Rick Shabi: Responding to unexpected trials and other musings

 

United Church of God recently voted out Rick Shabi as President of the church. It came as a shock to many in the UCG. His detractors are quick to point out that all Presidents have to go through the same "vetting" process every 3 years to see if they will have their presidency extended, so it should be no concern if anyone is not asked to return, so everyone should stop whining. Of course it should be pointed out that there was MUCH prayer and fasting that went into this demotion, if you really believe that.

It apparently came as a shock to Shabi as he writes about the ordeal but couches it in such a way that all UCG members need to live with unexpected diversions in their lives and or bumps along the way. Only by surviving ordeals can one prove to God that they are loyal to the truth once delivered. All of these trials make the United Church of God one united body. Whatever that is.

There is a lot to be read into his comments below:

From the President…

Greetings brethren around the world, 

 

It is a pleasure to be able to write to you from the home office, especially having had the opportunity to meet so many of you over the last few years. Indeed, we are a worldwide family whom God has called and is in the process of making us one. 

Yet, almost 30 years alter they STILL are not one.  

During our lives, there are things that come about that we may not understand now. Some have had unexpected early deaths in their families, others have had serious health issues that forever altered their lives, others have had businesses or homes just taken away. 

 

We may question why at times, but through it all we learn to have faith and know God is in control. When we go through tests or trials, God is looking at what is in our hearts. Ultimately, it is our hearts that God is most concerned with. 

 

How do we respond to unexpected trials? How do we handle setbacks in our lives? And what are the real motives in our hearts? In Psalm 139:23, David asked God to search his heart. As we approach Passover, do we ask that of ourselves? And when going through trials, do we wait for God, as David says (Psalm 27:14) or do we take matters into our own hands? 

What would the Church of God do if everything were not a "pre-Passover trial"? This excuse has been thrown about so many times it carries no weight any more. Remember, the god of Armstrongism has given Satan, the great tempter and trial maker extraordinaire, the most powerful position in the church. He/It welds the power because Jesus has never been let out of his box where the church has kept him securely confined in that mystical land of "someplace".

God is watching us all. We are in a training program for eternity, and only those who truly put their faith in Him and look and trust in Him will be there when Christ returns. Jeremiah 17:10says: “I, the LORD, search the heart, I test the mind, even to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings.”

If you follow basic Christian understanding, we have all been found wanting, but Christ has justified, redeemed and sanctified his followers. It's not an endless training program to see who gets a passing grade and who doesn't.  

As we are just six weeks from Passover, when we appear before God having examined ourselves and done the necessary preparation, so we may take the Passover in a worthy manner, keep that scripture in mind, and another one like it that we find in Proverbs 3:5-6, which I have quoted regularly over the past few weeks. 

"done the necessary preparation"? What? This just goes to show how little the church really understands the New Covenant. COG Jesus is still confined to his room, out of view, where he watches them all with hidden cameras to see who is doing the most work and striving the hardest. Gold stars are ready at his fingertips to place on the redemption chart next to him (for those who qualify, of course).

 

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your paths” (Proverbs 3:5-6).

That trust in the Lord has not worked too well for UCG since its inception. Division and rebellion has been its hallmark.

Shabi continues:

Thank you 

 

Let me thank all of you for the very gracious and kind emails, texts and phone calls you have sent my way in light of the Council’s decision not to renew me to a second term as president of the United Church of God. Much has been accomplished in moving the work forward during my first term, and my prayer is that the work will continue with vigor, zeal and boldness—always keeping Christ’s commission in mind, always following His lead. Jesus Christ is the head of His Church. 

 

Many have asked if I will continue doing the Biblical Worldview (BW) episodes. The answer is yes. Those will continue, as the Council has asked me to do (and I am happy to do so). Expect a new BW next week. We live in a world that is quickly changing, and it is imperative we continue to preach the gospel and warn the world of what is to come. 

