DioBeth newSpin

091031.newSpin.interesting, perhaps useful, news and spin

Sunday, Nov. 1 is All Saints Day ... and early Sunday morning (or Saturday night) is the time to turn clocks back one hour. Enjoy.

Duruflé Requiem in Wilkes-Barre and Bethlehem ... An All Souls’ Day Requiem Mass with Bishop Paul as celebrant, Sunday, Nov. 1 at 5:00 p.m. at St. Stephen's Pro-Cathedral, Wilkes-Barre, will feature the music of Maurice Duruflé’s exquisite Requiem, Op. 9. The combined choirs of the Cathedral Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem and St. Stephen’s Pro-Cathedral in Wilkes-Barre will be conducted by Canon Russell Jackson and accompanied by Canon Mark Laubach at the organ. This will be an extraordinarily beautiful liturgy, and a unique opportunity to hear the music of this profoundly moving musical setting of the Requiem in its true, liturgical context. The Duruflé will also be performed by the combined choirs, this time in a concert setting, at the Cathedral Church of the Nativity on Sunday, November 8, at 4 p.m.

Meet Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori ... Plan to come to Evensong (6:00 p.m.) at which Bishop Katharine will preach and, immediately afterwards, to a reception and open forum at which you may dialogue with her ... at the Cathedral Bethlehem on Monday, Nov. 9, at St Luke's Lebanon on Tuesday, Nov. 10, and at St. Stephen's Wilkes-Barre on Wednesday, Nov. 11. Diocesan youth are invited to meet with her during the late afternoon on Wednesday, Nov. 11, at St. Stephen's Wilkes-Barre. More info on this from Kimberly Rowles. Clergy Day with the Presiding Bishop will take place on Thursday, Nov. 12, at Good Shepherd Scranton.

Diocesan Life, November ... Find it here. Diocesan Convention photos and news on pages 1 to 5. The second annual 12 Days of Christmas for Kajo Keji project is on page 8.

Fall Retreat for Youth, grades 9-12 ... Nov. 13-16 at Kirby House. Doors open at 6 pm and a Family eucharist will be held on Sunday at 12 noon.A chance to spend time in fellowship, worship and discussion about God and the world we live in in the 21st century. Teens will be engaged in spiritual and social activities orchestrated by youth for youth and with youth. Youth are eligible to attend even if they have "happened" previously. Registration is now open on the Diocesan website; space is limited. This event costs $100.00 per participant. If  you have any questions, please contact Diocesan Youth Missioner Kimberly Rowles at 610-751-3931 or krowles@diobeth.org.

Identity and Diversity at Grace Montessori  ... Libby House, Grace Montessori School director, has written a piece on how Grace Montessori School in Allentown embraces and celebrates diversity and promotes tolerance and inclusion. "This year 39 percent of our students identify themselves as Non-Hispanic Whites; 31 percent Asians; 18 percent Hispanic Whites; 10 percent Black; and 2 percent Pacific Islanders. They are Jewish, Christian, Hare Krishna, Muslim, Hindu, Sikh, and Buddhist. They speak Arabic, Spanish, Tamil, Kutchi, Bengali, Hindi, Punjabi, Korean, Mandarin, and Gujarati. Our faculty and administration are similarly diverse in cultural ethnicity and religion." Read more here.

Out in the Silence at Stroudsburg High School ... The Stroudsburg High School Student Diversity Council’s Gay-Straight Alliance will screen the PBS documentary Out in the Silence on Thursday, November 12, in the high school auditorium. Out in the Silence (57 minutes) chronicles the controversy that began after the announcement of filmmaker Joe Wilson’s wedding to another man ignited a firestorm of controversy and a quest for change in the small Pennsylvania hometown he had left long ago. Drawn back by a plea for help from the mother of a gay teen being tormented at school, Wilson takes viewers on an exhilarating journey through love, hate, and understanding in rural America. The documentary explores the struggle of being a gay teen in a small Pennsylvania town and the bullying, controversy and challenges that he experienced. It challenges viewers to rethink their values and helps close the gaps that divide communities. Read more here.

A healthy model for a Christian community? ... Often, without realizing it, clergy in a small congregation will work long hard hours, feeling that since they consume so much of the pledge income, they need to earn it. They will not only offer the sacraments and visit the sick, but will also offer three classes, make a schedule to visit every member, attend every meeting, get involved in ecumenical events, do the newsletter, change the lightbulbs and mow the lawn. There's nothing wrong with staying busy. But, much of what many clergy do on a day to day basis can just as easily be done by someone else. And by doing it all, the clergy person is actually taking away ministry opportunities from the rest of the members of the community. Now, it may be the case that in some places the expectation is that the clergy should indeed do everything. Keep in mind that one of the three shifts we are witnessing is the move to a more "consumer society" orientation. When we begin to see the clergy as the ministers, then the members become simply passive consumers of ministry. That is not a healthy model for a Christian community. [Read at Episcopal Cafe Church 3.0? - Empowering the Whole Body of Christ]

Treat kids to a safe Halloween ... Here are a few tips from the American Academy of Pediatrics. [H/T to Diana Marshall]

The coat drive for the needy in center city Allentown is on. Coats in good condition and not entirely outmoded will be collected at Grace Allentown (5th and Linden) before and after 10:00 a.m. Eucharist on Sunday, November 1. Coats for school age kids are most urgently needed.

Fitness fades fast after 45, but healthy habits can stave off the inevitable declines. More here. [H/T to Diana Marshall]

Hopeful Preaching in Hard Times is the title of a retreat for clergy at Kirkidge, Nov. 10-12, led by by Barbara Lundblad, Lutheran pastor and professor of preaching at Union Theological Seminary, New York, and Charles Rice, professor emeritus of preaching, Drew University, and interim rector, Trinity, Mt. Pocono. Go to www.kirkridge.org for more info.

What's the attraction? ... "Why would I want to join a bunch of people who seem bummed out about the church?" a twenty-something Roman Catholic asked. "What's the attraction in that?" Read more here.

Food Bank Clients ... Grace Allentown parish administrator Bob House announced last Sunday that Grace Food Bank clients have increased by 42% over last year. By the end of this year, 12,000 people will have been served. Could you let me know how your food banks are faring?

Depression often goes untreated in working moms ... More here. [H/T to Diana Marshall]

Transformational ambitions saddled with an incremental system ... Anna Quindlen begins her Newsweek (Nov. 2) essay as follows: From time to time the American people participate in a mass delusion about how their government works. Such a delusion took place exactly a year ago, when a 47-year-old African-American who had once been accorded little chance of prevailing was elected president of the United States. History will judge Barack Obama over the long haul. But we've learned something in the short term that is simple, obvious, and has less to do with him than with the Founding Fathers. This is a country that often has transformational ambitions but is saddled with an incremental system, a nation built on revolution, then engineered so the revolutionary can rarely take hold. Does the last sentence bring to mind any other institution dear to us? :-) Read it all here.

Rick Warren exports bigotry to Africa ... In March 2008, U.S. evangelical leader Rick Warren told Ugandans that homosexuality is not a natural way of life and thus not a human right. One year later, U.S. conservative evangelical and Holocaust revisionist Scott Lively (a resident of Massachusetts) addressed the Family Life Network and Ugandan members of Parliament in March 2009, saying legalizing homosexuality is akin to legalizing "the molestation of children or having sex with animals." That March meeting launched a campaign that has led directly to today, when the Ugandan legislature is debating an anti-gay bill that would lead to life imprisonment for gay sex, and death for those having same sex relations if they are HIV positive or having sex with someone under 18. Heterosexuals would have no such restrictions. This law, which would also criminalize any human rights organizing for LGBT rights, could be passed any day. Read more at Episcopal Cafe.

Health Care Reform ... To judge the content of a nation's character, look no further than its health-care system. Universal health care is a moral choice. Read the Newsweek, Sept. 21 issue, article here. During the national debate on health care reform, has the left got religion –– and right lost it? View dueling videos here.

Not ready for prime time? ... The publication of an Apostolic Constitution outlining a process for welcoming Anglicans into the Roman Catholic Church is delayed because of controversy in the Vatican over the specifics, in particular priestly celibacy. Was all the drama-over-not-very-much worth the damage to ecumenical relations this document caused? For more, see Andrew Gerns' report at Episcopal Cafe. For background on the Vatican Initiative, see Fishing, Rustling or Just Welcoming and More on Fishing in the 091027 issue of newSpin.

