For the past few weeks, we've been exploring the Advent Antiphons. This week, we look and listen to the third antiphon: O come, thou Rod of Jesse, free... During this time of year (as we approach Christmas), for the podcast we will look at a particular 'hymn' that has helped worshippers prepare for Jesus's arrival. Since the 8th century, the Church has been singing the “O” antiphons. An antiphon is a short sentence sung or recited before or after a psalm or canticle. The “O” antiphons are so named as each line begins with an “O” — perhaps the most famous of these are the words and verse which begins: O Come, O Come, Emmanuel. Altogether, there are 7 antiphons.

November 15 marks the beginning of Orthodox and Celtic Christian observances of the season of Advent. 40 days before Christmas — likely the sights and sounds of the season are already visible; however, the consumeristic nature of this time of year might have you seeing more than just holiday red. The truth is, we are waiting for more than a present or gift. We await a Messiah, a Savior. It is Jesus Christ, the Lord. During the season, and on the podcast for the next few weeks, we will look at a particular 'hymn' that has helped worshippers prepare for Jesus's arrival. Since the 8th century, the Church has been singing the “O” antiphons. An antiphon is a short sentence

Note: This request originally came in June of 2023 and was fulfilled in July 2023; however, a story was not published at the time. This story is a "catch-up" and photos and a final update will follow shortly. Hope For the Fatherless (HFTF) is on a mission in Ethiopia. Believing that children belong in families, not institutions, Hope for the Fatherless rescues orphaned and vulnerable children and places them into loving homes through reunification, kinship placement, domestic adoption, and small group homes. Currently HFTF has 30 children in its small group homes, 18 children in the sponsorship program (receiving educational, medical, and other support with their single moms so they do not become orphans), and dozens of children in the

November 15 marks the beginning of Orthodox and Celtic Christian observances of the season of Advent. 40 days before Christmas — likely the sights and sounds of the season are already visible; however, the consumeristic nature of this time of year might have you seeing more than just holiday red. The truth is, we are waiting for more than a present or gift. We await a Messiah, a Savior. It is Jesus Christ, the Lord. During the season, and on the podcast for the next few weeks, we will look at a particular 'hymn' that has helped worshippers prepare for Jesus's arrival. Since the 8th century, the Church has been singing the “O” antiphons. An antiphon is a short sentence

In celebration of the beginning of the Advent season (November 15), Soccer Chaplains United's devotional ebook, The Light is Coming, will be free on Amazon, tomorrow. The Light is Coming is our rewrite and revision of the 2022 FIFA Men's World Cup devotional offering, is now available on Amazon globally via the link above. It has been one year since we wrote for the Men's World Cup. This devotional has been edited and re-written to remove time references, make it less "2022 World Cup" centric, and to also make it easier for individuals and teams to utilize in any 8-week span. The eight, weekly themes match the Advent and Christmas season and fit nicely with a reading plan for this