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New Bishop Appointed
ARLINGTON, Va. - Pope Francis today appointed Bishop Michael F. Burbidge, 59, to serve as the fourth Bishop of Arlington. Until today, he was serving as Bishop of the Diocese of Raleigh. He succeeds Bishop Paul S. Loverde, 76, who has led the Diocese since 1999.
Virginia Bishops Urge Voters to Form Consciences
Read the bishops’ statement on the election, learn about the positions of the presidential candidates, and take advantage of other Catholic voter resources at www.vacatholic.org
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What a day February the first is. It starts LGBT History Month, it’s Harry Styles’ birthday, and it’s the feast day of St Brigid, the patron saint of beer and brewing. Triple celebration!
Brigid was an Irish nun who ran an abbey in Kildare, amongst others. Along with beer and brewing she’s also the patron saint of Florida, babies, milkmaids, and poets.
Typically in Christianity, pagan feast days were ‘borrowed’ and piggybacked on, because people were celebrating anyway. Imagine it’s your birthday party, and someone shows up in a big ‘It’s My Birthday!’ badge and some balloons and says “Oh my! What a coincidence! Why do we just make it a joint party!” What an arsehole. But anyway, that’s why almost all scholars believe Jesus Christ was born in the summer but we celebrate his birthday coincidentally close to the Pagan festival of Yule. St Brigid, as one of the patron saints of Ireland alongside Patrick and Columba, was afforded a big day of celebration, so the Christians ‘borrowed’ the pagan Spring festival of Imbolc (pronounced Imm-molg).
Brigid may not have actually been a real person seeing as there as striking similarities between her and the Gaelic goddess, er, Brigid. The story goes that she was born into slavery, and whenever the druid slave owners tried to feed her she vomited it all up because they were ‘unclean’. It was chill though because a white cow with red ears showed up and she just fed from that. Totally normal. She did a few miracles as a kid. Once, she gave away all of her mother’s butter to the poor. Oh shit! But then, by a miracle, when she went back to her mum’s butter…cupboard?.. all the butter was back and there was no problem. If it seems like most of St Brigid’s biography was made up by the Dairy Council of Ireland, hold on to your flipping hat because she also did the same to all her dad’s belongings. Just gave them away to the poor. So he took her the local King or whatever and said “This girl just gives other people’s shit away to the poor, do something about it.” While they were talking Brigid took the King;s bejewelled sword and gave that away to the poor too. So she was like Robin Hood only Irish and eleven.
The link with brewing comes from the story that she could turn water into beer. Nowadays we call that brewing, and so she’s the patron saint of brewing. It makes you wonder how happy the other brewers were to be told that a skill they had been practising for quite some time was now a miracle ordained by God. Probably not chuffed seeing as it’s highly likely that Brigid was stealing all their beer and giving it away to the poor. One of my favourite stories is that she was accidentally ordained as a Bishop, because the church official was drunk, making her the first woman Bishop in history.
Biddy’s Day is still celebrated in Ireland, with groups going from pub to pub. Excellent suggestion.


Blasted Church Vineyards
On a cool spring morning in 1929, a small crew from Okanagan Falls set off to a deserted mining camp some 16 miles away from home. Their mission: to dismantle an old wooden church and bring it back to Okanagan Falls. See, they’d tried taking it apart but the rusty square nails damaged the building as they were removed. So Harley Hatfield came up with the plan of blowing up four dynamite sticks inside the church to “loosen the nails”. The dynamite was hung from the rafters and the congregation watched with trepidation. There was a large blast and much to everyone’s surprise (except for maybe Mr. Hatfield’s) the plan worked!
The steeple was destroyed but the rest of the church survived. Nails were loosened, and it was able to be transported and rebuilt in Okanagan Falls. The steeple was rebuilt, and the church is still active in the OK Falls community with service every Sunday.They have a sign proudly displayed on the front lawn that this is the “blasted church”. We take our name, and inspiration, from that church and community that found the only way to loosen some old nails… was with some dynamite. Our Hatfield’s Fuse is named after Harley Hatfield and that dynamite.
- Number of bottles produced: 264.000
- In charge of winemaking: Evan Saunders
- In charge of vineyard management: John Bayley
- Name of Company contact: Evan Saunders
- Email: firstname.lastname@example.org
- Telephone: +1 250 497 1125
- Website: https://blastedchurch.com/
Blaasted Church Vineyards
378 Parsons Rd
Okanagan Falls, BC V0H 1R5


San Francisco's oldest African-American church was designated as a city landmark this week.
Mayor Ed Lee yesterday signed legislation designating Third Baptist Church at 1399 McAllister St. as a landmark at a ceremony attended by Board of Supervisors President London Breed, the Rev. Amos Brown and community members.
Today, we are proud to stand with Rev. Amos Brown & the oldest congregation member, 99 year old, Ms. Jane Smith to announce Third Baptist Church's landmark status in San Francisco. pic.twitter.com/iYdt77bFXs— Mayor Ed Lee (@mayoredlee) November 15, 2017
The landmark designation was approved by the Board of Supervisors Tuesday.
Third Baptist was founded in 1852 as the First Colored Baptist Church of San Francisco and was the first African-American Baptist church west of the Rockies, according to city officials. It was the only black Baptist church in the city until the 1940s.
The church's current building on McAllister Street was built in 1952 and sits within the city's Alamo Square Landmark District.
For more information, read our recent story about the 165-year history of Third Baptist Church.


“There are many things from which I might have derived good, by which I have not profited, I dare say,” returned the nephew. “Christmas among the rest. But I am sure I have always thought of Christmas time, when it has come round—apart from the veneration due to its sacred name and origin, if anything belonging to it can be apart from that—as a good time; a kind, forgiving, charitable, pleasant time; the only time I know of, in the long calendar of the year, when men and women seem by one consent to open their shut-up hearts freely, and to think of people below them as if they really were fellow-passengers to the grave, and not another race of creatures bound on other journeys. And therefore, uncle, though it has never put a scrap of gold or silver in my pocket, I believe that it has done me good, and will do me good; and I say, God bless it!”
-Nephew Fred, A Christmas Carol, Charles Dickens
Christmas has also always been my favorite time of year. More precisely, it’s Advent – the time leading up to Christmas – that I’ve enjoyed the most since I was a kid. Advent was full of possibility; there was the anticipation of what Christmas was going to be. What was I going to get, what could I give within my limited funds that the recipient might actually like, what would it all feel like?
Part of Advent was the Advent Wreath. It was made of evergreen boughs and laid flat on the table. Four candles stuck up out of it; each representing one of the weeks in December leading up to Christmas. Three were white and one was purple; the purple one was for Gaudette Sunday, the third Sunday in Advent. You’d light the candles at the start of dinner, say a prayer, and dig in to the food, hoping the candles wouldn’t fall over and set fire to the wreath and perhaps the table as well. Ah, Holiday cheer!
In 1965, A Charlie Brown Christmas first aired on TV. The following year, How the Grinch Stole Christmas debuted which was even better. (I am, of course, referring to the TV special created by Chuck Jones and narrated by Boris Karloff and not the bloated movies since made.) I have both on Blu-ray and they continue to be a part of my lead-up to Christmas every year. Both are very much a part of my own personal Christmas.
We also had an Advent calendar. For those who don’t know, these are large cards usually with the picture of the Nativity scene on it and windows set in it that can be opened, revealing a picture of a toy or a piece of candy or a portion of a story. Ours had the Nativity story from Luke. The windows were numbered from 1 to 24, going from December 1st to Christmas Eve. That’s when the whole Advent schtick climaxed. We didn’t use the one that had chocolates behind each window because I think my Mom instinctively knew they’d never make to December 24th. They probably wouldn’t have made it to the 3rd and I most likely would have been the reason. I was only as patient during Advent as I was forced to be.
Part of our family Advent ritual was to go downtown to State Street, that Great Street, and see the Christmas windows at the big stores, especially Marshall Fields. They always did up Christmas in a grand style and, if you want, you can take a peek here
Back then, the Christmas shopping season started the day AFTER Thanksgiving. No running out on Thanksgiving dinner to be the first in line. No Black Friday sales in the middle of August. (Okay, I exaggerate but only for effect.)
Church did play a large part in the holiday for us; how could it not? It was literally right across the street. I grew up in the shadow of St. Jerome’s. My brother and I were part of the boys’ choir and that meant every Christmas, we stayed up and sang at Midnight Mass. If I recall correctly, we had to be back for the 10 AM performance. . .err . . .service on Christmas day itself. In between the two we had to have sleep, breakfast and, before we went to bed, our own family Christmas ceremony.
This was largely a production of my mother as such things were wont to be. It started with us kids gathered on the stairs going up, youngest at the bottom, oldest at the top. The youngest carried the Baby Jesus for the nativity scene in the creche and we were all supposed to walk down behind her, singing a hymn reverently, until Baby Jesus joined the Holy Family. We were decidedly NOT the Holy Family and, the older we got, the more we resisted the Procession until we outright refused.
We then would sit together and share reading The Night Before Christmas followed by Dad, taking his assigned part, reading the Cratchit dinner scene from A Christmas Carol. It wasn’t his idea but he was pretty good at it and it was my favorite part of the goings-on. I think that’s where my love for the Dickens’ classic began. Milk and cookies were left out for Santa (with the hope that neither I nor the dog would nibble them) and those of us going to bed went to bed and those of us going to Midnight Mass prepared for that.
Morning came and we hit the presents. There was the thrill of acquisition always followed the little sadness that we never got everything we asked for and wanted. Like most things, the anticipation was greater than the realization.
We had one more shot at the brass ring – dinner at Grandma’s house and then gifts afterward. We didn’t have to go over the river and through the woods; we simply walked next door. The food was great and the loot was pretty good but, after that, Christmas was done except for the leftovers and taking out the trash and breaking in the new toys and reading the new books and wearing the inevitable new clothes.
There was always next year. Hey, I was raised a Cubs fan. You live on possibility and that engenders hope.
Merry Christmas to you all. Happy holidays. Io Saturnalia.


