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 →
Prepared for His Arrival
By: Daniel Pesado Advent and Christmas are totally related. Advent ("adventus") means "coming" or "arrival." The synonym used in the Greek is "Parousía", which also means "coming" or "presence", although we mostly use it to refer to the arrival of Jesus at the end of time. In Advent we prepare to celebrate the first coming... Continue Reading →
Miracles and Christmas
By: Scott Armstrong Rain coming at the disciples sideways and wind buffeting their tiny boat… Until… Jesus scolds the storm, and instantly the weather becomes perfect for a restful day at the lake. A crippled man waiting by a magic pool without anyone to help him in… Until… Jesus speaks the word and, wide-eyed, the... Continue Reading →
The Pulse of a Grateful Heart
A few days ago, I read a story that sparked my curiosity for the term Ubuntu. Ubuntu is a compact term in Zulu, a language spoken in South Africa, and when translated, it means "I am, because you are"—like the children in the following story believed:"An anthropologist proposed a game to children in an African tribe.... Continue Reading →
A Brief Advent Outline
By: Scott Armstrong November 28, 2021 (1st Sunday of Advent) Title: The Hope of the World. Meditation: During the global pandemic, anxiety and loneliness are on the rise. The toll that COVID-19 has taken has proven to not just be physical, but mental, emotional, and social as well. Amid such desperation, we proclaim that there... Continue Reading →
Global Week of Prayer: 28 february – 6 march 2021.
From the beginning, Nazarene Missions International (NMI) has been praying for the work of the global church. As a global denomination that ministers in 163 world areas, we strive to be connected and lift each other up in prayer. This desire is not unique to the Church of the Nazarene. A heart for missions and... Continue Reading →