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Welcome! Holy Communion: Before and After
by Father Thurston Mother Mary LoyolaThere will be many who will find here the expression of what they have often deeply felt and been unable to put satisfactorily into words for themselves. But there will also be others for whom its most useful function will be to suggest and to stimulate. This book is not meant to be a prayer book, but rather to propose a dominant thought, to fall in with a mood, or need, or burden. There is no reason to doubt that those who use this little book in this spirit will find it both immediately and permanently helpful as an aid to their devotion in Holy Communion.-Print ed.
Welcome, Holy Spirit: A Theological and Experiential Introduction
by Gordon T. SmithAs the renowned scholar Thomas Oden noted, "No subject of Christian teaching is more prone to fanaticism and novelty and subjectivism than that of the Holy Spirit." The Bible's own metaphors for the Spirit are as elusive as they are evocative—wind, oil, flame, water, dove—making pneumatology a mysterious study. But shying away from the topic is no solution. Gordon Smith encourages us to seek both fresh understanding and fresh experience of the Spirit through openness to learning more, no matter what our theological tradition. In this way, as we hold biblical convictions firmly but gracefully, the guiding principles of discernment and humility will help us intentionally live Spirit-responsive lives day by day. Welcome, Holy Spirit is a much-needed master class with a trustworthy and encouraging teacher. How can we cultivate an understanding of the Holy Spirit that helps us experience the presence of the Spirit in worship, in witness, in joy and sorrow, in seasons of blessing and times of difficulty alike, all the while honoring the fullness of the Trinity? An attentiveness to the Spirit need not replace Christ as the focus of our lives and worship but can rather bring us truly into the presence of the living and ascended Lord. It is to this end that we pray, "Welcome, Holy Spirit."
Welcoming Beginner's Mind: Zen and Tibetan Buddhist Wisdom on Experiencing Our True Nature
by Gaylon FergusonThis nuanced commentary on the famous Zen oxherding pictures explores the paradox of welcoming our true nature anew at each stage of spiritual unfolding. Renowned for centuries, the classic Zen oxherding pictures vividly illustrate the stages of the spiritual journey—from seeking and finding to ultimately forgetting the illusory self and awakening to our true nature. In his commentary on these images, Gaylon Ferguson guides us on an experiential path into these seeming contradictions through welcoming—the simple, challenging, and always new possibility of opening to exactly what&’s occurring in our experience. Distinct from meditation and mindfulness, this contemplative exercise leads us beyond spiritual bypassing (using spiritual practices to repress or avoid parts of ourselves) and spiritual materialism (practicing with a heavy sense of ego). Rich with teachings from the great Zen teacher and author of Zen Mind, Beginner&’s Mind Shunryu Suzuki Roshi, as well as extensive commentary from Tibetan meditation master Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche and others who have illuminated the oxherding pictures, this book invites you into a process of spiritual maturation that never occurs elsewhere than here or other than now. Featuring a foreword by David Chadwick, author of Crooked Cucumber: The Life and Zen Teaching of Shunryu Suzuki.
Welcoming Children: A Practical Theology of Childhood
by Joyce Ann MercerThis book develops a theology of childhood both from a theoretical basis in biblical theology (especially the gospel of Mark) and practical experience in children and youth ministry. Mercer builds on classical theologians such as Augustine, Calvin, Barth, and Rahner as well as modern feminist theologians such as Brock and Russell. She gains insights from pastoral theologians such as Capps and Couture and from contemporary cultural criticism. Mercer challenges approaches to educational and liturgical practices with children in congregations that segregate children from the rest of the church and its key practices of service, mission, worship, care, and learning. She reframes ministries with children as processes through which the church as a ‘community of practice’ forms children into an alternative identity that resists surrounding consumerist culture and walks in the ways of Jesus. This book offers strategies for educational practices with children in congregations as it seeks to address the question, “What might educational practices that welcome children and contribute to their flourishing look like in the context of a faith community where children’s learning happens in collaboration with experienced practitioners of faith?” Outlining a feminist practical theology of childhood, it explores five basic theological claims: (1) children as gifts and parenting as a religious practice of stewardship; (2) welcoming those who welcome and care for children; (3) children as already fully human; (4) children as part of the purposes of God; and (5) acknowledging and transforming the sufferings of children.