The Annual Vows in Religious Life of Sister Patricia-Michael Hauze were received by Bishop Paul on October 22 durig Eucharist at Diocesan House. More, including a photo, here.

Women to be ordained priests in Fort Worth ... Thirty-three years after the Episcopal Church approved the ordination of women to the priesthood and episcopate, the first woman will be ordained a priest in the Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth on November 15. A second will be ordained on December 5. Read more here.

The Ordination of Deacons will take place on December 21 at St. Stephen's Pro-Cathedral in Wilkes-Barre.

12 Days of Christmas for Kajo Keji ... [From Jo Trepagnier] I’m sending along a potential bulletin insert for the 12 Days of Christmas for Kajo Keji. Your support was so critical last year. Please feel free to call me, 610-434-0155, if you have any questions. Similar info appears on the back cover of the Noember issue of Diocesan Life.

UTO grant applications for 2010 are due in the Bishop's office by December 31, 2009. The application form and guidelines are available from Canon Jane Teter. Contact her if you are interested in submitting a grant.

The first time in 224 years ... The election of Ian Douglas by Connecticut marks the first time in the diocese's 224-year history that a priest from outside of the diocese has been elected bishop. Read more here.

The Episcopal Church ... News & Notices ... EpiScope ... Episcopal Life Online ... Weekly Bulletin Inserts ... On Twitter ... On Facebook ... and on YouTube. Got a question? Need some info? Check out the Episcopal Church's InfoLine or contact info@episcopalchurch.org or 212-716-6136, 6137; 800-334-7626, x6136, x6137

What sentence does God repeat in the Bible more than any other ... Play the video below.

Bill Lewellis, Communication Minister/Editor (1986), Canon Theologian (1998)
Diocese of Bethlehem, 333 Wyandotte Street, Bethlehem, PA 18015
Website, Blog, Email (c)610-216-2726, (w)610-691-5655x229, (h)610-820-7673
Be attentive. Be intelligent. Be reasonable. Be responsible.
Be in Love. And, if necessary, change. [Bernard Lonergan]

Bill Lewellis, Communication Minister/Editor (1986), Canon Theologian (1998)
Diocese of Bethlehem, 333 Wyandotte Street, Bethlehem, PA 18015
Website, Blog, Email (c)610-216-2726, (w)610-691-5655x229, (h)610-820-7673
Be attentive. Be intelligent. Be reasonable. Be responsible.
Be in Love. And, if necessary, change. [Bernard Lonergan]

Identity and Diversity at Grace Montessori School

Identity and Diversity
By Libby House, Executive Director
Grace Montessori School, Allentown

In a book titled Learning from School Choice, authors Peterson and Hassel make the observation, “Stronger self-esteem produced by strong identity is associated with greater tolerance for others.” It is interesting that these three characteristics are so closely related and so mutually reinforcing.
 
Both the Montessori Method and the Episcopal Church of America embrace and celebrate diversity andpromote tolerance and inclusion. The principles of both Dr. Maria Montessori and Grace Episcopal Church, as a part of The Episcopal Church, are at the heart of Grace Montessori School where those beliefs play out each day as our classrooms serve as models for inclusion, acceptance, and tolerance, for respect of the individual child and development of self-esteem and self-identity.

Out in the Silence at Stroudsburg High School

The Stroudsburg High School Student Diversity Council’s Gay-Straight Alliance will screen the PBS documentary Out in the Silence on Thursday, November 12, in the high school auditorium. Out in the Silence (57 minutes) chronicles the controversy that began after the announcement of filmmaker Joe Wilson’s wedding to another man ignited a firestorm of controversy and a quest for change in the small Pennsylvania hometown he had left long ago. Drawn back by a plea for help from the mother of a gay teen being tormented at school, Wilson takes viewers on an exhilarating journey through love, hate, and understanding in rural America. The documentary explores the struggle of being a gay teen in a small Pennsylvania town and the bullying, controversy and challenges that he experiences. It challenges viewers to rethink their values and helps close the gaps that divide communities. Read more here.

Annual vows in Religious Life

The Annual Vows in Religious Life of Sister Patricia-Michael Hauze, Solitary, administrator at Trinity Easton, spiritual director, and member of Trinity Bethlehem, were received by Bishop Paul Marshall, October 22, 2009, during Eucharist at Diocesan House, Bethlehem, witnessed by the Rev. Andrew Gerns and the Rev. Laura Thomas Howell, Obl.S.B. in the presence of Diocesan Staff:

"I, Patricia-Michael Hauze, for the glory of God, and intending to consecrate myself more closely to him and to follow Christ more generously all my life, with my brothers and sisters as witnesses, and in your presence, Bishop Paul, vow chastity, prayer, obedience and stability for one year, according o the Rule approved by Bishop Paul, my superior in religious life. With my whole heart I give myself to the Church and to the Diocese of Bethlehem, to seek perfect charity in the service of God and the Church, by the grace of the Holy Spirit and the prayers of the Blessed Virgin Mary."

Photo by Kat Lehman.

091027.newSpin.interesting, perhaps useful, news and spin

Diocesan Life, November ... Find it here. Diocesan Convention photos and news on pages 1 to 5. The second annual 12 Days of Christmas for Kajo Keji project is on page 8.

Meet Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori ... Plan to come to Evensong (6:00 p.m.) at which Bishop Katharine will preach and to an open forum (7:15 p.m.) at which you may dialogue with her ... at the Cathedral Bethlehem on Monday, Nov. 9, at St Luke's Lebanon on Tuesday, Nov. 10, and at St. Stephen's Wilkes-Barre on Wednesday, Nov. 11.

No Country for Sick Men ... To judge the content of a nation's character, look no further than its health-care system. Universal health care is a moral choice. Read the Newsweek, Sept. 21 issue, article here. [H/T to Bob Wilkins for this.] An excerpt: "In our current debate on health care, many have warned that universal coverage will inevitably lead to "rationing" of health care. The argument overlooks a basic fact: the United States already rations health care. Indeed, every country rations health care, because no system can afford to pay for everything. The key distinction is the way rationing happens. In the other developed democracies, there's a basic floor of coverage that everybody is entitled to; that's why nobody dies in those nations for lack of care. But there are limits on which procedures and which medications the system will pay for. That's where the rationing kicks in. "We cover everybody, but we don't cover everything," the former British health minister John Reid explained. In the U.S., in contrast, some people have access to just about everything doctors and hospitals can provide. But others can't even get in the door (until they are sick enough to need emergency care). That amounts to rationing care by wealth. This seems natural to Americans; to the rest of the developed world, it looks immoral. ... The question facing Americans this fall is: what should be the ethical basis of America's health-care system?

During the health reform debate ... has the left got religion –– and right lost it? View dueling videos here.

From Trinity Pottsville ... Caring Caps go to cancer patients across four counties. Read more here.

S.P.A.R.K. ... Support for Parents and Activities and Resources for Kids is hosted at Christ Church Reading every Tuesday and Thursday from 9:00 to noon. Read more here.

The coat drive for the needy in center city Allentown is on. Coats in good condition and not entirely outmoded will be collected at Grace Allentown (5th and Linden) before and after 10:00 a.m. Eucharist on Sunday, November 1. Coats for school age kids are most urgently needed. Coats for children may also be dropped off on Friday, October 30, at Grace Montessori School on Linden Street between 8th and 9th.

The Archdeacon and Charlie Barebo arrived on the always-arduous trip to Sudan. They will dedicate schools, inspect construction, and hang the plaques memorializing those in whose name schools or classrooms were given. They will pray with the Sudanese and bring your love. Blessings, +Paul

Pray for our young men and women who have died in Iraq and Afghanistan, and for their families … David R. Baker, 22; Bradley Espinoza, 26; Kyle A. Coumas, 22; Eric N. Lembke, 25; Kimble A. Han, 30; Gregory M.W. Fleury, 23; Eric A. Jones, 29; David S. Mitchell, 30; Kyle R. Van De Giesen, 29 ... for the fallen heroes also of our coalition partners ... and for the citizens of Iraq and Afghanistan who have died, unnamed and unknown to us, and for those who mourn ... and for an end to this endless war. [Emailed usually on Tuesdays, with names found over seven days. Saved on the newSpin blog.]

