Preaching BIble

This in my Access study Bible that I got in freshman year as a requirement for Dr. Koosed’s Judaism course. I have 7 Bibles that are all different translations, but the Access Bible is the only Bible that was not gifted to me. All my other Bibles are currently located on my bookshelf with my other books that are used for preaching, classes, and pursuing my own interest, but my Access Bible cannot be found on the shelf. I do not shelve this Bible because it would be the equivalent of sheathing my sword when I am in battle. This Bible can be located in my backpack with all my other books.

This Access Bible belongs to a senior at Albright College who is graduating May 22, 2016 at 10 a.m. in the science field!! This Access Bible also belongs to a licensed preacher of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. Additionally, I am heading to Wesley Theological Seminary for my Masters of Divinity degree. In the AME Church there is a separate institute aside from seminary called the Board of Examiners. The BOE trains licentiates for ordained ministry. In April of 2017 this Access Bible will belong to an ordained deacon of the AME Church.     

If you were to open my Bibles you would see all different types of structures, font sizes, and subheadings. However, when you open my Access Bible you will find in addition to the different types of structures, font sizes, and subheadings: pages that have been highlighted on, scribbled on, sweated on, and even cried on. These characteristics are what sets the Access Bible apart from the 7 other Bibles that I have. One of my spiritual mentors always quotes Hebrews 4:12 before he calls me a “lazy preacher” and scolds me “to learn how to use my sword better.”         

It was asked of me to explain the reason for the writing in my Bible. There are a couple of different reasons that codify my answer to that question. When I was a kid I was always taught not to write in books because they were not yours and had to be returned to the school. Then I started going to Bible Study and I noticed the older folks highlighting certain verses that stood out to them as the pastor spoke. It was not until I was gifted a Bible from one of my spiritual mentors, the same spiritual mentor that calls me a “lazy preacher” and scolds me to “learn how to use my sword better,” that I saw writing in a Bible. His Bible had under-linings of red, black, and blue as well as high-lightings of yellow, blue, pink, and orange. The under-linings and the high-lightings I had seen before, but I had never seen writing in a Bible. “The Bible in the Victorian Home” recorded family records of births, deaths, marriages, christenings, and baptisms; however, his Bible recorded feelings, linkages to other texts, thoughts, and illegible marks. These marks left a trail of consciousness that allowed me to peer into my spiritual mentors mind and see the text as he did. When I purchased the Access Bible I still was in possession of my mentor’s Bible so I did not use the Access Bible as much. However, after I received a call saying he needed his Bible back I decided it was time to start using my own sword, so I began cataloging my own thoughts in the fashion of my spiritual mentor.

While cataloging I found out that my Bible became a time capsule, and as I read back over passages I was transported back to the feelings I had when I made the note in my Bible. The timeline of notes makes this Bible special because the notes allow me to recollect why I have the feelings that I have about issues. This is especially helpful while preaching because I am able to quickly find points that agree with the sermon in the margins of my Bible.             

There is also the concept of faking the wear and tear of the highlighted and noted Bible that is in the picture. There are people who carry around Bibles that are marked up scored and underlined like mine but they have no clue what the scriptures actually say. The well-used Bible is a sign of a seasoned saint that is in battle constantly which I guess could be the reason why intentional aging may have been used.             

1.Collen McDannell. Material Christianity: Religion and Popular Culture in America (New Haven: Yale University Press, 1995) 90.

Dollar Store Devotional Candles

While wandering through the dollar store the other day I stumbled upon some interesting candles. They have pictures of saints, angels, and Jesus on them. I found this very curious that there were devotional candles in the dollar store. These types of candles are often found in grocery stores or Christian book stores and they are usually more expensive than just a dollar. The fact that these candles are mass produced and sold at cheaper price reflects the demographic of buyers in Reading. Clearly, there must be a high Christian population in the surrounding area who also want to or need to purchase the candles at lower cost. By having the candles in the dollar store more people can afford them and can then purchase them. Another interesting aspect about the candles is that the text on them is in both Spanish and English. This also reflects the demographic in Reading. There is a large Spanish speaking community in Reading and surrounding areas. This community traditionally practices Catholicism, which would use these candles in devotional practices.