Welcoming Elijah: A Passover Tale with a Tail
by Leslea NewmanWinner of the Sydney Taylor Book Award and the National Jewish Book Award, Welcoming Elijah by celebrated author Lesléa Newman, unites a young boy and a stray kitten in a warm, lyrical story about Passover, family, and friendship.Inside, a boy and his family sit around the dinner table to embrace the many traditions of their Passover Seder around the dinner table. Outside, a cat wonders, hungry and alone. When it's time for the symbolic Passover custom of opening the family's front door for the prophet Elijah, both the boy and the cat are in for a remarkable surprise.
Welcoming Finitude: Toward a Phenomenology of Orthodox Liturgy (Orthodox Christianity and Contemporary Thought)
by Christina M. GschwandtnerWhat does it mean to experience and engage in religious ritual? How does liturgy structure time and space? How do our bodies move within liturgy, and what impact does it have on our senses? How does the experience of ritual affect us and shape our emotions or dispositions? How is liturgy experienced as a communal event, and how does it form the identity of those who participate in it? Welcoming Finitude explores these broader questions about religious experience by focusing on the manifestation of liturgical experience in the Eastern Christian tradition. Drawing on the methodological tools of contemporary phenomenology and on insights from liturgical theology, the book constitutes a philosophical exploration of Orthodox liturgical experience.
Welcoming Flowers from across the Cleansed Threshold of Hope: An Answer to Pope John Paul II's Criticism of Buddhism
by Thinley NorbuWelcoming Flowers is a pointed critique of the Buddhism chapter of Pope John Paul II's 1994 best seller, Crossing the Threshold of Hope, written by the highly respected Buddhist teacher Thinley Norbu. In responding to the false charges of Buddhists' indifference to the world and rejection of reality, Norbu clarifies the Buddhist doctrines of detachment and enlightenment. In addition, he covers the topics of good and evil, human nature, karma, cosmology, and dualistic mind, bringing them into conversation with the Christian perspective as presented by the Pope. Norbu's approach is not to shoot back arrows in attack of Catholicism but to spread "welcoming flowers"--that is, to present the exalted teachings of the Buddha in all their loveliness. In this sense, the book serves as a helpful introduction to the Buddhist worldview.
Welcoming Justice: God's Movement Toward Beloved Community (Resources For Reconciliation)
by Charles Marsh John M. PerkinsWe have seen progress in recent decades toward Martin Luther King Jr.'s dream of beloved community. But this is not only because of the activism and sacrifice of a generation of civil rights leaders. It happened because God was on the move. Historian and theologian Charles Marsh partners with veteran activist John Perkins to chronicle God's vision for a more equitable and just world. Perkins reflects on his long ministry and identifies key themes and lessons he has learned, and Marsh highlights the legacy of Perkins's work in American society. Together they show how abandoned places are being restored, divisions are being reconciled, and what individuals and communities are doing now to welcome peace and justice. Now updated to reflect on current social realities, this book reveals ongoing lessons for the continuing struggle for a just society. Come, discover your part in the beloved community. There is unfinished work still to do.
Welcoming the Stranger: Abrahamic Hospitality and Its Contemporary Implications
by Ori Z Soltes and Rachel SternEmbracing hospitality and inclusion in Abrahamic traditionsOne of the signal moments in the narrative of the biblical Abraham is his insistent and enthusiastic reception of three strangers, a starting point of inspiration for all three Abrahamic traditions as they evolve and develop the details of their respective teachings. On the one hand, welcoming the stranger by remembering “that you were strangers in the land of Egypt” is enjoined upon the ancient Israelites, and on the other, oppressing the stranger is condemned by their prophets throughout the Hebrew Bible.These sentiments are repeated in the New Testament and the Qur’an and elaborated in the interpretive literatures of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Such notions resonate obliquely within the history of India and its Dharmic traditions. On the other hand, they have been seriously challenged throughout history. In the 1830s, America’s “Nativists” sought to emphatically reduce immigration to these shores. A century later, the Holocaust began by the decision of the Nazi German government to turn specific groups of German citizens into strangers. Deliberate marginalization leading to genocide flourished in the next half century from Bosnia and Cambodia to Rwanda. In the aftermath of September 11, 2001, the United States renewed a decisive twist toward closing the door on those seeking refuge, ushering in an era where marginalized religious and ethnic groups around the globe are deemed unwelcome and unwanted.The essays in Welcoming the Stranger explore these issues from historical, theoretical, theological, and practical perspectives, offering an enlightening and compelling discussion of what the Abrahamic traditions teach us regarding welcoming people we don’t know.Welcoming the Stranger: Abrahamic Hospitality and Its Contemporary Implications is available from the publisher on an open-access basis.Published by The Fritz Ascher Society for Persecuted, Ostracized and Banned Art and the Fordham University Institute on Religion, Law and Lawyer’s Work
Welcoming the Stranger: Justice, Compassion & Truth in the Immigration Debate
by Leith Anderson Matthew Soerens Jenny YangWorld Relief staffers Matthew Soerens and Jenny Yang move beyond the rhetoric to offer a Christian response to immigration. With careful historical understanding and thoughtful policy analysis, they debunk myths about immigration, show the limits of the current immigration system, and offer concrete ways for you to welcome and minister to your immigrant neighbors.