Well, today's post isn't so much about a recent creation or discovery of beauty but more of a continuing collection of it! If you have time, please take a few minutes to go over to the Seeking Kindness Blog and to find Biblical truth, articles and thoughts about Proverbs 31:26. This Bible verse describes a godly woman as one who “opens her mouth with wisdom, and on her tongue is the law, or teaching, of kindness.” The tongue, albeit a proportionately small part of my body, is a mighty weapon. With a few well-placed words, I have the power to build up and encourage those around me. I also have the ability to destroy with my tongue. Consider what James has to say about our powerful tongues:
“If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body. Indeed, we put bits in horses’ mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body, Look also at ships: although they are so large and are driven by fierce winds, they are turned by a very small rudder wherever the pilot desires. Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things.
See how great a forest a little fire kindles! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature, and it is set on fire by hell. For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea is tamed by mankind, But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so. Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening? Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh. Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom.” James 3:2-13
The Seeking Kindness Blog is written for those who seek to mimic the Proverbs 31 woman who had wisdom and kindness in her tongue. There are three main areas of focus: Seeking the teaching of kindness in dealing with our children, seeking the teaching kindness in relating to our husbands or authorities and seeking the law of kindness as a way of daily personal living and thinking. May these pages encourage you to grow in grace and conquer the fleshly tendencies of your tongue.
Without Christ in our lives, however, taming our tongues is a fruitless effort. Even if, by supreme willpower, you are able to control your tongue, without submission to Christ, it will avail you nothing. The Bible, God’s Word, explains the Good News of Jesus Christ: You can be saved from all of your sin! You do not have to live in slavery to sin! God has made a provision for you to be freed from it!
If you would be interested in hearing a Bible message explaining the gospel, or if you'd like to talk about how you can be sure you are free from sin, simply contact me for more information. I'd love to talk with you!


I spent Thursday, Friday and Saturday morning at the Willowcreek 2004 Leadership Summit. On the whole, I was impressed with the speakers and the content of their seminars. Only one of the speaker wasn't very good and that more because she appeared uncomfortable with public speaking - the content of her talk was good, just poorly presented. I feel like I got some good tools for my current ministry and am pretty motivated to start putting some of them into play.
There were some moments of subtle irony. For instance, Bill Hybel's (senior pastor of Willowcreek) gave a talk on volunteers within the church and used 2 examples to illustrate his points. One was from what he described as an "Ephesians 4 church"(E4) and the other from a "clergy controlled church" (CCC). Basically, in the E4 church, volunteers play a prominent role in serving the congregation & the mission of the church and people are able to put their passions and talents to good use, which is very satisfying for them and makes them feel really connected. In the CCC, volunteers are valued only for their ability to do jobs the staff don't want to do, like janitorial duties, and everything of import is handled by paid staff pastoral staff. Bill spoke encouragingly of the E4 and disparagingly of the CCC - too much top-down hierarchical control and too much reliance on paid staff, or something like that. Now, the irony - Willowcreek has over 450 paid staff people. Additionally, several of the speakers, including Bill himself, talked about times when leaders have to step out in obedience to God's calling regardless of what the people think, say or do - which is, of course, top-down hierarchical control.
Irony aside, this comparison got me wondering - how do volunteers and the laity normally participate in the lives of their local church in Orthodoxy? If any Orthodox readers would care to fill me in, I'd greatly appreciate it, because I think to a certain extent Bill is correct. The church should be a place where people not only connect with God, but are able to find ways to use their God-given talents to serve the Lord, serve His church and their fellow Christians.
I also spent Friday night and Saturday afternoon at a delegate session for our denomination. First, I must say that I have absolutely no stake in this group. This denomination does not have a very distinct identity, and its member churches run the gamut from very traditional conservative congregations to small rural churches to larger seeker-sensitive enterprises. So I really could not get myself very fired up about what was going on - namely re-electing our current denominational president, various elders and passing our budget. Second, and I hate to sound negative, I sat back watching all of this wondering why this relatively small denomination was so intent on going it alone. Our theology is pretty run-of-the-mill, so I don't understand why they aren't joined up with some other denomination or conference. Why are we putting the time and money into our own little organization when there would seem to be many other areas that could put them both to better use? And quite frankly, whose idiotic idea was it to schedule a 5 hour delegate session in a building without air-conditioning after a 9 hour summit day and then not serve any flippin' coffee?!?!?!?!?!
The real upside to the whole ordeal was getting to see my wife's extended family. My in-laws are 2 of the nicest people you could hope to meet, and her uncle is a real hoot. My father-in-law and her uncle both have a ton of ministry experience, so we had a good long talk over dinner about the difficulties I'm having at my current position. And my wife got to talk to her mother Saturday morning for a while, and actually brought up some of our thoughts about Orthodoxy. I didn't know she was going to do this, so I was pretty blown away that she would bring it up, especially to her folks.


The Holy Scripture is the only sufficient, certain, and infallible rule of all saving knowledge, faith, and obedience. However, in order to guard, preserve and propagate the authority of the Scripture and its message, the New Testament apostles made certain points of doctrine confessional (I Timothy 3:16, II Timothy 2:2, I John 1:1-3, Jude 3). That is to say, the Bible itself demands that a church maintain a clearly articulated understanding of what God’s word teaches on the major points of theology in order to grow and remain healthy.
The summary of Christian doctrine which best describes the biblical understanding of Emmanuel Reformed Baptist Church can be found in The 1689 Second London Baptist Confession of Faith. While this historic confession does not replace or take priority over the authority of Scripture, it is an adequate and accurate overview of the major teachings of the Law, the Prophets, and of Jesus Christ and his apostles as faithfully recorded in the inspired Scriptures. We trust that you will find this document helpful as you seek to grow in your love for the One in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge (Colossians 2:3).
Our church consists of disciples of Jesus Christ who have gathered together for the purpose of worshiping the only true and living God. Because God is infinitely holy and perfectly just, you may expect our worship to be serious and reverent. Because God is most loving, gracious and merciful, you may expect our worship to be joyful and filled with thanksgiving. Because God recorded his Word for us, you may expect our worship to concentrate on reading and explaining the Bible. Because God delights in receiving praise from forgiven sinners, you may expect the singing of hymns which focus on the beauty and majesty of our great God and his wonderful salvation by grace alone in Christ alone. Because God delights in hearing his children speak to him, you may expect to hear prayers offered to him.
Are you a disciple of Jesus looking for a local congregation in which to worship God and serve your Saviour? Are you someone who is searching for truth or unsure of what you believe or what direction your life ought to take? If so, ERBC warmly invites you to join our Sunday morning worship service at 9:30am or our afternoon service at 1pm.
|09:30AM ~ 10:40AM||Morning Service|
|10:40AM ~ 11:10AM||Morning Tea|
|11:10AM ~ 12:00PM||Bible Study|
|12:00PM ~ 01:00PM||Luncheon|
|01:00PM ~ 02:00PM||Afternoon Service|
The Scriptures teach that all mankind is born spiritually dead because of the curse of death given to Adam when he sinned by breaking God’s law in the Garden of Eden. Therefore, all mankind is completely unable and unwilling to obtain God’s salvation from the guilt, shame and power of sin. Such a salvation can be found only in Jesus Christ who is God’s eternal Son. However, many people dead in their sins do not know who Christ is and how he is the salvation of all who come to him by faith. Therefore, one great privilege and duty of all who follow Christ as his disciples must always be to tell others of the hope which they themselves have found in Jesus. This communication of the gospel message to dead sinners is typically called evangelism and the methods by which disciples of Jesus try to reach them is commonly called outreach.
The primary means of outreach to which any believer in Christ must be committed is the local church. Here in the worship of God a guilty sinner can hear of the perfect righteousness of Christ which is freely offered to everyone regardless of how wicked they may be. In the worship of God, an individual gripped by the power of sin can hear of King Jesus and his great defeat of sin when he rose from the dead. In the worship of God, a lost and lonely sinner can hear of Jesus the friend of sinners and how he willingly bore the shame of a painful death on the cross for their sake. God has established the church as the means whereby he reveals to this dead world the greatness of his wisdom and power and the glory of his grace displayed in Jesus his Son (Ephesians 3:10, 21).
In addition to the local church and its regular preaching ministry, the Scriptures teach that all believers in Christ must live holy lives which attract outsiders to Christ (I Peter 2:9-12). These lives are to be accompanied with wise and gracious words which explain the gospel in simple terms so that those unfamiliar with the Bible and its teachings may understand why believers live the way they do (I Peter 3:15). Gracious words must then be accompanied with kind actions revealing a heart of love toward all people. Believers are to be hospitable, good citizens, patient when wronged and providing practical care to the needy (James 2:14-17, I Peter 2:17-19, 4:8-11). All of these actions and attitudes constitute outreach and evangelism. Motivation for such work comes from knowing Jesus as one’s Shepherd. Jesus is a Shepherd who sought his sheep when it was lost and brought it home rejoicing (Luke 15:4-6). Jesus is a Shepherd who wept over his people when they refused to acknowledge him as their Savior (Matthew 23:37). Jesus is a Shepherd who continues gently and patiently to guide and protect each of his sheep all the time (Psalm 23:1ff). When a believer meditates on such a Shepherd, he/she will be motivated to seek the lost and to pray for opportunities to reach out to those who are still dead in their sins.
If you are a disciple of Christ eager to serve him in outreach and evangelism come worship with us. Come learn Jesus Christ himself by hearing him speak to you through the preached word of God. How else can you hope to shepherd others and be motivated to do so without first meditating on Jesus? Then having worshipped God and having your soul fed by Jesus go forward and evangelise those yet in their sins by means of the ways listed above. May the Lord be with you as you do so and may he bless your efforts so that many will come to know him by your witness.
Allen began work in the pastoral ministry at First Baptist Church in Clinton, LA in the summer of 2013. After serving as a pastoral assistant, he became the church’s associate pastor in April 2014. Almost exactly two years later, FBC commissioned Allen as a missionary and sent him to Perth, Australia in order to plant a Reformed Baptist church. Allen, along with his wife and four children, have lived in Perth since that time. At present, he serves as the pastor at Emmanuel Reformed Baptist Church.


