By: Josué Villatoro Lent, the season of the Christian Calendar that we are currently celebrating, is perhaps one of the greatest reasons for controversy, discussion, and debate in the Protestant Christian world. This Christian commemoration, which begins on Ash Wednesday, is a frank and direct invitation to all of us who observe it, to prepare... Continue Reading →
Lent: Is it Only for the Roman Catholic Church? (Part 2)
By: Rev. Dr. Andrés E. Hernández In our last post we touched on this interesting topic; today we will continue learning more about Lent. What, then, is Lent and what is its origin? There is evidence that, from the second century, the Christian church practiced fasting before the day of resurrection. However, there was no... Continue Reading →
Lent: Is It Only for the Roman Catholic Church? (Part 1)
By: Rev. Dr. Andrés E. Hernández In an article written for Holiness Today, Rob L. Staples[1] points out that in the past some evangelical churches rejected the observance of Lent. However, many of those churches, including Churches of the Nazarene, are rediscovering how certain aspects of the Christian tradition help us refocus on the... Continue Reading →
Let’s Begin Lent and Better Understand Ash Wednesday
By: Rev. Dr. Julio R. Vargas Vidal From a liturgical, Christian, and ecclesiastical point of view, the months between February and March are quite hectic and very busy. Our Church is heir to a tradition given by a church from which it distanced in some manner - the Anglican Church. This church is in turn... Continue Reading →
“Advent Just Doesn’t Work Out for Me”
By: Scott Armstrong Have you ever seen the Christmas movie, The Polar Express? It was a mainstay in our household when our kids were little, and we still watch it most years when December comes. Without giving away the whole plot, there’s a seemingly peripheral character who has a few scenes that are hard to... Continue Reading →
As we Start Lent, Let’s Better Understand Ash Wednesday
By: Rev. Dr. Julio R. Vargas Vidal Liturgically and ecclesiastically speaking, the months between February and March are quite hectic and busy. Our Church is heir to a tradition given to it by a church from which it has distanced itself somewhat - the Anglican Church. This, in turn, is a direct descendant of Catholicism.... Continue Reading →
Lent: Preparation for Easter
By: Rob L. Staples In the past, some evangelical churches spurned any observation of Lent, associating it with "high church" liturgical worship. But today many of those same churches, including numerous Nazarene churches, are rediscovering certain aspects of the historic Christian tradition as a means of refocusing on spirituality in a world that is increasingly... Continue Reading →
Spit and Christmas: Why does Jesus Use Spit to Heal in Three of His Miracles, and How Does it Relate to This Season?
By: Scott Armstrong There may be nothing grosser – and nothing more debasing – than getting spit on. I once saw a player spit on an opponent in a soccer game. Things did not go well after that. Fisticuffs, red cards, and more. It was a complete disregard for the other team and the opposite... Continue Reading →
The Pandemic and the Last Candle in the Advent Wreathe
By: Rob Prince The following article was taken from https://robprinceblog.com/2021/12/16/the-pandemic-and-the-last-candle-in-the-advent-wreathe/ The last of the four candles of Advent wreathe will be lit in churches all over the world on Sunday. If it’s like at our church, somewhere in the service a family or individual will read a passage of scripture, remind us of the candle’s... Continue Reading →
The Word, the Verb, and Christmas
By: Scott Armstrong “The meeting ground between God and [humanity] is the flesh of Christ.” –Saint Cyril Christmas is almost here! As we exchange gifts, we acknowledge and give thanks for the greatest gift ever given: Jesus Christ sent to earth two millennia ago. While the first two chapters of the gospels of Matthew and... Continue Reading →