[Posted by Bill Lewellis]
Bishop Paul's September column for daily newspapersMother Jones –– more than a magazine. Find it here.
Regional Discernment Training (COM)
A Regional Discernment Training session by telephone conference call has been scheduled for this Wednesday, September 2, from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. If you are interested, please contact Monica Lewellis, [email protected] or 610-844-7539 ( to get conference call instructions and to have necessary forms emailed to you. If anyone currently serving would like a refresher, you are encouraged and welcome.
The shape of the future
The gap between how the under-30s and the over-65s feel about same-sex
marriage is 35 percentage points. On the state level: If people over 65 made the laws, 0 states would have gay marriage; if people under 30 made the laws, 38 states would have gay marriage. More at Episcopal Cafe, thanks to Jim Naughton.
They agree to disagree respecfully
Within ELCA and TEC. Read more at Episcopal Cafe. Also see Lutherans: sexuality in the headlines here.
Summary of General Convention actions
A 25-page summary of actions of GC2009 is available as a downloadable, searchable PDF.
[From Canon Anne Kitch, Bethlehem deputation chair] Our Diocesan Deputation to General Convention will present two forums to report to the Diocese the actions of the 76th General Convention: Wednesday, September 9, at 7:30 pm at St. Stephen's Wilkes-Barre, and Thursday, September 17, at 7:00 pm at St. Andrew's Allentown These are in addition to reports that have been printed in the September Issue of Diocesan Life.
Ordinations to the priesthood
Tuesday, September 29, 7:00 p.m., Cathedral Bethelhem. Timothy Scott Albright, James Douglas Moyer, Christina Nord, Wayne Calvin Sherrer
Salvation's goal: returning all to right relationship
From the Presiding Bishop. Read more here.
Bishop's School, Fall 2009
Courses: (1) Book of Common Prayer, taught by Bishop Paul in the
morning. (2) Theology, taught by The Rev. John Francis in the afternoon.
Dates: September 26; October 17, 24, 31; November 7, 14, 28;
December 5, 12, 19. More info here.
[By Charlie Barebo] Join me in celebrating the second anniversary of the New Hope Campaign! As we pass this milestone, may we join in a prayer of thanksgiving. We have received $3,900,000 in gifts and pledges, $300,000 more than our initial goal and just $200,000 short of our stretch goal of $4,100,000. Of this we have collected over $2,400,000. Despite the troubling economic times, pledge fulfillment rates remain high. Your pledge commitment is a sacred one. You will bring the gift of the Gospel to a child. [Read the story and view pics here.]
New Hope Campaign receives UTO grant
The New Hope Campagn has received a United Thank Offering grant in the amount of $48,361 to be used for a wing on Gaderu Primary School in our companion diocese of Kajo Keji in southern Sudan.
Inviting Silence
Led by Father Peter Pearson and Mother Laura Howell, Nov. 19-21, at the St. Francis Center for Renewal, Bethlehem. More info here.
Registration for Diocesan Convention
The annual convention of the Diocese of Bethlehem will be held at St.
Stephen's Pro-Cathedral, Wilkes-Barre, October 9-10. Please register on-line
where you will also find more information. On-line registrations will
be open only until October 2. An additional $20 late fee will be
charged at the door.
Pre-Convention meeting, meant for clergy and delegates to Diocesan Convention (October 9-10) will be held on September 24 at St. Alban's Sinking Spring, on October 1 at Good Shepherd Scranton, and on October 6 at the Cathedral Church of the Nativity, Bethlehem. All from 7:00 to 8:15 p.m.
Have you seen those yellow bins in your neighborhood?
Be wary of whom you are supporting when you drop clothes or shoes in those bright yellow bins that may have appeared in your area. Read here and here and here and here. Also google Planet Aid.
Invite us (The Diocesan Peace Commission) to your parish
The Diocesan Peace Commission offers a one-hour, interactive forum on peacmaking. Invite us to yur parish. We will provide an introduction to our program, Creating a Culture of Peace: Training for Personal and Social Change (CCP). Read more here.
Hospitals expanding duties of chaplains
Role redefined as visits soar. Read the Boston Globe feature here.
His six-year controversial tenure has been distinctive for almost non-stop battles. Read more here. Some, e.g., PoliticsDaily.com, say he did not jump, he was pushed.
Faith in Public Life
Sign up here to receive daily "Faith in Public Life" headlines.
Four evangelism videos from the Diocese of Washington
Terry Martin, Evangelism; David Gortner, Transforming Evangelism; Ian Markham, Why Liberals Churches Are Growing; and Brian McLaren, The Episcopal Moment.
Children's Sabbath
Celebrate the Children's Sabbath in your parish this fall. More info here.
Diocesan Life
The September issue of Diocesan Life my be downloaded here.
DKK Highlights
Download the latest issue of Diocese of Kajo Keji Highlights, a
newsletter compiled by Stephen Tomor Kenyi, the Diocese of Bethlehem's
New Hope representative in Kajo Keji.
"I love living here," Ted Kennedy once said. "And I believe in the Resurrection.
Sorting out the truth in politics
PolitiFact.com and FactCheck.org
Inhibition of Gregory Malia
Read Bishop Paul's August 13 note to Bethlehem Diocese clergy here. And there's a new development, reported today (Aug. 26) in the Times Leader, Wilkes-Barre, State Agents Search Pharmacy in Pittston.
Pray for ...
Pray for our young men and women who have died in Iraq and Afghanistan, and for their families … Joseph D. Fortin, 22; Darby T. Morin, 25; Donald J. Hogan, 20; John L. Hallett III, 30; Cory J. Jenkins, 30; Ronald W. Sawyer, 38; Dennis M. Williams, 24; Kurt R. Curtiss, 27; Matthew E. Wildes, 18; Earl D. Werner, 38; Taylor D. Marks, 19; Abraham S. Wheeler III, 22; Jason S. Dahlke, 29; Eric W. Hario, 19...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.
In-Formation in Bethlehem
Find the current issue of Anne Kitch's faith formation newsletter here.
Need some info? Check out the Episcopal Church's InfoLine. Contact: [email protected] or 212-716-6136, 6137; 800-334-7626, x6136, x6137
Episcopal Life Weekly Bulletin Inserts
Find them here.
News and Notices related to The Episcopal Church
Find them at NewsLine and Episcopal Life Online.
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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+,
You do a great job and ministry for the Diocese of Bethlehem. Thank you!
Henry Male+
Posted by: The Rev. Canon Henry Male | September 01, 2009 at 02:15 PM