Monday, September 21, 2026
Sunday, September 20, 2026
Greg Casar
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Greg Casar
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Official portrait, 2023
Chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus
Incumbent
Assumed office January 3, 2025
Preceded by Pramila Jayapal
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Texas's 35th district
Incumbent
Assumed office January 3, 2023
Preceded by Lloyd Doggett (redistricted)
Member of the Austin City Council from the 4th district
In office January 6, 2015 – February 4, 2022
Preceded by Constituency established
Succeeded by Chito Vela
Personal details
Born Gregorio Eduardo Casar May 4, 1989 (age 37)
Houston, Texas, U.S.
Party Democratic
Other political affiliations Democratic Socialists of America (2018–2022)
Spouse Asha Dane'el (m. 2023)
Children 1
Education University of Virginia (BA)
Signature
\ 
Website House website Campaign website
Gregorio Eduardo Casar (born May 4, 1989) is an American politician serving as a U.S. representative from Texas's 35th congressional district since 2023. He served as a member of the Austin City Council from the 4th district from 2015 to 2022.[1] Casar is a member of the Democratic Party and was endorsed by the Working Families Party in his run for Congress.[2] He was first elected to the Austin City Council in 2014, representing District 4.[3] He was reelected in 2016[4] and 2020.[5] He was elected to Congress in 2022.[6]
Casar is the chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus.[7] He is a member of the Squad, which includes six other members who form the furthest-left wing faction of the House Democratic Caucus.[8][9][10][11]
On August 25, 2025, Casar announced he would seek reelection in the newly-drawn 37th district, instead of his current 35th district, as a result of impending new congressional maps.[12]
Early life and education
Gregorio Eduardo Casar was born on May 4, 1989, in Houston, to two Mexican immigrants and is a Catholic. His father was a surgeon.[13][14][15] He grew up in the enclave of Bellaire and attended Strake Jesuit College Preparatory, where he ran track.[16][17]
Source: Wikipedia
Trump Cuts Camp David Trip Short as US Issues Middle East Travel Alerts
PUBLISHED
SEP 20, 2026 AT 07:43 AM EDT
By Hugh Cameron
Reporter
Donald Trump ended a weekend trip to the Camp David presidential retreat in Maryland ahead of schedule, following a warning from the State Department that the security situation in the Middle East could “escalate rapidly.”
According to the White House’s public schedule, Trump was meant to depart Camp David on Sunday but returned to Washington, D.C. a day early. A White House pool report states that he landed at the Ellipse south of the White House just before 8 p.m.
The White House has not confirmed the reason for the shortened trip, though this came amid another escalation in the Middle East, with the Houthi rebels claiming responsibility for an attack on Saudi Arabia’s capital, Riyadh. Saturday also saw a new security and travel alert from the State Department concerning the region.
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“Due to tensions in the Middle East, the security environment remains complex with the potential for unforeseen escalation,” read the notice, which has been pushed out by a number of embassies and consular offices. “Americans currently in the Middle East should exercise heightened vigilance and be aware of potential flight cancellations, airspace closures, and travel disruptions.”
SEP 20, 2026 AT 07:43 AM EDT
By Hugh Cameron
Reporter
Donald Trump ended a weekend trip to the Camp David presidential retreat in Maryland ahead of schedule, following a warning from the State Department that the security situation in the Middle East could “escalate rapidly.”
According to the White House’s public schedule, Trump was meant to depart Camp David on Sunday but returned to Washington, D.C. a day early. A White House pool report states that he landed at the Ellipse south of the White House just before 8 p.m.
The White House has not confirmed the reason for the shortened trip, though this came amid another escalation in the Middle East, with the Houthi rebels claiming responsibility for an attack on Saudi Arabia’s capital, Riyadh. Saturday also saw a new security and travel alert from the State Department concerning the region.
