by Peter James | Jan 6, 2023 | Douglass Steere
Imagine a church sanctuary without a pulpit, communion table, choir loft or organ. The worship space is simple and functional in design. Wooden benches face each other, the back pews slightly elevated to improve sight lines. Douglas Steere (1901-1995) describes a...
by Peter James | Jan 5, 2023 | Anima Christi
I grew up in a Protestant church with an empty cross in its sanctuary. It was polished and clean, made of burnished brass. Whenever I entered a Catholic church, I couldn’t quite get over the visual of Jesus hanging on a cross. Catholics contend a crucifix is a...
by Peter James | Jan 4, 2023 | Elizabeth Prentiss
Elizabeth Prentiss (1818-1878) suffered from chronic insomnia and debilitating migraines. She once wrote to a friend that she “scarcely knew a moment free from pain.” She lived with her husband George in New Bedford, Massachusetts where he served as pastor...
by Peter James | Jan 3, 2023 | St. Benedict
The Rule of Saint Benedict leaves no stone unturned. It provides guidelines for monastic living on most everything–sleeping, working, traveling, entertaining guests. He even devotes two chapters to addressing day-to-day concerns about drinking (a half measure of...
by Peter James | Jan 2, 2023 | Joachim Neander
The Neanderthal man and Joachim Neander (1650-1680) share something in common. Joachim was a 20-year-old theology student, yet his heart wasn’t in it. A contemporary said of him, “His student life was spent in vanity of the mind, forgetfulness of God and...
