Many of us who were there remember snippets of the sermon preached by Bishop Catherine Roskam, a former student in Bishop Paul’s homiletics class at Yale. One part, where she recited a poem, Bakerwoman God, seems to me to have been especially prophetic: “Bakerwoman God, I am your living bread … I am your rising bread, well-kneaded … Put me in fire, Bakerwoman God … Break me, Bakerwoman God … Bakerwoman God, remake me.”
Upon returning from a 2005 mission trip to southern Sudan, Bishop Paul told a story about the impetus for the New Hope Campaign which has now raised more than $3.8 million for the people of Kajo Keji and the needy of northeastern Pennsylvania. “At the end of a week in that bomb-torn country, Diana and I baked in a bus for 14 hours in the Ugandan sun. Finally you give up wiping your face. As we became increasingly caked with red dirt and the overcrowded bus grew hotter and hotter, I found myself baking in a creative and holy sense: I knew God wanted my attention. Genesis says humans began our existence as kind of mud pies, and the red dust of the earth baking into my pores helped me have a new beginning of insight: Here were sisters and brothers with almost nothing to their names trying to build a life and a country — how could I go on as usual? In addition to altering how I live personally, I have had to abandon some of my bricks-and-mortar dreams for our own diocese, particularly regarding a conference center, in order to see what God would have us do for others. The question that intrigued me was, Could we dare to have a capital fund drive where we didn’t get the money?”
A story written by Bill Lewellis more than a year ago for Bishop Paul 13th anniversary, in need of some updating, may be found here.
50 years ... July 11 will be the 50th anniversary of the ordination of the Very Rev. Robert D. Schenkel, Jr., onetime dean of the Cathedral Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem. Bob will preside and preach at the cathedral that day.
Moravian/Episcopal Full Communion ... The Northern Province of the Moravian Church voted June 18 to enter into full communion with the Episcopal Church. The nearly unanimous voice vote [one dissenting vote] came during an evening session on the second day of the church's June 17-21 quadrennial Provincial Synod at Moravian College in Bethlehem. The Episcopal Church voted to affirm full communion at las summer's General Convention. Read the Episcopal News Story story here. The story as it appears on the Moravian Church blog is accessible here and here. Over the years of dialogue with the Moravian Church toward full communion, Nick Knisely, Jane Teter and Maria Tjeltveit have served consecutively on the dialogue team. We've been way ahead at Diocesan House in that Kat Lehman, our Info-Tech coordinator and Diocesan Life editor, is a Moravian and the spouse of Derek French, pastor at East Hills Moravian Church on Butztown Road, Bethlehem. Photos taken by Kat are at the DioBeth Flickr site. [What follow is from Bob Schenkel, former dean, Cathedral Church of the Nativity, Bethlehem] Full Communion with the Moravians has been in the works for some time, but our local relationship goes back to the very beginning when the Church of the Nativity (not yet the Cathedral) was established in the mid-19th century. The Moravians graciously permitted the use of Central Moravian Church for Episcopal services when there was no Episcopal church. On April 19 1865, the Moravian clergy participated in the dedication of Nativity, and both Episcopalian and Moravian clergy (and perhaps others) held joint memorial services for President Lincoln who had been assassinated the previous Friday (Good Friday incidentally). The history is well told in a little volume - One Hundred Years of Nativity.
Hats-off to the Presiding Bishop ... The Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church preached at Southwark Cathedral Londonon the weekend of June 12-13. The Archbishop of Canterbury said she could not wear a mitre. Something to do with women bishops not yet being allowed in the C of E. She carried the mitre. The subject for her sermon: God welcomes everyone, regardless of dress or condition. More here. [H/T to Ann Fontaine] Read the PB's sermon here. And read here for a follow-up on ecclesial temper. Finally, the PB calls the ABC's treatment of her "bizarre, beyond bizarre." Ordinarily it would not be news that in 2005 Frank Griswold, then presiding bishop of The Episcopal Church, wore his mitre at Southward Cathedral. But these are not ordinary times. Read Religion News Service story, "Hat's- off to Episcopal bishop ..."
