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Daybook -- Today is Friday, June 2, 2006, in Eastertide. The Church Calendar remembers the Feast of the Martyrs of Lyons, executed in 177 A.D.
* Today in Scripture: Daily Office meditation at http://eds.libsyn.com * Today in Prayer: Anglican Cycle of Prayer http://www.anglicancommunion.org/acp/index.cfm * Today in History: On this day in 1869, the second bishop of Oregon, Benjamin Wistar Morris, arrived in Portland to begin ministry. [http://www.diocese-oregon.org/history/]
Note: There are 11 days until the 75th General Convention opens June 13 in Columbus, Ohio. For information, see "Toward Columbus" reports [http://www.episcopalchurch.org/ens] and the website of the General Convention [http://www.episcopalchurch.org/53785_ENG_HTM.htm].
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Friday Forum
Note to readers: On Sunday morning, June 4, 2006, the Feast of Pentecost, ENS will begin distributing to its readers daily installments of intercessions and information supporting the Octave of Prayer preceding the General Convention. The following May 17, 2006, ENS story is re-posted here for reference.
Presiding officers to launch observance June 4 as church approaches General Convention
By Mary Frances Schjonberg
[Episcopal News Service] Resources for the Octave of Prayer for the 75th General Convention are now available for use. The eight days of prayer open on Pentecost Sunday, June 4, and conclude Trinity Sunday, June 11.
Suggested scripture readings, prayers and meditations can be found at http://www.episcopalchurch.org/53785_74428_ENG_HTM.htm
All Episcopalians are invited to participate in the prayers and reflections. Presiding Bishop Frank T. Griswold and House of Deputies President George L. W. Werner will launch the observance during June 4 parish services. That Sunday, Griswold will preach at the Church of St. Luke in the Fields, New York City, while Werner will preach at St. James' Church, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
"Supported by the prayer of the whole church, it is my hope that Deputies and Bishops gathered together in Columbus will make decisions that reflect the mind and heart of Christ who through the cross has drawn all to himself in the fullness of his reconciling love," Griswold observes in a letter accompanying the resources.
The daily readings and accompanied prayers were selected by Bishop Jeffery Rowthorn, formerly bishop suffragan of the Diocese of Connecticut and bishop assisting with the Convocation of American Churches in Europe.
Two prayers, written specifically for the 75th General Convention and its participants by the Rev. Jennifer Phillips, vicar of St. Augustine's, Kingston, Rhode Island, are also available on the site.
The meditations, which will also be e-mailed to Episcopal News Service subscribers, were written by a number of individuals reflecting the diversity of the church. To subscribe go to http://episcopalchurch.org/3577_11458_ENG_HTM.htm
The idea for the octave was conceived at the joint meeting of the councils of advice for the Presiding Bishop and the President of the House of Deputies after Bishop Chilton Knudsen described her plans for an octave of prayer in her Diocese of Maine.
An octave is an ancient church tradition of eight days of prayer between two feast days such as the Octave of Holy Week between Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday or the octave of Christian Unity between the Confession of St. Peter (January 18) and the Conversion of St. Paul (January 25).
In his role as House of Deputies president, Werner named the Rev. Helen Svoboda-Barber of the Diocese of Ohio to chair the effort.
"It is significant that the octave will begin on Pentecost, the Church's 'birthday party,' and continue through Trinity Sunday, the Church's 'family reunion,'" Svoboda-Barber said.
The octave ends just as deputies and bishops begin to gather in Columbus, Ohio, for the June 13-21 legislative sessions.
In his letter, Griswold notes that the people who will gather in Columbus are the "descendants of that community" upon whom the Holy Spirit descended on the first Pentecost. The hope of the octave planning group is that both individuals and congregations would participate in the octave to provide prayerful support to the General Convention.
All of the resources reflect the General Convention's theme of "Come and Grow." Themes for the daily observances are as follows:
* Pentecost, Sunday, June 4: Grow in the Spirit * Monday, June 5: Grow in Hope * Tuesday, June 6: Grow in Love * Wednesday, June 7: Grow in Understanding * Thursday, June 8: Grow in Gratitude * Friday, June 9: Grow in Service * Saturday, June 10: Grow in Peace * Trinity Sunday, June 11: Grow in All Ways into Christ
-- The Rev. Mary Frances Schjonberg is national correspondent for the Episcopal News Service. Heidi Schott of the Diocese of Maine contributed to this article.
Full story: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/3577_75170_ENG_HTM.htm
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Indonesian earthquake: Episcopal Relief and Development responds
[Source: ERD] Episcopal Relief and Development (ERD) is supplying emergency assistance to people in Indonesia devastated by a massive 6.3 magnitude earthquake. The damaged region of Central Java is near the tourist site of Yogyakarta which is 250 miles southeast of Jakarta, the nation's capital. The quake struck at dawn on May 27, crushing homes and roads.
According to the Indonesian government, more than 5,600 people have been killed but the numbers are likely to increase as rescue and recovery efforts continue. More than 200,000 people have lost their homes and many are living in temporary shelters until rebuilding can begin. Indonesian president, Susilo Bambang Yudhhoyono, has declared a state of emergency as the amount of damage will require a long-term, multi-phase response.
ERD is working with Action by Churches Together (ACT) to provide people in affected regions with food and non-food items, such as temporary shelters, potable water, hygiene kits, mattresses, medical services and psycho-social assistance.
Donations to assist people affected by disasters may be routed through the Emergency Relief Fund in the "Ways to Give" section online at http://www.er-d.org, or by phoning 1-800-334-7626, ext. 5129.
Checks may be mailed to Episcopal Relief and Development, designated for the "Emergency Relief Fund", P.O. Box 12043, Newark, NJ, 07101.
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Catalyst: "All Desires Known," third edition from Morehouse Publishing (an imprint of Church Publishing Inc.), by Janet Morley, paperback, 160 pages, $14.95.
Morehouse Publishing:
http://www.morehousepublishing.org/booksmusicItemView.asp?bookID=17512 [Source: Morehouse Publishing] -- This classic and indispensable resource for public worship and private devotion speaks to people across a range of traditions - both within and beyond the church. Composed in response to the desire for worship language of worship that's inclusive of women's experience yet deeply rooted in the words, stories, and images of Scripture, they have resonated not only with women, but with all who love the Bible and who want to pray with honesty and directness.
This new edition introduces a fresh selection of material on themes of global justice, as well as a contemporary Eucharist and prayers that coincide with the Revised Common Lectionary.
Order online through Episcopal Books and Resources, www.episcopalbookstore.org; 800.903.5544.
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