Fishing, rustling or just welcoming ... Oh, there are so many, many news stories and opinion pieces out there about the recent Vatican initiative to disaffected Anglicans. Two of my favorite headline were the Washington Post's "Vatican fishing for disgruntled Anglicans" and the Christian Science Monitor's "Vatican welcome to Anglicans boldest move since Reformation." You might begin with this ENS story at EpiscopalLife Online. On a CNN interview, Episcopal Church Ecumenical Officer Bishop Christopher Epting said: "It certainly was a disappointment and a surprise to us in some ways. We've been engaged in Anglican and Catholic dialogue for over 40 years, both international and national, and to have this sprung without much consultation was really a surprise to us and a bit confusing at this present time. And it will take us a while to sort all this out as for what it means for ecumenical relations in the future." Asked if he fears the Episcopal Church will lose many members, he replied: "I don't think so. These folks have already left us, of course. The people who are approaching the Roman Catholic Church are no longer Anglicans, no longer part of the Anglican Communion. They are searching for a new church home, and we say, God bless you as you seek that place for your journey." Trinity Easton rector Andy Gerns wrote this to his parishioners. John Allen of the National Catholic Reporter has a lengthy column on what this Vatican welcome means. And this from the NCR. If you are into satire, check out "You've got mail: Greeting from Vatican City" at NPR.com.

More on fishing ... Read the NYTimes op-ed, Rock of Ages, Cleft by the Pope here and a Boston Globe op-ed by James Carroll, From Rome, a tainted olive branch. And Vatican announcement raises many questions by William Franklin. They just keep coming. [This from Martin Marty, Lutheran, Professor at the Univ. of Chicago's Divinity School] The top ecumenical – some are saying un- or anti-ecumenical – news of the year occurred October 20th with a Vatican announcement.  Bypassing forty years of Anglican-Roman Catholic conversations-cum-negotiations and blindsiding Archbishop Rowan Williams, the head of the seventy-million-member Anglican Communion, Vatican officials announced that they were taking steps to receive Anglican (in the United States, Episcopal) clergy through conversion into the Roman Catholic priesthood.  Headlines had it that Rome wanted to “lure,” “attract,” “bid for” or “woo” priests and congregations to make the drastic move, while the Vatican front man, as he fished for Anglicans, said he was not fishing for Anglicans. ... What was at issue?  There were subtleties on the side, irritations which had not yet prompted a radical twist, but observers agreed that a) ordaining women as priests and b) ordaining a gay bishop and more gay priests were the grand offenses.  In the good old days Christian bodies fought over the Trinity, the Incarnation, Salvation, and Sacraments.  In our epoch they and the media who cover them converge obsessively on issues of sex-and-gender, where contraception and abortion, “women” and “gays,” are the flame issues. [Read it all here.]

If that makes us outcasts ... Jim Naughton of Episcopal Cafe and the Diocese of Washington was recently interviewed on NPR on the recent Vatican initiative. Click here to listen. An excerpt: I think for Episcopalians, what we need to do in the wake of this announcement is to continue going out there and saying, look, we do offer very traditional liturgy, beautiful music, a style of worship that many people like. But we are a democratically governed church. We think men and women are equal at the altar, and we respect the dignity of gay and lesbian Christians. If that makes us outcasts, I think that that's a status that we embrace happily. So if what we're talking about here are people offering alternatives, I think Episcopalians offer that alternative to their Catholic brothers and sisters.

Duruflé Requiem in Wilkes-Barre and Bethlehem ... An All Souls’ Day Requiem Mass with Bishop Paul as celebrant, Sunday, Nov. 1 at 5:00 p.m. at St. Stephen's Pro-Cathedral, Wilkes-Barre, will feature the music of Maurice Duruflé’s exquisite Requiem, Op. 9. The combined choirs of the Cathedral Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem and St. Stephen’s Pro-Cathedral in Wilkes-Barre will be conducted by Canon Russell Jackson and accompanied by Canon Mark Laubach at the organ. This will be an extraordinarily beautiful liturgy, and a unique opportunity to hear the music of this profoundly moving musical setting of the Requiem in its true, liturgical context. The Duruflé will also be performed by the combined choirs, this time in a concert setting, at the Cathedral Church of the Nativity on Sunday, November 8, at 4 p.m.

Montrose calls rector ... St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Montrose will welcome Father Paul Walker as full-time rector on Sunday, November 1. Father Walker was ordained a priest at Nativity Cathedral Bethlehem in 1987. Read more here.

Kingston calls rector ... Grace Kingston has called Father John Hartman as their new rector. He was ordained a priest by Bishop Paul just last month. Read more here.

Prevent Swine Flu ... Some good advice here. On a related matter, check out this Seattle Times story on Santizer Scare has parents worried. H/T to Ginny Rex Day and Anne Kitch for the latter.

H1N1 and Best Practices for Congregations ... Find the document here. Bishop Paul forwarded these "best practices" to clergy last week with this comment: "Here, as promised, is the Council of Churches set of recommendations around the flu epidemic, which we will try to follow, EXCEPT that we will indeed use intinction rather than the individual cups they recommend. People need to be instructed not to get their fingers in the wine, dipping only the edge of the wafer into the wine. I suggest, and this is only a suggestion, that for the duration of the epidemic that wafer bread be used, to avoid a thick layer of crumbs from building up on the bottom of the chalice from all the intinctions."

Diocesan Convention ... Find Bishop Paul's address to convention here. Browse the many, many photos taken by Barbara Loeffler here and by Kat Lehman here. Find a note by Mark Laubach about the Missa Luba sung by the St. Stephen's Wilkes-Barre choir at the Saturday morning Convention Eucharist. Delegates elected people to diocesan offices, commissions and committees. Delegates approved these resolutions. Music from the Convention Eucharist will be featured on WVIA 89.9 FM on Sunday, Nov. 1 at 4:00 p.m. Check the newSpin blog occasionally for updates on the posting of video and audio files as well as more extensive coverage of what happened at Diocesan Convention.

The Ordination of Deacons will take place on December 21 at St. Stephen's Pro-Cathedral in Wilkes-Barre.

UTO grant applications for 2010 are due in the Bishop's office by December 31, 2009. The application form and guidelines are available from Canon Jane Teter. Contact her if you are interested in submitting a grant.

Jubilate ... Hymnody for All Saints B to Last Epiphany (Nov. 1, 2009 to Feb. 14, 2010), published by the Diocese of Bethlehem for our diocesan community and for free distribution to the world, may be downloaded here as an Acrobat or MSWord file. Jubilate is a service of our Liturgy and Music Commission, specifically Canon Cliff Carr who has been doing this for more than 30 years.

Kristallnacht, the Night of Broken Glass, at Christ Church, Reading, November 12 at 6:30 p.m., observes the night of 11/9/38 when mobs of Nazi storm troopers began their assault on the Jews of Germany and Austria. Everyone is welcome.

Web Surf to Save Your Aging Brain ... Study suggests that interactivity can help keep older people alert. Read more here. [H/T to Diana Marshall]

School Meals Need to Get Healthier ... New recommendations tackle obesity epidemic in U.S. Read more here. [H/T to Diana Marshall]

The Amazing Magi ... I am writing to make you aware of a particular ministry I offer that some of your churches may be interested in. My name is Rev. Michael L. Reist, Pastor of Bethany Evangelical Lutheran Church in Stony Creek, a suburb of Reading. During my seminary training I spent a year in Douglassville with Father Cal Adams and the kind people at St. Gabriel's Episcopal Church.Besides being an ordained pastor serving a congregation, I also am a professional magician, illusionist, sleight-of-hand artist and story-teller. I have used these gifts to create a ministry that I offer to churches. More here.

Smile and tap your toes with The Boss singing Oh Mary, Don't You Weep. [H/T to Jim Naughton of Episcopal Cafe]

The first time in 224 years ... The election of Ian Douglas by Connecticut marks the first time in the diocese's 224-year history that a priest from outside of the diocese has been elected bishop. Read more here.

