This blog seeks to promote and establish ecumenism among all groups and denominations of the Christian Faith via expressions in written language, and through any means of communication. We seek the promotion of others that are working towards the same common goal, as well. The prayer of Jesus in John 17: 21 was: "I pray that they may all be one…." Ultimately and eternally, the creation of unity among all believers and followers of Christ is sought desiring harmony with and for all of humanity.
Sunday, December 24, 2023
On memory
The people of long ago are not remembered,
nor will there be any remembrance
of people yet to come
by those who come after them.
- Ecclesiastes 1:11, NRSVUE
Friday, December 8, 2023
Saturday, December 2, 2023
Ishmael's voice was heard by God
15 When the water in the skin was gone, she cast the child under one of the bushes. 16 Then she went and sat down opposite him a good way off, about the distance of a bowshot, for she said, “Do not let me look on the death of the child.” And as she sat opposite him, she lifted up her voice and wept. 17 And God heard the voice of the boy, and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven and said to her, “What troubles you, Hagar? Do not be afraid, for God has heard the voice of the boy where he is. 18 Come, lift up the boy and hold him fast with your hand, for I will make a great nation of him.” 19 Then God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water. She went and filled the skin with water and gave the boy a drink.
20 God was with the boy, and he grew up; he lived in the wilderness and became an expert with the bow. 21 He lived in the wilderness of Paran, and his mother got a wife for him from the land of Egypt.
- Genesis 21:15-21, NRSVUE
Reference:
Bible, NRSVUE
Sunday, November 26, 2023
Some ecumenism news for November
I hope all who
are reading this find themselves well. I try to post here at least once a month.
I have two other blogs in which I share about other topics, but this one is
mainly dedicated to ecumenism. I read the statistics, and based on the ones for
this blog it appears that ecumenism is not a popular subject, not surprisingly.
In this post I am sharing a recent article by Heather Hahn for UM News. The
following excerpt is from this said article.
As of Nov. 16, more than 6,900 U.S. congregations have
received the necessary approvals to disaffiliate under a church law that allows
congregations to leave with property if they meet certain financial and
procedural obligations. That represents nearly 23% of The United Methodist
Church’s U.S. congregations departing since the provision took effect in 2019.
Blessings! Read the full article at the link below.
Sunday, November 5, 2023
Standard Time begins and that's normal and more natural
Over the years I have read many articles in which I did not understand whether the author was deliberately trying to confuse the reader about the difference between DST and natural Standard Time, or perhaps he or she was confused, although that's hard to believe. We spend almost eight months on DST, and just a little over four months on normal Standard Time. It seems like most people don't even question why we would be less time on normal and more on abnornal. This crazy behavior should have been questioned for many years, especially when it is so unhealthy. We are forced to wake up an hour earlier on DST. Sleep deprivation is bad for our health. We have more automobile accidents on DST, and if proper research is done, many other bad things also happen. But, since today we are back on normal and natural Standard Time, let's not dwell on negative things and enjoy the benefits of it.
Some today will complain about it getting dark too early without realizing it is really because the first day of winter is only six weeks away, and that's the real reason for it. On the other hand, if they woke up thinking they were still on DST, they should have noticed it was light out already. Why? The day on planet Earth lasts 24 hours, and moving the time on the clocks to deceive ourselves will never change this astronomical fact. Now, let's get back to enjoying the benefits of being back to normal Standard Time today.
I hope you enjoyed the extra hour of sleep. I am sure you feel better and more rested. Moreover, we should be grateful we survived another eight months of craziness, and survived is the correct and accurate word to use. One day all will hopefully wake up and tell our governments to stop the madness and deception. In the meantime, enjoy the next four months of normalcy before getting back on the crazy cycle three weeks before Spring even begins.
Sunday, October 29, 2023
Many dwelling places
1 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe[a] in God; believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?[b] 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also.
Footnotes
a. 14.1 Or You believe
b. 14.2 Or If it were not so, I would have told you, for I go
to prepare a place for you
Reference:
John 14:1-3,
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Saturday, September 16, 2023
Renovation of the Church of the Nativity
“Pilgrims of all faiths and none come here every day, drawn,
as the Magi of old were drawn, by a star of hope in their hearts. A star of
hope for a better world. A star of hope for that peace ‘which passes
understanding’ (Phil. 4:7),” the patriarch told Palestinian officials and
around 50 diplomats and other guests.
The foregoing is extracted from an article on the Word Council of Churches website. Read the full article at the following link.
Sunday, August 20, 2023
On Brother Roger
It was at Taize that this Swiss Protestant set about giving sustenance to the Community that has, all these years later, become a beacon for ecumenical life in a Christian Europe that has suffered such immense decline (international.la-croix.com).
