It has been thirteen months since we welcomed Annalise, our sweet redemption(rainbow) baby into this world. I’m still stumbling over how to put into words and share the story of her birth. It’s not because I have regrets. It isn’t because it didn’t go the way I wanted. It isn’t because it wasn’t beautiful and exciting.
It’s because it’s hard.
Her birth story tells as much about me and the growth God is calling me to, as it does her physical entry into our lives. Her story began to be written long before I ever knew she would be my child. Yes, God knew her from eternity past.
Annalise was my first hospital birth after my involvement in the natural birth community. She was born on the ninth anniversary of my first of four homebirths. After two healthy, uncomplicated pregnancies and hospital births I was lured into the belief that ‘natural’ ought to be ‘preferred and pursued‘. I believed that less intervention meant more safety.
For over seven years I had looked down on the medical community and their intrusive hands on what “is a natural process.” I had healthy pregnancies. I had no complications. I didn’t need interventions.
…until I gave birth to a baby who needed EVERY life-saving intervention and did not receive them on time because of my choice to be outside the safety, wisdom, and knowledge available within a hospital.
Annalise is my baby born after homebirth loss.
I look back now with humbled shame for how prideful I had become and how close to idolatry I’d gotten to natural childbirth.
I had fooled myself into the comfort that only privilege affords.
Although I will forever grieve Miranda, the daughter I had to return to Jesus’ arms, I give thanks for how He is daily changing my heart and turning it back to Him. He has allowed my loss to open my eyes to hurt that I was blind to before.
When I am witness to talk of needs in countries less fortunate than ours, my heart is immediately pricked for the mothers in those impoverished lands. They desire to have even a fraction of the medical care that is available to us. To give birth with educated and medically trained professionals, in hospitals where life-saving interventions are available. They need access to vaccinations that save them from having to watch their children die from diseases that we have the ability to prevent. We’ve been blessed in this country to have medical advances that save lives of babies that used to be carried with the promise of death before or shortly after entering this world. We have diagnostic tools available to prepare us to welcome these babies with the interventions and surgeries they need, to give them a fighting chance at LIFE.
No, not every baby can be saved. But shouldn’t every baby have the chance?
As a mom forever changed by loss, I so desire that no other mom would come to know this pain. I know that not every life will be saved, but I believe that God has given us a gift through medicine and that it is a gift that should be shared. No one should have to suffer preventable loss.


The small church of St John the Evangelist [NY 069 390] in the village of Crosscanonby near Allonby is among the earliest Christian sites in Cumbria.
Its most remarkable feature is a complete Roman arch in the chancel thought to have been been ‘borrowed’ from Roman Maryport.
St John the Evangelist is around three miles from Alauna, a castrum or fort on a bluff just north of the modern town.
It is thought that the grand structure originally formed one of the entrances to the commandant's quarters. A pair of niches in the arch are original and would have held statues of the gods, or perhaps of the emperor.
A Roman altar was unearthed in the churchyard, carved with a dedication to Acilianus, prefect of the 1st Cohort of the Dalmations, who served at Maryport.
The church also stands less than a mile from Roman Milefortlet 21, one of a number of small forts along the Solway Coast section of the Hadrianic frontier.
Two former Roman roads pass nearby including the road from Alauna to Papcastle (Derventio), and from Maryport to Carlisle (Luguvalium). Historic maps also indicate the likely presence of a Roman Road hugging the coast – roughly following the line of the present B5300.
It is thought that there has been a church on the site at least from the turn of the ninth century, incorporating Roman masonry. However, a late Victorian vicar, Rev WJ Marsh, wrote that the Celtic saint St Kentigern (known affectionately aa Mungo) may have visited Crosscanonby in around 600 AD. If true, this may indicate the church is very early indeed. The presence of Roman infrastructure - and the fact that St Ninian's Whithorn is just over the water in Dumfries and Galloway - would certainly lend credence to this theory.
The present building dates from AD 1130, with the south aisle added in the thirteenth century. It was restored in 1880, during which several sculptured stones were found built into the fabric of the church.
Close to the entrance of the Church is a tenth century 'Viking' hogback stone.
Images © John Connell, and used with permission.


Looking forward with hope to Christmas 2020
Bishop Martin Hayes brings the people of the Diocese of Kilmore his special Christmas message:
Many thanks to the Editor for the invitation to reflect upon Christmas 2020 as I begin my ministry in Kilmore Diocese and take up residence in Cullies, Co Cavan. There is uncertainty as we move towards Christmas this year due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. My searching for a deeper meaning to what we are going through will focus upon the story of Christmas; the birth of God among us as the helpless vulnerable Baby Jesus. What is the significance of the celebration of the birthday of Jesus for each one of us this Christmas? I believe that we must remain positive and account for the hope that is within each one of us.
The year 2020, of course, has been like no other in my lifetime. We have had to change our routines dramatically. Our reality now is that, intermittently, we are facing the loss of work or business, with a consequent reduction in income, as well as a lack of social interaction and participation in our communities. This has affected our involvement in clubs, sports, participation at Mass and the Sacraments.
Thankfully, schools have been a refuge for our children; while all of us have had, in the main, to confine ourselves to within a short distance of home. Indeed, our lives have come to revolve almost totally around home. This means that our familial relationships have taken on a new importance. Our relationships at home, which, in being tried and tested (indeed, sometimes to the limit), can be both sustaining and nourishing. Though, sadly, in some cases, as the statistics reveal, they can also be the cause of stress. There has been an increase in domestic abuse and violence over the period of the pandemic. Our hearts go out to all those affected and feeling imprisoned at home.
As we approach Christmas, we are conscious of all those isolated in hospital and nursing homes who have not had physical contact with their families and friends. We are grateful for all our health care workers, in particular, those who will be working over the Christmas period. As we journey through November, our thoughts and prayers are with those who have died. All who are bereaved will feel their loss, especially, at Christmas.
Christmas for me, has always been about getting home and having everyone home from wherever they are in the world. Perhaps, it is about re-living childhood memories of waking up to what Santa brought - be it a battery-operated car or helicopter, a colouring book, a table-tennis set – just being wrapped up in the joy and freedom of play, coupled with the extras of some boxes of sweets, the turkey dinner and more sweets. These expectations in adulthood reflect the genuine efforts of families to make Christmas special for children. As adults, we yearn for that intimacy of being at home again.
What of Christmas 2020? Everything has been disrupted and much has been taken from us. Our new awareness of what are considered essential services has had us focus upon what we now regard as essential. We are now alert to the importance of our health and that of those who are close to us. We are preparing for Christmas, hoping to gather with family and friends, while relying upon the possibility of international flights and availability of testing for COVID-19. We may have to prepare for Christmas relying on online shopping and we will always be dependent on the ongoing vigilance of each other to limit the spread of the virus. What is it that is essential for Christmas?
We have been afforded a time for reflection to come to a realisation as to what is essential, as to what are our priorities. We will continue to have our expectations of Christmas; expectations of harmony and peace, of play and of that ‘joy in the moment’ as the gift of our childhood. Of course, if we cannot re-live such memories, there will be disappointment and perhaps tensions. The challenge for all of us as a community is to support each other lovingly, perhaps at a distance, so that each one of us can come home to ourselves and be at peace.
Over the past 10 months, we have learned to manage without! We have had to reflect on life, on what is most important; life itself, family, friends, neighbours, health, on being at home.
Where is home? As a new arrival, here in Kilmore and Cavan, I am still settling-in. I don’t know if I will go home to Tipperary or be at home here in Cullies. Does it matter? These restrictions have given me time to reflect, go deeper into what is really essential for life and taught me to be prepared to be at home; at home with myself, wherever I am located for Christmas! Where is home? I believe it is where I am at peace with myself and with others.
We have been through darkness over the past year and we are hoping for light, that hope that is within each one of us. The Old Testament prophet Isaiah provides a focus on Christmas for us:
“The people that walked in darkness has seen a great light; on those who live in a land of deep shadow a light has shone.”
I believe that is our light of hope, the promise of the birth of Emmanuel, the Hebrew word meaning ‘God-is-with-us’.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we have become more aware of our vulnerability.
Indeed, we have been rendered helpless and left feeling uncertain about the future albeit with the news, in recent days, around favourable progress with the development of a vaccine.
We do know for certain that God came among us as the little vulnerable, helpless baby – it is central to our celebration of Christmas. ‘God-is-with-us’ in our disorientation; in our facing this pandemic. God is with us in our suffering; that same little Baby Jesus matured into the adult Jesus to embrace our frail humanity totally, as revealed in the Cross. It is ironic that Jesus died on the Cross due to asphyxiation and respiratory problems.
We can look to the Cross to see the reality of our own pain being held and carried. We are sustained by Jesus who trusted in God.
In doing so, He came to new life. Jesus is with us, to carry us through.
We need not be afraid, only trust in the one who has been through it all – He is our light of hope.
May we journey together in the reality of that light.
May the peace that is truly Christmas be with you.


If you're having trouble deciding on a message to write in your Christmas gift card, here are some ideas to get you started.
Seasons Greetings and Best Wishes for the New Year
Best Wishes for Christmas and the New Year
Wishing you every happiness this Christmas and throughout the coming year
Merry Christmas and Best Wishes for a Happy New Year
The gift of love…the gift of happiness. May these be yours this Christmas
Wishing you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year


My beautiful friend Brooke, of the blog Charity Girl Problems, gave me one bracelet with two words on it, “Faith” and “Love.”
It’s part of The MyIntent Project, which is not a jewelry line, but more a catalyst for meaningful conversations and positive energy. You choose your word, or words — What inspires you. What you want more of. What encourages you to keep going– and you put it on a bracelet or necklace. When you wear your word, it reminds you to focus your intent, and allows others a glimpse into the things you value most.
Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1
L O V E :
If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Love never fails. 1 Corinthians 13: 1-8
These 2 words I proudly wear as My Intent.
What’s your word?