Read More on News
Xi Jinping Health Rumors Explained: What We Know and Don’t Know 4 min read
“Due to tensions in the Middle East, the security environment remains complex with the potential for unforeseen escalation,” read the notice, which has been pushed out by a number of embassies and consular offices. “Americans currently in the Middle East should exercise heightened vigilance and be aware of potential flight cancellations, airspace closures, and travel disruptions.”
FEMA and FCC Schedule 2026 Nationwide Test of the Emergency Alert System for November 17, 2026
Release Number HQ-26-137
Release Date:
September 16, 2026
WASHINGTON – The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), in coordination with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), will conduct a nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System (EAS) on Tuesday, November 17, 2026.
FEMA’s Emergency Alert System is a national public warning system made up of thousands of radio, television, cable, satellite and wireline video providers. Through the Emergency Alert System, the President can address the American people or share life-saving information with the public during a national emergency. FEMA is required by law to conduct a nationwide test of the public alert and warning system at least once every three years. These tests allow FEMA to identify technical or operational issues before the system is needed during an actual emergency.
FEMA and the FCC are sharing the test date in advance because it is important that the public understands what to expect on the day of the test. At approximately 2:20 p.m. ET on November 17, 2026, radio and television broadcasters, cable systems, satellite radio and television providers, and wireline video providers nationwide will interrupt normal programming to relay a test message. This message will state, “This is a nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System, issued by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, covering the United States from 2:20 to 2:50 hours ET. This is only a test. No action is required by the public.” When the test has concluded, normal programming will resume.
FEMA and the FCC are coordinating with stakeholders, including participating communications providers as well as federal, state, tribal and territorial agencies, to prepare for and conduct the test.
Release Date:
September 16, 2026
WASHINGTON – The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), in coordination with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), will conduct a nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System (EAS) on Tuesday, November 17, 2026.
FEMA’s Emergency Alert System is a national public warning system made up of thousands of radio, television, cable, satellite and wireline video providers. Through the Emergency Alert System, the President can address the American people or share life-saving information with the public during a national emergency. FEMA is required by law to conduct a nationwide test of the public alert and warning system at least once every three years. These tests allow FEMA to identify technical or operational issues before the system is needed during an actual emergency.
FEMA and the FCC are sharing the test date in advance because it is important that the public understands what to expect on the day of the test. At approximately 2:20 p.m. ET on November 17, 2026, radio and television broadcasters, cable systems, satellite radio and television providers, and wireline video providers nationwide will interrupt normal programming to relay a test message. This message will state, “This is a nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System, issued by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, covering the United States from 2:20 to 2:50 hours ET. This is only a test. No action is required by the public.” When the test has concluded, normal programming will resume.
FEMA and the FCC are coordinating with stakeholders, including participating communications providers as well as federal, state, tribal and territorial agencies, to prepare for and conduct the test.
Last updated September 16, 2026
KTFLive: As it Was in the Days of Lot
Keep the Faith Ministry
Streamed live 14 hours ago KTF Live
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The days of Lot were much like are own. History repeats itself. There are many lessons that can be drawn from the story of Lot that are also repeated with each generation. Join us as we study this important end-time story.
🔴 LIVESTREAM: Latest news, headlines and events | TVP World
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TVP WORLD
Started streaming on Jul 21, 2026
TVP World provides live coverage of breaking news and ongoing developments in Central and Eastern Europe as they happen. Our team delivers in-depth analysis and insight into the day's most important stories and other issues that matter to you.
Mayor Mamdani Welcomes Mayors from Around the World to New York City for 2026 Urban 20 Summit
September 19, 2026
What you should know
New York City and Los Angeles co-chair three-day summit on housing, climate and migration, kicking off Climate Week NYC
NEW YORK – Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani today welcomed mayors from across the United States and around the world to New York City for the 2026 Urban 20 (U20) Mayors Summit, where city leaders will work together on practical solutions to rising housing costs, the climate crisis and migration.
