to donate blood after the attack.
But more is still needed, said Nigeria’s medical association, which has urged people to donate more at local hospitals.
Everyone seems to know someone inside the hospital where many are critically injured and some are fighting for their lives.
Many of the survivors at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) in Owo have been shot in both legs, some might never walk again.
The pictures are too gory for many Nigerians, even those numbed by the numerous deaths witnessed in the country.
Some of the children killed were unrecognisable – the high-calibre bullets scattered flesh and bones, a medical worker at the FMC told the BBC.
“The audacity of Nigeria to take my parents from me. I will always hate this country!!!!! It’s a promise!,” said one Twitter user.
In one of the pictures, the politicians dressed in colourful robes are smiling. A convention to elect the party’s presidential candidate for next year’s general elections is underway in Abuja.
All eyes are now on the state governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, who has vowed to hunt down the killers.
This incident will feel personal for Mr Akeredolu, as he comes from Owo.
He is one of the southern governors who have been very critical of the activities of herdsmen, who generally come from the north, and open grazing in Nigeria. He caused a huge furore last year when he ordered them to leave the forests in the state, accusing them of criminality.
The killers wore khaki trousers used by many of Nigeria’s many paramilitary groups, said Mr Nwovu, so they could have been anyone.
The attack comes exactly a week after the head of the Methodist Church in Nigeria was abducted, along with two other clerics in the south-east of the country, and freed after paying $240,000 (£190,000).
Also, two weeks ago, two Catholic priests were kidnapped in Katsina, President Buhari’s home state in the north of the country. They have not been released.
This might feel like a new wave of attacks on the church, and worshipers
For more articles stay tuned to unitedperspectives.com for regular updates
Story Conceived & written by


EBF Christmas Message
EBF Christmas Message
Right at the beginning of this Advent season I was privileged to hear the great German theologian, Jürgen Moltmann, now aged 87, speak at a 'Catalyst Live' day organised by BMS World Mission here in the UK.
Moltmann is of course famous for his 'Theology of Hope' and the way in which our future hope in God's coming kingdom inspires and enables us to work to see that Kingdom begin to be built now, in the present time. Moltmann develops what for me is the Biblical emphasis, that our vision of God's promised future draws us onward in our journey of faith and discipleship in the most challenging of circumstances.
Jürgen Moltmann told us something of his own experience in this regard. Taken a prisoner of war by the British at the end of the Second World War and sent to various camps in the UK he experiences despair and loss of hope in how own situation and that of his country. Handed a Bible by an Army Chaplain in a POW camp in Scotland he began to read the psalms and found there both an echo of his own despair, but also the hope in God which reaches into the situation of hopelessness and promises something new and transformative. This personal experience lies at the root of this theme of hope, which runs through all of Moltmann's theology.
It was difficult to write fast enough to get down all the things he said about hope when I heard him speak recently, but here is the way the BMS Report on his address put it:
“Hope is anticipated joy in God, in life, in love,” legendary theologian Professor Jürgen Moltmann told capacity crowds at Catalyst Live events this week. Expanding on one of the central themes of his career, Professor Moltmann said that confident hope was “stretching out to what is coming, in readiness for a fresh start.”
In a dense, poetic, often moving address, Professor Moltmann asserted that the Christian hope in the future is not like the utopias of some political ideologies or the apocalyptic visions of some forms of religion, because we look forward not to an end of things, but to a beginning. “We can say yes to the future whatever may come, in the light of Christ’s Resurrection,” he said.'
In this season of hope, which is Advent leading to Christmas, these words about hope are very meaningful. I think of situations in the EBF where it is difficult to keep such hope alive. The regular emails from Mouner Ajji, pastor of the Baptist church in Aleppo who has described the tragedy and intense suffering of the people of Syria, and says that for the second year this will be a 'very strange Christmas'. But that church stays there to witness to Christ the light of the world who is even born in to the destruction of the streets of Aleppo. Hope is also being kept alive by Baptists in Lebanon and Jordan who are doing an amazing work of bringing comfort and relief to some of the millions of Syrian refugees. Please pray for them, and for Pastor Mouner and his people. The opportunity remains open to send a gift for Syria to the EBF to be channelled through one of our partners working with the Syrian refugees.
When we see even a flicker of hope kept alive in such situations we know that the Christmas message is real; that Jesus is indeed 'Immanuel - God with us' even on the most challenging situations where evil and suffering seem to be all around.
In other ways in the EBF we are seeing hope, to use Moltmann's words n terms of ' stretching out to what is coming, in readiness for a fresh start'. This is especially true of the move of our IBTS Seminary from Prague to Amsterdam. Despite not all the practical issues being resolved yet, there is a real mood of hope and expectation that 2014 will see a new start for IBTS in Amsterdam, along with a new office base for the EBF. Please pray for the newly appointed IBTS Rector, Stuart Blythe, as well as the current staff who have to manage the changes; that with all the immediate challenges of the move, IBTS will continue to be a central place of learning and encounter in the life of the EBF.
On behalf of the Staff and Officers of the EBF I pray that you may 'abound in hope' this Christmas time, and also beyond that into wherever God may lead us in 2014.
Wishing you a very Happy and Blessed Christmas
EBF General Secretary
Photo: Nativity scene, Prague Castle. Jiri Jedlick


Classes at 9:30am - Service at 10:30am
At St. Clair Christian, we want you to have a powerful Sunday experience. You will experience dynamic worship, hear stories of real life change through video and special elements, and receive an uplifting message of hope. When you arrive at our campus, you can expect to be greeted with a warm welcome, a complimentary cup of coffee and donuts, and help from our team to help you with anything that you need.
Worship starts at 10:30am, and If you have children to check into our children’s ministry, you can park at the upper level and use the entrance upstairs.
If you are visiting for the first time, we will not embarrass you or have you stand up and share anything. We know that many people want to just check out the church and that’s fine with us! Come in, enjoy the relaxed atmosphere, and see if this is the church for you.
We are very casual! Come in what is comfortable for you because we are not about what you look like or what you wear. We have farmers, blue jeans, t-shirts and one dude who always wears a suit. Come as you are!
Our KIDS ministry offers a place where children from kindergarten through fifth grade can discover and develop a passion for God. Through worship, teaching, and a variety of fun activities, children are exposed to God's Word and challenged to grow in their relationship with God.
Our children's worship experiences are fully staffed with adults and high school students who are committed to teaching and ministering to children. You can be confident that your child is well-cared for and having a great time learning about God while you worship. KIDS Ministry is offered during our weekend Worship Experiences.
There are many ways to get involved. You can begin by attending our Starting Point dinner offered every other month. You can meet the Pastors and Elders of the church and other new families. Groups are another great way to connect. In each of these, you can build friendships, learn more about the life of our church, and have the opportunity to grow in your faith. We also have classes during the week on Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 6:30pm and on Sundays at 9:30am.
Our desire is to see you become a fully-devoted follower of Christ. We will have discipleship classes through out the year that will offer the tools necessary to make this happen in your life. From the initial decision to follow Jesus to your involvement in life-changing ministry, we will lead you step-by-step from healing to growth and into leadership. Take your first steps at our Starting Point dinner.
Small Groups are an important part of our church life; in fact, you haven’t fully experienced the church until you’ve experienced our Small Groups. Groups allow you to meet other members and develop relationships that will spur your relationship with God. As St. Clair Christian grows, groups allow us to “stay small” and connected.
When you visit, fill out your get connected card, and let us know more about you and what you are interested in learning. Sign up for our Starting Point dinner and learn more about us at a free meal and ask questions, or just run and jump in! Why not jump and get involved in what God is doing here at St. Clair Christian!
If you have any questions or would like to learn more, you can email us or click on the button for more opportunities to connect with us.
Email us at email@example.com


Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
My name is Maria. On April 2, 1602, I was born María Fernández Coronel y Arana in Agreda, Spain. The Jumano Tribe in the New World called me, "The Lady in Blue" because the cloak of my habit is dark blue. I once told my good friend Felipe, the King of Spain, “to God the past and future are both now present”. It is in the spirit of the now that I come to you in this sacred moment to share my story.
In my life I have been greatly blessed by the generosity of God. I have experienced ecstasy in prayer, levitation and bilocation. My heart is full of gratitude for this. Every day in my small little room I practiced deep prayer and meditation where I came to know the beautiful silence of God’s Voice.
God’s radiant light of love surrounds us all. Many times when I was deep in prayer and meditation I would become light as a feather and float above the ground. In these sacred moments I only knew the glorious, loving light of God.
When I immersed myself into a deep state of prayer, I was filled with complete ecstasy and felt no bodily sensation. God gave me the gift of bilocation. This enabled me to travel across the ocean to the New World where I befriended beautiful Native American people. Although my spirit traveled, my physical form never left from inside the walls of our convent in Spain.
At the beginning I was very confused. I was only fifteen years old. I saw the Native American people and heard them speak. I found myself in a land I had never seen before. It was all so very beautiful. I came to love the Native American people. The Jumanos were my friends.
My soul was full and my senses were alive with new sensations. Sometimes I could feel the coolness of the rain, the warmth of the land on my feet and smell earthly fragrances I had never before known. Everything was manifested to me through the loving light of God. I told the Natives that I brought good news from very far away in the spirit of faith. I spoke to them of the love of Jesus Christ and they listened.
The Blessed Mother came to me and requested that I write her story. “My daughter,” she said, “do not be disturbed in thy heart. I will be thy Mother.” The music of her voice soothed my soul with wonder and her glorious presence gave me the complete understanding of eternal life. I wrote her story and included messages from the Blessed Queen herself. It is called, "The Mystical City of God."
I encourage you to seek the loving light of God in daily prayer and meditation. Listen to God’s voice in the silence. You will be amazed. God’s great love is unconditional and it is with you always. My story is a testimony that all things are possible with God.
May God bless you all-ways,
Sor Maria de Jesus


Customs of the Church
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The Church is the spiritual institution of the land. It blesses the people and land, oversees crises (both spiritual and temporal), and guards the realm against wicked magic. The Church itself is feudal, having its own hierarchy of bishops and abbots, priests and monks, and lay clergy. The ultimate clerical authority for the Roman Church is the pope, in distant Rome. However, at this time, the British Church has no single head.
The Church holds lands, both as abbeys and as bishoprics. The leaders of these institutions act in every way as vassals of whoever gave them the land. Even the Roman Church has not yet obtained independence from the King of Britain — though its priests are working on it.
The Church has the right to try all of its members who have broken laws. They also have the right to try any laymen who have violated Church laws, such as robbing the clergy, plundering abbeys, and so on.


Tuesday, July 19, 2011
More To Love - It's Soooo Not About Me...
I was thinking about all of you while I was in the shower this morning...tmi???
I had this wonderful nugget of wisdom for all of you that I knew for sure you could not live without. It was SO profound that...well...it has totally slipped my mind.
You see...life happened. When I got online to start blogging...well...I just had to take a sneak peek on facebook...you know how THAT goes if you fb.
A post caught my eye...a friend in need. She needed someone to watch her 4 kids RIGHT NOW so she could have surgery so she needed prayer.
Immediately, 1 Joh 3:16-18 (of course I had to look it up...but I knew it was in There somewhere!!)
"16 This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. 17 If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? 18 Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth."
She didn't need prayer from me...she needed a babysitter from me. What's another 4 kids? Eight:Twelve...what's the difference, right?
Because I stay at home with my brood and because my husband does not particularly care for me obligating myself outside the home, I can sometimes feel a little "useless". Shouldn't I be DOING something for the Kingdom besides just adding to it??
Why do I belittle the call God has on my life? So what if I'm the pinky toe in the Body of Christ? I'm gonna be the best little pinky toe that I can be (not because of me but because of Christ) and help keep this Body of Christ in perfect balance!!
I'm right where I need to be because I was just what my friend needed in her time of need. "Thank you, God for my purpose. My purpose isn't about me...it's about You."


The diocese of Limerick is setting out on a "camino" or journey together to discern matters of relevance to
life in the diocese which will be discussed with 400 delegates from April 8th to 10th 2016.
This will enable the wisdom and experience of all, inspired by the Spirit, to be spoken and heard.
You are welcome to explore the website and join us in the journey to Synod 2016 http://www.synod2016.com
Wednesday 7th October
When Bishop Brendan declared his intention to hold a Diocesan Synod he stated in the Pastoral Letter
entitled ‘Together In Mission’ that “It is my hope that this process leading up to the Synod over the next year and a half will involve as many as possible throughout the diocese.”
In this spirit Bishop Brendan is delighted to invite architect Niall McLaughlin to Limerick on Wednesday 7th October and invite you to come to one or both sessions with Niall on that date.
Niall McLaughlin is a London based, Irish educated, architect who won Young British Architect of the Year in 1998. His designs have won many awards in the UK, Ireland and the US. Niall is a visiting professor of architecture at University College London and a Member of the Architectural Review Editorial Board. He was chair of the RIBA Awards Group from 2007-2009.
- 1. “Creating Space for Community – A conversation with Niall McLaughlin”
The Limerick Diocesan Synod organisers decided that the presence of Niall McLaughlin in Limerick gives an opportunity to arrange a lunchtime gathering for those with a particular interest in Niall’s architectural work to meet and discuss his work with him.
Niall’s work is wide ranging and included in his presentation will be some of his work on churches. This seminar will be of special interest to both professionals and students in the fields of architecture, art, engineering, planning and members of the Limerick City community with an interest in its development.
Lunchtime seminar, 1.00 p.m. - 3.00p.m.; O'Brien & Wogan Suite Strand Hotel (Level 6)
A light lunch of tea and sandwiches will be provided
2. “Creating Space for Worship – Lessons for Life from Architecture”
An illustrated lecture by Niall McLaughlin
Niall McLaughlin’s Church designs have recently been acclaimed, both in specialist journals and in leading British newspapers. His liturgical influences include the work of the German architect Rudolf Schwarz who himself was influenced by Fr Romano Guardini. Guardini was a major influence on the movement for liturgical renewal and reform which found expression in Vatican II. Among those who were influenced by Guardini was Joseph Ratzinger (later Pope Benedict) and Jorge Mario Bergoglio (now Pope Francis) who began work on a doctoral dissertation on Guardini which for some reason he never completed. This evening will be of particular interest to those who have an interest in the arts, architecure, liturgy, worship and of course to Synod delegates.
6.00 p.m. – 7.30 p.m.; O'Brien & Wogan Suite Strand Hotel (Level 6)


Thank you so much for your interest in The Church on Main. We are a uniquely diverse family of believers. We do not seek to view one another with a worldly viewpoint, but rather a Christlike perspective. We have a couple of favorite sayings around our church and one of them is, “There are a million ways to Jesus, but only one way to God.” That is one of our battle cries. We simply desire to employ many ways to introduce someone to Jesus, Who as you already know, is the only way to God. Our prayer is that God would lead you to prayerfully consider attending one of our worship services very soon. Your presence will truly be a blessing to our lives and worship. We hope to see you soon!


