Medieval France in Wisconsin: Milwaukee’s Gothic Chapel

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Medieval France in Wisconsin: Milwaukee’s Gothic Chapel

(PHOTO: DENNIS LENNOX)St. Joan of Arc Chapel on the campus of Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Milwaukee is probably the last place you would expect to discover a French chapel from the early 15th century.

Yet that is where the St. Joan of Arc Chapel, a small medieval Gothic edifice from Chasse-sur-Rhône in France’s Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, stands on the Marquette University campus.

The chapel, originally called the Chapel of St. Martin of Seyssuel, or what was left of it — it was reportedly in rough condition — was sold in in 1927 to a railroad baron’s heiress.

It was then dismantled piece-by-piece and shipped across the Atlantic. A painstaking reconstruction ensued, including reinstallation of a French knight’s tomb from the 16th century.

Other ecclesiastical artifacts, including a stone with purported connections to Joan of Arc, were acquired and the chapel was rededicated to St. Joan of Arc. It would remain on the estate in the Oyster Bay enclave of Long Island until being sold in 1962 and subsequently donated to the Roman Catholic university.

(PHOTO: DENNIS LENNOX)The 13th century altar inside St. Joan of Arc Chapel on the campus of Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

This required the chapel to once again be taken apart with the 30 tons of stone shipped across several states to Milwaukee. It would open again in 1966, giving both the faithful a new place to worship and visitors an opportunity to explore medieval church architecture.

Despite multiple rounds of restoration, reconstruction and even modern alterations, the St. Joan of Arc Chapel gives off an…

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Click Read More to read the rest of the story from our content source/partners – The Christian Post.

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New Labour MP for Lewisham East talks about her faith and Windrush

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New Labour MP for Lewisham East talks about her faith and Windrush

Janet has been in local politics for many years; as a councillor and as deputy mayor of the borough but Lewisham is also her home.

The by-election caused by Heidi Alexander’s move to the mayor’s office created the opportunity for Daby to stand in her own constituency. 

She’s also a member of Christians on the Left and told Premier: “I remember when I was at my local church just prior to the election day and one of the things I was saying there is that in how I conduct myself, in the years that I’ve been a Christian, God is very much before me in what I do and how I consider my approach – so yes, it has impacted my decision to get in politics and how I am as a person and my character.”

She described her first day in the House of Commons as a newly-elected MP: “It was quite profound to see so many MPs close up, that was a real experience but I think in my own mind, and my own thinking, I’m just thinking I want to make sure I have a good impact and that I can be a good voice.”

The Labour MP is keen to stand up for her constituents: “It’s a time now where I just need to be learning and taking everything in and then working out the difference that I want to make.”

When asked what issues she’s most passionate about she replied: “Improving our NHS service, more social and affordable homes, making sure that our transport and rail services meet the needs…

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Click Read More to read the rest of the story from our content source/partners – Premier Christianity News.

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Pray for Calvary Baptist Church

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Location: Spotsylvania, Virginia

Pastor: Justin Spradlin

Weekly Worship: 11:00 AM and 1:00 PM, Eastern

Fast Facts: Calvary Baptist Church is an Independent Baptist Church nestled right in the middle of Spotsylvania County. Pastor Spradlin has been there for nearly a year after returning as pastor to his home church. Calvary is a smaller rural church that has a heart to reach its community. Each Sunday after the morning service they have lunch in the fellowship hall and then gather together for an afternoon service. Please pray that the church would continue to reach and impact Spotsylvania County. Also, pray for Pastor Spradlin as he continues to introduce change and improvements to the church to better equip them as disciples.

Website: Clvry.org

“Pray for . . .” is the Sunday blog series at ThomRainer.com. We encourage you to pray for these churches noted every Sunday. Please feel free to comment that you are praying as well.

If you would like to have your church featured in the “Pray for…” series, fill out this information form..

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Click here to read the rest of the story from our content source/partners – Thom Rainer.