New York City and Los Angeles, led by Mayor Mamdani and Mayor Karen Bass, are co-chairs of this year’s U20. Convened by C40 Cities and United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG), the summit runs from September 19 through 21 and is expected to bring together 25 mayors, along with deputy mayors and senior city leaders representing 34 cities across the G20 countries.
Leaders from Atlanta, Chicago, Denver, Miami, Phoenix, San Diego and Seattle will join counterparts from cities across Canada, Europe, Africa, Latin America and Asia. Over three days, mayors will share the steps their cities are taking to build more affordable housing, protect tenants, lower energy costs, support immigrants, create good jobs and protect residents from extreme heat, flooding and other climate change impacts.
“New York City was built by people who came here from every corner of the world, so there is no better place for the world’s mayors to meet,” said Mayor Mamdani. “This weekend, we are bringing over 25 mayors together to confront the challenges and opportunities before all of us. Working families across the globe are being squeezed by rents that rise faster than paychecks, energy bills that spike every summer and heat waves that can turn an uncomfortable apartment into a dangerous one. New York City is proud to co-chair the Urban 20 and stand with mayors who will not leave those families on their own, no matter where they were born. At a time of division and retreat, our cities are choosing cooperation.”
“From accelerating the building of affordable housing to bold climate action to standing strong with immigrant communities in the face of attacks from the federal government, cities are on the frontlines—and where solutions are put into action,” said Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass. “Los Angeles is proud to co-chair the 2026 Urban 20 with New York City and bring mayors from around the world together to tackle the challenges our communities face every day. By sharing what works and learning from one another, we can move faster and deliver more for the people we serve. Together, Los Angeles and New York City are making sure the voices of cities are heard—not only in our communities, but at the global table where decisions that shape our collective future are made.”
Church ‘condoning oppression of women’
Archbishop accused of sending ‘deeply troubling message’ after presenting award to Islamic scholar
Dame Sarah Mullally with Hafiz Tahir Ashrafi, who praised Osama bin Laden
By Charles Hymas and Tony Diver
20 Sep 2026
THE Archbishop of Canterbury has been accused of condoning the repression of Muslim women after she gave an award to an Islamic cleric who honoured Osama bin Laden.
Dame Sarah Mullally was pictured with Hafiz Tahir Ashrafi, an Islamic scholar, and his wife, who was wearing a niqab so that only her eyes were visible, when he received his award on the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks that Bin Laden orchestrated.
In a letter to the Archbishop, Rebecca Paul, the shadow culture secretary, and Nick Timothy, the shadow justice secretary, asked her to explain how Lambeth Palace decided to go ahead with such a controversial award, which caused “serious reputational damage” to the Church of England.
They also asked what changes were going to be put in place to prevent a repeat and whether she recognised the “deeply troubling message the ceremony and photograph conveyed about the dignity and freedom of women”.
They wrote: “The Church of England teaches the equal dignity and worth of men and women. Yet you presented the award alongside Mr Ashrafi’s wife, whose face was concealed by a niqab so that only her eyes were visible and Lambeth Palace subsequently published that image.
“This could appear to condone one of the most repressive manifestations of Islam, one that denies women basic freedoms over how they dress, whether they may show their faces and how they interact with others.
“At this very moment, women in Afghanistan face violence for refusing to cover, while women in Iran have been imprisoned and brutally attacked for resisting compulsory veiling. Nor is coercion confined to other countries: many women and girls in Britain also face coercion and cultural pressure to veil themselves too. It is important for you to reflect on what message this conveys to women fighting for the freedoms that we take for granted.”
By Charles Hymas and Tony Diver
20 Sep 2026
THE Archbishop of Canterbury has been accused of condoning the repression of Muslim women after she gave an award to an Islamic cleric who honoured Osama bin Laden.
Dame Sarah Mullally was pictured with Hafiz Tahir Ashrafi, an Islamic scholar, and his wife, who was wearing a niqab so that only her eyes were visible, when he received his award on the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks that Bin Laden orchestrated.
