Episcopal Life Daily January 30, 2008
Episcopal Life Online is available at http://www.episcopalchurch.org/elife.
Today's Episcopal Life Daily includes:
* TOP STORY - Kenya missionaries return to work despite continuing unrest * DIOCESAN DIGEST - PITTSBURGH: Group of priests tells Duncan they will not leave Episcopal Church * WORLD REPORT - BURUNDI: Former Mozambique leader heads church peace mission * WORLD REPORT - ENGLAND: Anglican covenant Design Group meets in London * TEACHING - Episcopal Divinity School to offer workshops on leadership, community development * SPIRITUAL REFLECTIONS - Last Sunday After the Epiphany/World Mission Sunday - Year A [RCL] * WEEKS AHEAD - Upcoming special events and services * DAYBOOK - January 31, 2008: Today in Scripture, Prayer, History * CATALYST - On Being a Gay Parent
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TOP STORIES
Kenya missionaries return to work despite continuing unrest
Global crisis consultant commends Episcopal Church's response
By Matthew Davies and Janet Kawamoto
[Episcopal News Service] Kenya's Episcopal missionaries Nan and Gerry Hardison are steadfastly committed to continuing their ministry as teachers and health care specialists in Maseno, despite tribal and criminal gang violence that has roiled the east African nation since the December 27 contested presidential election.
The Hardisons returned to Maseno in west Kenya January 25 and are back to work, Gerry as the medical director of Maseno Mission Hospital and Nan as a teacher at St. Philip's Theological College.
They had been evacuated to Nairobi January 11 following the post-election conflict that threatened their security and is responsible for the deaths of more than 900 people. Also evacuated were a Young Adult Service Corps (YASC) volunteer, Liz White, who continued home to the U.S., and nine student nurses.
Full story: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/79901_94360_ENG_HTM.htm
More Top Stories: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/elife
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DIOCESAN DIGEST
PITTSBURGH: Group of priests tells Duncan they will not leave Episcopal Church http://www.episcopalchurch.org/81803_94377_ENG_HTM.htm
More Diocesan news: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/81803_ENG_HTM.htm
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WORLD REPORT
BURUNDI: Former Mozambique leader heads church peace mission http://www.episcopalchurch.org/81808_94378_ENG_HTM.htm
ENGLAND: Anglican covenant Design Group meets in London http://www.episcopalchurch.org/81808_94373_ENG_HTM.htm
More World news: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/81808_ENG_HTM.htm
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WEEKS AHEAD
A round-up of upcoming special events, services, concerts and diocesan conventions taking place throughout the Episcopal Church is available at http://www.episcopalchurch.org/78650_1669_ENG_HTM.htm
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TEACHING
Episcopal Divinity School to offer workshops on leadership, community development
[Episcopal News Service] Episcopal Divinity School (EDS), in partnership with faith-based educators and trainers, is set to offer three new workshops on leadership and community development during the 2008 spring semester.
The workshops, "Leading Transformational Communities" will take place February 9, March 8, and April 5. Each workshop is offered as an independent unit; taken as a whole, the series is designed to greatly multiply participant's understanding and skill in the area of leadership development.
Led by area faith leaders known for their ability to build community at the intersection of spiritual growth and social justice, these workshops offer brief theory presentations that serve as a springboard for individual and group exercises designed to help participants develop an understanding of strategies and skills for strengthening the calling of all God's people.
Full story: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/78650_94365_ENG_HTM.htm
More Teaching: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/80263_93222_ENG_HTM.htm
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SPIRITUAL REFLECTIONS
Last Sunday After the Epiphany/World Mission Sunday - Year A [RCL]
By Martha P. Sterne
[Sermons That Work] Episcopalians get it about glory; that the glory of God is the hidden flesh-and-blood truth about everybody, everywhere. Therefore proclaiming the glory of the incarnation is the business we are in. Which is to say that we - every parish, diocese, province, person - are in the business of healing, and feeding, and serving, and loving, and respecting the dignity of every human being in God's glory-haunted world.
Anglicans have always gotten it about glory, at least on our better days. This is our charism: to know that glory is the deepest truth for everyone, everywhere. Glory is the wonder-filled transfiguring end of all people and all creation, not just a platitude to sing about or an unimportant side product of a guilt-ridden religion. We live into that transfiguring, glorious truth one particular person and place at a time.
One particular Mount Sinai, one particular glory place, is the International Community School in East Atlanta. Half of the kids are from red Georgia clay. And half of the kids are refugee children from every war-torn country you can think of.
Full reflection: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/82457_94289_ENG_HTM.htm
More Spiritual Reflections:
http://www.episcopalchurch.org/82457_ENG_HTM.htm
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DAYBOOK
On January 31, 2008...
* Today in Scripture: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/82457_ENG_HTM.htm * Today in Prayer: Anglican Cycle of Prayer: http://www.anglicancommunion.org/acp/index.cfm * Today in History: On January 31, 1991, Archbishop of Canterbury Robert Runcie retired.
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CATALYST
"On Being a Gay Parent" from Church Publishing, Inc., by Brett Webb-Mitchell, 167 pages, paperback, c. 2007, $16
[Source: Church Publishing, Inc.] This practical, down-to-earth guide to being a gay Christian parent is filled with interesting stories, simple anecdotes, creative ideas, and thoughtful reflections, while raising up important issues facing gay- and lesbian-headed households in contemporary American society. It includes a list of resources helpful in addressing often-surprising issues, simple day-to-day tasks, and crucial decisions around being a gay or lesbian parent in today's world.
"A truly faith-based family story, where love is what matters and the challenges of living openly and honestly are faced head on." -- Jane Tully, Clergy Families & Friends of Lesbians and Gays
To order: Episcopal Books and Resources, online at http://www.episcopalbookstore.org, or call 800-903-5544 -- or visit your local Episcopal bookseller, http://www.episcopalbooksellers.org
More Catalyst: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/83842_ENG_HTM.htm