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Hawaiian church near volcano offers day of rest to families effected by volcano

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Hawaiian church near volcano offers day of rest to families effected by volcano

A family fun day is a common occurrence for many churches in the summer but when you’ve just had a volcano only two miles away, the distraction is very much needed. 

Puna Baptist Church, who had twelve church families displaced, held theirs for the people of Puna who had experienced evacuation because of the recent volcano eruption. They called it ‘A Day to Be Normal for All of Puna!’

“We want it to be a day of normalcy for anyone affected by the evacuation,” Pat Mullin, event organizer told Hawaii Tribune Herald, “So what we’re doing, we set it up so the families can come, the parents can just relax, let their kids have fun, without worrying about the day-to-day stuff with everything else they got going on.”

Free hygiene kits were offered by the church and a doctor and a counsellor were also were on site. 

Marlene Tamashiro runs the recovery centre for the church and said Pahoa churches had banded together from the beginning to help those displaced.

Puna Baptist Church have been providing a clothes washing service which they’ve asked their members to pray for: “Pray for the Laundry Voucher Ministry to be an effective opportunity to share Jesus with the Puna community” their website reads. 

Tamashiro estimated at least 75 percent of its members have been directly impacted, either by losing a home or knowing someone who has.

One church member wrote on…

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Click Read More to read the rest of the story from our content source/partners – Premier Christianity News.

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Church reads entire Bible in one day

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Church reads entire Bible in one day

The committed congregation of St Stephen’s Church in Burnley Wood, assisted by special guests including local MP Julie Cooper, read the entire Bible in church on one day.

Chairs were set up in about 10 circles around the church and members chatted over refreshments when they were waiting for their turn to read. 

St Stephen’s parish priest, Rev Patrick Senior, kicked off proceedings by reading all of Genesis Chapter 1. 

Organiser Pam McGrath said: “What a wonderful day it was – more than 140 people from all over Burnley came to the church between 9am and 5pm to read and between them they read 240 sections lasting 20 minutes. 

They set themselves the target of reading it all by 5pm in order to set up the church for the next day. 

The church hailed it as a great social event for the church as well, as those who had read already or who were reading later in the day conversed over cake, looked at the Gideon’s Bible stand, discussed the readings, and others caught up with old friends.

The purpose of the Bible Marathon was to promote reading the Bible on a regular basis among the congregation and those who were less familiar with it. Information about how to read the Bible was handed out at the event to help people read the Bible after they left. 

The day ended just about on cue when the double act of the Dean of Blackburn, The Very Rev. Peter Howell-Jones and…

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Click Read More to read the rest of the story from our content source/partners – Premier Christianity News.

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Churches urged to intentionally pray for their sports communities

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Churches urged to intentionally pray for their sports communities

On National Sports Sunday, Sports Chaplaincy UK are urging Christians to think about how they can pray for their sports teams and clubs and do more together, but ultimately to view sport with a Godly attitude. 

Warren Evans, CEO of Sports Chaplaincy UK, told Premier: “National Sports Sunday is simply an initiative to encourage the church to look at the community of sport differently, rather than feeling that they’re simply an activity, a commodity or even a competition for getting kids in church – but look at it through the eyes of a compassionate God. 

“And when we do that we respond differently, and that’s the challenge – to pray for that community, to be intentional with that community and to engage with that community and when we do that we’ll see what God does.”

He explained how sport has great values, a togetherness already and that the church could step into that: “If we’re a little bit more strategic, if we can look at that community, instead of rejecting that community – that community is 25 million people, we can’t afford to reject that.”

Evans challenged Christians to think about the practical ways they could get to know people on sports clubs and be a witness: “Where does it say we have to meet at 10:30 or 6? Can we do something slightly different? Can we send a youth worker to kids club? Can we invite or do a barbecue? Can we send a bag of…

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Click Read More to read the rest of the story from our content source/partners – Premier Christianity News.

