Episcopal Life Daily March 14, 2008
Episcopal Life Online is available at http://www.episcopalchurch.org/elife.
Today's Episcopal Life Daily includes:
* TOP STORY - In Ecuador, Episcopal Relief and Development responds to floods * WORLD REPORT - SRI LANKA: Churches issue joint call for constitutional council * OPINION - COMMENTARY: Postcards from the edge * ARTS - In New Orleans, St. Anna's procession marches to a different tune this Palm Sunday * DAYBOOK - March 17, 2008: Today in Scripture, Prayer, History * CATALYST - The Words of Jesus: A Gospel of the Sayings of Our Lord
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TOP STORIES
In Ecuador, Episcopal Relief and Development responds to floods
[Episcopal News Service] Episcopal Relief and Development (ERD) is providing emergency assistance to communities in Ecuador affected by severe flooding. Torrential rains have been pounding the country since the beginning of January, causing massive flooding and devastating mudslides. More than 3.5 million people have been impacted by the destruction.
A state of emergency that was initially declared in nine provinces was recently extended to cover the entire country. So far 23 people have died, 265,000 have been evacuated and 114,384 hectares of staple crops of banana, cocoa and rice have been destroyed. The damage is estimated to be upwards of $163 million dollars.
ERD is partnering with the Diocese of Ecuador-Litoral to provide emergency aid to 3,000 families, reaching a total of 15,000 people. With the support of ERD, the diocese is providing medicine, mosquito nets, rain gear and roofing material to repair churches and family homes.
Full story: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/79901_95721_ENG_HTM.htm
More Top Stories: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/elife
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WORLD REPORT
SRI LANKA: Churches issue joint call for constitutional council http://www.episcopalchurch.org/81808_95733_ENG_HTM.htm
More World news: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/81808_ENG_HTM.htm
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OPINION
COMMENTARY: Postcards from the edge
By Phyllis Zagano
[Episcopal News Service] It's Spring break. Let's go tour a slum.
A recent New York Times story told of tourist trips through some of the most dangerous shanty-towns on earth. You can go sightseeing in Rochina, the largest of Rio de Janiero's 750 favelas. Or you can visit Dharavi, the biggest slum in India.
You get to see the poor people scratching out a living on unclaimed property. You can buy their art, take their pictures, and leave some money with the tour operator, who claims to give some profits to the poor.
Is this crass commercialism? Or is it social action?
No matter which, no one comes away unchanged.
Full story: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/80050_95723_ENG_HTM.htm
More Opinion: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/80050_ENG_HTM.htm
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ARTS
In New Orleans, St. Anna's procession marches to a different tune this Palm Sunday
By Jerry Hames
[Episcopal News Service] Millions of Christians around the world will mark this Sunday as Palm Sunday, commemorating Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem in the days preceding his trial and execution by crucifixion.
In Episcopal churches across the United States, adults and children will carry home palm leaves, or small palm crosses, as a reminder of the event described in all four gospels when Jesus entered the city, riding on a colt and "the most part of the multitude spread their garments in the way; and others cut branches from the trees, and spread them in the way." (Matthew 21:8. ASV).
At many churches, members with their palms will walk in procession around the building before entering it for the service. The congregation of St. Anna's Episcopal Church in New Orleans will celebrate this date according to its own custom.
Full story: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/81827_95706_ENG_HTM.htm
More Arts: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/81827_ENG_HTM.htm
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DAYBOOK
On March 17, 2008, the Church calendar remembers Patrick, bishop and missionary of Ireland (d.461)
* 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 March 17, 1902, George W. Warren, organist and choir director, died. Warren served at St. Peter's Episcopal Church and St. Paul's Church in Albany, New York and Holy Trinity Church and St. Thomas' Church in New York City. No music was played at his funeral, attended by thousands, as the mourners believed they could find no finer organist.
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CATALYST
"The Words of Jesus: A Gospel of the Sayings of Our Lord" from John Wiley & Sons, Inc., reflections by Phyllis Tickle, 208 pages, hardcover, c. 2008, $22.95
[Source: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.] What if you could encounter the words of Jesus on their own, lifted up from the surrounding narratives and presented in their full power and mystery? That's the question Phyllis Tickle, one of America's most beloved writers on Christian spirituality, asked when she set out to write what she calls a "Sayings gospel." In The Words of Jesus, Tickle has compiled and arranged all the Sayings of Jesus from the first four books of the New Testament and the first chapter of the Book of Acts in a way that creates an entirely new kind of encounter with the texts. And she has accompanied those Sayings with her own personal reflections and commentaries not just on the words themselves but on the One who spoke them.
While researching the book, Tickle discovered five distinct categories of Jesus' Sayings from Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John: words of public teaching, words of private instruction, words of healing dialogue, words of intimate conversation, and words of post-resurrection encounter. By arranging Jesus' Sayings within these categories, she is better able to allow readers to tap into the teachings' true and essential meaning. In this important book, Tickle brings out the richness of Jesus' words and makes each passage stand on its own and in so doing highlights the variance and diversity in Jesus' Sayings and in the people for whom they were intended.
The Words of Jesus gives readers a thoughtful way to experience a clearer, more embodied encounter with Jesus and with the meaning of and messages in His Words.
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