Montezuma - Pearl Schmidt, 91, Montezuma, Kansas and former Clarksdale Mississippi resident, died Saturday, August 11, 2012 at Bethel Home in Monteuzma.
The daughter of Reuben P. and Mary (Koehn) Unruh, she was born on March 23, 1921, at Canton, Kansas. She was united in marriage to Harvey Schmidt of Chickasha, Oklahoma, on March 21, 1945, in Copeland. She was a homemaker, caring well for her family, and was a member of the Church of God in Christ, Mennonite. In July of 2004, she moved from Clarksdale, Mississippi to Bethel Home in Montezuma.
Mrs. Schmidt is survived by three sons: Verle Schmidta and wife Diana, Dale Schmidt and wife Sharon, and Jerry Schmidt and wife Kris; one daughter Jane and husband Richard Schmidt, all of Clarksdale, Mississippi; 14 grandchildren; and 23 great grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held at the Clarksdale Mennonite Church Clarksdale Mississippi on Wednesday, August 15, 2012 at 10:30 AM with burial following at the Clarksdale Mennonite Church Cemetery. Visitation and sharing of memories was held at Bethel Home in Montezuma on Sunday, August 12, 2012. Swaim Funeral Chapel of Montezuma was in charge of local arrangements. Thoughts and memories may be shared in the online guest book at www.swaimfuneralhome.com.


As millennials sometimes we unintentionally stand in our own way. We seek to live in the moment and follow our hearts instead of walking in our purpose. To seek comfort, we then turn around and blame God for not showing up when we needed him. It seems like we only want God to intervene when we’re in trouble. Here are a few ways we hinder our progress and delay our blessings.
1. Not having enough faith.
When it comes to faith, there are two kinds of people in world. There are those who possess unshakable faith and have the ability to walk through a situation and still believe God is in control. There are also people with strong faith that know the power of God through personal experience. Still, they waver from time to time. Finally, there are those who lack faith completely, unconvinced of God’s power and caring heart for them. Faith requires believing and without it, you’ll succumb to all of the hindrances and challenges that come as a result of living life on earth.
2. Fear of failing.
Due to the lack of trust in God, many suffer from fear of something. We have to walk in the boldness and authority God gave us and cancel out the fear that holds us back from fulfilling our purpose and receiving our blessings. Fear is the enemy’s way of holding our blessings hostage. Whether it is the fear of failure, fear of people, or any other fear, know that it is all about the mindset. When you shift your mind to focus solely on God, all fear diminishes and you’re able to operate with confidence and courage.
Fear can hold you hostage spiritually, physically and mentally. It is toxic and by letting fear rule your life you cheat yourself out of being the best version of yourself. Faith drives out fear. The closer you draw nearer to God the less fearful you become. Surrendering your mind and heart fully to God is truly the cure for fear.
3. Comparing yourself to others.
Comparison is the thief of joy. We live in a society where social media has replaced what used to be human face-to-face interactions. As a result, people tend portray lavish, over exaggerated lifestyles on social media. Not many people show their true lives on social media. Consequently, others tend to compare themselves to what they see on FB or IG.
When we are not content with our lives, we can sometimes be quick to compare ourselves to others or those on social media, which can cause feelings of inadequacy. Comparison is the easiest way to downplay your current blessings. The cure to comparison is contentment and finding your identity in Christ and knowing that He has special plans for you. As long as you’re aligned with God, your life will be full of blessings.
4. Living in the past & not healing from past emotions.
Living in the past is a sure way to delay your blessings. Some things are hard to let go, but keep in mind those experiences are meant to teach us lessons to use in the present and future. Sometimes we hinder ourselves by holding on to people, pain, failure and bad decisions—all of which prevent us from receiving our blessings. If you keep re-living these emotions and don’t confront them, you’ll never heal from the past. This creates emotional baggage which carries over a lifetime—so dealing with the past is imperative.
5. Waiting for the “right time.”
We must realize that there is no “right time” to do anything in life. There is only “now.” Waiting around for “the perfect time” is usually a waste of precious time. Sometimes we get confirmations from God, yet we fail to move when He says “go.” We convince ourselves we need further confirmation in order to act, so we sit around because we’re too afraid to step out of our comfort-zone.
The time to follow your dreams is now. No one can do it for you! The more you procrastinate, the longer your blessing may take to materialize. Sometimes we hold onto ideas God has given us because we don’t think we’re capable of carrying out the vision. Many of the people God used in the Bible such as Abraham, David and Moses did not think they were ready for their assignment.
However, the one key ingredient that caused them to move forward and excel was: TRUST. They trusted God. Some weren’t even qualified for the job but God qualified them!


Sign up today
Simply follow the link to "Sign up with Direct Debit" and you can complete this online. Alternatively, you can call our hotline on 0370 050 9240 for help joining the lottery.
About your Good Cause
Join the AID Fundraiser 2000, supporting your Parish Churches, and the communities they serve in Askam, Ireleth and Dalton. You could also win a prize for yourself and your family.
Our aim is to raise significant funds to enable the parish Churches to maintain and extend their work with all groups within the communities they serve as well as providing much needed income for conservation and repairs to the fabric of our beautiful buildings.
The Parish Churches and their members are here for you Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow! With your help, by joining the AID Fundraiser 2000 Unity Lottery, we can find a new way to help secure the vital work of our Churches for the future.
The promoter of this Unity Lottery is Jennifer Tomlinson, St Mary's Vicarage,
Registered with Barrow Borough Council


Merry Christmas Bermuda
I hope this day finds you in good health.
This is my first Christmas message to you as Premier.
And on behalf of my family, my colleagues, and the Government, I wish you the very best for the holiday season and beyond.
Without a doubt, we have had a busy year.
As a Country, we’ve been working hard to move forward in a challenging world. And within our communities, we’ve been working hard to uphold the values and standards that make life good.
So this holiday season is a time to rest, to be with family and friends, to enjoy their company and to be thankful for all that we have.
It is also a good time to reflect on our fortunate place in this world, and to consider where we have been and where we need to go.
What makes Christmas so special and relevant is that it anchors us to the guiding star of Jesus Christ.
In countless ways we continue to be guided and inspired by the words he spoke and the example he set.
Through Jesus’ teachings we learn and understand the true value of service, charity, tolerance and compassion.
Jesus urged us to live with love in our hearts…. to be our brother’s keeper… to love our neighbor… and to live in peace. He taught us that to be loved, we must give love… to be forgiven, we must forgive… to be fulfilled, we must share… and to be respected we must respect others.
These are lessons for a good life. And they are lessons that can bring people together in harmony.
These are fundamentals that should bring us as Bermudians together not just for this holiday season, but beyond.
Bermuda, 2015 promises to be an unforgettable year, and it is my hope that as we progress forward as a Country and as a people that we work to bridge our differences for the sake of a more inclusive and unified Island, and to give deeper meaning to the identity we all share as Bermudians.
Let’s use this festive time to come together in whatever way we can.
Let us use the days ahead to reach beyond your circle and deepen the connections that make our Island strong.
Get to know your neighbour.
Support a charity.
Mentor a young boy or girl.
Help a single mother or a family in need.
Hire that extra worker.
Reach out. Join hands. Make a difference.
And our expressions of goodwill must not be confined to just this yuletide season.
After all, Christmas is more than one day; its sentiments are meant to be within us throughout the year.
Bermuda, this is our home. Let’s do what we can to care for it.
Let’s do what we can to build it together in ways that bring us together.
We have the power within each of us to do good things. That is the meaning of Christ – and the hope He represents is why we celebrate his birth.
May this day bring you joy and appreciation, family and friends; and may we all carry forward his message of “Peace on Earth, Goodwill towards men.”
From my family to yours… Merry Christmas Bermuda and best wishes for a safe and happy holiday season.


