Archive for free market
This article was jointly written by Doug Stuart and Jessica Hooker.
In Stoker’s original article, she outlined three objections to the compatibility of Christianity and libertarianism, with subsequent expansions in later posts. Our previous posts addressed her first two points, and this article addresses her third point. Read our first post here, and our second post here. A substantial amount of time has passed since the aforementioned posts were originally written, so we encourage you to review them for additional context.
The first biblical story about humans is about human action and consequences. Whether one takes the story of Adam and Eve as historical-factual or non-literal, the narrative in Scripture functions as more than a mere explanation of why sin exists or where humans come from. This origin story frames the questions about divine-human relationship: “How shall we relate to God?” and “What are God’s expectations?” (among others). Far from playing the part of Divine Puppeteer, God bestowed Adam and Eve with the dignity of choice. God had spent six days creating the good world in which God placed God’s crowning creation—mankind—and from our perspective God would have been justified in thwarting any attempt to mar that world. If God was willing to give them such a level of freedom that could—and ultimately did—result in cursing a perfect world, how much more freedom are we then given in the small things? We may even wonder why God placed a tree in the garden whose fruit could bring such sadness and destruction into the world.
3) Libertarians value freedom so heavily because we believe in non-aggression; that is, that peaceful action is the only permissible way to treat others. The common good can never be reached through violence or coercion.
In the freedom to choose right or wrong, good or evil, humanity has a considerable amount of freedom in both big and small. Stoker is right in that the explicit freedom spoken of in Scripture is about freedom from sin and freedom to righteousness. But this far from negates libertarian free will! Throughout the Scriptures we see God imploring humanity to choose the way of life. Israel was beckoned at the beginning of Joshua, “Choose this day whom you will serve.” They were free to reject God’s covenant, free to reject God’s justice, and free to reject God’s blessings for doing it “God’s way.” It is here that we find an inherent integration of our Christianity and our libertarianism. God did not create us puppets on a string, controlling our every move, making us do right. Nor did Jesus implore us to preach the gospel, and—if people reject it—declare ourselves, by proxy through the state, masters of their morality. We are never called to make Jesus Lord of other people’s lives. One of the aspects of Jesus’ Parable of the Sower is that absent the story is the forceful “plowing under” of the seeds, a common and expected practice in his culture. Jesus was saying (in part) God’s Kingdom comes peacefully, not forcefully. We can not force it to happen!
This is where we believe Stoker ultimately misses the mark. Throughout her series on Christianity and libertarianism, her arguments have hinged upon using force to coerce people to behave a certain way—her way. She has stated that “Justice in the world actually occurs when people engage with others in a just way,” yet has failed to illustrate how it is just to forcibily take from those who have to give to those who have not. Coerced charity is not charity at all. Doing the right thing for the wrong reason is no better than doing the wrong thing for the right reason—it’s just the words that are reversed.
The prophet Micah tells the people of Israel, “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8, NIV). Challenging words, indeed. But here again we see the same thread we’ve been following through our previous two posts: the freedom to fail, to mess up, to choose wrongly or irresponsibly.
It is nearly impossible to read the narrative of the New Testament without considering the backdrop of the Exodus narrative in the Old Testament. Being released from bondage in Egypt was more than just slavery per se, it was—and still is—imagery that characterized the whole of human existence: bondage to powers that enslave us. Most Christians consider sin that which enslaves all of us. In this sense, the meaning of the Exodus narrative is fully captured in the climactic event of the entire Christian story: resurrection of Jesus. God has freed humanity from the bondage of sin through a new exodus, a new creation. We are thus freed from sin and the effects of sin. The Truth—Jesus—will set us free. We are set free for freedom. Stoker would rightly point out that the biblical writers were probably not thinking of what we call “Enlightenment freedom,” but there is no escaping that the gospel according to Jesus is freedom from all that enslaves, not simply our sinful nature or eternal destination. While this connect far from “proves” libertarianism, it certainly demonstrates compatibility with it.
Stoker concluded her first post with explaining why the state is the best means by which our collectively pooled resources are able to render help to those in need. It’s truly ironic, because where the Bible describes those who need rescue from oppression and slavery, it is from oppressive empires, which is exactly the type of institution which enslaves those whom God cares most about! God heard the cries of God’s people in Egypt, and responded by mocking, shaming, and ultimately demolishing the Egyptian gods as they knew it. Stoker herself even recognizes the inherent power-over nature of the State, giving further credence to the libertarian claim that power easily corrupts! She cannot have both the State monopolizing the distribution of resources while at the same time chastising the institution of private property as “participation in state power.”
Guest post by C. Jay Engel of the Reformed Libertarian.
The anti-free market proclamations from the left (and even sometimes the right) come in all shapes and sizes. Among the more common of these proclamations is the one that I heard yesterday. As far as I can remember, this is what was said by the individual (to her friend) next to me. “Capitalism is problematic because it is an entire system based on greed. If we want a healthy society, we should not seek to adopt such a system. We need a system that is based on cooperation and love.” That capitalism is a system built on greed is a claim that is often heard and the theme has been pushed at every level of society; from the politicians, the educators, the commentators, the media, and the average Joe.
It is immediately clear that there is a dichotomy here between cooperation and capitalism, a dichotomy that should immediately raise the red flags of the libertarian. After all, aren’t we always saying that the economy is most ethical when it is completely voluntary? And does not voluntary interaction and exchange form the basis for capitalism? The problem sits in the misunderstanding of the very nature of (free market) capitalism. This capitalism is not the same as the fascist system we have today. The American system of corporatism, that has largely existed since the nineteenth century, should never be confused with the free market.
Defending the Free Market: The Moral Case for a Free Economy, by Robert Sirico (Regnery Publishing, 2012), 213 pages.
Critics of the free market assert that it fails the underprivileged, leads to income inequality, exploits the poor, and is at times downright cruel. They charge its defenders with being motivated by greed, selfishness, and materialism, and making a god out of efficiency. The solution to the alleged deficiencies of the free market and the character of its supporters is always without exception government intervention in the marketplace. But when that fails to remedy the perceived wrongs of the free market, then even more intervention is prescribed to make things right. And as Richman’s Law states, “No matter how much the government controls the economic system, any problem will be blamed on whatever small zone of freedom that remains.”
The Rev. Robert Sirico, in his book Defending the Free Market: The Moral Case for a Free Economy, argues that a free economy — where property rights, contracts, and the rule of law are respected; prices and interest rates are freely agreed to by willing parties; entrepreneurship is encouraged; profit is not disdained; and charity is voluntary — is the most efficient and moral way to meet society’s material needs. Read More→
Review of Daniel M. Bell Jr., The Economy of Desire: Christianity and Capitalism in a Postmodern World (Baker Academic, 2012), 224 pgs., paperback.
This is the sixth volume in the series The Church and Postmodern Culture, edited by James K. A. Smith. The series “features high-profile theorists in continental philosophy and contemporary theology writing for a broad, nonspecialist audience interested in the impact of postmodern theory on the faith and practice of the church.”
Although I am not the least bit interested in postmodern theory, I am very interested in the intersection of Christianity and economics or politics. Thus, the phrase “Christianity and Capitalism” in this book’s subtitle caught my eye. Nevertheless, I have never been more disappointed, or bored.
The author describes his work as “a contribution to the conversation about the relationship of Christianity to capitalism with a postmodern twist.” That twist is nothing short of pure Christian anti-capitalism, although of a very unique kind. You see, Daniel Bell, professor of theological ethics at Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary and the author of several books, is not a socialist. He maintains that his book “changes the focus from capitalism versus socialism to capitalism versus the divine economy made present by Christ and witnessed to by the church.”
Fortunately, I didn’t have to read through the whole book to discover what the author meant by capitalism. He equates capitalism with the “free-market economy” because the name “highlights the centrality of the market.” This is well and good, and certainly makes it easier to understand where the author is coming from. Unfortunately, this is not the case for understanding Bell’s concept of the divine economy. Read More→


Vatican prelate calls fences around White House ‘unacceptable’ at vigil for George Floyd
VATICAN CITY (RNS) — In Rome and at the Vatican, the death of George Floyd and the protests in the United States inspired anti-racism vigils and prayers over the weekend.
"Today is a day when the American community and not only that but the whole world should come together to seriously examine where as a world, as a people, we are all going," said Cardinal Kevin Farrell, the head of the Vatican department for Family, Laity and Life, speaking to a group of reporters ahead of the vigil for George Floyd on Friday (June 5).
Floyd, a black man, died in police custody on May 25, and the viral video of his death has sparked protests and marches throughout the United States and the world to oppose systemic racism. In Rome, at the Basilica of St. Mary in Trastevere, the Catholic lay movement St. Egidio organized a vigil for Floyd with the participation of high-ranking Vatican prelates.
Farrell told reporters, including Religion News Service, that though many "know all the theory and can quote all the great speeches" regarding the plague of racism, few are willing to do what needs to be done.
"We are all the same human people and therefore I believe it's very important that we stop all this division and we stop the rhetoric of hatred that exists sometimes in our speech," he said.
Farrell was the auxiliary bishop of Washington D.C. between 2001 and 2007 and voiced his dismay at the news that amid the mounting anti-racism protests, the White House has erected over a mile of security fencing.
"To see barricades around the White House is something I never experienced in all the years I lived in Washington. I don't find that acceptable. I think it's a terrible image for the United States to have," he said, adding that the United States is "supposed to be the leader in tolerance."
A large crowd gathered for the vigil while respecting health and safety measures, including the head of the Vatican department charged with safeguarding life, Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia, and foreign representatives to the Holy See.
The U.S. ambassador to the Holy See, Callista Gingrich, and her husband and former Speaker of the House, Newt Gingrich, also attended. The ambassador praised the organizers for the "beautiful service" in memory of Floyd and in support of the United States.
"We just want to express our appreciation for this very important person," Gingrich told RNS, referring to Floyd, adding the importance of presenting "a message that is reconciliatory."
The service began with a prayer for "the just man" George Floyd and his family as well as for "the end of all violence in the United States" so that "all racism will be defeated and justice reaffirmed."
During his homily, Farrell pointed to the "distorted way of thinking" that can sometimes lead Christians "to identify with only one side, distancing ourselves from those who belong to the other side.
"In doing so, we completely lose sight of the universal dimension of Christ's message or even end up identifying our Christian faith with the ideological vision of the side we have embraced," the cardinal said.
In this difficult context, he continued, Christians are called to promote harmony and reconciliation and avoid partisanship by returning to Jesus' gospel teachings. Instead of fueling "anger and frustration," people of faith must promote "a culture of respect," the cardinal said.
"Offensive words and gestures of contempt, looting and violence lead to nothing good for the future," Farrell said. "For this reason we Christians must not hide in fear. On the contrary, precisely in these delicate moments of social tension we must be present to address the just desire for equality, respect and justice that is present in the hearts of so many men and women."
On Sunday (June 7), hundreds gathered in Rome's Piazza del Popolo to protest against racial discrimination and injustice, holding signs decrying Floyd's death and police brutality. Italian police stood by during the peaceful and socially distanced protest.
St. Egidio has also organized a flash mob in Rome on Monday (June 8), where Catholic youth will gather to "oppose any form of racism, social discrimination and violence" and adhere to the Black Lives Matter movement, according to a press release issued by the Catholic movement.
Vatican Media outlets, Catholic faithful and Pope Francis have drawn attention to the importance of combating racism and voiced support for Floyd and his family since the protests began in the United States.