Truths of Grace
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.
Albany Baptist Church is a Reformed Baptist church located just outside of Albany, New York. Please browse our site to learn more about us and to listen to us online.
Click on the buttons above to listen to us live Sunday mornings on YouTube or listen to one of our past sermons on Sermon Audio. If you’re in the area, please join us as we seek to worship God in spirit and in truth.
To contact us directly , call (518) 462-6364 or send a message using the form below.
2023 Columbus Day Weekend Youth Retreat
This year’s annual Columbus Day weekend youth retreat will take place October 6 – 9 at Camp Pinnacle in Voorheesville, New York.
The retreat is open to ages 14 through college age and will include:
- outdoor activities
- fellowship opportunities
- devotional time
- messages from Pastor Shehzad Khan
- all meals, snacks, beverages, etc
- adult supervision
This year’s speaker is Pastor Shehzad Khan from Trinity Baptist Church in Montville, New Jersey.
Please use the QR code below for the online registration form, or you can download a copy here which you can send to us using the information on the form.
Thank you, and we look forward to this year’s youth retreat!
Men’s Book Study
Pastor Drew will be leading a men’s book study on Communion with God, by John Owen.
- Held at the church building on a bi-monthly basis
- Books will be provided
- Next meeting: Saturday, November 4 at 8am
Albany Baptist Church
361 Krumkill Road
Slingerlands, New York 12159


After using the April Synod Mission and Ministries meeting for a retreat in which we reflected upon the synod’s foundational text Isaiah 43:19, the Commission went back to business the last weekend in June. We began with the unveiling of our new synod video, which in many ways is an expression of the Isaiah text. If you haven’t had the chance yet to see our new website or the video, go take a look and see the new things we are doing.
For a first discussion and vote at General Assembly our overtures did very well. The overture proposing to amend the Book of Order so that Sessions can ordain Ruling Elders for service beyond their congregation such as in a presbytery or a synod received much discussion both in committee and on the GA floor. This overture which opens up who is welcome at the governing tables or higher councils clearly resonated with YADs, clergy spouses who currently cannot serve on many sessions and therefore cannot serve on any mid-council, and those engaging with immigrant fellowships and new worshipping communities. The overture lost by a slim margin and then was referred by an Assembly voice vote to the Committee on the Office of the General Assembly (COGA).
1) And now, the number-one thing this Assembly did was to complete the process of adding the Belhar Confession as the twelfth confessional document contained in the Book of Confessions. While this was pretty much a foregone conclusion — since more than three-fourths of the presbyteries have already given their required assent — still, it is of great historic significance. After the positive vote, theologian Allan Boesak of South Africa, one of the authors of the Belhar Confession during the apartheid era, addressed the Assembly. He ended his remarks by saying, “We may not know what tomorrow may bring, but I know this: tonight, we have overcome. I know this: because of Jesus, we shall overcome. I know this: whatever may come in our world, we shall overcome.” In a moving moment, the Assembly responded by spontaneously breaking into song, singing — what else? —“We Shall Overcome.”
A message from Thia Reggio, our Synod Moderator:
Suddenly, there is death in the midst of life. Again. There is pain, shock, grief, too much familiarity, and too little hope of change. Then come the labels, the meaning making, attempts to understand, but more than that, attempts to create distance between ourselves and the shooters, between ourselves and the dead. Some will blame the victims, some will demonize and dehumanize the killers. The truth is that human beings died and human beings did the killing. What is needed to bring peace is not another story that explains away our own connection and lays blame far from our doors. What is needed is self-reflection followed by clear action from within our own shared humanity. Whatever we have been doing is not working. Whatever side of the conversation you have been on, it is in the freshness of this new wound that there may be a new opening to let God's voice into it. For just one moment, listen for a new word because no one is immune to violence in a world that greets news like last night's shooting with the words, "Not again." Until we commit ourselves to making those words a reality, we cannot say we have done enough.
Lima first came to the United States to assist another pastor in his ministry. He quickly discovered, however, that in many communities in Massachusetts and New Hampshire, Brazilian immigrants lacked a church home. They had worshiped as Presbyterians in Brazil, but now they weren’t able to find a Presbyterian, Portuguese-speaking congregation that understood the unique challenges and opportunities they were facing. Their only option was to go to a church of another tradition, but they weren’t comfortable, Lima says, with the theology or worship.
Our first retreat for the Northern NY Committee On Ministry Network was a great success. We met in Albany, NY over the weekend of May 20th. We had participants from all five of the presbyteries in the network (Albany, Cayuga-Syracuse, Susquehanna Valley, Northern New York and Utica), and some guests from other presbyteries close by as well. It was such a benefit to be in the same physical space as one another and to put faces and stories to our ministry settings.
I hadn’t realized what I was really headed for was a visit into the homes of our Korean sisters and brothers. As we wandered the streets of Seoul each scene was filled with stories. As we walked through Moongil’s childhood neighborhood, he shared stories of his life; some were so very similar to my own boyhood remembrances and some very different. The story sharing drew us closer and the joy deepened.
The Synod has historically supported campus ministries throughout our geographical bounds. One of these ministries is the Protestant Chapel Community, a ministry of Genesee Area Campus Ministries, led by Presbyterian Teaching Elder Laurie Tiberi. She gathers students for weekly Sunday worship and Wednesday Dinner Dialogues, as well as Saturday student-led bible study and service in a local soup kitchen, game nights and social events.
"It is because one antelope will blow the dust from the other's eye that the two antelopes walk together"- African Proverb.
This is one of my favorite African proverbs because it describes the critical role of community in fostering insight, awareness and unity. When we come together as members of the body of Christ, the Holy Spirit lovingly blows the dust from our eyes as we learn to live and love together


