Faith when life gets hard

You may have heard about tragedy suffered by the Petit family recently in Cheshire, CT. Their house was broken into, and three of four family members (mom and two daughters) were murdered. Only the father escaped.

Tragedy like that does all sorts of things to people. I can't even imagine what it would be like. One thing is certain: faith makes an enormous difference in trying times. Today the Petit family issued a statement. It begins:

We are a family of faith. No one ever wants their faith tested, particularly by events such as these. When there is no ability to control your life events and you are required to deal with such great tragedy and loss, however, your faith is all the more necessary.

Although we will no longer have Jennifer, Hayley and Michaela physically present with us, and we do now and we will continue to experience an extraordinary sense of loss because of that, we firmly believe that their spirits and all of the goodness that defined their characters and beautiful personas will remain with us forever. We are committed to preserving those spirits and fulfilling their lives of promise, so tragically cut short.

Then the statement enters really extraordinary territory. Demonstrating a magnanimous nature rarely found in our culture, the family says this:

Many ask what they can do.

Care about others as a regular part of your lives, not just at times of tragedy. The feelings of connectedness and the outpouring of affection for us and our family members represent the best of human emotions, for which we are extremely grateful.

Actively support causes that exist solely for the improvement of people's lives in need.

Doing these things will be our way of saying that these senseless acts of violence did not stop the wonderful, giving spirits of our beloved family members.

The sense of generosity and compassion they manifest in this challenging time is inspiring. Imagine if our world were like that -- seeking compassion and not revenge, mercy and not justice. I'm sure the Petit family must at times wish horrible things upon their attackers (that's human nature), but their deeper, public wishes are something we should all notice.

As we live in times that are increasingly shrill, filled with calls for revenge, justice, and fear, we need to take notice of rare moments of boundless love when it shines forth.

Reggae joins hip-hop and U2

From the Anglican Communion News Service:

Songs by late reggae legends Bob Marley and Peter Tosh, both devout Rastafarians, will be included in a new collection of Anglican church hymnals in Jamaica.

Marley's ‘One Love’ and Tosh's ‘Psalm 27’ will be the first reggae tunes to appear in songbooks alongside traditional worship music on the island that gave birth to reggae, said church leaders preparing a new collection of hymns.

The Revd Ernle Gordon, a church spokesman, said Friday that members of the Anglican Church of Jamaica were enthusiastic about including the reggae musicians' music in the hymnals, despite their sometimes vocal opposition to Christianity.

Many will scoff at the inclusion of popular music in an official hymnal. From my perspective, this is just continuing a venerable tradition. The music of the Reformation was rooted in popular culture, and some of the best "church" music ever since has had origins or deep connections with the world outside church.

As some will point out, there is a real danger of losing the church's identity if we "sell out" to wider culture. However, there is an even greater danger of losing our very existence if we do not engage the culture. From the Biblical period to the present, it's been a challenge: how are we related to our culture -- and how are we not related to our culture. Let's celebrate another attempt to figure this out, this time involving some great music from Jamaica.

Kathleen Kennedy Townsend on Stephen Colbert's show

Last night, Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, author of Failing America's Faithful, was on the Colbert Report. If you haven't seen the show, Stephen Colbert satirizes the yelling talking heads that clog our television news channels.

Anyway, the interview is humorous, and they make some good points about Christianity and contemporary issues. (You might see an ad before the video plays.)

The Gospel shows up in Springfield and at Hogwarts

Here in the blogosphere, we like to ride the waves of popular culture. Never one to miss a Big Thing, I hereby post notice of two new resources from the Church of England. (Who said they were stodgy back in the Mother Country?)

First, there's Pottermania:

A new resource guide published today by the Church of England suggests youth leaders should use the popular Harry Potter series of books and films as a launch pad for exploring Christian themes within church youth groups or Sunday schools. The first six of J K Rowling’s Harry Potter books have sold more than 325 million copies in 200 countries. On the eve of the launch of the seventh book in the series, the resource – published by Church House Publishing - enables youth leaders to use extracts from the books and films to draw parallels with daily life and help young people discuss ‘big issues’.

Second, I present something fresh from Springfield:

The exploits of Bart, Lisa, Maggie, Marge and Homer Simpson - alongside the other animated residents of Springfield - are being used to encourage children to reflect on the big issues in life in a new book from the Church of England. On the eve of the launch of the Simpsons’ first feature film, Mixing it up with The Simpsons suggests screening extracts from episodes of the hit show to invigorate church youth group programmes, as part of a new series providing contemporary material for youth workers to use in mid-week groups or ‘Sunday School’ settings.

You can learn more by clicking the links are reading the relevant news articles. This reminds me, the Church of England news feed is something worth keeping an eye on. Some good stuff shows up there now and again.

RISEN - Teen & Young Adult Issue

The latest issue of RISEN is on stands. Somehow a series of edits did not get implemented and you might notice Eastertide 2006 or Christmastide 2007 in the labeling that went to press. It is the Summer 2007 issue. Also, the ECC article was written by Sue Hurn – not Sue Hunn.