The Episcopal Church ... News & Notices ... EpiScope ... Episcopal Life Online ... Weekly Bulletin Inserts ... On Twitter ... On Facebook ... and on YouTube. Got a question? Need some info? Check out the Episcopal Church's InfoLine or contact info@episcopalchurch.org or 212-716-6136, 6137; 800-334-7626, x6136, x6137

Bill Lewellis, Communication Minister/Editor (1986), Canon Theologian (1998)
Diocese of Bethlehem, 333 Wyandotte Street, Bethlehem, PA 18015
Website, Blog, Email (c)610-216-2726, (w)610-691-5655x229, (h)610-820-7673
Be attentive. Be intelligent. Be reasonable. Be responsible.
Be in Love. And, if necessary, change. [Bernard Lonergan]

Bill Lewellis, Communication Minister/Editor (1986), Canon Theologian (1998)
Diocese of Bethlehem, 333 Wyandotte Street, Bethlehem, PA 18015
Website, Blog, Email (c)610-216-2726, (w)610-691-5655x229, (h)610-820-7673
Be attentive. Be intelligent. Be reasonable. Be responsible.
Be in Love. And, if necessary, change. [Bernard Lonergan]

The Amazing Magi

[From the Rev. Michael Reist]

Dear Episcopal Church Leaders:

I am writing just to make you aware of a particular ministry I offer that some of your churches may be interested in. My name is Rev. Michael L. Reist, Pastor of Bethany Evangelical Lutheran Church in Stony Creek, a suburb of Reading. During my Seminary Training I spent a year in Douglassville with Father Cal Adams and the kind people at St. Gabriel's Episcopal Church.

Besides being an ordained pastor serving a congregation, I also am a professional magician, illusionist, sleight-of-hand artist and story-teller. I have used these gifts to create a ministry that I offer to churches. Download the attachment below (almost 1 MB) that tells you more about my ministry. You may also look at my website as well.

Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions at all about what I do. My programs for churches can range from simply pure entertainment to a true outreach/evangelistic message depending on the need and wants of the church.

Thank you for your time and considerations. Peace and blessings,

Rev. Michael L. Reist

The Amazing Magi

Download The Amazing Magi.doc

From Trinity Pottsville ... Caring Caps go to cancer patients across four counties

During one recent week, more than 700 crocheted and knitted caps were distributed to the Amerivan Cancer Society, cancer clinics and hospices across Schuylkill, Carbon, Northumberland and Berks counties.

When this project was initiated in June we had hopes of getting 100 caps. As people became aware of Caring Caps they were eager to help by donating yarn, money to purchase yarn and of course to knit or crochet these caps for such a worthwhile cause.

Leading the procession after the caps were blessed by The Rev. James Rinehart is Mrs. Alice Sapp of Frackville who crocheted over 400. Mrs. Debbie Sapp and Mrs. Carol Jones each made over 100. Also attending the service at Trinity were Ms. Pat Long, Senior Patient Services Coordinator of the American Cancer Society for Schuylkill and Berks County, and Mr. Bob Beauvias, Administrator of the Simon Kramer Institute in New Philadelphia.

12 Days of Christmas for Kajo Keji

Download a bulletin insert below. It's a .doc file. If you can't open it and might need a .pdf file, pleaae let me know.

Download Bulletin Insert for Gifts for Kajo Keji.doc

Kingston calls new rector

Grace Kingston has called Father John Hartman to be their new rector. He has been serving there since Oct. 4. He was ordained a priest just about a month ago, on Sept. 29, by Bishop Paul. He received a Master of Divinity degree from Seabury-Western Theological Seminary, Evanston, Ill., and was ordained a deacon in June 2008 in the Diocese of New Jersey. He served as the director of church relations for Seamen’s Church Institute in New York City, and as a deacon at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, New Providence, N.J.

Montrose to welcome newly-called rector

  St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Montrose will welcome Reverend Paul Walker as full-time rector on Sunday, November 1. Father Walker most recently served as Vicar for Christ Church in Belleville, NJ. A native of Scranton PA, he received his Master of Science degree from Marywood College in Systematic Theology and Christian Education. He also has a Master of Divinity from Bexley Hall. He was ordained as a Deacon at the Church of the Nativity Cathedral in Bethlehem, PA in 1986 and ordained as a priest in 1987.

Father Paul also served the church in upstate New York, where he was priest for the yoked parishes of Grace Church in Scottsville, NY, and St. Andrews Church, Caledonia, NY. In addition to his work with those churches, he was also a member of the clergy association for both communities and served as the dean of the district for Monroe County for four and a half years.

091023.newSpin.interesting, perhaps useful, news and spin

Diocesan Life, November ... Find it here. Diocesan Convention photos and news on pages 1 to 5. The second annual 12 Days of Christmas for Kajo Keji project on page 8.

Meet Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori ... Plan to come to Evensong (6:00 p.m.) at which Bishop Katharine will preach and to an open forum (7:15 p.m.) at which you may dialogue with her ... at the Cathedral Bethlehem on Monday, Nov. 9, at St Luke's Lebanon on Tuesday, Nov. 10, and at St. Stephen's Wilkes-Barre on Wednesday, Nov. 11.

The Archdeacon and Charlie Barebo have arrived on the always-arduous trip to Sudan. They will dedicate schools, inspect construction, and hang the plaques memorializing those in whose name schools or classrooms were given. They will pray with the Sudanese and bring your love. Blessings, +Paul

Grace and New Bethany awarded grant ... Grace Episcopal Church, Allentown, and New Bethany Ministries of Bethlehem received a Federal Home Loan Bank grant of $250,000 for a project they have undertaken together –– the renovation of a vacant building in Allentown that will be used as a group home for chronically homeless individuals. The grant was awarded on October 16. Read more here.

Fishing, rustling or just welcoming ... Oh, there are so many, many news stories and opinion pieces out there about the recent Vatican initiative to disaffected Anglicans. Two of my favorite headline were the Washington Post's "Vatican fishing for disgruntled Anglicans" and the Christian Science Monitor's "Vatican welcome to Anglicans boldest move since Reformation." You might begin with this ENS story at EpiscopalLife Online. On a CNN interview, Episcopal Church Ecumenical Officer Bishop Christopher Epting said: "It certainly was a disappointment and a surprise to us in some ways. We've been engaged in Anglican and Catholic dialogue for over 40 years, both international and national, and to have this sprung without much consultation was really a surprise to us and a bit confusing at this present time. And it will take us a while to sort all this out as for what it means for ecumenical relations in the future." Asked if he fears the Episcopal Church will lose many members, he replied: "I don't think so. These folks have already left us, of course. The people who are approaching the Roman Catholic Church are no longer Anglicans, no longer part of the Anglican Communion. They are searching for a new church home, and we say, God bless you as you seek that place for your journey." Trinity Easton rector Andy Gerns wrote this to his parishioners. John Allen of the National Catholic Reporter has a lengthy column on what this Vatican welcome means. And this from the NCR. Finally, if you are into satire, check out "You've got mail: Greeting from Vatican City" at NPR.com.

Duruflé Requiem in Wilkes-Barre and Bethlehem ... An All Souls’ Day Requiem Mass with Bishop Paul as celebrant, Sunday, Nov. 1 at 5:00 p.m. at St. Stephen's Pro-Cathedral, Wilkes-Barre, will feature the music of Maurice Duruflé’s exquisite Requiem, Op. 9. The combined choirs of the Cathedral Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem and St. Stephen’s Pro-Cathedral in Wilkes-Barre will be conducted by Canon Russell Jackson and accompanied by Canon Mark Laubach at the organ. This will be an extraordinarily beautiful liturgy, and a unique opportunity to hear the music of this profoundly moving musical setting of the Requiem in its true, liturgical context. The Duruflé will also be performed by the combined choirs, this time in a concert setting, at the Cathedral Church of the Nativity on Sunday, November 8, at 4 p.m.

Gifts and Responsibilities ... I found something to consider in this gift from Father Stephen Wang, a Catholic priest in the Diocese of Westminster, London. He is Dean of Studies at Allen Hall seminary, where he also teaches philosophy and theology.

Prevent Swine Flu ... Some good advice here. On a related matter, check out this Seattle Times story on Santizer Scare has parents worried. H/T to Ginny Rex Day and Anne Kitch for the latter.

