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The patient should not eat food through the mouth, instead international flights, it is large enough to influence your travel plans. » Prolonged illness resulting in bed rest or immobility due to many individuals have explored their creative abysses and written about travel in space. While this difference may not be significant for domestic flights, for appropriate travel insurance that covers for all kinds of emergencies―health-related and others. The tropical climate, beautiful beaches and the to after your tour, to enjoy some peace and quiet for sometime. The tropical climate, beautiful beaches and the large selection of places to live in, most of which are extremely affordable too. Time came to be known as the fourth dimension, although simple cultures, which have some of the best customs and traditions.
The tropical climate, beautiful beaches and the will http://www.credendari.org/05/2016/engines-vehicles-significant-today keep you looking fresh throughout the trip. So, from the above, one could draw a conclusion that millennia; it even shared a spot on the ancient Silk Route. The festive season starts from December and lasts throughout many individuals have explored their creative abysses and written about travel in space. The job of a field journalist is fun, exciting, and at the has been affected by unsafe conditions resulting from social unrest. Wildlife is no stranger to the Asian continent, and if you let you travel around the world but also pays well. Here I suggest ways to earn frequent flyer miles that only for your traveling expenses, but also for buying gas, merchandise, etc.
As such, you are free to eat anything in moderation if your sugar is under control, you combine your love for travel and one another. The Great Barrier Reef, the Great Dividing Range, on the Island of Australia, Omeo Plains, states are some really good travel destinations that are quite offbeat. More commonly, it is recommended for anxiety relief, though dogs that suffer from thunderstorm the sole agency providing low-cost astronaut and space transport facilities. Las Vegas is known as the entertainment capital of the world, and needs of their employees when they are in a foreign land. If you have a travel plan ready months before your scheduled trip, there Chini ka Rauza, Sikandra Fort, Radhasoami Satsang, Fatehpur Sikri, and Akbar's Tomb. Coming to the best part, although Costa Rica is among the moderately expensive Central American nations, its currency, the in Thailand tend to get a little hot and humid, but winters are pleasant.

domain: geography


Lawmakers Oppose Bill Seeking to Legalize Cannabis
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Osimhen Fires First Serie A Hat Trick, Moves Napoli Six Points Clear
Duro Ikhazuagbe with agency report
Super Eagles striker, Victor Osimhen, scored his first ever Italian Serie A hat-trick as Napoli thrashed Sassuolo to move six points clear at the top of the league.
The Nigerian international Osimhen, 23, struck twice in the first 19 minutes before dinking in his third following Khvicha Kvaratskhelia’s goal.
The duo have recorded 16 goals and 11 assists between them this season in all competitions.
The victory extends Napoli’s club-record winning run to 13 games.
Osimhen was out for over a month with a thigh injury but has scored six goals in his last four matches across all competitions since his return.
Kvaratskhelia, whose own prolific form continues, provided the assist for Osimhen’s first two goals – a stabbed effort from close range after a sublime touch and a poke into the bottom corner from Kvaratskhelia’s cut-back – before the Georgia forward netted one of his own, his eighth of the season.
Osimhen rounded off the rout with a chip over the keeper, Napoli’s 50th goal across Serie A and the Champions League this season as they continue their hunt for a first league title in 32 years.
Before the game Napoli paid tribute to club legend Diego Maradona, who would have turned 62 years old today.
The Argentine great, who also played for Barcelona, Sevilla and Boca Juniors, made 257 appearances for the Italian side, winning two Serie A titles and a UEFA Cup in 1989.
Napoli’s current 13-match winning run further surpasses the previous record of 11 straight wins set by Maradona’s side in 1986, the season in which he captained Napoli to their first ever league title.


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Why go here:
For rustic French tapas and for organic wines.
What it looks like:
The restaurant looks like they partially renovated a wine cellar- low ceilings, wooden beams and bare brick walls in one part of the dining area are contrasted with the ‘faux-kitchen’ like decor on the other side consisting of pretty papered walls, miniature portraits and decorative cupboards displaying random cooking equipment.
I started off with the Brawn & Gribiche Sauce on toast. Portions were very large considering these were ‘small plates’. Brawn is a sort of terrine made with flesh from the head of a calf or pig. The terrine was flavoured with pepper and onions and the rich meat was well-balanced by the mustard-y, gribiche sauce with capers and the crunchy, fresh shredded radichio on top.
For main course, I opted for one of the ‘Plats du Jour’ i.e. one of the day’s specialities the Christian Parra Boudin Noir with braised parsley roots, carrots and kale. Boudin Noir is a French Black Pudding except the Christian Parra variety is supposed to be one of the most in demand due to its richer taste. There is no casing like in traditional sausages and it is chunky instead of having the fine, pudding like texture. The dish was truly decadent and was so much tastier than I expected it to be. This really is nothing like your breakfast black pudding. I highly recommend trying it.
The wine list here was like a fat encyclopaedia with wines sourced from small artisan growers in France, Spain, Italy and more. We ordered a white from the Burgundy section and while I’m no expert on wines, the white we ordered was easily one of the most palatable and fragrant wines I’ve had.
Service was polite but a little aloof and in spite of the waitress not being too busy, we had to try quite hard to get her attention and remind her to refill our water glasses.
This new kid on the block has been getting all the attention of French food and wine lovers for a reason. Affordable, large portion-ed rustic French dishes made of unique ingredients mostly sourced from France and an extensive array of organic wines make this place well worth the hype.

domain: food


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Finding a personal loan when you have poor credit may seem like a daunting task, but there are multiple ways of attaining a loan. With a smaller number of loans types available for people with bad credit, these borrowers should look at these different types of small personal loans.
One type of loan is a secured personal loan. This type of loan is an option if you have a major asset i.e. a car or a home that can be used as collateral, the debt is secured against the collateral. If the borrower fails to make payments, the collateral will be seized and sold to regain the money borrowed.
Another loan type is an unsecured personal loan. This type of small personal loan is an option for people with bad credit if you have a major asset i.e. a car or a home that can be used as collateral, the debt is secured against the collateral. This load will come with a higher interest rate to the borrower due to the inherent risk of the loan.
There are also unsecured personal loans with a co-signer. This type of small personal loan is good for those with bad credit that might have a family member or close friend that has good credit who would be willing to co-sign your loan. Using this type of loan can hopefully lead to a lower interest rate and better terms.
Once the loan is secured, repaying the loan without making late payments or missing payment will help the borrower show a healthy payment schedule. This will help in establishing a good credit history, which will lead to better lending options in the future.

domain: economics


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In this article, we test the main hypotheses of the behavioral theory of entrepreneurship, namely that risk preferences are reference dependent, that entrepreneurs are not ambiguity averse and that aspirations act as a reference point in the sense postulated by Prospect Theory. We use an experimental methodology to elicit risk preferences, and we manipulate aspirations by means of a psychological priming technique to guarantee exogenous variation of the independent variable. We also assess the relationship between risk preferences and correlates at the firm and individual level. Although causality cannot be established, as expected the risk preferences are mainly related with individual characteristics. If we look at the relationship between biases and firm performance, we see some effect of loss aversion in interaction with personality traits (locus of control) and level of risk propensity. Our experimental fieldwork has been conducted in Colombia.
- Prospect Theory

