O'Neill praises Pope's commitment to peace as she confirms funeral attendance
'Pope Francis especially wanted to reach the hearts of those who are spiritually poor, those who feel empty inside. To them he offered the joy of the Gospel, a reason for living, a reason for hoping and an invitation to a personal encounter and friendship with Christ.'
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Daily Record
5 days ago
- Daily Record
New Shotts Boys' Brigade company host first annual display
Rev Phil Geary, Captain, welcomed the company members and parents to the EU Congregational Hall including guest of honour Mrs Gillian Agnew from 1st Shotts Girls Brigade, and MP Kenneth Stevenson. A new Boys Brigade Company has been established in Shotts and the members of 3rd Shotts took part in their first annual display and presentation of awards. Rev Phil Geary, Captain, welcomed the company members and parents to the EU Congregational Hall including guest of honour Mrs Gillian Agnew from 1st Shotts Girls Brigade, and MP Kenneth Stevenson. Rev Phil said: 'It's seeming a little surreal that two years ago, the idea if a BB hadn't even been dreamt up, yet here we are at the end of the first year. 'The boys have worked hard in everything we have thrown at them, not least this display which has meant al of the boys are stepping out of their comfort zone in one way, shape or form, so please encourage them along the way.' Rev Phil also thanked his officers Andy Allan, Sean Chalmers, Naomi Geary, Yvette Geary, Martin Phillips, Edith Ross, and Jim Williams, with Helpers Morag Forsyth and Janice Whitefield, for all their efforts for the company and their work with the young people, He also expressed thanks to David Sneddon who was part of team who trained the officers of the new BB Company which adopted the 3rd Shotts title, which was formerly used 30 years ago. Throughout this first year the boys took part in the annual Remembrance Service at the War Memorial and in the church; along with the Sunday School, they were involved in making shoeboxes for boys and girls in parts of the world who wouldn't have ordinarily receive a gift at Christmas. The boys also enjoyed a number of outings, including a trip to the bowling alley with members of 1st Shotts GB. A highlight of the year was a trip to Northern Ireland which was a great success. Regular meetings include scripture lesson, games, crafts and activities, all of which counts towards boys gaining their badges at the end of term. The boys have learned the discipline of arranging themselves in squads, the importance of teamwork and supporting those who need a little extra help; and being aware of their surroundings and the need to enjoy and respect the world around them. The evening also included the opening prayer by Martin Phillips, Scripture Readings by Jim Williams and Janie Whitefield, and closing prayer by Edith Ross. Everyone joined in the final hymn which is associated with Boys Brigade 'Will Your Anchor Hold'. Rev Phil completed the evening by saying: 'As you will see and hear, we are unashamedly a Christian organisation and we seek to present the Gospel to the boys each week and also to instil in them good Christian morals that will no doubt be of help as they grow into young men.'
Telegraph
07-06-2025
- Telegraph
Sacred Mysteries: How God acts from the inside of everything
The Gospel of St John is extraordinarily well written. I don't mean the other Gospels are badly written, but in St John's we find a beautifully composed work by a single author. The so-called prologue of this Gospel, starting, 'In the beginning was the Word,' has been so praised for its sublimity that its meaning is sometimes skated over. I've just been reading the Commentary on the Gospel of John by St Thomas Aquinas, and was struck by what he says early on about the Word of God before he 'was made flesh, and dwelt among us'. John says: 'He was in the world.' Thomas says he was in the world as an efficient cause (in the language of Aristotle) but with a striking difference. 'Other agents act as existing externally...' he says, 'But God acts in all things from within, because he acts by creating.' To create, he says, is to give being to the thing created. The Latin word for 'being' that he uses is esse, the infinitive. This in his vocabulary is the act of being that makes anything exist as what it is. Esse is sometimes translated into English as 'existence', but it is more than the fact of existing; it is the power each thing has to act as itself. In our case, esse is the difference between being alive and dead. 'Since existence [ esse ] is innermost in each thing,' Thomas says, 'God, who by acting gives existence, acts in things from within. Hence God [the Word] was in the world as one giving existence to the world.' This is very different from the mental picture people may have of God sitting in heaven and commanding things to be created. It is true that God is not part of the world and that he transcends everything that we know. But when the old Catechism answer said that 'God is everywhere', it meant, among other things, that God is interior to the vital being of anything. All this applies to the Word of God, God the Son, before ever he took upon himself human flesh and was born in Bethlehem. There is a puzzle here because, since God is present in a volcano, say, and gives it its existence and power to act, then, when the volcano erupts, God has responsibility. Certainly volcanoes function by ordinary secondary causality, for which we like to construct laws of nature. But the volcano would not continue to exist from second to second did God not sustain it in being. Fortunately, this cuts both ways. God's sustaining presence is also part of his almighty power: he does whatever he wants to. He is in charge, so if things look pretty bad at one moment, he can bring them to good. And if things seem bad to us, the Word made Flesh suffered as badly in his death as anyone could. God can do his good work while allowing secondary causes to act according to their laws. He can also allow human beings to exercise their freedom to do good or evil while he brings wicked plans to nothing, or rather to a good conclusion. The fierce logician, Peter Geach, in his book Providence and Evil, likens God to a master chess-player, winning the game whatever moves the opponent chooses. This applies in specific cases, not just in the lump. So someone with faith in God believes that it is wise to trust him, for there is nothing to be gained by going against the principles of good behaviour that he has revealed in his commandments. In the Bible, Joseph was thrown by his brothers into a pit to die. When, by fortune, he ends up in Egypt and prospers, and feeds his brothers in famine, he tells them: 'It was not you who sent me here, but God. . . You meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive.'