Why Have You Forsaken Me? (Matthew 27:46; Mark 15:34 NIV)"The question from the cross calls you to see your suffering not as a solitary struggle but as a reflection of an opportunity to draw nearer to your Savior, and to trust Him for the outcome."
In light of the Easter season, we turn our Bible study towards the cross for this month’s installment. We are looking at the questions Jesus asked in the Gospels, and this month’s question was posed on the hill of Golgotha. As John Dear put it: “The last question uttered by Jesus before his death is the hardest question of all, the question of Job, the question of Dachau, the question of Rwanda, the question of death row, the question of the world’s starving masses.” This month we are taking a look at the words “Why have you forsaken me?” to find their meaning in our own suffering and struggle.
Matthew and Mark record the final words of Jesus in their telling of the gospel story. The question is transliterated from its original utterance in English Bibles: “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Mark 15:34). Both writers tell us that at noon a darkness fell over the land as Jesus hung on the cross. At around 3:00 pm, Jesus cries out this question, which is sometimes called the “cry of dereliction.” The crowd overhearing thought He was calling to Elijah (Matthew 27:47; Mark 15:35). Some in the crowd offered Him wine vinegar, while others taunted His apparent agony and helplessness (Matthew 27:48–49; Mark 15:36). Mark tells us, “Then Jesus uttered another loud cry and breathed his last” (Mark 15:37).
These are Jesus’ last words before His death. His final moment before giving up His earthly body was a question uttered in agony and pain. The words are marked by suffering, struggle and a sense of separation from His Father. The word “forsaken” in this passage conveys feelings of separation and abandonment as Jesus hangs defenseless on the cross. This question uttered in His final moments reflects the horrible pain the Savior endured as part of His redemptive act for all humanity.
The cry of dereliction doesn’t belong to just Jesus but is also a quote from the Psalms. In Psalm 22, we read its opening line: “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (NIV). There are several genres of psalms and this one is what is known as a “psalm of lament.” Psalms of lament are expressions of sadness, feelings of being distraught, and moments of raw emotion at the reality of suffering. They are typically organized into three movements: “First, ‘God, you are not doing your job.’ Second, ‘God, you need to do your job.’ Third, ‘I am confident you will do your job because you have in the past’” (Copenhaver, “Jesus is the Question”).
This psalm discusses a suffering servant of God that is being attacked by their enemies (Psalm 22:1–10). The psalmist goes on to seek God’s presence in his troubling circumstances, to give him strength to stand, and to rescue him (v 11–21). The last movement of the psalm concludes with a praise of God’s greatness seen by all nations, His mercy for those in need, and His goodness and care for those who suffer (v 22–31). The psalmist ends his lament with a triumphant call for the future: “[The future generations] will proclaim his righteousness, declaring to a people yet unborn: He has done it! (NIV)”
Rabbis would often quote the first line of a psalm, understanding that their hearers would be familiar enough with the passage to know what the rest of the verses contain. Jesus, in His final moments filled with agony, was arguably calling on the truth of Psalm 22—the truth of a God who is with His people in their darkest moments. Jesus points the people at the foot of the cross, and us today, towards the proclamation, “He has done it!” As The Salvation Army’s sixth doctrine states, “The Lord Jesus Christ has by His suffering and death made an atonement for the whole world so that whosoever will may be saved.” The question from the cross reminds us that we are not abandoned to our struggles and suffering. Jesus’ death was only the beginning of our freedom from sin and death. His question leads us to realize that God’s heart is set on rescue and redemption from that which holds our hearts and minds hostage.
The question from the cross also gives us hope to know that our Savior understands suffering, and therefore can understand us. In his book, Copenhaver suggests that “the story of Jesus despairing on the cross is the story of a God willing to experience our hopelessness, that we might have hope, and the story of a God willing to share in human defeat, that we might, in turn, share God’s victory.” In those times when suffering and discouragement has convinced you that you are all alone, Jesus reminds us that He is with us. Jesus said “Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). We are promised struggles, but we are also promised the victory in Him. His life, death and resurrection offers an opportunity to find hope in God’s plan, even when life doesn’t make sense. We are offered a chance to look at our confounding and challenging circumstances, and discover the strength and hope to proclaim “He has done it!” He has stood with me in my trials. He has rescued me from the snare of sin. He has redeemed my eternity!
We find this same promise later in the New Testament. “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed” (2 Corinthians 4:8–9 NIV). In our moments where we ask God why He feels so distant, we are encouraged to remember that we are not alone. We look around to see the glimpses of His work in our daily life: a friend who sends a text just when we need it, a free coffee on a rough day at work, or an empathetic ear that doesn’t offer answers but does offer support. We will have trouble in this life, but in it we also have God’s grace to endure and grow.
This Easter, we celebrate a God who was willing to experience unimaginable suffering for our benefit. Jesus’ death on the cross cancels the power of sin to keep you separated from your Creator. His death and resurrection offer you an opportunity to choose grace and hope as the driving forces in your life. The question from the cross calls you to see your suffering not as a solitary struggle but as a reflection of an opportunity to draw nearer to your Savior, and to trust Him for the outcome.
Questions to Ponder
- In what circumstances in my life am I feeling like the words of Psalm 22: “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
- How might God be using difficult circumstances to draw me to a deeper understanding of His grace and sufficiency in my life?
An Open Invitation
You can receive the free gift of salvation through Jesus Christ by praying something like the following:
Dear God, know I am a sinner. I need your forgiveness and grace. I believe that Christ paid the penalty for my sin, and He died in my place, and He rose from the dead. I invite Jesus Christ to come into my life as Savior. Thank You for saving me from my sin and making me Your child. Help me to grow and learn how to serve You. Amen.


Save the Date
March 23, 2019
Our ceremony will take place at Wilson Chapel at Christ United Methodist Church. Dinner, drinks, and dancing will take place afterwards at Annesdale Mansion!
Wilson Chapel at Christ United Methodist Church
4488 Poplar Ave
Memphis, TN 38117
1325 Lamar Ave
Memphis, TN 38104
We have reserved a block of rooms at the following hotels!
We have registries at the following stores:


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Our Grief Journey
May 17, 2018 @ 3:30 pm - 5:00 pm
Support group for anyone grieving the death of a friend or loved one. Our Grief Journey will be held on Thursdays in May, for five consecutive weeks (May 3, 10, 17, 24 and 31) at the United Methodist Church in Geneva, IL. Registration is required; contact Linda Tamlyn at 630-406-6907 or email email@example.com


By Barnabas Hope
God has extraordinary plans for your child. "Grow a World Changer" is an unforgettable journey into the realm of destiny and possibility. Ordinary children became extraordinary leaders because a visionary adult takes intentional thought to plant seeds of greatness in their heart. "Grow a World Changer" gives you new tools to unlock the work of character development and identity formation. Truly, "The hand that rocks the cradle rocks the world." Packed with story and resource, the book helps you to help children recognize their God given power to effect change in an upside down world. Humorous allegory, captivating examples, and seriously challenging questions, make this a cover to cover read. Grow A World Changer is gaining five star reviews. As one leader who oversees 20 private schools in six states said, “This book is absolute gold.”Purchase Now
This is an excellent book! I recommend every family to have it- Saung Aye
I got this book as a gift from a friend recently. I started reading it this morning and let me tell you, if you have kids and you want them be world changers for Christ, than this book is for you!- Chelsie
My wife and I both valued this book - in fact, we've bought a few copies for friends and recommended it for many others- @gwalter
"I am a homeschool parent. I found this resource is exuberant, encouraging and enabling.”- Amazon
I have found no other book like this. It is just what I was needing. I only wish the book were longer! I loved it.- Amazon
This book, has made me think hard, and really revaluate my whole compass. I am an elementary teacher, and have not received such clear direction from any of my educational superintendents. Grow A World Changer speaks powerfully and with authority.-
Grow A World Changer has two major sections. The first is on fire with the author's full out passion to sell you on the importance of looking at your child as more than "just a kid." It will inspire and motivate you to look at your world, your child, and your role differently. The second section is practical "how to's" and resources that literally go A-Z in ways to build a world-changing worldview for your child.
What do you believe about your child? What vision do you have about thier future? How do you see their early years empowering their adult years? I believe a personal Holy Spirit yearns to take a surrendered young person and gift them and challenge them and use them to wildly delight the angels and cast down demonic strongholds. As God spoke to Jeremiah as a boy, as God made promises to Samuel as a boy, David as a boy, and Naaman’s young servant girl, so too today He is seeking the response of the young. A child needn’t wait for degrees or titles to change the world. However, they must learn to listen, to love what is innocent, to hate that which is evil.
Cultivation is God’s chosen means to let you participate in making His dreams come true. God set Adam and Eve to be cultivators to facilitate growth, and His expectations haven’t changed. We can’t make anybody or anything grow, but we can alter the conditions so growth is favorable, even likely.
Identity is the wellspring from which kids derive their self-concept or self-esteem. It is as equally present whether daydreaming on their pillow or stepping into a room full of teenagers they have never met before. If a right identity has been secured, their self-concept slips comfortably into the faith position of lapping the cool calm and even drinking the cup of joy of knowing they are accepted by, secure in, and significant to Jesus. An identity that goes back to this solid “I’m ‘somebody’ because GOD believes in me,” is what traction is to a high jumper, buoyancy is to a kayaker, and lift to the hang glider.
To be a World Changer is striving for a lifestyle of character that is gaining momentum. toward a God-appointed destiny. Little Samuel sleeping on the floor of the sanctuary was a World Changer. He was destined to anoint the most passionate follower of God ever as king of Israel. Can you imagine his little bed roll spread out with slippers set in a neat pair by the door? As a six year old, he WAS a World Changer by being dutiful about the job God had given him. His job was to keep the lamps burning in the holy place so the little sentry took his assignment to heart and slept on the floor next to the candles! Faithful.
This is an excellent book! I recommend every family to have it. We are homeschooling and doing the Moore philosophy and they aligned together. I learned about it from the Moore Academy and they highly recommend it. It tells every parents how to grow and rear child who cares for the world at large. It touches every character we need to focus on and help our child find their purpose and be the best person they can be. We use it for devotionals so we could really learn and understand it and apply the suggestions for our family. Grab it while you can! This is very good for gifting too! Your love ones will thank you for it!
I started reading it this morning and let me tell you, if you have kids and you want them be world changers for Christ, than this book is for you! This is a great resource for Youth Pastors, Teachers, PARENTS (especially), and others who are involved with children of all ages. There are tons of testamonies from children, youth and the author himself; as well as learning activities, and good solid foundational advice from the educational experiences of the author AND learned men and women of the Bible
My wife and I both valued this book - in fact, we've bought a few copies for friends and recommended it for many others. There is solid, practical, and easy to absorb information. It is value-based and not behavior based. The author tells stories, explains principles, and clearly understands the challenges of raising Christ-following disciples in a culture of uncertainty. You can't go wrong with this book!
I awarded this book five stars because I couldn't give it six. A most useful, God-inspired, must-own resource for anyone who works with children, youth or young adults. This is not a one-time read. I continue to highlight sections and make notes in the margins of my bedside copy. Grow A World Changer is a book that you will revisit time and time again for encouragement, guidance and inspiration. You will buy copies and hand them out to your friends and family!
very good strategy and thought out book that can make a difference!!!
Grow a World Changer is a great resource for parents who want help raising their children to be free to live for God and others. Our society teaches children that life is all about them. This book equips parents to give their children something greater than themselves to live for. I was blessed by the thorough reasoning defining God's ultimate plan for His people. The vast array of resources including books, websites, and organizations is very helpful. After reading through the book, going back again and writing down my own notes, and researching the various resources, I am on my way to being able to model for my children what a godly world changer looks like in everyday life. I highly recommend this book and would love to see every home, school, and church putting it to use. My only critique would be the website, which seems largely inactive since the book was written.
This is a creative, comprehensive resource for parents who are seeking to nurture in their children an attitude of compassion and unselfish service to their community and to the entire world.


