The people of Colombia face floods: Colombia: Floods 2010 – Situation Report #10 UN agencies in Colombia allocate funds for flood emergency response The people of Colombia have endured numerous disappearances: Disappearances in Colombia on a Scale Never Imagined Breaking…
Read more »Scripture – Psalm 130 and Matthew 11:2–15 This time of year finds the air buzzing with a fabricated and often frustrated excitement. Do you enjoy or endure the holidays? Do you seek something that seems altogether missing from the list…
Read more »Scripture – Psalm 40 There is no greater challenge for the life of faith than seeking to be sure when one perceives God’s will. Not everyone who says “Lord, Lord” gets it straight. Secular critics of religion often assume that…
Read more »Scripture – Luke 1:46–55 The stories of the birth of Jesus are witnesses of the many ways in which people can experience the transformative power of God’s presence in their lives. They also are echoes of the powerful hope this…
Read more »Scripture – 1 Thessalonians 5:12–28 I gained a greater appreciation for Mary during two Advent seasons when I was either on maternity leave or pregnant. Sleep deprivation and morning sickness made it easy to empathize with Mary. Although to us…
Read more »As direct negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians begin, the Stated Clerk of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), the Rev. Gradye Parsons, sent a letter to President Obama expressing appreciation for the president’s work toward a just and peaceful solution to the…
Read more »By Nancy Eng MacNeill From province to province, precinct after precinct, throughout the Philippine islands, the May 10, 2010 elections showed widespread evidence of voter intimidation, vote buying, campaign violations on Election Day, denial of voter rights, and more. As…
Read more »As I begin this post, it is seven o’clock a.m. on Sunday morning in the Philippines. The day before the election has dawned. Across the country, people will give thanks and raise their hopes and express their fears in prayer….
Read more »God of compassion, hold the people and the leaders of the Philippines gently in these last days before the election. Fill hearts and guide spirits so that the leaders and people turn from violence. Grant courage to nurture relationships that…
Read more »By Matt Lang, election observer in the Philippines, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) On Saturday morning we had a press conference with several members of the media. Each participant was asked to give a brief statement about why they were in the…
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