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Support urged for Anglican Ahli Arab Hospital in
Gaza
PHOTO:
Episcopal Life Online
Anglican
Al Ahli Arab Hopsital in Gaza The Anglican Al Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza, stretched
to its maximum during the best of times, is struggling
to meet demands for medical care as the current military
conflict in the region continues to take a heavy human
toll, according to a Jan. 8
statement from the Rt. Rev. Suheil Dawani, Bishop of
the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem.
In a Jan. 6 e-mail to diocesan clergy,
Massachusetts' Bishop M. Thomas Shaw, SSJE and Bishop
Gayle E. Harris urged support for Ahli Arab Hospital and
prayers for peace.
"As we hear and read
with deep dismay the news reports about Israel's ongoing
military operation in Palestine's Gaza Strip in response
to Hamas rocket fire into southern Israel," they wrote,
"many of us are wondering what can be done to help
alleviate the terrible suffering of innocent civilians
caught in the midst of this violent political
situation."
Read
more.
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Two New England bishops to
participate in inauguration events
 Bishop Gene Robinson of the
Diocese of New Hampshire will give the invocation at the
opening event for President-elect Barack Obama's
inauguration celebrations. Robinson
told Episcopal New
Service that his participation in the Jan. 18
event at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., is "a
wonderful opportunity for the Episcopal Church."
Robinson was prominent among those who earlier
criticized the president-elect's choice of the Rev. Rick
Warren, a conservative evangelical, to deliver the
invocation at the Jan. 20 swearing-in
ceremony. Retired Massachusetts bishop
suffragan Barbara C. Harris will also be in D.C. for
inauguration festivities. Harris is among 25
church leaders receiving a Keepers of the Flame Award
during the African
American Church Inaugural Ball on Jan.
18.
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Church prepares to celebrate
20th anniversary of Barbara Harris's historic
consecration
PHOTO:
Susan Lerner
Presiding
Bishop Jefferts Schori and Bishop Barbara C. Harris at
Harris's retirement in 2002. Plan
to join the Episcopal Church's presiding bishop, the
Most Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori, for the 20th
anniversary celebration of the Rt. Rev. Barbara C.
Harris's consecration as the first female bishop in the
Anglican Communion. It takes place at the
Cathedral Church of St. Paul (138 Tremont Street) in
Boston on Saturday, Feb. 28, 10 a.m.-2
p.m. Read
more.
Call for
storiesBishop Harris said at the time
of her retirement in 2002 that the best moments of her
episcopacy have been those spent baptizing, confirming
and receiving people into the Episcopal Church. In
her honor, the dean of the cathedral is calling for
written remembrances, stories and reflections from those
whom Harris has confirmed, received or ordained.
Material, with contact information, may be e-mailed to
cpresler@diomass.org.
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Innovative evangelical thinker
to lead March 7 learning event  "We
must begin again, as once our forebears did, to live not
as culturally safe Christians, but as observant ones,"
author Phyllis Tickle writes in the foreword to Brian
McLaren's latest book, Finding Our Way Again:
The Return of the Ancient Practices. McLaren
-- author, speaker, pastor and networker among
innovative Christian leaders, thinkers and activists,
and a leader in the emergent church movement -- will be
the guest speaker at the diocesan spring learning event
on March 7 at Boston University, and all are invited to
join him for what promises to be a thought-provoking
program of learning and conversation about carrying the
Christian message and mission into today's world.
McLaren's recent writings have focused on
the need for understanding Jesus' message to the world
and how to live out that message as true disciples of
Christ in a holistic, life-giving way. At this
intersection of faith and life is a focus on ancient
Christian practices and authentic worship. The
emergent church movement's approach to meeting the deep
spiritual needs of a younger population seeking
engagement through relationships rather than
institutions is particularly relevant for mainline
churches whose attendance is flat
lining.
Bulletin
inserts presenting excerpts and study questions from
McLaren's Everything Must Change are available
to help individuals and groups prepare for the March 7
learning event. The event will also offer special
workshops around the areas of liturgy and music, social
justice and intentional living.