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Birmingham Cathedral service celebrates refugees for first ‘Sanctuary Sunday’

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Birmingham Cathedral service celebrates refugees for first ‘Sanctuary Sunday’

The service at 1:30 on Sunday will be the first official national service to be held anywhere in recognition of those seeking a safe place of welcome.

Inspired by Christian Aid and Churches Together Great Britain & Ireland, it is hoped that it will become an annual event.

The added significance for the Church is that the city of Birmingham has historically been sanctuary to those seeking refuge, becoming home to various communities from Syria, Sudan, Zimbabwe, Afghanistan, Iraq and other places since the 18th Century.  

Rev Dr Sharon Prentis, Dean of Black & Minority Ethnic Affairs for the Church of England in Birmingham, told Premier: “Sanctuary Sunday is an opportunity for the church to really be prayerful of those seeking sanctuary for any number of reasons – so migrants who are here because of violence and war and conflict and also those who, for whatever reason, are facing persecution and have sought sanctuary in this country.”

She described the Sunday service: “At the end of refugee week they will hold a service of thanks to celebrate the city’s rich diversity and also to keep remembering that millions of people are in transit around the globe.”

Rev Dr Inderjit Bhogal will be preaching and a variety of community representatives will contribute “as a reflection of Birmingham’s vibrant diversity” said the Church of Birmingham. 

“Birmingham…

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Click Read More to read the rest of the story from our content source/partners – Premier Christianity News.

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Tearfund launch emergency appeal for Burundi

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Tearfund launch emergency appeal for Burundi

Christian charity Tearfund have launched an emergency appeal for the people of Burundi, as over half the population face severe food shortages due to droughts, flooding and political chaos. 

Recent elections and the referendum in May has given little hope as the existing administration under President Pierre Nkurunziza are now able to extend the length of time they can remain in power.

Desire Majambere, a Burundian himself and Tearfund’s Country Manager in Burundi described seeing malnourished people: “it’s not easy…the women are left behind struggling to get food to feed their families but also it’s not easy to see children who abandon school because they are hungry, they are weak.”

“We can avoid the situation” he said “currently what we’re doing is providing porridge with some ingredients to feed the malnourished people for the short term but also for the long term we are providing seeds,”

They are also training people in making meals that are balanced and in modern farming techniques. 

They’ve set up temporary feeding centres distributing nutritious food, vitamins and supplements to pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers and children under five.

The appeal will help families to become self-sufficient and healthier in the months and years to come by teaching new farming techniques, educating people on nutrition and helping develop better hygiene practices…

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Click Read More to read the rest of the story from our content source/partners – Premier Christianity News.

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Joyce Meyer’s Daily 24 June 2018 Devotional — Right from the Heart

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Joyce Meyer’s Daily 24 June 2018 Devotional — Right from the Heart

Topic: Right from the Heart [Joyce Meyer’s Devotional Sunday June 24, 2018]

“For which one of you, when he wants to build a watchtower [for his guards], does not first sit down and calculate the cost, to see if he has enough to finish it?” — Luke 14:28

“What are you going to do?”

As a Christian leader, I’ve come to believe this is one of Satan’s favorite questions. I sometimes think he sends out special demons that have one specific task: to whisper this question in the ears of believers: “What are you going to do?” If you listen, the questions increase. The more they increase, the more negative and intense they become. Before long, you think of every possible obstacle on your path. You begin to feel as if nothing is right in your life.

That is Satan’s task. He and his helpers wage war on the battlefield of your mind. They want to engage you and other Christians in long, drawn-out, costly combat. The more questions and uncertainties they raise, the greater their chances for victory over your mind.

Jesus instructs us to “…not worry or be anxious (perpetually uneasy, distracted), saying, ‘What are we going to eat?’ or ‘What are we going to drink?’ or ‘What are we going to wear?’” (Matthew 6:31 AMP)

The first thing you need to remind yourself of is that you are living in disobedience when you allow anxieties to fill your mind. Jesus says, “Don’t do that.”

Second, remind yourself that when you worry, you’re looking at the wrong things. In school, most of us were shown pictures that were optical illusions. If we looked at a picture one way, we saw a woman’s face. If we looked at it differently, we saw a rose.