EAST WENATCHEE — Kingdom Embassy Church, 181 1st St. S.E., will host an “Awaken to Revival” conference next week with Dr. Andries VanSchalkwyk.
The conference will include the following events:
- April 25: 6 p.m. service
- April 26: Noon leadership luncheon, 6 p.m. meeting
- April 27: 9 a.m. Kingdom Principles class, 10 a.m. worship, 6 p.m. valley-wide worship service
VanSchalkwyk, originally from South Africa, is senior pastor at Christian Kingdom Family Church in Dallas. He is also a motivational…


By Savio Pham
A record number of people turned out for the 20th annual Summer Festival hosted by Vietnamese Martyrs Parish of Seattle Aug. 23-25.
Under the protection of umbrellas, Auxiliary Bishop Eusebio Elizondo and Deacon Philip Mau Duc Nguyen follow a group of archdiocesan and visiting priests during an Aug. 23 procession in honor of Our Lady of La Vang and the Vietnamese martyrs. Photo: Savio Pham
Vietnamese Catholics from other parishes in the archdiocese joined in the celebration, marking the 25th anniversary of the canonization of the Vietnamese martyrs. The event was held on property in Tukwila where Vietnamese Martyrs Parish plans to expand.
Auxiliary Bishop Eusebio Elizondo, presiding at the festival’s opening Mass, praised the Vietnamese community for acquiring the land. “There is much work ahead … and the future is bright for the Vietnamese faithful,” Bishop Elizondo said during his homily.
Before Mass, Bishop Elizondo, with local and visiting priests, joined a procession in honor of Our Lady of La Vang and the Vietnamese martyrs. The procession included a boat-shaped float that carried some relics of the Vietnamese martyrs, a statue of Our Lady of La
Vang and a shield with the Year of Faith symbol. The float was a reminder of the hundreds of thousands of Vietnamese who fled their country by boat — many of them dying at sea — after the fall of South Vietnam in the 1970s.
The festival weekend included a variety of entertainment and Vietnamese food for sale, as a fundraiser for the new church and pastoral activities for Vietnamese Catholics in other parishes.
Father Thanh X. Dao, pastor of Vietnamese Martyrs Parish, estimated some 8,000 people attended the festival over its three days.
The successful event did experience a couple of glitches, however. Electricity to the site was disrupted Saturday evening, halting the entertainment program for nearly three hours, and some attendees who parked in neighboring business lots discovered later that their cars had been towed away.
Wearing traditional dress, Christina Nguyen, left, and Mary Ann Ngo perform the well-known dance “Trong Com” during the summer festival hosted by Vietnamese Martyrs Parish in Seattle. Photo: Savio Pham
Auxiliary Bishop Eusebio Elizondo incenses a float carrying the statue of Our Lady of La Vang and some relics of the Vietnamese martyrs. The float was carried in a procession that opened the three-day summer festival hosted by Seattle’s Vietnamese Martyrs Parish. Photo: Savio Pham
August 28, 2013


P7 Leaver's Mass
The Staff of St. Patrick's wish our P7 Leaver 'butterflies' happiness and success as they leave St. Patrick's and begin their next journey. Just remember, we will be watching to see how you blossom in the future and will always be here for you if you need us. Fly safely.
We would like to thank Fr. Thomas for the beautiful words at the Leaver's Mass.


Kiev Pechersk Lavra (HD)
Kiev Monastery of the Caves, is a historic Orthodox Christian monastery in Kiev, Ukraine. Since its foundation as the cave monastery in 1015 the Lavra has been a preeminent center of the Eastern Orthodox Christianity in Eastern Europe. Together with the Saint-Sophia Cathedral, it is inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It was named one of the Seven Wonders of Ukraine on August 21, 2007, based on voting by experts and the community.


” Now there was a woman who had been suffering from hemorrhages for twelve years. She had endured much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had; and she was no better, but rather grew worse. She had heard about Jesus, and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, for she said, “If I but touch his clothes, I will be made well.” Immediately her hemorrhage stopped; and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease. Immediately aware that power had gone forth from him, Jesus turned about in the crowd and said, “Who touched my clothes?” And his disciples said to him, “You see the crowd pressing in on you; how can you say, ‘Who touched me?’” He looked all around to see who had done it. But the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling, fell down before him, and told him the whole truth. He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.” — Mark 5:25-34
For 20-plus years, Audra Popp has lived with a rare brain tumor. She’s undergone multiple treatments and surgeries, all while keeping an attitude of hope and humor. At age 54, she has exhausted any more possibilities. But her mantra hasn’t shaken, “With hope all things are possible.” She goes on each day, clinging to her faith, trusting in the Lord and giving every ounce of strength she has left to others. Her family says that’s just the kind of person she is.
I’ve never met Audra but I was alerted to her story by a friend, who shared a link to a GoFundMe page to help the family with expenses and to help others not feel quite so helpless.
I didn’t hesitate. I clicked the “donate” button and gave a few measly bucks which will be a drop in the inevitable bucket of bills.
I just wanted to touch her life. Not to make some grand gesture or perform some noble act. I just wanted to touch her, to touch her wound, to touch her holiness. To feel the hem of her garment.
Jesus is close to those who suffer, he assures us of that. So, it’s not a stretch to believe that her body here on earth, battered and broken, is a vessel of Christ. A human nexus allowing us to touch him through her, strengthening our hope as she weakens, bringing us spiritual healing as her body fights, giving us life as she faces death.
I’ve never met her and likely won’t get the chance. But I will remember her. I only captured a glimpse of her image in a photo or two. But I will recognize her in heaven someday, when she waits there, with the unbroken communion of saints which unites heaven and earth, to meet me.
Audra and her family are members of Annunciation Parish in Mayhew Lake. To learn more about her journey, click here.


November 15, 2019 – Town of Trenton, WI – Julius Peter Waldkirch, 89, received his angel wings on Saturday, November 9, 2019. He was born in the Town of Trenton on August 4, 1930 to George and Mary (nee Wegener) Waldkirch, and was the third of eight children.
Julius attended Holy Trinity school in Newburg and was a graduate of West Bend High School. He proudly served his country for four years in the U.S. Air Force, attaining the rank of Staff Sergeant. He was then employed by the A.O. Smith Corporation for thirty years and also worked the family farm. After retiring from A.O. Smith, Julius worked for Ozaukee County for 10 years driving clients to medical appointments.
Julius was a loving, thoughtful, and generous man who always put his family first. He was a hard worker with a huge heart, a quick wit, and a hilarious sense of humor. He enjoyed fishing, playing cards, bingo, word search puzzles, and of course, cheering on (and sometimes cursing out) the Green Bay Packers. He was a longtime member of the Fredonia Lions Club and a lifetime member of the Knights of Columbus.
Julius is survived by his children Renae Waldkirch, Jean (Patrick) Weymer, Kris (Jill) Becker, Brian (Kathy) Becker, Kirk (Terri) Becker, Renee (Harold) Denlow, and Julius G. (Judy Eguia) Waldkirch; grandchildren Noah Summerville, Bella Weymer, Alex Weymer, Melissa Rader, Julius P. Waldkirch II, Debra Jo Becker, Samuel Becker, Shannon (Sam) Dolezal, Kelly (Cole) Mathison, Megan (Nate) Evett, Karlee (Josh) Uttermark, Logan Becker (fiance Billy Tilot), Morgan Denlow, and Sydney Denlow, six great grandchildren; brothers Robert (“Joey”) Waldkirch and Peter (Ann) Waldkirch, sister Barbara Schlosser, and other relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by his beloved wife Rosie, brothers Roman Waldkirch and Richard Waldkirch, sisters Georgia Muckerheide and Mary Biersack, and former wife Arlane Meneau.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 4PM on Friday, December 6 at Divine Savior – Holy Cross Chapel, 5330 Hwy B., Belgium. Father Gideon Buya and Father Tom Biersack will concelebrate. Julius will be laid to rest the next day in Holy Trinity Cemetery. The family will receive visitors at CHURCH on Friday from 2-4 p.m. at CHURCH.
Julius was very loved and will be missed immensely. In lieu of flowers, memorials to the Lawlis Family Hospice at Columbia St. Mary’s, Ozaukee will be appreciated.
The Eernisse Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.


