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 

Sixteenth Annual Diocesan Environmental Poster Contest!

Sixteenth Annual Diocesan Environmental Poster Contest!
Entries Wanted - All Ages (Kindergarten through Adults) are invited to create a poster by following these simple Contest Rules. Prizes will be awarded and posters will be displayed on Earth Day. Hurry - deadline to enter is Tuesday, April 8th.

An Evening of "Divine" Comedy

Click on the image for a close view of the flyer

Holy Week at the Cathedral of St. John

Wednesday March 19th

Holy Eucharist at 12:10 PM

Maundy Thursday (March 20th)

Liturgy of the Day and Holy Eucharist at 7:00 PM

The Right Reverend Geralyn Wolf, Officiant

The Very Reverend Harry E. Krauss, Preacher

Good Friday (March 21st)

Liturgy of the Day and Holy Eucharist at 7:00 PM

The Right Reverend Geralyn Wolf, Officiant

The Very Reverend Harry E. Krauss, Preacher

Holy Saturday (March 22nd)

The Great Easter Vigil and Holy Eucharist at 7:00PM

The Right Reverend Geralyn Wolf, Officiant

The Very Reverend Harry E. Krauss, Preacher

Easter Day (March 23rd)

Holy Eucharist at 8:30 AM

Festal Holy Eucharist at 10:30 AM

The Right Reverend Geralyn Wolf, Preacher

Easter Egg Hunt for the children will follow the 10:30 service.

Reaffirmation of Ordination Vows and Consecration of Chrism

Photo by Dee Tavolaro

On March 14th, RI clergy gathered for a Reaffirmation of Ordination Vows and Consecration of Chrism. 

One of the best comments I have seen on this photo is: "How embarrassing, you all showed up wearing the same thing." Vestment humor gets me every time.

Stations of the Cross with reflections on Christ's presence in global extreme poverty

Thank you to Mary Ann Kolakowski who forwarded this to me from Episcopalians for Global Reconciliation (www.e4gr.org). 

http://www.e4gr.org/prayer/stations.html

Station #1 - CONDEMNED
50,000 people are sentenced to die each day because of extreme poverty.
Lord, help us to find the Way of the Cross to be the way of life and justice and peace.

Station #2  - BURDENED
Consider the starving of the world, the 800 million people who go to bed hungry every day.
Lord, give bread to the hungry; give hunger for justice to those who have bread.

Station #3 - OVERWHELMED
Unfair trade rules and crushing debt cost the world’s poorest countries more than $714 billion yearly.
Lord, open our eyes to structures of oppression and free us from apathy and indifference.

Station #4 - LOVED
More than half a million women die in pregnancy and childbirth each year, one every second. 99% are in developing countries.
Lord, lead us to advocate for suffering mothers whose health, dignity and choices are in jeopardy from illness, poverty, hunger, and violence.

Station #5 - ASSISTED
Education reduces poverty, providing choices and opportunities for a better life. 115 million children, 94% in developing countries, are not in school.
Lord, help us to share our blessings of health, education, food and clean water, offering a more hopeful life for millions of your children. 

Station #6 - RECOGNIZED
More than 2.6 billion people have no basic sanitation and more than 1 billion people use unsafe sources of drinking water.
Lord, thank you for the beauty and abundance of the earth. Help us to be good stewards of Your creation. 

Station #7- STUMBLED
Speak out for those who cannot speak, for the destitute ... defend the rights of the poor and needy. - Proverbs 31:8-9
Lord, let not the needy be forgotten nor the hope of the poor be taken away.

Station #8 - CRIED
Gender equality will ensure women an equal chance to improve their lives and the lives of their families especially through education and employment.
Lord, enlighten us to provide women everywhere with equal dignity and opportunity. Inspire every society to oppose violence against women and strengthen gender justice.

Station #9 - FALLEN
Every 30 seconds an African child dies of malaria. Every day 8000 people die of AIDS. These are preventable, treatable diseases.
Lord, empower us to be instruments of your healing by advocating for prevention programs and affordable medicines for those without the means to cope with their illnesses.

Station #10 - DISHONORED
The world’s 32.8 million refugees and displaced persons, the result of conflicts over scarce resources and political discord, are those least likely to benefit immediately from global anti-poverty efforts.
Lord, give us courage to take the path of risk. Give us grace to listen to those whose voice is lost, to hear their cries and shout out for justice.

Station #11 - CRUCIFIED
When one part of the Body of Christ suffers, we all suffer. "God ... has given us the ministry of reconciliation." - 2 Cor. 5:18
Lord, in the midst of conflict and division you turn our minds to thoughts of peace. Your Spirit changes our hearts and nations seek peace together. For this we never cease to thank and praise you.

Station #12 - DIED
Cambodia, Bosnia, Rwanda, South Sudan, Darfur ... the world is gradually waking up to the fact that genocide is a problem of
immense evil.
Lord, Forgive us our faint-heartedness and selfishness, for failing to love others as we should, for failing to believe that you have empowered us to protect our brothers and sisters.

Station #13 - MOURNED
More than 25 % of children under age 5 in developing countries are malnourished. More than 11 million of them die each year
from preventable illnesses.
Lord, give us the compassion to meet the basic needs of children worldwide for food, clean water, health care, freedom from exploitation, and education.

Station #14 - BURIED 
Will you seek and serve Christ in all persons ... will you strive for justice and peace among all people and respect the dignity of every human being?
Lord, grant that all who are baptized into the death of your Son may live in the power of his resurrection and look for him to come again in glory.

Scenes of Convocation