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Almost five years after hiring The Rev. Tony Lowden as its first black lead pastor, Maranatha Baptist Church in Plains, Georgia, where former President Jimmy Carter is a member, has hired The Rev. Ashley Guthas as its first woman pastor. The 2023 McAfee School of Theology graduate, whose hiring was first reported by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, previously served as associate minister to families with children and youth at Northside Drive Baptist Church in Atlanta. She is a divorcee who says she still feels "uneasy labeling myself as a pastor." Northside Drive Baptist Church announced her hiring last August, highlighting her...

Sunday 19 May 2024 PentecostSt. Dunstan Catholic Church, Millbrae, CAReadings at MassLiturgical Colour: Red. Year: B(II).These readings are for the extended-form Vigil Mass on the evening before the feast.These readings are for the simple-form Vigil Mass on the evening before the feast.These readings are for the day of the feast itself.These readings are for the extended-form Vigil Mass on the evening before the feast.First readingGenesis 11:1-9 ©The tower of BabelThroughout the earth men spoke the same language, with the same vocabulary. Now as they moved eastwards they found a plain in the land of Shinar where they settled. They...

[Catholic Caucus] Pope Francis says ‘conservative’ bishops have ‘suicidal attitude’ during 60 Minutes interviewCertain of the U.S. episcopate have been notable in defending elements of Catholic teaching, often in seeming juxtaposition to Francis’ own stance – including such men as Bishop Joseph Strickland and Cardinal Raymond Burke.Pope Francis with Norah O'Donnell.Pope Francis has described “conservative” bishops as having a “suicidal attitude” due to being closed “inside a dogmatic box.”“A Conservative is one who clings to something and does not want to see beyond that,” Francis said in response to a question about “conservative bishops in the United States” the CBS...

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Daily Readings from the USCCBJesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.” John 20:21–23Happy Pentecost! Today, throughout the world, our Church celebrates the full outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon Jesus’ first followers and upon all of us. Why do we need the Holy Spirit in our lives? This is an important question to ponder. Today, as...

Pray For The Peace of Jerusalem (5/19/24)[Prayer]The Names and Titles of God (Captain of Salvation) Hebrews 2:1010 For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.King James Version________________________God Bless America.ML/LTOS

“But to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing; so that also at the revelation of His glory, you may rejoice with exultation” (1 Peter 4:13). We should rejoice in trials and persecutions, not for their own sake, but for the benefits that result. The late D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, in his classic book Studies in the Sermon on the Mount, made the following careful distinction on what it means to rejoice in persecution: “The Christian is, in a sense, one who must feel his heart breaking at the effect of sin in others that makes...

Join with fellow FREEPERS to pray for AMERICA: For those in Authority in Government, Family, Military, Business, Healthcare, Education, Churches, and the Media. I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone: for kings and all those in authority that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. 1 Timothy 2:1-2 Religion Forum threads labeled “Prayer” are closed to debate of any kind.

Pentecost is a very important feast in the liturgical life of the Church, and it has its own vigil. Not only so, but the Readings for the Vigil are particularly rich. I cannot think of another that has such a wide variety of options, for example, for the First Reading. Even though only one First Reading will be proclaimed in any given Mass, it is well worth pondering them all, in order to come to understand the significance of Pentecost more deeply: The First Reading Options for the Vigil: 1. Genesis 11:1-9, the Tower of Babel: The whole world spoke...

“Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you” (1 Peter 4:12). We can be certain of God’s love for us, no matter how unexpected or difficult any trial might be. Reassuring words are vital as we strive to deal in a godly fashion with trials and sufferings in our Christian lives. In today’s verse, Peter opens with a pastoral term (“beloved”) that conveys tenderness, love, and concern for his audience. It reinforces in a single word the concepts of fervent love...

Pentecost, a radiant jewel in the liturgical crown of the Catholic Church, illuminates our faith with the fiery descent of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles and disciples gathered in Jerusalem. Celebrated fifty days after Easter, Pentecost ignites our hearts with the timeless message of Divine empowerment, unity, and evangelization. The Acts of the Apostles transports us to that momentous day when the apostles, previously cloistered in fear, were filled with heavenly courage as tongues of fire settled upon them. The Holy Spirit, in His boundless wisdom and grace, bestowed upon them the gift of tongues, enabling them to proclaim...