The above excerpt is from an article titled: Remembering Brother Roger of Taize. It is written by Chris McDonnell and published by LaCroix International. Read the full article at the following link:
Tuesday, July 11, 2023
Arango's Apologetics Page: Assurance?
I hope all are doing well. In this post I am simply sharing a post from the original blog, which will turn fifteen in November. Hope you enjoy reading! Blessings and follow the link below!
Saturday, June 3, 2023
A video about Islam
I hope
everyone is doing well. I have been wanting to share this video by the historian,
Tom Holland for a while now. I finally got around to doing so, now. I don’t
want you all to have to read much in this post, but please watch, it is highly
informative and well researched. Enjoy!
Saturday, May 6, 2023
Coronation sermon by Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury
Colossians 1:9-17, Luke 4:16-21
We are here to crown a King, and we crown a King to serve.
What is given today is for the gain of all. For Jesus Christ announced a Kingdom in which the poor and oppressed are freed from the chains of injustice. The blind see. The bruised and broken-hearted are healed.
That Kingdom sets the aims of all righteous government, all authority. And the Kingdom also sets the means of all government and authority. For Jesus doesn’t grasp power or hold onto status.
The King of Kings, Jesus Christ, was anointed not to be served, but to serve. He creates the unchangeable law of good authority that with the privilege of power comes the duty to serve.
Service is love in action. We see active love in our care for the most vulnerable, the way we nurture and encourage the young, in the conservation of the natural world. We have seen those priorities in the life of duty lived by our King.
Today we have the honour of being in this Abbey with so many who show such love; you work with charities and organisations, you build community, you serve the nation in Armed Forces, in emergency services, and so many other ways. Next door are 400 or more extraordinary young people in St Margaret’s Church, whose lives speak of service. Around the world in the Realms and Commonwealth are so many more. You live your lives for the sake of others.
The unity you show, the example you give, is what binds us together and offers societies that are strong, joyful, happy and glorious. They bear heavy weights for us.
And the weight of the task given today, Your Majesties, is only bearable by the Spirit of God, who gives us the strength to give our lives to others. With the anointing of the Holy Spirit, the King is given freely what no ruler can ever attain through will, or politics, or war, or tyranny: the Holy Spirit draws us to love in action.
This is promised by Jesus who put aside all privilege, because, as the first reading tells us, God will give all things for our sake, even His own life.
His throne was a Cross. His crown was made of thorns. His regalia were the wounds that pierced his body.
Each of us is called by God to serve. Whatever that looks like in our own lives, each of us can choose God’s way today.
We can say to the King of Kings, God Himself, as does the King here today, ‘give grace that in thy service I may find perfect freedom’.
In that prayer there is promise beyond measure, joy beyond dreams, hope that endures. By that prayer, for every King, every ruler, and, yes, for every person for all of us, we are opened to the transforming love of God.
We are here to crown a King, and we crown a King to serve.
What is given today is for the gain of all. For Jesus Christ announced a Kingdom in which the poor and oppressed are freed from the chains of injustice. The blind see. The bruised and broken-hearted are healed.
That Kingdom sets the aims of all righteous government, all authority. And the Kingdom also sets the means of all government and authority. For Jesus doesn’t grasp power or hold onto status.
The King of Kings, Jesus Christ, was anointed not to be served, but to serve. He creates the unchangeable law of good authority that with the privilege of power comes the duty to serve.
Service is love in action. We see active love in our care for the most vulnerable, the way we nurture and encourage the young, in the conservation of the natural world. We have seen those priorities in the life of duty lived by our King.
Today we have the honour of being in this Abbey with so many who show such love; you work with charities and organisations, you build community, you serve the nation in Armed Forces, in emergency services, and so many other ways. Next door are 400 or more extraordinary young people in St Margaret’s Church, whose lives speak of service. Around the world in the Realms and Commonwealth are so many more. You live your lives for the sake of others.
The unity you show, the example you give, is what binds us together and offers societies that are strong, joyful, happy and glorious. They bear heavy weights for us.
And the weight of the task given today, Your Majesties, is only bearable by the Spirit of God, who gives us the strength to give our lives to others. With the anointing of the Holy Spirit, the King is given freely what no ruler can ever attain through will, or politics, or war, or tyranny: the Holy Spirit draws us to love in action.
This is promised by Jesus who put aside all privilege, because, as the first reading tells us, God will give all things for our sake, even His own life.
His throne was a Cross. His crown was made of thorns. His regalia were the wounds that pierced his body.
