When Flamingos Attack

If you find this note delivered by a wild flock of pink flamingos, you will know what to do!

Congratulations!! You have been attacked by the flamingos of the E.Y.E. 2008 Rhode Island Delegation. We are a group of teenagers from the Episcopal Diocese of Rhode Island. We are raising money to help pay for our trip to the 2008 Episcopal Youth Event in San Antonio, Texas this July. “The Episcopal Youth Event (E.Y.E.) is a gathering of high school aged youth and their advocates from throughout the Episcopal Church to inspire and empower youth as Christian apostles.” To find out more visit the website www.eye2008.org. To help us in our fund-raising effort, these flamingos are migrating to different churches in the diocese. 

• For $20 we will liberate the flamingos (tips are welcome)
• For another $20 we will allow you to determine where the flamingos go next
• For another $10 you can buy insurance to be sure the flamingos don’t   return
• For another $20 we will remove them within 24 hours. 

The details for who to contact will be included with the note delivered by the flamingos. 

Revisited: For the Beauty of the Earth

Originally an EPPN Lenten series, this information is timely for Earth Day 2008 and for reference year-round.

For our waste and pollution of your creation, and our lack of concern for those who come after us, Accept our repentance, Lord —Litany of Penitence, BCP Our climate is changing and the consequences could be dire. As Christians and Episcopalians, what is our role and responsibility in climate change? What can I do? What can we as a Church do? How do we not become overwhelmed? What is climate change?  Simply put the world is getting warmer and the consequences will affect humans, animals and all of creation in negative and potentially drastic ways—increased droughts, disease, floods, storms and with these changes an escalation in conflict and death. The cause? Most climate scientists believe that the warming trends are the result of increased emissions of carbon dioxide and other green house gasses as a result of human activity into the atmosphere. Carbon emissions come from our cars, our farms, and our power plants to name just a few of the many sources. Just about everything we do has carbon emission implications. Click here for more information. Some of the strongest information about climate change comes from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (http://www.ipcc.ch/). This panel, created in 1988 by the United Nations, includes hundreds of scientists from around the world and representatives from many countries. What is the bottom line? In order to avoid the most dire consequences of global warming, the best science available today indicates that our nation must reduce our carbon emissions 15-20 percent by the year 2020 and 80 percent by the year 2050. However, if we don't start now we risk losing the opportunity to avoid climate catastrophe completely. We do this by 1) Reducing our personal carbon emissions and 2) urging our policy makers at every level of government to begin addressing climate change locally, nationally and globally. What is the Episcopal Church Saying about Climate Change? Last June, under the glare of camera lights, Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori testified before the U.S. Senate's Environment and Public Works committee on the subject of climate change. She was joined by Roman Catholic, Evangelical and Jewish leaders, united in urging Congress to make addressing climate change a national priority, saying: "The crisis of climate change presents an unprecedented challenge to the goodness, interconnectedness, and sanctity of the world God created and loves… As one who has been formed both through a deep faith and as a scientist I believe science has revealed to us without equivocation that climate change and global warming are real, and caused in significant part by human activities. They are a threat not only to God's good creation but to all of humanity. This acknowledgment of global warming, and the Church's commitment to ameliorating it, is a part of the ongoing discovery of God's revelation to humanity and a call to a fuller understanding of the scriptural imperative of loving our neighbor." Full text available: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/78703_86656_ENG_HTM.htm What is my ecological footprint? This week we invite you to learn more about your ecological footprint. How much land and water do you physically require to support your daily routine? Calculate your ecological footprint using this calculator.

Rest in Peace Rev. William Payton

The Rev. William R. Payton

June 19, 1940 - April 16, 2008

Bill Payton+ The Rev. William R. Payton, who served several Diocese of Atlanta parishes during his 42 years as a priest, died this morning after a valiant battle with cancer. He as 67. Since 2003 he had been a priest associate at the Cathedral of St. Philip, where services will be this weekend.

A native of Carrollton, Bill had been rector of churches in Georgia, Maryland, Connecticut and Rhode Island. A graduate of UGA and General Theological Seminary, he was a priest associate at St. Bartholomew's Atlanta, from 1969-1971 and 1983-86 and rector at St. Edward's Lawrenceville, from 1987-95. He also spent a year as interim rector at Church of the Holy Spirit, Cumming. His passion in ministry was focused on spiritual direction and liturgy. 

Bill is survived by his wife, Joan, and two grown sons, Ramsay and Wyn. THeir home address is 1861 Colland Drive, Atlanta, GA 30318. 