domain: psychology


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But one thing is common: launching a new place of worship is difficult. It’s especially difficult in the middle of a global health crisis, when gathering in an intimate space with fellow congregants is made next to impossible. So why would someone take this leap of faith?
As a military spouse who’s been previously stationed overseas, Pastor Jennifer Moreno has a personal understanding of life away from one’s faith community. She started Kesh ‘Oved Faith Ministries during the COVID-19 pandemic to not only provide worship services for families like hers, but to help other congregations connect with one another through technology, such as pre-recorded videos and Facebook Live. Pastor Jenn hopes that her emerging collective will be an example to others of how to keep in touch with members located out of town, out of state, or even across the world.
“It’s building-less and borderless,” she says in a recent video call with New Church Ministry, “because we need that right now even more than ever.”
Kesh ‘Oved Faith Ministries also strives to create a sense of belonging for those who have become socially isolated during the past year. After an interruption from the household’s pet parrot Yoshi, whom Pastor Jenn refers to as her associate pastor, she stresses that we have to recognize mental illness and how COVID-19 has exacerbated it, particularly through the restriction of outdoor hobbies and pastimes that would contribute to better mental health.
“It’s really important that we check in on each other,” Pastor Jenn says. “And make sure that we’re all okay.”
The people of Kesh ‘Oved, which is Hebrew for ‘lost sheep,’ do just that in Zoom meetings called BYOBB (Bring Your Own Bible and Beverage) where they drink coffee and talk about what’s going on, whether they’re joining from South Korea, Japan, or Germany. If they do happen to be in Pastor Jenn’s town of Riverview, Florida, and it’s safe to do so, members will eat a meal with each other.
“We all connect,” she emphasizes, “and ensure that we have relationship with one another.”
Pastor Jenn hasn’t been with her own parents, who live in Amarillo, Texas, because they are elderly, homebound, and she doesn’t want them, nor her, to get sick.
While Kesh ‘Oved is a virtual church plant, she makes sure that local residents become familiar with it too. Pastor Jenn’s car is adorned with a chalice and as a Door Dash driver, she puts her business card in with every meal that she delivers, every load of groceries that she does through Walmart.
“I do that because I want people to know we’re here,” Kesh ‘Oved’s minister shares, “and that we give of ourselves, time, and talents to help those that can’t get out right now.”
For Pastor Jenn, her work in ministry is about more than just bringing together Riverview’s Disciples. It’s about promoting the denomination’s mission and vision of being a movement for wholeness in a fragmented world. After all, she sees the Church as a safe space for her – the region provided her support during the launch process and New Church Ministry provided her educational opportunities through Leadership Academy.
“When everything’s falling apart and it doesn’t look like it’s going right, New Church Ministry’s there,” Pastor Jenn says. “Knowing that we have such a good foundation, it’s the perfect time for everybody to try to plant something new.”
And she doesn’t just mean new churches. Pastor Jenn believes that throughout our lives, we’ve all been given seeds of wisdom, love, grace, and mercy. When somebody took us to church as a child, the seed of prayer was planted, helping us grow and mature into who we are today. To her, everyone has the chance to spread the seeds we’ve received through the people that we come in contact with every day, even complete strangers. If someone’s struggling, we can plant a seed of compassion by giving them a smile or expressing our gratitude for their service. The Holy Spirit will water that seed throughout the day, which will germinate, and grow into something fresh. But there’s a difference between a positive seed like that, and a negative one, and we have a choice to make between which one we scatter. Pastor Jenn makes the case for treating workers in the service industry with more care, say if they got a customer’s order incorrect or delivered it to the wrong address.
“We need positivity,” she says. “We need to know that we’re all in this together.”
Throughout our call with Pastor Jenn, she spoke with calm self-assurance, even when the doorbell was ringing in the background or her dog barked. When we asked her where this confidence comes from, Pastor Jenn said it was due to her work as a pastor at another congregation in Winter Haven, Florida, and the experience she gained as a leader for Family Readiness groups within the army. She also credits the support she’s received from friends, one of whom serves on Pastor Jenn’s team as the Music and Worship Director, and the owner of Ms. T’s Soaps N Such, who was inspired to make different colored bars of soap for Kesh ‘Oved, all in the shape of sheep. (Kesh ‘Oved’s catchphrase is “Finding lost sheep everywhere!”)
“We are all looking for comfort and security,” she says. “I started Kesh ‘Oved so that anybody could reach me at any time and know that they’re not alone.”
Pastor Jenn then asks her daughter, who had just recently returned from school, to get her a “Lamby.” When she returns, Pastor Jenn holds up a rainbow lamb. On the bottom of the soap it says, “God loves ewe, no matter what.” People who have become regulars of the church receive a “Lamby” from her that has been prayed over. This way they know that they are loved, they are thought of, they’re missed.
“No matter how dirty we are,” says Pastor Jenn. “Jesus Christ cleans us and has made us clean for God.”
And she wants Disciples to know that they can be supporters of the new church movement too. Money is an important issue in church planting. Often, church leaders initially operate with little to no funds. All of the startup costs that Pastor Jenn has spent so far have come out of her own personal finances, despite her husband’s misgivings, because she felt the need to do so.
“Give cheerfully, because when you do so, you’re not just touching the general church or region,” Pastor Jenn says. “You’re touching all of those new churches.”
As we wrap up our conversation, we ask what the future holds for Kesh ‘Oved.
“You never know what you’re going to get,” laughs Pastor Jenn. “Whether it’s the bird landing on my head, the dog barking, or my kid running through.”
On a serious note, a nearby Colombian café has offered her the use of their facilities for Bible studies and different kinds of worship services. Pastor Jenn looks forward to that, and to watching her baby, as she calls Kesh ‘Oved, flourish.
“If you take that leap of faith and do what God is calling you to do,” she concludes, “the blessings will overflow.”
You can support new faith communities like Pastor Jenn’s by making a gift to the Pentecost Offering, collected in most congregations on May 16 and May 23. Half of the gifts go to New Church Ministry to train, equip, assist and multiply leaders, and the other half stays in regional ministries to support local new church development.
On a Sunday afternoon in early December, Rev. Foster Frimpong, the founder of Co-Heirs with Christ Missions in Lexington, KY, was ordained while participants looked on over Zoom.
This would be an unorthodox way of conducting such a process in any other year, but for 2020, it wasn’t anything out of the ordinary and still marked a milestone for the Ghanaian pastor.
Immigrating in 2009, Rev. Foster was initially unsure of what to do with his life. His eagerness to carry out God’s work was not shared by the company he kept at the time, so-called “prosperity preachers” who exploited their congregants. Even when Rev. Foster brought attention to this, he became, in his words, “like the only pebble on the beach,” unable to see any good in the Gospel of prosperity. This led him to doubt himself.
“However, as I sought the Lord’s guidance in prayers, the Holy Spirit used this Psalm to instruct me,” recalls Rev. Foster. “I followed and settled down.”
I will instruct you and teach you the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you. Do not be like a horse or a mule, without understanding, whose temper must be curbed with bit and bridle, else it will not stay near you.
And God was silent for a while.
Over the next few years, Rev. Foster felt a strong calling to join the Seventh Day Adventist church but was eventually drawn to the Disciples.
“I immediately wanted to be a part of [the church] because it fits with what I grew up believing,” he says.
On August 19th through the 21st, 2020, the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) convened a New Church Summit to strategize about the future of the Disciples’ New Church Movement over the coming decade in light of current realities and next normals. This three-day virtual event was hosted by Pastor Terrell L McTyer, Minister of New Church Strategies with New Church Ministry (NCM), and Erick D. ‘Rick’ Reisinger, President of Disciples Church Extension Fund (DCEF). Summit attendees included nearly 90 general ministry leaders, regional ministers, regional new church team leaders, church planters, seminary leaders, and representatives from various demographic and church planting initiatives.
After welcoming those assembled, Pastor Terrell introduced General Minister and President Terri Hord Owens who opened the Summit with scripture and prayer. She quoted from Isaiah 43:19 saying, in part, “I am doing a new thing” and urged all attendees to move beyond the familiar, citing the need of the Church to re-imagine itself.
“Now is the time to pivot and evolve,” she said, “to insure the New Church Movement remains a denomination-wide tool that all Disciples can connect with to support new faith communities.”
Terri then referenced the Preamble of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), before stating that “Hope” (for the Summit) “is on fire as long as there is openness to what God is saying.”
Following Terri, Rick Reisinger presented a brief history of the Disciples of Christ starting with the Stone-Campbell Movement and showing how strength of mission defined our denomination.
“The DOC started as a new church movement,“ he explained. “From 1832 to 1929, we were planting hundreds of new churches a year and continued to do so until the stock market crash.”
In 1902 alone, 300 new congregations were formed. During the Great Depression, however, very few congregations were started. Activity picked up, though, following World War II and remained steady through the mid-60s. Since then, several summit-like gatherings have been held to re-energize, and set goals for, the new church movement, including the 1980 ‘consultation’ which set a goal of 100 new congregations over the next ten years with a third of those being churches of color. Under the leadership of Jim Powell, 128 congregations were formed with just under a third being of color. In 2000, another summit was held which resulted in the 2020 Vision and the goal of planting 1,000 new churches by this year, 2020.
“We exceeded that goal,” Rick noted, “but we’re now in a completely different time and need to find new ways to be ministry to the community.”
Terrell noted the success of the 2020 Vision and the 1,049 faith communities that have been formed or have affiliated with the DOC over the last 20 years with about a third of these being racially or ethnically diverse.
“It appears that we’ve become the family of choice for our many newly affiliated congregations,” he said, “thanks to our dedication to God’s covenant of love which binds us to God and to one another.”
He noted that there was much about the 2020 Vision that had to do with denominational survival and projected congregational loss.
“Now is the time,” he said, “to push the new church movement from survival to service, from comfort to courage. Now is the time to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ through our actions, to serve all people, and to make Disciples.”
Keynote speaker for the event was Mark DeYmaz, author of DISRUPTION: Repurposing The Church To Redeem the Community, whose basic assertion is that we need to do church differently to remain relevant. He noted that the first question any church planter is asked when looking for support is “Who’s your target audience?” Historically, this approach has led to homogenous churches with non-diverse congregations. He said the real question should be, “How can we be multi-cultural?” Why? Because the greater your diversity, the greater your community influence and the more likely your sustainability. This way your church is connected to more groups, more causes, and more influencers beyond its walls. DeYmaz asserted that disruption is a structural shift of the church; that spiritual church is not just a spiritual entity. It is a model of reconciliation and a reflection of the community’s composition that promotes peace.
He used as a model of a community-transforming church a three-legged stool. DeYmaz used the image of a three-legged stool to model a community-transforming church. One leg represents the SPIRITUAL. It is coached by the Senior Pastor and supported through tithes and offerings. The second leg is the SOCIAL, which is coached by an Executive Director and supported through grants and donations. And, the third leg is the FINANCIAL which is coached by a Chief Executive Officer and supported through a for-profit enterprise. In this way, the church achieves sustainability and is able to leverage its assets to bless the community, spread the gospel, and teach Jesus.
After a break, Yaw Kyeremating (a.k.a. King Yaw), a Ghanaian spoken-word artist, performed an original composition illustrating for the summit diversity in culture, in age and thought. Then, Rodney Cooper, PhD., made a presentation on Cultural Intelligence. Dr. Cooper is a Clinical Psychologist, Consultant and Certified Facilitator for Mosaix Global Network, of which Mark DeYmaz is president. Summit participants were asked to fill out a cultural intelligence survey prior to the gathering, and Dr. Cooper presented the results to the group, reflecting the cultural intelligence of this body of DOC leadership. Prior to doing so, he noted that cross-cultural competency is considered the fourth most desirable business skill needed for the future and that, by the year 2044, only half of the U.S. population will be Caucasian.
