St. Brigid's Youth Service for ERD
Bishop Anthony of Kajo Keji to visit Diocese of Bethlehem

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After the construction ends, the learning begins ... New Hope in Kajo Keji, by Charlie Barebo. Download March DioLife, page 5.

The Episcopal Church ... our history and heritage.

DOK Lenten Retreat ... The Daughters of the King are sponsoring a Lenten retreat, Feb. 26-28 at St. Francis Retreat House in Easton, led by Archdeacon Howard Stringfellow and open to all the women of the diocese. Cost of $175 ($25 nonprefundable deposit by Feb. 20) includew private room, private bathroom, all meals on Saturday and breakfast on Sunday. Optional pizza/salad dinner on Friday evening, $8.00. There will also be a social on Saturday evening with talents from many of the women that will be there. Registration: 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 26. Questions: [email protected] or 570-868-3738.

Lent at ReligionLink.com

Facts about the Diocese of Haiti and the aftermath of the earthquake. Read here. Check the Haiti page of The Episcopal Church for news, updates, resources, videos and important information, as well as the Episcopal Relief and Development website. In the Episcopal News Service Weekly bulletin inserts for February 28, Bonnie Anderson, president of the Episcopal Church's House of Deputies, outlines the immediate and possible long-term needs faced by the nation and the diocese of Haiti. Inserts available in English and Spanish here.


At St. John's Palmerton, Carbon County District Attorney Gary Dobias will be the guest speaker at the Palmerton Area Youth Group meeting on Sunday, February 28, at 4:00 p.m. Refreshments will be served. All parents and children from the area are invited to attend. Mr. Dobias will discuss the social and legal consequences of improper use of camera phones. Contact Kent at 610-360-7375 if you plan on attending or have any questions. [Thanks to Deb Craig for this info]

Youth Service at St. Brigid's Nazareth on March 14 at 10:00 a.m. to benefit Episcopal Relief and Development and the MDGs. All youth are invited to come and participate. If you would like to be a part of this service, please contact Alvia Reifkohl at [email protected]. The music will be provided by the youth and is contemporary.

Roger Ebert writes in the Chicago Sun-Times about how he believes in God. You may find some of the many, many comments are more interesting than Ebert's column. Read here.

Elton John and Jesus and Homosexuality ... Interview with Parade Magazine churned up a little chum. Read more here. [H/T to Torey Lightcap, reporting at Episcopal Cafe]

Phishing for PTD accounts [From Dolores Evans] Someone claiming to be PTD Online service asks for your name and password. Do not give this information. The email is not from PTD (Penn Tele Data), it is a hoax. I just got off the phone with PTD and she asked me to help spread the word.

The ABC and Mideast Christians... Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams voiced grave concern Saturday over the eroding Christian presence in the Holy Land on the first stop of his four-day pilgrimage to the region. More here. [H/T to Nick Knisely, reporting at Episcopal Cafe]

DC RC Archdiocese cuts adoption rather than abide sam-sex parents.As DC law changes to require equality for same sex couples seeking to adopt, the Catholic Church which has been in the adoption business for generations opts to close up shop rather than to abide by the law and treat gay and lesbian families equally. More here and here. [From the latter "here" by Jim Naughton] When is a "religious objection" not really a religious objection, but a political one? Catholic teaching does not recognize re-marriage after divorce without an annulment. Like same-sex couples, the heterosexual couples involved in such relationships are engaging in sex outside of what the church recognizes as marriage. Yet the church willingly provides services and benefits to those couples. Why? There is no hierarchy of sinfulness in Catholic theology regarding sex outside of marriage. So why treat gay and lesbian couples differently than twice or thrice married heterosexual couples? The church is entitled to object to same-sex marriage on whatever grounds it chooses. The rest of us are entitled to point out that the double standard it has constructed on this issue has no basis in its own theology.

Ashes on the go ... Bringing the ancient rite to busy places where people live and work. Story by Andrew Gerns, reporting at Episcopal Cafe.

A brief interview with Dan Matthews, rector of Trinity Wall Street from 1987-2004, and a related video, on the privilege of giving, how to get through to people about stewardship, and the importance of the 10th anniversary of 9/11. Find it here.