The one candle has a picture of Jesus on it with the Lord’s Prayer written underneath it. The prayer is printed on the back of the candle. Another candle has St. Jude on it. The third has a guardian angel. The final candle has a picture of Jesus with the scared heart written underneath it. The image on the candle is a modification of a famous painting. Because the candles are mass produced and inexpensive the question becomes if these objects are scared or kitsch. Does something being lower cost make it become kitsch or is it still sacred? Through good Christian retailing more devotional items are accessible to a wider audience through mass production. I am sure there are some people who would purchase the candles just use during a power outage because they are large and inexpensive. However, I think that most people who buy them use them for a very sacred purpose. They specifically buy them to use for personal devotion, which is extremely important to some Christians. I believe that just because they are inexpensive this does not make them less sacred, it simply allows for more people to have access to them and to use them in their homes. 

Water into Wine

      I was driving late at night from Albright to the Lehigh Valley Airport  in Allentown to pick up a Nationals Representative for my sorority. On the way home right by the airport when our of our trip was almost done we went up a incline onto a hill. Out of the corner of my eye I saw this billboard on my right. This billboard obviously had a religious connotation to it. The faucet has water that gradually turns into wine. It refers to the Biblical story of Jesus turning water into wine, which appears in the Book of John Chapter 2. Jesus turning water into wine is one of Jesus’ many miracles. This image is placed by the words “Got Faith?”, it is obviously playing on the older  “Got Milk” ads. This Billboard is trying to show the power of prayer and miracles. If you pray hard enough water can be turned into wine.

      Emile Durkheim believed that all religious things fit into a binary of sacred or profane. The sacred consists of items from a transcendental world like anointings and consecrations. The profane are everyday items. The church is sacred but the home and workplace are profane. This billboard does not fit the binary is neither sacred nor profane. It is an everyday thing. Billboards are commonplace, you can see a handful just walking down the street. It is not something you would use in a ritual, which would be sacred. All those reasons lead us to believe that this billboard is profane but this billboard is talking about a miracle. A miracle of Jesus turning water into wine. That is sacred. Miracles are not everyday they are more like a ritual which is sacred.  But things do not always fit into a binary. The world isn't black and white so Durkheim's theory can only go so far. Is this sacred or is it profane? It depends on how you look at it. It is a billboard so it is not in a church or performing a miracle but it is talking about a miracle and indirectly saying if you have faith a miracle can happen. This is a blurry line sometimes we cannot fit religious objects into this strict binary. 

Out of the four categories of material religion I think a billboard fits under art and landscapes. Billboards are modern pieces of art strategically placed to get a point across. Billboards are put into landscape. They build upon the landscapes behind the billboard. This can also play into commercialism. This billboard isn't trying to evangelize the viewer. It simply just asks "got faith"? The artist of this billboard is trying to get a point across that if we have faith then miracles will happen, maybe our water would turn into wine. I personally think these billboards and other commercialized religion objects like this one  down play religion and make it less important. 

      

This coffee shop, Sacred Grounds, is located inside Glad Tidings Assembly of God. It is not only there to bring revenue to the church, but also a percentage of what is earned goes towards the church's missions fund. The café has a menu that is very much like any other popular Coffee Shop, but with a greater purpose than simply monetary gain. Not only do some of the proceeds go towards missions, it provides a place to build community in the church. It is located in the middle of the church lobby, and many members and visitors go there to fellowship before or after church, and hangout at the seating area next to it, which is also across from the bookstore. It is a large church, and having a place to spend time together and build relationships is a great way to make a big church feel smaller and bring people together.   

The bookstore, located across from the coffee shop, serves the purpose of bringing money into the church, but also is an opportunity for members to pick up Christian literature that was talked about in the service, study Bibles, and other useful things for those that want to grow in their faith. It is a convenient way to provide reading material, such as literature and study Bibles, for members and visitors. For example, when guest speakers comes, who wrote a book or books, they are in the bookstore to make it easily accessible to purchase. The bookstore is called Scrolls, in relation to most original biblical texts being recorded on ancient scrolls.  

In the 1950s, Christian bookstores and retail items related to Protestantism began to take off. As the economy changed, and the structure of communities shifted, Christian bookstores became very popular. From 1965-1975, the number of stores went from 725-1850, and sales in those stores grew annually by 16%, in just a few years. From there, the market for Christian items became highly in demand, and this brought a new era of what items were desired. Instead of "trinkets", most sought items with substance. Instead of things to put on the wall or a shelf, they were looking for material that would help them grow spiritually, and help others do the same. That is much of what is found in the Scrolls Bookstore in Glad Tidings. It is mostly reading material for any stage of the pursuit of faith.  There has been much debate on what is exploiting sacred objects, and making them profane because of the fact that they are so common, and mass produced. However, by selling books to grow rather than items to display, it seeks to stay truer to the original purpose of for faith not show.  