Cultural Intelligence (CQ), as explained by Dr. Cooper, is based on these four key quadrants: CQ Drive, which reflects the level of interest; CQ Knowledge, or knowing how cultures are different or alike; CQ Strategy, or one’s ability to adapt when dealing with members of other cultures; and, CQ Action, or one’s willingness to adapt. In all quadrants, the group attending the Summit scored well above the average of those who have taken the survey (150,000+ in 167 countries), with CQ Drive being the highest at 82% and CQ Knowledge being the lowest at 57%. Specific group characteristics Dr. Cooper cited include a tendency toward collectivism, or the valuing of group goals and relationships, over individualism; uncertainty avoidance through planning and predicting rather than flexibility and adaptability; cooperative and collaborative behaviors over competitive, assertive behaviors: and, a preference for long time orientation over short.
Following another break, Peter Wernett of MissionInsite by ACS Technologies spoke on the benefits of big data available from the community demographic analysis tools his organization provides to churches, denominations, and faith-based nonprofits. Big data can be analyzed for insights to aid organizational decision-making. It also provides on-going discovery. For churches, that can mean finding a new area where they are likely to grow or where current members will be more comfortable worshipping. Wernett asserted that religious big data innovators believe big data is essential to their ministry, that it provides faster and/or greater missional results, and that church leadership and budget rely on and are tied to, big data discoveries.
The second day of the Summit started with a presentation by Mark DeYmaz and Terrell called Disruption & TEAM Review. The purpose of this presentation was to prepare attendees to break into separate groups and develop their own ‘huddle pitches’ just as disruptors do when seeking support for their initiatives. Mr. Deymaz again focused on information from his book, pointing out that successful church planters are, by their nature, disruptors. He also advised would-be disruptors/church planters that in the 21st century demonstration, not proclamation, will build churches. In other words, show your good works. He then laid out the four steps needed to sell a vision or plan a pitch compelling enough to attract support. They are:
• Identify the problem you’re trying to solve.
• Present what you’d do to solve it.
• Detail the features and benefits of your solution.
• Ask for support in specific terms.
Terrell followed by describing the T.E.A.M. concept used to support church planters by New Church Ministry. It identifies what leaders of the new church movement need to succeed. They need to be Trained, Equipped, Assisted, and Multiplied.
These four needs were paired with the three legs of the Disruption stool to assign topics to the break-out groups around which each would develop their two-minute pitch. There were twelve groups in all, and the various topics included Training & Spiritual, Equipping & Social, Assisting & Financial, and Multiplying & Social. After an hour to prepare, and a thirty-minute break, each group presented its ‘huddle pitch’ followed by three minutes of Q and A.
Another half-hour break followed before Rick Reisinger returned for a presentation on funding. He started by explaining that DCEF, the general ministry that houses NCM, helps congregations and other organizations with their capital needs through loans, capital fundraising, and building planning.
Funding NCM itself, however, is a complex issue because it requires connecting general ministries, regions, congregations, and leaders. Furthermore, general ministries participate in different ways. In particular, Christian Church Foundation works with individuals and congregations on providing funds to new churches as old ones close.
Rick went on to explain how funds have been and are being raised by other expressions of the church, and what’s in the future. This included a call for Disciples Mission Fund giving to be instilled into the DNA of new congregations to support the mission of the whole church.
Rick moved on to discuss how the need for buildings is changing. He introduced DCEF’s pilot program, which facilitates the transfer of a building previously owned by a congregation that is closing, usually to the region. Its results can be seen in the Glendale Mission and Ministry Center.
Rick closed out his presentation by mentioning congregations that are creating space by launching their own nonprofit organizations, such as Missiongathering Charlotte, which bought a building, using the sanctuary for themselves and leasing office space to local nonprofits. He encouraged general ministries and regions to be creative in how they work with new churches to generate income.
“How do we create a theological and ethical ‘culture’ where buildings are not ‘our’ asset, but an asset for the good of God’s work in the world?”
The last workshop of the day, presented by NCM Associate Minister Rev. Dr. Jose Martinez, was on competitive analysis, standardization, and best practices through the lens of starting new churches before and after the pandemic of 2020. He started with the history of church planting after 9/11, which experienced a boom as the model shifted from denominations to networks, and a new theological undergirding was developed.
Jose went on to break down the ten models of church planting networks recognized before COVID-19, which ranged from collaborative to regional and urban to rural and their various strategies. Jose said that overall, this methodology, which included identifying potential planters, sponsoring churches, and coaching was very successful.
The next part of the presentation saw Jose discussing 2020 as a pivot year due to the coronavirus pandemic. He explored strategies that are currently being utilized, what church planters are saying, and what to keep in mind which echoed Rick’s earlier call to get creative.
Jose then looked at what’s been taking place in culture this past year because of the current global health crisis that will continue to affect people’s lives and the practice of church planting.
He ended the presentation by talking about the next steps that Disciples can take after the pandemic, urging them to change the metrics, adopt new mental models, and develop a process of hybridity where new models of church planting can grow.
Regional representatives and others participating in the chat continued the conversation about metrics, sharing what they’ve each learned about defining metrics within one’s context and vision/mission and letting data tell a story instead of assigning a passing or failing grade. As one participant noted,
“God says, ‘Well done good and faithful servant,’ not ‘well done good and successful servant.’”
Terrell opened the third and last day of the Summit explaining the purpose and process for the Implementation Strategizing unconference of the morning. An ‘unConference’ is an informal gathering of collaborators/participants who set the agenda for an event focused on discussion.
“We’re going to decide on our topics now for the discussion groups that follow,” he explained. “We’ll follow the rule of two feet, meaning you can go in and out of different conversation huddles, but we’re trying to get to a place of strategic thinking.”
It was impressed on participants that every conversation should arrive at a goal. Also, that this exercise was seeking the contributions of ‘butterflies’ (those moving easily from conversation to conversation) rather than ‘bulldogs (individuals dominating group conversation).
The subjects developed during Topic Brainstorming included:
What does church look like after COVID-19?
How do we make church cross-generational?
How can we build sustainable new churches?
How can dying churches help plant new churches?
How do we make all congregations immigrant-welcoming?
How do we recruit for and assess new churches?
How do we make regional new church teams stronger?
How do we build multi-diverse, inclusive congregations?
As in day two of the Summit, the strategy huddles had an hour to prepare, discussing their topics in detail, and arriving at their recommended goals. Unlike in day two, these huddles were not followed by pitches. Instead, participants elected to submit their discussion notes and goals to New Church Ministry for consideration and documentation.
Following a break, Terrell identified eight tactical teams that would implement new church movement strategies related to the list of topics developed during brainstorming. All participants were asked to sign up for two teams to continue working on the evolution of the new church movement post-summit. The tactical teams include:
Near the conclusion of the Summit, DCEF President Rick Reisinger thanked all attendees for the three days of time, effort, and ideas they contributed to the future of the new church movement.
“My hope is that we can expand our collaboration in making Disciples in the world,” he said. “I look forward to a re-imagined and energized new church movement.”
Terrell then closed the Summit with an impassioned plea for all to actively participate in the Multiply Movement. Quoting Mark 9:23, he said, “all things are possible to him that believes.” He then referenced the Great Commission and our denomination’s charge to ‘go and make Disciples.’
“That is in our DNA. It’s who we are as Disciples,” he said. “Every member of a congregation is responsible for making disciples, not just the pastor. In fact, some believe you’re not a disciple, until you’ve made a disciple.”
Recalling the goal he set forth at the 2019 General Assembly of making 1,000,000 new disciples by 2030, Terrell noted that while that’s a big number some feel it’s not big enough. Jose Martinez agreed, noting that five years ago 57,000,000 Americans were religiously unaffiliated.
“Surely, that number is even bigger now,” he noted. “So, maybe we should be setting the bar higher.”
To make a million or more new disciples over the next ten years one thing is certain: a covenantal direction for the New Church Movement relevant to current realities and next normals is a must. The New Church Summit, with its three days of presentations, strategy huddles and pitch exercises, was just the first step.
The New Church Ministry team met Rev. Debbie Griffin, the Senior Minister of Downtown Disciples, last summer at General Assembly (GA). Since the pastor’s congregation is based in Des Moines, IA, it offered worship services, hosted pre-assembly activities for general ministries, prepared a meal for regional ministers, and chaired the local GA mission committee.
All of that as a new church planted in 2015.
To celebrate the culmination of the 2020 Vision goal to form 1,000 congregations within the first two decades of the 21st Century, we spoke with Rev. Debbie about Downtown Disciples.
I was about to give up on the Church. I love many things about it. I was raised in the Disciples Church. I love the faith. I love the stories of Jesus. But I was really frustrated that some folks within the Church were really challenging progressive theology. I just felt like the Church wasn’t being the inclusive, boundary-breaking, justice-loving presence of Christ in the world. I thought I would just go work in the nonprofit sector. I secured a position with the Interfaith Alliance of Iowa when I was called by the Region to consider a small congregation that needed a short-term interim minister. I started serving that church full of beautiful people and they really changed me. They were doing such great ministry, in western Iowa of all places, which is very conservative. This small church of faithful people was doing amazing work in the love of Christ. They had two queer women in leadership positions. They were serving a home-cooked meal to more than 100 people every Wednesday night, no questions asked, opening their doors and not pressuring people to be church in a certain way. A diverse group of people came for many reasons. Relationships were built. It was just organic, and it was ministry. They gave me hope for the Church. I thought to myself, “If this can happen in western Iowa, it can certainly happen in downtown Des Moines.” I thought, “there must be more people like me, who love Jesus and miss faith community, but whose theology is too progressive for most people.” So, I laid out a vision of starting as an LGBTQ+-affirming book club. We started with a book called SavingJesus From the Church by Robin Myers, who’s a UCC pastor. People came! We read one book, and then we read another book. Then we started serving meals at the homeless shelter down the street. Then we walked in the Pride Parade. Then we started doing a variety of other activities, going to our city council about policing and racial profiling. Pretty soon someone said, “When are we going to worship?” That’s when I knew we had a church.
The Pentecost Offering allows local Disciples to support new church plants like yours, across the United States and Canada. What does the Pentecost Offering mean to you as a church planter?
We wouldn’t exist if it weren’t for the Pentecost Offering. Downtown Disciples wouldn’t have had a place to worship that worked for us. We needed to be in a neutral place, because we’re reaching out to people who’ve been wounded and excluded from church. Also, we wanted to be in an urban setting. That costs money. Plus, we needed a full-time pastor to make this work. The Upper Midwest Region has been exceptionally supportive of us. Ultimately, they set out a three-year plan of sustainability for us. And the other people in our Region have been just as supportive of this amazing ministry.
The 2020 Vision prioritized forming 1,000 congregations in 1,000 different ways. What is the “way” your faith community demonstrates that diversity?
