Department of Duh!

From Juan Cole at Informed Comment:

The Moroccan government broke up a terror cell in Fez that was allegedly planning an attack in Belgium. If this story is as advertised, it underlines that radical Muslim extremism is best fought by establishing warm relations with Muslim allies such as Morocco, the security forces of which are far more able to break up such cells than is the US Pentagon. That is, diplomacy is more important to counter-terrorism than sheer military might.

I say that Cole makes a lot of sense. I hope that our next president gives this idea a try.

Feast Day Of St. Alcuin Of York

For biographical information on Alcuin of York, please read Ormonde Plater's excellent post at Through the Dust. Ormonde, who is a retired archdeacon in the Episcopal Diocese of Louisiana, regularly posts on the lives of the deacons of the church. He has written two books about deacons, Deacons in the Liturgy (1992) and Many Servants: An Introduction to Deacons (2004).

James Kiefer's shorter biography at the Lectionary:

Alcuin was an Englishman from York, born into a noble family about 730, and educated by a pupil of Bede. Having become a deacon, he was made head of the cathedral school at York around 770. In 781 he was asked by the Emperor Charlemagne to become his minister of education. He accepted, and established schools at many cathedrals and monasteries, and promoted learning in every way he could. In the preceding years of constant wars and invasions, many ancient writings had been lost. Alcuin established scriptoria, dedicated to the copying and preservation of ancient manuscripts, both pagan and Christian. That we have as much as we do of the writings of classical Roman authors is largely due to Alcuin and his scribes. (He is credited with the invention of cursive script, in which the letters are connected for greater speed of writing.) To Alcuin, backed by Charlemagne, belongs much of the credit for the revision and organisation of the Latin liturgy, the preservation of many of the ancient prayers, and the development of plainchant. He and his fellow theologians at Charlemagne's capital of Aachen (or Aix-le-Chappelle) were important advocates of the doctrine that the Holy Ghost proceeds from the Father and the Son jointly. Unfortunately, the East, which regarded the Emperor at Byzantium as the sole Emperor, resented Charlemagne's assumption of the title of Holy Roman Emperor, and this hardened their opposition to the aforesaid doctrine, thus contributing to the rift between East and West.

Readings:

Psalm 37:3-6,32-33 or 112:1-9
Ecclesiasticus 39:1-9
Matthew 13:47-52

PRAYER

Almighty God, who in a rude and barbarous age raised up your deacon Alcuin to rekindle the light of learning: Illumine our minds, we pray, that amid the uncertainties and confusions of our own time we may show forth your eternal truth, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Iran Next? - Part 2

From the Jerusalem Post:

The White House on Tuesday flatly denied an Army Radio report that claimed US President George W. Bush intends to attack Iran before the end of his term. It said that while the military option had not been taken off the table, the Administration preferred to resolve concerns about Iran's push for a nuclear weapon "through peaceful diplomatic means."

I don't believe a word that comes from the White House about Bush's future actions.

Army Radio had quoted a top official in Jerusalem claiming that a senior member in the entourage of President Bush, who concluded a trip to Israel last week, had said in a closed meeting here that Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney were of the opinion that military action against Iran was called for.

The official reportedly went on to say that "the hesitancy of Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice" was preventing the administration from deciding to launch such an attack on the Islamic Republic for the time being.

Condi and Gates into the breach! Let's all hope that their "hesitancy" is powerful enough to restrain the war-mongering top leadership. Whoever is the next president will have more than enough dirty messes to clean up. I pray that a war with Iran will not be one of them.

Meanwhile three US aircraft carriers are in place patrolling in the Persian Gulf, Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean.

"Iran Next?" - Part 1 is here.

Photo from the AP

UPDATE: If you'd like to take action, go to True Majority to send this message to your senator:

"Don't let this administration lead America into another conflict in the Middle East. One war is already too much.

I urge you to support S. Res. 356, which would require that any military action against Iran be explicitly approved by Congress."

Frank Rich Is Rich

This past weekend, Jenna Bush was married quietly back at the Crawford ranch. The colors for the bridesmaid's dresses were chosen from Texas wildflowers. Sweet.

Republicans were stunned by their loss of a House seat in red, red Mississippi to Democrat, Travis Childers.

In his opinion column at the New York Times, Rich says:

[Republican] Party leaders have been haplessly trying to identify possible remedies ever since. It didn’t help that their recent stab at an Obamaesque national Congressional campaign slogan, “The Change You Deserve,” was humiliatingly identified as the advertising pitch for the anti-depressant Effexor. (If they’re going to go the pharmaceutical route, “Viva Viagra” might be more to the point.)

Yes!

In the election for the Mississippi house seat, the Republicans went all out against Childers, throwing everything at him but the kitchen stove.

The G.O.P. didn’t merely step up its expensive negative campaign, attempting to take down Mr. Childers (who is a white, conservative Democrat) by linking him with Mr. Obama, a ranting Rev. Jeremiah Wright and Nancy Pelosi. It also brought in the party’s big guns. Mr. Bush and Mr. McCain recorded mass phone pitches for Mr. Davis. Karl Rove and Mr. Cheney campaigned for him.

