Revivals are hindered when ministers and churches take wrong ground in regard to any question to any question involving human rights. — Charles Finney, nineteenth century evangelist
by Ken Sehested
Hail, O favored one!
But Mary was greatly troubled
at the angel's erupting, interrupting greeting.
No wonder.
The annunciation of heaven
splitting earth
is always troubling
trembling
tremulous.
Mountains shake
hearts quiver
at the sound of God's rousing.
Signs of the Times • 6 December 2017 • No. 146
¶ Processional. “All God's creatures got a place in the choir / Some sing low and some sing higher, / Some sing out loud on a telephone wire, / Some just clap their hands, or paws, or anything they've got now.” —Makem & Clancy, “A Place in the Choir”
by Colleen Kelly
Kids can spot Santa Claus in the twinkling of an eye. But who knows the real St. Nick, a spry guy with olive skin who lived in what's now Turkey and whose ample compassion inspired century after century of legend? We'll introduce you to him today.
Just the Facts
Read more ›Signs of the Times • 28 November 2017 • No. 145
¶ Processional. “Adiemus,” composed by Karl Jenkins and performed by the Angel City Chorale. (There are no lyrics as such, instead the vocalists sing syllables and "words" invented by Jenkins.)
Above: Owl At Night (Kletr/Shutterstock)¶ Invocation. “Calling all angels, calling all angels / Walk me through this one, don't leave me alone / Calling all angels, calling all angels / We're tryin', we're hopin' but we're not sure how.” —Jane Siberry & KD Lang, “Calling All Angels” (Thanks Abigail.)
Read more ›by Ken Sehested
Text: John 1:1-18
Background: Our congregation’s Christmas service was in one of our member’s farm barn, with a simple Christmas story reenactment interspersed with singing Christmas carols. The following Sunday we used the lectionary text from John 1.
We had a wonderful Christmas at our house. All our kinfolk managed to safely dodge the worst of the weather. With 10 people in the house, two of them juiced-up preschoolers, shoveling snow and splitting firewood offered a welcome break from the clamor. Of course, it’s always a special treat to watch youngsters rip open Christmas gifts.
Read more ›by Ken Sehested
Sisters and brothers, lend your ears to this teaching, for it is true and lasting. Do not say with your lips, “The Spirit of the Lord! The Spirit of the Lord!” when your hearts are shackled in fear, enslaved to security.
The spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed.
Read more ›•Let my people go, so that they may worship me in the wilderness. Exod. 7:16
•The Israelites complained to Moses, “It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness.” Exod. 14:12
•Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and we detest this miserable food. Num. 21:5
Read more ›by Ken Sehested
In seasons of dark desire eyes strain for Eden’s refrain and flickered light ’mid the fright of earth’s travail. Oh, Beloved. . . .
Unleash your Voice of Pardon from wrath’s consuming reign. Speak peace to the hungered of heart.
Read more ›by Ken Sehested
“Comfort, comfort my people,” says your God.
Let tender resolve loose the bonds of revenge. All flesh is destined for Heaven’s Delight!
Read more ›by Ken Sehested
“Do not say to yourself, “My power and the might of my own hand have gotten me this wealth.”
—Deuteronomy 8:17
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