Episcopal Life Online Newslink August 31, 2007
Editor's note: Episcopal Life Online will observe the Labor Day holiday and resume its regular service on September 4. We wish all our readers a happy holiday weekend.
Episcopal Life Online is available at http://www.episcopalchurch.org/elife.
Today's ELO Newslink includes:
* TOP STORY - Episcopal Life launches monthly video 'multicast' * TOP STORY - Ecumenical Work Week shows Churches faithful to Gulf Coast rebuilding * TOP STORY - Episcopal Peace Fellowship to join continuous ecumenical prayer vigil for Iraq * TOP STORY - September 9 bulletin insert focuses on Episcopal Schools * OPINION - Guest Column: White immigrants get a pass; brown ones do not * ARTS - Examples of spirituality plentiful in current Simpsons movie
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TOP STORIES
Episcopal Life launches monthly video 'multicast' 'Episcopal Life Focus' set to debut September 13
By Neva Rae Fox
[Episcopal News Service] "Episcopal Life Focus," a new monthly half-hour video "multicast" featuring church mission, ministries and news, is scheduled to debut on Thursday, September 13, at 8 p.m. EDT on Episcopal Life Online (http://www.episcopalchurch.org/elife).
The program will remain available online for on-demand viewing, and for placement on local community access cable stations that make air time available free of charge, said Canon Robert Williams, director of the Episcopal Church's Communication Office, which is providing the new resource.
"Many clergy and laypersons have commented over time that they would like to see more of the Episcopal Church and its mission, ministries, liturgies and music on television," Williams said. "Episcopal Life Focus is an efficient and low-cost way to begin to create that niche."
Williams said the program is part of the new integrated "Episcopal Life Media" initiative that complements the churchwide monthly newspaper with its "Episcopal Life Online" website, weekday email releases, regular streaming video reports, and weekly inserts for Sunday parish bulletins. Top stories are featured from the Episcopal News Service.
Full story: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/79901_89621_ENG_HTM.htm
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Ecumenical Work Week shows Churches faithful to Gulf Coast rebuilding Clergy tour learns about environmental impact of post-Katrina flooding
By ENS staff
[Episcopal News Service] When the storm winds of Hurricane Katrina subsided two years ago, a national nightmare unfolded on television screens and other media outlets throughout the nation and around the world. More than 1,800 people lost their lives as a result of the storm and flooding and the city of New Orleans suffered multiple disasters, among them one of the largest oil spills in U.S. history.
Two years later, the Rev. Patrick Keen, pastor of Bethlehem Lutheran Church in New Orleans, said, "If it had not been for the Church, we would be in even worse shape than we are now." He was addressing 50 volunteers from 14 Christian churches taking part in Ecumenical Work Week August 19-25 sponsored by the National Council of Churches (NCC) USA's Special Commission for the Just Rebuilding of the Gulf Coast.
In addition to the work of volunteers who helped to repair and rebuild six houses, visiting clergy spent two days learning about the environmental impact of the post-Katrina flooding.
John Johnson, domestic policy analyst in the Episcopal Church's Office of Government Relations; Nell Bolton, minister for Social Renewal at Trinity Episcopal Church in New Orleans; and Dr. Charlotte Shepard from the Episcopal Diocese of Arizona joined the Clergy Listening Tour, which was sponsored by the NCC Eco-Justice Working Group.
Full story: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/79901_89617_ENG_HTM.htm
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Episcopal Peace Fellowship to join continuous ecumenical prayer vigil for Iraq Launch set for International Day of Peace September 21
By Joe Bjordal
[Episcopal News Service] The Episcopal Peace Fellowship (EPF), a 65-year-old nationwide membership organization, has announced plans to launch a massive prayer effort surrounding the war in Iraq. EPF is joining with 34 other religious organizations to launch a continuous prayer vigil in churches across the country beginning on or around September 21, 2007, the International Day of Peace.
The ecumenical collaboration, Christian Peace Witness for Iraq, was initially formed to sponsor a major, national peace witness in Washington, D. C. on March 16, 2007. More than 300 Episcopalians from around the country joined thousands of others to fill the National Cathedral for a prayer service and then march, in candlelight vigil, to the White House.
"The leaders of these many organizations want to build on the success of the March event and we believe our prayer efforts need to be ongoing," said the Rev. Jackie Lynn, EPF's executive director.
Full story: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/79901_89611_ENG_HTM.htm
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September 9 bulletin insert focuses on Episcopal Schools
The bulletin insert for September 9 looks at the National Association of Episcopal Schools (NAES), which is kicking off this school year with great expectations and a new leader at the helm.
Bulletin inserts are available at
http://www.episcopalchurch.org/78650_8852_ENG_HTM.htm
More Top Stories: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/elife
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OPINION
Guest Column: White immigrants get a pass; brown ones do not
By Bob Edgar
[Episcopal News Service] Let's talk about immigration. But first, here's a word from our sponsor, the God of Abraham, Sarah and Hagar, Isaac and Rebekah, Jacob and Rachel and Leah.
"When an alien resides with you in your land, you shall not oppress the alien. The alien who resides with you shall be to you as the citizen among you; you shall love the alien as yourself, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God." (Leviticus 19:33-34)
That seems pretty clear. Don't you think?
There are half a dozen similar verses in the Hebrew Scriptures. But Americans who are so riled up over this immigration situation seem to ignore these words.
Full story: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/80050_89625_ENG_HTM.htm
More Opinion: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/80050_ENG_HTM.htm
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ARTS
Examples of spirituality plentiful in current Simpsons movie
By Kim Lawton
[Episcopal News Service] They're silly, often irreverent and sometimes downright wicked. But The Simpsons may also be one of the most interesting examinations of religion in contemporary pop culture.
The release of The Simpsons Movie is grabbing new attention for the popular animated television series that has an often surprising take on spirituality.
"The Simpsons say grace at meals. They attend church on Sundays. They read and refer to the Bible; and they pray out loud -- although sometimes only under desperate circumstances," said Mark Pinsky, author of The Gospel According to the Simpsons.
"It's about a family in which religion plays a part," Pinsky said. "And in that sense, it's really reflective of what most Americans do and feel about religion."
Full story: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/81827_89626_ENG_HTM.htm
More Arts: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/81827_ENG_HTM.htm