He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High
Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress;
My God, in Him I will trust.”
3 Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler
And from the perilous pestilence.
4 He shall cover you with His feathers,
And under His wings you shall take refuge;
His truth shall be your shield and buckler.
5 You shall not be afraid of the terror by night,
Nor of the arrow that flies by day,
6 Nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness,
Nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday.
7 A thousand may fall at your side,
And ten thousand at your right hand;
But it shall not come near you.
8 Only with your eyes shall you look,
And see the reward of the wicked.
9 Because you have made the Lord, who is my refuge,
Even the Most High, your dwelling place,
10 No evil shall befall you,
Nor shall any plague come near your dwelling;
11 For He shall give His angels charge over you,
To keep you in all your ways.
12 In their hands they shall bear you up,
Lest you dash your foot against a stone.
13 You shall tread upon the lion and the cobra,
The young lion and the serpent you shall trample underfoot.
14 “Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him;
I will set him on high, because he has known My name.
15 He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble;
I will deliver him and honor him.
16 With long life I will satisfy him,
And show him My salvation.”
Get Your Free Gift here, and For More Psalms Go To The Book of Psalms page
When Jesus says yes, nobody can say no. In these psalms, you're going to see the majesty of God. You're going to see the awesomeness of God and His greatness. And undoubtedly, you will see His great power.
Because the God that we serve is Awesome. He is powerful. I've seen God heal the sick, perform miracles, and deliver people from demons.
I've seen God provide jobs, pay school fees, and so much more. He is awesome! And it is our prayer at Alive Christians that yo see how great and awesome He is too!
These psalms are very powerful and will speak to the delivering power of God in your life because God is a mighty deliverer.
It doesn't matter what demonic power you may be facing. It doesn't matter if you're facing financial setbacks or problems in your wealth and relationships.
The Mighty God that we serve is able to do exceedingly, abundantly above all we can ask or image according to the power that works in us - Ephesians 3:20.
So, if you're in any need for His delivering power, the Psalmist shows how good and Mighty God is. And He will come through for you. Just put your trust in Him.
I remember there was a gentleman that I had been speaking to who was contemplating suicide. He was having a really hard time. So as the Holy Spirit led, I spoke to HIm and encouraged Him in the Lord. During our talks, I was yielding to the Lord for Him to use me as a vessel, or a point of contact between Him and this man. And the more that I spoke the better He felt.
You see, if you submit to God and resist the devil, he will flee. And that's what The Lord was directing me to do.
After I was finished speaking with this man, he remarked, "This is the best I've felt in a long time!"
The Psalms show that God is faithful and terrible in His dealings with those who are against Him and His people. May you get comfort in knowing that God is a mighty man of war, and the bishop and guardian of your soul in Jesus' Name.
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Dear my friends and donors,
For the first time, I will be participating in the Toronto Waterfront Marathon (virtual race) to raise funds for Fountain of Love and Life.
First of all, thank you for taking time to read my appeal for this fundraising event.
For many who have known me well, I am not a person who loves to participate in fundraising events because I feel shy and weird asking people for donations. The last time I went out of my comfort zone was to fundraise for the poor and the weak when I had a missionary trip to the Dominican Republic. It was difficult enough for me to raise $500 at that time.
This time, much more courage and strengths are needed for me to step out to ask for your help.
This is because I will be fundraising for the “New Home Capital Campaign” for Fountain of Love and Life. [Donations will also be matched dollar-to-dollar until September 13, 2023 by four generous donors.]
Fountain of Love and Life (FLL) is a non-profit Catholic multi-media evangelization ministry for close to 20 years. Funds raised will be used to spread the Good News to the Chinese communities in Canada and around the world through various media (e.g. TV, radio, YouTube, podcast, bookstore, workshops, webinars, formation programs, etc.). At this moment, the critical project for FLL is to acquire a permanent home for its sustainability and growth.
“Why would I donate to FLL?” Some of you may ask. Yes, and I totally understand. FLL is not a typical ordinary non-profit organization helping the needy, the poor and the weak. The Catholic faith may be unfamiliar, and even not applicable to you. And this is why I would like to share a little story of mine…
I have been a FLL volunteer for more than 10 years before I needed to focus on my theological study at Regis College, University of Toronto School of Theology. During those volunteering years, I was primarily producing TV episodes for the ministry. I still remember the endless nights and weekends working with other volunteers to get the TV programs on air. Many steps were involved: brainstorming, interviewing, filming, scriptwriting, video-editing, transcribing/translating, voice-over recording, etc. Many of us started with no knowledge about TV production, we stumbled and made many mistakes, despite all the sweat and tears, we kept on going, and slowly, we learned and created one episode after another. We were all volunteers using our own spare time working for this ministry. But why?
It is because we want to spread the Good News to our neighbours. But what is the Good News? For us Christians, the Good News is the love of Jesus our God, who became human and died for us. But how does the TV or radio programs, and even a permanent home of FLL help spreading the love?
Throughout the years, I have witnessed a growing abundance of fruits coming out from FLL. It started with a small group of young volunteers who only knew how to work hard, and now, it turned into a community of love and prayers fostering personal relationships and nurturing future leaders. Many have been touched by the many programs (TV, radio, podcast, YouTube, webinars, prayer groups, formations) done by FLL. Some have been converted to Catholicism, and even have been called to become priests, deacons, and religious sisters. Some called its hotline (phone help-desk) and have been listened to by patient volunteers, and even healed by caring and personal interactions.
What does this mean to you? A permanent home of FLL will not only be beneficial to just the Chinese Catholic communities, but can also be a welcoming meeting place for many (like you, me, and others) who would need a place for peace and love. A physical location can also bring everyone together for in-person social gathering, knowledge/experience sharing, and interfaith dialog. Love has no boundaries.
This is why I am aiming to raise $5,000 (as a starting point) to support this “New Home Capital Campaign” for FLL through walking/hiking for 50 km (and maybe more) from Sep 7 to Oct 31, 2023. I hope you can help me to reach my goal. Any donation will help.
Official electronic tax receipts will be issued for pledges of $20 or above. Each donation transaction through the Toronto Waterfront Marathon “Race Roster” website will incur 8% credit card and service fee costs. These costs are entirely optional.
If you would like to know more about FLL’s “New Home Capital Campaign” and donation details using other means (e.g. e-transfer, cheque, etc., or how to donate from HK and US), please visit https://communication.fll.cc/newhome2023-home-e
Thank you in advance for supporting my efforts. I could not do this without your generosity. You will be in my prayers no matter what you decide to do.
|Donation date||Donor name||Donation amount|
|Nov 13||Paul||Undisclosed amount|
|Oct 31||Olivia||Undisclosed amount|
|Oct 02||May Fung||$272.54|
|Sep 25||Sarah Lam||$25.00|
|Sep 23||Anonymous||Undisclosed amount|
|Sep 22||Claudia Kung||$108.31|
|Sep 22||Peter Cheng||$108.31|
|Sep 21||Anonymous||Undisclosed amount|
|Sep 19||AGNES YIP||$108.31|


