KathyZog Destiny Offers Popular Music To Church Services

 

Second Life is more than just pixels, but also the people behind the thousands of avatars that make up our virtual world.  Today, we look at KathyZog Destiny. She is a longtime resident and an accomplished DJ, as well as a virtual church pastor who overcame a real-life disability. Netera Landar would interview her about how she came to Second Life, and what she does here. 

 

Read Netera's article in People.  

Cartoon of The Day: Let Us Spray

 

 Taken at the BBBC. Kylee Gracemount was sporting a skunk avatar. One of the problems with being one, is when something gets heard the wrong way. 

 

By Bisyl Shuftan

 

 

Cartoon of The Day: Happy Easter

 

 

 Taken at Amsterdam. So what do Easter bunnies pray for?

By Bixyl Shuftan

 

Wedding in The Deathlands

 

As a post-apocalyptic region that describes everyday life as a struggle to survive, one wouldn't expect the Deadlands to be the scene of a wedding. But it was. Rebel Wolf, the local baron, recently announced the place's first wedding. The Newser asked him how it went about.

Read more in People.
 

Return to Grace Baptist Church

 

Easter has come and gone, and we had fun with bunnies, chocolate, and eggs. But there's more to the holiday than that. For religious Christians, it's one of the more important holidays of the year, and of course church. For those in Second Life, there are churches one can go to, which can come in handy for the physically disabled or if one lives too far away from one in real life. Yours truly stopped by one a couple days ago, and had a talk with the pastor as well as two of the parishioners.

Read the story in People.
 

Happy Easter

It's Easter Sunday, which means a number of things in Second Life. For some, it's strictly chocolate and bunnies. One of the best known examples of this is Easter Town in the Townies sim, which Gemma wrote about last year.

And then, there's the more spiritual side of Easter. There are many churches, and prayer groups, in Second Life. Among them is The Vine Christian Mission at Miliaco (160/95/75), and the Egyptian church at the Coptic Egypt sim.

However you celebrate, Happy Easter.

Bixyl Shuftan and the SL Newser Crew

Church Services

Looking for a church to go to in Second Life this Easter, or the rest of the year? There's two where all are welcome (and presumably others that we haven't found yet). One is the Grace Baptist Church (article April 2014) in Lionhear Pumbaa (39/72/29), which holds Sunday services at 5AM and 5PM SL time. Website: http://gracechurch-sl.org .

Another is the ALM Cyberchurch, in Pieup (16/48/63), which holds its Sunday service at 11AM SL time. Website: http://almcyberchurch.org .

The ALM Cyberchurch (Feb 2010)

The following was originally published in Second Life Newspaper in February 2010

I recently came across a church in Second Life, the ALM Cyber Church. The church is in the appropriately  named Truth sim. Porting there automatically takes one to the sim entry circle at (124, 118, 26). In front of the newly arrived visitor will be a structure full of stained-glass windows, with a steeple on top. Near the church is a three-cross structure. There are some nearby places. Behind the sim entrance is a community center. Further away is a garden area, and some residential quarters.

The church holds two regular events a week. One is the Ladies’ Bible Study on Tuesdays at 1:30 PM SL time. And of course there is the Sunday Service at 11:00 AM SL time. Services are conducted by pastors Rev. Benjamin and Mariposa Psaltery. The chapel is constructed much like that of a real church, with ample seating in the pews and a second floor available. Behind the pulpit are a piano and an electronic organ. Near the doors is a collections plate for Lindens.

The Sunday I showed up, attendance was small at first, but gradually grew. At one point there were 36 people around, both furred and normal human, and a tiny. Above Benjamin was a tag showing a proverb from the Bible. At a couple times, the pastors would sing, some of the congregation getting up with their arms up in the air, swinging:

Bless the Lord O my soul
     and all that is within me
     bless His holy name

For he has done great things
     He has done great things
     He has done great things
He's so good to me

He saved my soul
     He saved my soul
     He saved my soul
He's so good to me

He is coming soon
     He is coming soon
     He is coming soon
Bless his holy name

The sermon was around the passage Romans 13: 1-4 in the Bible, concerning submission to earthy authority, “It’s too easy to speak evil of others ... of our leaders. But we will not be blessed unless we speak good ... He who rebels against authority rebels against what God has established. ... It’s best to examine our own lives. ... Spreading gossip? Stop it! Speaking evil of our leaders? Stop it.”

There were some signs that a few in the audience seemed to be missing the point, one typing, “unrealistic RP.” Then floating, joking that he had been healed. Following the service, when some went up to the altar to pray, a few began being disruptive. After plenty of fair warning, they were finally banned from the sim.

Presumably that grefing was a rare event in this church in Second Life.

Bixyl Shuftan

*Addition* The church is still around, located in Pieup (16, 28, 63). Sunday services are still at 11 AM

Return to the God’s House of Prayer Church

About two years ago, Grease Coakes paid a visit to the House of Prayer church. He recently decided to check in on the place to see how it was doing. Indeed the church had changed, such as the chapel now being an outdoor one. But an even bigger difference was they had gone from having furred avatars in the flock to telling those coming by only human appearances were welcome.