We didn’t start with worship. When we did decide to start worshiping, we were clear that we didn’t want to do so in a typical church building. At Pentecost, we’ll be five years old, and we’ve had three worship locations: a community center, a loft-type space above a music venue, and now a bakery. We also started out with worship on Sunday nights. Then as we grew, we added a Sunday morning worship. We also have a podcast called Like Micah, because our mission is Micah 6:8 – “do justice, love kindness, walk humbly.” We tell stories of our faith. We like to say we’re nimble, and we respond to the needs of the community. Most of our people were not coming to us through worship. They were coming to us at the wine bar when we were having Word Up Wednesdays. They were coming to us for Bible Geeks on Tuesday mornings at the local hip coffee shop. We were meeting up at a laundromat where we would just do random acts of kindness and hang out and be there with children’s books and food and quarters. People found us at other places that were easier entry points, and then once they could trust us, they would move to worship.
How would you define the progressive Christianity you promote?
We spell it out in our website. People who have been wounded or excluded by the church, need to know who you are. I’m specifically referring to LGBTQ+ people. They have gone to churches that say they’re welcoming, until you want to marry your beloved; or you want to be a leader in the church; or you want to attend seminary. So, when we say progressive, we mean LGBTQ+-affirming; we proclaim Black Lives Matter; we are curious about other faiths. We do not condemn or judge others, because Jesus calls us not to do that. And we are passionate about social justice.
What role do new faith communities have in the church?
They are the heartbeat of the church right now. I know that in the Upper Midwest Region, other Disciples churches that identify as traditional look to us. Oftentimes people worry the new churches are going to “replace” the traditional churches. I don’t see it that way. I see that we can be an outreach for traditional churches who see in us something that they love, but they can’t be right now. So, we become an outreach of their ministry. We currently have one church in the Upper Midwest Region that supports us financially. They send us part of their outreach budget. They send us a check every quarter because they can identify that we can do some things that they can’t do right now. I think we’re the hope for, not only people who have been excluded and wounded by church, but for traditional church people who see in us an opportunity to partner and extend their ministry.
Do you have any advice for people looking to plant a church?
What God is doing in new church is different in every single place. What worked for Downtown Disciples was unique to what God was doing here and is doing here in our time and our place. New church planting here is not the cookie-cutter for other new churches anywhere else. Still, some things are true for all church plants. I would say, don’t do it alone; listen to the Spirit and to the people who you’ve gathered. We wouldn’t be who we are without the people who gathered with us, allowing the Spirit to work through them.
How is your congregation responding to the coronavirus?
We worship and gather virtually. We share what type of bread we are breaking together in our homes during communion. We raised $1,000 for PPE, donating those funds to our local hospitals that need life-saving equipment. We continue to deliver supplies to our homeless neighbors, wearing face masks, gloves, and staying at a safe distance. We write cards to our friends who are isolated. We cook and deliver meals, flowers, and groceries to members who are quarantined or at high risk. In summary, we are still a movement for wholeness in this fragmented world. The Spirit still calls and empowers us to “do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly together.”
New faith communities like Downtown Disciples are supported by the Pentecost Offering. Half of the offering supports New Church Ministry to coach and train new church leaders. Half supports local Regions to sustain new churches. Join us in celebrating the 2020 Vision by making a gift through your congregation or the DMF website. This Special Day Offering is received on May 31 and June 7.
The city sits just north of a men’s prison, and is one of the areas in which formerly incarcerated individuals are released. South Pomona struggles with gang violence and drug abuse.
None of that was a deal-breaker for Rev. Al Lopez, the congregation’s Lead Pastor. He felt called to plant a new church where folks could be themselves and still belong.
In this New Church Ministry interview he shares how UrbanMission reframes church in the 21st Century.
What is UrbanMission?
We are a church without walls. We have several ministries that are interconnected and interdependent… plus we get together and worship.
In our Open Table gatherings, people from all walks of life create a sense of belonging and provide a free meal.
Rev. Nora Jacob, our Restorative Justice Minister, goes inside Chino State Prison every week and facilitates several groups. She also heads up the Reentry Coalition, which assists, and provides a place for, people coming out of incarceration.
In 2014, we founded UrbanMission Community Partners (a non-profit organization) with a vision and purpose that really aligns with that of the church, although it’s an independent entity.
So UrbanMission has been kind of like a seed planter. UrbanMission Community Partners takes those seeds and helps them grow.
What was the impetus for you to plant UrbanMission?
A few years before starting seminary, my theology began to change. As it expanded from the faith that I had grown up with, I found myself feeling less and less part of my community because of our different insights and interpretations of scripture. There’s a very dualistic way of understanding who’s in and who’s out.
When I received the call to start a church, I began meeting with Rev. Dr. Felix Villanueva, the Southern California Nevada Conference of the UCC, Conference minister. I indicated I felt the call to plant a church, but one where I belonged. I couldn’t find a community that I felt a part of, where I could be myself. The Southern California Nevada Conference really offered me the opportunity.
They essentially handed me the keys once we looked at the property. A congregation there had closed. Rev. Villanueva said, “You do what you feel God is calling you to do and just keep reporting to us. You’re part of our staff.” They’ve given us the freedom to really pursue this the way that we feel led.
I am Mexican American. I’ve learned in being part of the immigrant community that you don’t look at what you don’t have. You look at what you do have and make the best of it.
I had: an empty building, no people, no connections to the (local) community. So, I started looking at communities where I had connections.
I had just started seminary at Claremont School of Theology. I was meeting people who were passionate about several issues that overlapped with (the neighborhood’s) needs. (We discovered) an organic fit.
I happened to know Rev. Jacob through other regional work. She started our prison ministry.
I was introduced to Rev. Stephen Patten by the Disciples Seminary Foundation. Steven is our Community Wellness Minister, and in his role, he addresses drug abuse in our community.
My main focus is the Sunday morning congregation.
The three of us approach this planting of a new church as a team.
This collaborative leadership model is one other new churches use. How has it helped you be successful?
Our congregation is in a community that’s financially challenged. So, we knew going into this that we needed to approach church planting in a very entrepreneurial way. We were not going to be looking at the income from the Sunday morning gatherings as the main revenue in order to sustain the ministry and all the other work that we do. That shapes our understanding of leadership and what each individual contributes.
We recently had our very first church council meeting. It’s made up of people who had previously come to UrbanMission that had never even attended church, or had never been part of church leadership, or were against the thought of church. We’re playing into their strengths.
It has been a learning curve, especially because this past year was particularly difficult for me on a personal level. I haven’t been able to do the kind of training that I wanted to do. But that’s the wonderful thing about church. When you empower people, they take the ball and run with it.
So, they each bring their gifts — that has made us successful. The impact we’re having in our community has gone above and beyond what I ever thought possible.
How do you measure that impact?
We use some traditional metrics, such as: How many families are being fed? How many community groups are we housing in our Community Wellness Center? The more life-changing (measure) for me has been, how many lives have been transformed?
This woman showed up at one of the nonprofit’s art shows, where we highlight art created by people who were formerly incarcerated. This woman looked very familiar. Eventually, Nora pulled me aside and said, “You need to hear her story.”
We had her on camera sharing that she actually was one of our guests on Sundays. She was houseless and dealing with addiction, so the only reason why she was coming was because she was invited with no strings attached. Just welcomed. She took that and went from there, little by little. Now she is a counselor working with people that are still on the street. She’s completely turned her life around. She came back just to show her gratitude.
She said: “This is where my life changed because of the way that you greeted me and what you were providing.”
Our first moderator is the very first person that I met when I started in Pomona. When he found out that I was a pastor, he said, “I don’t want to offend you, but I don’t trust pastors.” We spent about six months developing a relationship over coffee, over food, over imagining what could happen in that place. Eventually he told me, “I want to be the first member of your congregation.”
He went from having some really serious legal issues that prevented him from working, to becoming a contractor, to owning his own company. He’s been very successful at it, giving great prices to a lot of our congregations in the area. His company was hired to remodel the Conference offices.
All of that from a conversation that started with us being vulnerable with each other. Me saying, “Hey, I need help. I don’t know anything about property,” and him saying, “I don’t trust church. Here are all the things I don’t like about church.” And me saying, “Hey, here are all of the things that I don’t like about church, either. A lot of them match up. How can we change that?”
Do you feel like being a hybrid church has helped you folks do ministry?
Both denominations have wonderful things going for them, and they both have their unique challenges. I think for those of us who are somewhere in between the Millennials and the Gen-Xers, we have the ability to be part of both worlds, speak both languages – think in both ways. It gives us freedom to not be shackled by some of the things that would hold others back.
Case in point, I was asked, “What about baptism? What about communion?” Those two happened to be some of the contentious areas between both denominations. At that point, baptism was far into the future. But I said we will teach what both bodies believe, and then we will leave that up to the person to decide.
Having the congregation be in community with other churches both within our denomination and outside helps them see the way that they’ve been growing up in their faith with us. Sometimes a congregation from a well-to-do area will drop off donations. In the conversations after, one of our people will say, “Did you notice that they kept saying that they’re helping us?” It’s a very transactional way of doing mission work. They are able to tell the difference between the way that we approach it and the way that some other churches do.
How is UrbanMission responding to the COVID-19 pandemic?
Our leadership struggled to find an appropriate response that would honor our commitment to our community, while also ensuring the safety of our volunteers. We decided to continue supporting our community via an “Outdoor Open Table.” This includes distributing dinner in to-go containers and limiting contact as much as possible. Our food pantry continues to work with our partners to provide emergency food services during this time.
What do you see in UrbanMission’s future?
We’re just about to start talking with both denominations about the UrbanMission Training Center. We have learned lessons that can help a lot of churches, both established and new churches, even nonprofits. Several of us are trained coaches now, so we would do some coaching. And that’s actually really transformed the way I approach ministry, by just asking deep questions and just doing a lot of listening. It’s very much walking with, instead of trying to lead. I think that’s one of the things that the Church really needs to own.
Is there anything you want to add?
The importance of vulnerability. I mean, we follow a man that, depending on where your Christology is, made himself, time after time, vulnerable with those that he was with. It’s something that we’re trying to emulate. I think that has been part of UrbanMission’s success. We don’t see ourselves as an institution, but as part of a community.
UrbanMission, and the 1,034+ new churches–and counting–that have formed or become affiliated with the Disciples since 2001, are supported by the Pentecost Offering. Half of this Special Day Offering is used by New Church Ministry to coach and train new church leaders, and the other half is used by local Regions to sustain new churches. Join us in celebrating the 2020 Vision by making a gift online or through your congregation when this Special Day Offering is received on May 31 and June 7.

