Tag: religion news

Wind Chimes: 1 Oct 2012

Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury. Photo in the Sunday London Times. Gareth Fuller/PA

Here is today’s sampling of the music made by the Spirit in the Wind Chimes.
What do you hear?

Three more reports about nominating the man to become the next Archbishop of Canterbury

Here is the original post in this series

  1. Archbishop of Canterbury: Who makes the final selection? dated 9/28/12 by Jayne Lutwyche and José M Galván Déniz for Religion & Ethics on the BBC website.
  2. Church of England fails to agree successor for Archbishop of Canterbury. A partial transcript of an article by Ruth Gledhill in the Sunday London Times dated 9/30/2012.
  3. Critics attack ‘secrecy’ of Archbishop selection by Cole Moreton and Edward Malnick in The Telegraph dated 9/30/2012

“Official” Update on the Crown Nominations Committee of the Church of England

Here is a link to the latest “official” Update about the work of the Crown Nominations Committee via the Anglican Communion News Service (ACNS) posted Sep. 28, 2012.

What did you do this weekend?

Planet Money on NPR provides an answer about the “Average American” use of weekend time. Will it surprise you that on average we spend 37min and 12secs on Volunteering and Religious Activities? Be sure to read the caveats at the end of the article. Here is the post with 2 graphics.

Wind Chimes: 30 Sep 2012

Papyrus fragment: front. Karen L. King, 2012 from the Harvard Divinity School Website.

Here is today’s sampling of the music made by the Spirit in the Wind Chimes.
What do you hear?

Did Jesus have a wife? Three more perspectives. [1]

Here is the original post in this series

  1. The Coptic Papyrus by Martin E. Marty in an online series entitled Sightings published by the University of Chicago Divinity School. The essay examines the interaction of media and religion (and scholarship).
  2. Jesus’s Wife: Would it even matter for Women? by Sonja and posted on the blog WIT: Women in Theology. This essay examines what impact this text would have on women in the Church IF (a very big if according to the author) there was a debate 1800 years ago about the marriage status of Jesus.
  3. Vatican newspaper calls ‘Jesus’ Wife’ fragment a ‘clumsy fake.’ This is an article by Alessandro Speciale dated Sep. 28, 2012 on Religion News Service (RNS) reporting on an article published in L’Osservatore Romano (the Vatican’s newspaper).
    1. Here is a link to the English edition of L’Osservatore Romano.
    2. And, finally, a link to the English translation of the original article in L’Osservatore Romano

Update on the Crown Nominations Committee of the Church of England

Here is a link to the latest “official” Update about the work of the Crown Nominations Committee via the Anglican Communion News Service (ACNS) posted Sep. 28, 2012.

No shoes, no taxes, no sacraments

On Monday (9/24) I read this summary of a Pastoral Letter of the Roman Catholic Bishops of Germany. Later in the week I read their defense of their action. I understand, thanks to Hovak, that an article appeared in The Desert Sun on Saturday, Sep. 29, 2012 on page A-13. More to come, I believe.

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Wind Chimes: 29 Sep 2012

You never enjoy the world aright,
till the Sea itself floweth in your veins,
till you are clothed with the heavens,
and crowned with the stars:
and perceive yourself to be
the sole heir of the whole world.

Thomas Traherne
First Century, Sec. 29

Here is today’s sampling of the music made by the Spirit in the Wind Chimes.
What do you hear?

Thomas Traherne; Priest, 1674 [1]

“Though not as well known as John Donne or George Herbert, Thomas Traherne was one of the seventeenth century’s most searching, inventive poets and theologians.”

We ask God in the Collect we pray as we gather to “help us to know you in your creation and in our neighbors, and to understand our obligations to both, that we may ever grow into the people you have created us to be….”  God will surely answer such a prayer:

Creator of wonder and majesty, you inspired your poet Thomas Traherne with mystical insight to see your glory in the natural world and in the faces of men and women around us: Help us to know you in your creation and in our neighbors, and to understand our obligations to both, that we may ever grow into the people you have created us to be; through our Savior Jesus Christ, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, in everlasting light. Amen.
Collect from Holy Women, Holy Men

St. Michael and All Angels

Today (September 29) the church remembers Saint Michael and All Angels.

