This Bible verse is often used in reference to babies, as a reminder that young ones are precious gifts from our Heavenly Father. Today, however, this verse can also be used to describe the gift of godly men in the role of a father.
Jaden and Cody have the best dad in the world! He is so patient with them, even when they wake him up at all hours of the night. The boys love Daddy's smile and the way that he regularly sings to them and kisses them on the forehead. Daddy loves cuddling with his boys and does a great job of caring for their basic needs, too (burping, bottle-feeding, and diaper changing). In fact, diapering became so much Daddy's job that Mommy didn't even change a single diaper during our WHOLE stay at the hospital! That's a LOT of messy diapers for a new daddy. Daddy is so gentle and loving with his boys, and Jaden & Cody already love him dearly. Thank you for being such a wonderful Daddy! Happy First Father's Day, Jason!
We celebrated Father's Day at the Schleicher household by making our first official outing as a family of four (other than to doctor's appointments) to church. It felt so great to visit with our Trinity church family and to show off our boys. Both Jaden and Cody slept throughout the entire service! The rest of the day was spent relaxing-- napping, visiting with family on the phone, watching sports. It was also a blessing to be able to celebrate Father's Day with Amy's dad. We thank God for his wonderful example of parenting and the way that he has lovingly jumped into the role of grandpa for Jaden and Cody. Papa especially enjoyed spending today combining his baby-watching with the Cardinals game. He's trying to make Jaden and Cody fans at an early age! Happy Father's Day, Dad! We love you!


Beloved, just as flowers flourish in the light of the sun, you were created to blossom in the light of My countenance. When My face is turned towards you, My blessing, favor, and honor abound towards you. Indeed, I designed your very being to respond to and flourish in My Presence. Just as creation responded to My voice in the beginning, so the potential I’ve placed within you naturally springs forth in response to My Light.
Genesis 12:2 (VOICE) I have plans to make a great people from your descendants. And I am going to put a special blessing on you and cause your reputation to grow so that you will become a blessing and example to others.
I remember some years ago when someone gave me a word of the LORD saying, “You are a daughter of blessing.” I was surprised by how deeply these words affected me. All at once, I recognized how they bore witness as truth in my spirit, however, my mind had trouble accepting what God was saying. Me? A blessing?
I realized that, on some level, I saw myself more like God’s problem child than a vessel of His blessing. Do you ever struggle with that feeling that you are unclean and that anything you put your hand to might crumble or become cursed? Do you feel more like a bad son or daughter instead of one that is beloved and highly favored? This has been my particular “identity crisis” for many years.
As God has walked me through different seasons, I’ve come to see how negative words and mistreatment from others sent me a message that did not agree with how God saw me. As I began to look back over my life with the eyes of the Spirit, I could recognize the overwhelming love, grace, and favor of God over me even through all of the trials. Many devices of the darkness had come along in an attempt to destroy me and keep me from the truth that I am a beloved daughter of the King. Yet no power can stop the fierce love of God! No matter what word curses have been spoken or what difficult circumstances I have faced, I cannot deny the incredible favor God has given me along the way.
This pattern in my life very much mirrors the life of Joseph. Though Joseph was hated by his brothers, enslaved, and eventually imprisoned, God shone his favor upon Joseph at every step. His favor manifested in the honor Joseph received from his father and through the position of authority he was given in both Potiphar’s household and in Egypt’s prison. Finally, at just the right time, God’s favor shone so brightly upon Joseph before Pharaoh that it opened the door for Joseph’s promotion as second in command of all of Egypt. Nothing could separate Joseph from the love of God!
Even so, I wouldn’t be surprised if, through all of Joseph’s trials, he struggled to believe that he was as highly favored as his prophetic dreams suggested (Genesis 37:4-11). It would have been easy for him to believe he was God’s problem child. Like many of us, Joseph may have even seen himself as the source of all the troubles he faced.
Yet God’s hand of blessing upon Joseph is undeniable. Even more, Joseph was a vessel of God’s blessings. The favor God poured out upon Joseph overflowed onto others. Joseph was a blessing to his family, Potiphar’s household, Egypt’s prison, and eventually Egypt and all the world. God’s hand of power was seen greatly when He gave Joseph the interpretation for Pharaoh’s dreams and the accompanying wisdom that would see the world through the coming famine.
Just like Joseph and just like Christ, the ultimate suffering servant of God, we too have been created to be vessels of blessing. We have been created to be temples of the living God. When He pours His Spirit upon us, the blessings of the Spirit overflow into the lives of others. We touch the world with anointed hands, releasing the Kingdom of God in everything and everyone that we touch.
Therefore, children of God, lift up your heads. You are not broken. You are not a problem and no longer a vehicle of darkness and sin. In fact, now that you are in Christ, you are God’s solution, a child of the light in a fallen world! Remember who you are and whose you are. You are a much-loved son or daughter of the Most High God. He has placed the Kingdom of Heaven within you and has ordained that you are the vessel through which His blessings will flow.
Luke 2:52 (NIV) And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.
Deuteronomy 33:13-16 (VOICE)About Joseph he said, Moses: May his land be blessed by the Eternal with the best the sky has to offer—abundant rains—and with the dew and the waters that lie below the ground. May it be blessed with the best the sun can produce and the best crops of each month, With the best that grows on the ancient mountains and the everlasting hills, With the best the land has to offer when it’s filled with good things, And most of all may it be blessed with the favor of the One who appeared in the burning bush. Let all these blessings rest on Joseph’s head, on the head of this prince among his brothers.
John 5:19 (VOICE) Jesus: The truth is that the Son does nothing on His own; all these actions are led by the Father. The Son watches the Father closely and then mimics the work of the Father.
My child, you are one that faithfully follows in My footsteps. As a child who delights in mimicking the actions of their father, you have also delighted in closely watching and keeping My ways. It fills My heart with such joy to see that you love the things that I love and have matured into My image and likeness as a result. You dwell in childlike faith, trust, and innocence, so much so that you often do not see just how much of Me there is in you. In you, child, I am well pleased.
You have come to a new level, the day of your inheritance. Today, I am calling you to transition into a new role and the fullness of your anointing. Receive the mantle and blessing of the firstborn, recognizing that the Spirit imparted to you is the same that dwelled within My Messiah, My firstborn son. Just as He ministered to the newborn and babes in the faith, I call you to do the same. As you reach out to nurture the young, My Spirit will bring to remembrance the early days of your faith. The Spirit will show you how to reflect My patience and mercy. You will have the wisdom to bring correction that is balanced with the fruit of gentleness. You will teach others what I have taught you, and you will impart the same comfort that I have imparted to you. Even more, you will set many hearts aflame by sharing the same passionate love for My Word as I have shared it with you.
Firstborn children do as their parents do and their behavior is a model for the younger members of the house to follow. So it is the same in My household. While I am making you aware of the greater responsibility that now rests upon your shoulders, never forget that your Father always walks with you. Continue to hold my hand and operate in that childlike faith, trust, and innocence. Shine with the humility and a teachable heart that pleases Me so. There is no burden on you to lead or make anything happen. As you continue to abide in My Presence, an atmosphere of miracles and My glorious power will surround you and demonstrate to the world that you are my very own.
Jeremiah 29:11 (NLT) For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.
When I set you on a path, beloved, remember that I am there with you to see My plans through. All that is required on your part is to walk in the power of your faith in Me. At times, you may find the journey to be difficult because you cannot see all the details of My plan. I have given you the destination, yet I alone know all the twists and turns in your journey. Walk along this course being certain that you will see My goodness. I urge you to yield your expectations over the details to Me. Instead, adopt an attitude of childlike wonder over this adventure. By doing so, you will be able to maintain your peace and security in Me.
I have not made this path needlessly complex; I have designed it with your good in mind. This path is encouraging spiritual growth within you that you do not yet see. For as you rely upon Me to take every step, I draw out the gifts of the Spirit I have placed within you. I desire to get you to your destination well-equipped for all I have in store for you.
When you feel uncertain or discouraged along this journey, pause and remind yourself that I have already ordained that you will succeed. I have commanded the blessing upon your life so that you will prosper wherever I send you. The words I have spoken over your life will not return to Me void; they will accomplish all I desire. And you too, beloved, will succeed in walking this path as I empower you by My Spirit.
Isaiah 55:11 (NLT) It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it.
Philippians 4:13 (AMPC) I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency].
The other day, as I was in the kitchen cooking, a song rose up in my spirit about the River of Life. This song rang in my spiritual ears and I felt the heart of the Lord. Just like in my recent experience (which I shared in “This Season is a “Destiny Turn’“), I knew the Spirit was saying once again, The river is flowing. The tables are turning. Great change is coming. It is about to overtake you.
There was such an urgency to this feeling. Then I saw in the Spirit the River of Life flowing down a mountain. It was wending its way somewhere in haste. I felt specifically that its desire was to come to me, to come to all God’s people. I felt like some kind of magnet for this great river. But I didn’t know why.
Just imagine it. It’s the “calm before the deliverance/delivery” as the Lord spoke to me recently. It’s that moment when all is quiet. Nothing seems to be happening, yet it is, in fact, a pause that is pregnant with purpose. Although everything is very quiet right now in the natural, something is moving in the heavenly realm. And it’s not just moving, it is plowing its way down the mountain and ready to overtake you!


