wfn.org | [ENS] Peace fellowship supports economic sanctions for Middle East peace

[<mdavies@episcopalchurch.org>]

>Episcopal News Service
>May 12, 2010

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

>Today's Episcopal News Service includes:

* TOP STORY - Peace fellowship supports economic sanctions for Middle  East 
peace
* PEOPLE - Washington National Cathedral announces new senior staff  
appointments
* CALENDAR - Upcoming special events and services
* SPIRITUAL REFLECTIONS - May 16, 2010 - Seventh Sunday of Easter - Year  C
* DAYBOOK - May 13: Today in Scripture, Prayer, History
* EBAR PICK - "Putting Away Childish Things A Tale of Modern Faith"

>_____________________

>TOP STORIES

Peace fellowship supports economic sanctions for Middle East peace

Divestment strategy 'dangerously unhelpful,' Washington bishop says

>By Matthew Davies

[Episcopal News Service] The National Executive Council of Episcopal
Peace Fellowship has issued a statement in support of economic
sanctions and divestment strategies that it believes "can inspire a
more useful dialog and negotiation towards a just and lasting peace in
the Middle East."

But Bishop John Bryson Chane of Washington, a member of EPF since
1969, told ENS May 12 that such a strategy is "flawed and dangerously
unhelpful at this particular time in history" and would "further hurt
the critical development of the economy of Palestine and increase the
marginalization of the Palestinian people."

As an independent association of Episcopalians committed to
nonviolence, EPF's position does not represent the official policy of
the Episcopal Church, which supports "corporate engagement" and
"positive investment" practices when dealing with companies in which
it owns assets and shares.

Full story: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/79425_122182_ENG_HTM.htm

More Top Stories: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/ens

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>PEOPLE

Washington National Cathedral announces new senior staff appointments

[Washington National Cathedral] Washington National Cathedral has
announced the hiring of two senior staff members -- the Rev. Timothy
A. Boggs as provost and Steven M. Schwab as director of external
relations.

Full story: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/81831_122170_ENG_HTM.htm

More People: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/81831_ENG_HTM.htm

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>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

May 16, 2010 - Seventh Sunday of Easter - Year C

(RCL) Acts 16:16-34; Psalm 97; Revelation 22:12-14, 16-17, 20-21; John  17:20-26

>By the Rev. Frank Hegedus

[Sermons That Work] There is a story or parable, variously ascribed to
the wisdom traditions of Arab, Chinese, or rabbinic literature, which
illustrates well "the changes and chances of this mortal life," as the
Book of Common Prayer describes the vicissitudes, the ups and downs,
of this world.

According to most versions, the story - no doubt apocryphal - goes
like this: A farmer had a fine stallion that one day escaped and ran
off. The farmer's neighbors commiserated with him. "What bad luck you
have," they said sadly. But the farmer responded, "Who really knows?
It could be bad. But it could also be good."

Full reflection:

http://www.episcopalchurch.org/sermons_that_work_122013_ENG_HTM.htm

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

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>DAYBOOK

On May 13, 2010, the church remembers Ascension Day.

* 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 May 13, 1842, Sir Arthur Seymour Sullivan,
English composer, was born at Bolwell Terrace, Lambeth (London),
England. Sullivan composed some 72 hymns, most of them in the period
1861-75. The most famous of these are "Onward, Christian Soldiers"
(1872, lyrics by Sabine Baring-Gould) and "Nearer, my God, to Thee"
(the "Propior Deo" version).

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>EBAR PICK

"Putting Away Childish Things A Tale of Modern Faith" by Marcus Borg,
hardcover, 352 pages, c. 2010, $25.99.

[HarperCollins] In Putting Away Childish Things, Marcus Borg weaves
his insightful teachings on Christianity into a new form -- fiction.
In this compelling tale, we meet Kate -- a popular religion professor
at a liberal arts college in a small midwestern town who thinks her
life is right on track. She loves her job, is happy with her personal
and spiritual life, and her guilty pleasure consists of passing her
afternoons at the local pub with a pint of Guinness and a cigarette.
Life is good.

Kate is up for tenure when it all starts to go wrong. A colleague
warns her that her books are too Christian and too popular. She is
offered a visiting professor job at a prestigious seminary, which
sounds like the perfect solution except for one complication -- it is
the same seminary that employs the professor she had an affair with
years ago. Kate now has to face her past and watch as the
ramifications unfold in ways she never imagined. In the classroom,
students ask for her views on Jesus, the Bible, and homosexuality,
controversial topics that Kate candidly addresses until outraged
parents start campaigning for the school to get rid of her. Through it
all, Kate faces the toughest challenge yet -- a crisis of faith that
leaves her questioning what she believed so strongly before.

Putting Away Childish Things is an engaging way for readers to learn
about the important issues dividing Christians today. Along the way,
we join with the characters to ask the hard questions such as what
does the Bible really teach? Who is Jesus? What is the nature of faith
today?

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