We are approaching Holy Week and this year, all of our Holy Week services will be joint services with St. Andrew’s River Heights United Church. We begin with Palm Sunday when we tell the story of Jesus entering Jerusalem on a donkey and being greeted by crowds waving palm branches. Rev. Karen Lumley, from St. Andrew’s, and I will offer a dramatic dialogue that explores the meaning of Jesus’ entrance into Jerusalem as the Good Friday storm clouds began gathering on the horizon.
On Maundy Thursday, the service will be recorded at St. Andrew’s and will tell the story of the Last Supper through song and liturgy. We will be celebrating Holy Communion, so please have juice or wine and bread or crackers available. As well, we will be remembering Jesus’ command (mandatum in Latin, root of “Maundy”) to serve and love one another as he washed the disciples’ feet. Please have a basin of water and cloth available if you would like to join Karen and Loraine in washing hands as part of the liturgy.
On Good Friday, the service will be recorded at both churches and at the community ministries which each church serves: Oak Table and West Broadway. We will be hearing how the Good Friday story connects with our community ministries.
Easter Sunday will bring renewed hope of the resurrection and new life. Youth confirmations, hand bells, and solo singing will give all of us a needed lift as we continue to forge through the COVID clouds. The sun/son will shine again!
There are so many people working behind the scene to make all of the services happen within safety protocols. I’m grateful to staff, the Safe Reopening Committee, the Worship Team, the tech team, readers, soloists, and—most importantly—you, the congregation tuning in to the services.
One of the difficulties with online services is that we miss in-person feedback. The Worship Team would appreciate your thoughts on the online services so that we can make them even more meaningful. Please take a moment to respond to the Worship Team’s questions within this congregational email.
Let us journey well into Holy Week—separate and yet together.
Blessings of light shining in the darkness,
BECAUSE THERE IS HOPE HERE: LENT 2021 WORSHIP SERVICES
This year’s Lenten services will feature congregational reflections on hope.
HOLY WEEK SERVICES
All of our Holy Week Services will be offered jointly with St. Andrew’s River Heights United Church
March 28 – 10:45 a.m. and available later through website
Palm Sunday live-streamed at Westworth; soloists Howard R. and Fred C. Youth from our confirmation class will talk about how they find hope in these difficult times.
April 1 – available from 7:00 p.m. and later
Maundy Thursday pre-recorded at St. Andrew’s. Have communion elements, water, basin and towel ready as you join the service from home.
April 2 – available from 10:30 a.m. and later
Good Friday pre-recorded at Westworth, St. Andrew’s, West Broadway Community Ministry and Oak Table
April 4th – 10:45 a.mm and available later through website
Westworth Easter Service is live-streamed at 10:45 am with 6 youth confirmations, Morna-June M. on handbells and soloist Cheryl M.
There are still a few multifaith calendars for 2021 available for free from the office. They are accompanied by beautiful art work and include the major celebrations for each world religion. Call the office to arrange for pickup.
GUARANTEED LIVABLE INCOME
Lynda T., West Broadway Community Minister, is helping to organize interfaith vigils on April 8 at 12:30 pm at MP offices throughout Manitoba in support of Guaranteed Livable Income for all Canadians. Loraine will be attending one of the vigils. Please contact her if you would like to join her. The following video from our Moderator and links on the United Church website give more info about a Guaranteed Livable Income:
Every Lent, we invite donations for our special appeals to support our non-profit community agencies and ministry partners. The congregation usually raises around $1600 and the UCW contributes $1800 from their Rummage Sale and Bazaar fundraisers. Because the UCW was unable to hold either due to COVID-related building closures last year, the congregation generously gave $2500, which allowed us to continue supporting most of our partners. This year, the UCW is again unable to contribute because our building remains closed to fundraisers. We are therefore asking the congregation once more to consider giving more than usual so that we can continue supporting our partners, who are more stretched than ever. These are the partners we were able to support last year through Special Appeals:
Prairie to Pine Regional Council Bursary Fund
St. Andrews College
Sandy Saulteaux Spiritual Centre
Centre for Christian Studies
Local social justice
West Broadway Community Ministry
1 Just City
L.I.T.E. (local investment towards employment)
Rock Lake United Church Camp
Our Special Appeal donation deadline is Easter Sunday, April 4.
SUNDAY SCHOOL NEWS
Hope this e-mail finds you all well, and I will continue to send the Sunday school lesson by e-mail until we can meet in person again.
This Sunday is Palm Sunday, the beginning of Holy Week.
This week’s Sunday school lesson, ‘Holy Week’ has been sent by e-mail. It includes all the age groups from N/K to G5/6, with the activity sheets. If you need a printed copy of the curriculum, please let me know at firstname.lastname@example.org.
The Sunday school teachers will be on Zoom this Sunday from 10.15am-10.30am to chat with you. Our theme this week will be about, ‘Bravery’. Then join the online service starting at 10.45am this week with Loraine following Zoom Sunday school. Our Westworth Confirmation class will be confirmed this week.
Julia is reading this week’s bible story and “The Lord’s Prayer” will be read by Danielle. Your Sunday school teachers are on the Westworth Face Book page for you to view. There is also a link in the CE drop down menu on our web site.
The Bible Story is also available here:
Zoom Sunday School Information
Zoom Meeting ID 743 937 1522
Pass Code 042976
DAILY LENTEN CONTEMPLATIVE PRAYER
Rev. Barb Jardine has put together a Lenten series that introduces us to the practice of contemplative prayer. Her introduction, along with her daily 10 min. YouTube videos are designed for beginners who have never tried this form of prayer. These can be found in the link below and on our website home page in the What’s New section. Barb has produced these for her congregation, but she is willing for Westworth to have access to them as a thank you for the inspiration she received from Thriving Churches.
Here is this week’s installments:
NEWS ABOUT WESTWORTH MEMBERS
Birthday – Diether P.
April 3, 2021
Happy Birthday wishes and greetings are warmly extended to Diether P. for his special 90th birthday on April 3rd
Opera Performance – Christina T.
March 26, 2021
- “Tune into Schulich School of Music of McGill University’s YouTube page at 6pmCST to watch me make my Handel debut in the title role of Opera McGill’s Devil Wears Prada-inspired production of Partenope!! The show will be live-streamed, and will be available for viewing afterwards too. It’s been such a blessing to perform opera amidst COVID-19! I’ve been surrounded by a fantastic cast and crew through this process and I am so excited to share this with you all!”
- The opera will be sung in Italian, but set in the present. Christina will present the character of Parentope as a fashion designer; great care has been taken to create the costumes. She will be wigged, so you might not recognize her at first. The McGill COVID safety committee will allow singers to perform arias unmasked while remaining socially-distant; consequently the committee decided the running time of the opera has to be shortened for the safety of all on stage.
- Watch Here: https://youtube.com/c/schulichmusic
- WEST BROADWAY COMMUNITY MINISTRY
The West Broadway Community was overjoyed to enjoy, once again, “Meatball Sub Day” on Thursday, March 18. The Outreach Team thanks you so much for your contribution to the cost of each month’s lunch that is approximately $350. Cheques may be sent to the Westworth office with the memo line indicating “WBCM lunches”.
As the building remains closed, weekly donations of food, toiletries and feminine hygiene products cannot be placed in the WB Buckets, please consider making a donation to the purchasing of food and supplies for the pantry. Cheques to Westworth with “WBCM Pantry” on the memo line are gratefully received!
ECOLOGICAL JUSTICE & THE ENVIRONMENT
April is designated as Climate Action Month, and from now until the end of April, this section of the Outreach Team’s report will focus on deepening our awareness that humans are intricately connected with all other life forms on Earth, and the health of our planet has a direct and real impact on our spiritual and physical health. Here are two important dates (with links to excellent info) to remind us of our commitment to ecological justice.
March 28: Earth Hour at 8:30 pm
Turn out the lights! Go outside! Be one with creation!
For tons of info, click here:
Wow – the Virtual Spotlight – coming soon! Just click here;
Want to hear Amanda Gorman’s poem “EARTHRISE”? Just click here!
April 22: Earth Day
Westworth will observe Earth Day during worship on April 18. In the meantime, the Outreach Team encourages you and your family to deepen your connection with the Earth; to dig deeper into the issues that have created the ecological crisis that we now face; and to prayerfully consider how you might respond to this crisis. The attached calendar could be used to guide your observation of Earth Month during April:
A REQUEST FROM THE WORSHIP TEAM
We are all following the recent changes to the government orders in response to the COVID crisis. We are feeling more hopeful with some minor easing of restrictions and with the vaccine roll out, but worried about the new variants. Throughout the past year we, the Worship Team and staff, have strived to have the “sense of the holy”* present in our online services. Our Technology Team has navigated their way through production and distribution of these services. We are so grateful to everyone involved. We are still quite restricted by government orders and the direction of the United Church, but like all of you, we have hope for the future.
We would love to hear from you!
- Which components of worship best connect you with a sense of the holy?
- Which components get in the way of your time with each other and this time with God?
- If all protocols were in place, would you attend in-person worship?
- Do you have any suggestions during this time of restrictions and moving forward?
*idea taken from Lenten Challenge Gospel of Mark by Dr. Charles Anderson, Rev. Dave Anderson, Rev. Richard Bott
2021 STEWARDSHIP CAMPAIGN RESULTS
There were 261 Stewardship packages mailed to our church families for the 2021 Stewardship Campaign. As a result, there are 126 families donating monthly on PAR which represents 48% of our families. Of the 135 families not on PAR, 28 families responded to the Stewardship Campaign by making a pledge to be honoured during the year.
We recognize that the past year has been different and difficult. If your circumstances have changed and you are now able to participate in our Stewardship Campaign, we would gratefully accept your pledge. You can do so by contacting Tammy at the church office at 204-489-6974, Ext 20.
Full information on ways to give and the annual budget is on the Westworth website www.westworth.ca. Thank you for supporting the 2021 Stewardship Campaign and the Mission of Westworth United Church.


Table of Contents
Gehenna in the Old Testament
The Bible dictionary says that the word Gehenna, comes from the Hebrew Ge hinnom which means the “Valley of Hinnom.” In the King James Version, the word Gehenna appears 13 times in 11 different verses as “Valley of Hinnom,” “Valley of the son of Hinnom,” or “Valley of the children of Hinnom.” The oldest historical reference to this valley is found in Joshua 15:8, 18:16.
In ancient Israel, Gehenna was a deep, narrow glen to the south of Jerusalem, where apostatized Jews offered their children as human sacrifices to the pagan Cannaanite god Molech (2 Kings 16:3; 23:10; Jeremiah 7:31; 19:6, 11–13). This evil practice was common among the nations of Palestine (Deuteronomy 12:31; 2 Kings 3:27). King Manasseh was guilty of this horrible sin (2 Kings 21:6). Human sacrifices were forbidden by God to the Israelites under the penalty of death (Leviticus 18:21; 20:2).
The practice of child sacrifice was continued in the days of Jeremiah (ch. 7:31). During the reign of King Josiah, the prophet Jeremiah asked him to destroy the shrines in Topheth and to end the practice of child sacrifices (Jeremiah 7:31-32, 32:35). So, the king destroyed the shrine of Molech on Topheth, to prevent anyone from offering human sacrifices there ( 2 Kings 23:10).
Despite Josiah’s ending of the practice, Jeremiah included a prophecy that Jerusalem itself would be made like Gehenna and Topheth because of their continued transgressions against God (Jeremiah 19:2-6, 19:11-14). In judgement for Judah’s cruel, idolatrous worship, this evil place would be turned into a place of “slaughter” when Jerusalem was taken by the Babylonians (2 Kings 25:1–9). Thus, Tophet is pictured as the place where the enemies of the Lord are to be consumed with fire (Isaiah 33:14).
Later on, the “valley of Slaughter” (Jeremiah 19:6) became the common place for all the refuse of the city, where the dead bodies of animals and of criminals were cast and consumed by fire that kept continually burning.
Gehenna in the New Testament
In the New Testament, the word Gehenna is always translated “hell” (Matthew 5:22, 29,30; Luke 12:5; James 3:6). Jesus used the word Gehenna to describe the opposite to life in the Kingdom (Mark 9:43-48). He stated that hell is the place where both soul and body will be destroyed in the the lake of fire (Matthew 10:28; 23:15,33; Mark 9:43,45,47).
In Jewish Rabbinic literature and Christian literature, the word Gehenna is a symbol of the fire that will destroy the lost at the end of time. “And fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them. (Revelation 20:9b also Hebrews 12:29). The fire of Gehenna was not unending. And hell fire will not be forever. For more, check the following link: https://bibleask.org/is-hell-forever/
How Can We Escape Hell?
The Bible answers this question, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins” (Acts 2:38). Repentance means more than a confession of sin. It means a change of mind and forsaking of the old way of sin to follow Christ in the path of righteousness by His enabling grace. As the believer connects Himself daily to God through the study of His Word and prayer, the Holy Spirit will change His mind and renew His life (John 15:4,5). This inward change is the conversion experience. Baptism is the outward physical sign that the change has taken place.
Christ gave the conditions for salvation, “He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned” (Mark 16:16). So, a person must believe in Jesus as his personal Savior from sin and this faith will bring the fruits of obedience to God’s Commands (Exodus 20). Just as baptism alone is not enough for salvation, “faith without works is dead” (James 2:26).
In His service,