Surely they knew that Cheney was better left in his undisclosed location.

The vice president’s visit was last Monday, the centerpiece of a get-out-the-vote rally in DeSoto County, a G.O.P. stronghold. “We’ll put our shoulders to the wheel for John McCain,” the vice president promised as he bestowed his benediction on Mr. Davis. Well, he got out the vote all right. In the election results the next day, the Childers total in DeSoto County increased 142 percent, while the Davis count went up only 47 percent.

Note to Republican candidates: you don't want Cheney's shoulders on your wheel.

Rich goes on to write about how tough it will be for McCain and the other Republican candidates to distance themselves from the Bush administration and its disastrous policies, which they supported whole-heartedly.

Hard as it is for Mr. McCain to run from the Bush policies he supports, it will be far harder to escape from Mr. Bush and Mr. Cheney themselves. When Mr. McCain accepted Mr. Bush’s endorsement at the White House in March, he referred three times to the president’s “busy schedule,” as if wishing aloud that the lame-duck incumbent would have no time to appear at, say, get-out-the-vote rallies. Alas, Mr. Bush and company are not going gently into retirement.

Read the whole column. There are many more juicy bits on both parties that you won't want to miss.

Luiz Is Doing The Lambeth Walk, Too

Luiz Coelho has left a new comment....

Hey y'all... I almost missed this...

I'm going to Lambeth too. I was selected a couple months ago by the Brazilian church.

I don't need donations, however, since I have a bursary. However, I'm going to start an art project there that will be online within some weeks, so, please, stay tuned!

Mimi, can you please update this piece of info for me? Bisoux.

Avec plaisir, Cher Luiz. Bisoux à toi!

Luiz blogs at Wandering Christian.

Feast Day Of St. Dunstan Of Canterbury

Image from Early British Kingdoms.

Dunstan was born near Glastonbury in the southwest of England about the year 909, ten years after the death of King Alfred. During the Viking invasions of the ninth century, monasteries had been favorite targets of the invaders, and by Dunstan's time English monasticism had been wiped out. In its restoration in the tenth century, Dunstan played the leading role.
....

(Glastonbury is one of the oldest Christian sites in England, and is associated in legend with King Arthur and his Court, with Joseph of Arimathea, and with other worthies. It has been said that the Holy Grail, the chalice of the Last Supper, is hidden somewhere near Glastonbury.) Under Dunstan's direction, Glastonbury became an important center both of monasticism and of learning. The next king, Edred, adopted Dunstan's ideas for various reforms of the clergy (including the control of many cathedrals by monastic chapters) and for relations with the Danish settlers. These policies made Dunstan popular in the North of England, but unpopular in the South.

Edred was succeeded by his sixteen-year-old nephew Edwy, whom Dunstan openly rebuked for unchastity. The furious Edwy drove Dunstan into exile, but the North rose in rebellion on his behalf. When the dust settled, Edwy was dead, his brother Edgar was king, and Dunstan was Archbishop of Canterbury. The coronation service which Dunstan compiled for Edgar is the earliest English coronation service of which the full text survives, and is the basis for all such services since, down to the present. With the active support of King Edgar, Dunstan re-established monastic communities at Malmesbury, Westminster, Bath, Exeter, and many other places. Around 970 he presided at a conference of bishops, abbots, and abbesses, which drew up a national code of monastic observance, the "Regularis Concordia". It followed Benedictine lines, but under it the monasteries were actively involved in the life of the surrounding community. For centuries thereafter the Archbishop of Canterbury was always a monk.

In addition, Dunstan was a musician, a bell maker, and a painter.

From the The Lectionary.

Readings:

Psalm 57:6-11 or 33:1-5,20-21
Ecclesiasticus 44:1-7
Matthew 24:42-47

PRAYER

Almighty God, who raised up Dunstan to be a true shepherd of the flock, a restorer of monastic life and a faithful counsellor to those in authority: give to all pastors the same gifts of your Holy Spirit that they may be true servants of Christ and all his people; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen

This is, for the most part, a recycling of my post from last year on the feast day. The glass is lovely, isn't it? The comments from last year are fascinating, if you'd care to read them.


In the comments, Lapin references this small self-portrait, which is from the website of the St. Edward the Martyr Orthodox Brotherhood.

Mary Clara posted these lovely words in the comments. I believe that they are worthy of being brought into the light because they are so very right and true. My decision to quote her has nothing to do with her words being flattering to me - not in the least. Truly.

Mimi, I am very big on the priesthood of all the baptized, which can take so many forms, from emptying bedpans to doing biblical scholarship. In the past I think most lay ministry has been relatively private and even inarticulate. One of the great things about the internet and the blogosphere is that many more of us in the lay order can readily join in the theological conversation, offer homilies or reflections on the daily lectionary, post worship materials, comment on and issues worthy of attention, and so on. We are finding our voices. Our ordained clergy and bishops are our 'specialists' with their unique vocation and training and their sacramental role. In terms of preaching and teaching, they are like the paid professional soloists in many church choirs who help maintain the level of a parish's liturgical music. Backing them up are the unpaid volunteer singers, many of them also gifted and well-trained, who make up the bulk of the choir. Finally there are those who swell the sound from the congregation. Not a perfect analogy, but you see my point: All should take part, and together we should be able to make fine music! Our clergy in their lonely and risky work (see Elizabeth Kaeton's latest post as well as Lauren Gough's recent comments on several blogs) should be surrounded by a host of supportive voices (and under 'support' I include honest debate and disagreement, as well as poking fun) and by many writing hands sharing the work.

