Rhode Island Interfaith Power & Light Conference

Rhode Island Interfaith Power & Light
http://www.riipl.org/ presents:

Faith Lights Our Way…
toward a sustainable future

La SALLE ACADEMY, 612 Academy Avenue, Providence, RI
Thursday January 8, 2009, 5 pm - 9:30 pm

A conference for clergy, lay leaders, parents, educators, business people, students and others

Register on-line at www.riipl.org/pre_register.htm today!

5:00 pm – 6:55 pm Exhibits Open/Live background music by Lindsay Adler, environmental instrumentalist
7:00 pm , Opening Prayer and Introduction, Rabbi Amy Levin, Temple Torat-Yisrael, Cranston
7:10 pm – 7:55 pm "Signs of Hope: The Role of Religion in Climate Change." by Keynote Speaker, Rev. Canon Sally Bingham, President and Founder of Interfaith Power and Light.
The Interfaith Power and Light campaign and Rev. Bingham have received numerous awards including the 2007 U.S. EPA Climate Protection Award, the Purpose Prize, the Energy Globe Award and recognition as a “sacred gift to the planet” by the World Wildlife Fund. Rev. Bingham was recently named one of the top fifteen green religious leaders by Grist magazine and was installed as Canon for Environmental Ministry in the Episcopal Diocese of California.
8:00 – 8:30 pm Refreshments and Exhibits
8:30 – 9:20 pm Concurrent Workshops

9:20 pm Closing Reflections

Special thanks to La Salle Academy for their support and cooperation.

For Faith Communities:

Tour of the Low-Cost Energy Landscape
Explore low-cost, high efficiency energy solutions suitable for schools, houses of worship, businesses and residences

Paul Jestings, Portsmouth Abbey School ”This Old House of Worship” Savings Through Energy Management program
Learn about a program that teaches teams from congregations to deal with the energy problems of their
buildings.

Wilson Educational Services Launching Pad: Developing a Mission Statement
Learn an effective technique to bring clarity to your congregation’s mission statement. This session will revitalize the congregation and will serve as a launching pad in developing a strategic vision and action plan. Elizabeth David, Performance Results Group

For Schools and Youth:
Becoming a Green School
How recent school greening projects fit into a larger vision of green schools. Students of La Salle Academy

“Our Faith, Our Youth, Our Earth”:
Educators teaching young children (that means all of us!), Brainstorm and experience activities you can bring to the younger members of your community

New Dawn Earth Center / St. Bernard’s Parish The Infinite Potential of Social Networking
explore the concepts behind social networking, examine case studies, and explore its potential when applied to education, community service, social justice, and grass-roots organizing. Matt Lynch, music industry marketing strategist

For Faith and Advocacy:
New England’s Down Payment on the Future: Five Steps in Five Years to Confront the Climate Threat
Actions that we can take now that are realistic, fair and commensurate with the scale and seriousness of the climate crisis. Cynthia Giles, Conservation Law Foundation

What Homeowners Can Do:
Sustainable Living, One Old House At a Time
A retired teacher describes the process of selecting and rehabbing an ordinary ranch house with a view to environmental sustainability and affordability of the long term. The approach taken to the project reflects a desire to “live lightly on the earth” and to “age in place”. Cindy Saksena, Homeowner, Warren, RI

Walking on the Way - Bishop Wolf

"Vestries are worried about pledges and offerings, concerned that they may be less than last year. It is natural for us to be anxious, but anxiety and fear can paralyze the church, creating an atmosphere of stagnation and listlessness. In Paul’s second letter to Timothy he said, ‘God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.”
-- Bishop’s Convention Address, 2008

Many years ago, a woman gave me an envelope with money inside, and asked that I give it to someone in need. As I was serving in an inner city mission, there were many people who qualified as being “needy.” The neighborhood surrounding our small church was tightly knit, so choosing one person or family over another was difficult, and might have led to distrust and suspicion. In my heart I rehearsed the many people that I had visited, and the many needs that I had observed, and they were overwhelming. It took almost a week for me to remember the family who sold fruits and vegetables from their hand made cart, in a different part of the city. During the summer, I made it a point to purchase food from them. They couldn’t attend church on Sunday because they had to work, but their son sang in the local Episcopal church choir, and when the stand was closed they would attend as a family.

I didn’t know where they lived, so I drove around the neighborhood of the fruit stand, asking people if they knew where I could find Lem and Joan. I was directed to a run-down two car garage on the corner of the block. They sold their fruits and vegetables in the garage that was heated by a kerosene stove. Joan was happy to see me, and our conversation was animated. She pointed to the garage and said, “Times are tough, but God is good. We couldn’t afford an apartment but we got this garage to rent for the winter.” She led me to a corner, set apart by long hanging blankets. As she pulled back the blankets I saw two beds on the garage floor, a light hanging from the ceiling, a propane gas burner, and a few pots and some clothes. “This is home,” she said with a smile, “and we thank God for what we have. There was a young boy leaning on a bed to do his homework. “Remember my son, John, he’s ten now and he’s singing at St. Timothy’s, Christmas Eve, and Lem and I are going to be there.” John looked up and smiled.

Joan and I took a walk down the street, and I said, “Look Joan, a woman in my last parish handed me an envelope with some money to give away, and I want to give it to you and Lem.” As I reached into my pocket her breathing became heavy and her eyes began to well up. I placed the envelope in her small, calloused hands. She was almost afraid to open it, as though it would be empty. Slowly, she opened the enveloped with her rough and cracked fingers, and took a very quick look at the contents. Then she touched each bill slowly, silently counting with her lips. And then she counted again as if the money might not be real: “One, two, three, four, five.” Her shoulders began to shake uncontrollably as she grabbed my shoulders and wept on my coat. It was as if a terrible agony had been removed from her heart and she lifted her arms to the sky and with a wet face said repeatedly, “Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, Jesus.” There were five crisp one hundred dollar bills in the envelope.

Joan was still shaking, when she admitted to me that they owed money for the electricity, and the garage. “We stretch our money to buy kerosene and food because that’s what we really need. But now we’re going to pay back everything,” she said softly, “and put some away for the rest of the winter. Wait ‘til I tell Lem.” With tears still falling upon her face she added, “but first we’re going to surprise John with a Christmas present, because we already told him we couldn’t afford one, and he said ‘that’s okay Mom, I don’t need anything.”

I had tears in my eyes, too, tears of gratitude for Sue who gave me the money, and tears for this extraordinary family. They allowed me to see my blessings in a new way. Indeed, this family rose above fear and timidity, and discovered power, love, and self-discipline in God—even before they opened the envelope.

Christmas is about the extraordinary grace of the Father, sending his son into an unfair and troubled world, to be born in the tents and garages and fields of the poor. However, poverty has different faces. Joan, Lem and John didn’t have much money, but they had abundant faith. There are those whose material treasures are envied by others, but whose spiritual poverty keeps them in despair. This is the season to pray for a rebirth in your life: the birth of Christ within your heart. This is the best gift of all, one that money can’t buy, but which love can give away.