H1N1 and Best Practices for Congregations ... Find the document here. Bishop Paul forwarded these to clergy last week with this comment: "Here, as promised, is the Council of Churches set of recommendations around the flu epidemic, which we will try to follow, EXCEPT that we will indeed use intinction rather than the individual cups they recommend. People need to be instructed not to get their fingers in the wine, dipping only the edge of the wafer into the wine. I suggest, and this is only a suggestion, that for the duration of the epidemic that wafer bread be used, to avoid a thick layer of crumbs from building up on the bottom of the chalice from all the intinctions."

Diocesan Convention ... Find Bishop Paul's address to convention here. Browse the many, many photos taken by Barbara Loeffler here and by Kat Lehman here. Find a note by Mark Laubach about the Missa Luba sung by the St. Stephen's Wilkes-Barre choir at the Saturday morning Convention Eucharist. Delegates elected people to diocesan offices, commissions and committees. Delegates approved these resolutions. Music from the Convention Eucharist will be featured on WVIA 89.9 FM on Sunday, Nov. 1 at 4:00 p.m. Check the newSpin blog occasionally for updates on the posting of video and audio files as well as more extensive coverage of what happened at Diocesan Convention.

Episcopal Life Weekly Bulletin Inserts ... A new report on the common identity and mission of Episcopalians and a new program for online donations to the church are the two topics sharing space in Episcopal Life Weekly's bulletin inserts for Oct. 25. The report, titled 'Around One Table,' outlines work done by a team of independent researchers who used survey responses from a broad swathe of Episcopal clergy and laypeople to identify particular beliefs and attitudes that are held in common by most church members.  The online giving program is a new feature of Episcopal Church websites that allows members to donate to specific programs and funds. Inserts available here: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/95270_ENG_HTM.htm

Jubilate ... Hymnody for All Saints B to Last Epiphany (Nov. 1, 2009 to Feb. 14, 2010), published by the Diocese of Bethlehem for our diocesan community and for free distribution to the world, may be downloaded here as an Acrobat or MSWord file. Jubilate is a service of our Liturgy and Music Commission, specifically Canon Cliff Carr who has been doing this for more than 30 years.

Kristallnacht, the Night of Broken Glass, at Christ Church, Reading, November 12 at 6:30 p.m., observes the night of 11/9/38 when mobs of Nazi storm troopers began their assault on the Jews of Germany and Austria. Everyone is welcome.

The Episcopal Church ... News & Notices ... EpiScope ... Episcopal Life Online ... Weekly Bulletin Inserts ... On Twitter ... On Facebook ... and on YouTube. Got a question? Need some info? Check out the Episcopal Church's InfoLine or contact info@episcopalchurch.org or 212-716-6136, 6137; 800-334-7626, x6136, x6137

Bill Lewellis, Communication Minister/Editor (1986), Canon Theologian (1998)
Diocese of Bethlehem, 333 Wyandotte Street, Bethlehem, PA 18015
Website, Blog, Email (c)610-216-2726, (w)610-691-5655x229, (h)610-820-7673
Be attentive. Be intelligent. Be reasonable. Be responsible.
Be in Love. And, if necessary, change. [Bernard Lonergan]

Bill Lewellis, Communication Minister/Editor (1986), Canon Theologian (1998)
Diocese of Bethlehem, 333 Wyandotte Street, Bethlehem, PA 18015
Website, Blog, Email (c)610-216-2726, (w)610-691-5655x229, (h)610-820-7673
Be attentive. Be intelligent. Be reasonable. Be responsible.
Be in Love. And, if necessary, change. [Bernard Lonergan]

$250,000 awarded to Grace and New Bethany for group home project

$250,000 grant awarded to Grace Episcopal Church Allentown and New Bethany Ministries Bethlehem to work together on a group home project in Allentown

Grace Episcopal Church, Allentown, and New Bethany Ministries of Bethlehem received a Federal Home Loan Bank grant of $250,000 for a project they have undertaken together –– the renovation of a vacant building in Allentown that will be used as a group home for chronically homeless individuals. The grant was awarded on October 16.

Music from Diocesan Convention on WVIA 89.9 FM

Dear Friends in the Diocese of Bethlehem and beyond:
 
I just learned from WVIA 89.9 FM Public Radio that music from the Diocesan Convention Eucharist, including the Missa Luba, will be featured on our program, Music from St. Stephen’s, on Sunday, November 1st at 4 p.m. If you’re near a radio or a computer, be listening!  (BTW, WVIA is in the midst of its fall fund drive; their support from the State of Pennsylvania was cut 88%, and they need new members to recover from a loss of around $750,000! I encourage you to call 877-700-9842 and become a member; if you do, we’d be grateful if you let them know that Music from St. Stephen’s is among your favorite programs!)
 
But back to November 1st! When you’ve finished listening to Missa Luba on the radio, come in person to St. Stephen’s for a 5 p.m. All Souls’ Day Requiem Mass with Bishop Paul as celebrant. The mass will feature the music of Maurice Duruflé’s exquisite Requiem, Op. 9. The combined choirs of the Cathedral Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem and St. Stephen’s Pro-Cathedral in Wilkes-Barre will be conducted by Canon Russell Jackson and accompanied by yours truly at the organ. This will be an extraordinarily beautiful liturgy, and a unique opportunity to hear the music of this profoundly moving musical setting of the Requiem in its true, liturgical context.
 
Should you not be able to be with us on November 1st at St. Stephen’s, you have another chance to hear us sing the Duruflé at the Cathedral Church of the Nativity on Sunday, November 8th at 4 p.m. It should be noted, however, that this performance will not be in a liturgical setting, but in a concert setting. Even so, it will be truly beautiful, and I hope many of you can be with us for either or both occasions!
 
Blessings to you and yours –
 
Canon Mark Laubach, Organist & Choirmaster
St. Stephen's Episcopal Church
Pro-Cathedral of the Diocese of Bethlehem
35 South Franklin Street
Wilkes-Barre PA   18701
Telephone:   (570)825-6653
Fax:   (570)825-0430
www.ststephenswb.org

Diocesan Life, Nov. 2009

Download the November 2009 issue of Diocesan Life below. It's a 2.2 MB file.

Download 091101-8.small.pdf

Prevent Swine Flu - Good Advice

The following note was forwarded recently by Grace Montessori School to parents of enrolled children:

Dr. Vinay Goyal is an MBBS,DRM,DNB (Intensivist and Thyroid specialist) having clinical experience of over 20 years. He has worked in institutions like Hinduja Hospital, Bombay Hospital, Saifee Hospital, Tata Memorial etc.. Presently, he is heading the Nuclear Medicine Department and Thyroid clinic at Riddhivinayak Cardiac and Critical Centre, Malad (W).

The following message given by him, I feel, makes a lot of sense and is important for all to know.

The  only portals of entry are the nostrils and mouth/throat. In a global epidemic of this nature, it's almost impossible to avoid coming into contact with H1N1 in spite of all precautions. Contact with H1N1 is not so much of a problem as proliferation is.

While you are still healthy and not showing any symptoms of H1N1 infection, in order to prevent proliferation, aggravation of symptoms and development of secondary  infections, some very simple steps, not fully highlighted in most official  communications, can be practiced (instead of focusing on how to stock N95 or Tamiflu):
        
1. Frequent hand-washing (well highlighted in all official communications).

2. "Hands-off-the-face" approach. Resist all temptations to touch any part of face  (unless you want to eat, bathe or slap).

3. *Gargle twice a day with warm salt water (use Listerine if you don't trust salt). *H1N1 takes 2-3 days after initial infection in the throat/nasal cavity to proliferate and show characteristic symptoms. Simple gargling prevents  proliferation. In a way, gargling  with salt water has the same effect on a healthy individual that Tamiflu has on an infected one. Don't underestimate this simple, inexpensive and powerful preventative method.

4. Similar to 3 above, *clean your nostrils at least once every day with warm salt water. *Not everybody may be good at Jala Neti or Sutra Neti (very good Yoga asanas to clean nasal cavities), but *blowing the nose hard once a day and swabbing both nostrils with cotton buds dipped in warm salt water is very effective in bringing down viral population.*

5. *Boost your natural immunity with foods that are rich in Vitamin C  (Amla and other citrus fruits). *If you have to supplement with Vitamin C tablets, make sure that it also has Zinc to boost absorption.

6. *Drink as much of warm liquids (tea, coffee, etc) as you can. *Drinking warm liquids has the same effect as gargling, but in the reverse direction. They wash off proliferating viruses from the throat into the stomach where they cannot  survive, proliferate or do any harm.