In a letter to the Archbishop, Rebecca Paul, the shadow culture secretary, and Nick Timothy, the shadow justice secretary, asked her to explain how Lambeth Palace decided to go ahead with such a controversial award, which caused “serious reputational damage” to the Church of England.
They also asked what changes were going to be put in place to prevent a repeat and whether she recognised the “deeply troubling message the ceremony and photograph conveyed about the dignity and freedom of women”.
They wrote: “The Church of England teaches the equal dignity and worth of men and women. Yet you presented the award alongside Mr Ashrafi’s wife, whose face was concealed by a niqab so that only her eyes were visible and Lambeth Palace subsequently published that image.
“This could appear to condone one of the most repressive manifestations of Islam, one that denies women basic freedoms over how they dress, whether they may show their faces and how they interact with others.
“At this very moment, women in Afghanistan face violence for refusing to cover, while women in Iran have been imprisoned and brutally attacked for resisting compulsory veiling. Nor is coercion confined to other countries: many women and girls in Britain also face coercion and cultural pressure to veil themselves too. It is important for you to reflect on what message this conveys to women fighting for the freedoms that we take for granted.”
Saudi-Houthi conflict LIVE: Fresh strikes escalate regional tensions
Saudi-Houthi conflict LIVE: Fresh strikes escalate regional tensions
The Sunday Guardian
Yemen’s Houthi movement has launched fresh attacks targeting Saudi Arabia and forces linked to Yemen’s internationally recognised government, according to reports and Houthi statements. The escalation follows a series of strikes across the region, including a Houthi ballistic missile aimed at Riyadh. Watch live coverage of the latest developments.
Yemen Crisis LIVE: Houthis Clash With Saudi-Backed Forces in Al-Jawf
Watch live coverage of the latest fighting in Yemen’s al-Jawf province, where Houthi fighters have released footage they say shows clashes with Saudi-backed forces. AFP footage has also shown Yemeni government forces battling Houthis near the Saudi border. Reuters says the Houthi-released footage could not independently verify its location or date.
Moscow Is on Fire! Nothing Like This Has Ever Happened Before
If the Audio Track is in Russian, you can change it to ENGLISH by going to the SPROCKET ⚙️ on the upper right hand corner of the video, tap it and select ENGLISH from the dropbox.
Iran-US war latest: Trump issued fresh demands to end war by Tehran as smoke and flames seen at Riyadh Airport
The conditions include ending the US naval blockade around the Strait of Hormuz
Maryam Zakir-Hussain & Alex Croft
Sunday 20 September 2026 00:01 BST
Smoke seen rising near Riyadh airport
Iran has laid out to Donald Trump its conditions for re-engaging in negotiations aimed at ending the war with the US, security chief Mohsen Rezaei said.
The conditions include ending the war on all fronts, unfreezing Iranian funds and ending the naval blockade, Rezaei said in an interview according to Al Jazeera.
Discussions with Qatari and Pakistani mediators are ongoing, he added, as the delegations work to bring an end to the stalemate which has seen the war drag past the six-month mark.
It comes amid fears of war widening in the region as violence between the Iran-aligned Houthi rebels and Saudi Arabia escalates.
A large plume of black smoke was seen near Riyadh's main airport on Saturday after booms were heard. Saudi Arabia sent alerts overnight warning of potential danger around the capital and the city of Al-Kharj, before issuing an all-clear on Saturday morning.
The Houthis, who control the most populous parts of Yemen and much of the north, have been launching attacks towards Saudi Arabia since declaring a naval blockade against Riyadh in July, with strikes targeting Saudi vessels in the Red Sea.
Smoke seen rising near Riyadh airport
Iran has laid out to Donald Trump its conditions for re-engaging in negotiations aimed at ending the war with the US, security chief Mohsen Rezaei said.
The conditions include ending the war on all fronts, unfreezing Iranian funds and ending the naval blockade, Rezaei said in an interview according to Al Jazeera.
