I can’t believe this has been going for eighteen years, but I’m consistently asked if there’s going to be a new Sunday-only calendar. Your wish is my command. Get your copy of next year’s — and this year’s if you have a need for next three months — at the original page from 2008.| Rev. Scott Wells
Season of Creation: celebrating our kinship with all creation The Season of Creation is an ecumenical movement in which Christians around the world take time out to ponder God’s beloved creation and our roles and relationships within it. It will be from September 7 to October 11. As part of the beginning of the Season […] The post Season of Creation 2025 appeared first on St. Thomas Episcopal Church.| St. Thomas Episcopal Church
This Sunday, August 31, 2025 is the Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost. There will be two worship services at St. Thomas. At 8am, we worship together in person in the church with Holy Eucharist, Rite I (traditional language). Current COVID protocols for attending this service may be found here. At 10:30am we will have a hybrid worship service, in-person/on-Zoom, […] The post Worship this Sunday, August 31, 2025 at St. Thomas appeared first on St. Thomas Episcopal Church.| St. Thomas Episcopal Church
In September, hosted by the Diocesan Social Justice Committee. For the Season of Creation, September 1-October 5, our regularly scheduled Wednesday Noonday Prayer (at 12:15pm on Zoom) will be on hiatus. Instead, we will join a 12:00 noon worship service hosted by the Diocese, also on-line, found at the link below: The post Wednesdays – in September, 12:00 noon Noonday Prayer appeared first on St. Thomas Episcopal Church.| St. Thomas Episcopal Church
This Sunday, August 24, 2025 is the Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost. There will be two worship services at St. Thomas. At 8am, we worship together in person in the church with Holy Eucharist, Rite I (traditional language). Current COVID protocols for attending this service may be found here. At 10:30am we will have a hybrid worship service, in-person/on-Zoom, […]| St. Thomas Episcopal Church
Our house is full of music. We listen to music. We play music. We sing. And not just songs. We sing sentences to each other. (Don’t judge me). We just love music in our home. When my oldest was little …| Aliens and Pilgrims
The song “Dare to Be a Daniel” is yet another reason to adopt Mr. Murray’s view that, in public worship, we should sing only God’s Word (I reached the same conclusion in Recovering the Reformed Confession).1 Not only is the song itself tacky but its way of interpreting the Bible…| The Heidelblog
The Reformed church today embraces John Calvin as one of our great spiritual predecessors and acknowledges his dedication to purity in the church, and so-called Calvinists champion his ideas on predestination and the sovereignty of God. Continue reading →| The Heidelblog
I tried to imagine what John Calvin’s reaction would be if he walked into your run-of-the-mill worship service today, complete with a full band and contemporary worship songs. The image was ruined by the fact that the only facial expression I can imagine on the great theologian is what I have seen in paintings of him. Continue reading →| The Heidelblog
During the summer before my freshman year of high school, I volunteered at my church’s Vacation Bible School program to lead games for the preschoolers. Something I noticed was that the students were more likely to listen to directions to do something than directions not to do something. I remember telling a girl to please refrain from putting her hands into the water bucket. And what do you think she did? She put her hands in the water bucket. Continue reading →| The Heidelblog
When I first read Calvin’s Institutes, the clarity with which he described the absolute transcendence and holiness of God struck me, especially as I considered how often my younger, more charismatic self was willing and eager to dismiss concerns about my preferences in worship, even if the concerns came from Scripture itself. Continue reading →| The Heidelblog
“Kiss the Son, lest He be angry. …” (Psalm 2:12). The Psalms, like everything else in our Bibles, are ultimately about Jesus. Almost immediately in the book we get Psalm […] The post Kiss the Son appeared first on GGWO Church Baltimore.| GGWO Church Baltimore
This Sunday, August 17, 2025 is the Tenth Sunday after Pentecost. There will be two worship services at St. Thomas. At 8am, we worship together in person in the church with Holy Eucharist, Rite I (traditional language). Current COVID protocols for attending this service may be found here. At 10:30am we will have a hybrid worship service, in-person/on-Zoom, […]| St. Thomas Episcopal Church