Let's discuss the Readings for Pentecost Sunday Mass during the Day.First Reading: Acts 2:1-111When the time for Pentecost was fulfilled, they were all in one place together. 2And suddenly there came from the sky a noise like a strong driving wind, and it filled the entire house in which they were. 3Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire, which parted and came to rest on each one of them. 4And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues, as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim. 5Now there were devout Jews from...

In James 1:27, the apostle James gives us insight into what pleases God: “Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world” (NASB). The word for “undefiled” is translated “faultless” in the NIV. When interpreting any verse in the Bible, including James 1:27, we should always look at its context to get an idea of what the verse means within the surrounding verses. In this case, we can look at what comes immediately before James 1:27 and get some...

In an exclusive interview, Matt Fradd, Byzantine Catholic author and host of the Pints with Aquinas podcast, sat down with Live Action founder and president Lila Rose to discuss pornography, sex, and how the perversion of sex has affected the world. Fradd says he was first exposed to pornography at age eight. By age 13, his friend’s mother was buying he and his friend pornography and supplying them with alcohol. Looking back on the behavior, he called it sexual abuse — and said it led him down a dark path. When he later became a Christian and worked to remove...

More than I can express. I praise our Awesome Gracious God and thank all of you for the prayers of our FR committed prayer warriors. I deeply value your prayers during this prayer journey that began back in March. Calvin Chase Sutton born 5/18/24 @ 1:54am. He is 6lbs 10 ounces 19inches is finally here at 36w 6 days. ALL PRAISE TO GOD! He is perfectly healthy! ANNA AND BABY PROUD DAD

18 May 2024 Saturday of the 7th week of Eastertide Basilica di S. Venanzio, Camerino, ItalyReadings at MassLiturgical Colour: White. Year: B(II).First readingActs 28:16-20,30-31 ©In Rome, Paul proclaimed the kingdom of God without hindrance from anyoneOn our arrival in Rome Paul was allowed to stay in lodgings of his own with the soldier who guarded him. After three days he called together the leading Jews. When they had assembled, he said to them, ‘Brothers, although I have done nothing against our people or the customs of our ancestors, I was arrested in Jerusalem and handed over to the Romans....

Daily Readings from the USCCBIt is this disciple who testifies to these things and has written them, and we know that his testimony is true. There are also many other things that Jesus did, but if these were to be described individually, I do not think the whole world would contain the books that would be written. John 21:24–25As we conclude our Easter season, we are given the conclusion of the Gospel of Saint John to ponder. Recall that John’s Gospel has been a central focus throughout the Easter Season. Therefore, if you have been prayerfully reading the Gospel for...

One hundred fifty-seven Christian leaders representing different streams of Christianity in the United States, wrote a letter to U.S. President Joe Biden, under the banner of American Christian Leaders for Israel (ACLI), to express their disappointment with recent actions by his administration towards Israel. In the letter, the leaders warned that these actions would embolden the mutual enemies of both Israel and the United States and encouraged Biden to make “a course correction.” Among the actions the leaders specified were: Holding Israel responsible for all civilian casualties in Gaza, despite Hamas being the official government of the people there. Repeatedly...

For centuries, the Vatican has been carefully guarding their most precious secrets. In recent years, that has been especially true regarding what they know about UFOs, aliens and the mysteries of the universe. So why have they chosen this exact moment in history to publicly talk about these things? The press conference at the Vatican on Thursday is the very first time that the Vatican has held a press conference about UFOs, aliens and “apparitions” since 1978. So this is a really big deal. It is being reported that the Vatican has decided to issue new guidelines “on aliens and...

Pray For The Peace of Jerusalem (5/18/24)[Prayer]The Names and Titles of God (The Bread of Life) John 6:3232 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven.King James Version________________________God Bless America.ML/LTOS