Anyone who has hosted a Christmas dinner or party can tell you, there is a ton of preparation that goes into throwing these holiday celebrations. Many of us find ourselves doing lots of preparing in this busy season of lights, tinsel, and wrapping paper. Yet, what are we really preparing for? Who are we really preparing for? This Advent, hear God’s call: “Prepare!” – for the coming one, Jesus. Hear this imperative as an invitation to strip away all the fuss and ready your heart and life for the change that is coming when Jesus gets here.
“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’
This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
Matthew 22:36-40 (NIV)
Sunday Service 9:30 AM
622 Rosemont Ringoes Road


5th Wednesday of Lent – Reflection for OLPH Novena – 10 April 2019 (readings)
Sin is what enslaves us. And it’s only the Good News of Jesus Christ that can set us free. It’s only by living a life dedicated to God become flesh that will allow us true freedom. The seasons of Lent and Easter give us a good idea of how we can begin to live out our lives in a way pleasing to God. Lent calls us to fasting, prayer, and abstinence; while Easter calls us to celebration, to feasting, to the resurrection.
There’s two ways we can live our life: either secularly, or religiously. Either we can first have the feast, and then the headache, as the world does; or we can first have the fast, then the feast in imitation of Our Divine Savior.
People of the world prefer feasting followed by pain and suffering, but as Christians, we know that’s not what we’re called to. We know that Our Lord calls us to fast in this life, so that we can feast with him in the next.
It’s through this fasting, this embracing of suffering in this life that will prepare us physically and spiritually to enter into our life with God. Because fasting and penance are what mortifies the body in order to free us from the slavery of sin.
My brothers and sisters, Lent and Easter is a great example of this reality, and a model for us to follow; because as Catholics, as Christians we must remember the words of the Venerable Servant of God Fulton J. Sheen, “first the fast, then the feast.”


Tuesday, December 1, 2009
© Copyright 2015
ALBANY -- The pastor accused in a plot to have his church burned is scheduled to go on trial Monday, court officials said.
The Rev. Joseph Howard is accused of hiring Curtis Lee Jones and Vincent Jackson to vandalize and burn Trinity Metropolitan Baptist Church, which he pastored.
Chief Assistant District Attorney Chris Cohilas said jury selection and the trial are set to begin Monday.
Firefighters responded to a report of a fire at the church on New Year's Eve 2007 and found the church partially burned.
Creditors were scheduled to auction the church property on Jan. 2 to pay off hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt that the church owed, Georgia Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner John Oxendine said following the fire. Oxendine predicted fallout from the arrest of a man who he said was well known throughout the community, but said that, after viewing the evidence, state arson investigators stood behind the work of the Albany Fire Department and the Albany Police Department.


2019 Spring & Summer Celebrations!
An annual joy is Easter Worship & Feast! This year we gathered to hear the resurrection story from Luke, and consider how the women were called to remember. We then remembered people who have shared God’s love with us. Moving from worship to feast, we added those memories on butterflies to the Easter balloon installation. From enthusiastic song, meaningful communion, fun company, and celebratory cakes, Princeton Presbyterians launched into the final season of the academic year with joy and hope.
Thanks to all the hands that prepared food, decorated, worshipped, cleaned, and ate—each person made Easter Sunday that much more of a celebration.
The Easter surprises continued as the balloon installation made its way throughout Nassau to later decorate Niles Chapel for Breaking Bread Worship, as a devotional tool for the Mission & Outreach Committee, and finally to adorn the children’s choir space as they concluded their season.
We look forward to continuing the Easter season as we conclude Breaking Bread Worship for the academic year and bless graduating students on Sunday, May 12, 6:30PM in Niles Chapel.
We are grateful for all who give generously, whatever the amount, to support the ministry of Princeton Presbyterians of the Westminster Foundation. It is with much joy we share reflections of gratitude in the 2018 Fall Newsletter and in the following letter from David Redman, the current Board President.
Dear Friends of Princeton Presbyterians of The Westminster Foundation,
Len and Andrew Scales have been wonderfully successful in building the ministry of Princeton Presbyterians over the last two years. Not only have they reached out to and brought in a larger number of Princeton University undergraduates—our “target audience,” after all—but also have built and maintained strong relations with Princeton graduate students, Princeton Seminary and Westminster Choir college students, and members of the greater Princeton community. Their ministries are of many kinds, as they should be in order to serve a diverse community that varies in age, interests, goals, and life situations. These ministries include meals, study groups, individual listening and counseling, field trips (including one this summer that took a group of five students to the Taize community in France), and the ever-growing worship experience that is Breaking Bread. But above all, they have shown that they deeply care about the people they serve.
We cannot overestimate the importance of this loving care. The university experience at a place like Princeton is very often stressful, and on some occasions baffling, dispiriting, or crushing. It is a time, in short, when young people are called upon to marshal all their resources of confidence and resilience. But is also a time for expressions of God’s love and care, for being able to love and be loved, and to participate in a community of caring people. Princeton Presbyterians provides this sort of community.
From a personal point of view, I am very glad to have rejoined the Westminster Foundation Board for the next three years and am truly honored to be serving as its president for 2018-19. I consider this as a gift—of service (though my colleagues on the Board should be the judges of that!)—to Princeton Presbyterians. But in addition I plan to support the ministry generously with a financial gift. I hope that you will too!
President, The Westminster Foundation Board of Trustees
Your prayers and your monetary donations are much appreciated. Online giving may be made here, or checks may be made payable to the “Westminster Foundation” and mailed to 61 Nassau Street, Princeton, NJ 08542.
As we reflect on Princeton Presbyterians annual Thanksgiving Feast, we wanted to share five highlights from this season of gratitude:
Breaking Bread Worship
This fall, by moving the time of worship up to 6:30PM, we have been able to continue to cultivate community over monthly meals.
We enjoyed celebrating the first day of fall classes at the University by serving over 300 ice cream cones with our ecumenical partners.
In October, the Muslim Student Associate and Princeton Presbyterians shared in our respective worship services and got to know one another more over a meal.
Generous & Growing Support
We are grateful for the prayers and financial gifts from individuals, congregations, and the Synod of the Northeast.
Students have continued to reflect on their time of worship, work, and sabbath in France this summer. Read Emmie Arnold’s reflection here.
Students, alums, and friends of Princeton Presbyterians are invited to join for an open house on Saturday, June 2, 9:30AM–11:30AM, in the Conference Room at Nassau Presbyterian. A labyrinth will also be available at select times on Friday and Saturday if you would like a respite from the exciting hubbub of Reunions to reflect on your Princeton journey.
Saturday, June 9
- Arrive in Paris by 3PM, check-in at hotel or airbnb with group
- Group dinner at L’AOC in the Latin Quarter
Sunday, June 10—Sunday, June 17
- June 10—travel by train from Paris to Mâcon-Loché TGV, bus to Taizé
- Stay with the Taizé Community
- June 17—travel by bus to Mâcon-Loché, train from Mâcon-Loché TGV to Paris
Sunday, June 17
- Return to Paris, check-in at hotel or airbnb with group
- Group dinner
Participants will be expected to read “A Community Called Taizé” by Jason Santos and attend a group dinner in the Spring of 2018 and in the Fall of 2019.
Estimated cost is $1000 plus airfare per person. We want to make this trip affordable for students interested in participating, both undergraduate students and graduate students. Email Len if interested. We will release an online reservation form at the beginning of 2018. There students will be invited to share a confidential and honest estimate of what they are able to contribute to the cost. We do ask $250 be turned in by February 6, 2018 as a deposit for the trip. The group will be capped at 10 students.
For more information about the Taizé Community, click here.
Princeton Presbyterians continues to give thanks. Read the fall 2017 newsletter here.


Gift Matches - Merry Christmas
Need a Christmas gift idea? We've got you covered! Pair these cute Christmas matches with a Christmas candle like this one or this cranberry Holiday candle and you've got a cute and affordable Christmas gift!
Whether you're shopping for a Christmas gift for a teacher, a Secret Santa present, a Christmas stocking stuffer or a hostess Christmas gift - these holiday matches make a great little gift.


You mean like this?
From the CCC
“Outside the Church there is no salvation”
846 How are we to understand this affirmation, often repeated by the Church Fathers?335 Re-formulated positively, it means that all salvation comes from Christ the Head through the Church which is his Body:
Basing itself on Scripture and Tradition, the Council teaches that the Church, a pilgrim now on earth, is necessary for salvation: the one Christ is the mediator and the way of salvation; he is present to us in his body which is the Church. He himself explicitly asserted the necessity of faith and Baptism, and thereby affirmed at the same time the necessity of the Church which men enter through Baptism as through a door. Hence they could not be saved who, knowing that the Catholic Church was founded as necessary by God through Christ, would refuse either to enter it or to remain in it.336
847 This affirmation is not aimed at those who, through no fault of their own, do not know Christ and his Church:
Those who, through no fault of their own, do not know the Gospel of Christ or his Church, but who nevertheless seek God with a sincere heart, and, moved by grace, try in their actions to do his will as they know it through the dictates of their conscience - those too may achieve eternal salvation.337
848 "Although in ways known to himself God can lead those who, through no fault of their own, are ignorant of the Gospel, to that faith without which it is impossible to please him, the Church still has the obligation and also the sacred right to evangelize all men."338
That sounds surprisingly open to me, much more then any fundamentalist church that I attended, which seemed to view even other fundamentalist with suspicion.
From your own post:
**847 This affirmation is not aimed at those who, through no fault of their own, do not know Christ and his Church: **
I don’t know your particular beliefs but there are some fundamentalist who deny the concept of invincible ignorance.
Of course, I am not calling you a fundamentalist either.
It seems to me that many of the people that would deny Catholics the right to be called Christian would probably not call many Protestants Christian either.