Discipleship training program is a practical way to experience the teaching of the Bible. You will need to learn to be a team member, as well as a team leader.
The Bible says, disciples need to be in unity. Sailing a boat is all about teamwork, and it creates unity. On the other hand, disciples need to become a leader, who are willing for follow the Holy Spirit. You will learn to take charge of a sailing vessel, and take the team to the destination.
It is a challenging and rewarding experience to learn to be a disciple in a sailing expedition.
- Learn to sail a boat
- Work with your team
- Be a team leader of the sailing crews
- Take care of each others
- Navigate the boat
- Transfer the learning from sailing a boat, into navigating your life
- You may go ashore to explore isolated island if time and weather are permitted.
We hope you can:
- Build a close and solid relationship with your fellowship
- Have new insight of being a leader
- Find your path in Christ
- 1 day – 3 days


With the end of year exams completed, the Rector's Gita always provides a time to relax and wind down. For the first time this year, on 9th and 10th of June, the Gita took in an overnight stay near the Church of Santa Maria degli Angeli in Assisi. This extended visit was to mark in a special way the contribution which the FMDM Sisters have made to the life of the Beda during their 62 years here. The photographs which can be accessed here show various events during a wonderful two day visit. An 8 minute video of the visit is available on Facebook.
On a very hot June 2nd, the National Holiday for Republic Day in Italy, Deacon Philip Bua travelled on his bike to many of the sights of Rome. Philip is due to be ordained for the Diocese of Argyle and the Isles on 21st June so this day was a last chance to visit some of the places which have become familiar to him in his four years as a Beda student. How many of the sights you can recognise from the photos he took? Click here for the photos.
The joyful celebrations of Bede's Day were tinged with sadness this year as the FMDM Sisters, after 60 years of service in the college, leave for the final time in the summer. Their Community Leader, Sr Jane Bertelson joined us for the day, as did two former Rectors, Mgr Brian Dazeley and Mgr Rod Strange. Sincere thanks and appreciation were given for the wonderful contribution the FMDM Community has made to the students and to the college over those many years. Click here for photos
At Evening Mass on Wednesday 18th May, three members of first year received the Ministry of Lector and eight members of second year received the Ministry of Acolyte. A celebration meal for the college and guests took place afterwards. The Ministry of Acolyte was delayed this year due to Covid so both Ministries took place on the same day. Congratulations to all who received these Ministries. Ad Multos Annos. Click here for the photos.
This year, Fourth Year went to Rocca di Papa for their weekend away. This took place in a retreat house which the Beda hasn't used for several years. Our previous visit was for a retreat in February and at nearler 700 metres above sea level it is a cold place in February. But in May it was a different story and everyone enjoyed the visit, the retreat house and the environment. Click to see photos of the visit.
Holy Week at the Beda was successfully concluded last night at a prayerful Easter Vigil. The ceremonies of the Triduum were able to take place this year for the first time in three years. Over a glass of Prosecco and some Easter chocolate, the Rector congratulated and thanked everyone for all that had been done over the past few weeks in so many areas of college life. As we begin the Easter break, we wish all our relations, friends and supporters a very happy and blessed Easter. Click here for all the photos.
After two years of curtailed Holy Week ceremonies, it was good to begin this year with the blessing of palms and procession from the garden to chapel for the Palm Sunday Mass. Although the sun shone brightly, a strong northerly breeze kept the temperatures down. Earlier in the weekend Fr Peter had led a few hours of Recollection for the community to prepare in a prayerful way for the week. Click here for photos of the blessing of palms and the procession from the garden to the chapel.
As is traditional, the Beda played a major role in the Station Mass in St Paul's at 7.00am on the Wednesday of the 4th Week of Lent. This year, Cardinal Vincent Nichols of Westminster was the principle celebrant and Archbishop Malcolm McMahon of Liverpool preached - both are staying in the College this week. The Beda provided refreshments afterwards in the Monastery cafeteria - the college refectory being too small to accommodate large numbers in these Covid times.
A Mass to give thanks for 40 years of full diplomatic relations between the UK Government and the Holy See was celebrated this morning in St Paul's Basilica by Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Parolin. The Mass was served by Beda students and the college choir joined the monks of San Paolo to provide the choir. A reception for all present was held afterwards in the monastery cloisters. Many thanks to all for being a real credit to the Beda at this important diplomatic event.
The tradition of inviting the other colleges to the Beda for mid-Lent Sunday, had to be suspended for two years due to Covid restrictions. As the restrictions decrease this year, we started up again by inviting the Scots and Irish Colleges to share a 'Lent Oasis' meal with us. After two years of restrictions, it was great to get together again to share our common concerns and friendship. Thanks to all who contributed to this wonderful occasion.
A discernment weekend for men between the ages of 30 and 55 will take place 2 to 4 September 2022. Organised by the Beda and held at St Beuno’s in north Wales, the weekend is to encourage men who may feel a calling to priestly vocation later in life to take the next step of their journey. All friends of the Beda are kindly asked to promote this to anyone who may be interested and through parish newsletters and notices. Further details by clicking here.
Fr Louis Rieunier from Plymouth Diocese has been appointed as spiritual director at the Beda from the summer. He replaces Fr Peter who is returning to active retirement in his diocese of Lancaster after eleven years at the Beda. The announcement was made in Plymouth Diocese this morning. Fr Louis said: "I am happily looking forward to returning to the Beda, where I undertook my own formation to the priesthood, and taking-up my new appointment." We keep Louis in our prayers as he makes his preparation.
After the February break, the Second Semester began with the annual retreats. This year Third and Fourth Years went to Bagnoregio from 14th to 22nd February for their pre-Ordination Canonical Retreat which was given by Mgr Pat Kilgarriff. First and Second Years went to the Divine Word Centre in Nemi from 14th to 20th February for a preached retreat given this year by Fr David Glenday MCCJ (Comboni Missionary).
In 2019, Pope Francis directed that the 3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time every year should be a day of “Celebration, study and dissemination of the Word of God". He asked that all communities should mark this Sunday with solemnity and that Word of God be 'enthroned'. In the Beda we ‘enthroned’ the Bible in front of the altar throughout the day and reflected on how we value and pray with the Scriptures. Pope Francis' Motu Proprio, Aperuit Illis, is available on the Vatican website.
The eleven students in Third Year were admitted as Candidates yesterday evening at a Mass presided over by Cardinal Piat, Archbishop of Port Louis in Mauritius. A lovely celebration meal followed the Mass. Grateful thanks to Cardinal Piat for his presence with us. and to all the students and personale who helped make this a special occasion. Congratulations also to the eleven students at this important point on their vocational journey. Click here for photos.
Our Advent prayer began at first Vespers yesterday (Saturday) with the blessing of the Advent wreath and the lighting of the first Advent candle. Over the weekend we have been led in a prayerful time of recollection by Fr Jim Walls, spiritual director at the Scots College. His talks guided us towards the formation of a priestly heart and to the movement in priesthood from hero to servant to mystic. A wonderful start to set us on our Advent journey.
About 30 Jubilarians from the Dioceses of England and Wales came for lunch at the Beda today. Ordained, 40, 50 and 60 years they are celebrating their anniversaries this year. Last year the visit was not possible because of Covid but it was good to welcome the group again today for a wonderful meal and memorable conversations. Ad Multos Annos and grateful thanks for their many years of service to all of them. Click here for a few photos.
On Saturday 20th November, a team of students from the Beda College took part in the annual Ragheed Ganni five-a-side football competition hosted as always by the Pontifical Irish College for teams from colleges in Rome. In spite of disappointing results, a good time was had by all, before, during and after the competition, including a traditional Irish stew provided by the college, and a reviving gelato on the way home. For photos (click here).
Following a Plenary Staff Meeting attended by external professors, the academic achievements of our students in the past year were acknowledged and celebrated during Sunday Mass. Five students, now deacons, who received Bachelor of Theology degrees were congratulated in person. The eight students ordained in the summer were also congratulated by name for achieving the Theological Diploma.
On a beautiful sunny autumn day twenty nine members of the college, staff and students, travelled to the Benedictine Monasteries of Sacro Speco and St Scholastica in Subiaco. An excellent guided tour in both monasteries described the history, art work, significance and spirituality of the place we were in. An informative and enjoyable day was had by all. Click here to see all the photos.