 

Many have asked if I will continue the weekly Wednesday evening Zoom Bible Studies that we have been doing since 2020. The answer is also yes. Even after we relocate from Cincinnati, we will continue with those studies for the many who join us each week. Those have been a joy to do, and it is wonderful to have so many from so many places join us online each week. If you would ever like to join, you can find the link, and all past Bible Studies, at www.ucg.org/congregations/home-office-bible-study.

It will be interesting to see how long UCG puts up with this before they put the brakes on him for drawing too much of a following. We have seen that happen in every CG splinter group since the great apostasy. 

Pre-Passover daily Bible reading program 

As I close this letter for this week, let me bring your attention to a Bible reading program we have assembled which will lead us with scriptures each week up to Passover and through the First Day of Unleavened Bread. 

 

Beginning tomorrow (Friday, March 7), a link to the reading program for each day of each week will be available on the home page of UCG.org. Please see the full announcement about it below.
The program begins in Exodus as God prepares Moses and the people of Israel for their departure from Egypt, then progresses into the epistles where we are admonished what to “put out” of our lives then “put in” as we eat of the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. Then, the New Testament scriptures that speak of Christ’s days and words leading to His final Passover on earth, remind us of His love for all mankind and His desire for us to be “one.” 

Instead of focusing on Galatians, Hebrews, and the redemptive qualities of the New Covenant and what it has already accomplished for them, they still look backwards at all of the cucumbers, leeks, and garlic, placing their focus on things past and the law that kept them as slaves in a classroom under a schoolmaster.  

It will be pleasing to God and unifying for His people, all over the world, to be reading, meditating and examining ourselves in light of the scriptures we read each day. The word of God is unifying—if we read it, heed it and apply it into our lives. My prayer is that we all do this and strive to come together as one, bringing glory to God’s name as we live our individual and collective lives.
Take care, brethren. Our thoughts and prayers are with and for all of you. 

 

In Christ’s service,
Rick Shabi

As real life Christians are currently being slaughtered in Syria, with men, women and children crucified on crosses, being brutally murdered while being told to crawl and bark like dogs, COG leaders and far too many members think they need to be "one" and loyal to a certain COG splinter group or leader. Today's COG groups have no idea what being a real follower of Jesus is. Maybe instead of focusing upon oneself this "passover season" focus upon what being a real follower of Jesus entails and ask yourself if you are really ready to die for him or that it is more important to you to have strength to remain as "one" in order to please your group leaders?

Armstrongism has proven one thing over and over again, the hundreds of splinters have never been one and never will be.

Why is there such a lack of empathy in the Churches of God?

 

The following was on Exit and Support Network from a former LCG young adult. I could go on and on about similar issues in various COG groups, including the old Worldwide Church of God and the complete lack of empathy that they all exhibit/ed. The blog has had endless posts about the disrespect that the COG's have towards their followers going on 15 years and they STILL cannot do what is right.

I was a third generation Christian. My grandparents (on both sides) started attending WCG when my parents were children. My parents met as students at Ambassador College. They started attending United (UCG) shortly after Armstrong passed and the whole Grace Communion International controversy started. As a child, I attended multiple WCG splinter groups. When I was in middle school we started attending Living (LCG). I was disfellowshipped during high school. I have family members who still attend. I am in my twenties now and incredibly happy with my life. 

 

I endured physical, emotional, and sexual abuse from my family and the cult members. After I stopped attending, I was stalked by “church” [cult] members on social media and in person. I wish I had someone like me to confide in when I was young. 

 

I was very aware of the hypocrisy and hateful gossip spread amongst WCG members from a young age. For a while, i thought it was just my family. One instance of this that really set my views in stone was when there was a skiing accident at one of the youth camps. A young woman passed away in said accident. Due to the well known negativity surrounding her family, there were adults and teens saying they were glad she had died and hoped her family would learn from her death. I had never witnessed such a lack of empathy and remorse from a group of people calling themselves godly.

I started internally questioning why men in leadership roles were also supporting this negativity. Well respected parents with ordained titles who have children the young woman’s age saying her parents DESERVED to experience this loss. And then those same people would turn around and speak about “loving thy neighbor.” 