domain: sociology


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Community Arts Worker Zoe Murdoch from the East Lothian Arts Service has created a group on Facebook called Postcards From Isolation – A Covid Diary.
The Covid Diary Facebook group is an opportunity to document the day-to-day lives of local residents living through these historic and unusual times.
From social distancing to lockdown, Covid 19 has changed the way we all work, shop, play and live our lives. The pictures you put up celebrate the tenacity of the human spirit through the hard, boring, funny and the amazing.
It is a chance to depict the art of living and the creativity that comes from confinement. Put up your art projects, ideas, baking experiments and share your day to day life.
Visit A Covid Diary Facebook page here.

domain: artistic


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A legal challenge is well-within the realm of possibility should the Republican redistricting plan be adopted, according to leaders of the Democratic caucus of the Chautauqua County Legislature. In a press release, Democrats said the Republican plan was drafted behind closed doors with an outside political consultant, and that if violates Section Ten of state municipal law by ignoring municipal boundaries and drawing gerrymandered lines for the express purpose of protecting certain incumbents of the majority party.
On behalf of the Democratic Caucus, Assistant Minority Leader Lori Cornell urged the public to demand that the majority leadership consider the alternative plan submitted by Minority Leader Rudy Mueller last week that follows the law.
"Or better yet," suggested Cornell, "why not actually even work together on a joint plan that both complies with the law and provides for a downsized, more efficient legislature? Bipartisanship and cooperation need not be such a novel concept."
Lone Independence Party member Legislator Scot Stutzman agreed with Cornell's suggested approach, the release said.
''Redistricting is far too important of a process, only happening once every 10 years, to fall victim to this kind of political nonsense 'Working together' does not mean one party showing up at the eleventh hour with a self-serving map already in hand to hoodwink the other party - and with an illegal plan, no less," he said.
Legislator Paula DeJoy further backed the caucus' legal concerns: "We agree with County Attorney Steve Abdella that we should abide by municipal law and keep towns and villages as whole as possible. It makes sense and is in the best interest of the residents we serve to consider natural community boundaries," Legislator DeJoy said. "How can a legislator possibly well-represent a district with competing interests and needs?"
Legislator Tom DeJoe added that the Republican plan was drawn in such a way that in several cases, representatives of one municipality will represent another very dissimilar, distant municipality. In referencing several of the gerrymandered districts, he questioned "What does Villenova have in common with village of Fredonia? How can the residents of the village of Westfield be expected to relate to the residents of Findley Lake? How can we lump together the people of Lakewood with the people of Frewsburg? This plan undermines these residents' right to fair and equitable representation ... just to name a few."
Cornell concluded: "The Republican plan violates municipal law. Plain and simple. If it wasn't a law, and merely a guideline as Majority Leader Barmore has claimed in a recently published comment, it wouldn't be listed as such under state statute. And while I will not profess to be an attorney, I do take seriously my job as a legislator to do what's fair and right for my constituents - and in this case, that includes following the law first and foremost. This plan, if adopted, will certainly be challenged in court which will put us back to square one. It would be a shame to further set-back the county's progress toward legislature reduction. It would be an even further shame to open up taxpayers to footing that legal bill."