Welcoming the Undesirables: Brazil and the Jewish Question
by Jeffrey LesserJeffrey Lesser's invaluable book tells the poignant and puzzling story of how earlier this century, in spite of the power of anti-Semitic politicians and intellectuals, Jews made their exodus to Brazil, "the land of the future." What motivated the Brazilian government, he asks, to create a secret ban on Jewish entry in 1937 just as Jews desperately sought refuge from Nazism? And why, just one year later, did more Jews enter Brazil legally than ever before? The answers lie in the Brazilian elite's radically contradictory images of Jews and the profound effect of these images on Brazilian national identity and immigration policy.Lesser's work reveals the convoluted workings of Brazil's wartime immigration policy as well as the attempts of desperate refugees to twist the prejudices on which it was based to their advantage. His subtle analysis and telling anecdotes shed light on such pressing issues as race, ethnicity, nativism, and nationalism in postcolonial societies at a time when "ethnic cleansing" in Europe is once again driving increasing numbers of refugees from their homelands.
Welcoming the Unwelcome: Wholehearted Living in a Brokenhearted World
by Pema ChodronFrom the bestselling author of When Things Fall Apart, an open-hearted call for human connection, compassion, and learning to love the world just as it is during these most challenging times. In her first new book of spiritual teachings in over seven years, Pema Chödrön offers a combination of wisdom, heartfelt reflections, and the signature mix of humor and insight that have made her a beloved figure to turn to during times of change. In an increasingly polarized world, Pema shows us how to strengthen our abilities to find common ground, even when we disagree, and influence our environment in positive ways. Sharing never-before told personal stories from her remarkable life, simple and powerful everyday practices, and directly relatable advice, Pema encourages us all to become triumphant bodhisattvas--compassionate beings--in times of hardship. Welcoming the Unwelcome includes teachings on the true meaning of karma, recognizing the basic goodness in ourselves and the people we share our lives with--even the most challenging ones, transforming adversity into opportunities for growth, and freeing ourselves from the empty and illusory labels that separate us. Pema also provides step-by-step guides to a basic sitting meditation and a compassion meditation that anyone can use to bring light to the darkness we face, wherever and whatever it may be.
Welfare Activities by New Religious Actors
by Elisa BanfiThis book offers a comparative examination of Islamic welfare activities across urban areas in both Switzerland and Italy, in order to address general issues relating to the welfare engagement of Islamic organisations in Europe. Welfare Activities by New Religious Actors describes how Islamic organisations have been coordinated and structured in Geneva, Milan, Rome, and Zurich; four cities not yet analysed in the literature on Islamic welfare. It also explores the institutional opportunities and constraints that are able to influence forms of social religious activities at the local and international level, by bringing together two research fields that seldom speak to each other: social network analysis and political opportunity theory. This book will appeal to scholars of Sociology, Anthropology and Religious Studies dealing with the social and political inclusion of Muslims in Europe and the social activities of Islamic organisations in Western countries.
