newSpin 100426
April 26, 2010
Beating the Bounds ... [By Andrew Gerns] There is an old ritual called “beating the bounds” where the members of a parish go out and mark the boundaries of a parish in a city or village. The idea is not just territorial, but pastoral. When the community “beats the bounds” they are saying that they are in some way responsible to God for the people inside those boundaries. Every now and then, God shows us just what that means. [Posted at Episcopal Cafe by Jim Naughton. Read all of this moving, pastoral reflection by Andrew Gerns here.]
An article about Patrick Malloy's talk at VTS as part of "The Prayer Book at 30" series appeared in the April 4 issue of The Living Church, and is available here. "We are closer now to what Cranmer had intended; in 1979 it seems that what Cranmer wanted to have happen actually happened," Malloy said.
The Institution of Father Scott Allen as rector of St. Andrew's Allentown will take place on Thursday May 20 at 7:30 p.m. St. Andrew's, on the border of Allentown/Bethlehem is at 1900 Pennsylvania Avenue, Allentown. Father Allen advises us that even your GPS may be confused.
Eleanor Magnuson, widow of The Rev. Fred Magnuson, has died. Details regarding her funeral are not yet available. Please keep Eleanor and her family in your prayers. May her soul rest in peace and may light perpetual shine upon her.
The Grace Montessori School annual scholarship auction benefit will take place on Thursday, April 29, at the Allentown Brew Works, 812 W. Hamilton Street, Allenown (Hamilton Room). Great hors d’oeuvres (enough for a meal), complimentary glass of wine or beer, cash bar, jazz music, pick-a-prize auction, live auction, and 50/50 raffle winner drawing! The best place to park is the lot behind the school, across the street from the Brew Works. Enter on 8th Street. Free after 6 p.m. GMS was founded in 1992 for children of Grace Church's food bank clients. The mission to provide excellent education for economically disadvantaged kids remains at the heart of the GMS program which has grown from serving 7 children to 120 students this year. All proceeds from this major fundraiser go to the scholarship fund that allows about 40 children to attend GMS with financial assistance. Contact the school office at 610-435-4060 for raffle tickets ($5 each/ 4 for $20) and event tickets ($20 per person). Walk-ins welcome. An outreach of Grace Episcopal Church, Grace Montessori School is a not-for-profit, urban school and childcare center, licensed by the Department of Public Welfare and registered as a private, non-public school with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
Imagine if the Tea Party were mostly black instead of overwhelmingly white. Play the game. Envision recent happenings in the news, but then change them up a bit. Instead of envisioning white people as the main actors in the scenes - the ones who are driving the action - envision black folks or other people of color instead. The object of the game is to imagine the public reaction to the events or incidents, if the main actors were of color, rather than white. Whoever gains the most insight into the workings of race in America, at the end of the game, wins. Read it all at Andrew Plus, the blog of Andrew Gerns.
Trite music ... British priest John Shepherd reflects on the way that trite music may, in fact, block our ability to experience the divine. Read more here.
The future of the Church of England? Jane Kramer's article in The New Yorker on the battle in the Church of England over whether to allow women to be bishops is now available online in full. [H/T to Peter Carey, reporting at Episcopal Cafe]
Corpus Christi in Wilkes-Barre
... [From Father Dan Jones] Celebrate the Solemnity of Corpus
Christi on June 3 at 7:00 p.m. Archdeacon Howard Stringfellow will
preside and preach at this Eucharist hosted by Holy Cross Church, 373 N.
Main St., Wilkes-Barre. The festival which originated in 1246
commemorates the institution of the Holy Eucharist, paralleling Maundy
Thursday when our Lord instituted the Eucharist. Clergy who would like
to vest (white stoles) should contact Holy Cross 570-823-4436 so seating
can be arranged. Those wishing to sing in the combined choir should
contact Chuck Baker at 570-262-6950. Light refreshments will be served
after the service.
Milford: Cruise with Father McGinty
... More
info here.
What was the real sin of Sodom? ... By Patrick Cheng. More here.
Bridge Over Troubled Water ... Simon and Garfunkel, 1969.
The
new breed of atheists and modern American evangelicals ...
Evangelical pastor and editor of Christianity Today's companion
publication Leadership Journal, Skye Jenthani, says that the new
breed
of atheists and modern American evangelicals, even though they are
frequently at odds, may have more in
common than they'd like to admit. Read
more here.
The difference in popular perception between Jesus and Christians. This person-on-the-street interview says that people both like Jesus and, to a surprising degree, get at least parts of his message and significance. When asked what people think and feel about Christians...well...we don't fare so well. [H/T to Andrew Gerns]
May Diocesan Life ... Download it here.
Her•menuetics ... The
brave women of the Catholic Church.