Steeple Bumpstead Congregational church
Steeple Bumpstead Congregational Church is at the heart of a village community in rural North Essex.
The church meets to pray and worship together, to celebrate and work together, to learn about the Bible and to make the Christian faith known widely.
Everybody is welcome! Come along, to ask questions, to make friends and to get involved in community activities. Sunday services are at 10.30am. The church is available for weddings and funerals and to celebrate the birth of a child.
Have a look around this website for more information, or do get in touch with us to talk.
Rev'd Sophia Girvan


Online Bible Studies
Discover God's plan for you and your life through the study of His Word. Start discovering more of His plans in your Bible today with these free Bible Study guides for all ages! We pray that as you discover these life secrets, you will be blessed and drawn into a closer relationship with Jesus! Click here to get started on your FREE online Bible Studies.
OR if you would like to join a Bible Study group or receive Bible Studies directly to your home contact us at (208) 773-4471 or fill out our online Bible Study form below:


Report a Safeguarding Concern
Protecting children, young people and vulnerable adults is the responsibility of us all, whether they are in the communities in which we live or part of our Christian family. If you have a concern about a child, young person or adult who may be at risk of harm please speak to the parish safeguarding coordinator or the priest within the parish. Their contact details are:
Kay Wright (Safeguarding Officer), 07903 490444 – 01335 300778 email@example.com.
The Rev’d Duncan Ballard, (Incumbent), The Vicarage, 61 Bellevue Road, Ashboume DE6 lAT. Tel. 01335 343825. firstname.lastname@example.org.
If you have concerns about a member of the clergy or an employee of the church please contact the Diocesan Safeguarding Adviser, Julian Hodgson (01332 388678) or one of the Archdeacons. You can also report any concerns to the Police or Social Care. The important thing is that your concerns are shared with someone in a position to help.
For more information on safeguarding please visit the Derby Diocesian web page at


Our pastor had a vision to plant a life-giving church in Elk City, OK. He planted The Way Church in February of 2011 with just a handful of people. With the help of people committed to seeing that dream fulfilled, the church has experienced significant growth. The Way Church continues to focus on reaching out to the non-churched by building relationships and preaching the message of the Gospel.
The staff and leadership here at The Way Church is comprised of men and women who love, care and pray for every single person in the church. If you have any questions for any of our staff, feel free to reach out and email them or call our church office to speak with them. You can contact the church office at firstname.lastname@example.org
Kyle is the Senior Pastor of The Way Church. He and his wife, Randi planted The Way Church in 2011 with a vision to see people experience Jesus and see the church reach its full potential. They live in Elk City with their son, Titus, and two daughters, Avery and Aniston.
Eric is the Youth Pastor at The Way Church. He is passionate about loving God and people. Eric was drawn to The Way because of the vision to see people experience Jesus. Eric and his wife, Natasha, live in Elk City with their two sons, Mayson and Golden, and daughter, Harper.
Travis is the Next Steps Pastor at The Way Church. He is passionate about providing the behind-the-scenes support to staff and helping people take next steps in their walk with God. Travis and his wife, Shayla, live in Elk City with their two children, Emorie and Colin.
Susan has been the Administrative Assistant at The Way Church since 2014. She has a heart to serve and has been instrumental in doing whatever is necessary to move the mission forward. Susan and her husband, Tyrel, live in Elk City with their three children, Meghan, Kynlee, and Creed.
At our church, you will hear the word “gospel” repeatedly because it is the most important truth that we can know and experience. The gospel is not merely a message that needs to be shared with non-Christians, but also with Christians. It is not something that mature Christians move on from, but rather something that they move deeper into. The gospel is the lens in which we should view theology, ministry, and all aspects of life.
The Apostle Paul defined the word “gospel” concisely in 1st Corinthians 15:3-5 when he wrote, “Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.” Simply put, the gospel is all about Jesus’ life, death and resurrection, and the implications it has for us.


Raymond A. Partin, 78, of Milford and Eastgate, died April 25 in Cincinnati.
He was an auditor for National Underwriters. He served as a member of the U.S. Navy during the Korean War.
Partin was preceded in death by three brothers and three sisters.
He is survived by wife Ernestine Cox Partin, daughter Debbie Phenix, grandchildren Bethany Weber, Michael Jr. and James Phenix, and siblings Claude Partin Jr., Trula Philpot, Estalene Johnson, and Pauline Sullivan.
Services April 28 at Christian Life Center Church. Interment at Partin Family Cemetery in Williamsburg, Ky. Memorials to Christian Life Center Church.


Judy is a shining example of the importance of volunteerism where she played a leading role in organizing Alderson Recovery efforts following the 2016 flood. She is active in many organizations in the Alderson Community, WVU Extension CEOS and Master Gardener programs, served on the Alderson Community Center Board of Directors and Board of Trustees for the Alderson Library. Judy is very involved in her husband’s ministry as the pastor of the Alderson Lutheran Church and represent a link between the Alliance and local churches. Making an impact to improve the health, wellbeing and general quality of life of children and the elderly has been a passion of hers for many years. Judy is an avid Bridge player, enjoys kayaking, travel, camping in in the family RV and is a lover of nature and all God’s creatures. The Alliance is grateful that she was suggested to represent Alderson and that she agreed to join the board in Nov. of 2015.


Sunday School 11:00 am to 12:00 noon Church service 12:00 noon to 2:00 pm
Midwek service 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm
Listen to the last sermon 'The dawning of a Reality' Ps. D. C. Jacobs
Contrary to your belief or understanding to be or no to be lies in your hand and not with any external force or forces that may be. Am I denying the fact that they exist? No but I am submitting that you can draw a boundary line which they dare not trespass. There is a spirit for every occasion, thus applying the rightful spirit for the right occasion makes a mountain look like a plain land. Watch this , while trained soldiers saw a giant in goliath, untrained soldier David saw in himself a giant but in goliath a grasshopper. You a re not just destined to make it in life but to make it happen and happen real big. With this understanding therefore be strong, be brave and immovable in your faith and conviction that you have a goal which must be scored Discouragements, disappointments, failures and other possible factors that pose a threat to the others will see you and be threatened as soon as you cultivate the attitude of refusing to be stopped. Do you know what? “Yes you can” Yes you can!
You are heartily welcomed to the Center of Possibilities. In this wonderful ministry of our LORD Jesus Christ, we believe strongly that we can do all things through His strength.
Come unto me, all you that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and you shall find rest unto your souls.St. Mathew 11:28
Come unto me, all you that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and you shall find rest unto your souls.
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Two summers ago, late one afternoon I sat on a low stone wall, swinging my legs—one of the advantages of being only 5’2”—and contemplated the expanse of a cathedral town square before me. I was in Santiago de Compostela, Spain. I had flown into Madrid that morning and immediately taken the train west, to Galicia and Santiago, the capital. It was chilly—I could feel a breeze off the Atlantic Ocean—and I realized I had brought clothes for Madrid and not Santiago. I was tired, but not unpleasantly.
I was a pilgrim, one of the first of thousands who would pour in streams through the winding medieval streets of Santiago during the following week. We were arriving from all over the world—later I would share Mass with a fellow middle-aged woman from Brazil—for the Feast of St. James, which is celebrated in Catholic Christendom on July 25. When July 25 falls on a Sunday, the commemoration is a Great Feast Year. And so it was in 2012—and not again until 2020.
Towards evening that first day, the square was almost empty, but I had no inclination to move from my perch. I was enjoying medieval Spanish Latin church music, coming from a source I could not see, but amplified by the ancient paving stones. From the stops and repetitions, I concluded that I was listening to a rehearsal for the festivities ahead.
I am not a Catholic. It seems to me unlikely that the martyred body of James, the brother of Jesus and first leader of the early church in Jerusalem, found its way to Galicia and was buried, to be discovered in the ninth century. But no matter. Santiago de Compostela is a holy place—one of a few I have been privileged to see—sanctified by the faith and works, even the imprints of the steps, from the centuries of believers who have travelled there long before me.
I was on a quest, just as pilgrims to Santiago in Chaucer’s day had been. I was trying to find closure to the extraordinary and largely inexplicable previous few years of my life. I would eventually get that satisfaction, and Santiago was a way-station. A link in the bracelet of end.
Ending. Beginning again.
And so the Great Day of St. James is an appropriate place to launch this new chapter in my blog Nattering On.
Surely, it is time for me to share the few truths I have learned, for family or friends or acquaintances or former readers or whoever might read.
In August, I will turn sixty-eight.
If not now, when?
This is a scary move for me, for reasons that will become clear as I write more.
But back to July, 2012 in Santiago, Spain, where in the unfolding of that evening lies a shard of truth.
I was alone. A middle-aged American woman who spoke no Spanish. It was dusk, and I did not know where I would spend the night.
On the cathedral square, just behind my perch on the parapet, reigns the Hostal dos Reis Catolicos, founded in 1492 by King Ferdinand II and Queen Isabella as a pilgrims’ hospice, since many of the visitors to fifteenth-century Santiago arrived sick and dying. The doors of the Hostal have been open ever since. Today it is the best hotel in Santiago, one of the loveliest in Spain. It had been booked solid years in advance of July, 2012.
Yet somehow I knew that the Hostal would have a room for me. I stood, turned around, walked up the broad steps and through the fifteenth-century arch. The desk clerk could not have been more gracious and welcoming. Of course, he had a room.
And so my spiritual journey turned out to be temporal as well, for during Feast Week I would sit in close proximity to King Juan Carlos, now recently abdicated, but at the time crowing and regnant—I remember thinking that here was a man who had just entertained his mistress. And in contrast, his inward-looking wife, the drawn-faced but forbearing Queen Sofia, with her ladies-in-waiting passing by me on her way to and from her suite at the Hostal dos Reis Catolicos.
I would enjoy the spectacle of Paulo Coelho and his retinue of lovely women at the Hostal. Coelho, the most famous living chronicler of the camino, the pilgrimage road from France to Santiago, was the guest of the King and Queen of Spain for festival week. I do not know Coelho, but he is a fellow believer, and today I am one of the Brazilian writer’s two million+ followers on Twitter.
My sojourn in Santiago encapsulates much of what I will be sharing with you in the next few weeks.
Lately, I have been thinking about how the Lord, other than in Scripture, teaches us about Himself and our relationship to Him. Basic question: who are we? And who is He?
To begin, with the kernel in my Santiago story. Life unfolds simultaneously on two parallel tracks. We have been made creatures of a material world subject to the laws of physics and limitations of biology. Gathered in communities of our making, we daily live and work. Yet we are hardwired to seek He Who Hath Made Us, our Creator who is both immanent within the world and outside it beyond time.
Therefore, all of us—you, me, everyone we know and will never know—are at one and the same time the Mayhill that day in Santiago de Compostela and the innkeeper who took her in. We are seekers—and surely if you are reading this far you are either already curious about God or about to submit yourself to the discipline or on your way and yearning for Him. Some of you have travelled farther with Him than I ever will.
But most of the time we live in the rhythm of our daily chores. There is a deceptive simplicity to rhythm. It is hard to go about our business mindful at all times that a tedious stranger could be the angel in disguise mentioned in Hebrews.
The desk clerk at the Hostal dos Reis Catolicos undoubtedly was tired by nightfall. He had been dealing with entitled, imperious rich people all day. Even as I approached, a gentleman was grumping away from the massive desk. But the receptionist looked at me, looked again. He was calm, but with a flicker in his eye.
“Of course, we have a room for you.”
I will never forget the ripple of expression. It was as if a half-millennium of caring for strangers—more than—since 1492—suddenly coalesced, descended and gathered into one face.
His awareness. That young man. That stranger. I never asked his name, but he is in my thoughts and sometimes my prayers.
I do not know the why and wherefore of that evening. And sometimes mystery is beautiful. (If often not—as you will hear from me in subsequent weeks.) Perhaps there is timelessness in the power of community, as believers join one by one, but linking, hand-to-hand and face-to-face as we live, day by day, year into year, passing the connection on to those who come after us, century after century.
July 25, 2014
Farther and Further:
Camino De Santiago: Medieval Music from Spanish Pilgrimages (available on iTunes)
Paulo Coelho, The Pilgrimage (account of the camino and his spiritual journey)
Coelho, from Pilgrimage: “And when I think about it, I guess it is true that people always arrive at the right moment at the place where someone awaits them.”