I used to volunteer in the café, with my aunt and uncle. It was a way not only for me to spend time with them, but also to meet other people in the church coming by for their coffee. It earned me service hours for my requirements for certain classes in high school, and for my scholarship at Albright. It was very enjoyable, relaxed, and rewarding to watch all the families and friends getting coffee and spending time together before or after church. The atmosphere is unique from any other coffee shop, because you can hear the sermon and worship music through the speakers in the lobby, and see it on the TV screens, if the service is taking place at the time. Between that and the many conversations, it is very lively. Though the bookstore and coffee shop are a way of making money by the marketing of different religious sayings and items, the results and impact go far deeper than just monetary gain. Both the bookstore and the coffee shop contribute to building community for the people in the church, funding those going on missions trips, and providing material for personal growth. People will buy coffee and books elsewhere if not there, so it is smart to use what the opportunities   provided by the sale of those items. 

Collen McDannell. Material Christianity: Religion and Popular Culture in America (New Haven: Yale University Press, 1995) 5.

Adam's Tire & Battery Service

A sign is represented by Adam’s Tire and Battery Service located in Reading, Pennsylvania and reads, “The sign does say ‘Jesus is on the way.’”  Immediately, this sign for the auto body shop makes it apparent to those unfamiliar that Christianity is most likely accepted by many in the city of Reading.  While not every person in Reading may identify as Christian, and maybe even a majority of the population do not, this public display suggests that Christianity is definitely not a persecuted religion.  In addition to the acceptance of Christianity within the area, Adam’s Tire and Battery Service’s sign also highlights major ideas in regards to religions displays and symbols within the Christian community.

Adam's Tire & Battery Service
Reading, Pennsylvania

For starters, goods and items with religious ideals are argued throughout Material Christianity as being religious in all forms and both broken and functioning.  With this being said, this sign advertising for an auto body shop in Reading can be considered religious because of the Christian message it broadcasts.  Although the sign can be considered religious, this sign is not identified as a sacred object within the church.  Additionally, the text argues that “Christians use religious goods to tell themselves and the world around them that they are Christians,” which this sign is clearly doing (McDannell 45). Through offering a message regarding Jesus, the auto body shop has announced to everyone who sees this sign that is a business run by people who identify as Christian and openly share their beliefs with everyone.  While this generalized through the text does not ring true for every Christian, Adam’s Tire and Battery Service is a prime example of Christians who openly display and broadcast their beliefs.

Another motive for the sign could possibly be to expose Christian beliefs to those who may not believe in these views and ideals.  The text claims that religious objects “are used to lure, encourage, and shock non-Christians into considering the truth of Christianity,” (McDannell 45).  The sign outside of Adam’s Tire and Battery Service makes it very clear, and maybe even a bit redundant, that the owner(s) believe in Christian ideals, Jesus, and his return- or the Second Coming- back to earth and humanity.  Also, the phrase “Jesus is on the way” is a much more bold statement in sharing religious beliefs than those signs often seen that more subtly hint Christian beliefs, such as “God Bless America.”  

Stain glass: Sacred or Profane?

      Big indicators of churches other than a steeple
are the intricate stained glass windows that they

have. I attend a United Methodist Church in Northeastern Pennsylvania. This is a small countryside church so we do not have many stained glass windows but we have one particular one that is right above the alter. In this stained glass window there is a picture of Jesus leaning on a rock and looking up to the sky in the direction of God. My church placed this specifically over the alter because we believe that Jesus is worshiping God in the picture. To us over the alter is perfect because that is a great place for us to see it while we are worshiping together. At Christmas time our church decorates around the stain glass window. We make it into a wreath but we also put Santas and reindeer around it. This meshes the commercial holiday in with religious holiday. Commercial christmas is not about the birth of Messiah like Christian christmas is. Commercial Christmas is about being with family and celebrating winter. It is also about giving gifts to the people you love.  Commercialism brings religious holidays into the realm of an everyday human. Non-Chiristians celebrate Christmas now because it is now secularized.
      Out of the four different types of material religion outlined by McDannell this stain glass