Think of that as a mindset. If you focus on Jesus and His loving arms stretched out to you, you live in peace. You know He’s with you, and if He’s with you, He will also take care of you. If you focus on the other picture, you see only problems, defeats, and discouragement. It really does depend on where you concentrate your attention.

The enemy knows that if he can feed your mind often enough and long enough with the wrong things, he can make you think about and feel only the wrong things. For instance, instead of being thankful that the Lord has been with you through many dark and troublesome times, you can begin to ask, “How did I get here anyway? What am I doing in this fix? If God really loved me…”

That’s not the end of it. Once Satan starts to win in the area of poisoning your mind, he moves on, and before long, you’re repeating Satan’s words—words that not only tear you down, but also hurt and tear down others. Then Satan has a double victory—he’s trapped you, and you’ve influenced others.

Jesus said to the people of His day, “You offspring of vipers! How can you speak good things when you are evil (wicked)? For out of the fullness (the overflow, the superabundance) of the heart the mouth speaks. The good man from his inner good treasure flings forth good things, and the evil man out of his inner evil storehouse flings forth evil things” (Matthew 12:34–35 AMPC).

Those are strong, powerful words. They remind us that Satan starts with a whisper—just the smallest word of doubt in your ear. If you listen, his words get louder and you hear more things. Soon you unconsciously listen for his misdirection. That leads you to speak the words in your heart, whatever they are. Once you speak, you move into action. You not only spoil your own relationship with God, but you become instruments to churn up doubts and fears in others.

There is only one way for you to win: Refuse to listen to Satan. As soon as you hear such words, you need to say, “Satan, the Lord rebuke you. Stay out of my mind.”

Prayer Starter: Lord, thank You for Your words that remind me of the importance of my thoughts and my words. I ask You to fill my heart with such an abundance of peace and joy that the enemy can never infiltrate my mind. May my words reflect Your presence in my life. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

If you missed yesterday devotional, please click to read “Joyce Meyer Daily Devotional HERE’’

From Joyce Meyer’s Ministries.

The post Joyce Meyer’s Daily 24 June 2018 Devotional — Right from the Heart appeared first on Flatimes.

Love: Access to financial fortune! By David Oyedepo

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Love: Access to financial fortune! By David Oyedepo

Topic — Love: Access to financial fortune!

Welcome to another exciting week of baptism in financial fortune in the teaching for this month! I hope you were blessed by the teaching for last week. Today, we shall focus on Love: Access to Financial Fortune!

According to scriptures, heaven is an epitome of wealth, splendour and beauty. The walls are made of jasper, the foundations of the walls of the city are of precious stones, the gates are made of pearl and all the streets of heaven are paved with pure gold (Revelation 21:11, 18-21). It is important to understand that the Church is ordained a ruling and super wealthy Church. God will be visiting the earth with heaven’s order of wealth before Christ returns. He will be releasing His wealth to His church, so she can rule in the midst of her enemies (Malachi 3:17-18, 4:1-4; Haggai 2:6-9; Psalm 110:1-3; Proverbs 22:7).

However, from scriptures, we understand that a genuine love for God and His Kingdom is the biblical foundation and our covenant access to heaven’s order of financial fortune.

What, then, are the Proofs of our Love for God?

If We Love God, We Will Love People: Our love for God naturally finds expression in our love for people. As it is written: If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? … (1 John 4:20-21). If we love God, we will naturally love people and be part of their joy. Moreover, we will love to see them rescued, delivered and blessed. So, if we don’t love people, then we don’t love God (Galatians 6:10; 1 John 3:17-18).

