newSpin, the newsletter
February 25, 2013
Bill Lewellis
Published on Monday
Occasionally, abbreviated, also on Thursday
TopSpin
• Diocesan Training Day ... Saturday, March 9, at St. Stephen's Wilkes-Barre. More info here. Register online here.
• Five Wednesday evenings at the Cathedral with Bishop Paul ... [Began Feb. 20] Some
days we barely survive; other days we thrive. Over five Wednesday
evenings in Lent from 7-8, Bishop Paul invites us to look at some of the
spiritual tools that make for a good day even in troubled
circumstances. With help from scripture, poetry, and music we will look
at five of our many tools: Faith, Wonder, Meaning, Sacrifice, and
Self-examination. More here.
• Diocese seeks Missioner for Communication and Congregational Renewal ... Are
you a digital native, passionate about new ways of communicating
ancient traditions and furthering our diocesan mission to "Live God's
love. Tell what you have seen and heard"? Are you a superb volunteer
coordinator? Can you think strategically? Do you have excellent
communication skills? If so, we want you to become a part of our team.
The Diocese of Bethlehem is currently accepting applications for the
position of Missioner for Communication and Congregational Renewal. This
is a full-time, salaried position working out of Diocesan House.
Deadline for submission of letter of interest and resumes is March 5,
2013. Download job description and details on subission info here.
• Christophany SPARKED ... Here.
• The resignation of B16
... See the February 14 newSpin newsletter. Here. Ongoing news, analysis and opinion at Commonweal. And, from WaPo, leaked documents show fractured Vatican full of rivalries. Benedict's act of humility ... Here. Changing expectations for the papacy ... [Commonweal Editorial] Here. John Paul II left the church a mess. B16's resignation might save it ... [Daily Beast and Newsweek] Here. Understanding B16's decision ... [Reuters] Here.
SoulSpin
• Five Wednesday evenings at the Cathedral with Bishop Paul ... See above.
• Don't confuse yearning with alienation ... [Bill]
My prayers are too often centered on a search for insight. That. at times,
results in pray-er's block. Nevertheless, it's so good when insight
occurs. Anne Kitch keeps giving us insightful and helpful reflections
in her daily Lenten reflections. Don't miss a recent reflection on
Psalm 53:1-2/ An excerpt: On any given morning, of any given day, even
the most devout person can look for God and find…nothing. Today I look
on the world and see only brokenness. Somehow I have lost my way.But I
also recognize this place. I have been here before. It is a particular
landscape in the wilderness. The temptation here, the trap set by the
enemy, is to confuse yearning with alienation. To long for God, to look
for God, is in itself an act of faith. It is this yearning, this seeking
for God, that God calls wise. More here. You can read Anne's Daily Lenten reflections here or subscribe to receive them as daily emails through the Diocese of Bethlehem using the Get Connected box. Enter your name and email address, click on "my groups," and select Wilderness Yearning.
• For Lent ... See the February 14 newSpin newsletter, 130214. Here.
• Zumba dancing to Jerusalem.. [ENS] Shannon Knapp of Lehighton, Pennsylvania, is Zumba dancing her way to Jerusalem as part of her 2013 Lenten spiritual practice.
At least 83 others in the Episcopal Diocese of Bethlehem are rowing, weightlifting, cycling, walking and even chair-exercising
from nursing homes in the spirit of giving up unhealthy lifestyles as
they count calories burned as miles traveled and aim to “arrive in
Jerusalem” in time for Holy Week. ,,, It’s about 5,675 miles from Carbon County, Pennsylvania, to Jerusalem,
and the Rev. John Wagner, rector-elect of St. Mark’s and St. John’s
Church in the city of Jim Thorpe, is making the calories-to-miles
conversions for a host of exercises. That way, participants will
metaphorically and collectively arrive in Jerusalem “in time to join
Jesus on the Via Dolorosa and walk that trail of tears with him.” Read on.
• The Book of Common Prayer ... every edition from 1549 to 1979. Here.
• Prayers and Thanksgivings from the BCP. Here.
• The Daily Office ... can be read online in Rite I, Rite II or the New Zealand Prayer Book versions. At Mission St. Clare.
• Holy Women, Holy Men ... Download Holy Women, Holy Men as a .pdf file.
• Speaking to the Soul ... An Episcopal Café blog. Sermons, reflections, multimedia meditations and excerpts from books on spirituality. Here.