The minute the preacher said, “Open your Bibles to the book of Romans”, I regretted not bringing my coffee into church. It’s a tough decision most Sunday mornings – whether to risk falling asleep or risk having to pee in the middle of church. This particular Sunday morning I thought I’d be ok without that last cup of coffee. I thought I could stay awake and actually focus on spiritual matters instead of how many more minutes were left in the sermon. I didn’t think I’d be listening to a boring, dry sermon from Romans in a dimly lit church whose thermostat is set to freezing thus creating the optimal environment for a good nap.
But just a few minutes into nap time – I mean – the sermon, I heard three words that I so desperately needed to hear:
“You are worthy to me. You are pleasing to me. You are satisfactory to me, your God.”
I sat there in stunned silence as my husband squeezed my hand. He knew as much as I did that those words were for me. It was no secret to either of us that I had been struggling with low self-esteem and feeling unlovable. In fact, just a few days prior I had come face-to-face with this problem of low self-esteem – asking myself, “does God love me if I’m a sinner?”
After struggling with the question for some time in my mind, I went to my husband looking for answers. “How do I believe that I’m a sinner and still have good self-esteem?” But it wasn’t a question he could answer for me. He could only point me in the right direction. He said, “Jenny, go see how God views you.”
And here, in this dimly lit sanctuary, the hair on my arms stood on end – not because I was cold, but because God was speaking to me. He was telling me exactly how He views me -“Jenny, you are worthy, you are pleasing, you are satisfactory to me, your God.”
The problem, though, is that no matter what other people say, no matter what God’s Word says, I don’t really believe I’m lovable. Depression and distorted thinking have forced me to conclude that there is nothing good in me, nothing of value, nothing worth loving. They have left me feeling unlovable. Yet, God says He loves me. My husband says he loves me. My friends tell me they love me. But for some reason, I just can’t believe them. I know that in order for me to believe this, I first have to believe that I am lovable.
How on earth do I transform my thinking from “there is nothing good in me” to believing that I’m lovable?
What the World Says
The world says that man is inherently good. Maybe he has some bad in him, but he’s not all bad. He’s good with a little bad. And what’s more, the bad we do have in us, we can change. We can make ourselves better! So we start with positive affirmations. I am good. I am wise. I am strong. I deserve this. I am becoming a better version of myself. We tell ourselves that we just need to correct our distorted thinking. We tell ourselves that we are good and we can be better. But to me, statements of self-affirmation always seem so hollow. I have trouble believing them because all my life I have been told that, according to the Bible, man is born into sin. Self-esteem and the world kept preaching to me that yes, you can do it! But God and His Word kept preaching to me that no, no you can’t do it!
So, I believe that man is not inherently good. I know that I am born into sin and with a sin nature. But when I gave my life to Christ, I was separated from that sin nature. It’s still there, but now instead of being united with sin. I am united with Christ.
How God Views Us
Romans 8:1 says, “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”
You know what that means? If you are in Christ Jesus:
- You will never be condemned by God.
- You will always be loved by Him regardless of what you do.
God is saying, “You are worthy. You are pleasing. You are satisfactory to me. You are lovable to me.”
Why? Why are we lovable to Christ? Why do we no longer fear condemnation?
The simple answer: Because God says so.
The complex answer: Because for those of us that are in Christ Jesus (we have surrendered our lives to Christ) we are now separated from our sin nature and united with Christ. Christ is in us and we are in Him. This is what God’s Word tells us and we believe to be true.
So, how do we live then? How do we live knowing we are lovable and acceptable to a Holy God?
Love Yourself the Way Your Father Loves You
Now that we know how God our Father views us, we must learn to love ourselves the way He loves us.
Think about how you love a little child. Despite the attitude and the back talk and the tantrums, you still love them. You still provide for them. You still think they are beautiful and precious. You still would do anything for them. You may be disappointed at times or angry with them, but you always forgive and you always love. This is the way your Heavenly Father loves you. Learn to love yourself that way.
Be disappointed when you fail, but learn to forgive yourself.
Be angry at your sin, but know it doesn’t affect your standing before God.
Accept that you are God’s Masterpiece
Accept that you are lovable and you are loved.
For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.


As of October 2018, the Parish of South Christchurch will be meeting on Sundays, 9.30am at St Nicholas, corner of Barrington and Frankleigh Sts. There is also a fellowship group that meets on Wednesday evenings, 7.30pm at St Nicholas. If you would like to know more, please contact our wardens Neville Queen – 0274531475 Stephanie … Continue Reading »
On Sunday 23rd September we are having a combined morning service, 10am at St Saviour’s. There will be no service taking place at St Nicholas.
We have two morning services: 9:00 at St Nicholas 10:30 at St Saviour’s Our 9am service at St Nicholas, Barrington St, is a more classic Anglican service. Weekly communion, preaching and praise form the heart of this service. Kids are well cared for in Sunday School and crèche, and we spend time together after the … Continue Reading »
Our current sermon series at the 9am service is on Colossians, “Life in Christ”. Click here to catch up on previous sermons.
On Sunday 1st July we are having a combined morning service, 10am at St Saviour’s.
Come along to our Easter Services: Good Friday: 10am at St Saviour’s Easter Sunday: 9am at St Nicholas, 10.30am at St Saviour’s
This Sunday we are having a combined morning service, 10am at St Saviour’s. Come along and encourage Bishop Victoria, who will be visiting and speaking to us.
School lunches. Trying to be healthy, quick, and creative can all be a bit much at times. This free public seminar will give you fresh ideas and a confidence boost in your preparation of school lunches. Charlene Smith is a NZ Registered Dietitian with years of experience. She has specialised in paediatrics, diabetes, and more … Continue Reading »
This Sunday, 11th February, we are having a combined morning service, 10am at St Saviour’s, followed by a church lunch.
This year’s church camp is again taking place at YMCA Wainui Park, on 23-25 February. Wally Behan will be speaking on Philippians 4. Click here to find out more information and register.


WEST HARTFORD - Catherine Elizabeth D'Esopo, 96, is resting peacefully with her mother, Mary; father, Salvatore; sister, Philomena; brothers, Salvatore, John, and Bill. All of her nieces and nephews are saddened by her parting.
Her optimistic and independent attitude was an inspiration to us all.
Catherine worked as a secretary at Hartford National Fire and Shelby Mutual Insurance Companies for a total of 45 years. She enjoyed volunteering and traveling with the girls from West Hartford Senior Center. She loved West Hartford where she resided since 1928.
We will miss you always Aunt Catherine!
A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 11:30 AM on Tuesday, July 10, 2018 at the Church of St. Peter Claver, 47 Pleasant St. in West Hartford, where Catherine was a devoted parishioner for many years. Interment will immediately follow at Mount St. Benedict Cemetery in Bloomfield.
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Catherine Elizabeth D'Esopo, please visit our floral store.