This is a time for all hands to be on deck, both in our beloved church and inour beloved country, and you, Mimi, are doing your part!

Thank you, Mary Clara!

Mass Graves Uncovered In South Korea

From the Associated Press:

Grave by mass grave, South Korea is unearthing the skeletons and buried truths of a cold-blooded slaughter from early in the Korean War, when this nation's U.S.-backed regime killed untold thousands of leftists and hapless peasants in a summer of terror in 1950.

With U.S. military officers sometimes present, and as North Korean invaders pushed down the peninsula, the southern army and police emptied South Korean prisons, lined up detainees and shot them in the head, dumping the bodies into hastily dug trenches. Others were thrown into abandoned mines or into the sea. Women and children were among those killed. Many victims never faced charges or trial.
....

Hundreds of sets of remains have been uncovered so far, but researchers say they are only a tiny fraction of the deaths. The commission estimates at least 100,000 people were executed, in a South Korean population of 20 million.

That estimate is based on projections from local surveys and is "very conservative," said Kim. The true toll may be twice that or more, he told The Associated Press.

The South Korean and US governments kept the information secret for over half a century, and only in the 1990s did the word begin to leak out.

The declassified record of U.S. documents shows an ambivalent American attitude toward the killings. American diplomats that summer urged restraint on southern officials — to no obvious effect — but a State Department cable that fall said overall commander Gen. Douglas MacArthur viewed the executions as a Korean "internal matter," even though he controlled South Korea's military.

There is no such thing as a good war.

A Sermon For Trinity Sunday

From Rmj at Adventus.

2 Corinthians 13:11-14

Finally, brothers and sisters, farewell. Put things in order, listen to my appeal, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you. Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the saints greet you.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with all of you.

From the conclusion of the sermon:

Greet one another with a holy kiss. What would it be like to do that today? Greet everyone here in church that way? Or on the street? In the store? Over coffee? All the saints would greet you, but what would everyone else say? Would the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you, even as your friends decided you must be crazy? Even as your enemies in church, in life, decided you had gone insane? I mean, if everybody did that, if just ever Christian did that, what kind of world would this be?

Yes. Precisely. What kind of world would this be? We were told to go and make a community, disciples of all nations, meaning followers no matter who they were: no matter race or national origin or place or language. We were told to find and build a community, and promised that Jesus would be with us always, to the end of the age. And what community have we built? What support have we given each other for the hard work of faith, of believing, of loving our enemy and seeing that Creation is indeed good? If Christ came in the doors today to ask us, what would we say?

Maybe we could say we were about to get to it; that we’ll get to it right away. That this Trinity Sunday, the day we honor Father, Son, and Holy Ghost; Creator, Redeemer, and Sanctifier, we set aside as the day of remembrance that we are together in Christ, and that the work to be done we can do together: that all the saints greet us, and guide us on our way. If we would just greet each other in peace, and accept their teaching, and accept their community, and God’s grace.

Much to be done; and we can begin today. We can begin with prayer, and study. There is a cloud of witness around us, ready to be our guide. Nothing is left to us alone. They are here; we can ask them. God is with us. It is good.

Amen.

Indeed! What kind of a world would it be if we took the words into our hearts and lived like that? What kind of Episcopal Church would we have? What kind of Anglican Communion?

Click on the link at the beginning of the post to read the entire sermon.

For Paul, The BB

Harry James and his orchestra with singer, Helen Forest.

Thank you, Paul, for your wonderful post on my beloved city of New Orleans. He has maps. He has a video of the destroyed Lower Ninth Ward. He has music videos, one with Harry Connick, Jr. and Branford Marsalis, and more.

Shield Of TheTrinity

Arms attributed to St. Michael in the 15th century.

"The Father is God"
"The Son is God"
"The Holy Spirit is God"
"God is the Father"
"God is the Son"
"God is the Holy Spirit"
"The Father is not the Son"
"The Son is not the Father"
"The Father is not the Holy Spirit"
"The Holy Spirit is not the Father"
"The Son is not the Holy Spirit"
"The Holy Spirit is not the Son"

Taken from The Athanasian Creed.

Julian of Norwich

Just as the joyful Trinity
created all things
out of nothing,

So also this same blessed Trinity
will make well
all that is not well.

-------

Our soul is trinitarian
like to the
uncreated Trinity.

It is known
and loved
from without beginning
and in its creation
oned to the Creator.

Alas! The feast is nearly ended - indeed, has already ended for some. I'm sorry to be late.

Shortened explanation of the shield and image from Wiki.

Words of Julian of Norwich from Meditations With Julian of Norwich by Brendan Doyle.