todaySpin - March 2, 2009

todaySpin includes local, national, and worldwide news and information for Episcopalians in the Diocese of Bethlehem, with some spin that may be of interest. Please send suggestions for content or style to Bill Lewellis. Find a user-friendly guide to the Spin Cycle ... including todaySpin, the newSpin e-newsletter and the newSpin blog.

todaySupplication
Please continue to pray for Bishop Paul who sent this email on Saturday: "I had another ambulance ride yesterday and spent the day in ER. I will be in the hospital probably until the middle of next week as the doctors attempt to deal with some complications. I crave your continued prayers."

todayShare
(1) Share the Bread,the new online entry of the Diocese of Bethlehem, is the blog of our Evangelism Commission. Its purpose: "to share and live God's love by telling, showing and pointing to what we have seen and heard, highlight the work of the diocese in evangelism, and share ideas, resources, articles, news stories and discussion starters so that you may become a more proficient and eager sharer of the bread of life."

(2) Find the March issue of In-Formation in Bethlehem here. It's Canon Anne Kitch's faith formation newsletter.

todayScoop
What's in the major newspapers? Summary here.

todayStory
Retired Allentown Diocese Bishop Thomas J. Welsh was buried on Saturday. Here are stories from Sunday's Express-Times and Morning Call.

todaySong
(1) Compline, a hour-long program of music, sacred texts, chanting, and meditation In Jamaica Plains, near Boston. More info about Nightsong here and here.

(2) Organ recital with Mark Laubach at St. Stephen's Wilkes-Barre, March 29.

todaySurvey
A new survey focuses on the use of technology by different generations, and the implications for churches. Read more here.

todayShow
Want to find spirituality in recent DVD releases and current films, make watching a film a spiritual experience? Frederic and Mary Ann of Spirituality&Practice can help.

todaySignup
(1) Diocesan Training Day is Saturday, March 28, at St. Stephen's Wilkes-Barre. Register online here.where you will also find more info, brief descriptions of the workshops and a map. Find detailed descriptions of workshops here. One of the workshops will be on ChurchPost. The Diocese of Bethlehem is the first Episcopal diocese to equip all of its parishes with ChurchPost. You may use this web-based communication tool to create email groups and to create attractive online newsletters. Trinity Easton uses ChurchPost to create weekly online newsletters. View one here. Anne Kitch uses ChurchPost to create Faith Formation News. Bill Lewellis uses ChurchPost to create the newSpin newsletter. To learn more about ChurchPost, look here ... or email Kat Lehman.

(2) The Commission on Ministry invites talented, committed, hard-working people to volunteer for consideration as members of Regional Discernment Fellowships (RDF). [Read more here.] The COM needs two lay persons to round out a new RDF, hoping to get this group started in the next week or two. Training will be provided. Please contact Monica Lewellis at mlewellis@gracemontessori.org.

(3) Ian Douglas to lecture in Bethlehem, March 26. Deadline to register is March 16. Find info here.

(4) Evangelism/Stewardship Workshop at the Cathedral, Bethlehem, April 25. More info here.

todaySpirit
(1) You may check in online on the Lenten program of the Society of St. John the Evangelist, Cambridge MA.

(2)  40  -- A Lenten reflection on YouTube.

todaySoundbite
We live in an age when one risks being locked up as psychotic for claiming that God communicates; yet, in one way or another, that is what happens - at least when we learn to listen. Deep within us the Spirit breathes. We are invited to enter those depths. God heals us, gives us more than we can ask or imagine, and enables us to become agents of change in an unjust, painful and starving world. Such transformation can be frightening –– and life giving. [From "Why Do Churches Exist?" January 2002, in Bishop Paul Marshall's book "Messages in the Mall: Looking at Life in 600 Words or Less"]

todaySting
(1) The Peter Steinfels religion column, New York Times on Saturday, features a sociologist that studied the religious attitudes of Sweden and Denmark--the least religious nations on the planet. Read more here.

newSpin: Find the most recent issue here.
Diocesan Life: Find the March issue of Diocesan Life here.
todaySpiel: The Opinionator, a guide to the wide world of newspaper, magazine and Web opinion.
todayScope: (1) epiScope links to stories from the mainstream media that reference the Episcopal Church or Episcopalians. (2) EpiscopalCafe ... (3) Episcopal Life Online ...