 

This same instance with different topics happened time and time again. I got sick of it quite quickly when I recognized the pattern. After speaking up about this amongst peers and eventually adults, I was disfellowshipped for spreading “bad gossip” and dishonoring the ordained. I was told to stop, apologize, and repent, but I said no.

"Taking Responsibility for My Own Choices"

Taking Responsibility for My Own Choices

In the course of this blog's existence, I have been sharply critical of the leadership and theology of the Armstrong Churches of God. Now, I still believe that all of those criticism were valid and deserved. Nevertheless, in the discussions that have been generated here and on other blogs in which I have participated, the question of my own culpability in my entrapment in this cult has arisen a number of times.

First, I want to say that I embrace that as a valid question, and one that a person of real integrity is bound to consider and to offer some response. Having accepted the question, I want to acknowledge immediately that I do accept a large share of the responsibility for my involvement in Armstrongism. If that surprises any of my fellow survivors, it might warrant a little introspection on your own part!

The PLAIN TRUTH is that I was intellectually lazy and did NOT do my due diligence! In short, taking a so-called college level Bible Correspondence Course, reading the Bible and a bundle of booklets and articles on various doctrinal issues did NOT constitute a comprehensive, objective, or critical review of the information available to me. I allowed someone to feed me a pre-packaged, highly subjective interpretation of the Bible. Looking back, it is clear that I accepted the inferior research of others simply because it sounded superficially plausible in explaining a very complicated reality. In other words, while I was definitely interested and looking for answers, I was not willing to do the deep dive necessary to arrive at an informed conclusion.

Sure, it is easier for folks now than it was back in the day. We didn't have the internet at our fingertips, and it is a tremendous resource in the right hands for ferreting out truth. Even so, I cannot escape that realization in the back of my mind that tells me I should have known better. I also have to admit to myself that it did feel good to think that I was privy to inside information that wasn't available to everyone. The allure of being in on the big secret exerted a powerful influence on my ego/vanity!

Over time, I also allowed those master manipulators to place me in a mental straitjacket. I stopped thinking for myself. I stopped asking questions, researching, and seeking answers to the big questions. I allowed myself to be convinced that such curiosity would lead me to the Dark Side of the Force - that I would make myself vulnerable to losing the "truth" and salvation which I thought that I had found! Looking back, it is clear that I also ignored a great deal of evidence over the years which contradicted the interpretations that I had accepted so enthusiastically!

Yes, there were plenty of occasions for me to reject Armstrongism over the years, but I continued to dismiss or ignore the warning signs that things were amiss. I knew that racism was wrong, and I majored in the history of the United States and Britain in college. The evidence was right in front of me that Anglo-Israelism was completely absurd - that what I had already learned had completely and thoroughly discredited the heresy. Looking back now, I have to say that my excuses for taking as long as I did to emerge from the delusion of Armstrongism look pretty weak and pathetic in hindsight!

The point of this post? NEVER allow yourself to be satisfied. Continue to look, explore, question, research, and learn. Also, listen to your own conscience and invite the Holy Spirit to help you in your search for answers and understanding. Do NOT go and dig in the earth and bury the "treasure" which you believe has been entrusted to you. Jesus Christ, your Savior and mine, made it very clear that he expected his disciples to increase/multiply what he had entrusted to them!

Miller Jones/Lonnie C Hendrix

Crackpot Prophet Brags About Deceiving "So-Called" Christians Who Invite Him On Their Programs

 

Don't you just love it when various COG leaders and ministers who speak on their various podcasts and video programs claim they proclaim God's word proudly, without reservation, and forcefully?

Do they really? 

Have they ever?

Even Herbert couldn't speak about Jesus or God in public and would instead talk about a "strong hand from someplace," What the flying "f" is that? The Flying Spaghetti Monster?

Almost all COG leaders, to this very day, couch their words so not to draw too much attention to their amazing God. Being martyrs for the truth is not included on their bingo cards.

This brings us today to our most highly favored Elijah/Elisha/Joshua of God, dreamed into being as the foundations of the world were being laid, to come forth in all glory in the perilous end times, to spread the truth of God, delivered through dreams, to a lost and hurting world. Never has a messenger of God been so doubly blessed to be God's own personal mouthpiece.