As detailed in the previous post, we at Kenwood made a fresh English translation of the Nicene Creed for use in worship in 2018. We recited the Apostles’ Creed in 2019 and 2020, and we decided to return to the Nicene for 2021. When we did our translation, we initially decided not to include the … Continue reading "Nicene Creed with Filioque"| For His Renown
The Nicene Creed (Nicaeno-Constantinopolitan) We believe in one God the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth and of all things visible and invisible. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten son of God: the one begotten from the Father before all the ages, light of light, true God of true God, begotten not … Continue reading "A Fresh Translation of the Nicene Creed"| For His Renown
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. Col 3:16 I want to answer this question: When …| Aliens and Pilgrims
I will praise the name of God with a song; I will magnify him with thanksgiving (Psalm 69:30). At first glance, the psalmist's declaration may seem strange. How does one "magnify" the omniscient, omnipresent, almighty God who holds the universe in his hand? In other words, how can anyone make an eve| JustinHuffman.org | The Online Home of Pastor Justin Huffman
The Travelers’ Christmas Eve Service at Park Avenue United Methodist Church in New York City is a beloved annual tradition, shares Jessica Anschutz. Designed for both congregants who travel before Christmas Eve and visitors from around the world, the service—typically held on the third or fourth Sunday of Advent—offers a meaningful celebration featuring carols, scripture [...] The post Travelers’ Christmas Eve Service first appeared on Lewis Center for Church Leadership. The post Trav...| Lewis Center for Church Leadership
This Sunday, July 27, 2025 is the Seventh Sunday after Pentecost. There will be two worship services at St. Thomas. At 8am, we worship together in person in the church with Holy Eucharist, Rite I (traditional language). Current COVID protocols for attending this service may be found here. At 10:30am we will have a hybrid worship service, in-person/on-Zoom, […] The post Worship this Sunday July 27, 2025 at St. Thomas appeared first on St. Thomas Episcopal Church.| St. Thomas Episcopal Church
This Sunday, July 20, 2025 is the Sixth Sunday after Pentecost. There will be two worship services at St. Thomas. At 8am, we worship together in person in the church with Holy Eucharist, Rite I (traditional language). Current COVID protocols for attending this service may be found here. At 10:30am we will have a hybrid worship service, in-person/on-Zoom, […]| St. Thomas Episcopal Church
Or, to put the question more accurately, why did Sunday become the Lord’s Day rather than Christians continuing to keep the Sabbath? There is some debate in the Christian tradition about whether we…| nuakh
Before we use metrics to determine ministry success, we need to know what the numbers measure and what they miss.| KarlVaters.com
On Sunday, July 20, Tim Rich will preach at 7:30 and 10:00 a.m. At 10:00 a.m., Summer Choir offers music. ASL interpretation is available at 10:00 a.m. At 9:00 a.m. in the Guild Room join Mark Chase for Strength for the Journey! And have fun with Ice Cream Sunday after the 10 a.m. service! Join us for a great Sunday at All Saints Church!| All Saints Church, Pasadena
On Sunday, July 20, Tim Rich will preach at 7:30 and 10:00 a.m. At 10:00 a.m., Summer Choir offers music. ASL interpretation is available at 10:00 a.m. At 9:00 a.m. in the Guild Room join Mark Chase for Strength for the Journey! And have fun with Ice Cream Sunday after the 10 a.m. service! Join us for a great Sunday at All Saints Church!| All Saints Church, Pasadena
On Sunday, July 13, Susan Russell will preach at 7:30 and 10:00 a.m. At 10:00 a.m., Summer Choir offers music. ASL interpretation is available at 10:00 a.m. Faith, Formation & Fellowship: Huma…| All Saints Church, Pasadena
This Sunday, July 13, 2025 is the Fifth Sunday after Pentecost. There will be two worship services at St. Thomas. At 8am, we worship together in person in the church with Holy Eucharist, Rite I (traditional language). Current COVID protocols for attending this service may be found here. At 10:30am we will have a hybrid worship service, in-person/on-Zoom, […] The post Worship this Sunday July 13, 2025 at St. Thomas appeared first on St. Thomas Episcopal Church.| St. Thomas Episcopal Church
This Sunday, July 6, 2025 is the Fourth Sunday after Pentecost. There will be two worship services at St. Thomas. At 8am, we worship together in person in the church with Morning Prayer, Rite I (traditional language). Current COVID protocols for attending this service may be found here. At 10:30am we will have a hybrid worship service, in-person/on-Zoom, […]| St. Thomas Episcopal Church
