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Jeremiah: Refrain from weeping, for your work shall be rewarded

What comes to mind when you think of the Old Testament prophet Jeremiah? Many of us remember the text in Jeremiah 1:5 where God says, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; before you were born I sanctified you; and I ordained you a prophet to the nations.” When we read a statement like this about someone, we immediately think of a person who did a marvelous work for God. Someone who was filled with passion and zeal to serve God and glorify Him Around the middle of the book of Jeremiah, we find an interesting verse. In 31:16 it says, “Refrain your voice from weeping, and ...

Prayer apps are flooding the market, but how well do they work?

Prayer apps are not new. Silicon Valley startups popularized mindfulness and meditation apps as early as 2010, although many have criticized thom for being spiritually shallow. Hallow’s young founders — devout lay Catholic millennials — are among those who felt that mindfulness apps did not meet their religious needs and set out to create their own. Hallow’s accessible language introduces different methods of prayer, along with inspiring talks, guides to spiritual practices and notifications to encourage users to set goals and stay on track. As a priest, I know that helping ...

Religion briefs

Editor’s note: To submit a nonprofit announcement to The Sentinel’s Religion section, contact Erin Thompson at (717) 248-6741 or by email at ethompson@lewistownsentinel.com. Items also may be faxed to (717) 248-3481 or sent to The Sentinel, 352 Sixth Street, Lewistown, PA 17044. Items should arrive to The Sentinel by Wednesday afternoon for publication in the Saturday edition. Submissions will be published as space allows. The editor reserves the right to edit all submissions. ¯¯¯ Church to host conference LEWISTOWN — Bethel AME church Hope Center, 23 Juniata St., ...

Bishops urged to listen as they consider Communion document

BALTIMORE (AP) — Pope Francis’ top envoy to the United States cautioned the country’s bishops on Tuesday that the church needs to listen before it teaches as they deliberated at their fall meeting on a sensitive document about Holy Communion that emerged amid debates over Catholic politicians’ support for abortion. “It is sometimes said that there is a lot of confusion about doctrine in the church today,” Archbishop Christophe Pierre, the papal ambassador, told the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. “However, the argument continues that what is needed is clear ...

Love: what your wife needs most

It’s no secret that marriage is in a state of crisis. Divorce is all too common, and even couples who have been together for decades often don’t have healthy, thriving marriages. When we hear of another couple struggling in their marriage, it saddens us, but rarely surprises us. Statistics tell us that the average marriage in the U.S. now lasts only around 8 years. These statistics remind us that something is terribly wrong. You have heard it said before that “as the family goes, so goes the nation.” That is true, and in order for married couples to have healthy and satisfying ...

The secret to a worry-free life

Are you worried about anything today? If you are like most people, you’re probably worried about your weight. That might not be at the top of your list, but according to a survey by Beneden Health in the United Kingdom, that’s the # 1 concern for most people. Here are the Top Ten Worries according to this survey (counting down from #10 to #1): 10. Diet 9. Job security 8. Rent/mortgage payment 7. Credit card debt 6. Low energy level 5. Overdrafts and loans 4. Overall fitness 3. Lack of savings/financial future 2. Growing old 1. Overweight Don’t you think ...