Hold on!!!!!!!!!!!

Wait a minute! Put those brakes on! Things are not as they are supposed to be!

The Great Bwana turns out to be a wimpy coward just like Herbert. The Great Bwana admits he has to guard his words when speaking to other Christian podcasters and interviewers. So much for forcefully proclaiming his god! The church is sure filled with a lot of impotent wusses anymore. Plus, why is he seeking interviews with so-called/fake insincere Christians as he constantly calls them?

Anyway, after more backslapping, here is what he said in his latest letter to his faithful 100 Caucasians:

Last Thursday, I was on Michael Klassen’s 5 AM Podcast.

Last Friday, I was on with Monica Hansen, The Graceful Warrior podcast. Monica told me that she had been thinking of contacting me before our podcast team contacted her. So, she was glad we were able to do one together.

On Tuesday, I was on Dr. Rosemarie Downer’s All Things Faith Walk podcast. We discussed the first portion of our booklet: Is God’s Existence Logical?

Then, being the duplicitous slug that he is, he mentions how he needs to be tricky with his hosts: 

Let me add that being a guest on Protestant podcast channels is tricky as we do want to get God’s truth to all we can, but also by trying to minimize offense to the podcast hosts. 

After he leaves his host's presence, he then puts up links to his poorly researched and heretical booklets, articles, and videos. 

That said, it is my intent to put up links to many of the podcasts after the hosts upload them. 

 

Being a podcast guest looks like another door that Jesus opened for His Philadelphian remnant (Revelation 3:7-8; cf. Hebrews 13:1, literal)–and we in the CCOG are utilizing this door. We are reaching people that we otherwise would often not be able to reach.

Reaching them through deception and deceit. Typical Armstrongite methods of spreading their so-called gospel. 

World's Foremost Authority On Solar Flares Claims One Will Be The Cause Of Great Earth Leveling Earthquake Sometime After 2028

Our resident Mr. Know-it-all is back once again regaling us with more of the important wisdom that he has gained as a true prophet of this thing he calls "god". Never in the entire arc of civilization has such a great man emerged in the Churches of God. No one has ever had the wisdom this man has; personally spoon-fed by god into his brain so that he could be a force to be reckoned with in these perilous end times. The heavens and earth bow at his mighty presence. Heck, even Satan is in on it!

The Great Bwana to Africa and the occasional Caucasian is back with yet ANOTHER backslapping, "hey, look at me" article. He states that 

Last Summer, I warned about the connection between solar flares and earthquakes (see Solar flares, earthquakes, and electrical disturbances). Now in March 2025, Michael Snyder is pointing to a new study that confirms that:

Scientists Discover A Link Between Solar Activity And Earthquakes, And That Has Huge Implications For The Apocalyptic Times We Are Living In

Oh noes!!!!!!!! Scary times!!!!!! Always living in fear mode, that's the Church of God way.

Then to whip up the frenzy further, the Great Bwana says that the Earth's core will be changing in the next few years:

"Jesus warned:

8 … And there will be earthquakes in various places, and there will be famines and troubles. These are the beginnings of sorrows. (Mark 13:8)

Let me add that in addition to solar activity, changes in the inner core of the earth would also seem to be a factor in the production of earthquakes and troubles.

As far as earthquakes go, the really big earthquake in biblical prophecy is the following one:

18 And there were noises and thunderings and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such a mighty and great earthquake as had not occurred since men were on the earth. 19 Now the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell. And great Babylon was remembered before God, to give her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of His wrath. 20 Then every island fled away, and the mountains were not found. (Revelation 16:18-20)

Notice that the above earthquake is so big that the cities of the nations will fall. Mountains will be leveled and islands “fled away".  This seems to be the biggest earthquake that will ever hit the planet with humans on it. Despite the view of ‘preterists’ that this already happened, that is nonsense.

The earthquake of Revelation 16 will be bigger than what the usual “experts” have believed was possible. It will change the planet and humble parts of humanity."

