1. On this day, New Amsterdam was given freedom of worship in 1644. And Franz Gruber, composer, died in 1863. Our reading is "The Resignation" by Chatterton.
  2. On this day, Christina of Sweden abdicated the throne in 1654 and the YMCA was founded in 1844. Our reading is from Isaac of Ninevah.
  3. Today we remember the festival of St. Boniface who died in 754 and the birthday of Justus Jonas, Lutheran reformer, born on this day in 1493. Our reading is "The Crucifixion" by Malcolm Guite.
  4. Pump the hate brakes, Riley! This week, Gillespie and Riley begin a four-episode discussion on how to judge a hymn. In the first installment, they look at Amazing Grace and ask: "Is this a great, good, or bad hymn?" What makes a Christian hymn great? What should a church do with bad hymns?
  5. On this day we remember Sigmind Mowinckel and his scholarship on the Psalms. We also remember Davenport's Fundamental Articles which sought to create a Christian utopia. Our reading is "No It's Not" by Anna Krugovoy Silver.
  6. On this day Abelard was pronounced guilty of heresy in 1140 and Francke's orphanage opened in 1694. Our reading is "Oh What Their Joy" by Abelard.
  7. Today we remember the birthday of Henry VIII, born 1491 AD, and we recognize the Martyrs of Lyon who died in 175 AD. Our reading is from Chapter V of the Epistle to Diognetus, a second century AD description of Christians.
  8. On this day we remember the feast of Justin Martyr and Mary Dyer who died on this date in 1660. Our reading is "When in mid-air, the golden trump shall sound" by John Dryden.
  9. On this day we remember St. Petronilla, Alexander Cruden, and Joachim Neander. Our reading is "Ascension" by John Donne.
  10. On this day the church father Eusebius died in 336 and Joan of Arc was burned in 1431. Our reading is "Late Results" by Scott Cairns.
  11. Today we remember the murder of Cardinal Beaton of Scotland in 1546 and the birth of G.K. Chesterton in 1874. Our reading is the first six stanzas from "The Nativity" by Chesterton.
  12. On this day we remember Margaret Pole and the addition of "under God" to the Pledge of Allegiance. Our reading is "Disgraceland" by Mary Karr.