The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd is an approach to the religious formation of children, 3-12 years of age. It originated in 1954 with the founding of the children’s center or “atrium” in Rome by Sofia Cavalletti, a biblical scholar, and Gianna Gobbi, an educator of children and teachers. Inspired by Montessori principles of education, the catechesis is based on the conviction that God and the child are already in relationship.
The goal of Level One (ages 3-6) of The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd is to help the child enjoy and be in love with God, first proclaimed as Jesus, the Good Shepherd. Such a relationship is the strongest possible foundation for life-long spiritual growth and moral living.
Children hear the Gospel by working with sensorially rich, but simple materials, keyed to scriptural or liturgical moments. Central to this program is the Atrium, a sacred space prepared for the children. A place of beauty, the atrium is designed for being with and enjoying God, listening to God’s Word, and praying.
Implementation of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd requires training for adults at each level or age group: Level One focuses on children ages 3-6. The training course features 90 hours of lectures, participation in discussions, lesson presentations, and assistance with preparing materials and the catechist’s album.
St. Mary Parish is grateful for the presence of
Sr. Nancy Ayotte IHM, a catechist of Catechesis of the
Good Shepherd. A catechist is one who shares the
Gospel by personal witness and by teaching the doctrines
of the Church. Sr. Nancy comes to us with having
served many years in this role. The donation of
her time, talent and treasures is a gift to our parish
as we continue to offer this pre-school faith formation
opportunity.She meets regularly with
the children in grades K-3 from St. Mary Grade
Sr. Nancy Ayotte is a member of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary of Monroe, Michigan. She holds a M.Div. and a M.R.E. Sr. Nancy has been involved with religious education on all levels since 1965 and is in her thirteenth year as a catechist of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd. She is trained in all three levels by those who studied under Sofia Cavalletti and is a recognized formation leader from the National Office of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (www.cgsusa.org). She has given courses in the Saginaw diocese, Detroit, South Africa and was instrumental in establishing over 30 Atriums. For further information:
Sr. Nancy Ayotte IHM (734) 240-8234 or email@example.com


On March 22 and 23, the Irish Festival will once again return to Richmond at North 25th and East Broad Streets. Many are familiar with the lively sounds of bagpipes, Celtic vendors, live bands, Irish dancing, and festive beverages that surround the streets of Church Hill for the festival each year. The spirit of the festival started in the 1980's to assist St. Patrick's Catholic Church, which was built in 1859, and serves the thriving Irish community of Richmond's Church Hill, Rockett's Landing, Fulton, and Varina areas. The Church was connected to the Daughters of Charity, a religious order that educated the children of this area until just a few years ago when St. Patrick's school closed. For many years, St. Patrick's hosted weekly feeding programs for those in need, and the Irish Festival helped the Church to continue this mission. Throughout the years, the Festival has also helped to restore the historic church to its original beauty. The Irish Festival has donated over $400,000 to charitable, educational, and religious groups in the Richmond community. The Festival is yet another Richmond tradition that should not be missed!


When my anxious thoughts multiply within me, Your consolations delight my soul. Ps 94:19
I woke up this morning overwhelmed. The cares of my heart were many. Anxious thoughts seemed to be multiplying exponentially. That quickly spiraled downward into a feeling of being completely overwhelmed. then I got out of bed. and it all got worse.
yup, its been one of those days. more than I can handle. more than I CARE to handle. Thanks to all of those of you who have been praying for me today.
Work has been chaos. My mind is overwhelmed knowing that I’m moving tonight to a new apartment and i’m not ready for it. I”m discouraged because I want to be losing weight faster. I want relationships to be easy. Some days its so hard to just keep fighting and pushing onward in this race we call the Christian life. Today is one of those days. One foot in front of the other… one step at a time. And even that seems almost too much to bear.
I’m grateful that in my weakness, I can look to my Rock who never changes, no matter what storms prevail. He’s bigger than confusion. He’s bigger than my pain. He’s bigger than my brokenness.
Thanks to Jessica for passing along this quote earlier today… it was very helpful to my anxious soul…
So he supplies perfectly measured grace to meet the needs of the godly. For daily needs there is daily grace; for sudden needs, sudden grace; for overwhelming need, overwhelming grace. God’s grace has given wonderfully, but not wastefully; freely but not foolishly; bountifully but not blindly. -John Blanchard


Hey guys –
Sorry, it’s been a while. Turns out being a full time wife/mom/sales diva takes, well, a lot of time. Sometimes, though, you have something you can’t not talk about, aaaaand your baby falls asleep for three hours, so you get to write.
Lately I’ve had a few words rolling around in my head, and I’ve been trying to sort out how they fit together. The words I’ve been thinking about are mission, method and calling.
I’ve been listening to a lot of podcasts lately on how to simplify, be more organized, and basically win at being a wife and mom. Now, I don’t think you would think this of me, but let me be real clear. These mom bosses/mompreneurs are great, and I’m not trying to bash on them. The ones I listen to, at least, love Jesus and really want to help women uncomplicate their lives, de-stress their routines and dial in their budgets. They usually have some kind of system or class or series of steps to follow if you want to achieve the desired outcome… *cue harp music*
You will have your house spick and span, your command center set up, and your meals planned for a month. Your children will always have matching socks, your husband will be happy that you (finally) dusted, and your boss won’t be flustered that you forgot to ask off work to drive the swim team carpool. You will own a planner that will automatically send birthday/anniversary/congratulations-on-your-new-pet-poodle cards. Your capsule wardrobe will be full of white/black/navy/greige with the appropriate amount of floral and/or graphic print scarves and earrings. You will finally find time to work out and drink 8 glasses of water (plus a protein smoothie with kale and beet juice!) because, well, your planner says you have time.
You will be organized.
You children will be the envy of all the other moms.
Your marriage will be easy and hot.
Your friends will think you are the best friend ever (because the poodle card).
You will be wearing the right thing, and skinnier too, glowing even.
And you will be SO happy.
Now, the Good Lord knows I need help organizing, and I will be the first to tell you my husband appreciates a clean house. And yeah, you should drink all the water (but not too much, because a chick did that on a radio contest once, and it didn’t end well).
Sometimes when I listen to these really amazing women, I forget to listen to ME. My crooked heart has this talent of taking what is good and twisting it. I get caught up in – well, guess I’d better go to Target and get some new leggings to neutralize my wardrobe. (Sorry, not sorry my wardrobe is full of citron, scarlet and tangerine!) Guess I’d better never eat bread again. Guess I’d better redo all my closets so they’re filled with matching burlap bins. Guess I want to be some glam-o Insta miracle, so I’d better figure out how to care about lip stain. I start trying to forge a calling and a mission out of a method. I turn the means into the end. I start admiring the frame of the Mona Lisa. I set up camp before I even get to Yosemite. (Get it? Ok, ok, I’m done.)
Let me try to untangle in a few paragraphs what has taken me all week to put words to.
God calls us to join in on His mission, and He equips us with a variety of methods to do so.
The mission is the big plan, God’s story of how He made #allthethings, and then we wrecked them, and then His long plan of restoring them through Jesus and the continued joining in of people on the mission. The churchy word for this is the “Gospel” aka the true story of the whole world and the good news of how the story turns out.
That’s the mission – all the stuff that God has been doing and is doing and will do until He’s done restoring things to how they should be. The way that people get to jump into the mission and take part in God’s work is through their calling. I’m not talking about some super technical official complicated moment with angels and a scroll, I just mean what you do where you are with what you have. Pretty basic. (For more on this, check out the book The Call, by Os Guinness)
You’ll notice, we aren’t called to have perfectly organized laundry rooms. We aren’t called to the konmari method. We aren’t called to organic paleo crockpot WholeThirty meal planning. We aren’t called to out-control-freak each other (because don’t we love control?). At the end of time as we know it, when God calls us to account for our lives, what exactly do you think He’s going to ask about? It’s kind of sobering, really, to think about that actual moment. I don’t know exactly what it’s going to be like, but I know this – we aren’t going to be accountable for how many Instagram followers we had. We aren’t going to be accountable for whether we always ate “clean” or not. We aren’t going to be accountable for having the most beautiful planner or checked off to-do list or creative soccer team snacks.
Did you love your neighbor. Did you honor Me above all else. Did you give generously. Did you help where you could. Did you take care of what I gave you to take care of. And these, not as a means of salvation, but as a measure of the power of grace in us. Christ in us. Come follow Me.
So what in the world does grace and Christ in us have to do with cleaning systems and freezer meals?? Well, even Jesus had to eat. Even Lydia had to go to work. Peter had in laws. Just because we care deeply about the spiritual doesn’t mean we don’t care deeply about the physical #gnosticismprobs #worldviewstuff. In fact, the way we jump in on God’s mission is often VERY physical, which brings us to the idea of method.
God’s restoration of relationships (to Him, to others, to ourselves, and even to naturrrrre) is weird. If I were Him, I would have just said, OK, POOF, NOW EVERYTHING IS RESTORED! But I’m not God, and we’re should all be very glad. The way God restores things is by the power of the finished work of Jesus and the continued work of the Spirit. But what that LOOKS LIKE is PEOPLE DOING STUFF. All kinds of stuff. Their stuff.
Stuff they’ve been called to do. (Career stuff and non-career stuff) Stuff like building amazing safe bridges and giving malaria shots and doing PTSD counseling. Stuff like bringing dinner to new neighbors and talking kids through being chosen last for kickball. Stuff like making bouquets for weddings and writing poetry that makes people cry. Stuff like calling people out when they’re headed the wrong way and telling the truth about the amazing gifts people have just waiting to be developed.
Well, it’s pretty hard to be a good bridge builder if you never eat lunch because you forget to meal plan. You could be the best counselor ever, but your patients are going to suffer if you can’t keep their schedules organized. You might really want to feed the neighborhood, but you can’t afford to bring people dinner if your budget is a jungle. Methods were made to serve your call to the mission, not the reverse. Winning at life management does not matter unless it opens up space for grace to work in you.
So. Use the planner. Put all your salads in mason jars for the week. Encapsulate your wardrobe. Listen to all the podcasts about effective time management. Go for it. There is nothing wrong with having finely tuned methods. I’m working on them in my own life. But remember. The frame is for the Mona Lisa. The road is for Yosemite. The methods are for the mission.