 

"Solar flares as well as changes to the earth’s core can also affect electrical matters."

He even has a video up about this nonsense:

Earth’s Core and Earthquakes
There have been reports that the earth’s inner core is slowing down and even going backward. Why? Could this be dangerous? Are scientists concerned? Could this be related to the earthquakes and troubles Jesus prophesied during the beginning of sorrows? Could electricity be affected? What about the volcano or Revelation 8? What about the biggest earthquake ever that is prophesied in the 16th chapter of Revelation? Dr. Thiel and Steve Dupuie go over these matters.

There you have it, boys and girls! From the mouth of God's greatest prophet ever to walk this earth. 

 

 

Satan: Real? A Metaphor for Evil or Something Else?

Alexandre Cabanel, Fallen Angel, ca. 1847, Musée Fabre, Montpellier, France. Wikimedia Commons (public domain).

 

Here is an interesting viewpoint by Greg Albrecht about Satan, the devil and evil. Let the pitchforks start flying...

Q & R: GREG ALBRECHT – “DOES SATAN EXIST?”

QUESTION: 

I just listened to one of your sermons broadcast and after being with Plain Truth ministries for a LONG time, I was quite surprised when you said you didn’t know if Satan exists? The Bible says that God created the devil as the most perfect beautiful angel he could make, but because of his beauty he turned against God and persuaded 1/3 of the angels to go with him, he was thrown down to Earth. 

 

I don’t know why I’m writing this. You’re more knowledgeable than I am, or at least I thought you were. I’ve settled in my mind that Satan exists as an evil influence, and that as humans, we’re capable of evil but Satan with his influence makes things worse. That’s how I see it. I have read the Bible several times and I have seen numerous mentions of Satan in his different ways… I don’t want to start doubting Plain Truth Ministries!

RESPONSE: 

We are delighted that PTM has been able to serve you for a LONG time – thank you for allowing us this privilege. You say you were surprised to hear me say I don’t know if Satan exists. 

 

Before answering your question I have listened to the audiotape and reviewed the manuscript of that sermon to which you have referenced – with due respect, it is misleading to assert that I said I do not know if Satan exists. I said I did not know if the devil spoken of in Scripture is “real” or if that term/word (Satan, Lucifer, etc) is a symbol or metaphor of evil/unseen powers of this dark world/spiritual forces of evil (Ephesians 6:12). Based on my reading of all passages in the Bible (as noted in the sermon) I do not believe that anyone can know such a thing, though I am aware that many dogmatically will proclaim they do (and castigate any who might disagree). 

 

“Real” as understood by an overtly literal reading of the Bible would have us believe that God has arms and wings and that he is a rock. “Real” would have us required to greet fellow Christians with a holy kiss and to gouge out our right eye or cut off our right hand if they offend us. The Bible is not a collection of flat-lined instructions – it is inspired for us within literary genres and cultural/historical settings – and there are many from Genesis to Revelation. For example, many Christians realize that the parables of Jesus are not “real” in that there was no historical person specifically known as the prodigal son – indeed there have been and are tens of millions of prodigal sons. The fact that we may not unearth the actual identify of a specific/”real” person named “the prodigal son” in an archaeological dig does not make Jesus’ teaching false or less significant.

 

I could continue with many other examples – because of its first chapter that paints a picture of the angels presenting themselves before the Lord, joined by Satan, I made a similar point in terms of the book of Job and what it teaches us in the sermon — but time fails me to cover all the many examples of how the Bible shares its message. 

 

The sermon in question also provides a brief exegetical look at 1 Peter 5:8 which was our keynote passage, which again broadens the conversation about the topic you query. 

 

Again, your assumption that I do not believe in evil/darkness or diabolical evil is erroneous – I did say in this sermon that I find the popular depiction of a literal, “real” Satan as a red devil-like figure wearing red leotards/tights, brandishing a flaming pitchfork, with a fiendish grin on his face to be superfluous to the discussion of evil/depravity and dark forces. Within the time limits of that message, I attempted to supply some background for what the Bible is affirming and what it does not specifically address, in terms of the devil/Satan/Lucifer. 

