The Templeton Committee met for the first time on October 21, 2015. Pastor Michael Tavella had received a $5000 grant from the John Templeton Foundation through the auspices of Earl Whipple, a staff member of the organization and a member of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church. The grant will be used to develop a manual for churches and individual Christians on how we should conduct ourselves when in conversation with atheists and others who do not attend Church (the “nones”), either one on one or in a public forum. The biblical basis for the project is I Peter 3: 15b-16. The proposal includes field testing the manual in church adult classes and then holding at least one public forum in which Christians and non-Christians dialogue with one another. These conversations will constitute a Christian defense of the faith (ἀπολογία, apologia, English-apology) and a witness to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
We are now in the midst of the Lenten season. At this time of year we devote ourselves with special emphasis and intention to the theme of repentance and renewal. The entire life of the Christian is one of return to the Lord. We are a people, who despite our faith grounded in Baptism, yet…
Emptiness is a room without furniture. Emptiness is a chair where the beloved once sat. Emptiness is a graveyard. Emptiness is a place where people should be, but are neither seen nor heard. Emptiness is a cityscape in shambles, a Dresden, Hiroshima, London, or the Bronx Emptiness is an abandoned church. Emptiness is…
The brazen eagle stood upon the sphere With wings outspread in readiness for flight, Upholding on its figure words of light, The faithful came with solemn hearts to hear. As sacred text was heedfully proclaimed, A fiery burst obscured the avian perch And caused a gasp inside the crowded church. Stained glass was then…
That day when I looked out, the branch was bare. The green before the empty winter left And caused my woeful heart to feel bereft. I could not bear this keen and wan despair. So there I sat, reflective of my lot And wondered at the futile course of life, Commotions, fruitless strain, and…
He turned aside to see the bush, Unconsumed and brightly burning. “”Moses, Moses,” to him addressed. “Here I am,” to God he confessed. He did not look upon the Lord In fear he would that moment die. God’s face is so resplendent and bright, No human can endure the sight. “Out of Egypt…
Power–surging, rushing–power. Over the brink and down the cliff To the turbulent water below. Spray fills the air–obscuring. A rainbow arches over all, A sign of promise–promising Us God’s faithfulness and strength. Michael G. Tavella .
The perch gave such a view of the dale That I held my breath for a moment’s time In fear that I would miss the subtler of nature’s art And fail to heed important matters of the heart. It was from that high and lofty place That I beheld up in the sky A…
He gazed into the obdurate dark, As tolled the clock the late hour of two. And then as if in a moment’s time He heard at three the horologic chime. Between these signals in the night His soul embraced in dreamful sleep– Wherein, within–a stream of signs That points him to his heart’s designs….
I revised the poem I sent you and thought I would send you the update. At Present The dark-rimmed clouds came sweeping in To shade the land like sullen sin. Such mirth is struck from human hearts; Such sombrous thought despair imparts! What chance today for solar bright? What hope for coming starlit…
The dark-rimmed clouds came sweeping in To shade the land like sullen sin. Such mirth is struck from human hearts; Such sombrous thought despair imparts! What chance today for solar bright? What hope for coming starlit night? The forecast calls for trem’rous storms. Their rage remorselessly deforms. “There is no hope,” so many…
