Religion Learning to understand others Most all of us have dear friends who are always a part of our lives. They share our joys and help us through the hard times when we are weak and worn. I’m not sure how we’d make it without loving family and good friends. They enrich our lives and bless us just by being a part of our lives. However, if we are honest, there are other people we have met sometime in our life’s journey who have caused us heartache and distress. We may continue our association with them, but we are ‘on guard’ against further hurt. And, there are still other individuals, if you’ve lived long enough, that you’d rather avoid. A few months back as I was reading, I found myself smiling at the author’s description of someone who had joined a group to which she belonged. It was a very closeknit group of friends. Perhaps because the newcomer felt unwelcome, she came on a bit ‘strong’ in trying to make an impression. It didn’t work and
Doris Gvillo folks seemed to withdraw. When the woman who belonged to this group returned to her home, she was relating the experience to her husband. She said the new woman was loud and a little obnoxious. She was also bossy and wanted to run things. She had quite a few negative things to say until her husband asked her, “Are you inviting the newcomer to the gathering you gals are having?” Well, her answer was, “Of course not. Why would we?” Feeling quite satisfied with herself, she sat down to read her daily devotion the next morning before meeting with her friends. Imagine how she felt when she read the words attributed to Dorothy Day. They were, “I really only love God as much as I love the person I love the least.” She rethought her comments of the previous day and her decision not to include the newcomer in the
We live in a world filled with diversity. Each of us strives to hold fast to our religious and moral beliefs. That isn’t wrong, but when it means we turn our backs on others and spread bitterness and hate, we are surely not spreading God’s love. I wish I could answer some of the problems of our very fractured and dangerous world. I can’t. I can’t even explain the hate that splits families and other groups. As I read that devotional a few months back, I marked it because I wanted to go back and read it again and ponder what it said to me as an individual. I think the prayer at the close of the article best sums it up. By the way it was in my yearly Guidepost book and written by the noted author Debbie Macomber. She concluded by saying “Father, thank you for ever person you send my way, even the prickly ones.”
upcoming get together. I don’t know about you. But I have to admit I have been at a place when someone seems a bit too loud and downright ‘bossy’ and I find myself withdrawing. My thought is “I think I can do without getting too friendly with this individual.” We all know better but sometimes we fail in living what we profess to believe. Sometimes, if we but reach out to another we feel a bit hesitant about, we find that we just might have a great deal in common. It is for sure, we can’t judge by looking for most of us have found that the outside of an individual can be deceiving. We’ve probably all said, “Actions speak louder than words” and that is true. But it is equally true that we can’t judge by outward appearance nor does a first meeting really convey the true personality of an individual. I know that we won’t be great friends with everyone we work with, meet, go to school with, and
even attend church with. But I am certain that if we put a little bit of effort into a relationship, we can look on others with more understanding…more as God does. God loves each of us in spite of our mistakes, our sometimes egoism, our judgmental attitudes, and so many ‘oops’ moments in our lives. Doesn’t it therefore follow that we would try to be more accepting of those with different viewpoints? At this time, I am so tired of the political ads. I know my personal opinion and I know that among my friends there are those who think in a totally different manner. Does that mean I don’t value their friendship? Of course not. In reality, life would be quite boring if we were all the same. Don’t misunderstand. I don’t approve of some of the vices quite rampant in our society. But I do believe we can abhor the vice, but still care for the individual and perhaps our care and concern can be a help to them.
Doris Gvillo is a member of Eden United Church of Christ.
Square, praised the initiative, saying “I think it will bring a lot of audience into what the pope is saying.”
But members began leaving in 2007 because of financial accountability concerns. Last year, the church was foreclosed upon after its lender alleged it owed more than $14 million in mortgage payments
and other costs. Johnston doesn’t appear to be leaving the ministry. In recent months, he’s been a guest on the religious television program “100 Huntley Street.”