Discussions with Qatari and Pakistani mediators are ongoing, he added, as the delegations work to bring an end to the stalemate which has seen the war drag past the six-month mark.
It comes amid fears of war widening in the region as violence between the Iran-aligned Houthi rebels and Saudi Arabia escalates.
A large plume of black smoke was seen near Riyadh's main airport on Saturday after booms were heard. Saudi Arabia sent alerts overnight warning of potential danger around the capital and the city of Al-Kharj, before issuing an all-clear on Saturday morning.
The Houthis, who control the most populous parts of Yemen and much of the north, have been launching attacks towards Saudi Arabia since declaring a naval blockade against Riyadh in July, with strikes targeting Saudi vessels in the Red Sea.
KEY POINTS
Tehran lays out to Trump fresh conditions for ending war, says security chief
Black smoke seen near Riyadh airport after Tehran-backed Houthis vowed revenge
Trump says he faces 'big decision' on whether to resume major attacks on Iran
Tanker hit by projectile in Strait of Hormuz
UN experts level explosive war crimes accusation at US over Trump’s Iran strikes
Iran’s national security chief says ‘no trust whatsoever’ in US
Saturday, September 19, 2026
When freedom of religion is not
Indian Christians protesting the Protection of Right to Freedom of Religion Bill also known as the Anti-Conversion Bill makes provisions for the prohibition of unlawful conversion from one religion to another by force, allurement, or by any fraudulent means with punishments ranging between a minimum of three years and a maximum of 10 years along with monetary penalties. Abhishek Chinnappa/Getty Images
A devastating wave is crashing over South Asia, wreaking havoc on those who choose to follow a faith other than the majority. It is a wave of anti-Christian sentiment. So-called “Freedom of Religion” and “Anti-Blasphemy” laws fuel it, generating a powerful undercurrent of distrust and disdain toward Christians.
They suppress one of the most basic human rights: the right to worship without government interference. India and Pakistan stand out as countries where this hostility results in unsubstantiated accusations, unjust arrests, and violence.
Sovereign states almost universally agree on protecting an individual’s right to choose their faith.
Sovereign states almost universally agree on protecting an individual’s right to choose their faith and peacefully practice and share it as they see fit. In fact, 175 of the 193 United Nations members are parties to the UN International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
This instrument, designed by the UN to protect citizens from the treacherous waves of religious persecution, includes India and Pakistan among its bound members. Still, religious freedom violations persist in South Asia.
Six pastors and one Christian have recently been sentenced to five years’ imprisonment.
Thirteen of India’s 28 states have “Freedom of Religion” laws. Under Madhya Pradesh’s state “Freedom of Religion” law, six pastors and one Christian have recently been sentenced to five years’ imprisonment. The pastors attended a child’s birthday party hosted by a Christian family. An uninvited neighbor showed up intoxicated and began to cause a commotion, inciting over 100 people to rage against the Christian family.
A guest called police to restore order. The neighbor consequently filed charges against the pastors. The charges led to convictions, despite testimony from the party host disputing any wrongdoing.
In Pakistan, anti-Christian sentiment has recently resulted in a large mob trapping between 10 and 15 Christian families in their homes.
In Pakistan, anti-Christian sentiment has recently resulted in a large mob trapping between 10 and 15 Christian families in their homes after an anonymous package containing a burned Quran was mailed to a shopkeeper, alleging that a Christian had desecrated the Quran. The accused and his family had to be evacuated with the aid of an armored police escort.
We applaud the government for stepping in to help. Still, one has to wonder whether it would have been necessary if the government had reformed the laws that fuel anti-Christian sentiment and, in doing so, rescued the country as a whole.
As Christians, we stand against conversion by coercion, fraud or force.
Following Jesus is a choice that each person must make on their own. As Christians, we stand against conversion by coercion, fraud or force. We believe that governments have an obligation to protect their citizens from all manner of exploitation, even religious exploitation. Laws protecting people from coercion, force and fraud are one thing. Laws that prohibit people from hearing about or choosing another religion are a completely different matter.