 

Hope this helps,
In Christ,
Greg Albrecht

What are your thoughts? Do you envision Satan as the big bogeyman of Armstrongism who is always out making life difficult for splinter group leaders who are the most persecuted men on earth today? After all, he is the most powerful entity of Armstrongism. Spoken more about than Jesus. 

Is the concept a metaphor for evil or something else? 

St. Michael Vanquishing Satan – Raphael

Miserere mei, Deus

 

David Hurd's Psalm 51

If someone had told me twenty years ago that I would be smearing ashes on the foreheads of people tonight, I would never have believed them. Tonight was Ash Wednesday at the church I attend. A night that signifies the start of forty days of self-examination. An examination of our fallibility, our mortality, our participation in oppression and injustice to others. At this time we are particularly drawn to Jesus' call for justice: freedom for the oppressed, release of the captives, good news to the poor and recovery of sight to the blind. It's about confronting the power of death in all its forms, terror and tyranny, corruption and greed, disregard for creation and all the forces that prevent people from living life in its fullest.

It's not about giving up chocolate, sweets, meat, dropping a dollar in the swear jar, or other things. It's about being authentic to yourself and to God, while you get off your rear end and make a difference in the world around you.

Growing up in Armstrongism I listened to endless sermons by ministers and evangelists mocking and deriding those that kept this day as insincere and a total waste of time. Meredith came up with some of the most absurd and inaccurate comments that anyone could dream up. Actually what he said was and still is, a blatant lie!

Seeing the wide eyes of little kids kneeling in front of you with tears in their eyes, or huge smiles as they experience something that only a child can through untarnished minds. They look into your eyes with a look of awe. And then they turn to their parents and look them in their eyes with a deep connection only a parent can ever see. Probably like the kind of look we should be having with God. Totally free with no baggage. Oh, to be a child again!

I saw a blind young man tonight who is wheelchair bound with a body that is wracked by cerebral palsy, rhythmically moving in slow motion due to the muscles in his body twisting and writhing about, sit there with tears streaming down his cheeks as he attempts to stop his body from moving when the ashes are placed on his forehead, clearly and distinctly saying 'amen' afterwords. He does the same thing when the Eucharist is brought to him. His body stops moving as he takes the wafer in his distorted hands and places it in his mouth and sips the wine. He understands something that I probably never will. Something deeper and more meaningful than any HWA sermon, booklet or book ever did. Something deeper about the mystery that surrounds us, the mystery of the unknown yet knowable, the grain of the universe that calls to us into something we cannot fathom, something so foreign to us that we let it slip past us the minute we walk out the doors of the church into the real world.

I saw people in attendance tonight that I know are agnostic and a couple of atheists who have no idea what or who God is. Yet, they admit something draws them back, week after week. Something they cannot understand but want to be a part of. They are involved in feeding the homeless, knitting prayer shawls for the sick and dying, caring for those with AIDS, working in hospice or visiting the sick and homebound. They too have the opportunity to delve into something deeper and more mysterious with new ways of looking and understanding that I can never have. It is a delight to be around them

I am grateful for my journey out of Armstrongism. I regret many opportunities lost because of its aberrant, absurd, and irrelevant teachings, yet there was a lot I treasure. How I came out halfway sane is a miracle! :-) I am grateful for Gavin's web sites and blogs over the years and for Dennis's unwavering self examination and willingness to question without apology. What a ride it has been and continues to be!

Gary, 2011

Addendum 2025

Who would have imagined I would still be serving at an Ash Wednesday service as I did at noon today so many years later. In fact, this is now year 25 doing this.

I was reminded of the original post that I did in 2011 (above) after reading Bob Thiel's sophomoric understanding of Ash Wednesday and Lent that he posted the other day. His thinking was inherented from equally sophomoric men from the Worldwide Church of God and Ambassador College.

This explanation that I saw on X today establishes the Christian thought behind the season of Lent.