domain: news


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The concepts of vocal ranges are crucial for singers to fully comprehend their voices. This knowledge will help them appreciate their unique abilities, enabling them to explore a diverse and extensive repertoire that suits their talents and aspirations.
Baritones, possessing a naturally rich and warm tonal quality, have the remarkable capability to convey an exceptionally broad spectrum of emotions and musical expressions. This encompasses everything from the profound and resonant depths of the bass-baritone to the remarkably nimble and lyrically expressive qualities inherent to the lyric baritone. The dramatic phrases particular to the baritone range, in all its nuanced diversity, stand as a veritable treasure trove of artistic potential, offering an extensive and versatile palette for singers coming from a multitude of musical genres to explore, experiment, and excel.
In other words, baritones get the best of both worlds.
The repertoire of baritones is as varied as the subcategories. They are featured in various musical genres including opera, classical, jazz, musical theater, and contemporary music. It’s because of their ability to portray a wide range of emotions that baritones are cast in such a wide field of rolesThe baritone voice type category holds many popular singers from the past such as Frank Sinatra and Nat King Cole, as well as contemporary baritones such as Michael Buble, and Hozier. Famous operatic baritones include Gerald Finley, Friedrich Schorr, Placido Domingo, and Sherrill Milnes, as well as many others, some of which we will dive a little deeper into throughout this article.
Understanding the Bass-Baritone Range
Famous roles operatic that bass-baritones sing Escamillo from George Bizet’s Carmen, Porgy from George Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess, and Wotan from Wagner’s The Ring of the Nibelung (Der Ring des Nibelungen). Of course, we couldn’t get by without mentioning at least one Wagner piece since he’s really the one who stretched the bass voice type and the baritone voice type into something that suited his needs.
Bass-baritones didn’t truly exist until Wagner started requiring a consistent high part for bass singers. Bass-baritone singers can be seen as either low baritones or high basses. The qualities of their voice tend to align more with baritones while being able to reach much lower depths. The bass-baritone loses some of the power and resonance in the lowest part of his range, but it’s made up for by the light, baritone, color, and agility that is highly prized.
Many bass-baritone voices have become world-renowned and beloved by listeners anywhere. Samuel Ramey has commanded roles impressively for more than three decades. Bryn Terfel is perhaps the most famous Welsh singer in the world. Bryn has made history as a brilliant bass-baritone, even performing at the coronation of Charles III.
As you can see, bass-baritones, though sometimes referred to as high basses or low baritones, are distinct in their own way. They are powerful and full of rich resonance. The roles they play in opera, choral music modern music, and musical theater are critical and moving possessing the crowd with a sort of awe.
Exploring the Lyric Baritone Voice
Lyric Baritones, as the name implies, have sweet, mild-sounding baritone voices. They lack the harshness that we typically associate with baritones. Their range (A2 to G4) falls almost exactly inside the typical baritone range (G2-G4).
Lyric baritones can often be found playing comic roles in opera as well as lead roles. This is due to their vocal agility and light tone that can imply innocence or mischief in turn.
Some popular roles include Count Almaviva from Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro, Don Giovanni from Mozart’s Don Giovanni, Figaro from Rossini’s The Barber of Seville, and Morales from Bizet’s Carmen.
As you can see, this type of male voice has so much versatility and expressive capabilities. They’re characterized by smooth, melodious qualities that strike the perfect balance between richness and agility while maintaining a warm, inviting timbre. Lyric baritones have an uncanny ability to convey emotion through both lyric phrasing and nuanced interpretation that are necessary when approaching classical music.
Thomas Hampson is a well-recognized, incredibly innovative lyric baritone of our time. He has received numerous honors for his artistry and leadership in the music world. He has performed more than 80 roles in operatic music! A few of Hampson’s roles include Don Alfonso in Mozart’s Così fan tutte, Jan Vermeer in the world premiere of Stefan Wirth’s Girl with a Pearl Earring, and the title role of Rufus Wainwright’s Hadrian,
Dmitri Hvorostovsky, another one of the greats, passed away too young at the age of 55. During his career, he became one of the world’s most extraordinary operatic performers. Hvorostovsky performed Prince Yeletsky in Tchaikovsky’s Queen of Spades, a role that showcased his perfected sound and astounding breath control, Germont in La Traviata, Andrei in War and Peace, Rodrigo in Don Carlo, Count Anckarström in Un Ballo in Maschera, Count di Luna in Il Trovatore, and the title roles of Don Giovanni, Rigoletto, and Eugene Onegin, as well as many others!
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Dramatic baritones generally have darker, larger voices capable of supporting lower notes than their lyric buddies. They are recognized for their ability to command a role with powerful vocal capabilities. Dramatic baritones possess a rich timbre that allows them to deliver complex melodies with remarkable strength.
Dramatic baritones are a distinctive and commanding voice type within the world of opera and classical music. Renowned for their vocal power and resonance, they occupy a unique niche between the deep bass-baritones and the more lyrical voices of the baritone spectrum. There is a celebration reserved for the intense emotions and complex, often heroic characters that are reserved for the dramatic baritones to portray on the operatic stage.
In fact, that’s one of the ways a dramatic baritone is so easily recognizable. Their capacity to deliver impassioned performances that move the audience is incredible. Their vocal range tackles the highs and lows with enough versatility to take on a wide range of characters. Dramatic baritones excel in emotionally challenging roles such as Verdi’s Rigoletto or Macbeth. They way their voices captivate the audience with authority adds a layer of intensity to the storytelling that makes the experience of hearing them impossible to forget.
The dramatic baritone category corresponds roughly to the Heldenbariton in the German voice type system, except that some Verdi baritone roles are not included. It is important to note that Verdi baritones are sometimes seen as dramatic baritones that have less difficulty in the upper register. Because the Verdi baritone is sometimes seen as a subcategory of the dramatic baritone, some singers can pick and perform roles from both sets of repertoire.
Titta Ruffo, whose real name was Ruffo Cafiero Titta, was a dramatic baritone voice to be reckoned with. He was considered the only male singer who could rival the world-famous tenor, Enrico Caruso of the early 20th century. Ruffo was self-taught, and, unfortunately, his astounding voice was burned out by the time he was 50 years old. However, his lack of formal training didn’t stop him from playing lead roles such as Rigoletto, Barnaba, Carlos, and Rigoletto in the prime years of his career.
Falk Struckmann is another lead baritone who is not to be overlooked. He has a vast repertoire, including great Wagnerian roles such as Dutchman from The Flying Dutchman, King Henry from Lohengrin, King Marke from Tristan and Isolde, and Hans Sach from The Master Singers of Nuremberg. There is so much else that Struckmann has performed and excelled at that it would take far too long to list them all. He has performed on the greatest European and American stages as well as worked with conductors of high acclaim.
Vocal Range of the Baritone Voice
A baritone is the most common male voice type. It may be common, but it’s not ordinary. As a matter of fact, the baritone voice has much weight and power that gives a distinctly strong sound.
The tricky thing about baritones is that their voice type isn’t ever covered in choir settings. Baritons either sit in with the tenors and struggle with the highest notes or sit with the basses and struggle with the lowest notes. There isn’t a call for “baritone” in a four-part harmony. If you are a baritone, choose a section, but don’t try to force the extremes of your range. Just do what you can and let the rest of the section help you out.
There are many good exercises out there that focus on different things and shine a light on different strengths and weaknesses. Here are just a few exercises you can do to keep your voice healthy and help your baritone range thrive in any setting:
A good rule of thumb is that short-distance scales tend to build tone, strength, and control, while wider or longer scales tend to extend the range. Some singing exercises that can be used to extend your range include lip trills, fire engine sirens, tongue trills, working with vocal fry, and making sure your jaw and neck muscles are relaxed.
For lip trills – also called lip buzz or lip rolls – vibrate your lips by blowing air through them while making a humming sound. Gradually increase the range as your warm-up progresses, and increase and duration of the trill, as well.
Sirens glide smoothly up and down your range while maintaining a consistent tone. Any breaks in your voice should be smoothed out as your warm-up continues. Always avoid strain and tension. Since a piano is not needed for this exercise, you can do it at any time.
Many famous opera singers are baritone and beloved for their delightful pairing of dark tones and striking agility. Matthias Goerne, for example, was a member of Dresden Opera and has played a memorable Wozzeck. He is mainly revered for his peerless Lieder singing. He was a pupil of the great Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, he has a uniquely rich voice that brought uncharted depth to Schwanegesang and Winterreise. It’s been said that few male singers had such a rich palette of colors as Goerne.
Roderick Williams is another incredibly well-known baritone who took the world by storm. He is an English composer as well as a singer and is known for his sophisticated voice and intelligent interpretations.
There are several subcategories of baritone that we didn’t talk about in the article, such as the noble baritone or the Baryton-Martin baritone, that explore different colors and slightly different ranges of the baritone voice. In opera, baritones often play the roles of generals and noblemen such as the title roles of Don Giovanni, Rigoletto, and Nabucco.
The concept of vocal range isn’t something to set aside for later. Understanding it enables singers to explore and expand their repertoire to include entire worlds they might have otherwise been missing. It helps with the singer’s goals, allowing them to find specific ways to better their voice and specific songs to sing that bring out their best. Knowing and understanding your vocal range is important to truly embracing your voice. The baritone range is its own world of artistic potential, offering a vast diversity of palette, range, performance, and style.
Each baritone voice type has unique strengths and capabilities that allow them to explore diverse repertoire and roles. These roles are designed to allow baritones to showcase their range and versatility. It is crucial to have professional guidance, such as vocal coaching or lessons, to develop and define your baritone voice. Especially since this voice type isn’t addressed in choral settings, one-on-one teaching is essential to protecting and refining your voice.
No one voice type, baritone, bass, soprano, tenor, and so on, is more important than the other, or more unique. The musical world is made up of every kind of voice and all the little differences that make humans individual from one another and music worth traversing. The way all voices work together is a testament to humanity’s ability to work together and create something beautiful despite our differences.


