Adventist Heritage Center From: Sent: To: Subject: Pacific Press <scocad=pacificpress.com@mail231.suw14.mcdlv.net> on behalf of Pacific Press <scocad@pacificpress.com> Thursday, January 26, 2017 12:43 PM Adventist Heritage Center JANUARY SignsWatch Current events and Religion in the News from Signs of the Times View in web browser Lutherans, Catholics celebrate Luther On October 31, 1517, Martin Luther nailed his Ninety-Five Theses to the church door in Wittenberg, Germany, sparking a religious revolution that drew the wrath of the Roman Catholic Church. This coming October 31 will mark the 500th anniversary of that event. However, Lutheran commemoration of the event began a year earlier, and they included one surprising celebrant: Pope Francis. Last year Francis traveled to Lund, Sweden, to participate in an October 31 joint Lutheran-Catholic prayer service that marked the beginning of the year of commemoration. While at first glance his visit is surprising, it s in keeping with his ecumenical ambition to mend the broken ties between Catholics and other Christians. At the conclusion of the meeting both sides signed a document pledging to continue to work toward a common Communion. By common Communion is meant both unity of community and the celebration of the Eucharist. Francis also urged both sides to profess and uphold the true faith. Crux Who pays for restoration? 1
Massachusetts has an interesting conundrum. On the one hand, separation of church and state, which is mandated both by the American and Massachusetts Constitutions, forbids the use of public funds for religious purposes. On the other hand, public funds are legally available for the upkeep of historic structures through the state s Community Preservation Act (CPA). So who pays the bill when the historic structure is a church that still has a congregation? One church that was built in 1846 and still has an active congregation received a CPA grant to cover the cost of restoring a stained-glass window that included a picture of Jesus. Another active church, completed in 1892, received a grant to repair its roof. A legal case challenging such grants is currently making its way through the courts. Church and State What the Bible Says About the Sabbath This colorful booklet on the Sabbath is perfect for sharing. Order online: Adventist Book Center Order by phone: 1-800-765-6955 - inexpensive - readable, magazine style format - short practical articles - a variety of writers - 32 pages - four-color And it travels well. Just place it in your church lobby or use it at outreach meetings and fair booths. Works anywhere you meet people. AA ban protest At the present time there are 501 Alcoholics Anonymous meetings at 252 locations in the Toronto area, and atheists and agnostics are welcome to attend. But because AA emphasizes God as the primary resource for recovery, some atheists have formed their own groups, and they have published The Agnostic 2
Twelve Steps, which leaves out the name of God. However, the Greater Toronto Area Intergroup (GTA) of Alcoholics Anonymous does not include these atheist groups in their list of AA groups in the city. Atheist Lawrence Knight is suing Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc. and the GTA, accusing them before the Ontario Human Rights Tribunal of discriminating against atheists, agnostics, and freethinkers. Knight wants AA s Twelve Steps to be rewritten to exclude the mention of God. He says that the words God and Higher Power are outdated and could cause some atheists to have a negative response. Christian Headlines Protecting India s sacred cows Hindus consider cows to be sacred animals. In India, cows have the right of way on city streets and country highways. If a cow decides to lie down on a city street, the traffic maneuvers around it. The animals are so sacred, in fact, that thousands of cow vigilantes patrol highways and country roads on the lookout for cows that are being smuggled to Bangladesh or to parts of India where it s permissible to slaughter the animals. Groups of vigilantes will stop enclosed trucks on the highways, press their ears to the sides, bang on them, and sniff the air for any suggestion that a cow or cows might be inside. And woe to the person found trying to smuggle a cow! Smugglers have been subject to beatings; rapes; and, in some instances, murder. Yogendra Arya, who is president of India s largest cow-vigilante network, says, If the cow is saved, then the country is saved. The Guardian Now we saw with our own eyes the actual burial place of Jesus Christ. Father Isidoros Fakitsas, the superior of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate, following the opening of the alleged tomb of Christ underneath the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem this past November for the first time in hundreds of years. The tomb was closed again following 60 hours of research. The New York Times 3
We Believe BRAND NEW Sharing Piece from Signs of the Times A BRIEF EXPLANATION of the 28 fundamental beliefs of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. INCLUDES UPDATES from the recent General Conference session in San Antonio, Texas. In this Signs special edition each official belief is carefully explained. It's designed to help Adventists share their faith in Jesus and their unique understanding of scripture. Place it in a church lobby. Share it with community friends. Give it to those who attend programs at your church. Distribute it when your church has a booth at the Fair. Tuck it into food baskets. Keep it on hand to share with co-workers. Also available in Spanish Order online: Adventist Book Center Order by phone: 1-800-765-6955 Percentage of US religious households making $100,000+ per year Jewish 44% Episcopal 35% Presbyterian 25% Mormon 20% Adventist 15% Assemblies of God 10% Witnesses 4% 4
Source: Pew Research Center Copyright 2015 Pacific Press Publishing Association All rights reserved. You're receiving this promotion because of your relationship with Pacific Press. Edited by Scott Cady. Add us to your address book Our mailing address is: Pacific Press Publishing Association 1350 N. Kings Rd. Nampa, ID 83687 5