The body will be received in Mikell Chapel at the Cathedral of St. Philip at 7 p.m. Friday, April 18, followed by the Vigil of the Resurrection. The Liturgy for the Burial of the Dead will take place at 12 Noon on Saturday. Music will begin at 11:30 a.m. A reception will follow in Bishop Child Hall. 

Clergy are invited to vest and process (white stoles).

May he rest in peace and rise in glory!

Faithfully,

J. NEIL ALEXANDER

Bishop of Atlanta

Mindless Consumption

Read The False Gospel of Mindless Consumption by the Rev. Mike Kinman at e4gr.blogspot.com.

What will you be doing with your "economic stimulus" check? Donate to charity? Tithe? Pay off debts? Go shopping? Help fund a summer vacation? Save?

Taize Prayer, April 13th

Taize Prayer

This Sunday

April 13th at 4:00 PM

Cathedral of St. John

271 North Main Street

Providence

Give It 4 Good (www.giveit4good.org)

Give It 4 Good is EGR's campaign to urge people to choose compassion over consumption and give all or part of their "economic stimulus checks" to organizations supporting the MDGs. Visit www.giveit4good.org for the full details. 

The Basic Idea
Take the "economic stimulus check" you'll get from the government in May (or a similar amount if you don't qualify for a check) and pledge to give all or part of it to organizations working to alleviate global poverty.

Our Mission
To start a conversation about what it means to be a Christian in a society that encourages overconsumption. To hold up a vision of choosing compassion over consumption. 

Why A "Stimulus Check" Campaign?
How we spend money has spiritual underpinnings. Our society encourages overconsumption far beyond our actual needs. It's both morally and economically unsustainable.

Now, the federal government has rewarded the overconsumption that led to economic slowdown by providing many tax filers with an "economic stimulus check" of between $600 and $2,100, encouraging Americans to go out and consume even more to bolster the stagnant economy. This fiscal policy is doing nothing more than feeding our national addiction to overconsumption – and continuing the destructive cycle that got us here in the first place.

IT'S TIME FOR AN INTERVENTION!

Let’s break the cycle and find more creative -- and Christ-centered -- uses for these "stimulus checks." Jesus says that as we compassionately care for the poorest of the poor, we care for him (Matthew 25:31-46). This time, let's choose compassion over consumption.

Episcopalians for Global Reconciliation is committed to following Christ's call through the fulfillment of the Millennium Development Goals. So we are engaging all Americans in this campaign to commit those stimulus checks to the MDGs. While fully understanding and appreciating that for millions of Americans, the checks will provide much needed relief in everyday living expenses, for millions more of us, the funds are nothing more than ‘found money.’  Let’s give it away – all of it, a tithe, or the 0.7% that we are all encouraged to commit to relief of extreme global poverty.

The Great Website Project of 2008

Late last summer, funds were approved to (finally) build a better website for the Episcopal Diocese of RI. That project is well underway. We have a development company and are busy collecting the content for the new site. There have been both expected and unexpected snags and roadblocks, but it is being built. Keep your eye on this blog and eRISEN for details as they emerge. 

If you have any questions about the site and progress, please feel free to email the Editor at risen@episcopalri.org. 

Rev. Ames comment becomes a Blog Post on HIV/ AIDS

"It is gratifying to see our Presiding Bishop take such a strong stand on the U.S. Global HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria Act. 

As I end my work as the interim rector of St. Mark's Church, Riverside, I have joined the staff of the Global AIDS Interfaith Alliance (www.thegaia.org) as a congregational relations officer. I will be developing relationships with congregations on the east coast to raise funds that support work to alleviate the pandemic of HIV/AIDs in sub Saharan Malawi, and to implement the UN Millennium Development Goals. I am planning a trip to Malawi during the month of July.

I welcome invitations to come to our churches to meet with outreach committees, concerned individuals, and/or congregations to talk about this important and compelling ministry.

We should all support the Presiding Bishop and ministries of compassion and outreach to those in need."

The Rev. David A. Amesscurtqt

Holy Land's 'suffering servants' need advocacy, solidarity, Presiding Bishop urges

By Matthew Davies, March 25, 2008

[ENS] With an invitation to "come and see for yourself," Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori concluded her March 16-24 pastoral visit to the Holy Land recognizing the need for people worldwide to understand the plight of Palestinian Christians -- "their shrinking numbers, the conditions under which they live and work, and the potential that we have not only to advocate for them but to stand in solidarity with them."
 
The Presiding Bishop's visit, which came at the invitation of Anglican Bishop in Jerusalem Suheil Dawani, was intended to deepen the partnerships between the U.S.-based Episcopal Church and the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem.
 