Lent was never meant to be easy. It was meant to break you. 

 

For centuries, Lent has been seen as a time of mild sacrifice—giving up chocolate, social media, or coffee.

But the truth? The origins of Lent are far more brutal, far more raw. It wasn’t about self-improvement. It was about spiritual survival. 

 

In the earliest days of Christianity, when faith was a crime punishable by death, Lent was a preparation for war.

It was a time of fasting so intense that bodies weakened, a period of prayer so fervent that the line between heaven and earth seemed to blur.

Those who took part weren’t just giving up luxuries—they were stripping themselves down to nothing, purging everything but faith, because they knew what was coming.

Baptism on Easter was not a ceremony. It was an initiation into a life that could lead to the arena, the stake, or the sword. 

 

The forty days of Lent mirror Christ’s own forty days in the wilderness, where He faced the devil as a starving, vulnerable man.

And yet, He endured. That’s what Lent was always meant to be: a confrontation with the darkest parts of ourselves. A reckoning. A test. 

 

But over time, the world softened it. It became a season of small sacrifices rather than total surrender.

We made it comfortable.

Yet true Lent, real Lent, was always meant to cut deep. To leave scars. To change you. 

 

So, the question isn’t what will you give up?

A couple of todays readings:

A reading from Joel (2:1–2, 12–17)

Blow the shofar in Zion! Sound the alarm on my holy mountain! Let all the people of the land tremble! For the Day of our God is coming — it is near — a day of bleakness and gloom, a day of fog and dense clouds. A vast and countless horde appears like soot spread over the hills; it is like something never known before, nor will be seen in ages to come. “But know this,” says our God: “Return to me with all your heart, with fasting, weeping and mourning. Tear open your heart, not your clothes!” Return to your God who is gracious and deeply loving as a mother quick to forgive, abundantly tenderhearted — and relents from inflicting disaster. Who knows? God may come back, relent, and leave a blessing behind — grain and drink offerings for your God. Sound the shofar in Zion! Order a fast! Proclaim a solemn assembly! Gather the people! Purify the community! Assemble the elders! Gather the children — even infants at the breast! Let the bridegroom leave his bedroom and the bride her canopied bed! Let the priests, the ministers of God, stand weeping between the portico and the altar and say, “Spare your people, O God! Do not let your heritage become an object of ridicule, a byword for the Nations! Do not let the peoples say, ‘Where is their god?’”

A reading from Isaiah (58:1–12)

“Shout for all you are worth, raise your voice like a trumpet! Proclaim to the people their faults; tell the house of Leah and Rachel and Jacob their sins! They seek me daily, they long to know my ways, like a nation that wants to act with integrity and not ignore the law of its God. They ask me for laws that are just, they long for God to draw near. Yet they say, ‘Why should we fast if you never see it? Why do penance if you never notice?’ Because when you fast it is business as usual, and you oppress all your workers! Because when you fast, you quarrel and fight and strike the poor with your fist! Fasting like yours today will never make your voice heard on high! Is that the sort of fast that pleases me — a day when people humiliate themselves, hanging their heads like a reed, lying down on sackcloth and ashes? Is that what you call fasting, a day acceptable to God? On the contrary! This is the sort of fast that pleases me: Remove the chains of injustice! Undo the ropes of the yoke! Let those who are oppressed go free, and break every yoke you encounter! Share your bread with those who are hungry, and shelter homeless poor people! Clothe those who are naked, and do not hide from the needs of your own flesh and blood! Do this, and your light will shine like the dawn — and your healing will break forth like lightening! Your integrity will go before you, and the glory of God will be your rearguard. Cry, and God will answer; call and God will say ‘I am here—provided you remove from your midst all oppression, finger-pointing, and malicious talk! If you give yourself to the hungry and satisfy the needs of the afflicted, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your shadows will become like noon. God will always guide you, giving relief in desert places. God will give you strength to your bones and you will be like a watered garden, like a spring of water whose waters never run dry. You will rebuild the ancient ruins and build upon age-old foundations. You will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, and Restorer of Ruined Neighborhoods.’”