+Geralyn Wolf

Ordination of Susan Carpenter

Bishop Wolf to spend Christmas in Sudan

December 16th, Bishop Wolf and her husband, Tom Bair, departed for the Diocese of Ezo in the Sudan. They flew to Amsterdam and then directly on to Entebbe, Uganda where they will spend two nights. On December 19th, they will enter into the Sudan through Juba, and then on to Yambio in Southern Sudan on December 20th. Flights in and out of Juba/Yambio only happen twice a week, so there is a great deal of faith that the steps along the way will allow this to go as scheduled. From there they have a days ride by vehicle to reach the Bishop of the Diocese of Ezo, the Rt. Rev. John Zawo and his wife Nancy. There they will stay as guests of Bishop John. They have flights to return from Juba to Entebbe on December 28th. They will arrive back in Providence on December 29th.

Please keep Bishop wolf and Tom and Bishop John and his community in your prayers during this time.

Thank you to all who provided pictures of life at your parishes, they were wonderful with a wide assortment of people, events and buildings. They have been placed in a small photo album and will be a gift to Bishop John and Nancy. I am attaching a photo of Bishop John Zawo and his wife, Nancy.

A time and place has been set for a Sudan Debriefing that will be led by Bishop Wolf and Tom upon their return:

Sunday, January 18, 2009, 4:00pm
Church of the Epiphany, 1336 Pawtucket Avenue, Rumford, RI.

All are welcome to come and hear about their trip. A reminder of this event will be sent again after January 5th.

Clergy Association Meeting on Immigration at Central Falls

Six weeks ago, clergy and lay leaders in the diocese unaminously passed three resolutions at Convention dealing with immigration. As a founding member of our clergy association, I was thrilled that our diocese chose to support our immigrant communities, especially the congregations being led by Fr. Jose Roberts. One of those congregations, St. George's in Central Falls, has invited our clergy association to visit next Thursday, December 11th at 10:30 AM to learn more about what they are facing, as a community of faith and as individuals.
Come show your support for Fr. Jose and the community at St. George's, learn about what it feels like to be called 'illegal', listen to those who fear rounding the corner in broad daylight, and meet people who have lost relatives and friends to immigration raids. Afterwards, we'll take Fr. Jose and others to lunch at El Paisa, some of the best ethnic food in Rhode Island. Please let me know that you'll be there.

Welcome our new Communications Officer

Please join us in welcoming Ruth Meteer, our new Communications Officer.

Ruth comes to us from Massachusetts by way of Seattle, Washington. She studied Literature and a combination of Anthropology/Theology in her undergraduate work at UMass Boston and Oxford University. She won various poetry prizes in both places, and served as the Poetry Editor of “The Watermark” literary journal.

For the past 8 years Ruth has worked in a marketing/communications capacity within several fascinating disciplines, including Archaeology and the Music Industry. On personal time, she has been very involved with Young Adult Ministry at her home parishes, the Church of the Advent in Boston and St Paul’s in Seattle. Ruth likes to knit, plays 8 different musical instruments, collects antique garments, and is the proud mother of two cats named Romeo and Moses.

As Communications Officer, Ruth will have oversight of the new Diocesan website and serve as editor of RISEN, E-RISEN, and the Diocesan blog. She will also assist Diocesan programs and departments with their communications needs.

_____________________________________________________________
Mr. Tylan Creason
Canon for Program and Administration
Bishop's Chaplain
Episcopal Diocese of Rhode Island

Go to church services and get bonus ... live longer!

Religion May Help Extend Your Life

By Serena Gordon
Original article may be found here

WEDNESDAY, Nov. 26 (HealthDay News) -- Attending a weekly religious service, regardless of your faith, may lower your risk of death by 20 percent compared to people who don't attend services, researchers are reporting.

"Religion is always a hot topic, but particularly now, when people are perhaps in fear because of the recession and the threat of terrorism, people are looking for stability, and religion is something we find people reach out to for that stability. And, we see some health benefits here," said the study's lead author, Eliezer Schnall, a clinical assistant professor of psychology at Yeshiva College at Yeshiva University in New York City.

"Maybe it's the sense of community, or the support, or maybe people are less depressed when they join in religious services," he said, adding that the researchers tried to control the data to account for many of these factors, but "we have not completely explained it all."

Results of the study were published in the current issue of the journal Psychology and Health.

The study participants came from the large Women's Health Initiative observational study, and included nearly 95,000 women from all over the United States. The women were all between 50 and 79 years old at the start of the study.

When the study began, each woman filled out extensive questionnaires regarding health history, health behaviors, psychosocial factors, demographics and religion. Medical information was obtained yearly for each study volunteer, and the average follow-up time was 7.7 years.

Before adjusting the data, there was no significant difference in the risk of death between regular religious service attendees and those who chose not to attend. Schnall noted that there were many reasons why this could be so. But the main reason, he said, could be that people who go to religious services every week may be in better physical shape. "Maybe they're just healthy enough to go to services," he said.

When the researchers adjusted the data to account for physical health, age, ethnicity, income, education, social support, important life events and life satisfaction, they found that weekly religious service attendance was responsible for a 20 reduction in the risk of death. Attending less than once a week was responsible for a 15 percent drop in the risk of death.

But, attending religious services didn't improve the risk of death from cardiovascular disease or improve heart outcomes, the study found.

Although the study noted a decreased risk of death, Schnall wouldn't say that the prescription for good health is to attend religious services regularly.

"I'm not saying our study yields such a prescription, but our findings are intriguing and we do at least have some ideas of why there is a benefit, but we have not completely explained it all," he said.

Dr. Harold G. Koenig, founder and co-director of the Center for Spirituality, Theology and Health at Duke University Medical Center, called the new research "a very well-done study that provides good, well-controlled evidence that religious attendance is related to lower mortality."

"And, they [the researchers] show it's not just the social factor, it's not just the behavioral factors, and it's not just that some people might be too sick to be able to go to church. The researchers controlled well for these, though they still don't explain it all at the end," said Koenig.

"But," he added, "that doesn't mean there are supernatural effects, just that we don't fully understand the mechanism by which religion does this yet."

More information

Read about another study on religion and health at the American Heart Association.

A new era for the website

A few weeks back, our new website quietly launched. I would like to thank everyone for their kind words and notes of appreciation. The site will be fine-tuned over the next few months and is ultimately going to be a wonderful tool for our whole diocese.

www.episcopalri.org

That said, there are glitches. Bumps. A few roadblocks. We know about them. We ask your patience while some of them are ironed out.

If there are any critical or urgent items that need to be addressed, please direct your questions, requests and comments to risen@episcopalri.org.

Celebration of New Ministry - Richard Shippee

The Wardens, Vestry and Congregation of
Saint Mark's Episcopal Church
cordially invite you to attend
The Celebration of their 125th Anniversary
held in conjunction with
The Celebration of a New Ministry

at which
The Right Reverend Geralyn Wolf
Bishop of Rhode Island
will institute
The Reverend Richard C. Shippee
as Rector of Saint Mark's Episcopal Church

Sunday, the second day of November, two thousand eight,
at four o'clock in the afternoon

Saint Mark's Episcopal Church
10 Turner Avenue
Riverside, Rhode Island

Your prayers and presence are requested.

Reception following
Clergy: white stoles

Celebration of New Ministry - Greg Lisby

Celebration of New Ministry
The Wardens, Vestry and Congregation of
Church of the Ascension
Cordially invite you to attend

The Celebration of a New Ministry
at which
The Right Reverend Geralyn Wolf
Bishop of Rhode Island
will institute
The Rev. Gregory C. Lisby
as sixth Rector of
Church of the Ascension in Cranston.