Exciting news for Legendary Vocals!! We are putting together not just one Christmas album, but TWO very special and holiday filled albums!! These two paired together are the perfect gift of the season and are also the most spectacular thing to listen to when starting off your winter morning.
The two albums,All is CalmandAll is Bright are both filled with Christmas cheer, family favorites, and meaningful songs of faith and family.
All is Calm is our sophisticated, quieter, but more sentimental Christmas album that showcases some of the most touching Christmas songs that reflect on the importance of faith and what the holiday season truly means. With songs likeThe First Noel andO Come O Come Emmanuel, this the perfect album to listen to after a touching Christmas Eve spent with those nearest to you.
The album also contains guest appearances from all our favorite Legendary Vocals artists! With groups like BYU Vocal Point and The Hound + The Fox lending their gorgeous voices full of emotion and love, you won’t want to miss out on this album that presents a tremendous amount of joy and passion for the holiday season.
AlongsideAll is Bright, these two albums are designed to be listened to together! We at Legendary Vocals specially curated albums that matched each other in emotional depth, love and family, and focused on how music can bring us together. After a sweet and warmhearted night of family and Christmas cheer, make sure to listen toAll is Bright to continue the celebration of what’s truly meaningful this year.


Experience the power of the Holy Spirit yourself.
We are True Jesus Church in Calgary. We observe the Sabbath and believe in speaking in tongue as the evidence of receiving the Holy Spirit.
|Time:||June 22 - 26, 2022|
|Time:||October 5 - 12, 2022|
|Time:||4:30pm - 7:45pm (MT) on Saturdays
9:00am - 4:30pm (MT) on Sundays
|Location:||Online - Zoom|
Online Sermon Recordings
Come and See!
|232 8a St NE, Calgary, AB T2E 4J1|
|Wednesday||7:50pm to 9pm|
|Friday||7:50pm to 9pm|
|Saturday||10:15am to 10:45am (Morning prayer)|
|10:50am to 12pm (Morning service)|
|1:20pm to 2:30pm (Afternoon service)|


It is ironic that Mother’s Day comes a week after a leak from the Supreme Court of a draft decision to overturn Roe V Wade. This year I don’t want cards, chocolates or flowers on Mother’s Day. I don’t want a white, evangelical, Christian man to tell me what the Bible says. I know what Jesus says. I want a woman’s right to abortion to be upheld. I want a pregnant 12 year-old girl who was raped, to not be forced to give birth. I want women to have a choice about what happens to our bodies. Giving birth does not make me or any woman a Mother. Mothering my son makes me a Mother.
“Those who take seriously the call of Jesus to love our neighbors must ask the Christians whose unyielding abortion obsession imbues our society with such division and rancor: How can you care so deeply about the unborn, yet show so little compassion and concern for the children of God who are already here?”
Excerpt From: Christians Against Christianity by Obery Hendricks Jr.
2 thoughts on “Mothering”
Completely agree! Care is needed throughout the entire life cycle at different times for different people. As a society we can’t seriously believe that once birthed it becomes survival of the fittest or richest or the one with the most friends…. We are so much better than that, I believe and hope.
You nailed it!


5 edition of Baptists Around the World found in the catalog.
Baptists Around the World
Albert W. Wardin
by Broadman & Holman Pub
Written in English
|The Physical Object|
|Number of Pages||474|
Hope sometimes seems small in our world. The actions of the Alliance of Baptists' Active Hope partners around the world are growing hope in amazing ways. Join our partners giving rise to hope and make a gift to the Alliance of Baptists this November. Or join others and give on #GivingTuesday, December 3 when we aim to raise $5, in one day! The Baptists are the largest denomination in the USA. There are significant Baptist communities in India, Myanmar, Brazil, Nigeria, Great Britain, Romania and the Ukraine. But it is a world church, and Baptists witness in many other countries of the world as well.
Baptists around the world have practiced baptism by total immersion. The early Baptists accepted the authority of Scripture and believed in salvation by God’s grace through faith. They believed that a church should be made up only of converted people, that each church is File Size: 3MB. Baptists span the theological spectrum from Calvinist to Arminian, from liberal to conservative to fundamentalist, and are deeply divided into three major parties –mainline ecumenical, conservative evangelical, and separatist fundamental–a division found within the Baptist family around the world.
The Southern Baptist Convention: A Closer Look helps church members better understand the organization, structure, and activity of the SBC. Welcome to the Southern Baptist Convention The Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) is a fellowship of o Baptist churches and another 4, mission churches scattered across the United States and its. NAMB mission personnel/mission corps personnel, SBC annual Book of Reports, HMB funding BGCT Report and Recommendations from the BGCT/HMB Study Committee, SBC CP receipts, SBC annual Book of Reports, SBC members/churches, Wardin, ed., Baptists Around the World,
Paris papers; or Mr. Silas Deanes late intercepted letters, to his brothers, and other intimate friends, in America.
Greenwich Village blues
Travels amongst the great Andes of the equator
A touch of red
Ophthalmic Drug Facts 1994
Economic co-operation agreement between Ireland and the United States of America
Heres Heathcliff, Americas craziest cat!
Breakfast with the Nikolides.
Papers of the NAACP (Black Studies Research Sources)
The women of the South in war times
Government and the Nations resources
Baptists Around the World: A Comprehensive Handbook Hardcover – May 1, by Albert W. Wardin (Editor) out of 5 stars 1 rating. See all formats and editions Hide other formats and editions.
Price New from Used from 5/5(1). A LOOK AT BAPTISTS AROUND THE WORLD Albert W. Wardin, Jr I have just completed editing a book, Baptists Around the World: A comprehensive Handbook published only a couple of weeks ago by Broadman and Holman. I wrote three-fourths of the volume myself, but for the other fourth I had the cooperation of over 45 other contributors who provided.
COVID Resources. Reliable information about the coronavirus (COVID) is available from the World Health Organization (current situation, international travel).Numerous and frequently-updated resource results are available from this ’s WebJunction has pulled together information and resources to assist library staff as they consider how to handle coronavirus.
Compare book prices from overbooksellers. Find Baptists Around the World: A Comprehensive Handbook () by Wardin, Albert W. Baptists around the world [Theodore F Adams] on *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers.
As president of the Baptist World Alliance, Dr Adams traveled widely, visiting many Baptists throughout the world. Through these character sketches of native Baptists from Nigeria.
PROUD SPIRITUAL BAPTISTS around the world has 1, members. please feel free to share your views in this group once it's Godly. A book of prayers prepared by Baptists around the world for the Baptists in Worship Conference in Berlin, Germany ($5) L.
(Tony) Cupit, ed., Stars Lighting up the Sky: Stories of. No matter what you want to know about Baptists--any Baptist group in any country around the world--you'll probably find it in this book. If you don't find it here, you probably won't find it anywhere. This is the most comprehensive collection of information on the Baptist faith ever : Albert W.
Wardin. The B&H Baptist History Collection explores the origins of the Baptist faith and the history of its doctrine. Top scholars at prominent Baptist colleges and seminaries tell the stories of the beginnings, growth, and influence of the Baptist Church in Europe and North America, and discuss the current status of the central doctrines of the Baptist faith—such as strong adherence to the.
Wardin, Albert W., ed. Baptists Around the World. Nashville: Broadman & Holman, Publishers, Brief descriptions, histories, and current status of Baptists in various parts of the world. Baptist History – Primary Source Material Baker, Robert A.
A Baptist Sourcebook, With Particular Reference to Southern Baptists. Nashville: Broadman. The Unity of Brethren Baptists is a member of the European Baptist Federation, the Baptist World Alliance, and the Ecumenical Council of Churches in the Czech Republic. The college or Bible school in Olomouc (founded ) offers a three-year study, focusing on theological activities.
Below you will find the world total of Baptists as calculated by Albert W. Wardin and recorded in his book, Baptists Around the World on page (, Broadman & Holman). WORLD TOTAL - 37, members inchurches Africa - 3,/19, Asia & Oceania - 2,/22, Europe/Eurasia - ,/11, Baptists primarily are a product of the reformation, having taken many of the beliefs of the reformation courageously to their ultimate conclusions (last chapter).
This book is generally considered the standard text for the study of Baptist History/5. Baptist churches around the world will focus worship services this weekend on the biblical demand to stand up for human rights. The Baptist World Alliance, an organization of member bodies representing 45 million Baptists around the globe, sponsors Human Rights Day each year on the weekend nearest the anniversary of the United Nations General Assembly adopting the Universal.
The Baptist Heritage: Four Century of Baptist Witness H. Leon McBeth's 'The Baptist heritage' is a definitive, fresh interpretation of Baptist history. Based on primary source research, the book combines the best features of chronological and topical history to bring alive the story of Baptists around the world.
But, they joined with Baptists around the world who apparently targeted Germany in condemning racial hatred and nationalism while passing a resolution that claimed nationalism could lead to war.
Allen, writing as a church history professor from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary inwrote an article on this entitled, “How Baptists. T his book is a warning about the transformational power of Contemporary Christian Music to transport Bible-believing Baptists into the sphere of the end-time one-world “church.” The author is a musician, preacher, and writer who lived the rock & roll “hippy” lifestyle before conversion and has researched this issue for 40 years.
Baptists Around the World: A Comprehensive Handbook by Albert W Wardin, Jr. (Editor) starting at $ Baptists Around the World: A Comprehensive Handbook has 1 available editions to buy at Half Price Books Marketplace. A brief, narrative survey of the Baptists in North America over the last three and a half centuries, from their roots in Europe to their present manifestations in contemporary America and the world.
The six chapters are organized around five distinctives historically important to Baptists: the Bible, the Church, the ordinances/sacraments, voluntarism, and religious liberty. The Baptist Union of Great Britain is a member of the European Baptist Federation (EBF), which aims ‘to strengthen and draw together Baptists in Europe and the Middle East on the basis of their Christian witness and distinctive convictions, to encourage and inspire them in faith and fellowship and shared responsibility, and to seek in all its endeavours to fulfill the will of Jesus Christ.
Mormonism has become widely spread throughout the United States and around the world. Mormons are often compared to the Baptists for their remarkable similarities in their beliefs about baptism, the atonement, and the Second Coming, which are the teachings of traditional Christianity/10(27).
In one or two Baptists arrived in Savannah with James Oglethorpe, and others soon Baptist centers were formed in the Savannah and Augusta areas. The first Baptist church, Tuckaseeking Seventh-Day (in Effingham County), existed from to about In the first continuing Baptist church, Kiokee, was founded near Appling; twelve years later the first Baptist."With this thought in mind, Dr.
Green soon developed a flag that embodied the three-fold cord which binds together the Baptists around the world. As Baptists, we hold to THE BOOK, the inspired Word of God, as our rule for faith and practice; THE BLOOD by Christ for the remission of sin; and THE BLESSED HOPE of the return of Christ to unite us.