window fits into the art category.1 This was made as an artistic piece that then was just added to a church as a “decoration”. According to Emile Durkheim most religious objects fit into a binary of the sacred and the profane. The profane is the house, the workplace, children, workers, and women. The sacred are churches, temples, clergy and certain leaders. This stain glass window is in a church, which could make it sacred since a church is a sacred place but a stained glass window can be pretty much anywhere.
      This is where the sacred versus profane debate becomes about context. When you take a material object out of context it loses some of its religiosity. If we saw a stained glass window in a pizza place we would still probably think of churches automatically because that is where we usually see stained glass windows but we would not necessarily see it as religious. A pizza place is a workplace so it is profane. So in context this stained glass window is religious but it is not necessarily sacred. The stain glass window in a pizza place can have many different reason to why it is there. It could have a saint on it which the owners can believe it is bringing a certain blessing to this business. In this case the stain glass window can be seen as profane because it is bringing something of religious power to the establishment even though it is a pizza place and not a church. This stained glass window is not anointing anything and it is not transcendental. But a church counts as a sacred place.2 The sacred versus profane debate is not a strict binary like Emile Durkheim believed. Sometimes the sacred and the profane mesh together. This is where context comes into play again.

1. Collen McDannell. Material Christianity: Religion and Popular Culture in America (New Haven: Yale University Press, 1995) 5.
2. Ibid. 

The cross made of ashes is received during Wednesday Mass at the beginning of the lent season. It is put on the forehead and kept there, as a symbol of the belief  "ashes to ashes, dust to dust". It is usually the burnt, blessed, palm branches from the previous year's Palm Sunday. The ashes signify a new beginning, and the start of a cleansing season that asks believers to give something up, in remembrance of Christ's ultimate sacrifice. The practice of fasting from something during the Lent season comes from when Jesus fasted in the desert and resisted temptation for forty days, before he was later crucified. The Lent season, which lasts 46 days, leads to the celebration of Easter Sunday; the day Jesus is believed to have resurrected from the dead.  

  

The ashes are usually a  recognizable, physical, symbol of a Catholic ritual, whereas protestants do not always participate in ash Wednesday. The Protestant church does not put as much emphasis on ash Wednesday as the Catholic Church does. After the Protestant Reformation, much of Catholic ritual and tradition was left behind, but some denominations still participate in Catholic based practices. The Lutheran Church is especially close to Catholicism in the ways they commemorate Lent. Though Lutherans are a reformed version of the Catholicism, they still use Lent traditions as a way of worship, maintaining both spiritual and physical aspects of it. Ashes on the forehead are a physical, material way of remembrance of the cleansing sacrifice they believe Jesus to be. Protestants acknowledge Lent season, but typically only celebrate Palm Sunday and Easter in most denominations. Catholicism has many more symbolic ways of celebrating, as opposed to the Protestants who left most physical symbols and formal rituals behind. Lent season starts with the ashes, and continues with fasting, different color robes, communion, and other specific, special elements of the mass services. Catholics and Protestants both are celebrating the same holiday, yet depending on what church you walk in, it could be a totally different experience physically and visually.   

In regards to Material Christianity, all of these physical signs and objects have deeper spiritual representations and meanings, but are not needed to celebrate and believe the same Easter story. Though not every church practices the different traditions for showing meaning of the Lent season, they all believe in the general purpose behind them. Ashes are a very noticeable, physical symbol of the beginning of a meaningful season for all that believe in Jesus', and his crucifixion story, and it is a powerful thing to see so many participating in this ritual that has been carried on through so many generations.  

This particular service in which this cross was received was at the Teal hall chapel on Albright College's campus. Though a Methodist College, there are many Catholic students that attend mass at Albright every Sunday, along with special services such as this one. Upon asking a regular attendant of the masses here at Albright how she feels about this sign of her faith, she said how it is deeply meaningful, but the symbol is just another reminder of how special her faith is to her in general. This season has many extra reminders and symbols, but it is not just something that is important during Lent. The cross of ash is something that she can physically feel to constantly remind her of what she lives for and why she has what she has. To her, it is a reminder of how if Jesus could endure temptation from Satan and fast for forty days, she can give up one thing to commemorate that ultimate sacrifice. 

Upon asking a protestant student who does not receive ashes, they explained they do not feel the need to receive the ashes to be reminded of the meaning behind it. They did acknowledge if they were raised that way, it would be something of significance, but having grown up not participating in that tradition, they did not feel the need to do it. They do, however, respect those that do it and find it to be significant in its symbolism. One can conclude that the deeper meaning of it remains to a believer whether it is shown through physical symbol or simply personal remembrance.