Decline, and what to do about it ... The Episcopal Church's Executive Council heard Feb. 21 that church membership and Sunday attendance continued to decline in 2008, but also heard a call for the church to promote knowledge of the characteristics of growing congregations Read more here.

Emerging issues in assisted reproduction at ReligionLink.com.

Hearing criticism as applause at St. Stephen's Wilkes-Barre. Read three stories from Wilkes-Barre newspapers. A model by Gunn and REACH Executive Director Stefanie Wolownik for turning potentially bad news into good.

Lenten meditations by Anne Kitch ... Subscribe to Wilderness Yearning for Lent via our "Get Connected" box on the Diobeth website.

A treasury of Lenten resources collected by Kat Lehman on the Diobeth website.

Anyone interested in Christian Formation –– doesn't that mean you? –– will find this 3'30" video from The National Association for Episcopal Christian Education Directors, fondly known as NAECED, enjoyable viewing and worth passing on. Membersip in NAECED comes with many benefits. Contact Canon Anne Kitch if you'd like more info.

Diocesan Life, March 2010 may be downloaded here.

Finding information ... The Diobeth website and newSpin blog work hand in hand. If you can't find the info you seek at the website, please search at the newSpin blog. Thanks.

Diocesan Training for Ministry ... April 24 at St. Stephen's Wilkes-Barre. More here. Download the brochure here.

Pray for our young men and women who have died in Iraq and Afghanistan, and for their families … Jacob H. Turbett, 21; Jason H. Estopinal, 21; Noah M. Pier, 25; Sean L. Caughman, 43 ; John A. Reiners, 24; Jeremiah T. Wittman, 26; Bobby J. Pagan, 23; Alejandro J. Yazzie, 23; Eric D. Currier, 21; Charles A. Williams, 29; Kyle J. Coutu, 20; Larry M. Johnson, 19; Kielin T. Dunn, 19; Jeremy R. McQueary, 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.

Daily news, info and commentary, visit the Diocese of Bethlehem's newSpin blog, Episcopal Cafe and Episcopal Life Online.

Plan Ahead ... Feb. 27: Dive In: A Day Exploring Christian Baptism will be held at Good Shepherd Scranton. This day of Christian Formation will offer resources for parents, Christian educators, clergy, and anyone seeking a deeper life in Christ. You can come for part or all of the day, but you must register. More info here.

••• March 1-7: Bishop Anthony Poggo of Kajo Keji to visit in the Diocese of Bethlehem. More info to come. ••• March 14: ERD Sunday, Fourth Sunday of Lent. Daylight Saving Time begins. Sunday Eucharist will begin an hour earlier than our body clocks expect. ••• March 19-21: Women of Nativity annual retreat. More here. ••• March 25: Chrism Mass at the Cathedral, Bethlehem, 11:00 a.m.

••• April 4: Easter ••• April 9-11: Province III Youth Delight Event, More info here. ••• April 16-18: Christophany, Watson Homestead, Painted Post, New York. Registration will open February 12 online at www.diobeth.org. More info here. ••• April 24: Diocesan Training for MInistry at St. Stephen's Wilkes-Barre. More here. Download the brochure here. Online registration opens on February 20.

••• April 30-May 2: Creating a Culture of Peace at the Cathedral Church of the Nativity, Bethlehem.

••• June 12 Diocesan Stewardship Workshop: Share, Save, Spend at St. Stephen's, Whitehall. Geared for families –– parents, kids 9 and up, and even grandparents.  Details TBA.

••• July 10: Bishop's Day with Kids at Good Shepherd Scranton.

[If you have a brief announcement about an event you'd like listed in PlanAhead, send it to Bill. Please keep it brief.]

The Diocese of Bethlehem ... DioBethWebsite ... newSpin Blog ... DiobethKids ...  Share the Bread ... Bakery (Get Connected) ... Audio ... Photos ... On Twitter ... On Facebook ... On YouTube ...

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Comments on newSpin newsletter posts may be made in the Bakery. If you are not joined there, visit the "Get Connected" box at the DioBeth website.

Bill Lewellis, Blog, Email (c)610-393-1833, (h)610-820-7673
Be attentive. Be intelligent. Be reasonable. Be responsible.
Be in Love. And, if necessary, change. [Bernard Lonergan]

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