Sunday, the sixteenth day of November,
Two thousand eight,
at four o'clock in the afternoon.

Church of the Ascension
390 Pontiac Ave
Cranston, Rhode Island 02910

www.ascensioncranston.org

Your prayers and presence are requested.

Reception following
Clergy: white stoles

Commission on Ministry Offers 2008-2009 Discernment Program

Commission on Ministry Offers 2008-2009 Discernment Program

Are you hearing a call to ministry?

Once again, the Commission on Ministry is happy to come to you with our Discernment Program for the coming year. This is a wonderful opportunity for adult members of the Body of Christ in Rhode Island to reflect and grow in their faith. It is also the first step in the process leading to ordination for the diaconate and the priesthood.

The program is very similar to the one offered last year. As a result of feedback we received from last year’s participants, we are including a presentation on lay ministry, in addition to the presentations on the diaconate and priesthood.

The first session is an Introductory Dinner that is being held at the Church of the Epiphany, 1336 Pawtucket Avenue, East Providence, on Thursday, November 13th at 6:00 PM. All clergy have information on the program, so please speak with your parish clergy if you are interested.

Priest inhibited as a result of her conversion to Islam

See full story here.

By Lisa B. Hamilton, October 14, 2008

[Episcopal News Service] Bishop Geralyn Wolf of the Diocese of Rhode Island has inhibited the Rev. Ann Holmes Redding for publicly professing her adherence to the Muslim faith.

The notice states that the diocesan “Standing Committee has determined that Dr. Redding abandoned the Communion of the Episcopal Church by formal admission into a religious body not in communion with the Episcopal Church. The bishop has affirmed that determination.”

The inhibition prevents Redding from “exercising the gifts and spiritual authority conferred on her by ordination and from public ministry” and is in force until March 31, 2009. In accordance with Episcopal canons, unless Redding “reclaims” her Christian faith, said Wolf in an interview, the inhibition will automatically lead to a deposition, ending Redding’s priesthood.

“In the process of deposition, we shouldn’t dismiss each other easily,” the bishop said.

According to the “notice of inhibition,” dated September 30 and signed by Wolf, “Dr. Redding has acknowledged taking her Shahadah to become a Muslim.”

“’Shahadah’ is a phrase used in the Koran that translates from the Arabic into English as ‘There is no God but God, and Mohammad is his prophet,’” said Thomas Ferguson, associate deputy for ecumenical and interreligious relations of the Episcopal Church, in an interview.

“The recitation of the Shahadah, said with the intention of becoming a Muslim, in the presence of at least two other Muslims, is how one becomes a Muslim. It’s also part of Islam’s daily prayers,” Ferguson added.

Redding’s knowledge of Islam grew after her arrival at Seattle’s St. Mark’s Cathedral (http://www.saintmarks.org) as director of faith formation and renewal in 2001. “There was already interest in the parish about interfaith relations, and of course interest in Islam grew exponentially,” she said. She currently lives in Seattle, but no longer works at St. Mark’s. She teaches at a Jesuit seminary but is canonically resident in Rhode Island and therefore under Wolf’s authority.

While serving at St. Mark’s, said Redding in an interview, “I was facing a personal crisis and I needed to surrender. I did know that the word ‘Islam’ means ‘surrender,” but I was surprised when I received what I believe is one of the few invitations I’ve received from God in my life, and that unexpected invitation was to surrender by taking my Shahadah. MORE

Celebration of New Ministry

The Wardens, Vestry and Congregation of
Holy Trinity Episcopal Church
Cordially invite you to attend

The Celebration of a New Ministry
at which
The Right Reverend Geralyn Wolf
Bishop of Rhode Island
will institute
The Rev. Alan K. Gates
as Rector of
Holy Trinity Episcopal Church

Sunday, the nineteenth day of October,
Two thousand eight,
at four o'clock in the afternoon.

Holy Trinity Episcopal Church
1956 Main Road
Tiverton, Rhode Island

Your prayers and presence are requested.

Reception following -------------------- Clergy: white stoles

Absolutely Safe

St. Augustine’s Church at Episcopal Center
35 Lower College Rd. Kingston
www.staugustineURI.com 782-0587 for info


PRESS RELEASE: Film on Breast Implant Safety 10-23-08 7pm

Did you know that more and more teens and even preteens are having cosmetic surgery of all kinds at an earlier age? The press reports that breast augmentation, for example, is now being done by some surgeons on girls whose breasts haven’t even finished developing. This alarming trend reflects the struggle many girls (and the adults in their lives) have with self-esteem, realistic body-image, and the pressure of media and peers to look like certain celebrities - to appear grown-up too early, and then have difficulty adjusting to the changes of age.

Absolutely Safe is a documentary film that takes an open-minded but close look at the subject of breast augmentation, interviewing adult women choosing to have implants, choosing to have them removed, surgeons doing both procedures, a regulatory agency spokesperson, family members of women who have had implants, and some whose implants have failed. It is important viewing for anyone considering such surgery.

As part of a Hot Topics, Hot Speakers Series offered by St. Augustine’s Church in Kingston, for the URI campus and the surrounding communities, we invite young people and their parents and advisors to see the film and join in a discussion led by Family Practitioner Dr. Mary Lyster, at St. Augustine’s Church and Episcopal Center, 35 Lower College Rd., Thusday October 23 at 7pm. All are welcome to this free program, and refreshments will be served.

U2charist - Church of the Ascension - Oct 18th

Recital at S. Stephen’s Church in Providence

This came from Fr. John Alexander. Looks like a great program! SG+

Look forward to an exceptional musical evening when James Busby gives the annual Memorial Recital at S. Stephen’s Church in Providence, along with Soprano Cheryl Medeiros-Nancarrow, violinist Peter Stickel, and cellist John Brumstead, on Sunday 19 October at 5:30 pm.

James Busby, an alumnus of The New England Conservatory, studied piano with Julius Chaloff and Kyriena Siloti and organ with George Faxon and Max Miller. He later studied with noted vocal coaches Felix Wolfes and Olga Averino, and conductor John Moriarty. While yet a student he had the unique opportunity of playing for master classes and lessons with such luminaries as Jennie Tourel and Eleanor Steber. He has worked with many conductors including Sarah Caldwell, Thomas Dunn, Erich Leinsdorf and Arthur Fiedler. Mr. Busby has been Organist and Choirmaster at S. Stephen’s Church since 1993. He is also organist for Emmanuel College, Boston.

Ms. Medeiros-Nancarrow will sing the atmospheric The Black River by British composer Gavin Bryars. The text is part of the prologue of Twenty-thousand Leagues under the Sea by Jules Verne with colorful use of the organ. Ms. Medeiros-Nancarrow is an alumnus of Eastman School and New England Conservatory, sings with the Boston Lyric Opera, and is a founder of Intermezzo Chamber Opera. She hails originally from Portsmouth, Rhode Island.

Suite für Orgel, Violine und Violoncello, Op. 149 will feature Mr. Stickel on violin and Mr. Brumstead on cello. The Josef Rheinberger suite is a finely crafted work for the two strings and organ and Busby says that he “thinks of it as the organ trio Johannes Brahms didn't write.” Busby will also play Concerto IV in F by G. F. Handel, arranged by W. T. Best.

S. Stephen’s Church is located at 114 George Street, Providence, in the midst of the Brown University campus. For directions or other information please call 421-6702 or visit www.sstephens.org.