11-Day Tour — May 30 to June 9, 2020
Home of the Bible
Israel is a place where hidden oases are tucked away amid windswept deserts, where rocky cliffs are carved by ancient rivers and where historical ruins lie within sight of modern architecture. A melting pot of religion, culture and spiritual depth, a Christian tour to Israel is far more than a typical vacation. It is a journey into the origins of belief—one that will connect your faith today with the depth and power of the Christian story. For followers of Christ, a trip to the Holy Land is a once-in-a-lifetime experience in a place that doesn’t just bring the Bible to life but adds a visual dimension to the beliefs you’ve staked your life upon.
Visit the places of the Bible to see where Jesus lived, walked and where His disciples began sharing the Gospel of His love.
Middle Eastern Culture
Soak in the sights, sounds and life of a culture from across the globe.
Come see the variegated deserts, gardens, oases and seas of the Middle East.
DEPART FOR ISRAEL
ARRIVE IN TEL AVIV
After passing through Ben Gurion Airport (voted one of the best in the world), you will be transferred to your hotel in the beautiful city of Jerusalem to meet your group, share your first meal and spend time getting to know one another. As you spend your first evening in the Holy Land, share what it was that led you here and what you’re most looking forward to.
JERUSALEM / EMPOWERED21 GLOBAL CONGRESS OPENING SESSION
Walk the gold stone streets of Old City Jerusalem and meet Israelis shopping with you in the marketplace. Behold the famous Temple Mount; pray in the Garden of Gethsemane; stand on the Mount of Olives and gaze at the gate that Jesus will walk through when He returns. That night, enjoy a powerful start to the Global Congress during an unforgettable opening event.
Sites you'll see include:
Mount of Olives
View Temple Mount
Walk the Palm Sunday Road
Church of All Nations
Garden of Gethsemane
Empowered21 Global Congress - Opening Session
EMPOWERED21 GLOBAL CONGRESS
Immerse yourself in worship, seminars and the fellowship of Believers from the nations of the earth who have come up to Jerusalem to meet with the Lord. These two days will be brimming with dynamic teaching and empowerment, allowing you to experience the power of the Holy Spirit in a fresh way.
Wake up to a gorgeous Mediterranean breakfast before discovering more of the places Jesus walked and taught, including the Southern Steps. Experience the very moving Holocaust Memorial, Yad Vashem, before praying shoulder-to-shoulder alongside the Jewish people at the Western Wall.
Sites you'll see include:
Davidson Archaeological Center
Western Wall & Plaza
City of David
Yad Vashem (Holocaust Museum)
Pass through the Lower Jordan River Valley, an agricultural region that parallels the borders of Israel and Jordan. It includes everything from farms and lush oases to fortresses and ancient highways. Visit the baptismal site of Jesus at Qasr-al-Yahud.
Wake up to an unforgettable sunrise on the Sea of Galilee before taking a worshipful boat ride on the same waters Jesus walked on. As the geographical hub of Jesus’ ministry, Galilee saw countless miracles and you’ll have the opportunity to seek the same God of miracles here today.
GALILEE, GOLAN HEIGHTS, NORTHERN BOUNDARY
A diverse landscape of mountains, rural olive groves and the sandy beaches, your group will visit Caesarea Philippi, where Peter answered Jesus’ question, “Who do you say I am?” Give your own answer to this all-important question, as you testify to the Lordship of Jesus Christ in your life. Other sites include Tel Dan and the panoramic views of Mount Bental.
TIBERIAS TO TEL AVIV AND NIGHT DEPARTURE FOR HOME
Step into the 1st Century life of Jesus at Nazareth Village, built in this mountainous area with trade routes that date back thousands of years. Worship and pray together on Mount Carmel, where Elijah called down fire from heaven. Look out over Megiddo (the Valley of Armageddon) and gain new insights into biblical prophecy.
All dates & locations subject to change.
WHAT’S INCLUDED IN YOUR TOUR:
Empowered21’s Global Congress featuring worship and teaching events
Guided tours of significant biblical sites
Daily breakfast and dinner buffets
Israel’s best tour-operators and licensed tour guides
Travel by private, deluxe, air-conditioned motorcoach
All porterage, taxes and gratuities; Entrance fees to all sites
Contact one of our Group Ambassadors at 888 646 4789 for pricing details.


Listen to sermon audio below or check out our sermon podcasts for both campuses on iTunes.
Dan Jones Campus
Date: 08-13-17Speaker: Luke Proctor
Date: 08-06-17Speaker: Steve White
Date: 07-23-17Speaker: Steve White
Date: 07-16-17Speaker: Steve White
Paul clearly lays out in his letter to the Romans what life in the Spirit looks like.
The book of Romans sets some key things that we are blessed to know is true ... when it's all said and done.
The Holy Spirit's Job Description
Jesus makes all things new.


Easter 2023 Quotes – Best Happy Easter 2023 Quotes is now available in this content. Every year, the United States people are celebrating Happy Easter. This year is a very difficult year for the world for COVID-19, where family members can support us. So, with our Easter by sending a Happy Easter 2023Quotes, Wishes & Messages.
Best Happy Easter 2023 Quotes, wishes :
- The Goodyear Police Department wishes our community Happy Easter and Happy Passover! Stay safe and healthy! Happy Easter 2023
- May the Easter bunny bring to you and your family health, prosperity and happiness! AMIDEAST wishes you a Happy & safe Easter! happy Easter 2023
- Warm wishes on Easter to all our customers, business partners, and their families. In these challenging times, we would like to say thank you for all the support and commitment. We feel confident that we will get through this together.
- The Louisiana Developmental Disabilities Council wishes you and your family a Happy Easter 2023!
- Best wishes to everyone on the special occasion of Easter. We remember the noble thoughts of Lord Christ, especially his unwavering commitment to empowering the poor and needy. Happy Easter 2023
- Happy Easter! Best of wishes, during this special time for you guys! I hope you’re doing well in these weird times… I’m really grateful that you’re still supporting us and following this project. Art by laniid.
- Easter comes with new beginnings. For Easter 2020, new beginnings come with new norms. Though we have yet to see, we anticipate with hope. Best Easter wishes!
- Many of us might be far from sight this Easter, but we don’t have to be far from thought. Eve sham Township wishes a Happy Easter to all those celebrating today, and we thank all those in Eve sham who continue to love and care for one another, even in difficult times.
- Easter symbolizes hope, and it is a wonderful time to pray for everyone’s good health and well-being. Team Scrum Start wishes everyone a wonderful Easter! Happy Easter


Christian or Catholic decor for home, community centers and more. Great design for religious events like baptism (christening), first communion or confirmation; as centerpiece, decor, or gift.
“Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.”