“How do you help others cultivate private worship?” I had never been asked that question before, and to my shame, it took me by surprise. I had thought about discipleship in terms of Bi…| Aliens and Pilgrims
When you pray, say: “Father, hallowed be your name" (Luke 11:2). It is doubtless true that the Lord’s Prayer is routinely abused around the globe every day, mouthed by people who neither think about its meaning, nor would mean it even if they did. This is why Martin Luther referred to the Lord’s Pra| JustinHuffman.org | The Online Home of Pastor Justin Huffman
This Sunday, June 29, 2025 is the Third Sunday after Pentecost. There will be two worship services at St. Thomas. At 8am, we worship together in person in the church with Holy Eucharist, Rite I (traditional language). Current COVID protocols for attending this service may be found here. At 10:30am we will have a hybrid worship service, in-person/on-Zoom, […] The post Worship this Sunday June 29, 2025 at St. Thomas appeared first on St. Thomas Episcopal Church.| St. Thomas Episcopal Church
Stop right here. Read the title again. Fathers, do you believe that God has given you a special role within the home? You are the leader and head of your household (Eph 5). You are commanded to tra…| Aliens and Pilgrims
As I’ve been reflecting on worship this month, I have been encouraged in my own soul to value the worship of God’s people. I’ve written nine new posts on worship this month, but I…| Aliens and Pilgrims
In the age of the internet, there are a thousand articles, books, podcasts, etc… on any given topic. Worship is no exception. And it is impossible to fully vet every piece of information that…| Aliens and Pilgrims
I’m afraid that we only view God as partially in charge. “God,” we say, “whatever you command, I will do… within reason.” We want to totally submit ourselves to …| Aliens and Pilgrims
When your church gathers for worship on the Lord’s Day, do they sing? And I don’t mean, do words come out their mouth in a rhythmic melody. I mean do they really sing? Are their hearts lifted up in…| Aliens and Pilgrims
Am I in the right key? Why is my guitar out of tune all of the sudden? Let’s make sure we hit that key change clearly. Who are those visitors? Is the church really singing? Why am I sweating …| Aliens and Pilgrims
The worship of God in song is a glorious thing. Biblically speaking, it can be accomplished through heavenly choirs (Rev 5) or the mouths of children (Matt 21:16). It can be through choirs on the w…| Aliens and Pilgrims
Meditation on Romans 5:1-5 First Presbyterian Church of Smithtown, NY Reverend Dr. Karen Crawford June 15, 2025: Trinity Sunday/Choral Appreciation Sunday I discovered this week that our congregation has ALWAYS sung hymns. When we met in our original building on Moriches Road, most hymns were sung as rounds or refrains with the words and theContinue reading "Endurance Produces Character"| Sharing God's Love and Grace
The middle part of our Bibles is called the poetic section or the wisdom literature. These books are for our hearts and souls. The things that we learn in reading […] The post Psalms and the Music of the Shepherd appeared first on GGWO Church Baltimore.| GGWO Church Baltimore
What are you looking for in a church musician? There are a lot of things that come into my mind. What’s the instrument? How skillful are they? What is their work ethic like? How available the…| Aliens and Pilgrims
Sing praises to God, sing praises! Sing praises to our King, sing praises!Psalm 47:6 I love when God makes his direction clear. I may have a hundred questions about worship, but this isn’t on…| Aliens and Pilgrims
What is the reason for a focus on worship? I’m planning to write each week this month on worship. But why? Is it simply because I love music? No, even though that is true. Is it because that&…| Aliens and Pilgrims
Paul briefly exhorts in 1 Thessalonians 5:17 for believers to "Pray without ceasing." Yet some of us might ask the question: "Why?" Why pray without ceasing? That seems a tall order for busy people who have many life obligations on their plate already. But consider the biblical inducements to prayer| JustinHuffman.org | The Online Home of Pastor Justin Huffman
In the wake of the cross, we now have to grapple with who God has revealed Himself to be, laying waste to all the games we used to play around Him.| Samsara Diagnostics
The book of Revelation is perhaps the most controversial book in the Bible among Christians. Even sincere, Bible-believing Christians seem to come up with more widely varying interpretations of this book than of any other passage or prophecy. The variety and severity of these disagreements can be in| JustinHuffman.org | The Online Home of Pastor Justin Huffman