Are you aware that you may donate online to diocesan funds or to your parish? At the DioBeth website, click on "Donate Now" to the right on the homepage. There you will be able to make a one-time or recurring donations. Should you choose to do so, especially for recurring donations, you will be able to create a profile which will enable you to set up/manage your donations and track your donation history.
Diocesan ECW annual meeting ... May 12 at Kirby House, Mountaintop, 9:30 to 3:00. Guest speaker: The Rev. Ronald Royce Miller who will discuss Messages – Obvious and Obscure – in Christian Art Throughout the Ages. Marlene Hartshorne advises that the address to send reservations has changed. Do not send to Martha Fox. Please send to Catherine Jeffery, 1839 Ulster Road, Allentown, PA 18109, Phone: 610-868-6682. Contact Catherine for more info. Cost is $12.00. Registration deadline is April 28.
At the requiem for Viola Ellison ... A homily by Archdeacon Stringfellow at St. Thomas Church, NYC, Wednesday, April 21. Read it here.Organist and Choir Director position available at Good Shepherd/St. John's Milford. This is the opportunity to work with an 18–strong choir, playing a two-year-old 25-rank Schantz Pipe Organ. Milford is the cultural center of the Tri-State Area, attracting classical musicians from all three states and the five boroughs. Music festivals, concerts and the arts abound. Population expands in the summer. This is a part-time position paying $10,000, ideal as a second job or for retiree. Contact the church office at: [email protected] or 570-296-8123.
A sense of the holy in the life of men and women ... by way of Episcopal Church and Visual Arts. More here.
Who2? ... The shortest route to facts about famous people,the hard facts you're most likely looking for: birth and death dates, famous works, notorious trivia. Then, Who2 picks out the four best sites for additional detail.
The Preaching Jesus conference at Kanuga ... The profound effects that
preaching can and should have on preachers and on their listeners. More here and here.
Join an online Bible study group ... The Episcopal Church invites online visitors into a Bible study by posting comments and thoughts on each week’s Sunday readings from the Revised Common Lectionary (RCL). The complete weekly readings are posted along with study questions and reader comments here.
Dive In: A Day Exploring Baptism ... Saturday, May 8. St. Luke's Scranton. What does it mean to be baptized and to live a baptized life? How can you nurture your life in Christ? How can your congregation live more deeply into baptismal ministry? This day of Christian Formation will offer resources for parents, Christian educators, clergy, and anyone seeking a deeper life in Christ. More info here.
Forward Life Planning Workshop ... May 22, St. Luke's Scranton, with Charles Cesaretti, Diana Marshall and Charlie Barebo. More info here.
St. Brigid's Sixth Annual Golf Tournament will be held June 19 at the Wedgewood Golf Course. A registration form may be downloaded at St. Brigid's website.
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.
For daily news, info and commentary, visit the newSpin blog, the Episcopal Cafe and Episcopal Life Online.
The Diocese of Bethlehem ... DioBethWebsite ... newSpin Blog ... DiobethKids ... Share the Bread ... Bakery (Get Connected) ... Audio ... Photos ... On Twitter ... On Facebook ... On YouTube ...
The Episcopal Church ... Website ... NewsLine ... News & Notices ... InfoLine ... Episcopal Life Online ... FastFacts ... Calendar ... I am Episcopalian ... Weekly Bulletin Inserts ... On Twitter ... On Facebook ... and on YouTube.
What's happening?... Calendar of diocesan events. updated April 7. If you would like an event posted, please email Kat Lehman; she will put it on the next version, posted monthly. Also, weekly, we post What's Happening...on Facebook.
Fifty years of
faithful
service
... [From Grace Kingston] A celebration and "roast" for Joanne Herron
who recently completed 50 years of faithful service in support of the
music program at Grace Kingston will take place on Saturday, May 1,
at 2:00 p.m. Joanne has had a profound, positive effect on how Grace
has grown and become a vital part of our community. Her rich talent as
organist/choirmaster and her majestic mezzo-soprano voice has inspired
many over the years.
Bakery ... The best place by far to post news or information about your parish is on the interactive list of the Diocese of Bethlehem (the House of Bread) called the Bakery. In order to post there, however, you have to be joined to the list. Join at the "Get Connected" page at the DioBeth website. Bakery includes some 200 addresses. If you post something about your parish on Bakery, however, I will most likely include it also on the twice-weekly newSpin newsletter which goes to some 1,000 addresses. And Kat may pick it up for use in Diocesan Life.
Find earlier issues of the newSpin newsletter here.
Do you wonder at times why you are not reading anything
in the newSpin newsletter, the newSpin blog, the DioBeth website
or Diocesan Life about your parish or your committee or your sermon? Try
Occam's Razor. The simple answer, usually the correct one, is that
nothing has been sent to Bill or Kat. Send. Send. Send. Preferably
online.
About the newSpin newsletter ... Written at least weekly (usually twice a week) by Bill Lewellis, the 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. The views expressed, seemingly 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.
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