The Most Beautiful Rome’s Hidden Churches
The free spirited kind who does want to have fun planning very much in a European backpacking adventure some years back without being aware of where to proceed. The city is very much big and I happened to miss many of the attractions of the luxury travel that included The Vatican that was closed the next day.
In case you have visited the capital of Italy, you will come to know of the several nice churches that have to be explored. St. Paul Outside of the Walls, Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore are on the list of the people. Rome was an array of some hidden churches that do not even exist.
To help you in not making the similar error, there are some list of 8 concealed churches in the city that will involve some amount of research and planning to discover.
San Pietro in Vincoli
It was first constructed in the 5th century and it was made to house the relic of the chains that hold Saint Peter when he got imprisoned in Jerusalem. It was then that the Pope held the chains of Peter. The basilica has moved through several renovations in many years but remains open nowadays.
It is the most popular attraction that got finished in the year 1515 and was a part of the 47 statue free standing monument for Pope Julius II. It is located at Piazza San Pietro in Vincoli 4A.
Maria della Vittoria
It was actually designed by Carlo Mademo who was a leading Roman architect of the 17th century whose name was Maria della Vittoria. He made the nice interiors to make it appear like a theater. The statues of the Cornaro family lie in the box seats viewing the center stage.
Santa Maria in Domnica alla Navicella
It is located on the Celio Hill top and was made in the 5th century. The basilica concentrated on ministering to the poor and it is a task given to the deacons. A mosaic exhibited the Blessed Virgin Mary who actually sits on the throne with Baby Jesus sitting on her lap in the church’s center. There is also an in-depth history between the Medici family and the chapel.
Sant’Ambrogio della Massima
Sant’Ambrogio della Massima is not that simple to discover. It is not visible from the ground. The basilica is made like a cross and has a dome. It is thought that this church is dated back to the 4th century. The chapel used to be the first home to St. Marcellina. The interior of the church has got rich gold stucco decorations and frescos that exhibit Mary’s life.T


A Psalm for my God
There, they asked us to write a letter, a psalm, for God.
Write down anything we have to say for God. I just want to share what I've written...
I'm tired, I'm lost cos I don't find a place that will accept me.
But I opened Your notes few days back.
And there You've said, You've wrote, You've promised.
You'll be here beside me.
You told me to be strong, so here I am looking for strength.
You said You'll be here, so here I am looking for You.
You asked me to forgive my enemy, to love them and pray for them.
I tried, but I can't. Not anymore.
Every man has a breaking point.
I guess that's compiled everything I want to say to You:
No, I can't take it anymore.
I look up, look around.
And all I see is broken people, broken hearts.
I'm one of them.
Are You going to let us stay this way?
But looking from the other side..
I thank You for everything You've given me.
You gave me hope and love through someone.
You gave me what I asked and more.
And You definitely give me what I need.
Just grant me one more thing: let not this heart be cold.
Let it instead forgive and love, the way You want it to.
So people will see me and realize:
God is in good mood when He's making her.
God is happy when He has made her..


What is it that you think of when it comes to Easter?
The smell of hot cross buns with melted butter wafting through the air. Chocolate eggs are everywhere.
We go on Easter egg hunts, decorate our houses with bunny’s and baby chickens.
It’s a long weekend, for some a time for holiday, while others a break from work.
Easter though is much more than just a holiday where we have lots of chocolate. It’s a time of reflection & celebration.
We reflect on what Jesus’s death on the cross means for us. As he hung on that cross he was marked with a crown of thorns. Mocked by those around him, not knowing that they’ve crowned the true king who will take away our sins. As Jesus breathed his final breath he said it is finished.
He was buried in the tomb and on the third day, a day we celebrate with much joy, he rose again. He is not here for he is risen.
Jesus died and rose again so that he could take on our sins, but also bring us new life to anyone who believes in him.
The symbols of Easter, hot cross buns, eggs etc all show this. They aren’t just simply something we consume but a reminder of the significance of the cross, and the wonderful news of new life through his resurrection.


WE EXIST TO CALL YOUNG ADULTS TO ENCOUNTER GOD SO THAT, TOGETHER, WE CAN UNITE HEAVEN AND EARTH.
Tribe is the young adult community of Bethel Church in Redding, California. We are a group of vibrant people following Jesus and bound together by the Holy Spirit. We gather on Tuesday nights to create space to celebrate and experience both God and one another.
Our gatherings are marked by a time of worship, message, ministry and community. Our worship is passionate and selfless. We’re known for relentlessly loving God in worship. Our message equips you for a new way of being human that’s living, vibrant and intimate with God. Our ministry time serves you with prayer for any situation because we want to see God do the impossible in your life. Our community welcomes you as you are, being authentically you. Tribe Homes are where we share in the life of the Kingdom together.


Do you want to hear His voice more clearly? Do you want to walk with greater purpose, power and love?
Do you want to lead more from the presence of Jesus?
What does intimacy with God look like in this new season? How do we immerse ourselves in
His heart and carry His glory to those around us? How do we abide in such a way that we burn
for Jesus but we don’t burn out? How do we live fearlessly and full of Holy Spirit love?
Join Joan Hutter and a dynamic team of seasoned ministry leaders from across time zones on
Tuesdays and Thursdays at 11 AM for this powerful time in His presence. We are praying for a
life-changing encounter with the Lord for each of you.
Join me for this powerful school!
Abide Presence Academy Online Fall 2020


We are taking lessons on giving thanks in hard times from the prophet Habakkakuk. Sometime between 612 and 588 BC, Habakkuk’s nation, Judah, was in crisis. Babylon was rising to world dominance and the prophet knew that his beloved Judah was soon to feel Babylon’s destructive force.
The book of Habakkuk consists of three chapters and features a dialogue between God and the concerned prophet in three parts—Habakkuk’s complaints, God’s answers, and Habakkuk’s prayer.
First the complaint. Rewind to Hab. 1:2-4. In these verses Habakkuk is complaining about the sins of his people. They’ve lost their way spiritually and he’s wondering when God is going to fix them. What follows proves the adage, “be careful what you pray for.” God was going to discipline His people, but not the way Habakkuk thought.
In verses 5 and 6 God says, “Hold on to your yamika Habbakuk! In a thousand years you’d never guess what I’m about to do!” God was going to raise up the fierce and rising nation of Babylon to come and punish His beloved Judah. To Habakkuk’s shock and dismay, as bad as things were right then for Judah, they were about to get much worse! We can identify can’t we? As bad as the pandemic has been in the first and second waves, the third one we’re in appears to be much worse.
In verses 12-17 Habakkuk makes a second complaint and asks God why he would use a nation even more wicked than Judah to punish them. Look at verse 13: “You eyes are too pure to look on evil; you cannot tolerate wrong. Why then do you tolerate the treacherous? Why are you silent while the wicked swallow up those more righteous than themselves?” (Hab. 1:13)
But God had a plan. He always has a plan. God points Habakkuk’s eyes away from the Babylonian crisis and onto Himself. In verse 20 he says, “But the Lord is in his holy temple; let all the earth be silent before Him.” This Thanksgiving, however you celebrate it, you can say Hallelujah Anyhow because God is still on the throne! The economy may be bad, but the Lord is still good! Thank God there is no such thing as a “lame duck” session in heaven! The Lord is in his holy temple. Everybody just be quiet and be in awe.
Habakkuk assures us that God is holy and just (1:13), never indifferent to sin and injustice. He will eventually punish the wicked, and has an appointed time for it. “For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay.” (2:3) We can say Hallelujah Anyhow because the current situation is not the ultimate conclusion. The righteous may have to wait for vindication, but it will surely come.
And while we wait, “The righteous will live by his faith” (2:4) not by what appears on the face of things to be true. As Abraham waited patiently for God to fulfill his promise, and as Habakkuk and the faithful remnant were to wait for him to respond in justice, so you and I are to wait in faith for God to carry out his purposes. “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God.” (Rom. 5:1-2) We say Hallelujah anyhow in the hope of the glory of God!
The book concludes with an amazing affirmation of faith that establishes the pattern for how Christians should respond to hard times. “Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior. The Sovereign LORD is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to go on the heights.” (Hab. 3:17-19)
Things were about to get rough, but because Habakkuk had a new view of Who was really in control, Habakkuk said, “Hallelujah Anyhow!” “Yet I will rejoice in the LORD. I will be joyful…” Why? Because “God is my Savior. The Sovereign LORD is my strength.” You can say Hallelujah Anyhow because you’re in the grip of God’s grace and no one can snatch you out of the Father’s hand. Not Covid and not even satan himself.
Nowhere does it say that the righteous will live by his 401K or by his stock portfolio, or by his bank account. He will live by faith. Living by faith is not optional for the believer; Faith is what makes us believers. Authentic Thanksgiving is possible for us too when we let God’s Word change our perspective. The Apostle Paul tells us, “Don’t shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you. Look up and be alert to what is going on around Christ—that’s where the action is. See things from his perspective.” (Colossians 3:1-2 The Message)
The DOW may go down and the dollar may deflate but “The Lord is in his holy temple, and my life is in His hands. And He has called me to live a life of thanksgiving, by faith. Thanksgiving is more than a holiday. It is defiant praise rooted in unshakeable trust in the Almighty God who has saved us and will right all wrongs in His time. Giving thanks in hard times is spitting in the devil’s eye and saying, “The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want!”
What if the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines? What if the pandemic changes my Thanksgiving plans and the Tofurky is dry, and there is no toilet paper or disinfectant wipes in the stores …what then? Say Hallelujah Anyhow!
“But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. I will sing to the Lord, for he has been good to me.” (Psalm 13:5, 6) If you and I are going to successfully run the race of life, then, we too, must lay aside every weight through the sacrifice of praise. What Hallelujahs are you giving today?
Pastor Randy Maxwell


"Jeremiah One Eleven & Twelve"SOLD! For prints visit Fine Art America
I enjoyed doing this painting and can't wait to frame it. I haven't felt that way about my art for a long time. These are almond blossoms, painted from a photo taken by Roger Brown. Thank you Roger.
Jeremiah 1:11-12 "Moreover the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, Jeremiah, what seest thou? And I said, I see a rod of an almond tree. Then said the Lord unto me, Thou hast well seen; for I will hasten my word to perform it."