Jesus Christ is the most influential person who has ever lived, whose presence in human history some 2000 years ago has influenced all that has followed.
Peter makes the remarkable claim that our faith in Jesus is 'more precious than gold' – a powerful and multifaceted statement that speaks of our journey with Jesus and in the world.
We love hearing stories of lives transformed by the Gospel – stories of courage, of desperation, of joy, of sacrifice, and most of all stories that bring glory to our Lord Jesus Christ.
Are you new to City on a Hill? We'd love to help you connect! Come along to one of our Sunday services, Newcomer Nights, or join a Community Group.
Want to volunteer at City on a Hill? Countless opportunities exist for anyone to become involved and embrace our vision to further the kingdom of God.
Want to stay in touch with what's happening in the life of City on a Hill? Subscribe to our monthly e-newsletter – City News.


Simbai – Initiatives for a Better Future. Part 1/3
Story by Mandy Glass. Photos Michael Duncalfe (MD), Mathias Glass (MSG), Mandy Glass (MG) and Tony and Lynn Fry (TLF) Simbai
MAF Family - Cares!
Imagine trying to use this crutch on wet cement or wet tiles – the rubber tip guard has worn through with use and
Reconnecting Noru by Air
Mama Bird P2-MFT MAF PNG recently received this letter of appreciation, signed by Vitus and Helen Genai: “MAF –
Mission Aviation Fellowship is an international Christian organisation whose mission is to fly light aircraft and to use other technology to bring help and hope to people in some of the world’s most isolated communities. Every four minutes a MAF plane is taking off or landing somewhere in the world to assist missions, churches, aid and development agencies, and other local groups to transform lives and share the love of God.
MAF has operated in Papua New Guinea continuously since 1951, serving remote communities through aviation. Using three different types of aircraft we are able to overcome the physical barriers that prevent people in Papua New Guinea from having access to healthcare, education, safe water and the Gospel, helping to bring physical and spiritual healing to the isolated people of this country. We serve the local communities, local church groups, missionaries, NGOs, development and relief agencies, and government departments who are working to change the lives of those living in remote areas.
Our vision is to see isolated people physically and spiritually transformed in Christ’s name by sharing God’s love through aviation and technology.
What started off as the dream of a couple of Christian airforce pilots is now a global movement with around 135 aircraft serving in over 26 countries worldwide.
Every four minutes a MAF plane is taking off or landing somewhere in the world to assist missions, churches, aid and development agencies, and other local groups to transform lives and share the love of God.


5 edition of Boys Bible (NIV), The found in the catalog.
|LC Classifications||September 1, 2002|
|The Physical Object|
|Pagination||xvi, 86 p. :|
|Number of Pages||55|
nodata File Size: 6MB.
Etymological and Pronouncing Dictionary of the English Language Including a Very Copious Selection of Scientific Terms for Use in Schools and Colleges and as a Book of General Reference
- Need-to-know biblical stories and people• Another wonderful Bible from Zonderkidz!
Introductions to each book of the Bible• Grossology - Gross and gory stuff in the Bible• - Need-to-know biblical stories and people• Access trustworthy content to Boys Bible (NIV) your ministry through the Lifeway On Demand app.
Customer Reviews: I would rate this as very good for boys to cause them to open a bible and read. You can cancel your Pre-Order any time before the product's publciation date.
The NIV Boys Bible was created specifically for tween boys ages 8 to 12 years and helps them grow into the young men God wants them to be. Hundreds of highlighted verses worth memorizing• I definitely Boys Bible (NIV) this bible, my 13 year old daughter thought it was so cool she kept the soft cover for herself! This is a bible she can grow up with and love until the cover wears off. Check It Out - Interesting or funny facts about Bible times and characters• This is an excellent boys study bible for the boy in your life who is between being a teen and a little kid - a great transition bible for this time.
A buttery soft brown with an orange dotted texture almost surf-board shape on the cover.
Loved by parents for years, this newly redesigned version allows boys to learn amazing new facts, discover inspiring people and stories, and uncover all kinds of stuff they never imagined was in the Bible.
" WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV. Two female bears came out of the woods, and mauled forty-two of those youths. Complete text of the accurate, readable, and clear New International Version NIV translation•
Like the "Faithgirlz" counterpart, the "NIV Boys Bible" is geared for boys, ages 8-13 ish , and filled with devotionals, biblical facts, all in a hardcover case that can take a tumble and yet durable at the same time.
In regards to shipping: The ship method you choose during checkout will be the ship method used once the Pre-Order has released.
And its all decorated with the pink swirls and flowers.


Rota for Forthcoming Church Services 2018
Future Church Service Dates:
25th March 2018- GLS Church service, takes place at 10am, Logierait Church
Services for Holy Week
27th March 2018 Tuesday 19:00 evening service (Logierait)
28th March 2018 Wednesday 19:00 evening service (Strathtay)
29th March 2018 Thursday 18:30 evening service (Aberfeldy)
30th March 2018 Good Friday 19:00 Evening service (Weem)
01st April 2018 Easter Sunday 10:00 Morning service (Strathtay)
Generally coffee and biscuits served after services. All Welcome.
Please note Communion is held at least twice a year, dates to be confirmed.


Community of Christ the Servant
"Welcome to Our
Our Unique Caring
Congregation Is Committed to Serving Others
We ACCEPT Christ as the Living
Word of God.
We ACCEPT Christ's challenge to live according to his
teachings and to follow his example as conscience dictates, acknowledging that
each of us may interpret them differently.
We RESPECT each individual's
religious background and beliefs.
We BELIEVE that the church is the people,
not the building. Gathering as a faith community is more important than the
place we gather.
We GIVE our time and 25 % of our offerings to causes that
support social justice in the spirit of our role as Christ's servants.
WE ENCOURAGE each other to grow in our
individual faith journey to a greater under-standing of Christ's love and
calling to serve humankind.
Christian in spirit and belief.
WE ARE Committed to Serving Others
WE ARE Striving to be a beloved and loving community
Interdenominational in substance and independent in spirit
Respectful of all people
WE ARE Progressive in thought
WE ARE Attentive
WE ARE warm, welcoming
caring and supportive. Please consider joining us in worship and service
WE WELCOME you in the spirit of
worship and service.
OUR MEMBERS come from many different Christian
traditions and our worship draws from many backgrounds, but it is always
comfortable and joyous.
OUR CHOIR is open to anyone who comes early enough
to join the rehearsal.
WE CELEBRATE an open communion on the second and
fourth Sunday of each month. Everyone is welcome to join us at the Lord's
EACH SUNDAY ends with coffee, juice, treats and time to visit with
CHILDREN ARE WELCOME and encouraged to be present and share in
Please contact Pastor Michael Obinger at 262-581-6479
"You may be a kindred spirit and not
A Beloved Community
The Community of Christ the Servant is
an inclusive, affirming congregation, expressed in the context of community,
rather than institution. Because our members come from many different faith
traditions, we encourage individuals to grow in their personal faith journey to
a greater understanding of Christ's love and calling to serve humankind as a
Place and Time of
Sundays 9:30 a.m.
Starin Park Community Building
504 W. Starin Road
Whitewater, WI 53190
"A congregation striving to he the beloved
community + beloved by God + beloved of one"
For More Information write
The Community of Christ the Servant
P.O. Box 322
OR Please contact Pastor Michael Obinger at
262-581-6479 or firstname.lastname@example.org
Located in the Starin
Park Community Building in beautiful Starin Park. (North side of Starin Road
near the intersection of Franklin Street)


Changing Lives Together
Welcome to Breaking The Barrier Ministries.
Empowering this generation to serve, live and give
to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ to nations.
Contact Us Today
We would love to talk to you. It is always exciting to share our passion for the Gospel with others. Use the email form to send us an email…
You can also follow us on facebook & Twitter.
We are a evangelistic centered ministry with a heart to the carry the message and love of Jesus Christ in practical, relevant and life changing ways to the nations. We hope to do so through local, regional and national crusades; the building of schools, orphanages, churches, feeding programs and medical teams. The training equipping organization and mobilization of missionaries and pastors around the world.
Breaking The Barrier Ministries shared UBEM Universidad Biblica y Escuela de Ministerio Rompiendo La Barrera's video.Saturday, April 14th, 2018 at 12:20pm
UBEM Universidad Biblica y Escuela de Ministerio Rompiendo La Barrera
Historia de la iglesia! Segmento de factores que favorecieron la reforma protestante.