This weekend saw the passing of a man who showed great conviction in an age of convenience and compromise.
Pope John Paul II believed not only in giving strong leadership to his flock, the largest part of the world’s Christian community. He also felt that the church, in an age of ethical confusion, has a duty to provide a strong yet hopeful moral compass to the wider world.
His stance on issues like contraception, abortion and euthanasia were not popular with liberal sections of either the mass media or society in general. Yet they demonstrated a consistent commitment to the notions that all life is sacred and the strong are responsible to care for the weak.
Many in the Christian community, Catholic and otherwise, have also held some of his statements up to question.
Yet few Christians would argue that John Paul was not a powerful voice for the protection of human life at every level.
Born Karol Jozef Wojtyla in the town of Wadowice, 35 miles south-west of the Polish capital Krakow, his commitment to life may have been shaped not only by his Catholic doctrine and personal Christian faith. He suffered great personal losses early in life.
His sister died before he was born, his mother died as a result of heart and kidney problems just after his ninth birthday and his adult brother died of scarlet fever when he was 12 years of age. He was well aquainted with death.
He also witnessed firsthand the pain of war and this shaped his lifelong opposition to warfare.
Already, John Paul's pontificate has been widely praised for its scope and reach.
He was the most travelled Pope in history -- aided, of course, by vast improvements in long-distant travel, but also by his decision to become a leader who connected with people the world over.
He was also a very athletic man, known in his early years for his skill on skis and for the long walks he liked to take. In his final days and weeks people could see traces of that physical fortitude in the way in which he dealt with illness.
In his homeland, John Paul was seen as a father to the nation. During his years as a priest, then a bishop and Archbishop, he constantly made his presence felt in defiance of the ruling Communist regime. Its leadership had consistently tried to stamp out Poland's strong Catholic faith and its Christian heritage.
He made a point of visiting his homeland not long after being crowned Pope, at the relatively young age of 58. Most authorities, including Lech Valesa, saw his presence and his calls for determination and hope among the people as key contributors to the downfall of communism in Eastern Europe.
There may be many ways to appreciate this man. For me, though, the greatest lesson of John Paul’s life and work, for all Christians, is that the church can and must play a role as a conscience voice in society – mixing strong convictions with positive and persistent hope.
His life also demonstrated that a consistent walk of righteousness, combined with humility, can and does inspire hope for the future.
The church is not at its best when it tries to play moral policeman for the rest of society. Christians cannot assume that other people will always appreciate their views on right and wrong, whatever those views might be -- and they do vary on different issues.
However, this Pope clearly believed that the church must take seriously the call of Christ to be the 'salt of the earth' and a light to the world.
Many sections of society will perhaps always be resistant to the voice of the church as a conscience.
Sometimes, people resist moral challenge from various institutional church groups because they see a church that appears to be divorced from real needs.
The church should not see itself as a ruling voice which gives discipline by divine right, but as a serving influence whose positive example shows communities a better and more healthy way to walk through life.
Every man leaves behind him a mixed legacy, but on the whole Pope John Paul maintained his dignity, his sense of righteousness, his calls for a positive view of human life and, above all, his love for and devotion to Christ.


(This is Part 1 of a two-part blog entry. Read this first, and then read Part 2. You can go to Part 2 here.)
Don’t fall into the jaws of the Great Reversal! The Great Reversal has caused such frustration for many people who genuinely want to walk with, and serve God.
To understand the dreaded Great Reversal, we need to look at three passages of scripture. The first one we will look at is Ephesians 5:15-20:
Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Now, let’s check out Galatians 5:16-26
So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.
And finally, let’s look at Jesus’ words in John 15:1-8
I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.
I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.
Some reading over these passages quickly might be tempted to think that they teach the following:
First, don’t get drunk, don’t commit sexual sins, orgies, etc., don’t be jealous or selfish, etc. In short, don’t sin. Secondly, praise God, be filled with love, joy, and peace, etc., and bear fruit for God. In short, be good. If you got that from these passages, you’ve fallen into the deadly clutches of the Great Reveral!
We’ve all heard sermons like this, and after hearing them, we have tried very, very hard to live up to what we’ve been told to do. So, we work hard at avoiding sin and try hard to be virtuous. And what do we find? We’re unable! Oh, yeah, we can do it for a little while; maybe for two weeks, or a month. Maybe the most self-controlled among us can keep it up even longer, but eventually we “run out of steam” and we fall into sinful attitudes and behavior and our zeal for good works wanes.
Now there are some people who seem to be able to make it work, and they rise to high positions in churches or other Christian organizations. Having been in some of those high positions myself, I have had a first-hand look at the lives of those who seem to make it work, and what I find is that they actually aren’t making it work at all, it just looks like it from the outside. They actually fall into the same trap as the Pharisees, the trap of the Great Reversal!
In Luke 18:10-14 Jesus told the following parable:
Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: “God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.” But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, “God, have mercy on me, a sinner.” I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.
The Pharisee is one of those guys who can “make it work”. They can muscle down their more primitive urges and avoid the grosser sins of sexual immorality, drunkenness, and the like, even while doing good works like fasting, tithing, church work, etc. The problem is that the only sins they can control are the obvious ones. They are actually powerless over the more subtle ones, like greed and covetousness, fear and insecurity, mental lust (which Jesus said was the same as physical adultery), and anger and looking down on others (which Jesus said was the same as murder). As a result Jesus described these kind of people as “whitewashed tombs,” that looked good on the outside but inwardly were full of corruption (Matthew 23:27).
So why do I call this problem, this trap, the Great Reversal? It’s easiest to see when we look again at John 15:5: “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit.” There is a natural tendency in us (and I’m sure the enemy helps) to turn the order around. We want to bear much fruit so we can say, “I’m in Him!” So we work hard to bear fruit so we can assure ourselves that we are His. We’ve reversed the order!
Or, to use the language of Galatians 5 we want to first stop sinning (the deeds of the flesh) and then show the fruit of the Spirit. Again, we’ve turned it around! Or, from Ephesians 5 we decide to stop getting drunk and then spend more time worshipping with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. Again, we’ve reversed the order.
The only way to be successful in life is to get the order right. First, we get into Jesus and live in Him. As Jesus says in John 15; “If you abide in me, you will bear fruit.” In the Galatians passage, we need to first “walk in the Spirit” and “keep in step with the Spirit”. Only then will we not fulfill the lusts of the flesh, both the obvious gross ones and the more subtle ones. Only then will we exhibit the fruit of the Spirit; love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
The key is really clear, to me, in the Ephesians passage, “…be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord.” The first step is to be filled with the Spirit! Then, I can live in victory over sin, be filled with the fruit of the Spirit, and be filled with praise and thanks. When filled with the Spirit and walking in Him, keeping in step with Him (which is what abiding in Christ means), He can lead me in the good works He has planned for me, thus I bear fruit!
But don’t I have to first “repent of my sins?” I will address that in Part 2. Click here to go to Part 2.


Music is a vital part of the worship at Holy Trinity Church. The Director of Music is David Ogden, assisted by Organist Richard Johnson.
Music for your wedding
Concerts and recitals
Girls’ and Boys’ Choir
The Girls’ and Boys’ Choir is for children aged from 7 years, offering musical, vocal and religious education following the Royal School of Church Music’s Voice for Life Scheme.
The choir is open to children from the parish, local schools and wider community, and rehearse on Tuesdays from from 6pm until 7.15pm at the church. The Girls’ and Boys’ Choir is supported by adult soprano and alto singers both in helping to run and administrate the choir, and providing vocal support.
• Get a fantastic musical education led by the professional team of musicians at Westbury-on-Trym Parish Church
• Follow Royal School of Church Music’s Voice for Life scheme, earning medals and ribbons as you learn more
• Get paid to sing at weddings and Sunday services
• Learn skills that will give life-long enjoyment as a singer in choirs and choral societies
• Contribute to the worship at church and benefit from religious instruction
• Run under Safe and Sound Child Protection guidelines – leaders are fully DBS-checked
• Choir robes, music and folders provided
The choir has recorded two CDs, which are available to purchase online and from the Parish Office.
> Click here for details
For information about joining, contact David Ogden by email at firstname.lastname@example.org or speak to him after a 10am Sunday morning service.
The Adult Choir rehearses on Tuesday evenings from 6 until 7pm and sings with the Girls’ and Boys’ Choirs at Sunday morning Eucharist, and Evensong services during term time.
The Trinity Singers is a mixed adult four-part choir which sings Evensong on special occasions, and on occasional special services such as Good Friday. Singers must be experienced, good sight readers and are auditioned – if you would like to know more, please contact David.
Westbury-on-Trym Choral Group provides opportunities for singers of a wide range of ages and abilities to sing at special occasions throughout the year, including the Advent Carol Service and the Service of Nine Lessons and Carols. No audition is required.
To find out more about how the choirs, level of commitment, and how to join, contact David Ogden by email at email@example.com .
As with all the church’s activities, the children’s choirs are run under the Church of England’s Safe and Sound guidelines, and the staff are DBS-checked.