The words of the Bible are the very words of God. The words of the Bible are truth and life.* This is why the ESV Bible is a word-for-word, “essentially literal” translation—to convey every possible nuance of meaning in the original words of Scripture; to capture the majesty, truth, and beauty of the Bible, in a clear and compelling way.
A trusted legacy, trusted by leaders, trusted for life—the ESV is ideally suited for personal Bible reading and in-depth study; for corporate worship and preaching; for young and old; at home and in church; online and in print; anytime and everywhere.
*See John 17:17 and Deuteronomy 32:47.


(Psalm 106:16) the word is the first mention of the word saint. The English word “saint is derived from this Latin word. The word “saint” appears 121 times in the Douay-Rheims version of the Bible.
Mar 23, 2016. Trent Hunter meditates on the comforts of Psalm 121 and how it applies to the whole of life. In a recent conversation, Psalm 121 was God's medicine for his. He is the author of Graphical Greek: A Quick Reference Guide for.
Summary Summary of the Book of Psalms. This summary of the book of Psalms provides information about the title, author(s), date of writing, chronology, theme, theology, outline, a brief overview, and the chapters of the Book of Psalms.
CNA/EWTN NEWS KRAKOW, Poland — The official song for World Youth Day Krakow 2016. The song for the gathering begins with words from Psalm 121, which convey “the certainty that our merciful Lord.
Dec 2, 2016. Keeping that in mind, we continue through the second half of the poem today, beginning in Psalm 121:5, in which the writer elaborates on three.
Mar 20, 2011 · Working Preacher is a ministry brought to you by Luther Seminary. The Working Preacher team believes that God uses good biblical preaching to change lives. We have enlisted hundreds of friends — biblical scholars, theologians, homileticians and pastors dedicated to the craft of biblical preaching — to provide you timely, compelling and trustworthy content.
Sep 30, 2017. That's the word for author Nikki Grimes' beautifully-illustrated new. In this instance, Ms. Grimes took the lines from Psalm 121:1-8 (I lift up my.
Psalm 121, the second of the Ma'alot poems, is recited on various occasions, and it. many years after it was written (and after the death of the author), in 1991.
Document URL https://www.aqa.org.uk/resources/religious-studies/gcse/religious-studies-a/teach/resource-list. Last updated 24 Jul 2018 © AQA
"When I was a child my mummy used to make me read Psalm 121 almost every day. The other day, it popped into my mind and I went to read It. I got chills as I realized this prayer and confession that I.
10. Pointing out the bandages and cup on a table, the rabbi patiently explained what the instruments were for and that the placard in Hebrew of Psalms 121 was a blessing for their tiny brother, born.
Until the Scrolls were discovered, we relied on the books of Josephus and the books of Maccabees. “There is an emotional component,” the expert explained, pointing to a piece of Psalm 121 on.
The title of Psalm 121 reads tOlfEm a.l arywi–"a song of ascents". (NIV).. herd; he also called on history ("the Keeper of Israel") to reinforce the pilgrim's.
“Behold the Protector of Israel neither slumbers nor sleeps” (Psalms 121:4). He is concealed, but He is ever-present. He may be difficult to perceive, but we take comfort in God’s future promise that.
Together, the faith leaders read Psalm 121, which says that God will provide protection for those who trust him. “It was very moving,” said Cantor Tamar Havilio, who is on sabbatical from the Hebrew.
1 (A Song of degrees.) I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. 2 My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth.
(Psalm 23:1) “You, Lord, are a shield for me, my glory and the lifter of my head.” (Psalm 3:3) “I will lift my eyes to the hills, where does my help come from? My help comes from You, God.” (Psalm 121.
Psalms BLESSEDNESS AND PRAISE Psalm 1:1 – Psalm 1:2.- Psalm 150:6. The Psalter is the echo in devout hearts of the other portions of divine revelation. There are in it, indeed, further disclosures of God’s mind and purposes, but its especial characteristic is-the reflection of the light of God from brightened faces and believing hearts.
Psalm 130 is the 130th psalm of the Book of Psalms, one of the Penitential psalms.The first verse is a call to God in deep sorrow, from "out of the depths" (Out of the deep), as it is translated in the King James Version of the Bible respectively in the Book of Common Prayer.The Book of Psalms is the third section of the Hebrew Bible, and a book of the Christian Old Testament.
Creator of heaven and earth, we bring all of our joys and sorrows, dreams and fears, hopes and anxieties, before you, knowing that your hands are the best place for all of these things. We trust that.
Psalms Authors in The Bible. Which Psalm is Your Favorite? Which Psalm is special for you and why? Share it!
Each year, 44,193 Americans die by suicide which, on average, amounts to 121 suicides per day. he fought the good fight and did what he could to spend time in prayer and read Psalms to find comfort.
119. Ayin Feci judicium 121 I have done what is just and right; * do not deliver me to my oppressors. 122 Be surety for your servant’s good; * let not the proud oppress me.
From printed books, magazines, blogs and digital books. My help comes from the Lord who made heaven and earth.” Psalm 121:1 God’s creation reminds us of His character and promises. Ask God to.
About Disciplines. The Upper Room Disciplines provides an opportunity to look more deeply at scripture by offering a week of devotions by a single author on a particular theme. Read More
Dec 26, 2013. Psalm 121. December. However, spiritually, what Peter wrote is as true today as when he addressed those early Christians. As we go out into.
Kokopelli Native American Mythology Bayou Jessamine takes you right back to Rice Creek Landing and passes the Bottle Creek Indian Mounds (American pyramids built by the Mississippian Tribes of the 13th century, one basket
. Psalm 120 (“I called to God from my distress and He answered me”), Psalm 121 (“I lift up my eyes towards the mountains”), Psalm 130 (“From the depths, I called to You, Hashem”) and Psalm 102 (“A.
The author of this Psalm is not given. God will preserve Israel. This Psalm emphasizes God's faithfulness in being responsive to Israel. The key to this passage is.
by Bible or other Sacred Texts , "Psalmus 120 (121)" [ author's text checked 1 time]. title 1: "Psalm 120 (121)" DUT ENG FRE by Boris Blacher, Heinrich Schütz,
"Secrets of the Psalms" is an artifact of the mystical Jewish belief in the magical efficacy of the recitation of God’s Holy Word. That this tradition was mined by a millennarian Christian German and brought to America where it became a magical receipt-book among the descendents of Africans is just "one of those crazy things" that makes life among the humans so interesting.
Poems About Bridges And Love When anxiety fills me and I feel disconnected from my essence, or when I’m simply out of love. when we build a bridge between the human self and the higher
“Our school motto Levavi Oculos means ‘lift thine eyes,’ ” she wrote. “This motto comes from Psalms 121:1 — what is important is the rest of this passage: ‘Lift thine eyes unto the hills, from whence.
Psalm 121 (KJV). 121 (KJV). Search. < Psalm 120 · Psalm 122 >. Psalm 121. Book 5: Psalms 107-150 — Unknown Author (The Psalms: A Brief Outline).
This Isn T Just A Turkey Poem THURSDAY PUZZLE — I had no problem whatsoever with this Patrick Merrell puzzle, and I’m not just saying that because it’s too. the smaller fish sort of acts as a
But like the psalmist in Psalm 121 I cry out: I lift up my eyes to the hills. Newbell (“Dark Clouds and Abundant Grace”) is the author of Fear and Faith: Finding the Peace Your Heart Craves and.
Psalm 121: Bible Chapters for Kids [Agnes de Bezenac, Salem de Bezenac] on Amazon.com. Author interviews, book reviews, editors' picks, and more.
Dec 18, 2015. 1–2, Psalm 121 begins with an individual in need of help, in much the same. Poetically, the author has used the verb “to keep” to structure the.
Jul 16, 2011 · New to this blog?See How to use this blog. Please note: If you use material from this blog, please be careful to credit the original author and source. They are clearly identified in each blog post. (There is no need to credit the re:Worship blog itself.) Submissions: I am so grateful to those of you who send me your own material to post!We all benefit from your creativity and generosity.
Praise for The Emergent Psalter:. One would expect a liturgical psalter with the word Emergent in the title to be a study in contrasts and it doesn’t disappoint.Isaac is a scholar who understands and appreciates the tradition of psalm singing in the life of the church, but he is also eager to present psalmody in a style that is accessible.
OF THE BENEFIT AND USE OF THE SEMIPHORAS. Whoever lays hold in strong faith and trust in the first Creator, must first implore the divine help and blessing, not only with the lips, but also with holy gestures and humble heart, praying fervently and continually, that he may enlighten the mind, and take away from the soul all darkness of the body.
May the flame she lit so long ago burn ever here and always brighter in our hearts." John Jr. read from Thessalonians 4:13-18, and Caroline read Psalm 121. Thirteen white-clad Navy Sea Chanters, the.
Feb 4, 2019. Psalm 121 is a pilgrim's song to be sung by every traveler who is Heaven. Jesus is and therefore our eyes are fixed on the Author of our faith.
Us Poet Laureate 2011 State Artists for 2019 & 2020. The Texas Commission on the Arts (TCA) is pleased to announce the Texas State Legislature’s 2019 and 2020 appointments to the positions of state
Hear the Bible come alive through song. Psalm 121 with King James Bible lyrics and Commentary, background info, trivia and music downloads.
The opinions, facts and any media content in them are presented solely by the authors, and neither The Times of Israel. The psalmist speaks of a time when we lift our head and seek direction,
Poems To Dad In Heaven That’s where the other list of four comes in: the Four Last Things – death, judgment, heaven and hell. Actually. The text, as you might know, is a paraphrase of
Apr 08, 2019 · Here’s the latest in the series of Bible Project videos I was blessed to consult on.
Difference Prose From Poetry Though a collection of romantic, song-like short poems, Chamber Music (1907), was Joyce’s first published book, he soon rejected poetry’s sentimental temptations in favour of the objective prose style. Genres
Bible (King James)/Psalms. matter: I speak of the things which I have made touching the king: my tongue is the pen of a ready writer.. Psalm 121.
Psalm 19 is the 19th psalm in the Book of Psalms (the 18th in the Septuagint numbering). It is ascribed to David. The psalm considers the glory of God in creation, and moves to reflect on the character and use of "the law of the L ORD".A comparison is made between the law and the sun, which lends a degree of unity to the psalm.
Dec 19, 2013. Bible commentary on the Book of Psalms, chapter 121, by Dr. Bob Utley, but it is the key to following the original author's intent, which is the.
Jan 27, 2012 · Psalm 121 is a treasure of promise for the suffering believer, whose “help comes from the Lord ” (verse 2). After personally celebrating Yahweh’s guardianship in verses 1–2, the psalmist turns to give assurance to others in verses 3–8. He…
My help comes from the Lord, Maker of heaven and earth. (Psalm 121) Even when we consider his military conquest, we see that the driving force behind them was his attachment to God. The hereditary.
Then she becomes one of God’s spies, condensing a life into a few sentences, taking on the power of prophecy, knowing—as Psalm 121 describes the Creator. been a staff writer and book critic at The.
Question: "What should we learn from Psalm 119?" Answer: Containing 176 verses, Psalm 119 is the longest single chapter in the Bible. The author of Psalm 119 is unknown, but most scholars agree that it was written by David, Ezra, or Daniel.
33000+ free ebooks online. Did you know that you can help us produce ebooks by proof-reading just one page a day? Go to: Distributed Proofreaders
A gentle turning to God in the final, ultimate mystery — the passing over or, should I say, the turning over, of one’s soul to its Lover and Author. Though many people. May 1, 2000. #5. pp. 120-121.
A Meditation on Psalm 121. J. R. Miller. This is the thought that was in the mind of the writer of this psalm—"I will lift up my eyes unto the mountains." The sight.
Search by title, catalog stock #, author, isbn, etc. Mother's Day Gift Sale. I Will Lift Up Mine Eyes (Psalm 121:1-2, KJV) Bulletins, 100. Warner Press / 2018 /.


