[ENS] 'Moving on': Congregations, continuing dioceses celebrate growth, new life and ministry / Bull
From <[email protected]>Date Tue, 30 Nov 2010 05:45:06 -0500
>Episcopal News Service >November 29, 2010 >Episcopal News Service is available at >http://www.episcopalchurch.org/ens. Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/episcopal_news >Today's Episcopal News Service includes: * TOP STORY - 'Moving on': Congregations, continuing dioceses celebrate growth, new life and ministry * TOP STORY - Bulletin inserts continue list of new commemorations from 'Holy Women, Holy Men' * WORLD REPORT - MELANESIA: Anglican religious get training in social-justice, human-rights advocacy * MISSION - Bringing Bethlehem alive at Advent, Christmas, year-round * OPINION - Living into partnership in times of war and peace * DAYBOOK - November 30: Today in Scripture, Prayer, History >_____________________ >TOP STORIES 'Moving on': Congregations, continuing dioceses celebrate growth, new life and ministry >By Pat McCaughan [Episcopal News Service] Episcopalians in the renewing dioceses of San Joaquin, Quincy, Pittsburgh and Fort Worth say the challenges of living through church divisions have also led them to new life, increased mission and outreach, deepened community and an empowered laity. Initially, property, financial and other struggles may seem daunting for congregations starting up or starting over, but Grace Episcopal Mission in Bakersfield, California, in the continuing Episcopal Diocese of San Joaquin, is a reminder to "hang in there and keep hope and have faith and work hard," said the Rev. Tim Vivian, vicar, during a recent telephone interview from his office. "We started from nothing," as a house church in 2007 with a dozen members meeting in each other's living rooms, he recalled. Within a few months the new congregation had doubled to 25 and was worshipping in a nearby chapel. Full story: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/79425_125923_ENG_HTM.htm >- - - - - Bulletin inserts continue list of new commemorations from 'Holy Women, Holy Men' New commemorations on the Episcopal Church calendar for the months of January and February are the topic of Dec. 12 bulletin inserts from Episcopal News Service. The Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music is conducting a year-long open forum on "Holy Women, Holy Men," the first complete revision of "Lesser Feasts and Fasts" in 40 years, and invites participation from all church members through its website (www.psychdata.com/s.asp?SID=136205) or by email at [email protected]. Inserts may be downloaded here: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/95270_ENG_HTM.htm More Top Stories: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/ens >_____________________ >WORLD REPORT MELANESIA: Anglican religious get training in social-justice, human-rights advocacy [Episcopal News Service] Social justice, human rights and advocacy were the topics of a Nov. 12-28 training gathering at Tabalia, West Guadalcanal, in the Anglican Church of Melanesia. Full story: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/81808_125932_ENG_HTM.htm More World news: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/81808_ENG_HTM.htm >_____________________ >MISSION Bringing Bethlehem alive at Advent, Christmas, year-round Jerusalem diocese offers resources to companions everywhere >By Lucy Chumbley and Bob Williams Christians around the world can deepen their understandings of Jesus' birth - and the current context of Bethlehem and the Middle East - by making direct connections with Holy Land communities in Advent, Christmastide and year-round. Full story: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/81799_125922_ENG_HTM.htm More Mission: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/81799_ENG_HTM.htm >_____________________ >OPINION Living into partnership in times of war and peace >By Janette O'Neill [Episcopal News Service] In early November, I was pleased to be invited to a meeting called by the Episcopal Church of the Sudan (ECS) at its headquarters in Juba. The agenda was daunting -- it focused on how we can all work together to help sustain the vision and grow the mission of ECS. All of the participants were committed to supporting Archbishop Daniel Deng Bul and other ECS leaders as they deal with issues related to the referendum of Jan. 9. The referendum could potentially lead to the secession of southern Sudan. Full story: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/80050_125925_ENG_HTM.htm More Opinion: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/80050_ENG_HTM.htm >_____________________ >DAYBOOK On November 30, 2010, the church remembers the Feast of Saint Andrew. * 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 November 30, 1729, Samuel Seabury, first bishop of the Episcopal Church in the United States, was born in Groton, Connecticut.