… Despite the best efforts of greeting card companies to make angels into cute babies, the Bible has other ideas. In the Bible, angels are almost universally terrifying. There is a reason that angels usually begin their encounters with humans by saying, “Do not be afraid.” … Mentioned in Daniel and Revelation, Michael the Archangel protects people against evil and leads the righteous armies against Satan. The word angel comes from the Greek angelos, and it means, literally, “messenger.” Throughout the scriptures, angels are sent by God to deliver messages. In the created order, angels exist in the heavenly realm along with cherubim and seraphim. There is no hint in the Bible that people become angels, though popular culture sometimes holds this view. On this feast day, we remember God’s heavenly messengers. And we give thanks that we are able to join with them at each celebration of Holy Eucharist as we sing, “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of power and might.” Angels remind us of our place in the created order, and they sometimes bear messages for us from God.
Daily Prayer: a resource of Forward Movement

Walking with Children [2]

Quote . . .Children in Kid’s Word brainstormed who Jesus is to them earlier today [9/16]. They raised some critical messages:

  • He’s someone you don’t need to see to believe in;
  • He loves me and everybody.
  • They named Jesus as protector, comforter, lover of their soul, hope for the future, sweet, soothing voice.
  • A child once told me she would be able to recognize Jesus because she could tell from the love in his eyes. || Posted 9/19/12

Wendy asks wonderful questions of children and adults on her blog, Walking with Children. I encourage you to read her posts.

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[1] The Episcopal Church has a Liturgical Calendar in which holy women and holy men are annually commemorated. Their faith and example is remembered by the Church as we gather and give thanks in prayer and worship. On September 27th we remember Thomas Traherne, a priest, often considered to be one of the Metaphysical Poets.

Holy Women, Holy Men is a “Trial Use” Calendar at the moment. Thomas Traherne is remembered in this Calendar.

[2] Walking with Children is a blog written by Wendy Sanders, a member of this Sunday Morning Forum at St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church in Palm Desert, CA. This year she is leading Kids Word at 10am every Sunday Morning. In Kids Word ‘Miss Wendy’ assists the children and youth to go deeper into the story sharing their understanding with the her and the adults with her. Each generation teaching and learning from the others. I encourage you to follow her blog.

Wind Chimes: 28 Sep 2012

Two of the favorites to be named the next Archbishop of Canterbury
(LT-RT) The Bishop of Sheffield, Steven Croft and The Bishop of Durham, Justin Welby. Photo credit: Chapter and Verse / PA

Here is today’s sampling of the music made by the Spirit in the Wind Chimes.

What do you hear?

Former oil executive still bookies’ favourite as final decision due on Archbishop of Canterbury (posted 9/26/2012)

Quote . . .The Bishop of Durham, Justin Welby, was confirmed as the bookmakers’ favourite to succeed Rowan Williams, as the Crown Nominations Commission began a two-day meeting to make its final decision.   [1]

Hat tip (ht) to John H. for sending the link to this article. Somewhere in the world, you can find someone else to take your bet on anything you can imagine. More seriously, pray for those making this selection (a request made near the end of the Telegraph article), and pray for the one who will step up to this ministry.

It is never too late to pray

The Crown Nominations Committee has done its work (9/26-9/27/2012) and names are being sent to the Queen for a final decision. An announcement will be made in the week of September 30, 2012. I believe it is never too late to pray. Here is the prayer to be offered for the Committee (and for the Queen) as the decision is made:

Almighty God, you have given your Holy Spirit to the Church to lead us into all truth: bless with the Spirit’s grace and presence the members of the Crown Nominations Committee. Keep them steadfast in faith and united in love, that they may seek your will, manifest your glory and prepare the way of your kingdom; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord. Amen. Prayer for the Crown Nominations Committee

Please join me (and so many others) in prayer.

Obama at the U.N.: A new religion doctrine

President Obama on Tuesday (Sept. 25) gave a forceful speech at the United Nations, in which he challenged much of the world’s assumptions about free speech and religion.

The article, by Lauren Markoe, goes on to extract five points which she says “add up to as close to an Obama Doctrine on Religion as we’ve seen.”

Read the article on Religion News Service

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[1] You may read the full article by John Bingham, Religious Affairs Editor for the Telegraph, here: http://bit.ly/QXiwTt. At this point (9/28/12) two names will be forwarded to the Queen who will choose the next Archbishop of Canterbury. Her choice will be announced next week.

Wind Chimes: 27 Sep 2012

Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.

James 4:8a NRSV

Here is today’s sampling of the music made by the Spirit in the Wind Chimes.
What do you hear?

Being present: A Spiritual Practice

Quote . . .Being present in the spiritual life always has a double meaning. There’s present, as in here, in attendance. And there’s present, as in now, a moment of time. What is the spiritual practice of being present? Being here now.  [1]

Drawing near to God by “reading” God in Nature

We have to begin with the first bible, which is creation itself—that God has revealed who God is through what is. If we don’t learn to honor, respect, and learn from creation—the natural world—I think it’s very unlikely that we are going to know how to read the second bible—the written Bible—with respect, reverence, and in an open way. So I believe (and of course this is very Franciscan for me) that we have to start with the first bible, which is the created world itself, or nature. [2]

Obama at the U.N.: A new religion doctrine

President Obama on Tuesday (Sept. 25) gave a forceful speech at the United Nations, in which he challenged much of the world’s assumptions about free speech and religion.

