Join us this Tuesday, October 1, 2024 for our Bible Enrichment Session: Angels. Everyone is welcome to attend. JOIN THE SKYPE MEETING https://join.skype.com/qt6Y1PQvj04l You do not need a Skype account to join the meeting. When opening the meeting choose the guest option. Please sign on to Skype between 6:15 - 6:30 p.m. If you want information on starting a Skype account right click here: http://www.rayofhopechurch.com/view.htm.
This is the Bible Study for the LGBTQISA2ss+ Community. The Bible is our Holy Book: God's Word is intended to bless us and help us celebrate who we are.
Come spend this time with us in person, on Skype, or on Facebook Live and enjoy God's Holy Word together. This would be the finest night to attend your first Bible Enrichment experience at Ray Of Hope.
Time - 6:30 until 8:00 PM at
Place - Ray Of Hope Church Of Our Lord Jesus Christ, Inc.
380 W. 1st St.
Elmira, NY 14901
Find us on Facebook Live at https://www.facebook.com/lgbtqsia2ssByYou/ and on Skype: rayofhope26 is our Skype Contact Name.
Call 607-280-0374, Pastor Benedict, with your questions.
Come sit with us at the Table of the Feast of the Word Of God.
All versions of the Bible are welcome, so bring your favorite(s) with you.
Cost for our classes? There is no cost, or fee, ever. Your tax deductible donations are always welcome.
You are as welcome here as Christ Jesus Himself. In Romans 15:7 we are commanded to:
"Welcome one another, then, as Christ welcomed you, for the glory of God." (Romans 15:7 NABRE-2011)
Christ's peace be with you,
Pastor Br. Shawn Benedict
**Please pass this email along to anyone you think may be interested in this great topic.**
Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Romans 15:13)
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Often I am asked for a brief summary of how we received the English Bible as we have so many renditions today. Here is a brief summary written by Finis Dake:
How We Got Our English Bible
Our English Bible is the result of 1200 years of work by all kinds of learned men. Portions were translated from the Vulgate, the Latin version, beginning as far back as A.D. 700 when Aldhelm translated the Psalms into Saxon. Egbert translated the 4 gospels sometime later. In A.D. 735 Bede translated parts of the Scriptures into Saxon. King Alfred undertook a translation of the Psalms but died in A.D. 900 before it was finished. Elfric translated the Pentateuch and some of the historical books in the 10th century. Nothing else was done about translation from then to the time of John Wycliffe, who made the first complete English Bible from the Vulgate in A.D. 1380. The next was a N.T. by William Tyndale in 1535 and the Pentateuch in 1530. In 1535 Miles Coverdale made the first complete printed English Bible. Then came the Geneva Bible in 1560, followed by Bishop's Bible in 1563 and revised in 1568. The Roman church came out with Douay version of the N.T. in 1582 and the whole Bible in 1609 which has been used by that church up until now. In 1604 King James authorized 47 men to make a complete translation of the Bible from the original languages. It was finished in 1611 after 7-8 years of diligent work. It has been the most popular and accepted version of the English speaking world from that day until now. There have been several revised versions since then, and a number of Bibles in modern English, but none have been as well accepted and as lasting as the King James version and perhaps never will be.
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As a reminder, our Ray Of Hope Church chapel is not currently open for prayer to the public. However, personal appointments for time in the chapel may be made by calling 607-280-0374.
The Blessed Sacrament, the "Bread from Heaven" (Exodus 16:2, Psalm 78:24, John 6:32, 41,50,58), the Bread of the Angels (Psalm 78:25), the Bread of God (John 6:33), the Bread Of Life (John 6:35, 48) the Living Bread (John 66:51), the Sacrament of the Eucharistic "flesh and blood" of Jesus (John 6:52-56) is reserved in both kinds (Eucharistic bread and wine) in the Tabernacle in our chapel. Please know you are always welcome to stop in for a visit with Our Lord present in the Blessed Sacrament, for quiet prayer, a quiet place to read and meditate, say a rosary, or just be. Our little chapel could be your perfect get-away. Who would suspect you were here? If we see you in the chapel we will certainly say hello and offer a cup of tea or coffee.
