The Birdbath They birdbath in my backyard draws an infinite variety of bids, including a pair of bright red cardinals, blue jays, black and orange grosbeaks, and numerous small colorful birds. They drink from it and bathe in it, and it never ceases to amaze me how, with the exception of one big, fat robin […]

JERUSALEM A team of experts began a historic renovation on Monday at the spot where Christians believe Jesus was buried, overcoming longstanding religious rivalries to carry out the first repairs at the site in more than 200 years. The project is focused on reinforcing and preserving the Edicule — the ancient chamber housing Jesus’ tomb […]

On a recent Saturday, I caught a TED Radio Hour talk on NPR with Diana Nyad, the first person to swim 111 miles non-stop from Cuba to Florida. For the next quarter-hour, I was spell-bound as Nyad shared her journey of perseverance, overcoming multiple failures, physical challenges, and pain so severe that jellyfish stings caused […]

“When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion for them and healed their sick.” Matthew 14:1 Compassion Healing was a vital part of Jesus’ earthly ministry. Everywhere he went people followed him, begging for mercy, for they had faith that he had the power to heal them. Jesus empathized deeply […]

BRUNSWICK — Senior Buddhist teacher Judith Lief, will give a public talk at Brunswick Shambhala Center on June 16 at 7 p.m. on “Glimpses of Mahamudra.” Mahamudra, or the “Great Seal,” is a key practice tradition of the Kagyu lineage and the highest expression of realization in that tradition. Lief will focus on how her […]

ORR’S ISLAND — On Sunday, Rev. Mary Ann Hoy will preside over the service Sunday at All Saint’s Chapel, located at 9 Cooper Lane, off Harpswell Islands Road/Route 24 on Orr’s Island. Services take place at the church at 9 a.m. Sundays, through Sept. 25. For more information about the church and its services, call […]

COVINGTON, LA. As a young pastor in Covington three decades ago, the Rev. Alfred Young Jr. was deeply troubled by his community’s drug addiction problem, so he told the congregation that they were going to pray for those hooked on crack cocaine. “One of my members said to me, ‘No sense to us praying because […]

It seemed that I had come to the end of everything. After a decade of working to write a memoir about how God changed our lives through our adopted daughter, Ruth, I knew that I could do no more. I had already done to see it published and support other Ugandan children like our daughter, […]

JERUSALEM (AP) — Christian officials have launched historic restoration work at the Tomb of Jesus inside the Church of Holy Sepulchre, site where tradition holds Jesus was crucified, buried and resurrected. The works are the first in almost two centuries that will focus on repairing, reinforcing and conserving the structure. Pilgrims will be able to […]

PHIPPSBURG — The Popham Chapel will begin its seasonal schedule of worship services on Sunday. The Popham Chapel, located at 969 Popham Road near the end of Route 209 in Popham Village, will offer its interdenominational worship services at 10 a.m. each Sunday until Oct. 2. Rev. Ed McCartan will return to lead worship this […]