One enforces human rights; the other violates them. Ironically, the so-called “Freedom of Religion” laws place people in bondage by restricting their free speech and their ability to proclaim and live out their faith freely.
The German Theologian Bringing Protestants and Catholics Together
JAYSON CASPER
Evangelicals have critiqued the ecumenism of former World Evangelical Alliance head Thomas Schirrmacher.
CHRISTIANITY TODAY
JUNE 25, 2026
Image courtesy of Thomas Schirrmacher
Eleven American Pentecostal pastors sat nervously with Pope Francis at the Vatican in June 2016. The meeting, arranged by Thomas Schirrmacher, then chair of the theological commission of the World Evangelical Alliance (WEA), was an opportunity for the guests to ask the pontiff anything they wanted. Two years earlier, Francis had publicly apologized for past Catholic persecution of the charismatic movement.
At the time, the Italian Evangelical Alliance had cautioned against growing ecumenical openness where “insurmountable” doctrinal obstacles exist. The American delegation was similarly opposed to Schirrmacher’s engagement but had agreed to the meeting. No one wanted to ask the first question. Amid the awkwardness, Francis took the initiative.
He asked the delegation to pray for him.
Schirrmacher said what followed was a life-changing experience for the Pentecostals. They prayed for the pope. He prayed for them. By the end, he said, their theological concerns didn’t matter much anymore as they agreed with Schirrmacher that Francis was a genuine believer and had no intention to convert them to Catholicism.
Matters of theology and doctrine have always mattered to Schirrmacher, who turns 66 today. The German theologian has four doctoral degrees and authored more than 100 books, including a six-volume treatise on ethics. Committed to Christian unity, he served as general secretary of the World Evangelical Alliance from 2021 to 2024. Yet his life has been a lightning rod of controversy—particularly when he neared the halls of power.
Even seemingly straightforward truths, he finds, have prompted critical reaction.
“If I say, ‘God is love,’” said Schirrmacher, “it could start a global discussion.”
Image courtesy of Thomas Schirrmacher
Eleven American Pentecostal pastors sat nervously with Pope Francis at the Vatican in June 2016. The meeting, arranged by Thomas Schirrmacher, then chair of the theological commission of the World Evangelical Alliance (WEA), was an opportunity for the guests to ask the pontiff anything they wanted. Two years earlier, Francis had publicly apologized for past Catholic persecution of the charismatic movement.
At the time, the Italian Evangelical Alliance had cautioned against growing ecumenical openness where “insurmountable” doctrinal obstacles exist. The American delegation was similarly opposed to Schirrmacher’s engagement but had agreed to the meeting. No one wanted to ask the first question. Amid the awkwardness, Francis took the initiative.
He asked the delegation to pray for him.
Schirrmacher said what followed was a life-changing experience for the Pentecostals. They prayed for the pope. He prayed for them. By the end, he said, their theological concerns didn’t matter much anymore as they agreed with Schirrmacher that Francis was a genuine believer and had no intention to convert them to Catholicism.
Matters of theology and doctrine have always mattered to Schirrmacher, who turns 66 today. The German theologian has four doctoral degrees and authored more than 100 books, including a six-volume treatise on ethics. Committed to Christian unity, he served as general secretary of the World Evangelical Alliance from 2021 to 2024. Yet his life has been a lightning rod of controversy—particularly when he neared the halls of power.
Even seemingly straightforward truths, he finds, have prompted critical reaction.
“If I say, ‘God is love,’” said Schirrmacher, “it could start a global discussion.”
WCC Reference Group begins Vancouver meeting with renewed focus on Pilgrimage of Justice, Reconciliation and Unity
The World Council of Churches (WCC) Reference Group for the Pilgrimage of Justice, Reconciliation and Unity (PJRU) began its in-person meeting on 17 September at the Vancouver School of Theology (VST), bringing together WCC representatives, church leaders and local ecumenical partners to reflect on the pilgrimage and its role in the life of the ecumenical movement.