Church is a big business. In the Middle Ages, the Catholic church amassed an enormous wealth in land and artifacts. Many of today’s Christian leaders have done or are doing the same thing. Where the superstars go, plenty of mini-popes wish to follow.
Despite the recent depression and tighter spending, we continue to hear passionate pleas to give money in many churches and conferences across the united States. There is the building fund that needs to be filled, or missionaries who are to simply go. We can do these things because we have faith that God will provide the necessary funds for our grand visions. After all, God owns the cattle on a thousand hills, right?
It turns out that if you turn to Psalm 50, David is writing that God doesn’t want your sacrifices or offerings. He says that he has plenty… but this verse continues to be misused during instructions to donate more because “God will give it back to you.”
Maybe we are counting our chickens before they hatch, or being prodigal with our inheritance.
Due to the number of times that I have heard the “cattle on a thousand hills” phrase abused, I thought that it was time someone figured out exactly how much money God does have. Let us run some rough figures.
In order to learn how much God owns, we need two definitions. The first is how big a hill is, and the second is what “cattle” means.
Definitions of hills and mountains vary between individuals. Wikipedia has a partial list of mountains on the earth, which I tally at 903. It seems like there would be more hills than mountains in the world… and it turns out that Rwanda is known as the “Land of a Thousand Hills.” The country covers 10,169 square miles and the hills in it are described as “gently rolling” which tells us that the terrain is not overly soft or harsh. Nobody has counted the number of hills in Israel (that I have found), so I am going to extrapolate from Rwanda.
Dry land on our planet takes up roughly 57 million square miles. If we divide that by the 10,169 square miles covered by Rwanda, and then multiply by 1000 hills, we get 5.6 million hills on the surface of the earth.
Those of you who are good with logic will see several assumptions here, but you should also notice that all of my rounding is an attempt to be optimistic. You will see why at the end.
The second question above was about the definition of “cattle.” We tend to figure that “cattle” are cows, but dictionaries allow for a more broad definition (Webster’s 1913):
Quadrupeds of the Bovine family; sometimes, also, including all domestic quadrupeds, as sheep, goats, horses, mules, asses and swine.
Using this definition, let’s figure 1.3 billion cows, 1 billion sheep, ~700 million goats, 59 million horses, 44 million donkeys, ~1 billion pigs... and round up to 5 billion cattle.
Now come the calculations. 5 billion cattle divided by 5.6 million hills equals 893 cattle per hill, which means that God (optimistically) owns 893,000 cattle.
Depending on the types of animals, we could figure between $300 and $6000 for an average price. Because the animals used are both small animals and large, we will use $1000/ea to simplify the math. That makes God the proud owner of 893 million dollars worth of cattle.
Are you worried yet? You should be since there are an estimated 2.1 billion Christians in the world, and 893 million dollars divided across 2.1 billion people is $0.43/ea.
Next time that you hear a preacher tell you to do something and not think of the cost because “God owns the cattle on a thousand hills,” do yourself a favor. Remember this little piece of satire and Jesus’ words in Luke 14 (around verse 28) first.
God is plumb broke.
** Please note that I am not advocating that you be selfish with your money. Just be smarter.


The virtue of justice governs our relationships with other people. The Catechism of the Catholic Church tells us that Justice is the moral virtue that consists in the constant and firm will to give one’s due to God and neighbour.
Justice toward God is called the “virtue of religion”. Justice toward men disposes one to respect the rights of each and to establish in human relationships the harmony that promotes equity with regard to persons and to the common good.
With this in mind, what does the Catholic Church tell us are the rights of every Catholic? The Code of Canon law gives us some useful legal information: here are a few excerpts:
Can. 208 From their rebirth in Christ, there exists among all the Christian faithful a true equality regarding dignity and action by which they all co-operate in the building up of the Body of Christ according to each one’s own condition and function. Can. 209 §1. The Christian faithful, even in their own manner of acting, are always obliged to maintain communion with the Church. §2. With great diligence they are to fulfill the duties which they owe to the universal Church and the particular church to which they belong according to the prescripts of the law. Can. 210 All the Christian faithful must direct their efforts to lead a holy life and to promote the growth of the Church and its continual sanctification, according to their own condition. Can. 212 §1. Conscious of their own responsibility, the Christian faithful are bound to follow with Christian obedience those things which the sacred pastors, inasmuch as they represent Christ, declare as teachers of the faith or establish as rulers of the Church. §2. The Christian faithful are free to make known to the pastors of the Church their needs, especially spiritual ones, and they're desires. §3. According to the knowledge, competence, and prestige which they possess, they have the right and even at times the duty to manifest to the sacred pastors their opinion on matters which pertain to the good of the Church and to make their opinion known to the rest of the Christian faithful, without prejudice to the integrity of faith and morals, with reverence toward their pastors, and attentive to common advantage and the dignity of persons. Can. 217 Since they are called by baptism to lead a life in keeping with the teaching of the gospel, the Christian faithful have the right to a Christian education by which they are to be instructed properly to strive for the maturity of the human person and at the same time to know and live the mystery of salvation. Can. 218 Those engaged in the sacred disciplines have a just freedom of inquiry and of expressing their opinion prudently on those matters in which they possess expertise, while observing the submission due to the magisterium of the Church. Can. 220 No one is permitted to harm illegitimately the good reputation which a person possesses nor to injure the right of any person to protect his or her own privacy. Can. 221 §1. The Christian faithful can legitimately vindicate and defend the rights which they possess in the Church in the competent ecclesiastical forum according to the norm of law. Can. 222 §1. The Christian faithful are obliged to assist with the needs of the Church so that the Church has what is necessary for divine worship, for the works of the apostolate and of charity, and for the decent support of ministers. §2. They are also obliged to promote social justice and, mindful of the precept of the Lord, to assist the poor from their own resources.
Can. 223 §1. In exercising their rights, the Christian faithful, both as individuals and gathered together in associations, must take into account the common good of the Church, the rights of others, and their own duties toward others.
Do you respect the rights of your fellow man in your day-to-day conduct? Are you familiar with the Catholic understanding of justice? — because it’s not a cowboy justice so popular today, especially in North America. It is a justice begun in charity, kindness and a generosity of spirit with due reverence to the other, both lay and ordained. Micah 6:8 reads like this: “He has showed you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” It’s true, God has indeed shown us what is good, true and holy. He has also shown us how to do Christian justice, to love kindness, and to live a life of humility with God. Let us try to do that with all we meet, those whom we enjoy and love, and equally for those whom we count as enemies. — Fr. Robert Bengry