DioBethSpin
• PA Council of Churches public ministry of witness ... [Diana Marshall] Here.
• Jubilate ... Hymnody for Lent to the Seventh Sunday after Easter, published by the Diocese of Bethlehem for our diocesan community and
for free distribution to the world, may be downloaded as an
Acrobat file from the DioBeth website. Go to the "How We Serve" menu and click on Worship. You can subscribe to the Jubilate email list via the "Get Connected" box on the website. Subscribe to the diobeth music list. Jubilate is a service of our Liturgy
and Music Commission, specifically Canon Cliff Carr who has been
doing this for more than 30 years.
• Diocesan Training Day ... March 9 at St. Stephen's, Wilkes-Barre. Here. Register online.
• Chrism Mass ... March 21 at the Cathedral Church of the Nativity, Bethlehem, 11 a.m.
• Christophany ... April 19-21 at Pocono Plateau Retreat Center in Cresco. Online registration opens March 1.
• Diocesan Evangelism and Stewardship Conference ... May 18 at St. Stephen's W-B.
• DioBeth Website ... newSpin Blog ... Re:Create blog for youth and young adults ... Twitter.DioBeth ... Twitter.Kat Lehman ... Facebook.DioBeth ... Flickr, search under dio_beth
• Public news and info lists ... At the Diobeth website,
enter your name and email in the "Get Connected" box. You
are welcome to subscribe to
any or all of
these. "Bakery" is
our diocesan interactive
list.
ParishSpin
• Allentown/Bethlehem ... Social ministries at St. Andrew's. Here.
• Allentown ... Social ministries at Grace. Here.
• Athens ... Social ministries at Trinity. Here.
• Bethlehem ... Social ministries at Cathedral Church of Nativity. Here.
• Bethlehem ... Social ministries at Trinity. Here.
• Easton ... Social ministries at Trinity. Here.
• Glenburn/Clarks Summit ... Social ministries at Epiphany. Here.
• Forest City ... Social ministries at Christ Church. Here.
• Hazleton ... Social ministries at St. Peter's. Here.
• Hellertown ... Social ministries at St. George's. Here.
• Honesdale ... Social ministries at Grace. Here.
• Jermyn ... Social ministries at St. James-St. George. Here.
• Kutztown ... Social ministries at St. Barnabas. Here.
• Mt. Pocono ... Social ministries at Trinity. Here.
• Reading ... Social ministries at Christ Church. Here.
• Sayre ... Social ministries at Church of the Redeemer. Here.
• Susquehanna ... Social ministries at Christ Church. Here.
• Troy ... Social ministries at St. Paul's. Here.
• Tunkhannock ... Social ministries at St. Peter's. Here.
• West Pittston ... Social ministries at Trinity. Here.
• Wilkes-Barre ... Social ministries at St. Stephen's. Here.
[Highlighting parish social ministries will be a continuing item.
Corrections and additions are welcome.]
• Choral Evensong at Mediator ... [J. Clinton Miller, Organist/Choirmaster] The Choir of The Episcopal Church of the Mediator, 1620
Turner Street, Allentown will sing their Lenten Choral Evensong on Sunday,
March 3. at 4:00 p.m. The service will
include a Choral Introit “Hide me under the shadow of thy wings” by John E.
West, Preces and Responses by William Barnard and The Magnificat and Nunc
dimittis in C by Ralph Vaughan Williams,
all English Composers. The choir anthem for the afternoon will be the American
composer, Leo Sowerby’s “I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills” featuring the
Mezzo Soprano, Megan Durham. A wine reception will follow the service in the
Church’s Commons Room. The public is cordially invited to attend.
• Catheral trips ... To the Philadelphia Flower Show, March 4, and to Brooklyn with the Cathedral Choir, March 10.
• Calendar of Events ... Here and Here.
Obituaries
• The Rev. Charles Kapps ... Obituary here.
Episcopal/Anglican (beyond DioBeth)
• Serve Christ Maybe ... This creative and fun Acolyte Festival Promo in the Diocese of West Texas was produced by the youth team of a church in Corpus Christi. I think you'll like it. Watch it here.
• Human Trafficking
... Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori will host an hour-long
exploration into the church’s work in Human Trafficking on Wednesday,
March 6. Human Trafficking: A Churchwide Conversation will
originate from the Chapel of Christ the Lord in the Church Center in New
York City beginning at 2 pm Eastern. It will be presented via WebEx.
