From the time of Christ, his followers have struggled to recreate a wholesome life and community that reconciles each of us to one another and to God. Instead of reconciliation, however, we frequently find ourselves trapped by circumstances that limit our capacities to be free to love, to live a life rich with possibilities, and instead, find ourselves isolated and broken.
Always we are chasing words, and always
words recede.
But the greatest experiences are those for
which we have no expression.1
Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany: Liturgies and Prayers for Public Worship, by Brian Wren. WJKP, 2008. Pb., 230 pp. $29.95.
holiday film reviews
There is plenty of light-hearted movie fare for the holidays, but the great performances are usually to be found in the more serious films. Here are several that are hard to watch, but worth the effort:
(ENI) — A government-backed independent U.S. commission has recommended that Iraq be designated "a country of particular concern" for what it calls "ongoing, severe abuse of religious freedom".
(ABP) -- A majority of American Christians believe that at least some non-Christian faiths can lead to eternal life, says a new survey by the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life.
(ENI)--U.S. president-elect Barack Obama has defended his selection of evangelical leader and best-selling author Rick Warren to deliver the prayer at his 20 January inauguration, a move criticized by some gay groups and supporters of abortion rights, saying Warren opposes what they stand for.
(ENI)--The Southern Africa Catholic Bishops' Conference has called on all nations to stop colluding with Zimbabwe's Robert Mugabe who is trying to stay on as president of his country that has been reduced to pauper status under his rule.
LOUISVILLE — Terri Bate, a veteran fundraiser who has worked for such non-profit organizations as Outward Bound and Habitat for Humanity, has joined the staff of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)’s General Assembly Council as the director of funds development ministry.
(ENI) -- Israeli archaeologists at Jerusalem's Hebrew University are working on what they believe is further proof that a site uncovered in 2007 is the tomb of King Herod, the king of Judea, whose actions are noted in New Testament texts of the Bible.
LEAWOOD, Kansas — A Baptist pastor thinks he has a solution to the dilemma about whether it's more appropriate to say "Merry Christmas" or "Happy Holidays" in secular settings like department stores.
(PNS) Carl H. Geores, a champion for rural and small church ministry in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) for more than 50 years, died at his home in Monmouth, Maine, Dec.15. He was 86.
(PNS) Bruce Larson, who served as pastor of Seattle’s University Church from 1980-1990 and then joined Robert Schuller as co-pastor of the Crystal Cathedral in Garden Grove, Calif., died Dec. 15 at age 83. He had suffered for a number of years with Parkinson’s Disease.
(ENI) — Lutheran World Federation General Secretary Ishmael Noko, has in a letter to Lutheran church leaders in southern Africa expressed anguish and outrage over the increasingly worsening crisis in Zimbabwe.
On Robert Mugabe's current leadership role in the country, Noko noted that while many Zimbabweans paid the ultimate price during the struggle for freedom from colonial rule, the "independent government that they fought for has turned liberation into repression, and finally into calamity."
GHOST RANCH, N.M. — More than 80 “alumni” and their families gathered here recently for a reunion of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)’s “Junior Year Abroad” (JYA) program.
“I think it really made a difference, don’t you?” 96-year-old Margaret Flory commented to Bruce Rigdon about the program she originated in 1953. JYA prompted about 500 Presbyterian college students to study and serve overseas
for one year. Rigdon participated in Hong Kong as part of the first JYA group.
GENEVA — The World Council of Churches (WCC) has invited member churches and ecumenical partners to nominate candidates for the position of general secretary of the world’s largest ecumenical organization. The deadline for applications is Feb. 28, 2009.
The general secretary is the organization's chief executive officer and serves as a spokesperson for the council. He or she is charged with the responsibility to interpret and promote the strategic vision of the WCC.
“Behold! The angels said: ‘O Mary! God giveth thee glad tidings of a Word from Him. His name will be Jesus Christ,..
Last weekend I delivered the installation charge of my old friend Scott Black Johnston as he officially assumed the position of senior pastor of Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church in New York City. A minister and member of the Presbytery of New York in the congregation that day suggested I share it with other colleagues so I decided to make it this week’s BLOG.
Last weekend I delivered the installation charge of my old friend Scott Black Johnston as he officially assumed the position of senior..
(ABP) -- Backlash over comments about gay rights on a public-radio broadcast has apparently cost a prominent National Association of Evangelicals lobbyist his job.
Richard Cizik resigned Dec. 10 as NAE's vice president for governmental affairs, according to a statement posted Dec. 11 on the Web site of the umbrella group for evangelical churches, denominations, and parachurch ministries.
“Punisher: War Zone” — Pure comic book. This kind of pulp fiction features the evil criminal literally deformed (Dominic West as Jigsaw), and his deranged brother, Looney Bin Jim (Doug Hutchison), terrorizing at will until The Punisher (Ray Stevenson) arrives on the scene, the indestructible vigilante who serves as self-appointed judge, jury, and executioner, just blasting away the bad guys.
“Doubt” opens with the parish priest, Father Flynn (Phillip Seymour Hoffman) delivering a brief, eloquent homily about doubt. This is the 1950s, and the well-dressed, clean-scrubbed congregation sits in rapt attention, in part because Sister Aloysius (Meryl Streep) is the self-appointed behavior modifier.
“Doubt” opens with the parish priest, Father Flynn (Phillip Seymour Hoffman) delivering a brief, eloquent homily about doubt. This is the 1950s, and the well-dressed, clean-scrubbed congregation sits in rapt attention, in part because Sister Aloysius (Meryl Streep) is the self-appointed behavior modifier.
Keanu Reeves and Jennifer Connelly star in “The Day The Earth Stood Still,” a remake of the 1951 classic. Connelly plays Dr. Helen Benson, a scientist who is kidnapped by government agents in order to deal with an urgent emergency: a certain fast-moving object from space is going to collide with earth in an hour, and it appears to be on an irregular flight pattern — that is, guided. All attempts to intercept fail.
Richard Cizik resigned Dec. 10 as vice president for governmental affairs of the National Association of Evangelicals, following remarks he made in a radio interview that he is changing his views on same-sex unions.
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