On a starry night, God appeared before Abraham and promised him that he and his wife would have a son. “I will bless her with a son,” said God, .,she will become the mother of nations and kings.”
One day, Abraham was sitting by the door of his tent. He saw three men standing in the hot sun. He ran and greeted them with a bow and invited them for lunch. He told Sarah to make the best bread she could and picked a young calf from his herd and ordered his servant to prepare that for his guests. When the meal was prepared, Abraham served the three strangers with the best of courtesies and the best of food he had.
The three men asked Abraham about his wife. Abraham told them that she was inside the tent. “Nine months from now, I will come back and your wife Sarah will have a son,” said one of the strangers. Hearing this, Sarah laughed at what the stranger said, for she was too old to give birth to a child.
“Why did Sarah laugh?” asked the stranger who was God himself. “Is anything too hard for the Lord? I promise you, nine months from now you will have a son.” Miraculously, nine months later Sarah did have a son and Abraham named his son Isaac. The word ‘Isaac’ means ‘laughter’.
God fulfils his promise. Sarah gives birth to a child. Abraham names his son, Isaac. The woed ‘Isaac’ means ‘laughter’.


Verse 35-38 “The violence done to me and to my flesh be upon Babylon, shall the inhabitant of Zion say; and my blood upon the inhabitants of Chaldea, shall Jerusalem say. Therefore thus saith the LORD; Behold, I will plead thy cause, and take vengeance for thee; and I will dry up her sea, and make her springs dry. And Babylon shall become heaps, a dwellingplace for dragons, an astonishment, and an hissing, without an inhabitant. They shall roar together like lions: they shall yell as lion's whelps.”
The citizen of Israel will pronounce a judgment against Babylon that the violence done to all of Israel will be visited back upon Babylon. The blood that Babylon shed, she will now shed. God will take up the cause of Israel and exact vengeance upon Babylon for her. He will dry up her waters and make her a desert. Again we are told that she will come a heap of ruins, a place where only animals live. Here we see dragons mentioned. The Hebrew word indicates “monsters.” One might hypothesize that these dragons are dinosaurs, which might very well make a come-back, given the reports coming in from places in the deepest parts of Africa, and the jungles of New Guinea, that people are seeing creatures whose descriptions do seem to match dinosaurs. These dragons will roar like lions. They are a mighty animal.
Verse 39 - 43 “In their heat I will make their feasts, and I will make them drunken, that they may rejoice, and sleep a perpetual sleep, and not wake, saith the LORD. I will bring them down like lambs to the slaughter, like rams with he goats. How is Sheshach taken! and how is the praise of the whole earth surprised! how is Babylon become an astonishment among the nations! The sea is come up upon Babylon: she is covered with the multitude of the waves thereof. Her cities are a desolation, a dry land, and a wilderness, a land wherein no man dwelleth, neither doth any son of man pass thereby.”
God is going to encourage Babylon's people to feast, and drink and party, so that they may be taken unaware and be killed. He did this to ancient Babylon. They were partying when the hand appeared and wrote the message on the wall. Daniel 5:1,5,25-28, 30-31 “Belshazzar the king made a great feast to a thousand of his lords, and drank wine before the thousand. In the same hour came forth fingers of a man's hand, and wrote over against the candlestick upon the plaister of the wall of the king's palace: and the king saw the part of the hand that wrote. And this is the writing that was written, MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN. This is the interpretation of the thing: MENE; God hath numbered thy kingdom, and finished it. TEKEL; Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting. PERES; Thy kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians. In that night was Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans slain. And Darius the Median took the kingdom, being about threescore and two years old. ”
We see that ancient Babylon was taken in one night, perhaps one hour, just as modern Babylon will be destroyed in one day and in one hour. Revelation 18:8-10 “Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her. And the kings of the earth, who have committed fornication and lived deliciously with her, shall bewail her, and lament for her, when they shall see the smoke of her burning, Standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! for in one hour is thy judgment come.”
Babylon will be taken by surprise. Her destruction will be an astonishment to the nations who never thought it could happen. It says that the sea comes up upon Babylon. Now we know that the sea did not inundate Babylon, it fell to Persia, so this is not to be taken literally in the first fulfillment. It is meant more in a metaphorical way for that time, as the way it fell was as if a tsunami had overflown the land. In the second, we know that the Medes will overrun her, plus she will be burned by fire, by the beast. But what if this is also literal in the future fulfillment. While the land may be burned, we know that California is always under the threat of earthquakes submerging her below the ocean's depths. It is in fact a constant warning that one day California will break off and disappear under water. With all the world's physical upheaval during the last days, it is not unlikely that this will indeed happen. Also, when the “mountain” falls in the ocean in the trumpet judgment, it will no doubt cause great tsunamis which will inundate many lands, including Babylon. And yet again we are told that Babylon will be an uninhabited wilderness where no man even passes by. God is really stressing how complete this devastation will be. How many times have the Scriptures said that it will be a wilderness that will never again be inhabited by humans? He is pounding that piece of information into our brains, so that we will pay attention and, if we are still around when the time comes, get out of Babylon.


Thank you for visiting our website!
Here you will find information concerning the ministerial alliance in Johnston County. This alliance consists of churches that have the common goal of spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ to our world. We cooperate in many areas of concern for our county. We currently plan:
Community Easter Service
Baccaulaureate Service for High School Graduation
Community Prayer and Fasting Service
Community Thanksgiving Service
As an alliance of churches we gather funds to help those in need for food or gasoline. Those vouchers can be obtained at any of the alliance churches listed in this site.
Our prayers are that you know Jesus Christ and lean to His understanding for your life. We encourage everyone to be in a Bible believing church. This Sunday would be a great time to be in one of the fellowships of this wonderful community.
If you are considering relocating to our area, we would love to have you be a guest in one of our churches.
In His Care,
The members of the "Ministerial Alliance of Johnston County"


Fragments of Our Past:
Upon first travelling to New Orleans, I was only presented with the “Disney” parts, driving down the perfect main city streets: I saw what large corporations project onto the city to draw in money and tourism. Upon further exploration, I was able to travel through the local communities where kids ride their bikes and play basketball in the courts. One of my first experiences in these communities was going to Our Lady Star of the Sea, where I realized the strength of the church in the community. There were families joining hands with strangers and singing songs of praise. However, on further investigation, I found that plenty of equally beautiful and important churches have been left abandoned by the side of the road, ready for demolition, and devoid of life.
The project therefore is not focusing on the visual change of the church alone, but the loss of the people that once attended and called it home. A prominent example is Our Lady of Good Harbor in Buras, which was struck so violently in the storm that there is only a sign left and the unknown graves that were opened during the hurricane. Other churches have left sadly hopeful messages such as “We’re coming back!” or left the mass schedule on the side of the building. Several churches had schools joined to them like Beacon Light, where there lies only broken glass, trash, and an overgrown playground where no family would set foot in.
To represent the issue of the loss of life, heritage, and community lost, I will be using a new technique of editing photographs as well as keeping several original images. This form of editing is called “glitching”, where you use computer programs to edit, erase, and multiply the coding of photographs which effectively creates blurring, scratches, and moving or changing fragments of color within the photograph. An example of glitching is the photograph of the basketball players in front of Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Church, where the original outlines of the picture have slightly moved, and the color shifted from the original figures. The other prominent example of glitching is my photograph of the sign reading “We’ll be coming back!” where the reflection under it fades in a traditional way, but the upper half of the photograph has glitches that look like waterlines, representing how the effects of the hurricane are still prominent ten years later.
In conclusion, by allowing these churches to decay and be left abandoned, we are not only forcing the people that make New Orleans special out, but it is also destroying the history and art that makes New Orleans a piece of American culture and heritage.