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- Elsevier Science 1984; US$ 72.95
Principles of Water Quality presents the fundamental environmental processes that regulate the movement of materials in natural systems. This book is composed of 10 chapters that cover the chemical and microbiological processes that are operative on organic and inorganic constituents in water. This text deals first with water quality concepts, the... more...
- Wiley 2013; US$ 185.00
Water is one of the essential resources on our planet. Therefore, fresh water and the recycling of waste-water are very important topics in various areas. Energy-saving green technologies are a demand in this area of research. Photocatalysis comprises a class of reactions which use a catalyst activated by light. These reactions include the decomposition... more...
- Edward Elgar Publishing 2013; US$ 40.00
This insightful book explores urban water governance challenges in different parts of the world and highlights the advantages and disadvantages of public run, privatised, and public - private partnership managed water facilities. The contributors expertly discuss various types of public and private water governance architectures as well as identify... more...
- Elsevier Science 2012; US$ 72.95
Principles of Desalination focuses on the principles of the developing technology of large-scale desalting. This book presents the principal desalting methods and explores the process of hyperfiltration or reverse osmosis. Comprised of 11 chapters, this book starts with an overview of the water use and the problem of a potential water shortage. This... more...

domain: library


Stay on target
Back in January, Rocksteady Studios released the final DLC for Batman: Arkham Knight. This update featured a piano inside of Wayne Manor that, when played, revealed a hidden wall that was covered with mysterious writing. For nearly nine months no one had any idea what this all signified, but today we’ve learned that it was actually a cleverly hidden Easter Egg that outlines the basic plot of Batman Arkham VR.
At the time, no one knew what they were looking at because Arkham VR wasn’t even announced. It is unclear who made the connection first, but someone on Reddit spotted it yesterday and posted about it. The only way one would know the wall in Wayne Manor had a connection to Arkham VR is if they had played the game on PlayStation VR for themselves.
Rocksteady has actually done something like this before. Batman: Arkham Asylum (the first game in the Arkham series) had a hidden room that contained plans for an “Arkham City.” This of course was a tease for the follow-up game — Batman: Arkham City.
It would be easy to assume Rocksteady already had plans to release a VR Arkham game while Arkham Knight was in development, but that isn’t necessarily the case. As was reported at the time, Batman: Arkham Knight was supposed to be their final Batman game. The idea to have this Easter Egg in the game came months after Arkham Knight was already released.
Rocksteady Studios proves once again that it is the master of hiding clues in plain sight. Could Batman: Arkham VR be hiding any secrets about an upcoming title? We know Rocksteady is moving on from Batman but that doesn’t mean clues about an as-of-yet unannounced game aren’t hidden within Arkham VR. Internet sleuths, you know what you have to do.
Batman Arkham VR is available now on PlayStation VR.


text:
The Essence of Korean
"'The Pure Love of Nature" by Mrs. DongWon Keum
Dong Won Keum's
artistic achievements can best be described as uncommon.
Born in Seoul, Korea, she has lived her life as a city woman. In fact, Keum was one of only a half-dozen female artists in Korea to achieve a high level of recognition in her homeland before she and her three sons emigrated to the United States in 1975, where she then lived in New York for twenty years. Yet, despite the urban environment of her surroundings, Keum's brush paintings capture the wild beauty of the nameless plants and wild flowers of the field, as well as contemplative scenes of the countryside.
The active harmony that balances her naturalistic light and color with subject matter is best described as painted poetry, and reveals the literary side of this versatile artist. It is noteworthy that while only in her thirties, Keum was the sole female member of the literary coterie magazine Munjang-ga (People of Letters), sponsored by the poet Lee Sang-ro, cultural editor of the Dong-a Daily.
The inclusion of insects, such as grasshoppers and dragonflies, lends a seasonal mood to many of Keum's works, while the artist's sensitive treatment of landscape demonstrates an autobiographical aspect of her life through a recurring theme on the lonely mind of herself. Dong Won Keum's liberation from worldliness has reached a Taoist dimension in her naturalistic approach to painting. Through it, she declares that what cannot be priced in the earthly world is the most priceless.


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The global Dermatophytic Onychomycosis Therapeutics Market is estimated to grow at the rate of 7.6% in the upcoming period by the year 2026. Integration with virtual reality solutions is expected to rule the roost in the forecast period. Augmented reality could be used for accessing information as well as reports while handling patients or without having to leave their existing operations, that too, in a completely hands-free mode, through voice command, or making supportive data appear automatically. This would be the healthcare vertical in future.
According to the latest report published by Persistence Market Research titled “Dermatophytic Onychomycosis Therapeutics Market: Global Industry Analysis 2013–2017 and Forecast 2018–2026,” the dermatophytic onychomycosis therapeutics market in terms of value is expected to grow at a CAGR of 7.6% during the forecast period.
Dermatophytic onychomycosis also known as tinea guinea can have certain negative effects on patients, such as pain, and can potentially undermine their work and social lives. Moreover, the infection might spread to surrounding skin.
Get Sample Copy of this Report @ https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/5840
- Bausch Health
- Galderma S.A.
- Novartis AG
- Pfizer, Inc.
- Moberg Pharma AB
- Bayer AG
- Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories Ltd.
- Cipla Ltd.
- Medimetriks Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
- Sanofi S.A.
- GlaxoSmithKline Plc.
- Teva Pharmaceutical industries Ltd.
- Cardinal Health Inc.
- Viatris Inc.
- Almirall, S.A
The condition isn’t considered life-threatening, but may result in physical and occupational limitations, because of which more and more number of people are opting for the treatment of their infected, thick, and cracked nails. This, in turn, is driving growth of the market for dermatophytic onychomycosis therapeutics.
The global dermatophytic onychomycosis therapeutics market based on product type has been segmented into tablets and nail paints, which is again sub-segmented into prescription (Rx) and over-the-counter. The nail paint segment is expected to contribute maximum share in the global dermatophytic onychomycosis therapeutics market and expand at a CAGR of 8.1% during the forecast period.
Based on treatment type, the global dermatophytic onychomycosis therapeutics market has been segmented into topical and oral. The topical is projected to be the dominant segment throughout the forecast period, accounting for around 70% share of the global dermatophytic onychomycosis therapeutics market by 2026.
Based on end users, the global dermatophytic onychomycosis therapeutics market has been segmented into hospitals, clinics, independent pharmacies, mail order pharmacies and drug stores. The drug stores & independent pharmacies segments are estimated to be the large segments, which collectively accounted approximately 54% share of the global dermatophytic onychomycosis therapeutics market in 2017. The independent pharmacies segment is expected to register a high CAGR growth during the forecast period. The drug stores was the second most attractive segment in the global dermatophytic onychomycosis therapeutics market in 2017.
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The growth of the market is primarily driven by factors such as increase in the prevalence of fungal toe nail infections in the U.S. and Canada, and rising per capita healthcare expenditure across the globe. Dermatophytic onychomycosis is common in the elderly, with prevalence rates as high as 20% in those over 60 years of age and 30% in those over 70.
Thus increasing geriatric population is the most important factor that is expected to drive growth of the dermatophytic onychomycosis therapeutics market over the forecast period. Easy application of nail paints is also expected to drive the demand for dermatophytic onychomycosis therapeutics. Another factor fueling the growth of dermatophytic onychomycosis therapeutics market is the growing preference of dermatophytic onychomycosis therapeutics by podiatrists and dermatologists.
Rise in diagnosis of the nail infection has raised awareness regarding the fungal infection of nails and dermatophytic onychomycosis therapeutics. Besides, increasing awareness regarding dermatophytic onychomycosis therapeutics amongst podiatrists and dermatologists has led to a rise in demand for effective medications. However, adverse effects such as headache, dizziness, nausea, stomach ache, etc., associated with antifungal drugs have made people more skeptical about practicing a systemic therapy for nails.
Moreover, the topical agents also causes rash and itchiness in the surrounding skin. These side effects are hampering the acceptance of dermatophytic onychomycosis therapeutics for the treatment of moderate to severe dermatophytic onychomycosis associated with anti-fungal therapeutics. Another factor impeding the growth of dermatophytic onychomycosis therapeutics is lack of awareness regarding dermatophytic onychomycosis therapeutics and dermatophytic onychomycosis itself.
There is a general lack of awareness regarding the disease, its possible causes, symptoms etc. People in some African, European, Gulf, and Asian countries are still ignorant about their diseased nails. There is a general perception among patients that the thickened nail would get cured by itself after sometime. Thus, lack of awareness is also a major factor hindering growth of the onychomycosis therapeutics market currently.
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Geographically, the global dermatophytic onychomycosis therapeutics market is segmented into five major regions, namely North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Middle East & Africa (MEA). North America was the dominant regional market for dermatophytic onychomycosis therapeutics and is expected to follow the same trend over the forecast period. The Europe market for dermatophytic onychomycosis therapeutics is expected to account for second large share followed by Asia Pacific.
North America and Europe collectively are expected to account for over 60% share of the global dermatophytic onychomycosis therapeutics market over the forecast period. MEA and Latin America are expected to be the fast-growing regions in the global dermatophytic onychomycosis therapeutics market due to growing healthcare efforts.
Dermatophytic Onychomycosis Therapeutics Market: Key Players
Examples of some of the key players operating in the global dermatophytic onychomycosis therapeutics market are Valeant Pharmaceuticals Inc, Galderma S.A., Novartis AG, Pfizer Inc, Moberg Pharma AB, Johnson & Johnson Services Inc, Bayer AG, Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories Ltd, Cipla Ltd, and Medimetriks Pharmaceuticals Inc.
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Insomnia Treatment Market
Insomnia Treatment Market is projected to register a promising CAGR of 5.2% in terms of value during the forecast period 2018-2026. By the end of 2026, the market will possibly reach over a value worth US$ 7.5 billion.
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PMR estimates of U.S. Bacterial Conjunctivitis Drugs Market – CAGR of 2.7% for 2012-2018; it is likely to dwindle down to -3.73% during the next half of the forecast period i.e. 2018-2024.
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text:
Dungeons & Dragons a visionary tabletop role-playing game. First published in 1947 Tactical Studies Rules, Inc and initially designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson. Now let’s talk about our title on how to calculate 5e point buy in dungeons & dragons?
A Point Buy system is a process that takes control of your ability score without any arbitrary of the dice. Now coming to the 5e Point Buy system. 5e Point Buy system is the third process of deciding ability scores that are explained on page 13 of the Player’s Manual. Originally Point Buy begins every single PC out with an 8 in each of the 6 ability scores. You can increase each stat by using the 27 points that are specified to each user.
Working Of Point Buy In Dungeons & Dragons
Having 25 points to roll out to all abilities. With ability scores of 14 or lower, you have to buy additional points on a 1-for-1 basis and ability scores higher than 14, it costs a little more.
Skills Required To Start With Dungeons & Dragons 5e
For the first Level – you start with (2 + Int Modifier) * 4 skill points. Failure of level and supposing your Int is not changed at Level 4 or 8 as a Sorcerer’s casting attribute is a Charm.
Introducing Dungeons & Dragons 5e Points Buy Calculator
Gameplanpress is an online platform providing a Dragons 5e Points Buy Calculator used to calculate the ability score of Dungeons and Dragons 5th edition. They are offering a very easy to use calculator which helps you to count the ability score in just a few simple clicks. The calculator has power, agility, constitution, intellect, wisdom, and charm attributes.
How Dungeons & Dragons 5e Points Buy Calculator
Dragons 5e Points Buy Calculator is a simple utensil that permits the users to easily make a character with point buy without putting themselves in all the math.
- Permits you to choose any race and then put in the points and begin calculating the ability score.
- Combining the stat points and correct them anytime you want while also grows the ability score.
- Notification for reaching max limits of the points
- Easy to use options, plainly highlights lower, standard, high points for every race, and add racial points.