Here Are 25 Powerful Women From The Bible You Can Study Women In The Bible: Eve Eve is the first woman, mother of all humanity. Her story teaches us about the dangers of disobedience and the power of redemption. In the Bible, Eve is best known as the wife of Adam and the mother of Cain and Abel. Jesus is about to call the twelve apostles. Their stature as apostles is measured not by who they are but by who Jesus is. The apostles are only great because Jesus is great. One again, our God is an extraordinary God who uses ordinary people to accomplish his work in this world. II. Jesus calls the twelve apostles (verses 13-19). In the book "Crime and Punishment", Dostoevsky explores the path of Raskolnikov who has faced many difficulties and obstacles throughout his life. He commits murder and is faced with the long and extremely painful journey of seeking redemption. Raskolnikov believes that by the law of nature, men have been divided into two groups of.
Title: Great Characters of the Bible: 52 Lessons on How God Used Ordinary People to Accomplish Extraordinary Tasks - eBook By: Alan Stringfellow Format: DRM Protected ePub Vendor:. God uses the ordinary to do the extraordinary. Jesus Christ Savior by Beliefnet. Today at 3:00 AM. These celebrities found God in incredible ways. Jesus Christ Savior by Beliefnet. ... Elijah, a biblical prophet is one of the most interesting characters in the Bible and we can learn a lot from him. Here are six things you may not know about Elijah. Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion are members of the congregation who are commissioned to help with the distribution of communion at Mass. With additional training, some Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion extend this ministry to those in hospitals and homebound. Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion are men and women who are:.
The Gift of Wisdom - the gift to make choices and give leadership that is according to God's will. The Gift of Knowledge - the gift to comprehensively understand a spiritual issue or circumstance. The Gift of Faith - the gift to trust God and inspire others to trust God, no matter the conditions. All about Ordinary Baby, Extraordinary Gift by Gloria Gaither. LibraryThing is a cataloging and social networking site for booklovers ... $32.95 (1) Audio Cassette (1) audiobook (1) Bible stories (1) ... People/Characters: Important places: Important events: Related movies: Awards and honors: Epigraph: Dedication: First words: Quotations: Last. Ordinary to Extraordinary By Chip Borgstadt Purpose can take ordinary activities and turn them into something extraordinary. Our purpose as Christians is to point to God’s glory in all we do and say. For Adult/Couple Season Spring Needed Bible, willingness to try something new and reflect on something familiar Prepare in Advance Mark your.
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Inspired by World Vision President Emeritus Richard Stearns' book Lead Like It Matters to God, this 10-day reading plan highlights Christlike traits that can empower us to lead well, whether you're the head of your family or a Fortune 500 company. Publisher We would like to thank Our Daily Bread for providing this plan. * Martha and Mary: These sisters embody the twin virtues of worship and service, prompted by their deep devotion to Christ. Both of them sincerely tried to please Him when He was a guest in their. As you study 61 special people of the Bible in this book, you will see that God is the same today as He was in Bible days, that He still works through people, and that by studying them, we can. He is to be appointed by the people (whom the LORD chooses) 2. He is to be a native of the land, not a foreigner. 3. He is to not acquire many horses. 4. He is to not go back to Egypt. 5. He is to not acquire many wives (so his heart won't go astray). 6. He must not acquire large amounts of silver or gold for himself. 7. The Bible is filled with stories of ordinary people God used in extraordinary ways to teach character and truth. Through Isaac's life, we learn about sacrifice. Joseph's life shows us the hard-fought beauty of forgiveness and reconciliation. Abraham's story teaches us about obedience and forgiveness.
Charisma (/ k ə ˈ r ɪ z m ə /) is compelling attractiveness or charm that can inspire devotion in others.. Scholars in sociology, political science, psychology, and management reserve the term for a type of leadership seen as extraordinary; [failed verification] [page needed] [need quotation to verify] in these fields, the term "charisma" is used to describe a particular type of leader who.
1. She holds incredible strength. She can withstand a crisis and forge forward on her path with relentless endurance. She can face barriers and burdens in her life with tenacity and grace. This fortitude is often anchored in her faith because we all know when we fall, we land on our knees. She is a warrior. League of Extraordinary Gentlemen Alan Moore /Kevin O'Neill (Illustrator) Twentieth Century Studios is returning to the Victorian age of heroes. The Disney. Please note that some processing of your personal data may not require your consent, but.
Mary of Nazareth 87 Anna 92 The Samaritan Woman 97 Mary of Bethany 102 Martha of Bethany 107 Mary Magdalene 112 Lydia 118 Enoch 123 Joseph 128 Miriam 134 Gideon 139 Samson 144 Jonathan 149 Jonah 155 Esther 160 John the Baptist 166 James, the Brother of Our Lord 171 Mark 177 Onesimus 182 Paul 187 The Prodigal Son 192 The Elder Brother 197 Jesus 202. How God Used Ordinary People to Accomplish Extraordinary Tasks God chose to teach His spiritual principles through the successes and failures of His people. Great Characters of the Bible is a 52-lesson study of 61 Bible characters who were not all that different from us. They experienced struggles, heartaches, successes, and failures. Extraordinary definition, beyond what is usual, ordinary, regular, or established: extraordinary costs. See more.
Easily memorize the books of the Bible with a fun hands-on activity! This unique game makes learning the books of the Bible a breeze for kids. Perfect for Sunday School, children's ministry, homeschool, or family devotions. Click through for the books of the Bible clothespin game instructions, plus a free printable!. Fun Facts from the Book of Esther. Queen Esther's Hebrew name was Hadassah ("Esther" is Persian) Mordechai was the first person in history to be called a "Jew". He wasn't the first Jewish person; he's thought to be the first person to be referred to as a Jew rather than an Israelite or Hebrew. Essential Facts. Interesting Facts. 01 Every year, the Holy Bible sells over 100 million copies. 02 Non-profit organizations give out free Bibles all over the world. 03 The Bible has been translated to over 690 languages. 04 Hebrew is the original language of the Bible. 05 The average Bible has 1,200 pages.
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Demonstrating an extraordinary capacity for achievement. Holiness Being whole with no blemish or stain. Honesty Proclaiming the truth with sincerity and frankness in all situations. Honor Respecting those in leadership because of the higher authorities they represent. Hope.
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the crossroads where the ordinary meets the extraordinary. The feeling of fear and wonder as Elliot approaches a fog-drenched shed in E.T.. .. the ... peripheral characters will come to the forefront, including TERRY IVES, a local conspiracy theorist, and MR. CLARKE, a middle school science teacher.
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He almost certainly personally translated the four gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) and possibly the entire New Testament, while his associates translated the Old Testament. Wycliffe's Bible was completed in 1384, with further updated versions being done by Wycliffe's assistant (John Purvey) and others in 1388 and 1395.
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The Bible Book It game requires the host to give a biblical character or event and the contestant needs to say what book of the Bible the clue is from. The Gathering place, Athens,Al. Read them in the archive below. My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh. Title: Great Characters of the Bible: 52 Lessons on How God Used Ordinary People to Accomplish Extraordinary Tasks - eBook By: Alan Stringfellow Format: DRM Protected ePub Vendor:. 1. Adam Enjoyed a Lifetime Loving Eve and Loving the Lord. Adam lived to be 930 years old ( Genesis 5:5 ). Over the next nine generations, only three of his descendants lived longer: Enoch’s. Here's how you can cooperate with God to make your ordinary life extraordinary: Choose redemptive action. Understand that in any situation, you can always choose to make a difference for the better.
While character can make an ordinary man extraordinary, a lack of character can make an extraordinary man quite ordinary. Character has power because it connects us with divine wisdom. Without character, we are limited to human intelligence, and most of history is a record of its woeful inadequacy. Next Steps: Peter and John were ordinary people who had BEEN WITH JESUS. Take steps this week to make that an intentional part of your daily rhythm. If this is new to you, start with 5-10 minutes a day. Read the LivingItOut or jump into the book of John or Romans and read a little bit each day. If time with Jesus is already a part of your daily.
There are also others who didn’t have special titles or offices. They were not gifted Prophets, Kings, Apostles, or Ministers. They were ordinary people in ordinary families, yet they became heroes for God’s Kingdom. They became great because of their humble faithfulness to God and loyalty to God’s Kingdom. 1. A Woman Named Abigail (1. Ordinary People in Extraordinary Situations. Jul 23. Posted by Literary Titan. Edward Szynalski and Allen Petro Author Interview. Joe is an average kid on spring break when he's abducted by alien spies. This sets off a series of events that are both fun and entertaining. What was the initial goal when starting this novel and how did it change. Great leaders wash their people's feet. 11. Peter: Leaders recover from failure. Peter, the most well-known disciple of Jesus, denies even knowing Him three times while Jesus is being crucified. Next Steps: Peter and John were ordinary people who had BEEN WITH JESUS. Take steps this week to make that an intentional part of your daily rhythm. If this is new to you, start with 5-10 minutes a day. Read the LivingItOut or jump into the book of John or Romans and read a little bit each day. If time with Jesus is already a part of your daily.
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A Homeschool Character Study is part of our weekly school routine. Here's How We Do a Character Study Each child goes through the printable chart and picks a character trait that they feel they need to work on for the week. ... Learn how to take your binder from ordinary to extraordinary! And not just with great style, but the best functional.
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The Virtues and Character of Prophet Muhammad. Muhammad (Peace and blessings be upon him) was an ordinary human being who served as a great example to mankind. Although he was subject to the same limitations as any man, and faced many trials and tribulations, yet still accomplished outstanding success in delivering his divine mission.
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How God Used Ordinary People to Accomplish Extraordinary TasksGod chose to teach His spiritual principles through the successes and failures of His people.Great Characters of the Bible is a 52-lesson study of 61 Bible characters who were not all that different from us. They experienced struggles, heartaches, successes, and failures. They battled fear, doubt, and worry.
The ESV is an "essentially literal" translation that seeks as far as possible to capture the precise wording of the original text and the personal style of each Bible writer. It seeks to be transparent to the original text, letting the reader see the structure and meaning of the original as directly as possible.
Due to this, he has commanded that all newly-born hebrew boys be thrown into the Nile river. I love my new child very much, I can see that he is no ordinary child and I will do anything to make sure he does not get harmed. I have managed to hide him for three months, no one has seen or heard him but I am not able to keep him hidden for much longer. Due to this, he has commanded that all newly-born hebrew boys be thrown into the Nile river. I love my new child very much, I can see that he is no ordinary child and I will do anything to make sure he does not get harmed. I have managed to hide him for three months, no one has seen or heard him but I am not able to keep him hidden for much longer.
Choose from 500 different sets of positive action flashcards on Quizlet. Log in Sign up. positive action.SETS. 20 Terms. ltillman5. 6th grade positive action lesson 10. honor. commandment. obey. ark of the covenant. to show great respect or reverence, to value the good in someo. 2022. 6. 6. · In addition to the Bible study resources for adults , we also list below some for children.