Welfare and Religion in 21st Century Europe: Volume 1: Configuring the Connections
by Grace Davie Per Pettersson Anders Bäckström Ninna EdgardhHistorically, European churches have played a large part in the provision of welfare. Responsibility, however, has gradually shifted to the state - a shift that forms an integral part of the process of secularization and one that has been readily accepted by European populations. But what happens when the state itself begins to recede - a process that is occurring in most, if not all, European societies for a wide variety of reasons? The implications for welfare are considerable, not least for the role of the churches which begin to resume the responsibilities previously shed but in new and different ways. This book looks at the connections between religion and welfare in Europe, exploring in detail eight European societies - Finland, Norway, Sweden, England, Germany, France, Italy and Greece. The different theological traditions, different church-state relationships and different welfare regimes are all examined. The analysis is based on first hand empirical research which considers not only the changing situation on the ground, but attitudes towards this within a range of different constituencies - the churches, local government and the general public. Particular attention is paid to the significance of gender in both the process of change and in attitudes towards this. Welfare and Religion in 21st Century Europe: Volume 1 represents comparative research at its best and highlights key policy implications for the future. A companion book, Welfare and Religion in 21st Century Europe: Volume 2 explores thematically the changing nature of religion and welfare and the new relationships that are emerging between the religious and the secular, and between church and state in the 21st century.
Welfare and Religion in 21st Century Europe: Volume 2: Gendered, Religious and Social Change
by Grace Davie Per Pettersson Anders Bäckström Ninna EdgardhHistorically, European churches have played a large part in the provision of welfare. Responsibility, however, has gradually shifted to the state - a shift that forms an integral part of the process of secularization and one that has been readily accepted by European populations. But what happens when the state itself begins to recede - a process that is occurring in most, if not all, European societies for a wide variety of reasons? The implications for welfare are considerable, not least for the role of the churches which begin to resume the responsibilities previously shed but in new and different ways. This book looks at the connections between religion and welfare in Europe, exploring in detail eight European societies - Finland, Norway, Sweden, England, Germany, France, Italy and Greece. The different theological traditions, different church-state relationships and different welfare regimes are all examined. The analysis is based on first hand empirical research which considers not only the changing situation on the ground, but attitudes towards this within a range of different constituencies - the churches, local government and the general public. Particular attention is paid to the significance of gender in both the process of change and in attitudes towards this. Welfare and Religion in 21st Century Europe: Volume 1 represents comparative research at its best and highlights key policy implications for the future. A companion book, Welfare and Religion in 21st Century Europe: Volume 2 explores thematically the changing nature of religion and welfare and the new relationships that are emerging between the religious and the secular, and between church and state in the 21st century.
Welfare and Religion in 21st Century Europe: Volume 2: Gendered, Religious and Social Change
by Grace Davie Per Pettersson Anders Bäckström Ninna EdgardhHistorically, European churches have played a large part in the provision of welfare. Responsibility, however, has gradually shifted to the state - a shift that forms an integral part of the process of secularization and one that has been readily accepted by European populations. But what happens when the state itself begins to recede - a process that is occurring in most, if not all, European societies for a wide variety of reasons? The implications for welfare are considerable, not least for the role of the churches which begin to resume the responsibilities previously shed but in new and different ways. This book looks at the connections between religion and welfare in Europe, exploring in detail eight European societies - Finland, Norway, Sweden, England, Germany, France, Italy and Greece. The different theological traditions, different church-state relationships and different welfare regimes are all examined. The analysis is based on first hand empirical research which considers not only the changing situation on the ground, but attitudes towards this within a range of different constituencies - the churches, local government and the general public. Particular attention is paid to the significance of gender in both the process of change and in attitudes towards this. Welfare and Religion in 21st Century Europe: Volume 1 represents comparative research at its best and highlights key policy implications for the future. A companion book, Welfare and Religion in 21st Century Europe: Volume 2 explores thematically the changing nature of religion and welfare and the new relationships that are emerging between the religious and the secular, and between church and state in the 21st century.
Well Connected
by Dianna BooherConference calls, faxes, email, the World Wide Web.With so many powerful ways to communicate-why do I feel so alone?If you're feeling increasingly disconnected from the rest of the world, says communications expert Dianna Booher, you have plenty of company. The fact is that while technology can do many things, it cannot nurture our souls.However, this book can. The inspirational stories found on these pages not only feed our spirits, they remind us of our need to nurture the spirits of others. They illustrate the power each of us has to influence the attitudes, actions and eternal destinies of those around us-"one person at a time, one situation at a time, and one interaction at a time."We need one another, Booher claims. The connections we make with the people God places in our lives-friends, family, coworkers, acquaintances, neighbors, strangers-provide us with nourishment, insight, and emotional strength. In essence, plugging into others powers our souls."You're the same today as you'll be in five years-except for the people you meet and the books you read," Dianna Booher quotes a friend. Make it a point to meet someone new. And read this book. It will change the way you see the world-and help you reshape it into a place where every individual is valued, respected and loved.