This week I’m introducing something a little different here at Led by the Book called the Friday Round Up. This is where I share some of the things I have been learning, and I hope you will find this information helpful. Continue reading “5 Articles That Will Make you See Leadership Differently”
In this last installment of my four-part series on character, I want to talk today about endurance and perseverance. Continue reading “Endurance is Key: How to Persevere when Work is Hard”
In this third installment in my four-part series on character, I will share the truth about humility and why it is so important to leadership.
In this second installment in my four-part series on character, I want to talk about anger and self control. Let’s face it, anger is a problem in the workplace today. Continue reading “Dealing with Anger? A Lesson on Self-Control”
This post on integrity is part one of a four-part series on character. The Bible has much to say on this issue, but one verse from the book of Proverbs stands out: Continue reading “Do You Live a Life of Integrity? An Inside Look.”
If you want to build a team that you can trust, you absolutely need to have accountability. Accountability is the most important ingredient for personal success in life. Continue reading “Four Tips to Create a Highly Effective Team That You Can Trust”


An important part of our church mission is the spreading of the Gospel throughout the world, starting right here in Poughkeepsie, NY. With the funds that our members pledge we support local organizations, such as Dutchess Outreach, summer camp programs through New York State American Baptist Association, participation in Love Inc., and helping to feed the homeless through the Gail Webster Memorial Shelter. In addition, we belong to and support the American Baptist Churches/USA for both national and international Ministries. In particular, we have been following the work of our Christian missionaries in Thailand and they have favored us with personal visits to our church to further report on their discipleship.
Having accepted Jesus Christ through faith as Savior and Lord, and taking His teachings as the rule of our life, we solemnly covenant one with another, as God shall enable us.
To walk together in Christian fellowship and love, to work for the advancement of this church in knowledge, spirituality and service; to sustain its worship, to contribute cheerfully and regularly, according to our means, to the support of the church, the relief of the poor, and the spread of the gospel at home and abroad.
We engage also to cultivate the spirit of brotherly kindness, sociability and sympathy; to be charitable in judgement, friendly in temper, courteous in expression; to be slow to take offense and swift to forgive and to seek reconciliation; to maintain private and family devotion; to be just in our dealings, truthful in speech, upright in action, ready in helpfulness, unselfish and true in our relations to each other and to all men; earnestly striving in character and conduct to be like our Divine Example; the Great Head of the Church.
We moreover engage that when we may remove from this place, we will as soon as possible unite with some other church, where we can carry out the spirit of this covenant.
"And may the God of peace, who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that Great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make us perfect in every good work to do His will, working in us that which is well pleasing in His sight through Jesus Christ: to whom be glory forever and ever." Amen
We're an American Baptist Church, serving the people of Poughkeepsie since 1807. We follow the mission of the American Baptist Church, which is:
"American Baptists are a Christ-centered, biblical grounded, ethnically diverse people called to radical personal discipleship in Christ Jesus. Our commitment to Jesus propels us to nurture authentic relationships with one another; build healthy churches; transform our communities, our nations and our world; engage every member in hands-on ministry; and speak the prophetic word in love.
As a people of prayer, purpose, and passion, we are in the forefront of creating a community of faith where people of every race, nationality and culture gather as one in worship, service and work."


Time & Location
Oct 22, 2023, 6:00 PM PDT – Nov 30, 2023, 6:00 PM PST
About the event
This is a free offering to deepen your relationship with God. No, this isnt from a religious stand point. My intention is to make you realise that praying, manifesting, declarations, etc are all the same thing. Ultimatley this connection to God, also relates to the feminines relation to money and men. How can God help you when it comes to money and partnership? We are diving in deep baby. Get ready to receive insight about the root of it all? If the G word (God) triggers you, I invite you even more as we can begin to work through the spiritual and religious trauma too. Clear out the noise and distraction of this world. Reconnect to the Source.
Pray, Play & Slay$0.00


The Shadowlands is not just a church, it’s an idea, an assembly of believers united around the concept of questioning everything, and answering the tough questions.
The church has lost its way. Gone are the days of the great thinkers being Men of God, instead, we are told to follow man-made traditions, ignore what the Bible says, ignore Jesus, ignore our conscience, stop questioning and follow along.
In theory: The Shadowlands are the place where our minds wander when the big questions go unanswered, where the existential exists, where great wonder turns to deep despair, and faith goes to die. Or where the spirit wanders when darkness of the soul realizes itself. It exists because of the modern church.
In practice: The Shadowlands Ministry exists to help answer those questions. To journey into the shadowlands and bring back those who where cast off by the church. How can we know there is a God? Is Jesus who he says he is? Did Jesus claim to be God? Can the bible be trusted? What about the Old Testament?
We look to answer those questions using the scriptures themselves, textual and historical criticism, reason, and good old logic.
Listen, you suck, I suck, let’s learn together!
Come join us!
Do You Want Answers?
When I was searching for something, I wrote down question after question and tried to answer them as best I could. See, I was looking for anything to give me the go ahead to either leave God completely, or figure this whole thing out. But after finding my way back to the bible and ultimately back to Jesus, I realized the answers to all the questions started coming after I first came to terms with these 7 questions.


In the early 2000s, Jody Jones returned to the U.S. after several years serving as a missionary in Mexico. He desired to plant a vibrant church that made a difference in its community. Frisco, TX stood out among other areas as the fastest growing city in America. Jody, along with his family, met another family in Frisco who shared their vision for planting a church, and in April of 2002, Shawnee Trail Church of Christ began in the living room of the Jones’ home.
Over the next few years, the church grew, and more people in the community came to hear the Gospel. Over time, Shawnee Trail Church met in a rented house, a movie theater, a school, and even a park!
In 2008, Seth McDowell came to Shawnee Trail as Senior Minister. That same year our first church Elders were chosen. Since that time Shawnee Trail has experienced the guidance and providence of God at every turn.
In July of 2015, we moved into our first permanent building on John W. Elliott Drive, and every year since then we have continued to grow and now have over 550 members. In 2018, as a church, we set out to:
- Develop a culture of discipleship within our church.
- Begin planting churches in Collin and Denton Counties.
- Make room for more disciples by developing a facility plan to handle our future growth.
We set out to accomplish these three major goals in three years. Through faith, prayer, planning hard work, and mostly, through the grace and power of God at work, we have made great progress in all three areas.
- We have seen spiritual growth among our members as we’ve seen people reprioritizing their lives to greater commitment and service to God and to others and we’ve seen more people baptized into Christ in the past three years than ever before.
- We planted our first church, the Crossway Church of Christ, in Celina in January of 2022. crosswaycelina.com
- We purchased 4.5 acres behind our current facility to allow for future growth and we are making plans to utilize it for God’s glory.
We still have a lot of work to do. And with God leading the way, we are excited for the future. Today we carry on those first members’ vision of what this church should be, and what God wants us to be – a vibrant church that is growing and reaching people with the saving message of Jesus Christ.


This week at the Christian Students at UCI college meeting, we had a wonderful time together as brothers and sisters. We had very sublime curry with rice and like three different types of salad dressing. It was a time to relax while in the presence of other believers that dropped the burdens of life and stress off one’s shoulders. In the reading we learned about the central thought of God in the Bible. The Bible reveals that the church is the Body of Christ with Christ as the Head of the Body. This is seen in Acts 9:4-5 with the example of Saul who opposed the church and persecuted the Lord followers such as Stephen and others. On Saul’s way to Damascus to persecute Christians, the Lord spoke to Saul and asked, “Saul, why do you persecute Me?” When Saul asked who was speaking, the Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you persecute.” This shows that when Saul persecuted the Christians he was persecuting the Lord’s Body, the church. This shows the relationship between Christ and the church. The example of our physical body depicts it. If you strike someone across the hand, the person would say, “Why did you hit me?”
We are joined to the Lord and He is one with us. It’s an organic relationship in life. We really are His mystical Body!
Join us next week as we continue our fellowship with the Lord!
Categories: College Meetings


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If you would like to purchase any of their products:
( Bow available are: loopy bows, triple Olivia, Monogram Bows, and many more designs. )
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Get into you Hands On Bible:
The INTRODUCTIONS tell what you don't want to miss in the Bible.
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Hands On Bible sends you on a treasure hunt searching for new and exciting stories.
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Hands On Bible has 52 Key verse activities.
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Wow, I have loved using this Bible with our 8 and 5 yr old.
Hands On Bible has allowed to have fun while we
learning about who God is.
Hands On Bible has put the fun into the Bible for our children.
We are currently using this Bible for daily lessons and our History
Co-op. Here is a craft we made from the Hands On Bible:
This craft is on page 11. ( Noah's Ark)
We had our children color the rainbow on a half of a paper plate.
D Man and Haley wrote down what they promised to do:
I will help others, Be good,Keep my promises.
This Bible by far is my favorite Bible.
Hands On Bible has been an experience of fun and truth.
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VERSE OF THE DAY
GOD IS NOT THE AUTHOR OF CONFUSION
February 22, 2015
Previous - Redemption Without Blood
Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 14:33, "For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints." Confusion is from a Greek word meaning, "Instability, a state of disorder, disturbance, confusion" (Thayer). The apostle gives the antithesis of confusion, peace. He gives as an example of that peace, "as in all churches of the saints."
In the immediate context, the Apostle is speaking of the confusion that results from disorganized speaking in tongues and prophesying (1 Corinthians 14:26-33). However, confusion is not appropriate whatever the reason, for "God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints."
The peace that the inspired writer calls for is that peace that he calls for in the opening chapter of this epistle. In 1 Corinthians 1:10 he writes, "Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment." In 1 Corinthians 1:11 he explains the reason for the admonition of the previous verse: "For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you." The word translated, confusion, in 1 Corinthians 14:33, is the same word translated, "confusion," in James 3:16: "For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work." Here, in 1 Corinthians 1:11, Paul says strife (contention) results in, and is the result of, division. He calls upon the brethren to "speak the same thing" and "be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment" (1 Corinthians 1:10), to avoid strife and division. James says such contention results in "confusion and every evil work" (James 3:16).
Jesus voices His desire for His followers to avoid division in His prayer in John 17. He prayed, "That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us..." (John 17:21). He continues by stating the reason for this unity: "that the world may believe that thou hast sent me." Our Lord and Savior calls on us to be united so that the world may believe that the Father had sent Him! The converse would also be true: If there is confusion and division among His followers, the world would not believe on Him!
Today there are many in the world who do not believe in Jesus as God's Son. According to Adherents.com, those who profess Christianity make up only 33% of the world's population, followed by Islam at 21%. According to a 2011 Gallop poll, 78% of adult Americans identify themselves as Christians. Of those polled, 15% of Americans had no religious identity. Why are there so few who profess Christianity in comparison to those who do not? Obviously there are many reasons for this. However, it is certain that a major reason is the fact that there is such division between those who consider themselves Christian (John 17:21).
What is God's attitude toward this division? He is not pleased, "For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace!" (1 Corinthians 14:33). If God is not content with this confusion, should those who profess to be children of the Son be content?
First century Christianity in a twenty-first century world.
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Weekends like these always put me in a spiritual high and I come back feeling refreshed and strong in my faith. I love that. And I'm going to try my hardest not to let this high go. I've really been thinking lately about how far I've come in my faith. I've always loved God and I grew up in the church, but high school was when I really started getting into the nitty gritty of spirituality. But this past year I've had more tests of faith and I've grown more in my faith and I've walked farther in my walk with God than I ever did my entire four years of high school.
And I love what he's done in my life. I give him praise everyday for always being there for me. And I thank him so very much for giving me the opportunity to go to D.Now this past weekend. I made so many new relationships. I grew so close with many people and I'm thankful that God put those people in my life, because Christian fellowship is the next best thing to God's presence.
This past weekend consisted of:
- counseling three amazing girls who are going to flourish in life, even if they don't know it yet
- building relationships with people who I will never ever forget
- reaching out to others and stepping outside my comfort zone to touch their lives
- watching people drink blended up mcdonalds happy meals
- watching "flour power" game (ahaha)
- catching kajobi on film (epic)
- falling in love with worship all over again
I am so thankful for this past weekend and I cannot wait to do it again next year! (:


When we met Ernie……………….
How long has it been since we have known and supported Ernie Mueller and Set Free Ministries? Well……….once he had brown hair and now it is gray, so it’s been a while.
We met Ernie one weekend, about 15 years ago at William Head prison. We were singing and Ernie was preaching. We will never forget.
He introduced himself and encouraged us with our ministry and then told us to keep our eyes on God when we sing. “Sing your praises to Jesus and he will bless the people.”
We know that God ordained our friendship and we have had many special times with Ernie and Judy. They are a package deal!
We continue to support the Set Free Ministry because we see Ernie’s compassion and heart for the men. We see his love for The Lord and his desire to walk in obedience.
Reverend Chris and Diane Riddell


Ludington City Council
Notice of Potential Quorum – Kickoff Celebration Sesquicentennial Event
Emanual Lutheran Church, 501 E Danaher Street
Wednesday, March 22, 2023 at 6 p.m.
A quorum of the Ludington City Council has been invited to attend a Kickoff to its Sesquicentennial Event on Wednesday, March 22, 2023 at 6 p.m. at Emanual Lutheran at 501 E Danaher Street, Ludington, Michigan. A reception will follow in the Fellowship Hall at Emanual Lutheran Church. No deliberations by City Council will be made at this event.
This notice is given to inform the public of the foregoing pursuant to the Open Meetings Act.
Deborah L Luskin, MiPMC
February 19, 2023


Immerse yourself in the uplifting journey of worship and connection at Divi Plus Church. Our sacred space resonates with the echoes of devotion, where hearts unite in reverence and harmony. Through vibrant worship experiences, we elevate our spirits, inviting the divine presence to envelop us and guide our paths.
Beyond the melodies and prayers, our worship serves as a conduit for profound connections. We believe in fostering a sense of belonging, where individuals from all walks of life come together to celebrate faith and build lasting relationships. Join us in this shared journey, where the spirit of worship and connection intertwine, creating an environment of shared purpose, solace, and spiritual growth.


Best online catholic dating sites
Here are some so-called “truths” about men that seem to have hung on for years and years. While some, or even all of them, may be true of some men they are certainly not true of most men or even true of a large minority of men.
Their first meeting occurred about a month after they had started talking, when Jeff paid for Nicole to visit him in Indiana — where he was working in student affairs at the University of Southern Indiana. They married on August 16, 2003, and about a year later they celebrated the birth of their first child. More and more people are going online to find a date or meet the love of their life.
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Start Right. Stay Strong. Finish Well!
Join Bishop Jonathan on this 15-day journey to enjoy an accomplished life!
Excerpt from "Start Right. Stay Strong. Finish Well!"
Read from Day 1, "Commit to Change"
Before you dream or aspire for self-improvement, you must first of all, commit to do it. You won’t change yourself or an area in your life, unless, you make a commitment to change. To commit is to bind yourself to an obligation. So don’t just wish or dream or hope – obligate yourself to change...
Meditations for a Meaningful Christmas
A meditation for every day of December, as we celebrate the Savior's birth
Excerpt from "Meditations for a Meaningful Christmas"
Read from Day 1, "Fullness of Time"
God is the creator and the controller of time. He is the one who gave us the concept of time. Prophet Daniel speaks about God "changing the times and seasons" (Daniel 2:21). Meanwhile, King David wrote in his beautiful song that "all the days ordained for me were written in your book" (Psalm 139:16)...


Francis House is a program of Next Move
Note: In 2016, Francis House Center merged with Next Move to increase our ability to serve our community. Your donation will still go entirely to Francis House programs, but your tax receipt will come from Next Move. Next Move will also appear on your credit card statement.
Francis House, a program of Next Move, is a unique resource and counseling center for the poor supported by businesses, individuals and a variety of congregations. Thank you for helping us provide for those in need in our community!


By Aidan Lewis
The Associated Press
ROME — More than 6,000 extra police, including snipers, bomb-disposal experts and motorcycle escorts, have been deployed to protect the crowds of faithful and world leaders converging on the Vatican to mourn Pope John Paul II.
About 1,500 officers will be assigned to the hundreds of foreign dignitaries, including President Bush, who is scheduled to attend Friday’s funeral.
The Interior Ministry said it has enough armored cars to protect those who need them.
Despite the large number of uniformed police around St. Peter’s Square and in the tourist areas of Rome on Monday, there was no imposing presence of riot squads or police helicopters. If snipers were on rooftops, they were out of view of people in the square.
Though metal detectors are permanently installed around the square and normally used for papal functions, only a few people were scanned with handheld detectors Monday.
But just before John Paul’s body was carried toward St. Peter’s Basilica, police cleared mourners from a large area of the square until his remains were inside the basilica for the public viewing.
Dozens of uniformed police walked with the crowd as people filed past the pontiff’s remains.
Throughout the day, much of the square and the wide boulevard leading up to it were blocked off by metal barricades. Dozens of paramilitary police lingered beyond fences where people waited in line to enter the basilica.
Police quickly stopped a few people who tried to climb over the barriers. On one street, officials in orange jumpsuits linked hands in a human chain to keep people in line.
Security was stepped up last week after the pope’s health began to deteriorate and pilgrims started to arrive in Rome to pray for his recovery.
John Paul II was elected in 1978, the year Italian politician Aldo Moro was kidnapped and assassinated by Red Brigades terrorists. But even then, security remained light at the Vatican.
It was stepped up after Turkish gunman Mehmet Ali Agca fired from a crowd in St. Peter’s Square and wounded John Paul in 1981.
Security was further increased after the worldwide terror alert triggered by the Sept. 11 attacks in the USA. It is especially tight over the Christmas and Easter holidays, when large crowds arrive.
The Vatican security detail numbers 200 people, including the pope’s bodyguards and a special corps from the Italian police.
By Aidan Lewis


Huh. So yesterday, I couldn’t help thinking, “Wow, is ‘Idol’ trying to leverage the ‘giving power’ of the church in picking this song to sing and putting it up on iTunes?”
I wonder what kind of a response they got from the Christian community after last night’s telecast… The Idol contestants resang the song just now with the correct lyrics. Notably, not everyone was singing all of the lyrics.
Funny, I’m not quite sure how I feel about this song choice… Part of me still remembers how angry I would have felt if I were “forced” to sing this while a non-Christian. In my sociology of religion class in college, I participated in a few “religious gatherings” (Presbyterian church service, Baha’i fireside, and college Christian worship night), but I VOLUNTARILY sang those songs as a “participant observer” (a la Erving Goffman, noted sociologist). And even though I voluntarily participated, I still felt very awkward taking part in something I did not support.
As a Christian now, however, (7 years, almost to the day) this IS one of my favorite songs. And… To have this song sung on such a wide-reaching stage…


My friend, when I walked among the people, my life and teachings reflected a deep concern for the poor, the needy, and the suffering. I urged those who follow me to care for the 'least of these,' to give generously, and to show compassion and mercy.
Life is a precious gift, and it is fitting to celebrate it, to enjoy the good things that the world has to offer, and to take time to rest and rejuvenate. These things in themselves are not wrong. However, it becomes a question of the heart and the perspective one carries.
The challenge lies in balance and mindfulness. If your celebrations or vacations become a means of escaping from the world, ignoring the suffering of others, or becoming engrossed in self-indulgence to the neglect of compassion and justice, then it is time to reconsider your actions. It is important to live life fully, but not at the expense of ignoring the pain and need in the world.
Those who follow me are called to love their neighbors as themselves. This love implies a willingness to empathize with others' suffering and to do what you can to alleviate it. The resources you have been given, whether time, talents, or wealth, are not only for your enjoyment but also to be used to make the world a better place, to bring about the Kingdom of God here on earth.
In all things, remember the heart of my message: Love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength, and love your neighbor as yourself. This love should guide your decisions, including how you choose to celebrate and rest.
As always, love each other as I have loved you.