Read more and
register.
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Winter issue of Episcopal
Times focuses on practicing
citizenship
 Bishop Gayle E. Harris on the
Christian's oath of allegiance; peace pilgrims pray with
their feet; energy summiters take a virtual pilgrimage
to the boiler room; Joyce Caggiano on faith and finance,
or, in her words, the rubber and the road;
Massachusetts' bishops reflect on Lambeth 2008; and
"Stand Up and Make a Difference," a last word on
witnessing from Bishop Shaw. |
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Join New England college
students on retreat
Know a New England college student looking for a
weekend of rest, fellowship and celebration? The
New England dioceses that make up Province I of the
Episcopal Church are offering a retreat for college
students, "Who am I? Who is God? Two
Questions or One?" led by Brother Timothy Solverson,
SSJE. It takes place Friday through Sunday, Feb.
20-22 at the Barbara C. Harris Camp and Conference
Center in Greenfield, N.H. Cost is $40 per
student. Sign up by e-mailing the Episcopal
chaplain at MIT, Amy McCreath at mccreath@mit.edu, with name, school
affiliation and phone number. The event's on
Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=44041060597.
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Coming up
Jan 15: Martin Luther King Day
Observance, St. Paul's Church, Newburyport, 7 p.m.
Jan 17: Safe Church Training, Church
of Our Saviour, Somerset, 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
Jan 20: Church of the Advent's
Theology on Tap, Cheers Bar, Boston, 7 p.m.
Jan 22: A Faith Community Summit on
Homelessness, St. Andrew's Church, Framingham, 6 p.m.
Jan 23-24:
Diocesan Council Retreat, Barbara C. Harris Camp and
Conference Center, Greenfield, N.H.
Jan 25: Coltrane at the Cathedral
Church of St. Paul, Boston, 10 a.m.
Jan 27: Christian Formation Community
of Practice, Cathedral Church of St. Paul, Boston, 9:30
a.m.
Jan 27: Church of the Advent's
Theology on Tap, Cheers Bar, Boston, 7 p.m.
Jan 31: Safe Church Training, Christ
Church, Cambridge, 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
Jan 31: "Ground of Your Own Choosing:
Winning Strategies for Finding and Creating Work," St.
Peter's Church, Weston, 9 a.m.
Feb 3: Refreshment Day, Bethany House
of Prayer, Arlington, 9 a.m.
Feb 3: Church of the Advent's Theology
on Tap, Cheers Bar, Boston, 7 p.m.
Feb 3: Coltrane at the Cathedral
Church of St. Paul, Boston, 7:30 p.m.
Feb 6-8:
Senior High Retreat, Barbara C. Harris Camp and
Conference Center, Greenfield, N.H.
Feb 6: Province I "Fear Factor"
Seminar, St. Paul's Church, Concord, N.H., 10 a.m., and
Cathedral of St. John, Providence, RI, 6 p.m.
Feb 6: Coltrane at the Cathedral
Church of St. Paul, Boston, 7:30 p.m.
Feb 7: 2009 Ministry
Discernment Conference, Cathedral Church of St. Paul,
Boston, 8:30 a.m. Register by
Jan. 23.
Feb 7: Province I "Fear Factor"
Seminar, St. David's Church Agawam, Feeding Hills, 10
a.m.
Feb 8: Massachusetts Chapter of the
Union of Black Episcopalians annual Absalom Jones
service, St. Bartholomew's Church, Cambridge, 4 p.m.
Feb 10-12:
Clergy Pre-Lenten Retreat, Notre Dame Mission Center,
Ipswich
Feb 10: Coltrane at the Cathedral
Church of St. Paul, Boston, 7:30 p.m.
Feb.
18: Absalom Jones Lecture featuring
the Rev. Dr. Wilda Gafney, Episcopal Divinity
School, Cambridge, 7 p.m.
Feb.
20-21: CityReach overnight service learning
program for high school youth and up on homelessness,
Cathedral Church of St. Paul,
Boston | |
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