Well Versed: Biblical Answers to Today's Tough Issues
by James L. GarlowWhat should a Christian say when confronted with today's burning political questions? How can a person of faith use the Bible as a resource when navigating controversial cultures issues? <P><P>Skyline Church Pastor James L. Garlow presents God Is My Debate Coach, the ultimate scripture-based guide for Christians looking for answers, reassurance, and resources on the issues of today. (Topics include: Israel, Social Justice, Sexual Identity, Debt, Taxes, Abortion, Bioethics, the Role of Government, War, Islam, Entertainment, and more.)
Well Women Witness Letters from Christ: An Interactive Workbook---A Dialogue with Christ
by Oralisa MartinTherefore, women&’s experiences in getting to know Christ are not new to the human soul. Having lived public vows in a convent, the spirituality shared byThere was a prophetic message given to Sr. Dr. Oralisa Martin--Thus says the Lord: "Well Women Witness." "Tell my women to meet Me at he Well!" And so, a Well Women Witness (WWW) Retreat based on the Biblical story of the Samaritan woman at the Well (John 4: 1-30; 39-42) was created. The first of ten retreats began with ninety-three (93) women of the Basilica of St. Mart of the Immaculate Conception in Norfolk, Virginia.One of the hallmarks of the retreat is the women&’s Letters from Christ. Just before a WWW retreat Sr. Dr. Martin would hear a Word from the Lord on the letter. He wanted to write His women. Unlike other letter writing that could be several pages long from a sender, the WWW Letters from Christ is conversational letter writing. There is ongoing dialogue within the letter between Christ and the woman. Christ would bring up an issue and call his woman to talk to Him about it. Now, she can tell Him! She can write it out; she can be honest and transparent. And, she can find herself dealing with issues that she thought were over!In addition, Jesus Christ deals with His issues with her. She can come to realize that not only is she getting to know herself, she is getting to know God. As she sojourns in the writing of the ten letters, she can also begin to realize that she is in a relationship with Jesus Christ. Christ is fashioning her into His true disciple.With that, the woman can come away from the letter writing exercise with the overwhelming feeling, "WOW! Oh, my God! I just talked to Christ. And, He spoke back!" "He told me everything I have done . . ." (John 4: 37). She can then realize that Jesus Christ is deepening the relationship and moving her into intimacy with Him.This knowing God, this relationship and intimacy with Christ serve as the potency for effective evangelization. Out of the relationship comes evangelization. Therefore, it is the desire of Sr. Dr. Oralisa Martin that through this workbook, Well Women Witness Letters from Christ, you too will get to know and truly love your Lord Jesus Christ. Like the Samaritan woman at the Well, you will tell somebody about this Man, Jesus, as Savior of the world.
Well with My Soul: Four Dramatic Stories of Great Hymn Writers
by Rachael PhillipsDiscover the stories--and the special meaning--behind four favorite hymns of the faith: "It Is Well with My Soul," "Like a River Glorious," "There Is a Fountain Filled with Blood," and "Let the Lower Lights Be Burning." Meet Horatio Spafford, Frances Ridley Havergal, William Cowper, and Philip P. Bliss, the courageous eighteenth- and nineteenth-century hymn writers who overcame great trial and tragedy to pen some of Christendom's greatest songs. Compelling personal stories--of a shipwreck that claimed precious daughters, of faith amidst frailty, of debilitating depression, and of death in a burning rail car--show God's power to make everything well with our souls, no matter what the circumstance.
Well-Intentioned Dragons
by Marshall ShelleyPastors, deacons, and other church workers will find this book a valuable resource in dealing with problem people in the church. Conflict resolution is dealt with in a very positive manner.