The Servants of SHALOM, John & Sheila with Bro. A.H. Shukri
Bro. Shukri enjoying the Fellowship with the members of
The SHALOM FAMILY - 2018 Oct. Group
Greetings! We, John & Sheila, honestly feel that it’s time to look back our Foot Steps! The Lord has been very kind and compassionate in guiding us through the track of our life steps. The Ministry of Shalom has been given to us graciously by our wonderful Lord, as This ministry is not of human origin. We didn’t receive it from any man, nor was we taught it rather, we received it by revelation from Jesus Christ. We started the first journey to Israel with 33 believers including our son & daughter in the year 2000. After we came back to India, some of our friends, requested us to consider taking them to secular destinations such as Singapore, Malaysia & Thailand and for this purpose we wanted to start a Travel Agency. When I approached the Pastor of my church to give a name, he advised me to name the agency as SHALOM TOURS & TRAVELS.
Over the years, we have been able to lead 94 groups as a Spiritual Journey to the Lands of the Bible, (Israel, Egypt & Jordan) till the end of October 2018. This has been made possible by our wonderful Lord Jesus Christ, of course with the maximum co-operation of our beloved friend
Mr. A.H Shukri of OS Tours & Travel from Jerusalem. He has been more than our brother as we have an unbroken, loving friendship for about 18 years. He always stood like a rock in times of our need, helping us to provide everything in an utmost efficient manner, sometimes upgrading our accommodation from hotels of 3 stars to 5 stars including finding and putting our groups in very good hotels when there was no chance of getting accommodation in any of the hotels in Bethlehem which is absolutely true. He shares our commitment and many a time he has acted as an advocate promoting SHALOM as a House of Absolute Trust with the Ministry of Interior of the State of Israel. We pray that the Lord bless him, his family members and the team of OS TOURS & TRAVEL.
We sincerely request you, brothers & sisters, irrespective of caste, creed, colour or religion, living in any part of the World including India to join SHALOM to travel not only to the Lands of the Bible but also destinations, in the different continents. All our transactions are transparent and there is No Hypocrisy, No Irresponsibility and No Exploitation!
S. John Selwyn & Sheila Selwyn
Servants of Shalom


"Don't Struggle in Silence"
Ashley has been featured in and on a number of publications and media platforms, such as...
Thank you for visiting my site! I'm Ashley K. Pittman and through much reflection, prayer, and self-work, I'm finally FREE. I've been called to help other people fight for their freedom as well, through healing and true deliverance. The freedom to breathe, love and live again, especially after extreme loss. Here's a little more about me and my story...
I always wanted a family, and almost as soon as my family was given to me, it was taken away. For a long time, I held on to my pain. I shut out the person who loved me the most, my husband. And even after we were blessed with more children, I still wasn't free to live my life, to love freely, and be there for my children. I was simply existing through the shame and guilt I felt from the loss of my babies. This is my story of deliverance, and I have to share it with families that may be going through the same. You can heal. You can be delivered. You will breathe again!
Use the navigation buttons at the bottom of the page to visit other areas of my site, such as SERVICES that might help you on your path to healing and freedom!


December NewsDecember 27, 2017
Catch our fabulous Easter Special!February 20, 2018
You realize that a Zambian Christmas is unlike any other when the lodges and local community are singing and dancing together in the shade of a giant tree with elephants passing by in the background...
Together with our guests, members of the local community and some talented choir singers, we had an amazing time celebrating the annual Christmas Carols at Kalawani Pan.
The Carols were followed by a traditional Christmas Lunch on the 25. with perfect views of the Luangwa River.
So next year don’t miss out on joining our less than ordinary Christmas in the African Bush
We wish you a very merry festive season and a Happy New Year!


Three years ago in December, I went to my OB for a normal check up. I was just about 14 weeks pregnant with our third baby, and excited to hear that sweet little heartbeat once again. Out came the doppler to verify all was well with the little one. After several minutes of silence, the nurse reassured me everything was probably fine, and quickly left to get the doctor. They wheeled in the ultrasound machine and a few moments later I was told my baby didn’t have a heartbeat. Those words repeated in my mind a thousand times over the next few days and weeks. And then, I began to experience grief in a way that was new and very foreign to me.
Then fast forward two years later to last December. After trying for another baby for some time, we were expecting again. It felt like an answer to prayer. December came, another doctor appointment arrives, and once again: no heartbeat. We were 10 weeks along, and I was heartbroken.
Last year, only a couple of weeks later, I remember attending a Christmas Eve service and weeping through the entire thing. I was in the throws of grief, but I also had a whole new perspective on Christmas. It was not just about Jesus’ birth, but also, his death. God sent His Son here with the sole purpose of him dying – something I could not comprehend after losing two of my own. Christmas is a story of love and sacrifice woven perfectly together with grace. That night, I gained a greater understanding of what God had done for me; and in all my pain, I was grateful.
During those experiences, God sent people into our lives to love us and pray for us. He used my pain and grief to open my eyes and break down my walls. I’m so grateful for how God takes ugly things and makes them beautiful. I would never volunteer to go through that again, but in God’s goodness He allowed it, and I’m thankful for how He used it.
This year, on December 2nd, God gave us a very special gift: a baby boy. At first, I was hoping to deliver around Thanksgiving, but I think God’s timing for his birth was profoundly perfect. God has redeemed our December.
I don’t always understand the pain that we experience. There were many times when I felt confusion and anger during those dark months. What I do know is that I’m different because of it.
Even if God never blessed us with another child, He still would have been good. But, today I am praising him for this sweet baby boy, and for giving me His Son Jesus.
“You have turned for me my mourning into dancing;
you have loosed my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness,
that my glory may sing your praise and not be silent.
O Lord my God, I will give thanks to you forever!”