Scottish Sun
04-06-2025
- Scottish Sun
Harrowing moment pastor dies in middle of livestreamed service after dropping to knees for passionate sermon
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A PASTOR'S devastating final moments were caught on camera as he collapsed and died in the middle of a service. Pastor Sérgio Carvinho was about 16 minutes into his sermon when he dropped to his knees to recite a passionate passage. 4 Pastor Sérgio Carvinho was giving a sermon when he suddenly collapsed Credit: Jam Press 4 The 47-year-old pastor from Brazil was talking about his late father when he died Credit: Jam Press 4 People rushed over to help after he fell silent but he was later pronounced dead Credit: Jam Press However, the 47-year-old quickly fell silent and failed to get to his feet again. Pastor Carvinho collapsed and died at the God Is Love Pentecostal Church in Caxias do Sul, southern Brazil, on May 31. He was invited to the church as a guest speaker. A nurse and a nursing student in the congregation provided first aid until an ambulance arrived, as reported by NeedToKnow. The student, who wished to remain anonymous, told local media, 'We did our part to save his life. 'Everything seemed normal while he was preaching. He was telling a story about his father, and I think he got very emotional. 'We don't know if he had an underlying heart issue or not. 'Tests will confirm whether he had a heart attack or something similar.' She added, 'We were very excited because we were waiting for him to come to our hometown. 'He was a very humble person who preached the truth.' Tragic beauty influencer murdered on TikTok stream as she's shot dead by motorbike gunmen in drive-by shooting on salon His late father was also a pastor. A church spokesperson said, 'Pastor Sérgio Carvinho was an instrument of God on this earth, bringing comfort, hope and love through the Word." 'His voice, which so often filled this place with songs of worship, now joins the heavenly choir." 'We will miss the sound of his voice, his prayers, his teachings, and the praise that flowed from his soul.' Pastor Sérgio Carvinho was an instrument of God on this earth, bringing consolation, hope and love through the Word and praise. His voice, which so often filled this place with songs of worship, now joins the heavenly choir. We will miss the sound of his voice, his prayers, his teachings and the praise that sprouted from his soul Congregations of the Pentecostal Church God is Love in Santa Catarina Witnesses said that in his final moments, Pastor Carvinho knelt in prayer in front of the church, just as he had done many times before, Diário Independente reported. It was a quiet, familiar gesture that marked the end of a life spent preaching the Gospel. Several congregations of the Pentecostal Church God is Love in Santa Catarina, including those in Criciúma, Bombinhas, and Ratones in Florianópolis, shared tributes in honor of the pastor, Metropoles reported. "Pastor Sérgio Carvinho was an instrument of God on this earth, bringing consolation, hope and love through the Word and praise," one note said. "His voice, which so often filled this place with songs of worship, now joins the heavenly choir. "We will miss the sound of his voice, his prayers, his teachings and the praise that sprouted from his soul," Pastor Carvinho was one half of the Christian sertanejo duo Rogério Marques and Serginho, known for their faith-based music. The duo released their album Rapture in September 2021. Pastor Carvinho was married and the owner of a decorative store in Turvo. He was laid to rest at the Rodeio da Areia Cemetery in his hometown of Turvo on Monday morning. The authorities have yet to confirm the exact cause of his death.