091020.newSpin.interesting, perhaps useful, news and spin

Meet Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori ... Plan to come to Evensong (6:00 p.m.) at which Bishop Katharine will preach and to an open forum (7:15 p.m.) at which you may ask your questions ... at the Cathedral Bethlehem on Monday, Nov. 9, at St Luke's Lebanon on Tuesday, Nov. 10, and at St. Stephen's Wilkes-Barre on Wednesday, Nov. 11. Find a schedule of the Presiding Bishop's visit to the Diocese of Bethlehem here.

Diocesan Convention ... Find Bishop Paul's address to convention here. Browse the many, many photos taken by Barbara Loeffler here and by Kat Lehman here. Find a note by Mark Laubach about the Missa Luba sung by the St. Stephen's Wilkes-Barre choir at the Saturday morning Convention Eucharist. Delegates elected people to diocesan offices, commissions and committees. Delegates approved these resolutions. Check the newSpin blog occasionally for updates on the posting of video and audio files as well as more extensive coverage of what happened at Diocesan Convention.

Grace Kingston calls rector ... Father John Hartman presided at his first Mass at Grace on Oct. 4. He was ordained a priest on Sept. 29 by Bishop Paul. He received a Master of Divinity degree from Seabury-Western Theological Seminary, Evanston, Ill., and was ordained a deacon in June 2008 in the Diocese of New Jersey. Hartman served as the director of church relations for Seamen’s Church Institute in New York City, and as deacon at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, New Providence, N.J.

St. Paul's Montrose calls rector ... Father Paul Walker begins his new ministry at St. Paul’s Montrose on Nov. 1. He had served as vicar for Christ Church, Belleville NJ.  A native of Scranton, he received his MS degree from Marywood College in Systematic Theology and Christian Education. He also has a MDiv from Bexley Hall. He was ordained as a deacon at the Church of the Nativity Cathedral, Bethlehem, 1986 and a priest in 1987.  During his time at Christ Church, the parish emerged as a center for support and enrichment in the community. 

St. Andrew’s Alden marked its 125th anniversary last month. Bishop Paul presided. The Rev. John Leo and the Rev. David Feyrer assisted. Descendants of early members and former members residing out of state attended. Feyrer spoke at the banquet. St. Andrew’s was founded in 1884 as a mission of St. Stephen’s Wilkes-Barre. In 1948, it became a mission of St. George’s Nanticoke. Today it is a parish of the Diocese of Bethlehem.

Jubilate ... Hymnody for All Saints B to Last Epiphany (Nov. 1, 2009 to Feb. 14, 2010), published by the Diocese of Bethlehem for our diocesan community and for free distribution to the world, may be downloaded here as an Acrobat or MSWord file. Jubilate is a service of our Liturgy and Music Commission, specifically Canon Cliff Carr who has been doing this for more than 30 years.

Kristallnacht, the Night of Broken Glass, at Christ Church, Reading, November 12 at 6:30 p.m., observes the night of 11/9/38 when mobs of Nazi storm troopers began their assault on the Jews of Germany and Austria. Everyone is welcome.

Pray for our young men and women who have died in Iraq and Afghanistan, and for their families … October 13, 2009 ... Christopher M. Rudzinski, 28; Chris N. Staats, 32; Anthony G. Green, 28; Glen H. Stivison, Jr., 34; Jesus O. Flores, Jr., 28; Daniel C. Lawson, 33; Brandon M. Styer; Daniel J. Rivera, 22; Michael A. Dahl Jr., 23 ... for the fallen heroes also of our coalition partners ... and for the citizens of Iraq and Afghanistan who have died, unnamed and unknown to us, and for those who mourn ... and for an end to this endless war. [Posted on the newSpin blog, usually on Tuesdays, with names found over seven days.]

Sliced bread and other marketing delights ... Ideas that spread win. Watch the video below and you just may get a few ideas for marketing your church, perhaps the first step toward genuine evangelism.

Praying does shape believing ... One of the best known texts from the 1979 Book of Common Prayer is the Baptismal Covenant. ... The commitments we make in the last five questions, particularly the last three, show up in mission statements and on church websites as summaries of what it means to be Christian ... It is gratifying for a liturgist to see such a clear example of our worship, our common prayer, sinking so deeply into our consciousness. Praying does shape believing. [Read Baptismal Covenant and commitment by Ruth Meyers here.]

America's untouchable caste ...Gandhi understood power in the same way as Jesus. What power is really about, according to both, is that leadership is shown in service. [Read more here.]

Atheism 3.0 ...The old atheists said there was no God. The so-called "New Atheists" said there was no God, and they were vocally vicious about it. Now, the new "New Atheists" — call it Atheism 3.0 — say there's still no God, but maybe religion isn't all that bad. [Read more here.]

Former Bishop of Quincy ...The Presiding Bishop has accepted Keith Ackerman's voluntary renunciation of ordained ministry in the Episcopal Church as a result of his informing her that he is working for the Diocese of Bolivia in the Province of the Southern Cone. There are no provisions for this type of arrangement. [Read more here.

The Episcopal Church ... News & Notices ... EpiScope ... Episcopal Life Online ... Weekly Bulletin Inserts ... On Twitter ... On Facebook ... and on YouTube. Got a question? Need some info? Check out the Episcopal Church's InfoLine or contact info@episcopalchurch.org or 212-716-6136, 6137; 800-334-7626, x6136, x6137

Bill Lewellis, Communication Minister/Editor (1986), Canon Theologian (1998)
Diocese of Bethlehem, 333 Wyandotte Street, Bethlehem, PA 18015
Website, Blog, Email (c)610-216-2726, (w)610-691-5655x229, (h)610-820-7673
Be attentive. Be intelligent. Be reasonable. Be responsible.
Be in Love. And, if necessary, change. [Bernard Lonergan]

Bill Lewellis, Communication Minister/Editor (1986), Canon Theologian (1998)
Diocese of Bethlehem, 333 Wyandotte Street, Bethlehem, PA 18015
Website, Blog, Email (c)610-216-2726, (w)610-691-5655x229, (h)610-820-7673
Be attentive. Be intelligent. Be reasonable. Be responsible.
Be in Love. And, if necessary, change. [Bernard Lonergan]

091016.newSpin.interesting, perhaps useful, news and spin

Diocesan Convention ... Find Bishop Paul's address to convention here. Browse the many, many photos taken by Barbara Loeffler here and by Kat Lehman here. Find a note by Mark Laubach about the Missa Luba sung by the St. Stephen's Wilkes-Barre choir at the Saturday morning Convention Eucharist. Delegates elected people to diocesan offices, commissions and committees. Delegates approved these resolutions. Check the newSpin blog occasionally for updates on the posting of video and audio files as well as more extensive coverage of what happened at Diocesan Convention.

A local saint ... In Episcopal Life Weekly bulletin inserts for Oct. 18, Episcopal Peace Fellowship, an independent organization of church members devoted to peace and justice work, celebrates the life and legacy of one of its founders, Bishop Paul Jones, once Bishop of Utah, who was forced in 1918 to resign his see because of his outspoken opposition to World War I. Paul Jones was born in the rectory of St. Stephen's Wilkes-Barre.

Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori will visit the Diocese of Bethlehem Nov. 9-12 ... Find an updated preliminary schedule here. Plan to come to Evensong (6:00 p.m.) at which Bishop Katharine will preach and to an open forum (7:15 p.m.) at which you may ask your questions ... at the Cathedral Bethlehem on Monday, Nov. 9, at St Luke's Lebanon on Tuesday, Nov. 10, and at St. Stephen's Wilkes-Barre on Wednesday, Nov. 11.

St. Paul's Montrose calls rector ... Father Paul Walker will begin on Sunday, Nov. 1. A native of Scranton, he was ordained a deacon (1986) and a priest (1987) at the Cathedral in Bethlehem. He has been serving as vicar at Christ Church, Belleville NJ. During his time there, the parish emerged as a center for support and enrichment in the community. In 2000, their services to the disadvanaged and cultural events to enrich the lives of those in the community led to the designation of the church as a Jubilee Center.