Church Work Day
Calling all servant-hearted people who want to honor God with excellence!
Sat. Sept 15 beginning at 8:00 AM we are looking for about 20 volunteers to spend the morning doing some light maintenance and clean up around the church facility.
There is plenty of work for people of all fitness levels – no matter what your ability; we’ll have something you can do.
So put on your grubbies, come on over and we’ll give you a cup of coffee and donut and a meaningful way to spend your Saturday morning


TRANSITIONS is a ministry affiliated with the Office of Marriage and Family Life in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saskatoon. Transitions ministers to those who are separated and divorced. Persons from other faith traditions are also welcome to attend.
Transitions offers peer support through a 12-week program in which participants meet once a week to reflect on and discuss topics outlined in a handbook. Individuals have the opportunity, if they wish, to share their story with others. Issues presented by participants during the meetings are held in confidence.
Transitions is not a drop-in program. Participants are expected to be present at every session in order to maintain trust and confidentiality in the group.
Transitions is for individuals who have been separated for at least nine (9) months. If you are more recently separated or divorced, please call and ask about our program called Divorced and Beyond. If you're not sure which program is right for you, please click here to read our discernment tool.
Topics of discussion include:
- The Process of Divorce
- Grieving the Death of a Relationship
- Self Image/Self Esteem
- Dealing with Stress
- Guilt & Blame
- Letting Go
- Fractured Families Can Be Whole
- Growth after Divorce
- Single Again–But Still a Parent
- Children in Blended Families
- Declaration of Nullity (the annulment process)
Here are some statements of past program participants from Calgary, where Transitions originated:
“The program had a positive impact. I am now more able to cope with my life.”
“It helped to enrich my spirituality and experience the spirituality of others during these difficult times.”
“The facilitators were very understanding and supportive in giving suggestions in coping with my current situation.”
“Interacting with other group members was very helpful. It was comforting to know that you weren’t alone. It was good to find out how others solve their problems.”
“Sharing is important to move on and I have noticed a change in many people.”
“Being able to freely share my story made me realize I was not alone in the divorce process.”
My Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ:
Various reasons can unfortunately lead to the often irreparable breakdown of marriages. Loneliness and other difficulties are often the lot of separated spouses. Whatever your situation, we want to reach out to you with respect, solidarity, understanding and practical help, so that you can experience some degree of healing, and growth through your pain and tribulations.
It is important that you do not consider yourselves as separated from the Church. As a baptized person you can be assured that the Church is there to support you in your need.
As we journey together, let us pray for one another, encourage and sustain one another in faith and hope.
Sincerely yours in Christ,
Most Rev. Donald Bolen
Bishop of Saskatoon
For more information, please contact:
Office of Marriage & Family Life
or toll free: 1-877-661-5005 Ext: 839Â


Ridgewood Missionary Baptist Church - Kegogi
Kenya, East Africa
I am Rev. Jaclyn M. Green, an associate minister serving as youth minister and missionary of Ridgewood Missionary Baptist Church in Columbia, SC, USA.
During July 2018, I was part of our church’s Missionary Team to Kenya, East Africa. Over 700 people were ministered the plan of salvation and prayed with; hundreds were biblically trained/completed leadership workshops and 105 souls accepted Jesus Christ for salvation.
Subsequently, an invitation was extended to me for a return missions trip to Kenya, East Africa, and I have accepted. Under the leadership of Senior Pastor Rev. Euticauls Wambua of Baptist Chapel Church in Nairobi, Kenya, I will be involved in extensive missionary work in the areas of ministry, education and health.
The missions trip will take place from March 24, 2019 – July 28, 2019 (four months), in Nairobi, Kegogi, Mwingi Kenya, East Africa. God has promised to supply all that I need, and His work is often fulfilled through individuals like you. Would you prayerfully consider partnering with me for Kingdom building? I need to raise $13,000 for all expenses: Presently, I need $3,500 for the air-fare deposit/half of housing, food and transportation. The remaining payment of air-fare $1,000 is due on or before December 1, 2018. The remaining amount of $3,332 for housing, food and transportation is due on or before February 3, 2019; $1120 for incidentals (immunization, vaccines and insurance), and the $1,800 necessary/emergency essentials is due by March 3, 2019.
Please remember no monetary amount of support is too small. The Deadline for having ALL funds in, is March 3, 2019. For additional information contact me via email at email@example.com or by phone (803) 201-4144.
CLICK HERE TO SUPPORT
Identify Contribution as:
Rev. Jaclyn Green 2019 Kenya Missions Trip
Thank you so much in advance for your prayers and financial support. Believing that JESUS Christ will sustain you on every level in the days ahead. Grace and Peace!
Reverend Jaclyn M. Green


Born: null 1782
Died: 16 April 1844
Map Location: 55 - under the church hall
SACRED TO THE MEMORY OF MARY ANNE, WIFE OF HENRY COOK TODD, WHO DEPARTED THIS LifE 16 April 1844 AGED 62 YEARS AND OF MARIANNE DAUGHTER OF ALFRED & CATHARINE TODD. who died April 21, 1848 AGED 3 YEARS & 11 MONTHS
Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord.
Further Information and Sources
Digital Kingston (accessed 2016-03-05) has a link to Mary Ann Todd’s death notice in the Chronicle and Gazette, 17 April 1844, pg 3, col 3.
Long’s Sketchy History of St. Paul’s Church makes note of the marker – pg. 45, #55.


June 5th, 2017 | By : TLC
Congratulations! You’re pregnant with the wonderful miracle of life, a gift from God – a life growing inside you, who will someday grow up and give life to your grandchildren and future generations. What a wonderful experience it is to give birth to a baby and to watch them grow up; to teach them; to see them smile and laugh and bring you endless joy.
Don’t make the same decision to destroy this life like I once did. You may not have planned this child right now, but God did. You may not have the funds, security, know-how or support from others to make you feel as though you can raise a child, but God will provide for you.
Someone may be pressuring you to have an abortion, but you are the one who has to make the final choice. Can you live with the fact that you are destroying this life? Can you live with the regret and depression that may one day follow? Have you looked back at your life and considered how you got into this situation?
Are you strong enough to look back and see all the things that went on in your own life, situations that you had no control over, and to say to yourself that you want to be in control and to make a morally right decision that will turn your life around? Are you going to take responsibility for your mistakes and turn this into something good? With God’s help you can do anything.
God does not want you to kill your child. God can show you how you can change, how to be a good mother, how to raise a child with love and joy and peace of mind.
Once you have had an abortion, there is no fixing it. The baby is gone – nothing can replace that baby. Having another baby down the road does not replace this one. Having two other children later on will not replace this one. How can I convince you that there are other options as well? You can put the baby up for adoption. There are so many people who want children and can’t have them. There are so many things to consider. Please don’t have an abortion! Life is so precious. Life is so short. Give your baby the choice to live.
You don’t know all the spiritual things that go with having an abortion. The anger you will feel later on because of what you did. There are so many things to consider.
Accept God in your life today. Accept Jesus as your Saviour. Repent of all your sins, confess your sins and your lifestyle right now and you will see that there is a God who died on the cross, rose from the dead and can be there for you when you learn about Him. You can teach your child about God. You can break all your own family curses and change your own and your child’s life forever and for all generations to come.
Someone who knows what you’re going through