The article, by Lauren Markoe, goes on to extract five points which she says “add up to as close to an Obama Doctrine on Religion as we’ve seen.”

Read the article on Religion News Service

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[1] One of my favorite websites is Spirituality & Practice. A section of their site is devoted to Spiritual Practices. Among the practices (and a dimension of “draw close to God and he will draw close to you”) is “Being Present.”

Wind Chimes: 26 Sep 2012

God is our refuge and strength,
a help always near in times of great trouble.
That’s why we won’t be afraid
when the world falls apart,
when the mountains crumble
into the center of the sea,
when its waters roar and rage,
when the mountains shake
because of its surging waves.

Psalm 46:1-3 CEB

Here is today’s sampling of the music made by the Spirit in the Wind Chimes. What do you hear?

Fragments of Your Ancient Name

When things do not go as we wish,
When love falls out of our heart,
When death snatches our joy,
When goodbye outweighs hello,
When confusion alters our vision,
When what we knew no longer exists,
You stand by us as our strong support.

Today: I can count on my Supporter. [1]

“Did Jesus have a wife?”

By now you may have seen this headline in some form at least once. Here is a video announcement from Harvard Divinity School and a short interview with the scholar, Karen L. King, who made the announcement of finding the sentence fragment, “Jesus said to them, my wife” on a 4th century fragment of papyrus.

Related articles (and a promise of more links to come)

Like a wildflower

Like a wild flower in God’s care I put my worries away trusting the One who holds me. — Macrina Wiederkehr in The Song of the Seed and quoted by Spirituality & Practice

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[1] Joyce Rupp. Fragments of Your Ancient Name: 365 Glimpses of the Divine for Daily Meditation. (September 24). Kindle Edition.

Wind Chimes: 25 Sep 2012

[Jesus said], “The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

John 3:8 NRSV [1]

Introducing Wind Chimes.

A wind chime and sun catcher in North Carolina
Photo by jscalia (click the photo to see more)

When a wind chime catches the wind (even the whisper of a wind) it makes music, it interprets the wind in ways that are always the same and always changing. In regular posts I will share links to news (religion news), reflections and meditations (related to our Sunday readings as often as possible), prayers or prayer starters, resources to help you keep learning and growing (spiritually), and whatever else I come across.

More importantly: I want to incorporate links to items you find interesting as you read, listen, or consider doing the work God has given you to do. You may use the Comments section to leave the link or you may email the link to me for inclusion in Wind Chimes.

Here is the first sampling of the music made by the Spirit. What do you hear?

Room Enough, A Place for Everyone — a sermon based on Mark 9:30-37

“Who is the greatest?” Behind this question is a deeper issue. It is a question of space and place. Is there a place for me in this family? In this church? In this business? Is there a place for my religion, my politics, my race, my lifestyle in this society and culture? Is there a place for my people, tradition, and history in this land? Is their room for me? [Read Room Enough]

3 Quotes. Jesus. Children. Fleas.

Then ]Jesus] took a little child and put it among them; and taking it in his arms, he said to them, “Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me.” Mark 9:30-37 NRSV

The test of the morality of a society is what it does for its children. —Dietrich Bonhoeffer [2] 1906-1945

You just need to be a flea against injustice. Enough committed fleas biting strategically can make even the biggest dog uncomfortable and transform even the biggest nation. —Marian Wright Edelman [3] b. 1939

A Commentary on James 3:13-4:3, 7-8a by Professor Sandra Hack Polaski

After several chapters of warnings and vivid illustrations of the consequences of living contrary to the plan of God, James moves in this passage to describe the good life and give some positive guidance for pursuing it. [Read Professor Polaski’s Commentary on WorkingPreacher.org for 9/23/12]

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[1] Here is how the Common English Bible (CEB) translates John 3:8 — [Jesus said], “God’s Spirit blows wherever it wishes. You hear its sound, but you don’t know where it comes from or where it is going. It’s the same with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” The footnote in both the NRSV and the CEB indicates that the Greek word at the beginning of the verse can be translated as either wind or spirit.

[2] Widely quoted on the internet and attributed to Bonhoeffer, but I have been unable to find the original source. If you know the original source of this quote would you let me/us know using the comments section? Thank you.

[3] Widely quoted on the internet and attributed to Marian Wright Edelman, but I have been unable to find the original source. If you know the original source of this quote would you let me/us know using the comments section? Thank you.

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