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The Word: Joy to the world
As we approach the third Sunday of Advent, the pink- or rose-colored candle is lit, symbolizing joy. This joy — like peace from last week — is one of the elements of the Fruit of […]
The Word
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The Word: Gloria in excelsis Deo!
This week we continue the annual tradition of examining the hymns that deepen the spirit of Christmas. The jubilant carol, “Angels We Have Heard on High,” a timeless hymn that echoes the heavenly proclamation of […]
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The Word: A Thanksgiving Proclamation
“It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord.” More than three centuries ago, the Pilgrims, after a year of hardship and peril, humbly and reverently set aside a special day upon which […]
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The Word: Sunshine thieves
There was a certain kindergarten teacher who had one of her pupils mark on the blackboard each day to represent the weather. She had colored crayons, and different colors represented the different kinds of weather: […]
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The Word: Be Brave
Be brave. Only the brave are strong. The coward is a weakling; if he has strength, he dares not use it. We must be brave, for life is a battle. The forces of good and evil are […]
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The Word: True patriotism
John Newton’s letters to pastors are highly valued for their pastoral wisdom, humility and deep spiritual insight. Collected in works such as Cardiphonia (1781), in these letters Newton urged pastors to remain faithful to the […]
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The Word: Wherever you go
CAPTION: “Christ Carrying the Cross” by El Greco (c. 1580) is a painting in the collection of The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. (Public Domain) By Charles Naylor One day as Jesus […]
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The Word: Forgiving others
One of the most striking things that Jesus taught was that we should forgive our enemies — and not only forgive them, but also adopt an attitude that indicates a complete change of feeling toward […]
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The Word: The shot that missed
An archery contest was in progress. One after another the contestants stepped up to the line, took careful aim, and let their arrows fly at the target. Arrow after arrow embedded its point in the […]
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The Word: Genesis of peace
This world is full of unrest and turmoil. There is turmoil in hearts, homes, communities, churches and nations. There is international turmoil, with the world appearing as a seething mass of unrest. People long for […]