Read Grease's story in People.

Ash Wednesday Cross Tattoo

For those whom want their Ash Wednesday religious services reflected in Second Life, a few builders have made some ash cross marks, which are actually avatar tattoos. Among them, a freebie one by Edd Thor.

Tattoo layers are required. A selection of ten. Ash Wednesday is observed by some denominations as the beginning of the time of preparation for Easter. A cross made of ashes may be placed on the forehead, perhaps with the words, "Remember you are dust, and to dust you shall return." To the best of my knowledge, the church clip art from which these crosses are derived are public domain. If this is an error, please notify me (Edd Thor). Please distribute these as you wish throughout the Second Life communities.

The tattoo can be found on Marketplace (Here).

Events This Week July 14 to July 21

This weekend comes one of the virtual world's biggest yearly events: The Relay for Life Weekend Walk. For twenty-four hours, people will aall the over 40 sims of the Relay track. And don't forget to check out the regularly scheduled book and poetry readings, DJ and live music parties, discussions and commentary, and church services.

See the list in Events this Week.

SL Video: "A Higher Power"

(Click here if the video fails to play)

Another video from Nydia Tungsten, "My Angel Jasmine asked for a Video reflecting her beliefes and we came up with this. This is for you Angel."

Events This Week July 1 to July 7

The SL11B's official events are over, but the fun is not. The exhibits still remain for people to check out, such as those with computers that couldn't handle the lag during the birthday week. The 4rth of July is this Friday, so get ready for the fireworks at Club Cutlass and other places celebrating the event. With it's final month starting, the Relay season goes into gear with it's events. The Queen of Hearts club is gone, but the Cape Hope Club has been set up to take it's place for weekly events. And check out the other regularly scheduled music events, book and poetry readings, races, discussions, talk shows, and church services.

Read more in Events this Week.

Events This Week June 24 to June 30

It's a week full of events in Second Life. First on the list is The event of the year, the Second Life Eleventh Birthday celebration. Eight days and eleven sims of exhibitions, performances, and discussions at the Auditorium. The relay continues with events big and small, including the Second Life Editor himself on the line with one of the Sunbeamer team's events. And then there's the regularly scheduled DJ and live music parties, talk shows, book and poetry readings, and church services.

Read more in Events this Week.

Events This Week June 17 to June 23

Of all the events in Second Life, this weekend starts one of the biggest, if not *the* biggest. It's the Second Life Eleventh Birthday. Starting this weekend and lasting until the next, it's eleven sims of exhibits and smaller events, live music, contests, exhibit parties, hunts, and much much more. Besides the main event, there's a number of Relay for Life events going on. And there's the regularly scheduled DJ and live music parties, book and poetry readings, discussions and talk shows, games, and church services.

See more in Events this Week.

Events This Week June 10 to June 16

It's a week full of events in Second Life. The World Cup is taking place, and the London sims are celebrating with football/soccer themed events. The Relay For Life continues with their latest big event "Fashion for Life" taking place. And there's our regularly scheduled DJ music parties, book and poetry readings, talk shows and discussions, races, and church services.

Read more in Events this Week.

Events This Week June 3 to June 9

It's a week full of events in Second Life. The Happy Vixen beach club is back in operation. The Second Life Science Fiction convention is taking place. The Rumble for Relay offers fun on four wheels. Second Life Newser is holding some events to celebrate it's fourth anniversary. And there's our regularly scheduled book and poetry readings, DJ music parties, talk shows, discussions, and church services.

Read more in Events this Week.

Events This Week May 27 to June 2

With Memorial Day gone, summer is just around the corner. And so this is the last week of May and the start of June is this weekend. Drop by Madpea for their Gacha Art Festival. Stop by Club Cutlass as the Sunbeamers RFL team does their "Booty Call" fundraiser. And don't forget the regularly scheduled DJ music parties, book and poetry readings, talk shows, races, and church services.

Read more in Events this Week.

Events This Week May 20 to May 26

 It's a week full of events in Second Life. Check out the Relay for Life's "Clue-Do" by Team Strange Journeys, "Who Killed Cuddly?" Memorial day is this weekend, with it's tributes (and backyard virtual barbecues). And don't forget our regularly scheduled DJ music parties, talk shows, discussions, book and poetry readings, and church services.

Read more in Events this Week.

Events This Week May 13 to May 19

The Fantasy Faire may be over, but there are other events this week in Second Life. Today is the Creations for Parkinson's Third Annual Benefit at the Sweethearts Jazz Club. This weekend is the Relaystock, in which a number of Relay for Life teams get together while musicians and DJs perform on stage at this 60's themed event. The "Queen of Hearts" club celebrates it's eighth year. And there are the regularly scheduled book and poetry readings, DJ music events, races, discussions, talk shows, and church services.

Read more in Events this Week.