Brother Jerome Collins, O.C.S.O., a Trappist monk of St. Joseph’s Abbey in Spencer, died very peacefully within the monastery’s infirmary on Sunday, June 26, 2022. Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on July 11, 1924, to Michael Joseph Collins and Ellen McCloskey, after commencement from highschool he served within the U.S. Military throughout World Struggle 2 as a teletype operator and was honorably discharged, having been awarded Military of Occupation and World Struggle II Victory medals. He labored as a touring salesman for eighteen months and for 3 years as a precision instrument grinder. He joined the Society of the Divine Savior on the Salvatorian Seminary in St. Nazianz, Wisconsin as a postulant however later left that non secular order in order that he might take up life as a Trappist on the Cumberland, Rhode Island monastery of Our Woman of the Valley. When in March of 1950 that monastery burned to the bottom he transferred with the remainder of the monks to assist construct a brand new monastery, St. Joseph’s Abbey, on the grounds of the previous Alta Crest Farm in Spencer.
He made non permanent career of vows in 1952 and solemn vows in 1955. On the Abbey, amongst different duties, Brother Jerome labored as an electrician, cook dinner and porter. For little over a yr within the mid-Nineteen Fifties he helped to construct the monastery’s daughter-house of St. Benedict’s Abbey in Snowmass, Colorado. Brother was famous for his simplicity of coronary heart, his deep devotion, a serene and humble disposition, enduring kindness and his tireless service to the non secular life on the monastery.
The oldest of 4 kids, Brother Jerome was predeceased by his brother Michael and his sister Mary. Along with his monastic brothers on the abbey, he’s survived by his sister Peggy in addition to quite a few nieces and nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews. The monks want to thank the brothers and lay employees at St. Joseph’s Abbey Resident Healthcare Facility, the abbey’s infirmary, for the benevolent and compassionate care they gave to Brother Jerome in his remaining years. With gratitude for his mild presence amongst us, we commend his soul to your prayers. There aren’t any calling hours. Providers and burial are non-public. J. HENRI MORIN & SON FUNERAL HOME, 23 Maple Terrace, Spencer, is directing preparations.
Posted on-line on June 28, 2022
Printed in Worcester Telegram & Gazette


Faith. That’s the hardest element of religion for me. I sincerely struggle with it. It's tough for me to be wholly faithful and tough for me to explain my faith journey too. What I think I should do here is give you a sense as to how my journey has played out thus far and encourage you to take from it what you will. The biggest part of it for me has been divorcing myself from the traditional Jesus centered religion of my family and childhood. The shift I've made (and am still making) is from Jesus to God as the central element of my religious life.
Okay, I should back up for a moment. I know that for many who adhere to the Christian faith, God and Jesus are identified as a single entity. I often hear folks use God and Jesus interchangeably. They’ll say “God” at the beginning of the sentence then say “Jesus” at the end even though the subject has not changed. People consistently pray to God but talk to, or about, Jesus, during that prayer. Perhaps more tellingly, these folks often conflate God and Jesus with their language but only pay attention to their Jesus images and ignore their images of God. There are lots of reasons for that to be true but it’s problematic for me. Jesus has been horribly mutated into a bizarre amalgam of God and Santa Claus with a little Merlin thrown in. It took me a very long time to discover that my appreciation for Jesus as an historical figure was a large part of the reason that I had such trouble accepting the cartoonish image of Jesus most contemporary Christians hold dear. This created a disconnect that made religious faith hard especially hard for me and, to simplify, it was something like… ‘I want to be religious but I can’t believe in the central figure of my religious tradition.’ That disconnect provided a substantial obstacle to my faith.
I’ve discovered that my problem wasn’t my belief but instead, my relationship to the object of my belief. The transition I’ve made, away from Jesus and towards God, often sounds counterintuitive to people but it now makes perfect sense to me. I’m no longer connected to Jesus in the theological sense and I’m much closer to God as a result. I now feel as though my relationship with God is more direct and personal. That relationship is about me and it’s about God. It’s not about anyone else and is not mediated by anyone else. I know lots of people develop this kind of closeness through meditation but for me it’s been much more about the direct experience of prayer and reflection.
My academic work in Religious Studies has helped provide me guidance in this direction. Studying various works in Liberation Theology has played a big role in my new ability to relate to God, ironically because of some works that attempted to elevate and alter the role of Jesus in ways that make Jesus more central to the lived experiences of their communities. One is "The Future Is Mestizo" by Virgilio Elizondo. One sentence explanation: Jesus lived as a mixed person and contemporary Mexicans and Mexican-Americans can use him as a model for understanding their own lives. Another critical author is James Cone who developed a theology of Black Liberation and he posits that Jesus lived to represent and serve the poor. For Cone, this purpose means that in 20th (and now 21st) century America, Jesus is Black. Both these authors helped me discover that Jesus is more than just a person. Jesus is a symbol now (which is why it’s so easy for people to turn him into Santa) and symbols are intended to be utilized for the needs of the people.
The Jesus I need is the historical Jesus. I need the person who was willing to heal the sick, welcome the outcasts, embrace the prostitute and feed the hungry. I need the Jesus who was so devoted to God that he sacrificed his life to maintain that pose of fidelity. That’s the Jesus I need to know and value for my life. That Jesus is not the object of my religious devotion but was a seeker and model for me. He exemplifies being a child of God in the way that I want to be one.
This notion of being God’s child helps illustrate the other part of my search which has been about finding ways to get closer to God and develop a better relationship with God. Geza Vermes’ "The Changing Faces of Jesus" has helped me understand my own connections with God as has Rosemary Radford Ruether’s "Sexism and God-Talk". These books helped me discover numerous new ways of interpreting, defining, naming and experiencing God. I realized that I had been stuck in the Renaissance paradigm of God being male, White, old, bearded and distant. Those are the ways I used to perceive God although those are not the ways I experience God. God is incredibly near and present in my life and welcoming that reality has been a great change.
Feeling God’s love on a regular basis and recognizing it and interpreting it and speaking of it are all fairly new to me and I still struggle with the idea of being loved by God. That’s probably why this has been such a difficult piece for me to write. It feels somehow arrogant to consider God choosing to love me. But it’s only arrogant when I make that reality about me. Clearly, it’s not. I can’t make God love me. Fortunately, I don’t have to try to do so. God loves me because that’s what God chooses to do. It really is enough for me to acknowledge, appreciate and, as best I can, reciprocate that love. That’s truly a liberating theology.
I hope illustrating some of my process makes it a little easier for you to continue exploring and considering your own faith journey. Please let me know where it takes you!
One thought on “A Transitioning Faith”
If we desire getting closer to God… we need understanding definition of God! The meaning of God… definition of God is best explained in Bhagavad Gita of Hinduism… the most sacred scripture existing on mother earth! As detailed in Bhagavad Gita god almighty is not form of human beings. The sum total of all purified soul atmans in cosmos at a given moment of time is what we know as God Almighty!
This enormous cluster of cosmic primordial power much beyond comprehension of all human beings is Nirakaar in form (having no form)! God Almighty is not form of human beings. God Almighty always acts as a Dhrishta (onlooker) never interfering with creation of his! God Almighty exists in all human beings in miniscule form as our soul atman… the spirit within!
Getting closer to God simply means merging our inner self with larger whole… God Almighty himself! When human beings gained enlightenment (kaivalya jnana)… it announced end of cosmic life for soul atman… the spirit within! Reaching 8.4 millionth manifestation… the last in cosmic life cycle is goal of every soul atman… the spirit within!
For human beings to gain enlightenment… assimilating wisdom contained in Bhagavad Gita is foremost necessity! Only by knowing Bhagavad Gita of Hinduism human beings gained enlightenment (reached stage of kaivalya jnana)… never otherwise! The contents of Bhagavad Gita can never be understood literally. All 700 shlokas verses contained in Bhagavad Gita suffice for mankind reaching stage of enlightenment… and finally salvation (moksha)!
The knower of Bhagavad Gita finally becomes knower of all… gains omniscience for all practical purposes! Enlightenment is reached via path of spirituality… never religion! Understanding difference between religion and spirituality is foremost necessity of the day! Most human beings on mother earth confuse spirituality with religion! God Almighty can never be reached via path of bhakti yoga… path of rituals… path of religion!
For getting closer to God… for become one with God one needs traveling path of jnana yoga (absolute wisdom)!


