"His Angels...Will Bear You Up...."

Our friend Ann Fontaine, who is attending the convention of the Episcopal Diocese of Wyoming this weekend, sent the link below to an article about the meeting at which Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefforts-Schori is present.

From the Casper, Wyoming, Star-Tribune:

Contrary to the conventional wisdom, the Law in the Old Testament was not regarded by Jews as grim or confining, the head of The Episcopal Church said Thursday.

"The Law they called Torah is seen as life-giving, as blessing," Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori told the annual meeting of the Episcopal Diocese of Wyoming.

"Jesus summarizes the Law that [Old Testament scribe] Ezra reads as 'love God' and 'love your neighbor' and we might add to that frequent biblical message, 'don't be afraid,'" Jefferts Schori said during her sermon at a jazz Mass at the Parkway Plaza in Casper. "Fear not, because God loves you and the world is actually far more gracious than you can ever [imagine]."
....

The convention, which ends Sunday, follows the July national General Convention in Anaheim, Calif., during which the delegates approved resolutions allowing the ordination of homosexuals, and granting clergy the authority to marry those in same-sex relationships.

During a panel discussion Friday, Wyoming delegates recognized the risk of those resolutions.

"We stepped off the cliff with the sexuality (resolutions)," said the Rev. Ann Fontaine of Atlantic City. "We hope the angels will bear us up, but we don't know."

Anglicans have never claimed to base their decisions solely on the Bible, Jefferts Schori said. "We start there, but that's not the only piece we bring to our decision-making."

The few biblical passages about same-sex relationships may be talking about exploitive relationships, she said. "Jesus doesn't say anything about same-sex relationships of the kind the church is talking about."

Bishop Katharine's words are spot on. And there's our Ann being quoted with the jumping off a cliff metaphor, which, or so it seems to me, we are called to do quite often as we try to follow Jesus and walk the Gospel way.

Sigh.... The Presiding Bishop is still being questioned about her statement that "the great Western heresy" is that we are saved as individuals, rather than in community. I hope she continues to stick to her guns and defend her statement, because she's right.

Because you have made the Lord your refuge,
the Most High your dwelling-place,
no evil shall befall you,
no scourge come near your tent.

For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways.
On their hands they will bear you up,
so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.

(Psalm 91:9-12)

Story Of The Day

I want followers who are leaders when
it comes to doing work, he said & I said
that's a good trick & he smiled & said it's
actually a miracle but that's what makes
this religion stuff so entertaining


From StoryPeople.

I love this story. I absolutely love it.

The Episcopal Church Welcomes You

Amelia at My Mother Is a Father posts on the statement by Bishop Stephen Lane of the Episcopal Diocese of Maine in support of voting "No" on Question 1, about which he says:

The passage of Question 1 would deny those [marriage] rights to certain persons on the basis of sexual orientation, and it would create two classes of citizens and deny one group what we believe is best for them and for society.

Bishop Lane's closing words remind all of us who call ourselves Episcopalians of our church's "tagline":

Our tagline of many years, The Episcopal Church Welcomes You, has never seemed more important. I hope and pray the welcome and pastoral care that same-gender couples receive in many of the Episcopal congregations across Maine will open doors to renewed participation in the lives of our congregations and communities.

(My emphasis)

Amen.

Please Pray For Roseann

From Roseann at Give Peace A Chance:

Surgery

On Monday the 12th, I will have vein graft surgery. This is being done for dialysis purposes. I don't want to do it, there is significant risk of bleeding and clotting, but my doc is insisting. With the catheter I have now the risk of infection is great. It is not a matter of IF and infection but WHEN. So what's a girl to do.


Before an Operation

Almighty God our heavenly Father, graciously comfort your servant Roseann in her suffering, and bless the means made use of for her cure. Fill her heart with confidence that, though at times she may be afraid, she yet may put her trust in you; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Amazing! - Not Even One Threat!

I wouldn't speak publicly on the subject before October, because, although the hurricane season extends into October, the chances of a devastating hurricane from now on are relatively slim. I hardly spoke of our quiet summer in private for fear of being proved wrong within a week or so.

Thanks be to God.

Photo from NASA.

TGIF - Life Goes On

Amusements for the 95% of the day when you're not working.










How did they do this?










Maybe you ought to do a little work right about now.




From Doug. And did I ever have a time of it to get the pictures and the text situated properly!

Story Of The Day - Stopping Point

How hard is it to make stuff up? she
said. Not hard at all, I said. The real
trick is knowing to stop before you get
confused.


From StoryPeople.

Update On Myron

Friends,

Since Myron has been at Bryn Mawr Rehab Hospital, there hasn't been much to report. He spent the first week being evaluated for speech, cognitive, physical and occupational therapies. Now he is in the midst of all of those therapies, and is exhausted at the end of his day.

I went to see him today and he was asleep, and hardly stirred. However, I noticed the trach tube had been removed and so removes an area of concern for me as it is a huge area for infection. The person working with his cognitive abilities says with the amount of brain injury he sustained they are impressed at his capabilities in this area.

I noticed some movement in his left leg, and Maryann assured me the doctors have seen it also, so maybe that is the beginning of movement in that leg. He is still wearing the neck brace and back brace but the Christiana Care physicians said those should be used for 6-8 weeks. His accident was 6 weeks ago today.

Keep him in your prayers,

Blessing to you all,

Sue

Good news, indeed!

Candidates For Bishop In the Diocese Of Louisiana

From the website of the Episcopal Diocese of Louisiana:

The Episcopal Diocese of Louisiana has announced a final list of six candidates who will stand for election as the 11th Episcopal Bishop of Louisiana on December 5, 2009, at Christ Church Cathedral, New Orleans.

“We are so pleased with the caliber of outstanding candidates who feel called to lead the Episcopal church in south Louisiana,” said David Pitts, chair of the diocesan Episcopate Committee, the group charged with oversight of the nomination process.

The candidates are:

Fr. Kurt Dunkle

Fr. Paul Elliott

Fr. Paul Johnson

Fr. Ken Ritter

Bp. Michael Smith

Fr. Morris Thompson

Biographies are at the website. I have not read them yet.

All of the candidates will visit the diocese in November for “walk-abouts” to give the clergy and lay members of the diocese an opportunity to meet each of the candidates.

Story Of The Day - Nothing More

If there is any secret to this life I live,
this is it: the sound of what cannot be
seen sings within everything that can. &
there is nothing more to it than that.


From StoryPeople.