Participation is limited; advance registration is mandatory. To
register: trafficking@episcopalchurch.org. To submit a question,
trafficking@episcopalchurch.org, More info here. Also here.
• Updated Episcopal Church canons and constitution available online ... Here.
• Restructuring principles for the church ... [George Clifford, Episcopal Café] Part One. Part Two.
• Episcopal Church Website ... ENS blog ... Episcopal Web Radio ... Episcopal Church on Facebook ... YouTube ... Twitter ... foursquare ... and Linked-In ...
• Anglican Communion Website ... News Service. ... and News Service on Facebook.
Employment Opportunities
• DioBeth Missioner for Communication and Congregational Renewal ... A new full-time position in the Diocese of Bethlehem. See above, under TopSpin.
• Episcopal Jobs ... Here.
• Director of Music: St.
Paul's Lutheran, 36 S. Eighth St., Allentown, is seeking a director of
music. Two weekly services; chancel choir, bell choir; 4-manual Moeller
pipe organ, rebuilt 1992; grand piano in sanctuary. About 15 hours
weekly; salary $13,000-16,000, depending on training and experience.
Contact Eunice at schermerhorn@enter.net.
• Organist and Choir Director: Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church, Whitehall,
is looking for a part-time organist and choir director to direct a
senior choir, youth choir and handbell choir. One service a week. Salary
range from $16,000 to $17,500. Contact the church office at
610-262-1600 for more details.
TaleSpin
• Sustaining a vocation: Fear not ... [Episcopal Café Will Hocker] A couple months ago, our rector, Paul Fromberg, asked me how I can
work as a pediatric hospital chaplain. That is, how do I bear being with
children as they suffer. I knew, as the words came out of my mouth,
that I was scratching the surface of something I barely understand. I said, “I cry. A lot.” Well. That certainly is true. Actually, it’s never been so true as
it’s been since I uttered those words. Nevertheless, it’s an inadequate
response to a tough question. I’ve been holding this question close to
my heart ever since. Read on.
• People Without Homes photo exhibit ... Here. Wednesday, February 27.
TailSpin
• UN faults US for failure to prosecute abusive clerics ... [RNS] The U.S. is failing to pursue and prosecute clergy guilty of
child sexual abuse, according to a recent United Nations committee
report.
The U.N.’s Committee on the Rights of the Child, in a little-noticed Jan. 25 report,
urged the U.S. to “take all necessary measures to investigate all cases
of sexual abuse of children whether single or on a massive and
long-term scale, committed by clerics.” Read on.
• Who is surprised to learn that there are gay priests in the Vatican? ... [Episcopal Café] Here.
• Nice people are killing churches. Tell them to stop it ... [Episcopal Café]
Nice people can kill churches. We need to treat each other with grace
and love. But we also need to treat each other with truth. Truth,
covered in grace and love. Many times, nice guys just choose the grace
and love parts. And the church dies … a slow and agonizing death. More here.
• Virginia Beach church faces deadline to separate RC/Episcopal ... [Associated Press] A Virginia Beach church faces a Feb. 28 deadline to separate its 30-year-old blended Roman Catholic and Episcopal services. Roman Catholic Bishop Francis X. DiLorenzo has told the Church of the Holy Apostles congregation to bring its liturgical celebrations into conformity with the Roman Catholic Church, the Diocese of Richmond said in a statement. Read on. [Bishop DiLorenzo, a onetime Archdiocese of Philadelphia priest, was auxiliary bishop of Scranto during the late 80s and early 90s.]
• As we are ... [Anais Nin] "We don't see things as they are, we see them as we are."
HeadSpin• Mass killings are often a family affair ... [USA Today] "Mass shootings … are the tragedies that capture the public''s attention. But every day, 33 Americans are being killed, mostly with handguns and distressingly often, by a family member or intimate partner." Mark Glaze, director of Mayors Against Illegal Guns. More here.
• The extraordinary science of addictive junk food ... [NYTimes Magazine cover story] Here.
• Seeking to reclaim a dirty word ... [RNS] A conference at Georgetown University in Washington this week focused on cleaning up what many Americans consider a dirty word — secularism. The goal of the conference, called “Secularism on the Edge,” was, in part, to define what secularism is and what it is not. It drew participants from France, Israel and the United States — all countries with strong secular and religious strains. Read on.
• The German RC bishops ... [NCR] have announced that Catholic hospitals can provide emergency contraceptives to rape victims, as long as the pills prevent the fertilization of an egg and do not stop the implantation of a fertilized egg. Read on.