Mr. Nile Smith passed away Aug. 27 2010. Funeral Services will be Saturday, Sept 4 at 2:00 pm at First Baptist Church in El Dorado, AR under the direction of Andrews Funeral Home.
Mr. David Ross’s Wife, Emma Jean Walker Ross passed away. Funeral Services will be Friday Sept 3 at 11:00 am, also at First Baptist Church, under the direction of Sims Funeral Home.
Please remember to pray for the Smith, and Ross Families in their time of sorrow.


Session 3 of Homosexuality & Transgender Identity: A Bible Study
Before you begin, Ask if anyone had a chance to look at the verses given for homework and if any had found any that struck them or challenged them particularly. Ask also if using the five tools helped them understand the passages any better.
Explain that today you are going to be looking at what, if anything, the first book of the Bible says about homosexuality.
Ask: Before I get started, what are some things you have heard the Old Testament says about homosexuality? What do you think of those things?
Explain: The first place we are going to look at is in the very beginning of the Bible, in fact the book whose name means “in the beginning” – the book of Genesis.
Ask: Does anyone know of anything that this first book of the Bible says which might apply to a discussion on homosexuality?
Explain: Well, probably one of the first places in Genesis people turn to is Genesis 1 and 2.
Ask if someone could read Genesis 1:26-31, and someone else read Genesis 2:18-25.
Then, allow people to share either things they feel these verses say about homosexuality or things they have heard people say about homosexuality.
Probably people will make reference to the oft-repeated statement, “God made Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve.” Some people may make the point that the verse doesn’t talk about homosexuality at all.
Here are some key issues to address:
Explain: Some people will quote this verse and say “It isn’t Adam and Eve, but Adam and Steve.”
Ask: Do these verses say anything against same-sex relationships?
Point out that, despite what some Christians want to claim, Genesis doesn’t get into a lot of specifics about a lot of things. It doesn’t give a lot of specifics, from a scientific standpoint, about the process God uses to create life, for instance. Likewise, the verses don’t give any specific instruction on same-sex relationships. We are told God made humans male and female and told them to have sex, thus reproducing, and to care for and shape God’s creation. And we are told the first two people are called Adam, meaning red mud, and Eve, meaning life, and are male and female. We are also told, generally speaking, the reason a man leaves his family of origin and cleaves to his wife, but we aren’t told one word about why some men do the same thing but cleave to a husband – and why some women cleave to another woman. The verses here do not say this is bad. But, they also do not say it is good.
Some people jump to the conclusion that since Genesis 1 & 2 don’t describe same-sex relationships that [these relationships] are necessarily wrong. Yet, is this really fair? Not really. Genesis 1 & 2 also don’t describe OB/GYN’s who help with the pregnancies resulting from heterosexual sex that we use today. It doesn’t describe college education. It doesn’t describe mass transit, automobiles, or even wedding ceremonies at a church. We don’t jump to the conclusion that OB/GYN’s are wrong, that getting a college degree is a sin, that riding buses or cars is evil, or that it is a sin to have a wedding ceremony at a church, even though Genesis 1 & 2 don’t describe these things. So you can’t use Genesis 1 & 2 to really condemn or praise same-sex relationships. You have to turn elsewhere – whether to other verses in the bible, to science, to personal experience, or to your own prejudice – to do that.
Do these verses say anything about transgender and intersex identity?
In a word, no. We are told God creates human beings male and female, but Genesis 1 & 2 don’t say anything about other categories folks might find themselves in. We aren’t told if all humans will be male and female, or how God views those who are born not fitting neatly into the category of male or female.
Ask: Does this necessarily mean being transgender is wrong?
Explain that, again, you have to look somewhere other than these verses to determine that. They simply don’t talk about the phenomenon at all. These verses only speak in general terms about gender, sexuality, or even the way life began, in order to teach some fundamental principles that apply generally to all people. They don’t get into exact scientific detail about every part of how life began or about gender diversity or sexual orientation.
Remember what we learned happened to Martin Luther, the pope, and John Calvin during the Renaissance when they tried to treat the Bible as a science book: They condemned as heretics folks who found scientific evidence that the earth circles the sun, not the sun the earth. They did this because the Bible did not directly describe the earth circling the sun, but used poetic language about the sun rising and setting. They made fools of themselves, because that wasn’t really what God was ever saying. Something similar could happen to us if we out-and-out condemned ideas such as evolution, same-sex relationships or transgender identity because they are not explicitly described here in Genesis 1 & 2. God’s silence in Genesis 1 & 2 only means we have to look elsewhere for these answers, not that the things God does not describe are wrong.
Ask: If Genesis 1 & 2 don’t tell us directly whether same-sex behavior is right or wrong – and whether or not being transgender or intersex is alright – does it give us any principles that can we can use to figure out how to apply what we learn about these phenomenon elsewhere? Taken together with what we now know about sexuality and gender from science, what lessons can Genesis 1 & 2 teach us?
It doesn’t answer questions about whether it is wrong to be gay, because when Genesis was written, the idea of sexual orientation hadn’t been discovered yet. But if people are born gay or transgender, as most scientists now claim, Genesis 1 & 2 can answer questions such as: Is my sexuality a mistake? What is the purpose of my sexuality?
What does this story tell us about these things?
Allow discussion, then explain:
This story tells us a number of positive things:
First, none of us are accidents. Whether we are Adams who want Eves, Adams who want Steves, Eves who want Liliths, Adams who would be fine with either Steve or Eve, or Adams who don’t want anybody right now, thank you very much – God made us. God made us with a powerful purpose: To reflect God’s image, God’s character in this world.
A similar message applies to transgender and intersex people, who science now largely agrees are born the way they are. For the transgender person, the reality is that while your life circumstances might be personally difficult, involving surgery, discrimination and/or low self-esteem, the way you are born is no mistake. God has a reason you were born with a body of one gender and mind of another (or not easily fitting into the category of male or female). By being yourself, it could be said that you at least partly reflect an image of the God who is described as both mother and father in a unique way.
Also, God made us to be with others, too – that is a part of what it means to be in God’s image. That humans are made man and woman together shows that we discover our purpose best with others – with friends, with church family, and (for those of us called to be in a relationship) with a loving partner. We discover how to be God’s image in the world through our relationships with each other.
And, I think, Genesis shows us that this is a part of the reason for the gift of our sexuality. The fact that men and women are made for each other is called good by God. Our sexuality is a beautiful gift. And though this passage doesn’t say whether or not homosexuality or bisexuality is natural, modern science has found both to be natural varieties of sexual orientation, through empirical study, using the reason and experience we spoke about previously. Almost universally, psychologists who don’t have some preconceived political agenda argue that homosexuality and bisexuality are no more wrong than being left-handed, red-haired or brown-skinned. It is a natural part of the diversity of nature.
So if this is the case, which isn’t a question Genesis answers, but which science does, then Genesis shows us that all our natural variations – our skin color, our gender, our gender expression or gender identity, our sexual orientation – are gifts from God, given by God to give us yet another glimpse at a part of who God is. That means gay is gorgeous, bi is beautiful, lesbianism is lovely, and being heterosexual can be sexy. Each of these variations show us a part of who God is in a way that something else wouldn’t.
A big part of how God uses our sexuality is hinted at in this narrative.
Ask: Why does God give Adam and Eve their sexuality?
Genesis 2 makes it sound as though there is something missing from Adam that renders him incomplete without it. If you wanted to, you could say he is not completely made until he finds the person who completes him. That is why it is not good for Adam to be alone. God makes Eve for Adam to be Adam’s “helper,” his “partner.” The two are to complete each other. Through their relationship of love, of trust, and of mutual respect, they are to help each other become who they were meant to be, become the best “them” they can be. And their sexuality is a beautiful instrument of this. It is what makes them leave their parents of origin, cling to each other, and become one. In one sense, this describes the physical act of sex – two people joining their bodies. But in reality, it really describes an ongoing process of building each other up, of getting to know each other, an emotional and spiritual process of transformation. And our sex drives and our sexuality are a large part of the drive toward us doing this with another person. Our sex life with whomever it is that completes us is a sort of super-glue that physically, emotionally, and spiritually binds us to each other.
What does this teach us about the purpose of our sexuality – be it gay, lesbian, bisexual or hetero-sexuality?
The purpose in our sexuality isn’t just our pleasure, it isn’t to exploit others, but for our sex drive to be the driving force toward and centerpiece in a union with another human being, a union which helps both you and your partner become the complete person God made you to be.
As we step away from homophobic readings of Genesis and let modern sexology‘s studies on sexuality fill in the gaps which Genesis leaves, we can see Genesis’ beautiful lesson.