|St. Hildegard von Bingen, O.S.B.|
Illumination from the Liber Scivias showing Hildegard receiving a vision and dictating to her scribe and secretary
|Doctor of the Church, Sibyl of the Rhine|
Bermersheim vor der Höhe, County Palatine of the Rhine, Holy Roman Empire
|Died||17 September 1179 (aged 81)
Bingen am Rhein, County Palatine of the Rhine, Holy Roman Empire
|Honored in||Roman Catholic Church
(Order of St. Benedict), Anglican Communion, Lutheranism
|Canonized||10 May 2012 (equivalent canonization), Vatican City by Pope Benedict XVI|
|Major shrine||Eibingen Abbey
Saint Hildegard of Bingen, O.S.B. (German: Hildegard von Bingen; Latin: Hildegardis Bingensis) (1098 – 17 September 1179), also known as Saint Hildegard, and Sibyl of the Rhine, was a German writer, composer, philosopher, Christian mystic, Benedictine abbess, visionary, and polymath. Elected a magistra by her fellow nuns in 1136, she founded the monasteries of Rupertsberg in 1150 and Eibingen in 1165. One of her works as a composer, the Ordo Virtutum, is an early example of liturgical drama and arguably the oldest surviving morality play.
She wrote theological, botanical and medicinal texts, as well as letters, liturgical songs, and poems, while supervising brilliant miniature illuminations.
Although the history of her formal recognition as a saint is complicated, she has been recognized as a saint by parts of the Roman Catholic Church for centuries. On 7 October 2012, Pope Benedict XVI named her a Doctor of the Church.
BiographyHildegard's date of birth is uncertain. She may have been born in the year 1098. Sickly from birth, Hildegard was her parents' tenth child and raised by a family of free nobles. In her Vita, Hildegard explains that from a very young age she had experienced visions.
Monastic lifePerhaps due to Hildegard's visions, or as a method of political positioning, Hildegard's parents, Hildebert and Mechthilde, offered her as an oblate to the church. The date of Hildegard's enclosure in the church is the subject of a contentious debate. Her Vita says she was enclosed with an older nun, Jutta, at the age of eight. However, Jutta's enclosure date is known to be in 1112, at which time Hildegard would have been fourteen. Some scholars speculate that Hildegard was placed in the care of Jutta, the daughter of Count Stephan II of Sponheim, at the age of eight, and the two women were enclosed together six years later. There is no written record of the twenty-four years Hildegard lived in the convent with Jutta. It is possible that Hildegard could have been a chantress and a worker in the herbarium and infirmarium.
In any case, Hildegard and Jutta were enclosed at Disibodenberg in the Palatinate Forest in what is now Germany. Jutta was also a visionary and thus attracted many followers who came to visit her at the enclosure. Hildegard also tells us that Jutta taught her to read and write, but that she was unlearned and therefore incapable of teaching Hildegard Biblical interpretation. Hildegard and Jutta most likely prayed, meditated, read scriptures such as the psalter, and did some sort of handwork during the hours of the Divine Office. This also might have been a time when Hildegard learned how to play the ten-stringed psaltery. Volmar, a frequent visitor, may have taught Hildegard simple psalm notation. The time she studied music could also have been the beginning of the compositions she would later create.
Upon Jutta's death in 1136, Hildegard was unanimously elected as "magistra" of the community by her fellow nuns. Abbot Kuno of Disibodenberg also asked Hildegard to be Prioress, which would be under his authority. Hildegard, however, wanted more independence for herself and her nuns and asked Abbot Kuno to allow them to move to Rupertsberg. This was to be a move towards poverty, from a stone complex that was well established to a temporary dwelling place. When the abbot declined Hildegard's proposition, Hildegard went over his head and received the approval of Archbishop Henry I of Mainz. Abbot Kuno did not relent, however, until Hildegard was stricken by an illness that kept her paralyzed and unable to move from her bed, an event that she attributed to God's unhappiness at her not following his orders to move her nuns to Rupertsberg. It was only when the Abbot himself could not move Hildegard that he decided to grant the nuns their own monastery. Hildegard and about twenty nuns thus moved to the St. Rupertsberg monastery in 1150, where Volmar served as provost, as well as Hildegard's confessor and scribe. In 1165 Hildegard founded a second monastery for her nuns at Eibingen.
VisionsHildegard says that she first saw "The Shade of the Living Light" at the age of three, and by the age of five she began to understand that she was experiencing visions. She used the term 'visio' to this feature of her experience, and recognized that it was a gift that she could not explain to others. Hildegard explained that she saw all things in the light of God through the five senses: sight, hearing, taste, smell, and touch. Hildegard was hesitant to share her visions, confiding only to Jutta, who in turn told Volmar, Hildegard's tutor and, later, secretary. Throughout her life, she continued to have many visions, and in 1141, at the age of 42, Hildegard received a vision she believed to be an instruction from God, to "write down that which you see and hear." Still hesitant to record her visions, Hildegard became physically ill. The illustrations recorded in the book of Scivias were visions that Hildegard experienced, causing her great suffering and tribulations. In her first theological text, Scivias ("Know the Ways"), Hildegard describes her struggle within:
But I, though I saw and heard these things, refused to write for a long time through doubt and bad opinion and the diversity of human words, not with stubbornness but in the exercise of humility, until, laid low by the scourge of God, I fell upon a bed of sickness; then, compelled at last by many illnesses, and by the witness of a certain noble maiden of good conduct [the nun Richardis von Stade] and of that man whom I had secretly sought and found, as mentioned above, I set my hand to the writing. While I was doing it, I sensed, as I mentioned before, the deep profundity of scriptural exposition; and, raising myself from illness by the strength I received, I brought this work to a close – though just barely – in ten years. [...] And I spoke and wrote these things not by the invention of my heart or that of any other person, but as by the secret mysteries of God I heard and received them in the heavenly places. And again I heard a voice from Heaven saying to me, 'Cry out therefore, and write thus!'Hildegard's Vita was begun by Godfrey of Disibodenberg under Hildegard's supervision. It was between November 1147 and February 1148 at the synod in Trier that Pope Eugenus heard about Hildegard’s writings. It was from this that she received Papal approval to document her visions as revelations from the Holy Spirit giving her instant credence.
Before Hildegard’s death, a problem arose with the clergy of Mainz. A man buried in Rupertsburg had died after excommunication from the Church. Therefore, the clergy wanted to remove his body from the sacred ground. Hildegard did not accept this idea, replying that it was a sin and that the man had been reconciled to the church at the time of his death.
On 17 September 1179, when Hildegard died, her sisters claimed they saw two streams of light appear in the skies and cross over the room where she was dying.
WorksHildegard's musical, literary, and scientific writings are housed primarily in two manuscripts: the Dendermonde manuscript and the Riesenkodex. The Dendermonde manuscript was copied under Hildegard's supervision at Rupertsberg, while the Riesencodex was copied in the century after Hildegard's death.
MusicChurch has led to a great deal of popular interest in Hildegard, particularly her music. In addition to the Ordo Virtutum, sixty-nine musical compositions, each with its own original poetic text, survive, and at least four other texts are known, though their musical notation has been lost. This is one of the largest repertoires among medieval composers. Hildegard also wrote nearly 400 letters to correspondents ranging from Popes to Emperors to abbots and abbesses; two volumes of material on natural medicine and cures; an invented language called the Lingua ignota; various minor works, including a gospel commentary and two works of hagiography; and three great volumes of visionary theology: Scivias, Liber vitae meritorum ("Book of Life's Merits" or "Book of the Rewards of Life"), and Liber divinorum operum ("Book of Divine Works").
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In addition to the Ordo Virtutum Hildegard composed many liturgical songs that were collected into a cycle called the Symphonia armoniae celestium revelationum. The songs from the Symphonia are set to Hildegard’s own text and range from antiphons, hymns, and sequences, to responsories. Her music is described as monophonic; that is, consisting of exactly one melodic line. Hildegard's compositional style is characterized by soaring melodies, often well outside of the normal range of chant at the time. Additionally, scholars such as Margot Fassler and Marianna Richert Pfau describe Hildegard's music as highly melismatic, often with recurrent melodic units, and also note her close attention to the relationship between music and text, which was a rare occurrence in monastic chant of the twelfth century. Hildegard of Bingen’s songs are left open for rhythmic interpretation because of the use of neumes without a staff. The reverence for the Virgin Mary reflected in music shows how deeply influenced and inspired Hildegard of Bingen and her community were by the Virgin Mary and the saints.
The definition of viriditas or ‘greenness’ is an earthly expression of the heavenly in an integrity that overcomes dualisms. This ‘greenness’ or power of life appears frequently in Hildegard’s works.
Recent scholars have asserted that Hildegard made a close association between music and the female body in her musical compositions. The poetry and music of Hildegard’s Symphonia is concerned with the anatomy of female desire thus described as Sapphonic, or pertaining to Sappho, connecting her to a history of female rhetoricians.
MysticismIn addition to her music, Hildegard also wrote three books of visions, the first of which, her Scivias ("Know the Way"), was completed in 1151. Liber vitae meritorum ("Book of Life's Merits" or "Book of the Rewards of Life") and Liber divinorum operum ("Book of Divine Works", also known as De operatione Dei, "On God's Activity") followed. In these volumes, the last of which was completed when she was about 75, Hildegard first describes each vision, then interprets them through Biblical exegesis.
The narrative of her visions was richly decorated under her direction, with transcription assistance provided by the monk Volmar and nun Richardis. The book was celebrated in the Middle Ages, in part because of the approval given to it by Pope Eugenius III, and was later printed in Paris in 1513.
Herbal medicineHildegard also wrote Physica, a text on the natural sciences, as well as Causae et Curae. Hildegard of Bingen was well known for her healing powers involving practical application of tinctures, herbs, and precious stones. In both texts Hildegard describes the natural world around her, including the cosmos, animals, plants, stones, and minerals.
She combined these elements with a theological notion ultimately derived from Genesis: all things put on earth are for the use of humans. She is particularly interested in the healing properties of plants, animals, and stones, though she also questions God's effect on man's health. One example of her healing powers was curing the blind with the use of Rhine water.
Alphabetalternative alphabet. The text of her writing and compositions reveals Hildegard's use of this form of modified medieval Latin, encompassing many invented, conflated and abridged words. Due to her inventions of words for her lyrics and use of a constructed script, many conlangers look upon her as a medieval precursor. Scholars believe that Hildegard used her Lingua Ignota to increase solidarity among her nuns.
During her lifetimeMaddocks claims that it is likely Hildegard learned simple Latin and the tenets of the Christian faith but was not instructed in the Seven Liberal Arts, which formed the basis of all education for the learned classes in the Middle Ages: the Trivium of grammar, dialectic, and rhetoric plus the Quadrivium of arithmetic, geometry, astronomy, and music. The correspondence she kept with the outside world, both spiritual and social, transgressed the cloister as a space of female confinement and served to document Hildegard’s grand style and strict formatting of medieval letter writing.
Contributing to Christian European rhetorical traditions, Hildegard "authorized herself as a theologian" through alternative rhetorical arts. Hildegard was creative in her interpretation of theology. She believed that her monastery should exclude novices who were not from the nobility because she did not want her community to be divided on the basis of social status. She also stated that "woman may be made from man, but no man can be made without a woman."
 Hildegard’s participation in these arts speaks to her significance as a female rhetorician, transcending bans on women's social participation and interpretation of scripture. The acceptance of public preaching by a woman, even a well-connected abbess and acknowledged prophet, does not fit the stereotype of this time. Her preaching was not limited to the monasteries; she preached publicly in 1160 in Germany. (New York: Routledge, 2001, 9). She conducted four preaching tours throughout Germany, speaking to both clergy and laity in chapter houses and in public, mainly denouncing clerical corruption and calling for reform.
Many abbots and abbesses asked her for prayers and opinions on various matters. She traveled widely during her four preaching tours. She had several fanatical followers, including Guibert of Gembloux, who wrote to her frequently and became her secretary after Volmar's death in 1173. Hildegard also influenced several monastic women, exchanging letters with Elisabeth of Schönau, a nearby visionary.
Hildegard corresponded with popes such as Eugene III and Anastasius IV, statesmen such as Abbot Suger, German emperors such as Frederick I Barbarossa, and other notable figures such as Saint Bernard of Clairvaux, who advanced her work, at the behest of her abbot, Kuno, at the Synod of Trier in 1147 and 1148. Hildegard of Bingen's correspondence is an important component of her literary output.
Beatification, canonization and recognition as a Doctor of the ChurchHildegard was one of the first persons for whom the Roman canonization process was officially applied, but the process took so long that four attempts at canonization were not completed and she remained at the level of her beatification. Her name was nonetheless taken up in the Roman Martyrology at the end of the sixteenth century. Her feast day is 17 September. Numerous popes have referred to Hildegard as a saint, including Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI.
On 10 May 2012, Pope Benedict XVI extended the liturgical cult of St. Hildegard to the entire Catholic Church in a process known as "equivalent canonization," thus laying the groundwork for naming her a Doctor of the Church. On 7 October 2012, the feast of the Holy Rosary, the Pope named her a Doctor of the Church, the fourth woman of 35 saints given that title by the Roman Catholic Church. He called her "perennially relevant" and "an authentic teacher of theology and a profound scholar of natural science and music."
Hildegard of Bingen also appears in the calendar of saints of various Anglican churches, such as that of the Church of England in which she is commemorated on 17 September.
Hildegard's parish and pilgrimage church in Eibingen near Rüdesheim houses her relics.
20th-century interest Hildegard's reincarnation has been debated since 1924 when Austrian mystic Rudolf Steiner lectured that a nun of her description was the past life of Russian poet Vladimir Soloviev, whose Sophianic visions are often compared to Hildegard. Sophiologist Robert Powell writes that hermetic astrology proves the match, and artist mystic Carl Schroeder claims to also be in the same lineage of Hildegard with the support and validation of reincarnation researchers Walter Semkiw and Kevin Ryerson.
In recent years, Hildegard has become of particular interest to feminist scholars. They note her reference to herself as a member of the "weaker sex" and her rather constant belittling of women. Hildegard frequently referred to herself as an unlearned woman, completely incapable of Biblical exegesis. Such a statement on her part, however, worked to her advantage because it made her statements that all of her writings and music came from visions of the Divine more believable, therefore giving Hildegard the authority to speak in a time and place where few women were permitted a voice. Hildegard used her voice to condemn church practices she disagreed with, in particular simony.
In space, the minor planet 898 Hildegard is named for her.
In film, Hildegard has been portrayed by Patricia Routledge in a BBC documentary called "Hildegard of Bingen" (1994) and by Barbara Sukowa in the film Vision, directed by Margarethe von Trotta.
Hildegard was the subject of a 2012 fictionalized biographic novel "Illuminations" by Mary Sharratt.
The first single of the album Mala by folk singer Devendra Banhart is named after her.


