Episcopal Life Daily April 23, 2008
Episcopal Life Online is available at http://www.episcopalchurch.org/elife.
Today's Episcopal Life Daily includes:
* TOP STORY - Sudanese bishops, primate urge deeper commitment from international partners * WORLD REPORT - CANADA: Eleven clergy resign in New Westminster diocese * WORLD REPORT - CANADA, SOUTHERN CONE: Canadian primate asks South American prelate to 'stop interfering.' * WORLD REPORT - LONDON: Canterbury outlines hopes for Lambeth Conference in YouTube video * WORLD REPORT - SOUTH AFRICA: Archbishop Njongo Ndungane is honored with national award * MISSION - Ecumenical conference in Washington D.C. seeks path to 'peace in Jerusalem' * MISSION - Virginia Seminary Celebrates Earth Day with Kreitler Environmental Lecture * FEATURE - On the road in Southeast Florida with the Presiding Bishop * WEEKS AHEAD - Upcoming special events and services * SPIRITUAL REFLECTION - Sixth Sunday of Easter - Year A [RCL] * DAYBOOK - April 24, 2008: Today in Scripture, Prayer, History * CATALYST - In the Eye of the Storm: Swept to the Center by God
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TOP STORIES
Sudanese bishops, primate urge deeper commitment from international partners
Political leaders discuss peace process with U.S. ecumenical delegation
By Matthew Davies
[Episcopal News Service, Juba] Saying that the time for action is now, Archbishop Daniel Deng Bul of the Episcopal Church of the Sudan (ECS) addressed partners from the United States and around the world who were invited to attend the April 21 House of Bishops meeting in Juba.
The bishops and their new primate Deng, who was enthroned the previous day in a joyful four-hour ceremony at Juba's All Saints Cathedral, shared present concerns and the future vision for their Church and called on international partners, including the U.S.-based Episcopal Church, to deepen their commitment to ECS.
The Rt. Rev. Frank Gray, former assistant bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia and former diocesan of Northern Indiana, accepted a call to serve as Deng's commissary in the U.S. to help fulfill the Sudanese Church's vision of developing companion relationships for each of its 24 dioceses.
Full story: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/79901_96616_ENG_HTM.htm
More Top Stories: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/elife
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WORLD REPORT
CANADA: Eleven clergy resign in New Westminster diocese http://www.episcopalchurch.org/81808_96627_ENG_HTM.htm
CANADA, SOUTHERN CONE: Canadian primate asks South American prelate to 'stop interfering.' http://www.episcopalchurch.org/81808_96626_ENG_HTM.htm
LONDON: Canterbury outlines hopes for Lambeth Conference in YouTube video http://www.episcopalchurch.org/81808_96629_ENG_HTM.htm
SOUTH AFRICA: Archbishop Njongo Ndungane is honored with national award http://www.episcopalchurch.org/81808_96628_ENG_HTM.htm
More World news: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/81808_ENG_HTM.htm
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MISSION
Ecumenical conference in Washington D.C. seeks path to 'peace in Jerusalem'
By Lucy Chumbley
[Episcopal News Service] Promoting a peaceful, two-state solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict has seldom been more discouraging or difficult, delegates to the annual Churches for Middle East Peace Conference, held in Washington, D.C., April 20-22, heard from a variety of experts.
But this work is more important than ever, representatives from 22 Orthodox, Protestant, Anglican and Catholic church bodies and organizations learned, and must continue if peace is to come to that troubled land.
The event, "Calming the Storm: Middle East Peacemaking in a Turbulent Time," drew 130 delegates to the nation's capital, including 13 Episcopalians from around the country and the Rev. Hosam Naoum, interim dean of St. George's Cathedral, Jerusalem.
Full story: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/81799_96630_ENG_HTM.htm
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Virginia Seminary Celebrates Earth Day with Kreitler Environmental Lecture
[Episcopal News Service] In celebration of Earth Day, Virginia Theological Seminary launched the first Kreitler Environmental Lecture on April 22, featuring biblical scholar and environmentalist Dr. Ellen Davis, professor of Bible and Practical Theology at Duke Divinity School, speaking on "Becoming Human: Biblical Interpretation and Ecological Responsibility."
Davis used passages from Psalms 36 and 65 to illustrate how inseparable the "human heart and spirit is from the well-being of the physical world."
"While the Old Testament is not an ecological tract," said Davis, "it offers indispensable insight into the sources of our current ecological crisis. Jeremiah and other biblical writers saw the inevitable connection between the human heart and the state of the world. the Bible can be a source of healing in our present crisis, for both our hearts and our beleaguered planet."
Full story: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/81799_96632_ENG_HTM.htm
More Mission: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/81799_ENG_HTM.htm
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FEATURE
On the road in Southeast Florida with the Presiding Bishop
By Neva Rae Fox
[Episcopal News Service] Seems like everything is blossoming in the Diocese of Southeast Florida.
The flowers are blossoming into a kaleidoscope of shapes and colors. The congregations are blossoming with a variety of ministries and languages. The church's programs are blossoming into vibrant systems of education, assistance, development and growth.
During her short stay in the Diocese of Southeast Florida April 15 - 17, Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori journeyed from the northern end of the diocese to the south, visiting five churches and addressing seven gatherings along the way. She was greeted in -- and responded in -- three languages. In fact, each worship service during the visit reflected the multicultural presence in the diocese, with prayers alternating in English, Spanish and French. The people, the Presiding Bishop and Bishop Leo Frade flawlessly flowed in and out of each language.
Full story: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/81834_96633_ENG_HTM.htm
More Features: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/78936_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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SPIRITUAL REFLECTIONS
Sixth Sunday of Easter - Year A [RCL]
Acts 17:22-31; Psalm 66:7-18; 1 Peter 3:13-22; John 14:15-21
By Angela V. Askew
[Sermons That Work] At first reading, the words of Jesus in this passage from John are not very inspiring. "If you love me, you will keep my commandments." It is that little word "if." From our grandparents down to our grandchildren, we have all lived with or kept company with people who talk as though their love for us was conditional. "If you loved me, you would ." Fill in the blank.
What is stunning about today's gospel passage is that it seems to vary from the unconditional love Jesus has been demonstrating in every gospel reading we have had since Easter Sunday.
In John 20, to the brokenhearted Mary Magdalene, Jesus simply spoke her name.
Full reflection: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/82478_96546_ENG_HTM.htm
More Spiritual Reflections: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/82457_ENG_HTM.htm
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DAYBOOK
On April 24, 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 April 24, 1875, English New Testament textual critic Samuel P. Tragelles died. Tregelles' literary achievements included his work on G. V. Wigram's famous Englishman's Greek and Hebrew Concordances and the translation of Gesenius's Hebrew Lexicon into English.
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CATALYST
"In the Eye of the Storm: Swept to the Center by God" from Church Publishing, Inc., by Gene Robinson, foreword by Archbishop Desmond Tutu, 192 pages, paperback, c. 2008, $25 [Source: Church Publishing, Inc.] Gene Robinson is bishop of the tiny, rural Episcopal Diocese of New Hampshire, but he's at the center of a storm of controversy raging in the Episcopal Church and throughout the worldwide Anglican Communion involving homosexuality, the priesthood, and the future of the Communion. This book offers an honest, thoughtful portrait of Robinson, the faith that has informed his life, and the controversy that continues to rock his Church.
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