The majesty of the mountains and the expanse of the oceans remind us of the majesty, wisdom, and power of God. It causes us to question and reflect upon our purpose and role within creation. Who is the Creator of the universe and what is our relationship to this Creator? What should our relationship be to other humans as well as to the rest of creation?
What is the relationship between faith and reason? Why is evil such a difficult problem? What is the purpose of death and the grave? Are they the final end of our human existence when we die and become food for microbes. There have been numerous and conflicting answers to these questions during the course of history. So, maybe we should ask ourselves if it is even possible to know whether or not our answers are correct? Maybe the answer is that there are no real answers to life’s questions. Perhaps, our questions are just the meaningless occupation of over-sensitive fools.


There are about as many definitions of Divine Grace as there are Christians. However, according to God’s own word, there is only one, and that one solely defines who He is. It is embedded in His character, in His nature and above all, it is in His disposition to show His graciousness and loving kindness toward all of humanity. It is His Nature to love mankind in the same manner as He loved His first creation Adam. The original creation was corrupted by the first act of disobedience in the heavens – then by man. But God’s love for His creation ran so deep in His heart that when the relationship between Himself and His creation was broken, He forgave us and reconciled it alone by becoming flesh, bound it by the crucifixion and death of His only begotten Son, and then sealed it with His own Spirit by the...
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We hold these truths to be self evident, that all Mankind, males and females are created equal, and are endowed with certain inalienable rights, these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness. That in order to secure these rights, we must by nature extend them to each other, and strive to assist each other in their attainment. We hold that no Man has a right to take these rights from another, by conquest or trade, by Religious indoctrination or supplication, by Ideological persuasion or coercion, or any other way or manner. We are obligated one to another in our march through time to extend peace, love, and charity, owing the better of ourselves, as we see fit, to the betterment of mankind.
Do unto others as you would have them do unto you, Shall be the whole of the Law.
I AM, King of Kings, Sovereign of myself, among Sovereigns of themselves, hereby reclaiming my Kingdom for myself. All money, property, worldly belongings, names, and titles, I do hereby return to the Country of (insert name of country), in exchange for my freedom and right to self govern, which was wrongfully taken from me at my birth.
24And God said, Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth after his kind: and it was so. 25And God made the beast of the earth after his kind, and cattle after their kind, and every thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind: and God saw that it was good.
26And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. 27So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. 28And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. 29And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat. 30And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for meat: and it was so. 31And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.


Autumn foliage and the historic St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church building in Buena Vista, Colorado. The chapel now houses the town's Chamber of Commerce and visitor center.
Built atop the site of a much older medieval fortress, Neuschwanstein Castle dates from the mid 1800s. The best views are from the valley below and from Queen Mary's Bridge (Marienbrucke), or from the (very steep) hiking trail leading up the mountain from the bridge. Read More


As Charles moved the Wise Men from our Nativity scene closer to the crèche, I was reminded of a story about our friend Ril Thibodeau, of blessed memory.
Ril, along with her husband Bob, had a large family of twelve children (if I concentrate really hard, I can remember all of their names).
Ril told me once that as each of her children were born, she gave them a gift of a Nativity set for their very own. As the years progressed, and as the family grew, the Nativity sets were displayed around the house, and as Epiphany approached, the Wise Men from each set slowly made their way to their respective crèches.
One year, close to Epiphany, Charles and I were at the family home and saw the parade of Magi (36 of them!) scattered around the living room as they made their journey to the Christ Child.
We joked with our friend Therese (one of the five Thibodeau daughters) that they looked that they were on their way to a Wise Man convention and that Ril should put up a banner proclaiming: “National Association of Magi: Welcome Wise Men!”
But all joking aside, we realized that Ril had it exactly right. She recognized that her children were individuals and that they each deserved a chance to celebrate this holy feast in their own way.
I can imagine the sense of wonder that the children in the Thibodeau family had every year as they moved their own Three Kings closer to the baby Jesus.
Bob and Ril had a wonderful family and Juneau and Douglas (we mustn’t forget Douglas!) were (and still are) fortunate to have them among us.
We remember Bob and Ril so fondly and we pray that, together again in heaven, they can celebrate Epiphany together with the Holy Family and the Wise Men.


8I received the following from a young adult woman who is engaged to one of the graduates (Generals) of our Sons of Helaman program. (In case you are wondering what the young men are learning from our trainings.)
From a Wife-to-Be of a Sons of Helaman Warrior
“I just wanted to thank you for all of your efforts towards this wonderful program. Thank you for taking the time to understand and study addictions that are so hard and sensitive to the emotions in a lot of ways. I am soon marrying ———- in the Salt Lake temple for time and all eternity in August. Thank you for giving this wonderful Son of God hope, comfort, and the knowledge of how to overcome things that Satan had convinced him he could not. Thank you for seeing his potential and helping him understand that his Heavenly Father was and is still supporting him, gently encouraging him to change and become whole again. Showing him that his Savior is there to help him. Helping him find valiant heroes to model his life around from The Book of Mormon. Thank you for helping him realize that he is not alone. He now can reach out to others and strengthen them because he has walked that lonely path and understands that you are not the only one fighting for truth and righteousness in a chaotic world. You taught him tactics that changed his life, my life, and our families lives forever and counseled him in moments of distress. He is a man full of honor and virtue and has become my personal warrior and defender and most of all my hero. You taught him to defend and protect women. He goes above and beyond to do that. Thank you for giving him the opportunity to shine his light, a light full of righteous power that cannot be hid.
May you be blessed for all you have done.
Full of gratitude,
If you would like to know the details of what is taught in the Sons of Helaman training program, go to: https://goo.gl/WbA2Nf
For enrollment in Sons of Helaman: http://www.lifechangingservices.org/sonsofhelaman/


During a bus trip to Nashville, a passenger named Jerry had a life-changing experience that reminded everyone of the power of the heart. Initially skeptical about seeing the musical “How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” Jerry was pleasantly surprised by the Broadway-quality production. The story of the Grinch, whose heart was two sizes too small, resonated with Jerry as he had recently undergone a heart transplant. Just a year prior, Jerry was in critical condition due to a failing heart. However, thanks to a sudden donor heart becoming available, Jerry’s life was saved. He and his wife had a wonderful time on the trip, and Jerry’s new heart filled him with gratitude and joy.
Reflecting on Jerry’s story, it prompts us to consider the state of our own hearts during the Christmas season. Like the Grinch, we often associate the heart with our innermost being. While the beating heart is vital for our physical well-being, our emotional and spiritual hearts can also be affected. If our hearts are burdened by brokenness, loneliness, coldness, or emptiness, perhaps it’s time for a “transplant.” The Bible offers the promise of a new heart and a new spirit, signifying a transformation from a heart of stone to a heart of flesh. Jerry’s journey serves as a reminder to nurture and open our own hearts to love, kindness, and the Christmas spirit.