The First Communion is the culmination of months (sometimes years) of study, hard work, and piety. First Holy Communion is also a day to celebrate your child coming fully into your faith community, so we have created the one-stop Ultimate First Communion Guide to help answer your questions about day-of dresses, parties, gifts, and more.
First Communion Apparel
First Communion Apparel is special for each little girl, that’s why we’ve put together an extra special guide you can find here: Flower Girl Dress Guide.
What should girls wear for their First Communion?
Usually, the church performing the First Communion will have a standard dress code for all communicants to follow. On average, girls wear a modest dress to their First Communion that covers the arms, legs, and head, in accordance with the church they attend. Traditionally the dress is white; depending on your church ivory can be worn as well. More girls are wearing modern dresses that don't cover arms, they usually wear a bolero when they're in the church and take off for all the other festivities
White is a symbol of purity, and can be simple or include more intricacies like beading, lace, embroidery, ruffles, swoop train, and bateau dress line depending on the preferences of the girl, her parents, the church, and what the church recommends.
Can people attending a First Communion wear white?
There is no explicit rule that says you can't wear white. The general consensus is to wear a modest, church-conscious outfit that can be colorful and flattering. A good rule of thumb is to wear celebratory colors. Avoid spaghetti straps, short dresses, low cut dresses, shirts, slippers, and flip flops.
Are girls required to wear a veil or wreath veil for their First Communion?
Wearing a veil or wreath to First Communion is a very traditional accessory that can add sophistication and elegance to any First Communion dress. Wreath veils and veils are a great detail to complete a look, although not always required. A tiara with a veil is another great addition to a First Communion dress. If your little girl will be wearing a veil, check out some of these adorable veils.
What types of outerwear goes best with First Communion Dresses?
While there is no one set of rules about First Communion dresses, each church may have recommendations or specific guidelines. There are a few gorgeous accessories that can make your princess feel extra special on her big day. Boleros that match the dress both in color and style can work well, especially if the First Communion falls on a questionable weather day. While the outerwear may not be allowed in the church, the child can wear it before and after the ceremony.
First Communion Party
Image source: 22 Christening and Baptism Party Ideas by PrettyMyParty
What are the main components of a First Communion Party?
After the First Communion, is the First Communion party, where friends and family gather to support and celebrate the new communicant. These are some of the main components you will want to consider for your little one’s first communion party.
- Double check the date and time of the ceremony with your church
- Make your First Communion guest list
- Find a venue
- Create your invitations
- Make or print a map to where your party will be held to add to your invitations
- Plan your menu
- Include food, drinks, water, flatware, cups, napkins, plates, ice, table, chairs, tablecloths, table for gifts
- Appoint a “day-of” helper
- Choose your decorations
- Plan your thank you speech
On the big day, coffee and other refreshments keep your guests feeling welcomed. Here are some easy recipes and ideas for refreshments at your princess’ big First Communion party.
If your party has a large number of guests and will be held in a large space, a buffet-style may be the way to go. This will make it easy for your friends and family to come and go as they please. Consider sectioning an area for small children to run around and have fun. Here you can plan out an area where for opening gifts.
Who should I invite to my child’s First Holy Communion and Communion Party?
This is a big day for your family, and whoever you want to spend this special day which brings lifelong memories is important to go about who you invite to the First Holy Communion and Communion Party is up to you. On average, most people invite immediate and extended family,Godparents, as well as friends, teachers, classmates, community members who are important in your child’s life, to their First Communion and party.
Should I hire a First Communion Photographer?
Professional photographers will always catch moments we might miss, especially on a busy hosting day like a First Communion. Whether or not you hire a photographer often depends on the budget you set, but if you hire a trusted professional photographer your memories captured will be beautifully and professionally done. Here’s some tips on how to get the most out of your communion photographer.
Where can I host a First Communion Party?
Where you decide to host your child’s First Communion Party might be relative to how many people you are inviting. If you have a small enough party or big enough home, that may be the way to go. Other venue options to consider a favorite restaurant, hotels are a great option, parks and recreation areas, and banquet halls. Here are some extra tips to keep in mind if you have anyone needing handicap access if the parking and restrooms are easily accessible. Also, does your venue come equipped with catering services, or can you choose your own catering service? If you are having a buffet-style potluck it will be beneficial to find out where ever your event will be there will be access to a sink and trash bins.
What style of cake is best for a First Communion Party?
The First Communion cake can be a custom, one-of-a-kind creation, or made from home with love. If you are expecting many guests to come and go, you may opt for cupcakes or cake pops. A beautifully sketched out cross, or a favorite scripture can be added to the cakes, cupcakes, cookies, and loaves of bread to symbolize your very special day to reflect the celebration of Christ. A cross, prayer, or cakes shaped like wafers and chalice are some other ideas. We love these ideas on easy communion cakes.
What are the best flowers for a First Communion Party?
Light-colored flowers tend to be the most popular choices for a First Communion Party. White, cream, yellow, purple, pink, peach, lavender, blue-colored flowers are great themes as your best guide. Think Spring flowers, such as Alalea, Baby’s Breath, Bluebell, Carnations, Daffodils, Daisies, Gardenias, Hydrangea, Lavender, Lilac, Lilies, Magnolia, Primrose, Roses, Tulips, and our favorite Peonies. Here’s a quick reference list:
- Baby’s Breath
- Gerbera Daisies
- Stargazer lilies
First Communion Gifts
Bracelet from: Kennebug Boutique
Are gifts given for First Communion?
Most if not all your guests will bring a gift, and most gifts are First Communion occasion specific. Here’s a list of appropriate gifts:
- A statue of their namesake saint
- Wall cross/crucifix
- Jewelry or religious charm bracelet
- Cash or gift card
- First Communion lapel pin
- Bible or spiritual book
- Birthstone rosary
- Nativity pieces
- First communion prayer locket
- Holy water font
- Rosary keepsake boxes
- Inspirational bookmark
How much money do you give for Communion?
Money as a gift is always appreciative, and it may be easier for everyone. How much you give is entirely up to you. Depending on the spectrum of closeness, a teacher, school friend, neighbor, may think about giving in the $20 to the $50 range. If you are closer to the communicant, a good range would be anywhere from $60 to the $200 range, while godparents and grandparents are anywhere from over $200 and above.
What is a good First Communion gift for a girl?
When looking for a gift for a girl's First Communion, personal engraving gifts are always a great idea. Pillows, necklaces, bracelets, bibles, even backpack, purses, pencils, and notebooks can make nice gifts. Religious board games, music, and movies are also an option. Rosaries always make great gifts. From snowglobes, embroidered pillowcases, prayer lockets, here’s a store with cute charms and gifts to get you started.
First Communion 101
What is the meaning of First Communion?
First Holy Communion also known as First Eucharist, is one of the three Sacraments of Initiation. By remembering the sacrifice Jesus made, for the Body and Blood of Jesus Himself and food for our journey of faith.
What grade do you make your First Communion?
First Communion is typically received in the 2nd grade, which is about 7 or 8 years old. If you want your child to receive First Communion before 7 or 8 years old, your church may have a special program.
What do you say when receiving Holy Communion?
After receiving Holy Communion, it is customary to say, “Amen” as a declaration to follow Christ even to death.
What is the Holy Communion and what does it symbolize?
At the Last Supper, Jesus broke bread and shared wine with the Apostles so He could be with them in spirit forever.
How do you get your First Holy Communion?
There are different requirements for children taking their First Communion depending on the faith and church. All Christians must first be baptized. Some children are required to take a class (or classes), and some require the first confession with an age-appropriate Examination of Conscience and the Act of Contrition.
Helpful Tips for Girls Receiving their First Holy Communion
Why do we say amen when we receive communion?
Saying “Amen” after receiving the Eucharist is a way to acknowledge with head and heart that you agree to follow Christ.
Is it considered a sin to eat before Communion?
Anyone expecting to participate in Holy Communion must fast for one hour prior to taking the Eucharist unless you must take medication.
What is the difference between First Communion and Confirmation?
Both Communion and Confirmation are part of the Sacred Sacraments (and along with Baptism make up the three rites of passage for children into the faith). The Communion is the coming together of communicant with the body and blood of Christ through the Eucharist. Confirmands go through a confirmation of baptismal vows, sometimes picking a new name, receiving a blessing, the tracing of a cross in chrism oil, and a confirmation prayer.
The First Communion is an exciting time for parents and children. Children have worked hard to understand what it means to come into faith, to take the vow to follow Christ, and to become a part of the faith community. Parents are proud of their children and ready to celebrate the Communicant in their new role as a part of the faith community. We hope that this guide will make it easier for you to plan without stress and enjoy the big day.
Say yes to the Communion dress Kid's Dream edition! Jade is having her Communion in May and stopped by our showroom to pick out the perfect dress. Which Communion dress will Jade pick?
Flattering Communion Girl Plus Size Dresses
Communion and Flower Girl Season is right around the corner and we have some of the most beautiful plus size dresses that fit and flatter. Below are our best selling plus size dress this year.
Our Plus Size Lace Trim Tulle Dress: This is a full length satin dress that is accented with lace trim and pleated cap sleeves. The skirt has a tulle overlay with lace and bead trim on the waist. Perfect for Holy Communion and weddings.
Our Plus Size Lace Trim Tulle Dress: Our chiffon butterfly sleeve full length dress with shirred bodice design is simply stunning and classic. The dress is accented with an elegant cording lace trim at the waist.
Full length dress with elegant bridal lace bodice and shimmery tulle skirt is detailed with an intricate trim of flowers, pearls, rhinestones, and ribbons on the waist.
The perfect combination of classic and modern, this satin and mesh dress is detailed with intricate embroidery trim on sleeves and poly embroidery chandelier trim at waist. Designed with clean lines and delicate trims, this dress is a distinguished choice for a stylish and fashionable young lady.