The PB 's usual steady self ... According to Jim Naughton, editor of Episcopal Cafe, "Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori was her usual steady self in an interview with David Crabrtree of WRAL TV, himself an Episcopalian. The interview touched on the ecological devastation of the Gulf of Mexico in the wake of the still-spreading BP oil spill, earthquake recovery efforts in Haiti; relationships in the Anglican Communion, and 'mitregate,' which she said was not painful, but was 'silly.'" (I do not yet have a link to that interview. ––Bill) While she was in the state, however, the PB was also interviewed by Bishop Michael Curry of North Carolina. Video is at the diocese's Youtube channel: Part I (8 minutes); Part II (8 minutes).
Presiding bishop commences visit to Australia, New Zealand ... [By Matthew Davies, Episcopal News Service] The Anglican churches in Australia and New Zealand are hosting Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori for an informal two-week visit to the two provinces. "I'm to speak with people there about their conversations around human sexuality and also about their missionary development work -- not in the sense of finances but in the sense of leadership development and theological education," Jefferts Schori told members of Executive Council during their June 16-18 meeting in Maryland. "We're also going to have a conversation about the work that they're doing around the Millennium Development Goals, and, obviously, our relationships within the Anglican Communion." Neva Rae Fox, the Episcopal Church's program officer for public affairs, said the trip, which has been in the planning stages for more than a year, is all about building relationships. Full story.
The End of Christendom ... Duke theologian Stanley Hauerwas, among others, has said that Constantinian Christianity, meaning what often is called Christendom, has lost -- especially in Europe but increasingly in the U.S., too. "This Christianity." according to Bill Tammeus, "involved a close, almost incestuous, connection between the church and the governing powers. So now we Christians are liberated from the burden of that and can focus more freely on following Jesus, which means using our prophetic voices to point out what is unjust and unmerciful in our culture and then work to fix it." More here.
Michelle White ordained to priesthood ... [From Father Bill McGinty] On Monday 21 June 2010, the Rev. Dr. Michelle White was ordained priest in the Episcopal church by Bishop Mark Beckwith. Surrounded by friends from Long Island, Honesdale and especially Milford her home parish, Chellie received the sacred sacrament and was welcomed into the presbyterate. The ceremony took place at All Saints Church, Hoboken, NJ.
Pope of the Valley ... Bishop Paul said the is grateful to the Rev. Maureen Hipple, rector of Christ Church Towanda, for kindly agreeing to serve as his pastoral representative for the northern region, a position the clergy of the region had nick-named "Pope of the Valley." She will serve, the Bishop said, as did the late Rev. Ned Caum and the Rev. Mary Kisner, to help clergy and congregations of the region stay linked to each other and to the larger community.
The Book of Common Prayer in Four MInutes ... Father Matthew leads a rapid romp through the BCP. View here.
July 4 bulletin inserts recount history of congressional chaplains ... [Episcopal News Service] The custom of appointing clergy members to lead the House of Representatives and the Senate of the United States in prayer has continued with few interruptions ever since the Senate elected Samuel Provoost, Episcopal bishop of New York, as its first chaplain in 1789. ENS Weekly bulletin inserts for July 4 outline the history of the Senate and House chaplains, many of whom have been Episcopalians. Inserts may be downloaded here.
Pray for our young men and women who have died in Iraq and Afghanistan, and for their families … Jeffrey R. Standfest, 23; Michael C. Bailey, 29; Benjamin D. Osborn, 27; William Ortega, 23; Michael P. Cassidy, 41; Joseph D. Johnson, 24; Gunnar R. Hotchkin, 31; Nathan W. Cox, 27; Benjamin J. Park, 25; James P. Hunter, 25; Scott A. Andrews, 21; Timothy G. Serwinowski, 21; Jacob P. Dohrenwend, 20; ... 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.
Sally Hampson, R.I.P. A memorial service for Sara Ellen Hampson will take place at Trinity Bethlehem on Monday, June 28,at 2p.m. Find obituary here.
Fault Lines.In Deep Water: A Way of Life in Peril ... "A third of the waters in the Gulf of Mexico are closed to fishing ... Stop calling me resilient. Every time you call me resilient, that means you can do something else to me. Stop calling me resilient." A 23:20 video produced by Aljazeera, well done and worth watching. View it here.