Each of us is called by God to serve. Whatever that looks like in our own lives, each of us can choose God’s way today.
We can say to the King of Kings, God Himself, as does the King here today, ‘give grace that in thy service I may find perfect freedom’.
In that prayer there is promise beyond measure, joy beyond dreams, hope that endures. By that prayer, for every King, every ruler, and, yes, for every person for all of us, we are opened to the transforming love of God.
Source:
Saturday, April 29, 2023
Pastors and dealing with dementia
I pray that
everyone is doing well. I didn’t want the month to go by without sharing a bit
of news with relevance to ecumenism on the blog. I found this article dealing
with dementia. The following excerpt is from it.
The German Catholic news agency KNA reported he said every
pastoral minister should have a basic knowledge of how to deal with dementia as
like many other illnesses the disease can draw stigma and discrimination.
Read the full article at the link below and see whom he was who said it, and more. Blessings!
Sunday, April 9, 2023
Saturday, March 25, 2023
Local level Ecumenism
Each year, a handful of churches in Enid host a Ecumenical
Good Friday Service, which serves as a time to come together as a community to
celebrate Jesus’ resurrection.
This year the service is noon on April 7, 2023, and churches participating are First United Methodist Church, 401 W. Randolph; First Presbyterian Church, 502 W. Maine; St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church, 518 W. Randolph; and Central Christian Church, 1111 W. Broadway (enidnews.com).
The
foregoing excerpt is taken from the Enid News & Eagle. Enid, Oklahoma is about
70 miles north of Oklahoma City, and has a population of a little over 51
thousand, which is small town material to me. Enid is around 74 thousand square
miles, which makes it bigger than Miami (56 square miles), and many other cities
in the United States. It is known as the “Wheat Capital of the United States.” Personally,
I have never visited Enid, but it sounds like a nice place. Of course, based on
the introductory text and what this blog is about, this post is on ecumenism and not so much about Enid.
I titled
this piece of writing Local level Ecumenism because the planned Good
Friday Service in Enid is local. I am sharing this article to say that regardless
of where one lives ecumenism can take place. Whether it is in a small town or
in a big city, it is possible to achieve. I do not doubt the planning required work
for some. The gathering is scheduled for April 7, 2023. I am sure they will
have a great service. Read more about it at the link below.
Saturday, February 18, 2023
By the way, Rutler was cleared!
We constantly hear about priests being accused of many
things, but we don't seem to have much media coverage when we find out the
accusations were false. I say this with relevance to Fr. George Rutler, one of
my favorite priests. The news came out almost two years ago, and still it's not
well known. Hence, my comment about media.
Sadly, in this case the accuser went as far as using a stunt double to make a fake video. Shameful! What happens often is that when people are tarnished by a media report (practically slandered), unless media reports again to restore things, that person's image is usually permanently ruined. Enough said! Read more about it at the following link.
Sunday, February 5, 2023
Current Evangelical Churches
Many evangelical churches, or at least most of the ones I've been in and attended, or visited over decades, are basically local family businesses in which the family inherits the business. Many congregants do not seem to view that this is nepotism, and a big deal. If one visits any of these local churches for the first time, what happens is that perhaps one notices that a lot of them are either labeled non-denominational or interdenominational, but that's not always the case. Non-denominational is almost the opposite of interdenominational since one implies having more than one denomination, and the other means not having an affiliation with any denomination, or simply none. However, and strangely, when one enters either of them these days on an initial visit, it may feel or seem as if there is no difference in liturgy or worship style. It's as if the labels don't represent anything. One thing is for certain, and it is that there are many of them all around this land.
All-around
there are evangelical churches. Some are small and some are large. In fact,
some are such huge congregations that they are called “megachurches.” One of
the biggest would probably be that church in Houston, Texas. The nepotism
statement I made seems to apply without out any doubt in its case. The church
was started by his father, and when he passed away, the son became senior
pastor. They do employ many people seemingly, but the ones who make big decisions,
I am convinced, are the family members, regardless of advice from others. I am
simply saying this is how it is.
The thing is
that if congregants know this fact and don't have any objection because they
feel the church enhances the spiritual life of people, including their own
personally, one may as well let it be. I am sure that sooner or later, if they
disagree with this system, they will move on. This simply how many of these
types of churches run the business. Congregants may as well deal with it,
unless they perhaps decide to switch to a specific denominational church, which
may end up being a huge change to what they are normally accustomed, if they
never attended such a church. Blessings!
Sunday, January 8, 2023
1: 8
Now there arose a new king over Egypt, who knew not Joseph.
- Exodus 1: 8
Source:
JPS Tanakh 1917