Organ Spectacular at The Cathedral of St. John to Celebrate the International Year of the Organ

For More Information, please contact: Rev. Barbara Mays-Stock, Cathedral of St. John (401)331-4622, BMaysStock@cox.net

Organist’s Spectacular will be held on Sunday, October 19th at 7:00 PM at The Cathedral of St. John, 271 North Main Street, Providence. Featured organists will include Brink Bush, Director of Music at The Cathedral of St. John, Peter Krasinski of Boston and Diana Norton-Jackson of Kingston. There will be a reception in Synod Hall following the program. Please plan to join us for this celebration. Donations given will go to the maintenance of the organ at the Cathedral.

Organist’s Spectacular is a celebration of the International Year of the Organ. Throughout the United States and Canada this year, there will be an organ recital in every major city on October 19th. Organ works performed will include pieces by J. S. Bach, Edward Elgar, Charles Marie Widor and Louis Vierne as well as women composers, Roberta Bittgood, Martha Sobaje, Diana Norton-Jackson and Lani Smith.


About the Performers

Brink Bush has been Director of Music and Choirmaster at The Cathedral of St. John since 2007. He is one of the leading interpreters of German Romantic organ music in the world today. He has performed through out the United States and Germany and made his German debut at the Berliner Dom in August, 2001. His Pipedreams debut entitle "Bach Bush and Middelschulte" aired September 2005 on National Public Radio and his New York debut took place at Trinity Church Wall St. for the "Virgil Fox Legacy Twenty-fifth Anniversary Concert Weekend," October 2005.

Brink Bush studied organ at Peabody Institute, the Juilliard School, and the Eastman School of Music. His principle teachers include McNeil Robinson, Robert Elmore, Rosalyn Tureck, David Craighead, and Russell Saunders. He specializes in the German Romantic repertoire, especially the works of Gerard Bunk, Felix Mendelssohn, Wilhelm Middelschulte, Max Reger, Gerard Strecke and Ludwig Thiele. He has been sponsored by the Middelschulte family for three consecutive trips to Germany for his research on Wilhelm Middelschulte. In February 2000 and November 2002, Mr. Bush was invited to Yale University to give a lecture on the "Life and Works of Wilhelm Middelschulte." His first compact disc Volume 1 of the Complete Works of Wilhelm Middelschulte was released in October of 1999. His article on Wilhelm Middelschulte has been published by the New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians 2000. He is the editor of "The Innermost Secrets" by T. Ernest Nichols, 2005, a book about the Virgil Fox technique, and is the primary contributor to the new Complete Organ Works of Middelschulte published by Barenreiter, 2007.


Peter Edwin Krasinski is a conductor, organist, and music educator that has consistently led meaningful worship services throughout his church music career. Mr. Krasinski’s imaginative performances elevate and inform diverse audiences. Well respected in both the secular and sacred genres of his field, he has taught the enchantment of music to both public and private institutions in the greater Boston area for over twenty years. His Bach playing has been hailed in print as "sublimely spiritual" and his improvisations have been critically acclaimed in the press as "stunning", "seamless", and “brilliant”.

In 2002 he won first prize in Improvisation in the American Guild of Organists National Competition in Philadelphia. and was subsequently named as a judge for the competition and featured improvisure for the 2004 AGO national convention in Los Angels. He is currently Director of Choral Arts at Beaver Country Day School in Chestnut Hill and Artistic Director of Youth pro Musica, the Greater Boston Youth Chorus. He is organist at First Church of Christ, Scientist in Providence Rhode Island and Beth El Temple Center Synagogue in Belmont Massachusetts. He holds both a Bachelor of Music degree in Music Education and Organ Performance, and the Master of Sacred Music degree from Boston University

Diana Norton-Jackson has a Bachelor's degree in organ from Stetson University, where she studied with Paul Jenkins, and a Master's degree in conducting from the University of Georgia. She did a further year of graduate work at the Institute of Sacred Music at Union Theological Seminary in New York City, where she studied with Leonard Raver, organist of the New York Philharmonic. As a recitalist, she has performed extensively in New York, New Jersey, Georgia, Florida, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island. She is a former Dean of the RI Chapter of the American Guild of Organists. In Rhode Island she has been organist/choirmaster at the First Baptist Church of East Greenwich, Saint Mary's Episcopal Church in Warwick, the Kingston Congregational Church, and Emmanuel Episcopal Church in Newport, as well as an instructor-accompanist at the University of Rhode Island. Most recently, she was the interim organist/choirmaster of Trinity Church, Newport. She has given several recent recitals in Rhode Island and also at the First Reformed Episcopal Church in New York City, Christ Church Episcopal Cathedral, Houston, Texas, and the Church of Christ at Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH.

House of Bishops adjourns Salt Lake City meeting with 'spirit of commitment

Theological education, hurricane relief top closing agenda

By Pat McCaughan

[Episcopal News Service, Salt Lake City] The House of Bishops wrapped up its meeting in Salt Lake City September 19, with discussions about the future of theological education and mission opportunities in the hurricane-ravaged Diocese of Texas.

Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori said the September 16-19 meeting began "by reminding our members of our connections across the church ... including responses to and the painful realities of people affected by hurricanes in Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Texas and Louisiana."

Bishop Nathan Baxter of Central Pennsylvania (http://www.diocesecpa.org) said "mission has been a primary focus of our concerns" at the meeting. The bishops talked about ongoing relief efforts in Texas and how to address that devastation and "help mission continue in that place," he told reporters during a media conference call after the meeting's conclusion. Bishops also discussed theological education and nurturing future leadership of the church, he added.

Full story: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/79901_100935_ENG_HTM.htm

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

Interfaith call for justice in Gulf Coast

Presiding Bishop, other Episcopalians join interfaith call for justice in Gulf Coast

[Episcopal News Service] Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori and other Episcopalians are among 105 ecumenical and interfaith leaders who have signed on to a statement declaring that "the slow pace of recovery and the new needs caused by Ike and Gustav's destruction have created a moral crisis along the Gulf Coast that demands a powerful response from people of faith."

The statement, issued by the Gulf Coast Civic Works Campaign, notes that "while the nation has learned to better prepare for this latest hurricane, whether by inaction or injustice, we have still failed to protect the wellbeing of Gulf Coast survivors, new residents and their families, especially the children, the poor, the sick, and the vulnerable through just long-term rebuilding policies which fully support human rights."

The signers called for three specific actions, including passing policy based on the Gulf Coast Civic Works Act; increasing funding for federal, state, and local partnerships in the Gulf Coast to create more affordable housing and promote home-ownership; and supporting federal funding to restore the coastal wetlands and barrier islands.

Other Episcopalians who signed the statement include the Ven. Michael S. Kendall, president, Episcopal Network for Economic Justice; Diocese of North Carolina Bishop A.C. "Chip" Marble Jr.; the Rev. Carl W. Rehling, director, Diocese of Maryland liaison for justice and peace; Vicky Partin, lay missioner, Chattahoochee Valley Episcopal Ministry; Robert S. Runkle, Diocese of Spokane Social Justice and Outreach Ministries Commission; and the Rev. Dr. C. David Williams, president, Union of Black Episcopalians

The full statement follows.

