todaySpin - Jan. 20, 2009

What’s the spin? A sampling of news and information for and about and that may be of interest to Episcopalians in the Diocese of Bethlehem. Local. National. Worldwide. Please send suggestions for todaySpin to Bill Lewellis.

todaySlate
What's in the major newspapers today?

todayScope
epiScope lists a few stories from the media that relate to the Episcopal Church.

todayStory
Good Shepherd Scranton receives grant to expand services -- and hearts.

todaySupplication
O God of our many understandings ... Bishop Gene Robinsons prayer for the nation and the president-elect. And the Presiding Bishop will offer a closing prayer at tomorrow's national prayer service at the Washington Cathedral which will be broadcast live from the cathedral's website.

todaySpiel
The 'gold standard' of church websites.

yesterdaySaint
Almighty God, by the hand of Moses your servant you led your people out of slavery, and made them free at last; Grant that your Church, following the example of your prophet Martin Luther King, may resist oppression in the name of your love, and may secure for all your children the blessed liberty of the Gospel of Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

In 1988 the Episcopal Church, by act of General Convention, added the name of civil rights leader and Baptist minister Martin Luther King Jr. to its Calendar of Commemorations. The life and legacy of Dr. King are celebrated in the Episcopal calendar on April 4, the date of his assassination in 1968, but many Episcopal congregations and dioceses held celebrations on or around the third Monday in January, which the United States Congress designated in 1983 as a national holiday in King’s honor.

Download the Episcopal Life bulletin insert created for last Sunday here.

todaySpeck (aka Matthew 7:3)
From a Fox News Religion Correspondent: My biggest shock was that Robinson commented in The New York Times about past inaugural prayers. He said he was “horrified” at how “specifically and aggressively Christian they were.”

todaySymbol
 

todaySoundbite
It is a no-brainer that religious people have an obligation to love their neighbor. What may not be so obvious is that when we talk about how to love more than one neighbor at a time, we are engaging the world of the political. Not the partisan, but the political. [Bishop Paul. Read it all here.]

newSpin
Find the most recent issue here.

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]