We all know that Jesus said to love your enemies. When I first read the Bible, I was struck by the passage that says, "They will know you by how you love one another." One of the two most important commandments, according to our Lord, is to love our neighbor as much as we love ourselves.
He told us to show this love by feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, visiting the prisoners, etc. He said that, when we served the poor and needy that we were really serving him directly. What a glorious opportunity!
Love. Love. Love. Jesus is all about the demonstration of love, yet today we have an upsurge in the amount of toxic public discourse in which the poor are demeaned in every way. Mostly, the people who complain about the poor claim that they are lazy people who are "working the system" and taking advantage.
Stories ABOUND in which nosy people examine the shopping carts and personal dress of a person using a food stamp subsidy to pay for their groceries and then extrapolate that, if they can afford those things, then they shouldn't be receiving help buying food. Never mind that the critic knows absolutely nothing about the personal finances of the person upon whom they wished additional poverty. The critic does not know who is paying for the cell phone they wish the poor person did not have. The critic begrudges the poor person the nice vehicle he or she is driving, yet does not know to whom the car belongs or even if the poor person paid for it themselves when they were working and successful.
Critics assume that poor people have been poor their whole lives, it seems, because they can't imagine that a poor person would be in possession of things purchased when they were financially successful.
I could give many credible reasons why someone would have a cell phone, a car, a pair of earrings...but it doesn't matter because it is irrelevant.
Jesus did not say to love your neighbor as much as yourself provided that you approve of all of his or her life decisions. No. We are to love one another. PERIOD. Love. Not criticism. Not judgment.
If your first instinct is to criticize, then your mind is inclined in a direction away from Jesus and away from his commandments. In fact, all this criticism of the poor is a distraction from the commandments of God. It is a method of grasping onto one's own greedy little pile of comfort. If a person can convince themselves that the poor have some egregious character defect, then the critic thinks they can assuage their conscience and continue to live in comfort while others go hungry, unhoused, unchurched, and unhealthy. They grow to think that the poor deserve to be poor...and the poorer, the better, so that they'll be forced to get off their lazy bums and get a job.
I have written many times about the facts that disprove every one of the critic's arguments about the conditions of the poor in America. Today I write about saintliness.
When Mother Teresa picked up the filthy, scabby, maggoty, sick old man from the streets of Calcutta, she did not first interview him to determine if he was worthy of her love and care. She did not sit there on the curb, pad and pen in hand, asking questions and checking off boxes on some form. She did not consider if he had bad habits that contributed to his pitiful condition. She did not care about any of that. She dispensed the love of Christ. That was all. She did not hesitate. She picked him up and brought him indoors where she and the nuns loved him and cared for him, washing, dressing, feeding and coddling him until he revived or he died. Mostly, they died. But they died in love, surrounded by sweet, gentle, smiling faces.
I do not imagine that this tendency to criticize lays outside of myself. I have also experienced bouts of criticism in my lifetime, when my heart has not been soft enough and I needed to lean into a person with God's love instead of arrogance. It is a daily process, to check one's mind and make sure that it is inclined toward Jesus, in tune with his love and his intentions. Lots of prayer helps.
Writing this constitutes my commitment to maintaining a loving inclination of heart, to look upon all others with a compassionate eye and see them the way God sees them, in the radiant beauty of the image of God in which they were made. To think well of others is a delightful thing. It generates a deep feeling of joy and bliss. Come join me, all you critics and pessimists, and partake of the bliss. In the meantime, I pray for you. Please pray for me.
God bless us all.
Silver Rose Parnell


01.07.2023 - 01.07.2023
Decorating the Church Bearings will take place from 9.30am until 12noon on Saturday 1st, in the Churchyard. Any donations of flowers – and help - would be very gratefully received. If you would like to carry a Church Bearing in the procession, please pop your name on the list at the back of St Mary’s Church, or contact us using the details below. Please help us to keep this very special tradition alive by taking part!Order of Events for Saturday afternoon: 2.15pm - Procession assembles outside the Primary School on Vicarage Road 2.30pm - Procession starts 3.30pm - Church Service, followed by Gingerbread and Children’s Tea 4.30pm - Rushbearing Sports – including the Fell Race.
- 15.07.2023 Memorial service - Moira Kermode
- 21.07.2023 Charlotte Mason Institute
- 22.07.2023 Wordsworth Singers


The Catholic Parish of St William’s Grovely in association with the educational vision of the Archdiocese of Brisbane seeks to offer a Catholic education for its children. St Andrew’s has been established to provide excellence in education that is Catholic in its goal, wholistic in its scope and pastoral in its process. It is necessary for St Andrew’s to collect school fees to cover financial costs in meeting the goals of the school and the parents who choose Catholic education for their children. School fees cover basic tuition, maintenance and development of school buildings and the provision of specialist tuition. To sustain quality Catholic education at St Andrew’s, it is agreed by parents at enrolment, that full school fees and levies are payable when the school accepts the enrolment of their child. The St Andrew’s Finance Committee set school fees annually taking into account the Archdiocesan recommended minimum fee and the local circumstances of the community. We recognise that in particular circumstances from time to time parents may need an avenue for discussion and mutual decision with school personnel about the procedure and capacity to pay the given fees. The Parish has placed the role of fee management with the Principal of the school. The Principal will access the advice and consult with other appropriate authorities within the school, the parish and Catholic Education in determining just decisions about the level of school fees in any particular year and in discussion with any particular parent or family in regard to the payments of fees.
Please select from the links below to review our school fees, policy and payment options:
2024 Fee Schedule.pdf
Payment Options for St Andrews.pdf


Three nations — Russia, China and Iran — aim to challenge U.S. claims of moral superiority.
Russian President Vladimir Putin greeted Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill after Putin’s inauguration ceremony in 2012. In mimicry of his tsarist predecessors, Vladimir Putin has restored prestige to the Orthodox Church.
There is much more to Vladimir Putin’s annexation of Crimea and continuing pressure on Ukraine than meets the eye.
The Russian leader has drawn open the curtain on a new era of global competition among a handful of nations that presume to act as heaven’s surrogates on Earth.
America’s sense of its own exceptionalism — its “City Upon a Hill” complex — is disdained even by some Americans, who think it leads the nation into trouble. But America isn’t the only society with a mystical sense of mission. In fact, the rest of the 21st century may be the story of America’s confrontation with three rival powers that directly challenge our claim to moral superiority.
One such nation is Russia, which has a long tradition of believing in its destiny as the “Third Rome.” The second is China, which for 2,500 years has positioned itself as the Middle Kingdom directly under heaven. The third is Iran, whose ayatollahs believe they possess the most truthful understanding of God’s holy order for humanity.
When Putin spoke to his national assembly March 18 explaining why Russia was justified in absorbing Crimea, he didn’t hesitate to cite the deepest roots of Russia’s identity: “Everything in Crimea,” he said, “speaks of our shared history and pride. This is the location of ancient Khersones, where Prince Vladimir was baptized. His spiritual feat of adopting Orthodoxy predetermined the overall basis of the culture, civilization and human values that unite the peoples of Russia, Ukraine and Belarus.”
In 988, Prince Vladimir of the Kievan Rus had converted to Orthodox Christianity and had married a sister of the Byzantine emperor, linking a Slavic royal family to the lineage of Constantine the Great and protection of orthodox faith. This was the beginning of the Russian myth of a Third Rome.
In seizing Crimea, Putin is not proposing to play a parlor game but a game of thrones — a grand contest against the backdrop of human civilization. He has affirmed Russia’s historic destiny as the Third Rome to redeem humanity.
In the mystical vision of medieval Slavic leaders, the first Rome had been lost to true Christianity when it was captured by the Roman papacy. Protection of original Christian beliefs and practices — what we now call Eastern Orthodoxy — was then left to the patriarchs in the eastern Mediterranean, especially to the patriarch in Constantinople in his magnificent basilica of Hagia Sophia.
Then, when Constantinople’s freedom was threatened with conquest by the Ottomans, Slavic Christians claimed to see a larger meaning in the conversion of Slavs to Orthodox Christianity. What they saw was a new way to salvation — the appointment of a chosen people to save the Christian gospel.
The monk Foma of Tver in 1453 wrote The Eulogy of the Pious Grand Prince Boris Alexandrovich to give substance to the Third Rome myth. The idea of Muscovy as heir to Rome crystallized with a panegyric letter composed by the Russian monk Philotheus (Filofey) of Pskov in 1510 to Moscow’s Grand Duke Vasili III, which proclaimed, “Two Romes have fallen. The third stands. And there will be no fourth. No one shall replace your Christian Tsardom!”
Vasili III’s father had married the niece of the last Byzantine Emperor, so Vasili III was in the lineage of those who were divinely ordained to protect the Orthodox faith.
Muscovy became, therefore, a close political partnership between an autocratic ruler and a spiritually transcendent priesthood in a Christian theocracy. Moscow with its tsar and its Metropolitan then grew in power and pride as humanity’s redemptive force.
The novels of Dostoevsky and Tolstoy speak eloquently to the supreme purity and importance of Russian spirituality, which gave meaning to an otherwise bleak and foreboding Russian culture of secular oppression.
One reason the last tsar, Nicholas II, and his wife, Alexandra, did not seek secular reforms to preserve their dynasty was their mystical belief in their sanctity and their importance to God, who would accordingly save them from revolution. The monk Rasputin notoriously came to dominate the tsaritsa with such arguments.
Putin’s faith in the exceptionalism of his Russian people has been and is widely shared. His stratospheric approval ratings in current polls reveal his alignment with popular beliefs and aspirations.
The Opinion section is produced by the Editorial Department to foster discussion about key issues. The Editorial Board represents the institutional voice of the Star Tribune and operates independently of the newsroom.


Friday, October 22, 2010
Movie of the Week
A MAN FOR ALL SEASONS (1966)
Starring- Paul Scofield, Robert Shaw, Wendy Hiller, Orson Welles
As a nod to my Halloween costume this year (I'm being Henry VIII) I am highlighting a great Oscar winning film that tells the story of Sir Thomas More and his struggle with Henry VIII over divorce and the king's ultimate break with the Catholic Church. Written by Robert Bolt, who adapted it from his successful play, the story portrays More as the ultimate man of principle- beloved by the common folk for his conviction and loyalty to his values and religion in the face of death. Scofield's work as More is top notch, and it garnered him an Oscar for Best Actor.
While the film takes some dramatic license with the facts, it is quite accurate overall. Henry VIII (Shaw) is upset at the fact that his wife Catherine of Aragon has been unable to provide him with a male heir, and so he wants a divorce. Unfortunately for the king, it is not up to him, but rather the Pope to grant the divorce. Henry's Chancellor, Cardinal Wolsey (Welles), urges More to help him let Henry out of the marriage. More refuses and Wolsey dies, disgraced by Henry who is still married to Catherine. More succeeds Wolsey as Lord Chancellor, but angers Henry when he says his conscience will not allow him dissolve a marriage that he feels is valid.
More is also up against the ambitious Thomas Cromwell (Leo McKern) who wants to gain power and take More down for his actions. Henry VIII, tired of waiting for the Pope to grant his divorce, creates the Church of England with himself as the head. He then marries his mistress Anne Boleyn. More refuses to recognize the union and is imprisoned in the Tower of London for treason. More is eventually put on trial where he boldly sticks to his principles. For that he is ultimately beheaded.
The story is a powerful one and is masterfully executed by Director Fred Zinneman and his first rate cast. It is no wonder that this is still held up as the quintessential film about More and Henry VIII. Scofield was made a popular actor for his work as More and became forever tied to this role. See this film for the history, the performances- especially Scofield and Shaw, and the fact that it is way better than The Tudors.
Things to watch for-
A young John Hurt
The great score by George Delerue
A cameo by Vanessa Redgrave as Anne Boleyn
"I know a man who wants to change his woman."