Giving To The Mission

In buzzing up tomorrow's Clergy Association program on Disaster Chaplaincy (10:00 AM at Synod Hall, Cathedral of St. John's in Providence, lunch provided!), one local cleric complained about the topic. He/she said something along the lines of "does it count as a disaster if our pledges reach an all-time low this year on account of heating and electric costs"? Well, that's not the kind of disaster we're talking about, but let me talk about it now.

We all know wallets will be tighter this fall in Rhode Island, as if that's actually possible. How will this affect your stewardship campaign? What campaign works the best? How can we survive? Forgive me, Dead Horse, but here comes the beatdown: it's about your mission.

I subscribe to an e-newsletter called Leading Ideas, from Church Leadership out of Wesley Seminary in Washington, DC. This week's copy talks about the reasons people give: guilt, involvement, habit, taxes, etc. But what's the number one reason people give? Mission.

From the article:

The best way to raise money for your church is simply to DO YOUR JOB! I get frustrated reading newsletters of church after church that tell me how the men's group is going to have a breakfast on Saturday and the women are going to have a bazaar next Thursday and the youth will have a dance next Friday after the ball game. Then, over in the corner, usually separated by a bold line so that it stands out, I see financial statistics, which usually indicate that a certain amount was needed and a lesser amount was received, with a quote underneath, "God loves a cheerful giver."

When I see that I want to say, "What have I got to be cheerful about?" Did you show me one life story in this newsletter about how the church has been making our world better? Is there one life-changing story in the entire document? Do you really just exist so that men can have breakfast, women a bazaar, and youth can dance? What is it exactly that you want me to support?

Does your church have a mission to make the world a better place? Is that mission rooted in the Gospel of Jesus Christ? How are you carrying out that mission? I think the more we can let that be known, the more the money will take care of itself.

National Addiction Recovery Month

[Episcopal Life Weekly] September has been designated "National Addiction Recovery Month" by the U.S. Government's Department of Health and Human Services. Episcopal Life Weekly bulletin inserts for September 14 focus on the work of Episcopal Recovery Ministries, an organization of congregations, dioceses, institutions and individuals who work with those addicted to alcohol or other drugs.

Bulletin inserts are available at
http://www.episcopalchurch.org/95270_ENG_HTM.htm

Annual Convention 2008

The 218th Convention is a one-day event to be held on Saturday, October 25th, 2008 at the Marriott Hotel, Orms Street, Providence.

All Nominations and Resolutions must be submitted on or before, but
no later than SEPTEMBER 25th!

Purpose, Mission and Message

We all know that God goes on vacation during the summer. I think God goes to Pt. Judith. But bloggers? Never. Unless you're a blogger for the Diocese of RI, in which case you have lives to live instead of lives to blog about. I just couldn't stand looking at Bishop Wolf getting grilled by that reporter any longer. So I'm going to let you know about an article in the latest Atlantic Monthly concerning the implosion and ultimate failure of Hillary Rodham Clinton's presidential campaign. You can read it here. Also check out the full Clinton memos, which are linked. Some language is NSFW.
To a point, the church is and should be always campaigning. Our organization is up against many opponents far more appealing than Barack Obama. To learn the lessons of Clinton's campaign would have us focus on our purpose, our mission and our message, in that order. We don't have to wait for summer to end to get started.

Lambeth Conference update

Your intrepid blogger is reporting live from Canterbury, where 650 bishops and many spouses have gathered for the decennial Lambeth Conference. Our own Bishop Wolf is attending for the second time, having gone in 1998. Here's a photo that I grabbed of her today, as she was giving an interview to the new editor of Episcopal Life, Solange de Santis.

You can find many more photos from all three official photographers on a flickr set, updated throughout the day, every day. There's also plenty of news from the Episcopal Church and the official site of the Lambeth Conference. Want more? Check out the Episcopal Cafe or titus19. Lastly, you can check out my own blog, where I'm posting occasional thoughts and bits of humor. Have a question about the Lambeth Conference? Post a comment on my blog or drop me an email at sgunn -- at -- christchurchlincoln --dot-- org.

Presiding Bishop & Archbishop of Canterbury respond to GAFCON statement

There is much in the news now about the GAFCON final statement (released on June 29th) and it does make for an interesting read.

From EpiScope:

The following is the statement about GAFCON from The Most Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori, Presiding Bishop and Primate of the Episcopal Church.

Much of the Anglican world must be lamenting the latest emission from GAFCON. Anglicanism has always been broader than some find comfortable. This statement does not represent the end of Anglicanism, merely another chapter in a centuries-old struggle for dominance by those who consider themselves the only true believers. Anglicans will continue to worship God in their churches, serve the hungry and needy in their communities, and build missional relationships with others across the globe, despite the desire of a few leaders to narrow the influence of the gospel. We look forward to the opportunities of the Lambeth Conference for constructive conversation, inspired prayer, and relational encounters.

You can also read the Archbishop of Canterbury's response to the GAFCON statement at Episcopal Life Online.

RI Deputies send letter to Bishop Wolf

The Rhode Island Deputation recently met to discuss a proposed Covenant for the Anglican Communion. After our meeting, the Deputies have sent a letter to Bishop Wolf as she heads over to the Lambeth Conference.

Dear Bishop Wolf,

On June 12, the Deputies from Rhode Island gathered to discuss the St. Andrew's Draft of the proposed Covenant. In keeping with the suggestion of President Bonnie Anderson, we would like to share with you some of our discussion as you head to the Lambeth Conference.

We engaged in an hour-long discussion, and it was clear that while we are not in complete agreement, we are of a common mind on some aspects of the proposed Covenant. We did not take formal votes, and this letter is meant to give you a sense of our conversation, as we all continue to discern where God might be calling the church.

We began with a discussion of whether or not it even makes sense to ratify a Covenant, given our identity as Anglican Christians. Our shared opinion was that this would be a significant departure from our heritage. For over 15 centuries, the Church has been guided by the historic creeds. Since the Reformation, Anglicans have been united by a common liturgical expression. And in more recent times, the modern Anglican Communion has found common expression in the Chicago-Lambeth Quadrilateral. We do not believe that a Covenant will add usefully to these existing expressions.

We agreed that we are not a confessional church. Though the 39 Articles bear some aspects of confession, they have never been accorded a place of primacy in this country, nor in most of the Anglican Communion. Even in England, subscription to them is no longer required. More to the point, the Anglican Communion has never been understood as a confessional church.

Generally speaking, then, we believe that the adoption of a Covenant represents an unwelcome change to our identity as Anglican Christians. Even if it were felt that such a document is required, due to changing circumstances, we agreed that now is not the time to adopt a Covenant.

We acknowledge that we are in crisis now, and believe that it is important to move through the crisis first -- before we adopt a Covenant. It would be too important to risk having its adoption driven by a hasty response to a particular crisis. We are also concerned about the process for developing this Covenant. Not all voices have been represented in its creation, which notably lacks GLBT Anglican voices and the voices of women. We wonder if an unjust process can lead to a just document."

With that said, we moved to a discussion of the Covenant itself. Our reading of the present situation is that some kind of document is likely to be circulated to the Provinces of the Communion for adoption. So while we believe this may be an error, we wanted to comment on the text before us.

We had no significant issue with the first two sections, in which the frameworks for agreement are laid out. In fact, if this were adopted, most of us would have no significant objection. Several of us found minor points objectionable, but we could live with those two sections.