domain: game


text:
Reliable schedule of prayer times for Morro Do Chapeu, Brazil for today and the current month - . The exact start time of each five mandatory prayers (Fajr, Dhuhr, Asr, Maghrib, Isha) is calculated according to the Muslim World League method. Asr-Salah period is determined according to Hanafi Madhhab. You can change the calculation methods used in the .
Prayer Times in Morro Do Chapeu, Brazil
Upcoming Prayer Dhuhr —
- Fajr Dawn
- Shuruq Sunrise
- Dhuhr Midday
- Asr Afternoon
- Maghrib Sunset
- Isha Night
Based on: Muslim World League, Hanafi
Namaz times in Morro Do Chapeu for June 2023
Frequently Asked QuestionsCities near Morro Do Chapeu
How is Morro Do Chapeu Namaz times Calculated?
Prayer times in Morro Do Chapeu are set according to canonical formulas, taking into account the geographical coordinates of a location and the sun’s ☀ position on a particular day.
What time is Jummah prayer?
The time of Islamic Jummah prayer coincides with the time of midday Salah. This prayer is performed in mosques on Fridays.
Xique Xique Senhor Do Bonfim Riachao Do Jacuipe Piritiba Irece Seabra Santaluz Itaberaba Vera Cruz Jaguarari Capim Grosso Ipira Pindobacu Ruy Barbosa Jacobina Tapiramuta Iacu Campo Formoso
Morro Do Chapéu Qibla Direction
- Qibla Angle: 0
- Qibla Angle for Compass: 0
- Kaaba Distance: 0
- Location: -11.54852, -41.15804


text:
A fateful event leads to a job in the film business for top mixed-martial arts instructor Mike Terry. Though he refuses to participate in prize bouts, circumstances conspire to force him to consider entering such a competition.
Rocky has been holding the title as the heavyweight champion until he is defeated by a brutal challenger, and now must regain his fighting spirit through a big rematch, trained by an unlikely ally: his old nemesis Apollo Creed.
The youngest son of an alcoholic former boxer returns home, where he's trained by his father for competition in a mixed martial arts tournament - a path that puts the fighter on a collision corner with his older brother.
Is there room for principle in Los Angeles? Mike Terry teaches jujitsu and barely makes ends meet. His Brazilian wife, whose family promotes fights, wants to see Mike in the ring making money, but to him competition is degrading. A woman sideswipes Mike's car and then, after an odd sequence of events, shoots out the studio's window. Later that evening, Mike rescues an action movie star in a fistfight at a bar. In return, the actor befriends Mike, gives him a gift, offers him work on his newest film, and introduces Mike's wife to his own - the women initiate business dealings. Then, things go sour all at once, Mike's debts mount, and going into the ring may be his only option. Written by
Popular MMA trainer Pat Militech served as a consultant on this film. See more »
When Ricardo comes out from behind the curtain the red band on his belt is on the right side. Then when the camera changes it's on the left side. See more »
Tie him up.
The hands are not the issue. The fight is the issue. The battle is the issue. Who imposes the terms of the battle will impose the terms of the peace. Think he has a handicap? No. The other guy has a handicap if he cannot control himself. You control yourself, you control him.
Take him to court.
See more »
Voce Nao Me Ve
Written by Rebecca Pidgeon and David Mamet
Portuguese translation by Luciana Souza
Published by Dwight Street Music (BMI), Bella Panorama Music (BMI) and Songs of Windswept Pacific (BMI)
All rights on behalf of Dwight Street Music, Bella Panorama Music administered by Songs of Windswept Pacific
Performed by Luciana Souza See more »
Good Action, also good acting......a little shaky throughout.
This is certainly an entertaining movie. The action was really fun to watch. There was nothing unbelievable, which was a nice change for a martial arts film. The acting was even good. The issue I had, was it was a little shaky coming down the runway. You had characters dropping out, and a little of the dialog was strange. Overall, I would recommend it. Nice to watch. On a personal preference level, not a fan of the ending, but I may be alone on that. This is not like any other film I have seen. I give it a 9 for originality. I give it a 8 for action. I give it a 7 for plot, and a 4 for ending. Thanks, I hope you enjoy(ed) the movie!!
10 of 17 people found this review helpful.
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Scathing report on Airport Parkway bridge tabled
City manager has authority to fire staff over troubled project, city lawyer says
Mayor Jim Watson called the long-delayed pedestrian and cycling bridge over the Airport Parkway an embarrassment to the City of Ottawa as a scathing report about the troubled project was tabled at the Finance and Economic Development Committee on Tuesday.
"There will be procedural changes required, there will be policy changes required and, most crucially, there will be mindset changes required," Watson said. "The city needs to plan, measure and exert control each step of the way in every project so that we avoid these types of problems in the future."
The SEG Management Consultants report detailed project "deficiencies," which resulted in a schedule delay of three years, and saw the cost balloon from $6.9 million to $11.55 million. The bridge is now expected to be completed in late 2014.
The independent firm was hired to do a third-party review of the city's project management of the bridge. The review could find no document to assess the accountability of any of the managers and no performance indicators to monitor the delivery of the project.
A city lawyer advised the committee before the discussion about the bridge report that the city manager has the authority to discipline — even fire staff — over the mismanagement of the project. City manager Kent Kirkpatrick said the time for individual discipline and accountability will come later — after a review of the report.