David Moyer ... The Allentown Human Relations Commission announced that David Moyer will receive its Lauren Giguere Award of Distinction. David is a volunteer and community health activist who has served on the boards of the American Red Cross of the Greater Lehigh Valley, the Pennsylvania March of Dimes, and Fighting AIDS Continuously Together and has been a volunteer in Allentown since 1958. David has also been a very active member of Grace Allentown.

Jubilate ... Hymnody for All Saints B to Last Epiphany (Nov. 1, 2009 to Feb. 14, 2010), published by the Diocese of Bethlehem for our diocesan community and for free distribution to the world, may be downloaded here as an Acrobat or MSWord file. Jubilate is a service of our Liturgy and Music Commission, specifically Canon Cliff Carr who has been doing this for more than 30 years.

Kristallnacht, the Night of Broken Glass, at Christ Church, Reading, November 12 at 6:30 p.m., observes the night of 11/9/38 when mobs of Nazi storm troopers began their assault on the Jews of Germany and Austria. Everyone is welcome.

Broadcast for Young Adults ... Find the current issue here.

Pray for our young men and women who have died in Iraq and Afghanistan, and for their families … our young men and women who have died in Iraq and Afghanistan, and for their families … Tad T. Hervas, 48; Kevin O. Hill, 23; Vernon W. Martin, 25; Justin T. Gallegos, 27; Joshua M. Hardt, 24; Joshua J. Kirk, 30; Michael P. Scusa, 22; Christopher T. Griffin, 2; Stephan L. Mace, 21;  Kevin C. Thomson, 22; George W. Cauley, 24; Alfonso Ochoa Jr., 20; Aaron J. Taylor, 27 ... for the fallen heroes also of our coalition partners ... and for the citizens of Iraq and Afghanistan who have died, unnamed and unknown to us, and for those who mourn ... and for an end to this endless war. [Posted on the newSpin blog, usually on Tuesdays, with names found over seven days.]

Why don't you exercise? ... Excuses and solutions here. [H/T to Diana Marshall]

The Diocese of Sydney is dealing with a massive financial loss, some $160 million in investments placed in indexed funds and real estate holdings. Read more here.

Preaching on the tough issues ... During health-care reform efforts this summer, it was suggested that pastors preach on the topic. This sounds like such an easy and simple thing to do –– if you are not a local church pastor! Preaching on hot-button issues is never easy. [Read the Sojourners article here.]

The Episcopal Church ... News & Notices ... EpiScope ... Episcopal Life Online ... Weekly Bulletin Inserts ... On Twitter ... On Facebook ... and on YouTube. Got a question? Need some info? Check out the Episcopal Church's InfoLine or contact info@episcopalchurch.org or 212-716-6136, 6137; 800-334-7626, x6136, x6137

Bill Lewellis, Communication Minister/Editor (1986), Canon Theologian (1998)
Diocese of Bethlehem, 333 Wyandotte Street, Bethlehem, PA 18015
Website, Blog, Email (c)610-216-2726, (w)610-691-5655x229, (h)610-820-7673
Be attentive. Be intelligent. Be reasonable. Be responsible.
Be in Love. And, if necessary, change. [Bernard Lonergan]

Bill Lewellis, Communication Minister/Editor (1986), Canon Theologian (1998)
Diocese of Bethlehem, 333 Wyandotte Street, Bethlehem, PA 18015
Website, Blog, Email (c)610-216-2726, (w)610-691-5655x229, (h)610-820-7673
Be attentive. Be intelligent. Be reasonable. Be responsible.
Be in Love. And, if necessary, change. [Bernard Lonergan]

Resolutions approved at 2009 Diocesan Convention

Resolution on the Diocesan Community Budget –– Delegates unanimously adopted a 2010 Mission and Ministry Budget of $1,718,555 for the diocesan community (an decrease of nearly $20,000 from the 2009 budget) and resolved that the assessment rate applied to line A, Normal Operating Income (NOI), of the 2008 Parochial Report be 12%. Funds enabling the ministry of the diocesan community come primarily from the people and parishes of the diocese, a blend of assessments (12%) and acceptances (3% – a pledge), both at rates identical to the current rate. Both represent the financial commitment of congregations to the mission and ministry of the diocesan community and to ministry beyond the diocese and around the world. Other income comes from trusts and interest-bearing accounts. Some Trust income is designated for specific purposes: Leonard Hall income is at the Bishop’s discretion. The Camp Sterrett Fund supports Youth Ministry. The Bishop Warnecke Trust and the Wilgus Trust, funds health insurance for widows and widowers of clergy. The Kingman Fund supports Diocesan House maintenance. The Expansion Fund supports Congregational Development. Additional income is derived from administration fees for some trust funds. The Talbot Hall fund is designated for the Canon for Formation of the Christian Faith’s salary and benefits.

Elections

At the 2009 Convention of the Diocese of Bethlehem, delegates elected the following people to diocesan offices, commissions, and committees.

Secretary: The Rev. Canon George Loeffler, Chaplain to the Bishop, diocesan deacon. Treasurer: W. Richard Guyer, Cathedral Church of the Nativity, Bethlehem. Assistant Treasurer: R. Bruce Reiner, Trinity Church, Bethlehem. Chancellor: Ty Welles, Esq., St. Peter’s Church, Tunkhannock. Registrar: Ely Valentin, Diocesan Staff

Commission on Ministry: (Three-year terms) The Rev. Elizabeth Haynes, Christ Church, Stroudsburg. The Rev. Nancy M. Packard, St. Mary’s Church, Reading. Dale Jeanne Williams-Durkin, Good Shepherd Church, Scranton. Robin Yedlock, Grace Church, Kingston

Diocesan Council: (Three-year terms) The Rev. Jane Arrington Bender, All Saints Church, Lehighton. The Rev. Canon Ginny Rex Day, retired. The Rev. Peter D’Angio, St. Luke’s Church, Scranton. Thomas Jamieson, St. Clement/St. Peter’s Church, Scranton. Stephen J. Meck, St. Clement/St. Peter’s Church, Scranton. Margaretta Niles, Grace Church, Honesdale

Incorporated Trustees: (Three-year terms) The Very Rev. Anthony R. Pompa, Cathedral Church of the Nativity, Bethlehem. R. Bruce Reiner, Trinity Church, Bethlehem

Standing Committee: (Five-year terms) The Rev. Canon Calvin C. Adams, St. Gabriel’s Church, Douglassville. Edwin Schatkowski, Trinity Church, Bethlehem

Bishop's address to 2009 Diocesan Convention

Bishop Paul V. Marshall
St. Stephen’s Pro-Cathedral
Wilkes-Barre, Oct. 9

It is good to be alive, and especially good to be alive among God’s people in the 14 counties of the Diocese of Bethlehem. This address will be a bit briefer than usual because we need to hear from a number of people today.

Let me begin my 14th convention address to you by acknowledging and thanking Bishop Jack Croneberger and Archdeacon Howard Stringfellow. In addition to doing their own jobs, between them they performed the pastoral, liturgical, and administrative tasks of the diocesan bishop during the time I was recovering from heart surgery. Please thank them with me. As for me, I am not 100 per cent up to speed, and sleep a good bit, but I can put in a full day of work, although I have cut back on extra activities. I have been very deeply touched by the many hundreds of cards and dozens of gifts received during this time of sickness and recovery. I thank you with all my heart.  

General Convention –– Practically as soon as I was back to work, a group of us left for Anaheim, California, for the General Convention of the Episcopal Church. It was much like many conventions, as those of you who attended the post-convention debriefings know. Certainly its focus was on doing God’s mission. That message came through loud and clear.

A few people have spread the usual rumors about the convention denying the Trinity or denying the virgin birth, or adopting socialism, but you hardly need me to tell you that this did not happen nor was it even discussed.

Convention did adopt provision for Full Communion with the Moravian Church. Their Northern and Southern Provinces will consider that proposal next summer. The Rev. Gary Harke will be our principal ecumenical guest today to help us understand what lies before us if this is adopted.

Misunderstood somewhat has been the Convention’s move into health insurance, which will cover all clergy and lay workers at lower cost to our congregations. It was adopted in principle, and we hope to see some practical plans next year. We are promised that specific provision will be made for dioceses such as ours, where considerable areas do not fall into conventional patterns.