Ray Of Hope Church Of Our Lord Jesus Christ, Inc. teaches the Doctrine of Universal Salvation. This is the statement we agreed upon in 2011 and added to our Bylaws.
"We believe that Salvation is a gift that God has given to the entire human race. Romans Chapter Five explains this Doctrine of Universal Salvation. One's personal salvation is assured by believing in God as per John 5:24. Salvation is best known through the Gospel of Jesus the Christ, and through rebirth by the Holy Spirit." (Ray Of Hope Church Of Our Lord Jesus Christ, Inc. By - Laws September, 2011 Lines 1141 - 1148)
At Ray Of Hope Church Of Our Lord Jesus Christ, Inc. we have the answers, God's answers to all of life's problems, in the past, the present, and the future in the Holy Scriptures. If we did not have the answers then we would be a fraudulent hoax passing as a "religion."
Many professional religious leaders can be heard today backing away from the solid truths of Sacred Scripture. When they do this they end up with a lukewarm church that spirals downward to the logical conclusion.
The Holy Scriptures give Gay, Lesbian, Straight, Bi, Trans, Questioning, persons of all colors and expression of humanity God's answers to all relevant issues and questions. At Ray Of Hope Church we do our very best to explore those questions and answers together. If you are feeling lukewarm or cold about your "faith" or your "spirituality" then perhaps it is time to turn up the heat and get warmed up by the light of the Truths of the Holy Scriptures. Come and enjoy the Living and Life-giving Word Of God with us, start today! Sometimes we just know there is more to life than aimlessly wandering through until we die. God (not a old MAN in the sky, not female either, but the Living creating life energy known wherever there is life, all through the Universe) has a plan and is delighted to reveal much of it for our understanding and enjoyment in Sacred Scriptures. We love the Word Of God at Ray Of Hope Church and we are delighted to share that love with you.
Worship is our primary activity as a church. There is an old standard in the church, "lex orandi, lex credendi" which means that "the law of prayer is the law of faith" or "that which we pray is that which we believe." Our prayer, our worship is the key to understanding what God has revealed for us to accept as true. Our congregation offers the leadership, organization, presentation of worship experiences, and the physical building space for worship and education in spirituality as our primary service to the general public. All are welcome to avail themselves to our services of worship.
Ray Of Hope Church Of Our Lord Jesus Christ, Inc. is the name of this ministry. The only name associated with this ministry is the "Name above all names." See Philippians 2:8-11:
8 Jesus humbled himself,
becoming obedient to death,
even death on a cross.
9 Because of this, God highly exalted him
and bestowed on him
the Name above every other name.
10 So that at the Name of Jesus
every knee must bend,
in the heavens, on the earth, and under the earth,
11 and every tongue proclaim
to the glory of God:
Jesus Christ is Lord.
(This rendition is based upon the 1970 divine office version of the New American Bible with inclusive language added.)
(7-28-2020)
Ray Of Hope
Church Of Our Lord Jesus Christ, Inc.
is the original Church in Central New York for
ALL People, including but not limited to
persons who are or might be:
Straight, Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual,
Transgender,
Questioning,
Intersex, Queer,
Asexual, Pansexual, Heteroflexible.
Anyone who is human!
Married, divorced, remarried, single,
and persons of all gender expressions.
Persons of any faith / religion or
no faith, no religion, or have no idea where to start with religion.
A spiritual home for those who are "spiritual but not religious."
WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO TELL Y OU IS WE ARE
the Church by us, for us, 4 U!
The Church made by you because
we ARE you!
Ray Of Hope Church was founded in 1983
and is serving Syracuse, Ithaca and Elmira New York.
We are in fact serving the world with live interactive worship services,
Bible enrichment sessions, and meetings
through SKYPE on the Internet.
WE ARE YOU!
We never held a vote to decide if we would be an INCLUSIVE church for you.
WE ARE YOU!
We are not an OPEN AND AFFIRMING church for you.
WE ARE YOU!
We are not a RECONCILING CHURCH or
RECONCILING CONGREGATION for you.
WE ARE YOU!
We are not an OPEN MINDED or ACCEPTING or WELCOMING
church where you can attend as long as you blend in quietly and discretely.
WE ARE YOU!
THIS is the church where YOU belong.
Ray Of Hope Church is the church
by us, for us, and made by You.