The third section was more problematic. Most of us felt that it is inappropriate to create a mechanism for the expulsion of Provinces, especially in the current situation. Most troubling to us, we wish express our strenuous objection to the elevation to curial authority of the Instruments of Communion, particularly those populated solely by bishops. This is the wrong time to consider this significant shift in our polity. We are willing to grant the Archbishop of Canterbury a place of primacy as the primus inter pares of Anglican bishops. This position of moral and spiritual authority allows him to speak to the Communion on matters of great concern. We agree that he may wish to consult with his sister and brother bishops in the Lambeth Conferences. We understand that these bishops may practice their episcopal charism together, as a group. We support the Archbishop of Canterbury in summoning the Primates for mutual support and conversation. We strongly object to either the Primates or the Lambeth Conferences speaking for the entire Communion, made up of laity, bishops, priests, and deacons.

The final section of the Covenant, in which mechanisms for expelling Provinces are spelled out, is obviously problematic for us. We would not wish this to be considered as authoritative.

If there must be a Covenant, we hope it will serve as a means of unity and reconciliation, not of coercion and separation.

Please know that you are in our thoughts and prayers in this important time in the life of our church. We urge you to bear witness to the spiritual vitality of the Episcopal Church, and we look forward to hearing about the faith of our sister and brother Anglicans throughout the world.

Sincerely,

the RI deputies and alternates to the 76th General Convention

When Grammar Strikes Back - JUNE RISEN

The latest issue of RISEN has two glaring errors (and I am sure a number of smaller infractions). There are two articles featured that use It's when Its should be used. Both articles were submitted to the Editor correctly, submitted by the Editor to layout correctly, changed in layout and not noticed in the copy editing phase. This issue underwent many rounds of editing. Unfortunately, it was not caught prior to print.

I would like to thank all of the people who have kindly pointed out the mistake in grammar. RISEN attempts to be above such obvious mistakes but we appreciate those who are willing to overlook errors for the content. I hope it in no way diminishes the quality of work that was submitted for this issue.

Blessings,

Jessica Gates, Editor

One of our own "Banned" from GAFCON

Ruth Gledhill is reporting in Times Online that:

"The eight men and women pictured here are on the official list of those to be denied entry to Gafcon should they try to show up. 'Not allowed in' it says at the top of the page, given to security officials at the conference. They are Colorado Bishop Robert O'Neill, Nigerian gay activist Davis MacIyalla being embraced by the Church of England's Rev Colin Coward, Louie Crew, Susan Russell, Scott Gunn and Deborah and Robert Edmunds. Bishop O'Neill has been asked to serve as the 'eyes and ears' of the US church's Presiding Bishop and is staying with Jerusalem primate, Bishop Suheil Dawani, who never wanted the conference here in the first place. Father Edmunds is Bishop Suheil's new chaplain, meaning, as Jim Naughton comments on Thinking Anglicans, that an Anglican meeting is banning entry of the bishop's chaplain in the bishop's own diocese. Should these or any other activists attempt to breach the security around the conference at the Renaissance Hotel in west Jerusalem the 1,000-plus delegates have been instructed to start singing the hymn: 'All hail the power of Jesus' name.' In reality though security is extremely tight. Ex-military men from Israel are guarding all the doors, with two assigned purely to guard the Archbishop of Nigeria, Dr Peter Akinola, for the entire week."

You can read the original article here.

What is GAFCON? (from the GAFCON site)
How does it impact Lambeth? (From ECUSA - ENS)

The Episcopal Cafe has coverage and has coined them the "GAFCON 8".

And, of course, Rev. Scott Gunn's response to being banned from the meeting: sevenwholedays.org.

Saturday's Providence Journal has an article about the Episcopal Church, the Anglican Communion, and Bishop Wolf's upcoming trip to the Lambeth Conference next month.

With much of the Anglican world still in turmoil over the Episcopal Church’s decision in 2003 allowing an openly gay priest to be ordained as bishop, Rhode Island’s Bishop Geralyn Wolf flies to England next week to prepare for a once-every-decade meeting of Anglican bishops that may well determine whether the 78-million-member Anglican Communion holds together.

Read the whole article.

Hispanic Ministry

Last night, the council of the diocese met at St. George’s, the site of a growing Hispanic congregation. In addition to our regular meeting, it was an opportunity to see and hear about that particular ministry. It was very impressive.

We were told about a program the Hispanic congregation has started. The congregation has embarked on a healing ministry. Members of the congregation go out in groups to the homes of those suffering from illness. They start with an opening prayer, sing a hymn, do a house blessing and read a Gospel passage. Those present are invited to comment on what they have heard.

This ministry started out of a desire to offer care for a few ailing members. After that, individuals in the parish and the larger community began to request these visits. At this point, teams are going out about twice a week to offer services of prayer and healing.

One of the team members spoke eloquently about the presence of God felt at the services. She said that it was palpable, and that people were hungry for the Word of God. It sounds like the hunger is being addressed in this ministry.

Good for the congregation seeing a need, and devising a way to meet it. Good for those in need accepting the offer of the support of the Church. Good to see the Gospel in action.

Traces of the Trade: A Story from the Deep North

Traces of the Trade:
A Story from the Deep North

A powerful documentary film on the North’s role in slavery, white privilege, and how faith communities can take the lead in truth telling and reconciliation.

Airing soon! PBS broadcast on acclaimed P.O.V. series is June 24th at 10pm, but check your local listing as days and times may vary.

HOW CAN CONGREGATIONS RESPOND?
1. Tune in! Check your local PBS station listings for exact dates and times, spread the word, and gather a group at your church or home to watch the film together.
2. Start the conversation. With your community, discuss what you’ve seen together. If the film airs too late for a gathering that night (some stations are showing at 10pm), meet the next night or soon after, while the film is still fresh in everyone’s minds.
3. Preach it. Use the film to preach about the issues it raises with your congregation in worship. As a denomination, what are our own histories in relation to slavery, racism and economic injustice? How are we called to respond together?

RESOURCES FOR FAITH COMMUNITIES
Visit www.tracesofthetrade.org and http://www.pbs.org/pov/traces to download a discussion guide for small groups, available by time of broadcast, as well as specific resources for people of faith, including a discussion guide from the Unitarian Universalist Association.

Learn more about actions that churches are taking to address their own legacies of slavery and the ongoing challenges of racism:
Episcopal Church
Unitarian Universalists

Some anti-racism and racial reconciliation programs:
Mennonite Central Committee
United Church of Christ
United Methodist Church
Presbyterian Church USA
Episcopal Church
Unitarian Universalist Association
Canadian Council of Churches (with links to member church sites)

A time to merge?

This was published by the Boston Globe in the Sunday paper. The full article can be found online (see below). Many churches are facing shrinking congregations and making the decision to merge for long-term survival (or close their doors). The Roman Catholic Church has been aggressive in ensuring it's community survival but Protestant denominations tend to be more autonomous and accepting of short-term solutions. This article explores what is happening to New England churches. Thanks to Rev. Peter Mayer for the Facebook link.

###

Here's the church, but where are the people?

Tiny Protestant parishes cling to life

By Michael Paulson

SOUTHBRIDGE - There was a time when the First United Methodist Church here was a hub of activity, with a booming school, regular church suppers, and worshipers who packed the pews of the white steepled building.

No more. The congregation has been dwindling for years and now is barely hanging on.