Religion briefs Thousands march to mark killing of Egyptian Coptic protesters, demand trial of ex-army rulers CAIRO (AP) — Several thousand Egyptians marched for miles through Cairo on Tuesday, marking the year anniversary of a military crackdown on Christian protesters that killed 26 people and demanding retribution against army leaders they hold responsible for the deaths. Muslim clerics, Christian priests, activists and liberal former lawmakers joined the procession, filling large boulevards to memorialize the “Maspero massacre,” referring to the name of the state TV building overlooking the Nile River where the violence took place a year ago. The protest last year was led by hundreds of Christians angered over a string of attacks on churches and denouncing the military — which ruled the country at the time — for failing to protect them. Soldiers attacked the crowd, with military vehicles running over some protesters, while others were killed by gunshots. Almost all the dead were Christians. For many in Egypt’s Coptic Christian minority, the violence
marked a turning point, ending their faith that the state would protect them in the face of increasingly a s s e r t i v e I s l a m i c h a rd l i n e r s . Christian worries have only grown since Islamist Mohammed Morsi, Egypt’s first freely elected president, came to power in late June, ending military rule.
Pope prays in Arabic, for Arabs in new outreach for Mideast Christians during general audience VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Benedict XVI has delivered a prayer in Arabic during his weekly general audience in a new effort by the Vatican to show support for Christians in the Middle East. A priest read a summary of the pope’s remarks on Wednesday in Arabic. The pope then delivered his own brief greeting in Arabic: “The pope prays for all the Arabicspeaking people. God bless you all.” The Vatican said it was adding Arabic to the six other languages, aside from the original Italian, typically spoken during the general audience, to remind Catholics to pray for peace in the Middle East. Khalid Hussain, a Pakistani-born Muslim tourist visiting St. Peter ’s
62nd ANNUAL SAUSAGE SUPPER Lutheran Parish Hall, Worden, IL given by Trinity Lutheran Church
SUNDAY OCTOBER 28th Serving 12(Noon) - 6 PM ADULTS AND CARRY OUT $9.00 CHILDREN $4.00
Liver, Pork, Blood Sausage, Ribs & Backbones. Sold At Worden Food Market, Friday 8am - 5pm & Sat. 8am - Noon. Fresh Homemade Sausage For Sale At Parish Hall, Sunday, Beginning At Noon.
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On the Edge of the Weekend
Suburban Kansas City church started by former pastor of financially troubled megachurch folds OLATHE, Kan. (AP) — The suburban Kansas City church that a pastor started after losing his megachurch to foreclosure has folded. The Kansas City Star reports that the Rev. Jerry Johnston’s New Day Church Kansas City held its last service Sept. 30. The church met in Olathe schools after last year ’s closure of the First Family Church in Overland Park. The megachurch once was described as among the fasting-growing in the country.
All-You-Can-Eat Family Style Chicken and Dumplings Dinner
Show Your Support of our Troops! The Edwardsville Intelligencer will publish a special feature page honoring our troops on Saturday, November 10, 2012. We are accepting photos for publication and would like to honor both past and present service men and women for their sacrifices in defense of our country. THERE IS NO CHARGE. Here’s all you have to do: Send photo along with the completed form below to: The Edwardsville Intelligencer Attention: Lisa Sullivan 117 North Second Street Edwardsville, IL 62025 or email photo and information to: lsullivan@edwpub.net
Saturday, November 3rd 11:00 am - 6:00 pm Advance Tickets $7.50 for Adults $3.50 for Children (5-12 yrs) Children under 5 are FREE Chicken and Dumplings with Green Beans, Slaw, Applesauce and Dessert
Name: Branch of Service: Years of Service: Hometown: Brief paragraph honoring your veteran (In Memory of, We are so Proud, etc.)
Next November the church will replace the dinner with a Soup and Bread Dinner
A Country Market with many baked goods, fall crafts and Christmas items Available
New Bethel United Methodist Church
131 N. Main Street, Glen Carbon 288-5700 office@newbethelumc.org
October 25, 2012
Information submitted by: (Name and address will not be published.We need it to return the photo.)
All information must be received by Friday, November 2, 2012.