We do our best to catch all mistakes prior to publication and appreciate you overlooking the errors. I hope you enjoy this issue of RISEN and the many young voices that contributed to it.

Jedi and Jesus, Harry and the Holy Spirit

It is often very difficult for young people to connect with the message of the Church. But, religious leaders are becoming more creative. A few years ago I was given a book titled "Christian Wisdom for the Jedi Masters." It was Jedi and Jesus. Looking at the teachings of Christ and the ministry of His apostles and how they aren't that different than Yoda and the work of the Jedi.

Well it took a while, but Christian leaders are finally coming around on Harry Potter. When the first of seven books came out, many Christian leaders demonized the series - saying Potter was "the king of darkness" and "evil". But, now they are using the adventures of Harry and his friends to translate the Christian message to today's youth.

Read more here

Jonathan Daniels: local saint

As you may know, Jonathan Myrick Daniels is commemorated in our church calendar on August 14. He was a seminary student in Cambridge, MA, and he spent some time in Rhode Island. Every year there is a Holy Eucharist at Church of the Epiphany in Providence to mark his feast day. Many years have included a street procession. This year's observance will be a Holy Eucharist at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, August 14. A reception will follow.

Here's a snippet from a recent release from Episcopal News Service on Daniels and an annual pilgrimage in Alabama.

The ninth annual Jonathan Myrick Daniels and Martyrs of Alabama Pilgrimage honoring Daniels and others, who lost their lives during the civil rights movement, will take place August 11 in Hayneville, Alabama.

Daniels was the 26-year-old Episcopal seminarian who answered the call of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to help register African-American voters in Alabama, only to be shot and killed months later, on August 20, 1965, while shielding a then 16-year-old Ruby Sales from the shotgun fired as she attempted to enter a store to buy something to drink.

The pilgrimage...will go to the old county jail where Daniels and Sales were among those detained for a week and then on to the old Cash Grocery Store where Daniels was murdered. Prayers and hymns will be offered at the place of martyrdom. The procession will then return to the square and the monument placed by Virginia Military Institute in Daniels' honor. The pilgrimage will end in the Courthouse where a service of Holy Communion will take place in the courtroom and Stewart will speak. For further information call the Rev. William King at 205-715-2060 ext. 317 or e-mail bking@dioala.org.

If you can't get to Alabama, please visit Epiphany on August 14. You can also read what Dee Tavolaro experienced last year when she attended this celebration.

Online resources for fun and enrichment

If you don't know about it, the Episcopal Cafe is one of the best places to keep up with what's going on in the Episcopal Church and the Anglican Communion. It's also chock full of great resources for inspiration and spiritual growth. They've just launched a video section, which will feature something new every Monday. I recommend the whole site, whether you're looking for prose or video.

Tobias Haller writes one of the most thoughtful blogs out there, and it's always worth reading. Not too long ago, he posted a tithing catechism. If you're looking for a resource on tithing, you'd be hard-pressed to find something better than this.

These days, there are lots of news stories on the Episcopal Church, often full of distortion and gross error. If you see something in the news, check out epiScope, the quasi-official blog of the Episcopal Church. Jan Nunley (formerly of Rhode Island) posts media roundups regularly, and she sets the record straight when that's required. For example, if you saw the article in yesterday's New York Times article about the porn-star-becoming-priest, you could check out epiScope for the real story.

Lastly, if you're in need of a laugh, look no further than the Cartoon Blog, part of the Cartoon Church empire. Some of the humor (or should I say "humour") is of a peculiarly British bent, but I think you'll like what you see. Dave Walker will license his cartoons for use in congregational publications, should you wish to bring some laughter to your community.

How does your church look?

We often do our usual thing on Sunday mornings without a why we do it that way, how it looks to first-time guests, and what it means. Today one of my new favorite bloggers visited a church in Indiana. Read his impressions of the place, which contain some praise, some criticism, and some questions.

Must of what he observes as "wrong" strikes me as spot on, and these are symptoms -- often found in the US -- of sloppy liturgy and shoddy theology. How would your congregation look to this kind of critic? Does it matter?

Bishop Wolf on the Rev'd Ann Holmes Redding

It's been widely covered in the blogosphere already, but for readers of this blog who may have missed it, here is a letter Bishop Wolf sent to clergy and diocesan leaders last week.

To: Clergy, Members of Diocesan Council and Standing Committee
From: The Rt. Rev. Geralyn Wolf
Re: The Rev. Dr. Ann Holmes Redding

As many of you know, The Rev. Dr. Ann Holmes Redding is an Episcopal priest who has recently professed her faith in Islam. Dr. Redding is canonically resident in the Diocese of Rhode Island, though she has not served here for over twenty years.

After meeting with her I issued a Pastoral Direction giving her the opportunity to reflect on the doctrines of the Christian faith, her vocation as a priest, and what I see as the conflicts inherent in professing both Christianity and Islam. During the next year she is not to exercise any of the responsibilities and privileges of an Episcopal priest or deacon. Other aspects of the Pastoral Direction will remain private.

I am sending this e-mail to you because the continued web-site coverage suggests that I be as clear as possible with those exercising leadership in our diocese.

Here is the story, for those who missed it.