I was blessed some time ago by Greg Gilbert's book What Is the Gospel? This quote in particular struck me as helpful for Christians to consider, as we contemplate our motivation and message when it comes to evangelism: “Paul insists (in Romans 1) that humanity is not autonomous. We did not create ou| JustinHuffman.org | The Online Home of Pastor Justin Huffman
Questions to deepen our praise.| Seeking the kingdom
“The Spirit immediately drove Him out into the wilderness. And He was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. And He was with the wild animals, and the angels were ministering to Him” (Mark 1:12-13) Jesus vs. the devil. The ultimate battle of the universe. The Prince of Peace vs. the prince and power of the air. […] The post Jesus Faces the Devil appeared first on GGWO Church Baltimore.| GGWO Church Baltimore
Phil Maynard says that the typical greeting time during a worship service encourages people to shake a lot of hands rather than really engaging someone new. He offers simple strategies and conversation starters to encourage deeper connections. In a typical greeting time during worship, people are encouraged to turn to their neighbors and welcome them| Lewis Center for Church Leadership - Advancing the knowledge and practice of ...
Behold the Lamb. The Baptist proclaimed this message to his followers. When Jesus arrived, the forerunner cleared the air and made plain the character of the Messiah and His Mission. The Lamb came to take away the sin of the world. The Apostle John heard this declaration and believed. He began to follow Jesus. At […] The post The Scroll and its Seals appeared first on GGWO Church Baltimore.| GGWO Church Baltimore
The idea of assessing your spiritual progress will get you laughed at, and that's a damn shame.| Samsara Diagnostics
One of the key doctrinal principles of the Protestant Reformation was sola Scriptura. This principle emphasized Scripture rather than tradition as the final authority in faith and practice. The Protestant Reformers and their immediate theological heirs affirmed sola Scriptura because they believed that the Bible, as God’s very Word, was sufficient for the doctrine and […]| Helwys Society Forum
Enter his gates with thanksgiving (Psalm 100:4). What does the psalmist mean when he tells us to enter the gates of God with thanksgiving? If I might put it so simply and colloquially, it means "Don't even think about coming into God's presence without praise on your lips." God's goodness is infinit| JustinHuffman.org | The Online Home of Pastor Justin Huffman
O Lord, you have searched me and known me! (Psalm 139:1) Notice two things from this brief statement. First, it recognizes the fact that God knows us, is intimately acquainted with us. Second, it is a prayer. It is a prayer from the psalmist, talking to God, and recognizing God’s ever-presence with| JustinHuffman.org | The Online Home of Pastor Justin Huffman
You cause the grass to grow for the livestock and plants for man to cultivate, that he may bring forth food from the earth and wine to gladden the heart of man, oil to make his face shine and bread to strengthen man’s heart (Psalm 104:14-15). The psalmist is worshiping God for all his creative acts| JustinHuffman.org | The Online Home of Pastor Justin Huffman
Haley Rivera / UnsplashWorship is at the center of who we are and what we do as communities of Christian faith. From a biblical perspective, whenever God’s people missed the mark in relationship to worship, things did not go well. (Do you remember that unfortunate incident with the golden calf?) In this week’s episode of our podcast, Leading and Thriving in the Church, John Witvliet talks about what matters most in worship.| Alban at Duke Divinity School
We know that “an idol has no real existence" (1 Corinthians 8:4). Paul, while addressing an immediate problem related to Christian liberty, simultaneously addresses a vital overarching point regarding idolatry. Idols are nothing; they are not just false gods, they are no gods at all. Of course the m| JustinHuffman.org | The Online Home of Pastor Justin Huffman
What does intergenerational preaching look like? David Csinos shares that it is an emergent, experimental, and highly contextual endeavor that disrupts traditional homiletical norms. He offers three guiding principles to help cultivate the practice of intergenerational preaching: simplify the language, encourage conversation, and share the pulpit. Intergenerational preaching is not for the faint of heart.| Lewis Center for Church Leadership - Advancing the knowledge and practice of ...
