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[Catholic Caucus] Vatican again turns off lights for ‘Earth Hour’ to promote ‘respect for Our Mother Earth’Father Enzo Fortunato, the communicators director of St. Peter’s Basilica, linked the move to Pope Francis’ encyclical on ‘climate change,’ Laudato Si’."The Vatican once again turned off its external lights for an hour this weekend to “raise awareness of respect for Our Mother Earth.”In a statement issued to journalists accredited to the Holy See late Saturday afternoon, Father Enzo Fortunato – the recently appointed director of communications for St. Peter’s Basilica – announced the darkening of the basilica that evening: On the occasion of...

PALM SUNDAY Matthew 21.1 - 11 1 And when they drew nigh unto Jerusalem, and were come to Bethphage, unto the mount of Olives, then sent Jesus two disciples, 2 Saying unto them, Go into the village over against you, and straightway ye shall find an ass tied, and a colt with her: loose them, and bring them unto me. 3 And if any man say ought unto you, ye shall say, The Lord hath need of them; and straightway he will send them. 4 All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the...

“Reserved for a King” (Mark 11:1-10) Our story today starts out with “a colt tied.” As our text says, “You will find a colt tied.” But no, I’m not talking about finding Peyton Manning tied with Brett Favre at 186 regular-season wins. This is not about an Indianapolis Colt. This is about a different colt, in a different town, tied in a different way. The colt I’m talking about is the one that Jesus uses to ride into Jerusalem on. Jesus sends two of his disciples ahead to get it: “Go into the village in front of you, and immediately...

“Flourishing Palms” (Psalm 92) At the start of today’s service, with palm branches in our hands, we sang, “All glory, laud, and honor to You, Redeemer, King.” Today we’re like the crowd that greeted Jesus on his way into Jerusalem: “They took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, ‘Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!’” These palm branches befit the praises with which we hail our coming King. Today these palms are fresh and green, just as our worship today is strong and vigorous....

The Donkey BY G. K. CHESTERTON When fishes flew and forests walked And figs grew upon thorn, Some moment when the moon was blood Then surely I was born.With monstrous head and sickening cry And ears like errant wings, The devil’s walking parody On all four-footed things.The tattered outlaw of the earth, Of ancient crooked will; Starve, scourge, deride me: I am dumb, I keep my secret still.Fools! For I also had my hour; One far fierce hour and sweet: There was a shout about my ears, And palms before my feet.

PALM SUNDAY Matthew 21.1 - 11 1 And when they drew nigh unto Jerusalem, and were come to Bethphage, unto the mount of Olives, then sent Jesus two disciples, 2 Saying unto them, Go into the village over against you, and straightway ye shall find an ass tied, and a colt with her: loose them, and bring them unto me. 3 And if any man say ought unto you, ye shall say, The Lord hath need of them; and straightway he will send them. 4 All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the...

“Palm Sunday, Sunday of the Passion” (Luke 19:28-40; 22:1 – 23:56) Today is a day that goes by two names: “Palm Sunday” and the “Sunday of the Passion.” The title that we’re probably more familiar with is “Palm Sunday.” For it was on this day that Jesus made his triumphal entry into Jerusalem, greeted by the cheering crowds, and the people used palm branches to welcome him. Palms were used to indicate victory and triumph. Palms symbolized success and long life. And so on Palm Sunday, Jesus is hailed as the Messiah, the long-prophesied King of Israel, coming to Jerusalem...

More than a dozen people were injured when a suspected suicide bomber blew himself up outside a Catholic church in the Muslim-majority archipelago of Indonesia on Palm Sunday, the first day of the Holy Week. The bomb exploded in front of the Cathedral Church in the city of Makassar in South Sulawesi province at about 10.30 a.m. on Sunday as the church was preparing for its third service, according to reports. Agence-France Presse quoted local police as saying that at least 14 people were wounded in the bombing. “There were two people riding on a motorbike when the explosion happened...

MAKASSAR, Indonesia – Two attackers blew themselves up outside a packed Roman Catholic cathedral during a Palm Sunday Mass on Indonesia’s Sulawesi island, wounding at least 14 people, police said. A video obtained by The Associated Press showed body parts scattered near a burning motorbike at the gates of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Cathedral in Makassar, the capital of South Sulawesi province. Rev. Wilhelmus Tulak, a priest at the church, said he had just finished celebrating Palm Sunday Mass when a loud bang shocked his congregation. He said the blast went off at about 10:30 a.m. as a first...

It was relatively warm yesterday so I took the opportunity to prune the Quickfire and Little Limelight hydrangeas scattered around the front of the house. They were all still wearing their tan winter mopheads from last season that needed to be snipped in anticipation of a new season’s growth.Against the backdrop of muffled kids’ voices playing basketball down the street the quietude allowed me to reflect on how perfect these hydrangea varieties are. They bloom early, provide numerous large flowers well into the fall. Starting out pure white they first turn a light blush growing into a deeper pink until...