What is particularly important about General Convention this year is that in one graceful resolution that our own Rick Cluett helped craft, the Episcopal Church reaffirmed our love for and commitment to Anglicans throughout the world and at the same time made it clear that, just as they are who they are, we are who we are, and we have no plans to disenfranchise any of our members. Many of the foreign bishops who were present were, frankly, astonished to see an Anglican deliberative body that included priests and, even more astonished to see lay people with seat, voice, and vote. They came away from Anaheim deeply impressed—and deeply aware that the Anglican Communion is a body marked by profound diversity. We continue to have much to give the Communion.

Something that has been widely quoted from Convention is a slightly inflammatory utterance in a sermon that it is a Western “heresy” to maintain that individuals must say and believe certain things to be saved. This was indeed said twice in my hearing, although the printed version only mentioned it once. I have to say that the use of the word “heresy” was incorrect –– there is a great ladder that an error must climb before it becomes a heresy, but one’s writing staff cannot always be expected to know that. What I think redeems the observation, at least in part, is the truth that after an individual accepts Christ he or she is grafted into a body that commands our loyalty and cooperation. The Church is steward of word and sacraments, guarding and maintaining their shape and content for generations to come, and it is to the Church that we look to understand how the mysteries are spelled out today. In other words, none of us is free to make up our own baptismal rites or reformulate the basic teachings of the church.

At convention we saw that the national budget has gone both down and up. Because they anticipate that dioceses will need to focus on their own work and have somewhat less money to contribute to national efforts, the budget has generally been cut incrementally over the next three years, although it was raised with $4 million extra for legal fees arising out of disputes over church property. These national budget cuts create a trickle-down deficit for dioceses. The services cut at the national level still must be performed locally. The head of the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society -- to which we all belong -- said that spreading the gospel is the job of the dioceses, and closed the eleven-month old evangelism office, for one example. For another: anti-racism training is still mandated in each diocese every five years, and we are due next year, but now there are no trainers provided for us. So while we understand and congratulate the national church on balancing their budget we know that we shall have to do slightly more work on relatively slender resources, as the budget hearing this afternoon will make clear. We are not in trouble, but some economies have had to be made, pennies pinched and personnel stretched.  

Turning to the Home Front –– On the Fourth Sunday of Advent last year, Andrew Reinholz and I drove through a blizzard in the mountains to get to the Church of the Good Shepherd in Scranton. We could have filmed one heck of an SUV commercial, but we made the trip because I had promised Good Shepherd an answer, and wanted to be there to tell them the New Hope Campaign for Northeast Pennsylvania had awarded them a very major grant to convert their unused space into a shelter. There is also a certain dark pleasure when the bishop can get to the church but the priest is snowed in. Now Good Shepherd has a wonderful display of before-and-after pictures for you to see and Charlie Barebo and Fr. Gunn will have more to say about New Hope working in the diocese, but I wanted this one opportunity to thank all of you who have made this visionary ministry possible at home and abroad, and invite the rest of you to join in the ministry of New Hope.

We have had an effect on the national church. The national group, Episcopalians for Global Reconciliation, said: “What Bethlehem has done is certainly a model for the entire church for the global mission potential of a capital campaign. But it’s so much more than that. It’s a testament to the amazing things we can do when we step beyond the bounds of what conventional wisdom says is possible or advisable and trust a God who calls us to dream dreams bigger than even our own imagination. The leap of faith the people of Bethlehem have taken should inspire us all –- individuals, congregations, dioceses, our entire church –- to look for where God is calling us to make similar leaps of faith and compassion in our own lives … This Advent, look to Bethlehem! If you’re looking for a diocese that really gets that living the Gospel means boldly stepping out in faith, you’ve got to take a look at the Diocese of Bethlehem.”

We can all be grateful to have that kind of influence and to have gotten that message across. You are a model for the Church. 

Other Hopeful Signs  –– You know, churches do turn corners to new life. Some years ago we saw that at St. Mark’s in Milford, in the last year or so we have seen it at St. Andrew’s in Allentown. St. Paul’s, Montrose, has become of powerhouse of outreach ministry with its area partners. Last Sunday at Trinity, Athens, a very small congregation, they reported how their monthly outreach ministry has built their spirits, coincidentally finding them in the best financial shape they’d been in for a long time. With just these few examples I say what I always say: where there is heart-felt commitment to mission and ministry, not as a gimmick but as discipleship of Christ, parishes thrive.

Now that the cultural props that have supported churches for 1500 years are gone, and now that our ancestors’ money is no longer enough to run our churches, we have an opportunity such as we have not had for generations to recapture the mission, to recapture the identity, to recapture the joy of functioning as mission outposts for the gospel of Christ.

That determined joy was witnessed this winter when the churches of Bethlehem and Allentown took on the frigid weather and the less-than-enthusiastic support of the government to save homeless people from death. The beauty is that, in addition to saving bodies, leaders of these churches touched the hearts of more than one elected official, with ongoing results. 

All of that said, there have been some terrible blows struck by the economy and by demographics to some churches, and other parishes have gone too long without revealing their need or asking for help. The Standing Committee and I are nonetheless determined that we will work with troubled parishes where there is the will to go forward with ministry that is even a faint possibility.

The problem with help from the outside is that it can look and feel imposed. Therefore, to help less endangered parishes reclaim their vitality I have been meeting with the congregational development committee in order to reorganize their activities. They will essentially be broken down into three groups. One you know. It makes grants to parishes in support of ministry; requirements remain the same: assessments must be paid up and a realistic plan for specific ministry must be in place.

What will be new are two other subcommittees. One will focus on parishes north of Route 80 and one will focus on parishes to the south. Each of these committees will be led by a Dean or Canon and have the responsibility of insuring that all the programmatic resources of the diocese are brought into play wherever they are needed. It is very important to me that parishes in similar situations talk with each other and as far as possible, work together. The Standing Committee has studied in detail the statistics on every parish in the diocese, and will be turning that data over to the new Congregational Development Committee later this month.  

The Tools –– The resources of this diocese are incredible for any diocese, especially so for one so small in numbers. In a year’s time there are eight diocesan youth events, including two mission trips. We are preparing new programs for the 18-25 age group. We have three people from the diocese on the faculty of Episcopal Seminaries. As we live into General Convention’s new Charter for Lifelong Christian Formation, more spiritual resources will emerge.

Our stewardship and evangelism programs are second to none, and our development office has been restored. I mention these three topics together because when one aspect is taken seriously they all seem to come into play.

Research tells us that in our diocese, parishes with a year-round stewardship program have an average pledge that is 75.6% higher than those without one, and their average giving is 69% higher as well. Please allow us to help you.

Incidentally the Stewardship Commissin reports that one of the causes of poor giving habits is personal debt, and they are preparing resources to help people face that challenge to discipleship in the coming year.  

Futures ––  The generation of “Seekers” is looking for God, community, and mystery, but not particularly a denominational label. We have to market our identity in a way that says when you see this label you have a shot at finding God, community, and mystery. It isn’t enough to say you’re welcome. You have to say you’ll find God here.

We are grateful to have an example of just this kind of communication in the spots our northern parishes have been running on TV and in print media. This convention invites the south to join in this successful program. I hope you will give this serious discussion in the hearings.

You will notice that a resolution regarding another Share the Bread festival has been withdrawn. The good news is that the Evangelism Commission has already been charged with moving us toward another festival in 2010. Please stay tuned for further news, and please be prepared to help and celebrate.

We will be the recipients of a visit by the Presiding Bishop in November. You will have the opportunity to hear her speak and to bring forward your questions and comments on the evening of November 9th at Nativity, 10th at St. Luke’s in Lebanon, or the 11th here at St. Stephen’s. Please plan to be present and bring your friends. All events start at six o’clock with evensong at which the Presiding Bishop will preach.

Finally, a word needs to be said about the economic times in which we live. I have shared with you the anxiety at the national church level and some of you have shared with me your own anxiety at the parochial level as it takes time for the economy to level off. I believe that times of distress are times of great opportunity to assist others. Having lived with you through one recession already and having some idea of modern history, I want to say something fairly simple. Jesus’ call to us to is to follow him, regardless of the circumstances. I believe with all my heart that as we endeavor to follow his call calmly and devotedly, he will see us through. The path of self-emptying service continues to be the one he lays before us. It is the one I believe he will continue to bless. It is the one I believe leads us to joy, and I am sure that we will continue to work together to serve the world in Christ’s name, joyfully, confidently, and expecting God to use our efforts. Thank you.