Well-Read Black Girl: Finding Our Stories, Discovering Ourselves
by Glory Edim'Required reading.' - Cosmopolitan'This should be read as a sacred text. Here, you will bear witness to a perpetual salvation song.' - Jason ReynoldsRemember that moment when you first encountered a character who seemed to be written just for you? That feeling of belonging remains with readers the rest of their lives - but not everyone regularly sees themselves reflected on the pages of a book.In this timely anthology, Glory Edim, founder of the online community, Well-Read Black Girl, brings together original essays by some of America's best black women writers to shine a light on how important it is that we all - regardless of gender, race, religion, or ability - have the opportunity to find ourselves in literature. Whether it's learning about the complexities of femalehood from Zora Neale Hurston and Toni Morrison, finding a new type of love in The Color Purple, or using mythology to craft an alternative black future, each essay reminds us why we turn to books in times of both struggle and relaxation. As she has done with her book club-turned-online community, Edim has created a space where black women's writing, knowledge and life experiences are lifted up, to be shared with all readers who value the power of a story to help us understand the world, and ourselves.Contributors include: Jesmyn Ward, Lynn Nottage, Jacqueline Woodson, Gabourey Sidibe, Morgan Jerkins, Tayari Jones, Rebecca Walker, and Barbara Smith.'Essential reading for the twenty-first-century reader. This book is smart, powerful, and complete.' - Min Jin Lee, author of Pachinko
Well: Healing Our Beautiful, Broken World from a Hospital in West Africa
by Sarah ThebargeSarah Thebarge ponders the intersection of faith and medicine in this insightful narrative of her medical mission trip to Togo, West Africa.Sarah Thebarge, a Yale-trained physician assistant, nearly died of breast cancer at age twenty-seven, but that did not end her deeply felt spiritual calling to medical missions in Africa. Risking her own health, she moved to Togo, West Africa-ranked by the United Nations as the least happy country in the world-to care for sick and suffering patients. Serving without pay in a mission hospital, she pondered the intersection of faith and medicine in her quest to help make the world "well."In the hospital wards, she witnessed death over and over again. In the outpatient clinic, she daily diagnosed patients with deadly diseases, many of which had simple but unavailable cures. She lived in austere conditions and nearly succumbed herself in a harrowing bout with malaria.She describes her experiences in gripping detail and reflects courageously about difficult and deep human connections-across race, culture, material circumstances, and medical access. Her experience exemplifies the triumph of surviving in order to share the stories that often go untold. In the end, WELL is an invitation to ask what happens when, instead of asking why God allows suffering to happen in the world, we ask, "Why do we?"
Wellbeing and the Worshipper: Insights Into an Islamic Spiritual Order (Studies in Neuroscience, Consciousness and Spirituality #7)
by Mohamed Safiullah MunsoorThis is a rare piece of empirical research, which reveals the workings of a spiritual order, its leadership, as well as their approaches, methods and tools. It demonstrates how the seekers, who were partly drug addicts and HIV patients, and the general segment of this Order, have been able to positively transform themselves. A multidisciplinary approach enlightens the analysis and discussion by bringing together spirituality, psychology, neuroscience as well as organisational development, to produce a rich tapestry of first hand insights. This book provides an integrated approach to understanding the landscape of a spiritual order primarily using a mixed method and a holistic approach with a particular focus on Islam. Qualitative examples include interpretivistic phenomenological approaches and neuro-linguistic programming. The book highlights the positive impact of worship by providing practical guidance and suggestions on how to spiritually improve oneself. This dualistic approach generated a working model for spiritual leadership and self-development. The unsuspecting but important link of spirituality to the United Nations sustainable development goals (SDGs) is highlighted and discussed, which needs to be factored into the global development narrative. The text is primarily for researchers, yet has a secondary use for students and general readership given the comprehensive review establishing a conceptual framework for worship and morality.
Wellbeing in Islamic Schools: Nurturing the Mind, Body and Soul
by Mohamad Abdalla Dylan Chown Nadeem MemonIslamic schools are growing exponentially in the West to meet the demands of Muslim learners and their parents. Today, there are hundreds of Islamic schools that are constantly expanding. A key focus of the philosophy of Islamic schools and education is the nurturing of the mind, body and soul. Yet, to date, there is no book that addresses the issue of well-being in Islamic schools. This book provides a comprehensive approach to well-being and highlights both academic and practitioners’ findings, thoughts and experiences as well as school/classroom-based examples related to well-being in Islamic schooling.