In light of Palm Sunday, The Passover, the crucifixion and the shedding of Jesus' blood, we wanted to share with you the biblical definition and ETERNAL TRUTH of what TRUE LOVE is and what it produces in RIGHTEOUSNESS (Jer. 31:3, John 3:16;13:34-35; 14:21-23; 15:9, Rom. 5:8; 8:26-39, Gal. 5:19-21, 1 John 2:9-17; 4:7, 10-12, 16-19; 2 John 1:6)! ONLY in the PERFECT RIGHTEOUS LOVE of Jesus Christ is there TRUE and TOTAL deliverance and liberation from the horrific ravishings of the flesh and its control, power, and tyranny! ONLY in the PERFECT RIGHTEOUS LOVE of Jesus Christ is there TRUE...

Many in America today are playing the "Christian" role while refusing to believe God's Word and the TRUE Gospel message (Matt. 7:13-23, Acts 4:12, Rom. 6:23, 10:2-4, 1 Cor. 15:1-4, Eph. 2:8-9). No day throughout the year is as revealing as Palm Sunday! The very people who DO NOT want to hear the TRUE Gospel message all year long and despise the Bible will be getting their palms today and playing the hypocrite! For these will welcome Jesus gladly in their time schedule for an hour on Palm Sunday, a few days later on Good Wednesday; shout, " CRUCIFY HIM!...

Palm Sunday from last year is here.Today we will study Palm Sunday from four perspectives:1.The reason why Jesus entered Jerusalem. 2. Fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecy.3. The politics surrounding His visit.4. Why were the crowds so welcoming to Jesus on Palm Sunday but turned against him five days later?Let’s begin with the basics for “unchurched” readers because last year I wrote, “Growing up, I thought Palm Sunday was about glorifying palm trees.” (Not joking.)But instead, Palm Sunday commemorates when Jesus entered Jerusalem to celebrate Passover, and the crowd welcomed him by waving palm fronds. Pilgrims from throughout the land...

“Hosanna!” (John 12:11-19) Today is Palm Sunday, and if there is a “word of the day” for this day, it’s “Hosanna!” How often do we see that word show up in our service today! We started the service by saying, “Hosanna to the Son of David.” Then we heard the Gospel reading, where the crowd cries out, “Hosanna!” As we processed in, we sang the refrain six times, “To whom the lips of children made sweet hosannas ring.” And we concluded the procession by saying, “Hosanna in the highest.” So before we even sat down, we heard or said or...

PALM SUNDAY Matthew 21.1 - 11 1 And when they drew nigh unto Jerusalem, and were come to Bethphage, unto the mount of Olives, then sent Jesus two disciples, 2 Saying unto them, Go into the village over against you, and straightway ye shall find an ass tied, and a colt with her: loose them, and bring them unto me. 3 And if any man say ought unto you, ye shall say, The Lord hath need of them; and straightway he will send them. 4 All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the...

Wichita, KS – While churches remained closed on Palm Sunday in fear of the Coronavirus, Trust Women Wichita was open for business, conducting approximately 40 abortions – one of which led to a medical emergency that required a woman to be transported by ambulance to Wesley Medical Center for care the abortion business was incapable of providing. Trust Women is the same facility involved in a decision by Sedgwick County Commissioners, who voted 4-1 last week to recommend it halt abortions during the COVID-19 pandemic. Commissioners cited heavy traffic from out of state that increases the chances of spreading the...

Dearly beloved, in light of the coronavirus; we as a church of believers here in America have never experienced anything like this where we are forbidden to gather together as God's people for worship. In light of this epidemic, we must use common sense and do the right thing, however, nothing can close down God's people from gathering together via radio, Zoom or live stream and use the mediums of the day to worship, pray, sing, read God's precious Word, fellowship and rejoice with thanksgiving to Almighty God our Savior! This is a time now - in light of this...

“Fear Not, Daughter of Zion; Behold, Your King Is Coming!” (John 12:12-19) I don’t know about you, but these last couple of weeks I’ve been watching the daily briefings from the White House Coronavirus Task Force. I find these briefings fascinating. Not only do they provide information on the virus itself and how to slow the spread--I’ve become familiar with terms like “mitigation,” “models,” “flattening the curve,”; “granular” is the latest one--not only do I find that part fascinating, but it’s also interesting to see how the government responds to calls for help from around the country. “New York, you...

Many in America today are playing the "Christian" role while refusing to believe God's Word and the TRUE Gospel message (Matt. 7:13-23, Acts 4:12, Rom. 6:23, 10:2-4, 1 Cor. 15:1-4, Eph. 2:8-9). No day throughout the year is as revealing as Palm Sunday! The very people who DO NOT want to hear the TRUE Gospel message all year long and despise the Bible will be getting their palms today and playing the hypocrite! For these will welcome Jesus gladly in their time schedule for an hour on Palm Sunday, a few days later on Good Wednesday; shout, " CRUCIFY HIM!...

      PALM SUNDAY Matthew 21.1 - 11 1 And when they drew nigh unto Jerusalem, and were come to Bethphage, unto the mount of Olives, then sent Jesus two disciples, 2 Saying unto them, Go into the village over against you, and straightway ye shall find an ass tied, and a colt with her: loose them, and bring them unto me. 3 And if any man say ought unto you, ye shall say, The Lord hath need of them; and straightway he will send them. 4 All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was...