wfn.org | [ENS] MISSOURI: Diocese holds prayer vigil for Sudan

[<mdavies@episcopalchurch.org>]

>Episcopal News Service
>April 14, 2010

Episcopal News Service is available at  http://www.episcopalchurch.org/ens.

>Today's Episcopal News Service includes:

* DIOCESAN DIGEST - MISSOURI: Diocese holds prayer vigil for Sudan
* WORLD REPORT - ZIMBABWE: Anglicans face ongoing harassment from
Mugabe's police force
* CALENDAR - Upcoming special events and services
* SPIRITUAL REFLECTION - April 18, 2010 - Third Sunday of Easter - Year  C
* DAYBOOK - April 15: Today in Scripture, Prayer, History
* EBAR PICK - "Introducing the Lessons of the Church Year"

>_____________________

>DIOCESAN DIGEST

MISSOURI: Diocese holds prayer vigil for Sudan

>By Matthew Davies

[Episcopal News Service] Episcopalians in the Diocese of Missouri have
been in deep prayer for their brothers and sisters in Sudan since the
African country's first national elections commenced on April 11.

Full story: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/81803_121483_ENG_HTM.htm

More Diocesan news: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/81803_ENG_HTM.htm

>_____________________

>WORLD REPORT

ZIMBABWE: Anglicans face ongoing harassment from Mugabe's police force

>By Matthew Davies

[Episcopal News Service] Anglicans in Zimbabwe continue to face
intimidation from President Robert Mugabe's police force, which is
routinely instructed to take whatever measures necessary to prevent
them from worshiping freely in their own churches.

Full story: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/81808_121493_ENG_HTM.htm

More World news: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/81808_ENG_HTM.htm

>_____________________

>CALENDAR

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/calendar.htm

>_____________________

>SPIRITUAL REFLECTIONS

April 18, 2010 - Third Sunday of Easter - Year C

>By Michael Schut

[Sermons That Work] Today's scripture readings are replete with
hopeful images and stories.

In today's psalm, David exalts God who has lifted him "out of the
depths," healed him, and brought him "up from the grave." God turns
David's "wailing into dancing."

In the reading from Revelation, millions of angels sing in a "loud
voice." Imagine being there and hearing the preposterous thundering
beauty of such a chorus, all singing praise to God's lamb, Jesus. And
then imagine the rest of creation, "every creature in heaven and on
earth and under the earth and on the sea" joining the chorus!

Full reflection:

http://www.episcopalchurch.org/sermons_that_work_121265_ENG_HTM.htm

More Spiritual Reflections:  http://www.episcopalchurch.org/82457_ENG_HTM.htm

>_____________________

>DAYBOOK

>On April 15, 2010...

* 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 15, 1729, Johann Sebastian Bach conducted
the first and only performance of St. Matthew Passion during his
lifetime at a Good Friday Vespers service in Leipzig, Germany. The
choral work has been called "the supreme cultural achievement of all
Western civilization."

>_____________________

>EBAR PICK

"Introducing the Lessons of the Church Year" by Frederick Borsch,
paperback, 288 pages, c. 2009, $25.

[Church Publishing] Many of us have difficulty hearing the Bible as it
is read to us in church Sunday after Sunday through the year. Even
with the best intentions we come to the Word of God "cold" because we
have not been given the skills and the preparation to hear and
understand the content of Scripture.

These brief and insightful introductions to all the readings of the
church's three-year lectionary cycle are designed to sharpen our
listening and increase comprehension of Scripture by summarizing each
passage, setting it in a liturgical and historical context, connecting
it to the season, and drawing out its relevance to our lives and
faith, week by week.

This is an ideal tool for Christian formation as well as homiletical
preparation. The style is clear, straightforward, well grounded in
biblical scholarship, and Anglican in its theological approach. Extra
features include an essay on the Bible and Christian formation, five
brief use guides, an index to the biblical readings, and a summary of
the seven most common Bible translations used in church services.

To order, please visit Episcopal Books and Resources online at
http://www.episcopalbookstore.org, call 800-903-5544, or visit your
local Episcopal bookstore.