O Spirit of Grace, who dwells in all hearts and calls every soul worthy, we gather this day, holding in our thoughts those who find themselves estranged on this holiday of gathering.

For many centuries, the main church color used during this time has been violet or deep purple.

Lord, thank you for the people you brought together tonight to prepare the way of your coming.

It was created to push back against Christian nationalism, white supremacy, and the total control that governments were taking in Europe after World War I.

The Catholic Church teaches that Purgatory is a temporary place or state where people go to after they die. It’s for people who love God and are saved, but still have small sins or faults when they pass away.

God is clear, "You have scattered my flock and have driven them away, and you have not attended to them."

For us, our Temple might be job security, or the expectation that our children will be safe at school, or the simple belief that a hard day's work should pay the bills.

Southminster Presbyterian Church in Glen Ellyn, Ill. is heading to Cuba to celebrate its relationship with a local Reformed church. That got us thinking. Why are there so many Cuban Presbyterians?