For clergy, losing faith can be an occupational hazard ... This Religion News Service feature by Solange DeSantis includes quotes from Patrick Malloy.
Lead by example: Get tested for AIDS ... ELCA public service announcement here. National HIV Testing Day is June 27.
Executive Council message to Episcopal Church ... Read it here. Summary of Executive Council resolutions ... Read it here.
Direct and Indirect Abortion ... Direct abortion, according to RC Church teaching is intrinsically evil, always wrong, never permitted, not even to save the mother's life. RC Church teaching, however, does allow for Indirect abortion. An example would be the removal of a cancerous uterus from a pregnant woman in order to prevent the cancer from spreading. How is this not mental gymnastics that seems more the servant of Aristotelian logic than it is the servant of compassion and gospel imperatives? (Blame that question on Bill.) More here.
The Anosognosic’s Dilemma: Something’s Wrong but You’ll Never Know What It Is (Part 1) ... Can you be so incompetent that you can’t know you’re incompetent? Ignorance profoundly channels the course we take in life. Unknown unknowns constitute a grand swath of everybody’s field of ignorance. Part 1 here. Part 2 continues with digressions into Surrealism, hysteria and Proust.
Letters of Intent requested for New Hope grants ... [From the Rev. Daniel Gunn] The Social Ministries Committee is now ready to receive and consider requests for disbursements from the New Hope Campaign. The total amount we are able to grant for the 2010-11 calendar year is $100,000. Therefore, we are inviting Letters of Intent from parishes and Episcopal related organizations within the Episcopal Diocese of Bethlehem. The Deadline for Letters of Intent is 30 July 2010. More here.
Diocesan Life, the July/August issue ... Download it here.
Calendars ... •Download the current Calendar of Events for the whole diocese here. (If you would like and event listed, email Kat Lehman with event name, date, location, costs, time event starts and any contact info. She will gladly add any events your parish is hosting. •Find the Calendar of Diocesan Events here. Please note the difference between the two calendars.
•June 29, Brian Pavlac will be ordained to the priesthood 7:00 p.m., at St Stephen's Wilkes-Barre. A reception will follow. •July
10, Bishop's Day for Kids, The Gospel
according to Dr Seuss, at Good
Shepherd
Scranton. More info here.
Register
online. Registration closes on July 5th. No walk-ins permitted. This is going to be a really fun event! We need kids to register now so we can order enough supplies, T-shirts and other fun stuff. Spend the day with Bishop Paul and the Gospel According to Dr. Suess! Saturday, July 10, 9:30 to 2:30 For kids who have completed grade one, upt to grade 5. Parents welcome. To register, go to Event For more information contact Canon Anne Kitch at akitch@diobeth.org or 610-691-5655 x237.
•August 5-8, Middle School Mission Trip in Bethlehem. More info here. Register online here.
Diocese of Bethlehem photos on Flickr ... View them here.Find earlier issues of the newSpin newsletter here.
Please send the following to friends you think may be interested ... newSpin is an electronic newsletter that includes news, information and commentary related to the Diocese of Bethlehem, the Episcopal Church, the Anglican Communion and the world of religion ... with some spin, of course, from the editor. It is edited by retired communication minister Bill Lewellis and ordinarily published twice weekly, on Monday and Thursday. To have it emailed to you, you may subscribe at the "Get Connected" box on the right column of www.diobeth.org. Select newSpin under the groups. You may find samples of the newSpin newsletter at the newSpin blog, www.diobeth.typepad.com.
About the newSpin newsletter ... Composed at least weekly (usually twice a week) by Bill Lewellis, the newSpin newsletter appears as a post within the newSpin blog, but newsletter and blog are not identical. The newsletter currently goes to some 1,000 email addresses on a separate list. The newsletter comes, of course, with some spin from the editor, but the views expressed, implied or inferred in items or links contained in the newsletter or the blog do not represent the official view of the Diocese of Bethlehem unless expressed by or forwarded from the Bishop or the Archdeacon as an official communication. Comments may be addressed to Bill.
Comments