Evangelical Lutheran
• NEPA Synod E-News ... Feb. 22.
• NEPA Synod website ... Here. ELCA website ... Here. ELCA News Service ... Here. ELCA's blogs may be found here. See especially "Web and Multimedia Development."
Moravian
• Moravian Church in North America website. Moravian Church Northern Province website. Moravian Theological Seminary website.
United Methodist
• UMC website Here. News Service Here. Communication Resources Start here. Communication newsletter (tips and tools) Here. Eastern PA Conference website Here. Facebook Here. Bishop Peggy Johnson's blog Here.
Roman Catholic
• RC Church helps fill a void in Africa ... [NYTimes] Lagos, Nigeria — The young woman slept soundly on the cool marble floor
before the altar, a break from the chaos at home. In the courtyard,
neighborhood teenagers filled giant jerrycans with purified water from a
stone fountain. In an aisle, a rail-thin young woman from a nearby slum
said she had not eaten since yesterday but was expecting sustenance
here. Behind its high spiked iron gates in this frenetic megalopolis of
anywhere between 11 million and 21 million, the church of Christ the
King is protector, feeder and healer. Read on.
• Embattled Scottish Cardinal ... [NYTimes] Cardinal Keith Patrick O'Brien, the archbishop of Saint Andrews and
Edinburgh in Scotland who has been accused of inappropriate sexual
relations with priests, has resigned as archbishop and has indicated he
will not partake in the election of the next pope. Read on. Also at NCR.
• Diocese of Allentown ... Here. Diocese of Scranton ... Here. United States Conference of Catholic Bishops ... Here. Catholic News Service ... Here. Vatican website ... Here. Vatican Information Service blog ... Here. Vatican News/Info Portal ... Here.
HealthSpin
• Flu Situation 2013 ... Here.
• Resources for caregivers ... Here. • Medline Plus ... Here. • WebMD ... Here.
• Alzheimers.gov ... For the people helping people with Alzheimers. Here.
• Google Books ... Millions of books you can preview or read free. Here. • The Online Books Page ... from UPenn. Here.
• More free eBooks and Audiobooks ... [Techlicious] Here.
Calendar of Events/The Episcopal Church ... Here.
Resources
• In-Formation in Bethlehem ... Canon Anne Kitch's February monthly newsletter on Christian formation ... Here.
• Forward Movement ... Here.
• The Alban Institute ... Here.
• ECF Vital Practices ... Here.
• Faith in Public Life ... Here. A strategy center for the faith community
advancing faith in the public square as a force for justice,
compassion and the common good.
• Religion&Ethics News Weekly (PBS) ... Here.
• The Chalice, a publication of DioBeth's Lifelong Christian Formation Committee created by Joan DeAcetis for older adults and caretakers. Download issues here.
• Weekly Bulletin Inserts from the Episcopal Church ... Here.
• Episcopal Web Radio ... Here.
• Religion News Service Daily Roundup ... here.
• National Catholic Reporter ... here.
• Back issues of the newSpin newsletter ... here.
• Episcopal/Anglican
(1) The Episcopal Church
(2) Episcopal News Service
(3) Episcopal Café
(4) AngicansOnline.
(5) AnglicansOnline News Centre.
• Daily Office ... Lectionary Page ... Lectionary ... Oremus Bible Browser ... Revised Common Lectionary
*************
You are reading the newSpin newsletter. The newSpin blog, which includes the newsletter and other items, is available here,
where you may comment on anything posted here. When the
newsletter is completed on Mondays
and occasionally on
Thursdays in a somewhat abbreviated form, it is
published immediately to the
blog and on Bakery and on a
ChurchPost list of some 1,000
addresses. Many
recipients forward it to
many more. Bakery and the
blog are interactive. The
ChurchPost list is not. The
newsletter comes, of
course, with some spin
from the editor.
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. If
you're wondering why you
haven't seen something related
to your parish or
agency here, it's probably
because no one has sent
relevant info. If you think something about
your parish or agency merits
inclusion, send email to Bill.
Bill Lewellis, Diocese of Bethlehem, retired
Communication Minister/Editor (1986-2010), Canon Theologian (1998)
Blog , Email (c)610-393-1833
Be attentive. Be intelligent. Be reasonable. Be responsible.
Be in Love. And, if necessary, change. [Bernard Lonergan]
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