Legends accrued to the rose long before it became overlaid with Christian imagery. According to a Persian legend, the nightingale fell in love with the white rose and flew down to embrace it. But she pierced her breast upon its sharp thorns, and from the drops of blood falling on earth grew the first deep crimson rose.
A similar legend involves Aphrodite stepping on a thorn, and her blood staining a white rose to produce the first red rose. The red petals of blood and suffering were also proper to the slain god Dionysos, and to Adonis. Muslims say the first rose came from the sweat of the Prophet’s brow.
The red rose is not only suffering, but consummation. It contains the pentacle, the five pointed star of Aphrodite and traditionally a magical seal and symbol of the mysterious. If you draw a continuous line from the centre of each petal, in a flattened five petalled rose, to the centre of the second-next petal, you will find you have made a pentacle.
With the high Catholicism of the late Middle Ages, the rose could be martyrdom, suffering, original sin, virginity, purity, beauty, mysticism and heaven itself. The Virgin Mary was the Rose without a Thorn, the Peerless Rose, Rose of Sharon (considered by scholars to be a narcissus, but in imagery a rose), Rose of Jericho, the Mystic Rose as well as the Garden Enclosed. More than a metaphor, the rose became a symbol with interwoven layers of meaning.
In legends of the saints the rose is a link between this world and heaven, miraculously appearing to convert unbelievers. When St. Alban was beheaded, a rose instantly sprang from his spilt blood.
St. Elizabeth of Hungary was married to Ludvig IV of Thuringia, and irritated him by giving baskets of bread to the poor. One day when he saw her Ludvig made her open the basket in order to remonstrate, and the loaves of bread turned to red and white roses.
St. Dorothy of Cappodocia became a martyr during Diocletian’s persecutions. When she was led to execution a lawyer mocked her, asking her to send him flowers and fruit from her heavenly gardens. Miraculously a child appeared with a basket of apples and roses, and the lawyer became a convert.
After St Rose of Lima died, a delegation tried to persuade an unwilling Pope that she should be canonized. Suddenly red and white roses fell in showers, covering the floor of the Vatican, and in due course the pope made Rose patroness of Peru and of all the Americas.
Other legends tell of a maiden about to be martyred, and the burning faggots turning to red roses and the unkindled to white. In these stories the miraculous roses are heavenly manifestations, reminders and harbingers of another world.
The rose’s thorns recall Christ’s crown of thorns, and when the mother of St. Rose of Lima placed a wreath of roses on her head she twisted the stems so the thorns pierced her skin.
Some legends say that before the Fall of Man, the rose was thornless. Thorns were original sin, which is why the Virgin Mary is the Rose without a Thorn. By contrast, St Francis of Assisi when tempted by the devil used thorns as an aid to virtue. He ran from his cell on a winter’s night and flung himself naked into a thicket of brambles, which turned into thornless blooming rose bushes.
Today the church of Sta Maria degli Angeli at Assisi has red roses blossoming outside in May, but they do have thorns. The pagan festal rose, parodied in the crown of thorns, became the flowery Christian halo signifying holiness and peace. Numerous paintings, like the triptych of Richard II and saints in London’s National Gallery, show angels wearing chaplets, coronets of red and white roses.
Arabs brought to Europe the first prayer beads, their origin being India where they have been used for over five thousand years. The chanting of Om or other mantras in eastern traditions achieves a stillness, a detachment from busy thought and a pause from practical concerns, and likewise in the telling of prayer beads, the chanting automatism leads to detachment and meditation.
The rosary, devoted to the Virgin Mary, has 150 small beads and fifteen larger ones, divided into fifteen sets of ten small and one large bead, used to keep count of prayers. (The word ‘bead’ is derived from the Old English bede, meaning ‘prayer’). The first large bead denotes the Pater Noster, Lord’s Prayer, and the small ones an Ave or Hail Mary said ten times, and the next large bead a Gloria, Glory be to God.
Eithne Wilkins in The Rose-Garden Game explains how Christian prayer beads were called rosaries. Since classical times collections of poetry have been called anthologies, anthos meaning a flower and anthologies being ‘poesies’ of writings gathered like flowers. In the Middle Ages a collection of prayers and hymns was often named a ‘Flower Garden’, and ‘Rosarium’ or Rose Garden was another favourite appellation.
During the 14th and 15th centuries the rose, rose bush, rose garden and rose garland were used with explicit reference to the prayer beads. St Catherine of Bologna, a Dominican nun who died in 1463, is said to have composed a rosarium of verses on incidents in the life of the Virgin, to be meditated with each Ave of the beads. The exercise on the beads became officially known as the ‘rosary’, the rose-garden, and by extension the beads themselves, the material adjunct to the exercise, also acquired the name.
Legends give various origins of the rosary, and one says it was devised by St. Dominic, to whom the Virgin presented the first one in a vision. In the village church of Raron, in the Rhone valley, there is a carved polychrome altarpiece in which the Madonna, floating on roses and framed in roses, bestows on St. Dominic a long string of the beads that are considered roses.
The Golden Rose is an ornament made of pure gold and conferred by the Pope on churches and devout monarchs and dignitaries. Henry VIII was awarded Golden Roses by three different popes before his break with Rome. The shining golden flower was Christ in his majesty, and the thorns and red tint told of his passion. In the early days it was a six inch rose the Pope could hold in his hand, but later became a massive rose bush sometimes weighing twenty pounds.
In the Middle Ages the idea of a gold coloured rose must have seemed as illusory as a blue rose now. The yellow Rosa foetida was introduced to Europe from Turkey and Persia in the 16th century when, according to Gerard’s Herbal (1597), it was thought to be a wild rose grafted to broom.
By the 17th century the imagery of the rose became debased and, associated with the mirrors, pipes and bubbles of Dutch Vanitas paintings, it could symbolize all that is trivial and fleeting in this world.
Scent is integral to the rose. The Golden Rose had a central receptacle into which musk and balsam were poured to give it scent. In legends a classic sign of holiness is when a saint’s coffin is opened and instead of the smell of putrefaction, out comes the smell of roses.
From ancient times roses have been placed in tombs and planted beside graves. A wreath of five petalled flowers was discovered in an Egyptian tomb (ca. AD 26) by Sir Flinders Petrie. ‘In the dry desert air,’ he wrote, ‘the wreath’s petals had shriveled, but they still kept their colour, and when placed in warm water, the blossoms seemed to come back to life. Buds swelled, and the pink petals spread, unfolding to reveal the knot of golden threads at the centre just as they must have been on the morning of the funeral. A botanist at Cambridge had little trouble in identifying these flowers as roses, specimens of Rosa richardii (R. sancta), a species already known as the Holy Rose of Abyssinia because at that time it was still a fixture of the Coptic Christian churchyards in that country.’
The Persians saw the rose as a symbol of spiritual attainment and transcendent desire. Rumi, the 13th century Sufi mystic and poet, called the rose a ‘wise loveliness’, a manifestation of the experience of the ‘Eternal Beloved’, and wrote,
‘Like a rose, I smile with all my body, not only with my mouth
For I am — without myself — alone with the King of the World.’
The human condition is grounded in pursuit of the whole, of making sense of the universe we live in. The symmetry of the rose is a universe in microcosm. Like other symmetrical patterns, the lotus in eastern traditions, or the acorn in which Julian of Norwich saw the world, its shape holds containment.
The mandala of overlapping waves of symmetrical petals, leading to golden stamens and then to the central boss of styles, leads us like the pollinating insect inwards to its heart. It then releases us like a charged bee as the petals become widening circles like raindrops on water which could expand to infinity.
In its own form, and in the form of the rose windows of the gothic cathedrals, it becomes an instrument for meditation, inwards for centering contemplation at the still heart and outwards for releasing the spirit beyond immediate confines.
In Notre Dame of Paris, the coloured arrows of the north rose streak out from the central petalled circle like sparks of the universe exploding. In the north rose of Chartres Cathedral the outer sections whirl like planets round the petalled centre.
In Dante’s Paradise heaven is given similes likes the stages of a mountain and the ascending branches of a tree, but at the finish it becomes
‘the gold of the eternal Rose
Whose ranks of petals fragrantly unfold.’
Then, in Canto XXXI, Heaven takes the form of a white rose surrounded by the heavenly host, ‘like bees that in a single motion swarm … descended all at once on that great bloom of precious petals’.
The rose of literary and religious heavens is always at a peak of perfection, but actually most of us find the relentless dynamic of the rose’s unfolding, fading and falling petals integral to its allure. In the midst of this cycle, in our gardens on a still June evening, it becomes heaven and eternity contained in a moment.
This article appeared in the Autumn 2003 issue.


St Peter’s Anglican Cathedral is offering a series of four lecture/discussion sessions on some of the parables of Jesus. The sessions will be led by Dr Philip Davis, retired Professor of Religious Studies at UPEI, and will be held at 7 pm on Tuesdays in February.
Each week Dr Davis will give a detailed introduction to the selected parables, and then after a refreshment break, participants will be invited to share their own insights into the lessons of the parables for today.
Topics will include: “Planting and Harvesting—The Sower, and the Weeds in the Field” (Feb 5); “Losing and Finding—The Lost Sheep, the Lost Coin, and the Prodigal Son” (Feb 12); “Accepting and Rejecting—Parables of the Great Feast” (Feb 19); “Talking and Doing—The Two Sons, and the Sheep and the Goats” (Feb 26).
All are welcome.