Participants of the Vancouver meeting gathered for a photo to express solidarity with the WCC's Thursdays in Black campaign for a world against rape and violence. Photo:
Marcelo Schneider/WCC
18 September 2026
Pilgrimage of Justice, Reconciliation and Unity
The meeting opened with prayer and an acknowledgement of the traditional territories and Indigenous peoples, followed by welcomes from Rev. Janet Anstead, general secretary of the Canadian Council of Churches, and Rev. Prof. Dr Richard Topping, VST president and vice-chancellor.
WCC general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay presented his vision for a WCC-wide PJRU framework, exploring how the pilgrimage can deepen its impact across WCC programmes, commissions, regional partners and member churches.
“The pilgrimage provides an integrating framework for all objectives that we have set aside for ourselves as the council”, said Pillay. “The key question that we have to ask ourselves at all times is how our work is contributing to justice, reconciliation, and unity.”
“WCC is one fellowship with many pilgrimages. We count on the engagement and support of this Reference Group to integrate the work of the fellowship into a Pilgrimage functionality”, added Pillay.
Rev. Karin van den Broeke, co-moderator of the WCC Pilgrimage Reference Group, expressed her thankfulness for the warm companionship. “It is impressive to hear how theology in the Vancouver School of Theology is informed and transformed by walking with indigenous people, and how walking together is transforming injustices done to indigenous peoples. And this 'walking together' is exactly what the pilgrimage is about”, she added.
The day concluded with a pilgrimage encounter at VST, during which participants learned about the context and legacy of the historic WCC 6th Assembly, held in Vancouver in 1983, and received an overview of Vancouver’s ecumenical landscape and theological education.
The meeting of the Reference Group continues until 22 September, with an agenda that integrates moments of close engagement with local processes of truth and reconciliation, alongside further work on the theological and methodological foundations of the PJRU.
The Pope’s Letter
Chapter 1
The Pope’s Letter
The Lord’s Day — as Sunday was called from Apostolic Times." Thus commences Pope John Paul II’s Apostolic Letter, Dies Domini, issued July 7, 1998. The Pope provides a reference in order to document his initial assertion. His reference is Revelation 1:10. This Scriptural passage states:
I [John] was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet.
It will be seen that this verse of Scripture, while mentioning the Lord’s Day, does not in any particular indicate which day of the week is the Lord’s Day. One may read the context of the Biblical passage, and he will find no elucidation of the term. Since the term, "the Lord’s Day" occurs nowhere else in Scripture, it will not assist us to seek another reference containing the term "Lord’s Day" in order to enable us to discover the Biblical meaning of the term.
Yet the only safe ground for a sincere student of the Bible is to permit the Bible to interpret itself. God in His goodness has not left this matter in doubt. In clear, unequivocal terms He has revealed to us which day is the Lord’s Day. The New Testament specifies the day which is the Lord’s Day in two passages of Scripture:
For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day (Matthew 12:8).
And he said unto them, That the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath (Luke 6:5).
Plainly the Sabbath day is the Lord’s Day. The Bible itself has cited this fact. But a new question arises: Which day is the Sabbath? The context of these two texts reveals that the Jews were accusing the disciples of sabbathbreaking in that they rubbed ears of corn in their hands. Clearly the day referred to was the day the Jews identified as the Sabbath.
If we are sincere searchers for Biblical truth, then we must permit the Scripture to identify the day which the Jews hallowed as the Sabbath. Once more the Bible is specific. Jesus was crucified on the day which many Christians designate as Good Friday. The Jews named that day the preparation day. Speaking of the day of Christ’s death, Luke recorded:
And that day was the preparation, and the sabbath drew on (Luke 23:54).
Thus the Sabbath day of the Jews was the day after Friday.
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