One of the most common objections I hear from Protestants criticizing Orthodoxy, or even Catholicism, is when they say that “the saints are dead, they can’t hear you.” The saints in heaven are not dead. That is a fundamental rejection of what Christ did during the descent into Hades, He emptied the graves of the … Why Do Orthodox Christians Pray to the Saints? Read More »| Patristic Faith
In this episode of Three Guys Theologizing, the gentlemen welcome back Pastor Nathan Eshelman as their guest. Nathan has authored another book in the Grassmarket Press series, entitled Worthy. They…| Three Guys Theologizing
As the boys open up another episode of 3GT, they go about their common bantering to begin. But then they settle in to discussing the topic at hand, which is “What is the difference between elements and circumstances of worship? And why is it important?” They begin by defining what are the necessary elements, or …| Three Guys Theologizing
Lewis Center Director Doug Powe says siloed age-level ministries often prevent congregations from worshiping together around one common table. But the pandemic provided an opportunity for us to rethink our concepts of place and space and to reimagine what it means for us all to be together. This article was originally published on June 29,| Lewis Center for Church Leadership - Advancing the knowledge and practice of ...
Tom Berlin describes strategies for encouraging your regular attenders to worship in overflow spaces outside the sanctuary when additional seating is needed on Easter so that visitors will feel welcome and have a quality worship experience. This article was originally published on March 8, 2017. Increased worship attendance on Easter Sunday requires some churches to| Lewis Center for Church Leadership - Advancing the knowledge and practice of ...
My dear readers, during this most beautiful week of the Cross, in the middle of the Great Fast, I wanted to share with you the words of the holy Archbishop Averky. They are from his work, “The Kingdom of God on earth – progress or the Cross?” Which is a chapter is a greater work called, “True Orthodoxy and the Modern World.” We are reminded that our hope is in Christ the Lord. It is Him, His life that is continually revealed on earth, that we are called to seek with all our heart, m...| Patristic Faith
Jessica is currently a Worship.Works graduate, and in this article, she shares her reflections about what she has learned through 5 months of experience on the programme. Called For a Purpose For s…| Worship Works
A book full of notes, brain full of ideas and heart full of inspiration! The 2023 Transform Our World Global Conference was coming to a close and it had been an incredible experience. Only 4 …| Worship Works
The room was pitch-black. I was blindly led into the middle of this foreign space and left on my own. My first instinct was to try and make sense of my environment. When I raised my hand in front o…| Worship Works
It’s surreal to think that this time last year, three young women were preparing themselves for their first day of the Worship.Works Christian Graduate Programme: Figuring out what time they’…| Worship Works
I am about 2 years into the journey of fatherhood. (And I recently became a father for the second time!) But when I first came to know that my wife was pregnant with our firstborn, it felt like my …| Worship Works
Love it or hate it, waiting is a part of the human experience. It shows up in every area of our lives – (our work life is not exempt!) It can be frustrating; it can be painful; and it is defi…| Worship Works
Living through the last quarter of the 20th century and almost the first quarter of the 21st, means that people of my generation have witnessed a considerable amount of technological changes in soc…| Thinking Pastorally
God creates beauty because he's a beautiful God. His displays of beauty can and should prompt worship from his people.| Well-Watered Women
Should Jesus tarry our works will follow us. God may use, by reason of the wonderful solidarity of His Church, the things that He has wrought in us for the blessing of souls unknown to us. . . . …| Lilias Trotter