Insider Reveals Extent of Vatican's Sex Crimes - DVD
Dominican priest Tom Doyle, who has a doctorate in Canon Law, served at the Vatican Embassy between 1981 and 1986. He has been an expert witness in clergy sex abuse cases internationally. He warned the Vatican about the grave nature of the sexual abuse epidemic. He reveals how the Catholic Church is narcissistic, bishops are too self-important and the Vatican is structured as a tyrannical monarchy (one of the last such systems on Earth). He exposes how the Church demands obedience from its followers – and how we don't need priests to communicate with God! 65-min. DVD
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Claire Anderson holds an Ecumenical Doctor of Ministry degree from the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago and is the Executive Director of Siena Retreat Center. She draws on global experiences, including living in Poland, in her exploration of cosmology, science, and faith.
Director Of Hospitality
Jane Czarnezki oversees the hospitality and volunteer aspects of Siena Retreat Center. Have you every thought of volunteering at Siena Retreat Center? Please connect with Jane!
Director Of Donor And Community Engagement
Ben Brzeski joins the staff as Director of Donor and Community Engagement. Ben brings 20 years of experience in the nonprofit and ministry sectors to the Siena Retreat Center team. His experience includes a variety of leadership, development, and communications roles, and he has been fortunate to be on retreat here numerous times! Ben is a writer, musician, and lover of the outdoors, and he brings a passion for the Siena Retreat Center’s commitment to the building of a more just and compassionate world.
Nicki Steinmetz Nelson
Director Of Spiritual Guidance Initiatives
Nicki Steinmetz Nelson oversees and coordinates spiritual guidance at the Siena Retreat Center, including individual and group spiritual guidance, supervision for spiritual guides, the Spiritual Guidance Training Program, summer directed retreats, and other emerging programs. She has a MA in Theology from the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, CA and a MA in Clinical Psychology from Cardinal Stritch University in Milwaukee, WI. You’ll often find Nicki with her nose in a book or deep in conversation about spirituality, psychology, social analysis, or how all of those converge in the experience of parenting. She loves spending time with her family in the kitchen, on the trail, or playing board games.
Vicky Curtiss leads retreats and programs, offers spiritual guidance for individuals, and collaboratively oversees and prepares for the annual retreat and program offerings sponsored by the Siena Retreat Center. She has an M. Div. from McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago and served the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) for forty years as an ordained clergyperson in the roles of pastor, spiritual director, and presbytery executive. She has also been director of three non-profits with mission outreach. Vicky loves reading, quilting, watching films, being in nature, and engaging in anti-racism work.
Christine Houdek joins the Siena Retreat Center team as Business Manager. Christine has spent 32 years in the healthcare field as a Certified Surgical Technologist, Medical Office Assistant and Patient Customer Service Associate. Her healthcare/patient customer service career has allowed her to build relationships with the people in the Racine community while assisting them with their healthcare needs. She grew up in Northern Ohio and has called Racine home since 1974…She enjoys baking, crafting, and spending time with her two grandchildren. She has touched many lives in the physical healing world and has now chosen to assist with touching lives in the spiritual healing world as well.
Nikki Madisen schedules groups and private retreats. She is a Racine native whose connection with the Siena Center began while attending retreats through St. Catherine’s High School and continued as she volunteered in the dining room. Nikki draws administrative coordinating experience from many years working with a local Montessori School. In her free time, Nikki enjoys participating in local craft fairs and spending time outdoors.
Susan Arvai receives and accurately enters retreat registrations and donation information. Susan is from Racine and has experience in finance and legal trust and estate planning. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Management from Alverno College in Milwaukee. Susan enjoys art fairs, craft fairs and estate sales in her spare time.
Carmen Doubek enjoys the peace and tranquility of the Siena Retreat Center and loves to keep it clean and pretty. She took classes at Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design for several years but has been drawing and painting most of her life.
Board of Directors
Beatrice Eichten, OSF
Wayne J. Marik


This topic has been on my mind since the hashtag first appeared, ever so long ago. I wrote this piece for my church newspaper and it was received well, so I thought I’d try it out here. A bit different fare, but I do hope you enjoy.
“Blessed” is one of those great Christian words that has caught on with society. You’ll see it all over social media, and it pops up often in conversation.
“It’s a sunny day and I’m outside to enjoy it! #Blessed”
“No traffic today. #Blessed”
“Test results came back negative. #Blessed”
But it does cause you to wonder, in those moments of pain and suffering, when the day is not full of sunshine, when you’ve gotten bad news, when you’ve surpassed your last straw, are you still blessed?
A friend of mine has been in the midst of a horrific ordeal over the past month. It’s the kind of experience that can make you angry, bitter, disillusioned — mostly when it comes to your relationship with God and how you feel your life ought to go.
But my friend is one of those thoughtful types, and from the beginning he had what I would consider a motto. “There’s nothing good about this, but I wouldn’t trade this experience for anything.”
He knew that he didn’t have to enjoy this trial. He didn’t have to be happy that it was happening, but he also knew that this experience had woken him up to a wealth of God’s love that he’d never before been able to witness. He understood he was blessed.
He knew it despite all the bad news, all the pain, all the suffering, all the confusion, and even through those dark moments when the fear and anger can be overwhelming. In those moments there doesn’t seem to be any blessings in sight.
That’s the real trick to blessings, I think. Blessings can be found in the moment, but more often than not we find blessings at the end of long, hard, scary roads.
Sometimes those roads seem never ending and we lose a bit of faith and hope. But it’s been my experience that often the harder I have to look for a blessing the more I treasure it.
We are children of a loving father. He is a God that loves to richly bless. It’s important that we never lose sight of his love for us and that we’re able to remember, despite the worst, “there may be nothing good about this, but I wouldn’t trade this experience for anything.”
Let us look for God’s blessings, for they are found in all parts of life.
2 thoughts on “#Blessed”
#Blessed to know you. 😉
Much ditto. 🙂