On a recent Sunday, just five worshipers gathered in the 300-seat church to pray at the 11 a.m. service. The Rev. Peggy Kieras sat alone by the grand wooden pulpit, cradling a remote control for the compact disc player that provides music for hymns, just underneath the towering pipes of the unused organ.

"I have a sliding scale number," she said, explaining how the size of the congregation governs how she presides during worship. "If it's over four, I preach from the pulpit. If it's less than four, I sit in a pew."

At a time when the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston and other Catholic dioceses around the nation have been closing parishes that attract as many as several hundred worshipers a week, Protestant denominations are supporting congregations a fraction of that size. Although both Catholic and mainline Protestant denominations face falling attendance at worship, these different branches of the Christian family are taking radically different approaches to determining whether a congregation is viable, and who should decide what to do about a failing church.

Catholic dioceses, with power strongly concentrated in the hands of bishops and a theology that says only priests can celebrate Mass, are citing declining numbers of worshipers, dollars, and clergy in moving aggressively to consolidate churches. The Archdiocese of Boston has closed nearly one-quarter of its parishes over the past decade. But Protestant denominations, which often emphasize congregational independence and democratic decision-making, are leaving many of their small churches open, avoiding the controversy that has characterized the Catholic process but allowing for a sizable number of struggling, even moribund, congregations with minimal programming and part-time clergy.

"We have some wonderful small congregations, but we also have some small congregations that are just really a bunch of folks hanging in there, sometimes with a lot of assets, and they're really not, to my mind, being a church the way they should be, but just clinging to the past," said Bishop Margaret G. Payne, who heads the New England Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. "But in our denomination, the membership has to have a vote if they want to close, and they're usually reluctant to do that. And I have no need or desire to make my life more difficult by going around trying to close churches."

The number of small congregations is rising - the United Methodist Church, for example, now has 40 congregations in Massachusetts with fewer than 25 worshipers, up from 27 a decade ago, while the United Church of Christ and the American Baptist Churches have some area congregations so small that they no longer meet at all. And the number of closings is also rising - the Episcopal Church, for example, merged three congregations in Fall River last month, and expects congregations in South Boston and Malden, among others, to decide to close soon.Continued...

Bishop Finds Flock Tormented in Zimbabwe

From The Boston Globe - see the article in it's original format.

By Michael Paulson Globe Staff / June 6, 2008

Anglican worshipers in Zimbabwe are routinely being arrested and beaten, churches are being padlocked by police, diocesan bank accounts have been frozen, and clergy vehicles are being seized, Massachusetts Episcopal Bishop M. Thomas Shaw said yesterday after returning from a secret mission to the violence-torn southern African nation.

Shaw, a frequent traveler to some of the world's trouble spots, spent the last week in Zimbabwe at the request of the Episcopal Church's presiding bishop, Katharine Jefferts Schori, who asked him to visit to express support for Zimbabwean Anglicans and to gather impressions for the Episcopal Church. He said he interviewed 49 priests and also met with laypeople as well as human rights lawyers and US Embassy staff who described a worsening situation in Zimbabwe. The country, once a model for African independence, is now roiled by a collapsed economy and violence against critics of the repressive government.

"I don't think I've ever been any place where the oppression has been that overt," Shaw said in an interview yesterday.

Shaw said Zimbabweans told him that beatings, jailings, and intimidation by police using dogs and batons have become routine elements of Anglican life in Harare, the country's capital. He said one priest told him he has to sleep in a different home each night because of threats to his life; another priest was arrested the day after having lunch with Shaw, apparently for refusing to surrender a parish car. Shaw said he was told about a 9-year-old boy beaten in church, among many other stories of persecution and physical assault by government officials.

"They [the government] literally have taken over all the [Anglican] property - people have access to the property during the week, but on the weekends, when church is supposed to take place, if they go into the church to pray or to hold services, there are riot police that are there immediately," he said. "They've confiscated rectories. . . . They've tried to confiscate all of the parish vehicles, and it's practically impossible to buy a car or rent a car in Zimbabwe now, because of all the shortages, and so they take a car and they literally paralyze the priest from doing the pastoral ministry and taking care of people."

Shaw said he would reach out to the Massachusetts congressional delegation and urge members to encourage the United States to continue to speak out about human rights violations in Zimbabwe. And he said he would also communicate to Episcopalians in the Boston area and around the nation, asking them to pray for Anglicans in Zimbabwe.

"I can report that the situation in Zimbabwe is indeed grave," he wrote in a letter to the congressional delegation yesterday. "There are widespread violations of human rights, daily reports of murder and torture and an economic and humanitarian crisis of enormous proportions. The inflation rate is one million percent and unemployment ranges between 80-90%. I have seen the long lines for gas and at banks and experienced the limited electricity and clean water and virtually empty shelves in supermarkets."

Zimbabwe, facing enormous economic and political turmoil, has become increasingly repressive in the wake of its March election, in which the opposition leader, Morgan Tsvangirai, bested the longtime president, Robert Mugabe. The two men are to compete again in a run-off this month, and the Mugabe government has been cracking down on a variety of perceived opposition groups in anticipation of the election.

Zimbabwe is a former British colony and home to about 320,000 Anglicans, according to the World Christian Encyclopedia. The former bishop of the Harare diocese, a close ally of the Mugabe government, was excommunicated last fall, and is running a rival church; the remaining Anglicans are now often forced to worship in private homes, and Shaw last Sunday was the preacher at a gathering of several hundred worshipers in a parishioner's backyard.

Anglican officials have become increasingly outspoken about conditions in Zimbabwe. On May 29, Rowan Williams, the archbishop of Canterbury, issued a statement accusing the Zimbabwe government of violating the UN Human Rights charter by denying residents freedom of worship.

Jefferts Schori, in an e-mail from the Philippines, said she had asked Shaw to visit "to offer our prayers and concern . . . and to observe the conditions there."

"We continue to have great concern for the people of Zimbabwe, especially that they might be permitted freedom of worship and freedom from state-sponsored violence," she said. "We will continue to raise our voices in solidarity with our sisters and brothers in Zimbabwe, and encourage other nations to exert pressure for an end to this violence. Given the developments of recent hours, particularly the detention of American and British diplomats, our concern continues to mount."

Shaw, who traveled alone, said he was not personally harassed by security services - he entered the country escorted by the bishop of Harare, Sebastian Bakare, and traveled with Bakare through the Harare region - and did not witness violence. But he said worshipers repeatedly told him of being assaulted in churches by police and other officials.

Speaking of a May 18 incident, Shaw said, "There were between 80 or 90 riot police that came into this church to break up the congregation, and these people refused to leave, and even though it was a very threatening atmosphere, they just stayed there and prayed and sang hymns together for over two hours while the police were threatening them and pounding on pews and there were police dogs."

But Shaw, who visited Zimbabwe in 1995, when the country was peaceful, said he was heartened by the ongoing commitment to faith of the Anglicans he met.

"Sunday I went to this really poor township, and over 400 people were worshiping in this yard of this person's house, spilling out into the road," he said. "It was an unbelievable experience. The enthusiasm, the joy that these people have is pretty profound."

Shaw said that, despite their poverty, the Zimbabwean worshipers took up a special collection to make a donation to a summer program for unprivileged children in Lynn. He said he is now hoping that the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts will help finance offices for the Harare diocese, which has been locked out of its headquarters by the government.