Welcome Collage - Customisable Postcard
Sometimes rural churches can feel overshadowed by the larger urban churches. Rural Mission Sunday provides a real opportunity for rural churches to celebrate who they are and give thanks for their community.
Do your neighbours know that they are welcome? Not everyone knows you can just turn up to church, even without a personal invitation. Make sure your neighbours know they are welcome – then prove it with a smile, and ideally a cup of tea too!


Count your 2012 blessings before the New Year; SM Foundation supports high school graduates of Catholic parish schoolsPurely Personal
By Josephine Darang
With New Year coming in two days, let us write down our blessings in 2012 and thank God for them. First, the gift of life. Second, sustenance and nourishment. And the gift of family. If tragedy struck us during the year, let us offer it to God and accept God’s plan for it. Then, we have our jobs that give us income.


Bishop Malzaire was born in Mon Repos, a community in the village of Micoud on the east of St Lucia. He dreamt of serving the Lord since the age 10. Bishop Malzaire studied at the Regional Seminary of St John Vianney and Ugandan Martyrs in Trinidad and Tobago. He holds a doctorate in Systematic Theology from the Gregorian University in Rome. His doctoral thesis, published in Rome, is a study of the relationship between theology of the Eucharist and the Social Teaching of the Church, as reflected in the thoughts of the late Pope Paul VI on the world’s poor and suffering.
Christmas Message Christmas in the Year of Mercy Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, the Holy Father Francis, on December 8, 2015, the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, called the entire Christian world to dedicate this year as an Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy. In the Bull of Indiction, which explains the significance of the year, he affirms thus: “Jesus Christ is the face of the Father’s mercy. This might well sum up the mystery of the Christian Faith. Mercy has become … [Read More...]


It doesn’t get much better for a preacher. To sit down at the beginning of the week to start preparation for the coming Lord’s Day, to open the Scriptures at the passage due to be expounded and to read, ‘There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus’ (Romans 8:1). If that doesn’t life his heart and fire him with zeal to proclaim the truth, he probably shouldn’t be in a pulpit. What a joy to remind the people of God of their glorious privileges ‘in Christ Jesus’ and to explain to the unconverted the wonderful salvation that God has provided ‘in Christ Jesus’.
The opening verses of Romans 8 are undoubtedly the charter of true spiritual freedom. In a day when much attention is given to various forms of ‘liberation’, here the apostle Paul deals with the most fundamental freedom – freedom from sin and from condemnation by a holy God. How sad that so many regard Christianity as a form of bondage when in truth it is the greatest freedom imaginable. Could it be that Christians have not fully grasped their God-given privileges and tend to live as if they were still in bondage? Perhaps the world has some excuse for thinking as it does.
In a couple of verses Paul shows us something of the richness of our freedom in Christ. There is ‘no condemnation’: the burden of sin and guilt has been lifted. As those who have been ‘justified by faith’ (Romans 5:1) we are liberated from the righteous condemnation of God and we know we will not receive ‘the wages of sin’ (namely, death) of which Romans 6:23 speaks. And that’s not all. Not only are we freed from the guilt of sin, we are freed from the power of sin. As Paul states, ‘For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death’ (verse 2). The Holy Spirit has given new life to those who were formerly held in bondage to ‘the law of sin and death’. No longer is sin the dominating power in the Christian’s life, though, as Paul shows at length in Romans 7, a battle with sin still rages within every one of God’s people. The outcome of the conflict, however, is certain. United to Christ in his death and resurrection, as described in Romans 6, we are liberated from the guilt and the power of sin. The gateway to godly living is open.
At the heart of our freedom is of course the work of Christ. The law could not save us, given the sinfulness of our nature (the ‘flesh’ as Paul describes it in verse 3), but the marvel of the gospel is the ‘what the law could not do…God did’. By his gracious action, salvation in its fullness has been provided. He did it by ‘sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh’ – sharing our human nature yet without sin, and it was ‘for sin’, probably drawing on the Old Testament language of the atoning sin offerings. All the sin and guilt of his people were counted as his and so God ‘condemned sin in the flesh’, in Christ’s body on the cross. The full price of liberation has been paid and all those ‘in Christ Jesus’ are set free.
Not only does God liberate us from certain things, namely the guilt and power of sin, he liberates us for something – for godly living. We are freed ‘in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us’ (verse 4). How striking that Paul puts the law at the heart of Christian living. Far from dismissing God’s law, as many Christians do, Paul shows that it has a crucial place in holy living. We obey not in order to be saved, but we obey because we have been saved. The life of those ‘in Christ Jesus’ is to be guided and shaped by the law of God which, as Paul puts it in Romans 7:14, is ‘spiritual’. Nothing that Paul has said so far in this epistle allows us to dismiss God’s law as no longer relevant to us. It is vital for godly living, and disregard for the divine law is surely one of the main reasons why Christians are so often indistinguishable from the ungodly world around them.
Obedience to God’s law, however, is not just one more self-help prescription, as if we could obey in our own strength. God does not place that crushing burden on his children, but rather provides all the strength we require. We are to be those ‘who walk not according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit’ (verse 4). Depending upon the Spirit’s ministry, obedience is possible for us, and expresses the joy of salvation in Christ.
Precious truths to delight the heart of every child of God. What a privilege to preach this gospel.


Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and dry them with the towel that he had tied around his waist. John 5:13 At first Peter wanted nothing to do with his Lord and a basin of water. He resisted and told Jesus, “You will never wash my [dirty] feet, to which Jesus replied, “If I don’t wash you, you don’t belong to me.” John 13:7-8
To be completely honest, I have to admit that this conversation between Jesus and Peter doesn’t sound all that bad at first. In fact, it reads like a conversation I might have had with Jesus. Imagine coming to the table sorely in need of a pedicure. Embarrassed? A resounding “yes!” from this corner. The same kind of feelings might run through me if I suddenly found myself in need of emergency medical attention and remembering too late that all my decent underwear were back home in the drawer. . .
In this story, more than likely I would have been as unprepared as Peter, for this was no ordinary tea party. Let me explain. For months, a group of women had been meeting for Bible study and prayer. Over time they become close enough to comfortably share with one another the deep concerns Jesus laid on their hearts. One cannot be in such a group for long without feeling the Holy Spirit‘s nudging to “get real” and these women responded and bonded in their love for Jesus and each other. But as what often happens in life, the group meetings succumbed to hectic schedules and the women disappear back into the rat race of living.
But when you have had something so good and so meaningful, how do you let it go? There were heart longings ~ and one participant took it upon herself to extend an invitation to the other women to come to her home for tea. Sidebar: if I had been the one extending an invitation for tea in my relatively unexplored territory of hospitality, it would likely have just been tea. You know what I mean? You take a mug from the cabinet, heat water in the microwave, toss in a tea bag and you’re done. There might be some thought as to what to serve with it, but nah . . . just tea and a friend for starters . . . but never mind the sidebar. I’d be painting the wrong picture in your head.
So back to the real story. Each friend received a personal, hand written invitation to come over for tea. Perhaps the hostess baked a loaf of pumpkin dessert bread or stopped by the local deli for something delectable, I don’t know. At least she was prepared to serve tea. Since I know few details, I will embellish with a sprinkle of ideas from my imagination to keep it interesting. Let’s say she covered the table with a crisp linen tablecloth and washed and dried the delicate china teacups and plates saved for special occasions until they sparkled, and maybe she made a pitcher of lemonade for those who preferred their beverage chilled.
The doorbell chimes. The women have all arrived. The first lady steps over the threshold with her hands wrapped around an exquisite vase of fresh blooms for the table. Another comes in bearing a lovely tray of warm-out-of-the-oven scones just itching to be filled with strawberry jam from a crystal bowl, a third comes in carrying a basin, a towel and lavender bath salts. Huh? Somehow this doesn’t fit the picture I have in my mind of a tea party.
Oh, but it does. In the same spirit as the Lord girded Himself so many years ago, this dear lady knelt before each friend and gently washed her feet with aromatic warm water and patted them dry with a soft towel all the while humming a favorite song of personal worship giving glory to God. How humbling. How tender. How so like Jesus!
From a Bible commentary, I gleaned these insights as to what likely happened on Passover night in Jesus’ day. According to Jewish custom, washing the feet of the head of the household was one of the duties of a foreign slave, but never expected of a Jewish slave. However, it was a service a wife owed her husband, and children their father. Since there was no servant present on the night of the Last Supper, one of the disciples should have undertaken the menial task, but none volunteered. Jesus hoped His practical demonstration would give the disciples a picture lesson which would remain with them longer than words alone.
In the symbolic act Jesus was performing, only in submission could Peter have part with Christ. Furthermore, Peter’s independent spirit and haughty attitude were inconsistent with the character of those who enjoy sweet spiritual fellowship with their Lord in this life and who entertain the hope of enjoying eternal fellowship with Him in the world to come. Therefore, in the act of washing someone’s feet; both parties are in the perfect position to receive a blessing.
“Simon Peter said to Him, Lord, [wash] not only my feet, but my hands and my head too! ” John 13:9
Let’s not glance over these words lightly and thus miss the spiritual significance. There is something special about the experience of having someone kneel before you to wash your feet . . . and further, if the washing is symbolically allowed to reach your heart . . . the heart gets bathed too and thus you have been renewed by the Holy Spirit and a little bit of heaven lingers on earth, just for you.
I would loved to have joined these ladies in their sweet fellowship.No doubt they had an unseen Guest present. No doubt His sweet Spirit permeated the hearts of all who gathered and remained with them long after the last sip of tea.