If We Love God, We Will Pursue Souls For Their Salvation, Deliverance, Breakthroughs and Restoration: Obeying God’s commandments is the biblical proof of our love for God (1 John 5:3; John 14:21). One of God’s commandments is commitment to soul-winning. We must understand that one of the proofs of our love for God is passion to see souls saved, established in the faith and living a new life in Christ. Jesus said: Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: … (John 15:16; see also John 21:15-17). When we are not bothered about the salvation of souls, our love for God becomes questionable; particularly when we have the two-way opportunity of praying for souls to be saved and also reaching out to them. However, when we commit to seeing souls saved, we commit God to release His blessings on our lives and secure speedy answers to our prayers. Also, when we engage in soul-winning, we have committed God to manifest Himself to us. Thus, obeying the commandment of soul-winning is a proof of our love for God (John 14:21).

If We Love God, We Will Not Be Ashamed of Him or His Word: David, a man after God’s own heart said: I will speak of thy testimonies also before kings, and will not be ashamed (Psalm 119:46). When we truly love God, speaking about Him to others becomes a delight. Paul the Apostle’s love for Christ was as strong as death (Philippians 1:21). He also said: For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth (Romans 1:16; see also Romans 8:35-39). Remember, Jesus said that if we are ashamed of Him and His Word, He will be ashamed of us before His Father and His angels (Mark 8:38; Hebrews 13:13; Psalm 69:9).

If We Love God, We Will Obey Him: Keeping God’s commandments launches us into realms of supernatural blessings (Psalm 112:1-3; 1 John 5:3). We must, therefore, be excited at every commandment that comes our way, take delight in keeping them and then, we gain access to realms of supernatural blessings.

Biblical Examples of how Love Empowers for Kingdom Wealth:

For instance, concerning Solomon, the Bible records: And Solomon loved the Lord, walking in the statutes of David his father: only he sacrificed and burnt incense in high places (1 Kings 3:3; see also 1 Corinthians 2:9-10, 13:13). After he reared that altar of sacrifice, God told him to ask whatever he desired and he requested for wisdom in ruling God’s people. This, also, was based on his love for God and the affairs of His Kingdom; as a result, God blessed him in return (1 Kings 3:13). In addition, Solomon overlaid the house of the Lord with pure gold and all the drinking vessels in his house were also of gold. The love of God was the launching pad of Solomon into the Heaven on Earth order of wealth and extraordinary abundance (1 Kings 6:21-22, 10:21). Furthermore, David was referred to as a man after God’s own heart and he emerged as a financial giant. He was virtually wealthier than the entire nation in his days (1 Chronicles 29:3-5).

We must also understand that our love for God and His Kingdom are the two-fold platforms where giants rise. It is also the covenant launching pad into a world of financial fortune. The Bible says: …But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you (Matthew 6:31-33; see also Psalm 102:13-15). No wonder all true lovers of God in Bible times, flowed supernaturally in financial fortune. Therefore, love-motivated stewardship is the platform for the rise of financial giants in the Kingdom. However, God’s love is not theoretical but practical. That is, it is impossible to love God and not know.

In summary, accessing heaven’s order of financial fortune through love is a reality if you are born again. Are you born again? If you are not, this is an opportunity to do so. Simply say the following prayer: Lord Jesus, I come to You today. I am a sinner. Forgive me my sins. Cleanse me with Your precious Blood. Today, I accept You as my Lord and personal Saviour. Thank You Jesus for saving me! Now I know I am born again!” For further reading, please get my books: Understanding Financial Prosperity, Breaking Financial Hardship, Covenant Wealth and Hidden Covenants of Blessing. I invite you to come and fellowship with us at the Faith Tabernacle, Canaanland, Ota, the covenant home of Winners.

We have five services on Sundays, holding at 6:00 a.m., 7:50 a.m., 9:40 a.m., 11:30 a.m. and 1:20 p.m. respectively. I know this teaching has blessed you. Write and share your testimony with me through: Faith Tabernacle, Canaanland, Ota, P.M.B. 21688, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria; or call 01-4548070, 01-4548280; or E-mail: [email protected]; Face book: www.facebook.com/davidoyedepoministries/; Twitter: @DavidOyedepoMin

Please click HERE to read other inspiring MESSAGES by Bishop David Oyedepo

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