"I preached about the fact that they are not isolated in the Anglican Communion, and that there were literally millions of people around the globe that . . . are praying for them," he said. "And I preached about that they were a real model for the rest of us around the world, in the way that they are standing up against oppression, and not letting it get in the way of their worship for God."

Joint Statement of Episcopal and ELCA Presiding Bishops:

Joint Statement of Episcopal and ELCA Presiding Bishops:
“Prayer and Action for the People of the Sudan”

The Most Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori
Presiding Bishop and Primate
The Episcopal Church

The Rev. Mark S. Hanson
Presiding Bishop
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

Over the past several weeks, we have watched with great sorrow as the new outbreak of violence in the Sudan has threatened the resumption of widespread conflict in a nation just three years removed from decades of civil war. Our sense of foreboding is heightened because the violence has come in and around Abyei, a town whose history, resources, and proximity to the border between northern and southern Sudan make it a proving-ground for the success or failure of the nation's still-young peace agreement. At the present moment, untold numbers of people have been killed, much of Abyei has been burned to the ground, and as many as 120,000 people have been displaced from their homes. Urgent action from the international community is necessary to address the present suffering and safeguard against the resumption of widespread and de-centralized fighting across a country already destabilized by the unchecked and catastrophic war in its western Darfur region. In the coming days, we urge all Americans to pray for peace in the Sudan and to call for strong action from the international community to restore stability in a land whose people have been entangled far too long in violence.

First, there is an urgent need for humanitarian assistance—both through government agencies like USAID and through private giving—in order to assist those newly displaced from their homes who now suffer without food, clean water, or shelter. (Please visit Episcopal Relief and Development or ELCA International Disaster Response linked below, to learn how you can give.) Second, increased diplomatic pressure from the international community, including neighbor states and allies of the Sudanese government, is necessary to demand that northern Sudanese military units withdraw from Abyei immediately and allow a comprehensive international assessment of the cause and effects of the conflict. Third, the United States and other parties to Sudan’s 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement should insist on full and immediate implementation of the CPA and subsequent agreements, especially as they relate to Abyei. This includes provisions respecting clear borders, fair sharing of resources, and autonomous local governance in the South. These steps are necessary for the remainder of the peace process to unfold as envisioned by its drafters and to avoid the pitfalls we have seen in other areas of implementation such as the current census.

Recently, each of us has had the opportunity to hear firsthand reports of the situation from Archbishop Daniel Deng Bul, the leader of Sudan’s four million Episcopalians, as well as from members of a joint Episcopal-Lutheran delegation that traveled to southern Sudan last month. We have heard stories of great hope and courage, but also of the fragility of peace and the dire humanitarian consequences a resumption of war would bring. We hope this joint statement may raise awareness of the crisis, and urge Episcopalians and Lutherans to send a copy of it to their elected officials. In these difficult days, we pray that God, whose blessed Son “came to preach peace to those who are far off and those who are near,” would grant wisdom and strength to our brothers and sisters in Sudan, as well as inspiration and purpose to all who watch from a distance and wish to help by heart, hand, or voice.

To make a donation to Episcopal Relief and Development’s “Sudan Fund,” visit us online at www.er-d.org , or call 1-800-334-7626, ext. 5129. Gifts can be mailed to: Episcopal Relief and Development “Sudan Fund” P.O. Box 7058, Merrifield, VA 22116-7058.

Gifts to ELCA International Disaster Response, designated for "Sudan Crisis" will be used in full - 100% - for this ongoing disaster response. Gifts may be directed through ELCA congregations, on-line at www.elca.org/giving or mailed to ELCA Disaster Response, PO Box 71764, Chicago IL 60694-1764.

Neva Rae Fox
Program Officer, Public Affairs
The Episcopal Church

Calling Church Bloggers in Rhode Island!

Does your church have a blog or do you have a fabulous website that needs to be linked from this blog? LET ME KNOW!

St. James - Music by the Bridge

Music by the Bridge - 2008 Series:

St. James Church presents The Early Music Ensemble from Rhode Island College on Friday, May 30 at 7:30 p.m.Friday evening, May 30^th at 7:30 p.m. members of the Early Music Ensemble from Rhode Island College will present a concert in the St. James Episcopal auditorium, 24 Hamlet Avenue.  Musicians include Erin Ferenbaugh, Candace Christiansen, Kristina Marsland, vocalists, and Chris Sadlers on bass.  A free will offering will be taken and refreshments will be served following the concert.

Walk for LIfe - Team Grace Church

Millennium Development Goal #6 - Combat HIV/AIDS, Malaria and Tuberculosis

Join Team GRACE CHURCH - rain or shine - at the carousel in Roger Williams Park in Providence on Sunday morning June 8th at 10 AM for the 21st Annual 'WALK for LIFE' to benefit AIDS Project Rhode Island.

In past years, Team GRACE CHURCH has been one of the top fundraisers for this event. In these financially difficult times, no donation is to be considered too small and will be gratefully appreciated to help Team GRACE CHURCH achieve its goal of $1500. Please consider your donation and participation prayerfully.

For additional information or to donate online please visit the Team GRACE CHURCH webpage at:

www.firstgiving.com/teamgracechurch or contact Christopher Utter by telephone at 401 351 6510 or by E-mail at ajax-golden@cox.net. Donations may also be mailed directly to Grace Church at 175 Mathewson Street, Providence, RI 02903-3499, or delivered by hand to the church receptionist Carolina Boyle. The envelope should be marked APRI 'Walk for Life'. Checks should be made payable to AIDS Project Rhode Island.

St. Paul's, North Kingstown (Wickford) Celebrates Parish Rectory

Something fun is in the works at St Paul’s… A tribute to our lovely rectory is being planned and you are invited to help us celebrate its rich history. The merriment will span Friday and Saturday, June 20^th  & 21^st  and will include antiques, tours, lectures and of course, an elegant St. Paul’s reception.

Starting on Friday from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m., ticketed guests will tour the historic rector’s home, which will be decorated with exquisite antiques available for purchase.   There will be a starlit wine and finger food reception as well as musical entertainment for your enjoyment. 

House tours and the antique sale will continue from noon to 4:00 p.m. on Saturday. At 1 o’clock David Zaltzman will conduct a church tour and lecture about the church’s exquisite stained glass windows while musical entertainment will be featured in the church garden.  St. Paul’s 300^th anniversary items will be available for purchase.

Tickets may be purchased at the Church office, between services or by calling Carol Palmer @ 885-2374. The cost is $10.00 for each calendar day.

More information is available by calling the church office at 294-4357.  

Episcopalian & Fabulous: LGVT & Friends Alliance of Grace Church, Providence

Episcopalian & Fabulous

Gay Pride Calendar at Grace Church in Providence

Sunday 15 June – Interfaith Service

Beneficent Congregational Church at 300 Weybosset Street in Dowcnity

4PM with reception in Abbott Park Place to follow

Saturday 21 June – 2008 Pride Marketplace

NOON. Come Visit the Grace Church information and welcome table

Saturday 21 June – 2008 Pride Parade

EVENING. Join the LGBT & Friends Alliance of Grace Church

Sunday 22 June – Sunday Worship at Grace Church in Providence

Corner of Westminster and Mathewson Streets in Downcity

Worship with Grace Church in Providence at 8AM and 10AM

Hospitality following the 10AM service courtesy the LGBT & Friends

Alliance of Grace Church