But the days also afforded Jefferts Schori and an Episcopal Church delegation the opportunity to visit Gaza, engage Israeli and Palestinian human rights organizations, meet with local ecumenical and interreligious leaders, and to share in the Paschal mystery of Holy Week in services at St. George's Cathedral in Jerusalem.
 
The delegation -- which included Bishop Christopher Epting, ecumenical and interfaith officer; Maureen Shea, director of government relations; and the Presiding Bishop's husband, Richard Schori -- visited Gaza on March 19 to gain a deeper understanding of the humanitarian crisis that is impacting 1.5 million Palestinians in the world's most densely populated region, and experience the ministry of the Al Ahli Arab Hospital, one of the diocese's oldest institutions. (Story available here).

Israeli officials have said that a blockade of Gaza, enforced since January 17, has been necessary to put pressure on militant Palestinians to stop firing rockets into southern Israel. But regular power cuts, food and water shortages, lack of fuel, and counter-attacks from the Israelis are placing immense pressure on the local population.

Reflecting on her experiences, Jefferts Schori said it is essential for Christians around the world to "recognize that among us are people who live in conditions that seem like a Second World War ghetto, as prisoners in their own land, as people whose millennia-old property has been confiscated, as people who suffer enormous indignities and injustices every day, and yet are living here as suffering servants."

See the full story HERE.

Presiding Bishop writes to House of Representatives on U.S. Global HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria Act

[ENS] Episcopal Church Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori has written a letter to the House of Representatives calling for the passage of the U.S. Global HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria Act

Her letter is located here:
http://www.episcopalchurch.org/79901_96236_ENG_HTM.htm 

Presiding Bishop urges Senate action on climate change

March 31, 2008 

United States Senate 

Washington, D. C 20510 

Dear Senator: 

 

Urgent action by the United States in response to global warming is long past due.  As 

the Presiding Bishop of The Episcopal Church, I urge the Senate to take up climate 

change legislation at the earliest possible moment.  As one who has been formed both 

through a deep faith and as a scientist, I believe science has shown us unequivocally that 

climate change and global warming are real, and caused in significant part by human 

activities.  Climate change is a threat not only to God’s good creation but to all of 

humanity.   

 

I am pleased that bi-partisan legislation introduced by Senators Joseph Lieberman and 

John Warner successfully moved through the committee process with many 

improvements and now awaits Senate debate.  Senate bill 2191, America’s Climate 

Security Act, is a strong step forward in achieving carbon emission reductions.  At the 

same time it includes measures aimed at addressing the needs of the world’s most 

vulnerable:  those, who for demographic reasons such as health or location are most 

susceptible to the effects of climate change, and those living in poverty at home and 

around the world.  I strongly support this legislation.  Our nation, historically the world's 

largest greenhouse gas emitter, has a responsibility to lead the way in addressing the 

impact of climate change. 

Climate change exacerbates extreme world poverty and poverty is hastening global 

warming.  Most people living in poverty around the world lack access to a reliable energy 

source, forcing many to choose energy sources such as oil, coal, or wood, which threaten 

to expand significantly the world's greenhouse emissions and thus accelerate the effects 

of climate change.  That need for resources to purchase energy must be addressed in any 

attempt to lift a community out of poverty.  This cycle—poverty that begets climate 

change and vice versa—threatens the future of all people, rich and poor alike.  The 

poverty cycle driven by climate change will only add to political instability, social 

violence, and war.  Our own domestic tranquility and security are intimately tied to the 

wellbeing of the poor both here and abroad. 

I am grateful for Congressional attention to climate change, and I challenge the Senate to 

support measures to further strengthen S. 2191 during floor consideration.  I want to be 

absolutely clear that for those living in poverty, inaction on our part now will ultimately 

be the most costly of all courses of action.  I am grateful to the members of Congress who 

have recognized and spoken out on that very important truth. 

Many in the faith community have long been aware of the ways in which our lack of 

concern for the rest of creation results in death and destruction for our neighbors.  We 

cannot love our neighbors unless we care for the creation that supports all our earthly 

lives.  I join my fellow Episcopalians in urging the Senate of the 110th Congress to pass 

the strongest climate change legislation possible.  The acknowledgment of global 

warming and the Church’s commitment to ameliorating it are a part of the ongoing 

discovery of God’s revelation to humanity and the call to a fuller understanding of the 

scriptural imperative to love our neighbor as ourselves.  I remain 

 

Your servant in Christ, 

Katharine Jefferts Schori