giving to god

Oh Happy Day! (Full version) - Choeur Gospel Célébration de Québec & Syl...

View of God

This was posted by a young friend of mine.  It shows what a poor job the church has done in sharing the good news. Considering what you tend to hear from tele-evangelists I loved the "he needs money" line.  Certainly what way too many people are hearing!   We need to do better!

Here is what my friend had to say:

Religion has convinced people that there’s an invisible man living in
the sky who watches everything you do... And
the man has a list of ten things he doesn’t want you
to do. And if you do any of these things, he will send you to a special
place of torture and anguish for you to
...live forever, and suffer and burn and scream until the end of time. But he loves you. He loves you and he needs money.

Alex now destroying his toys

Alex really enjoying his new toys!

Alex is really enjoying his new toys!

How to Avoid Stewardship

How to Avoid Stewardship

As stewardship season rolls around, I thought I would offer some tips on how to avoid growing your faith through financial generosity. These are practical applications for those who prefer King Midas’ touch to the healing touch of Christ the King.

1. Tell the rector that you are “morally opposed” to pledging. After all, shouldn’t the church live up to its name as a community of “faith” and take it on faith that there will be enough money to pay for the rector’s health benefits?

To read the rest go here.  

The Anglican Communion and homosexuality

Please read this excellent blog entry from the Rev. Susan Russel.  She says it is a rant, but it is a well though out post worth reading.

just a snippet here:

"While Rowan Williams is whining about homosexuality "wounding the side" of the institutional church, he remains blind to the cancer of homophobia that is spreading in the Body of Christ. And it's time somebody pointed out the difference."

Prayer of confession

This prayer of confession was used to Seward Memorial United Methodist Church today:

"Compassionate and merciful God, we confess that we sometimes ignore our responsibilities to you and to humanity.  If ever we trample on the rights of others while asserting our own right: God forgive.  If ever we sit by the sidelines, doing nothing, but criticizing those who do:  God forgive.  If ever, by our example and deed, we hurt little ones or cause them to do wrong:  God forgive.  Grant, O God, that our lives might be flavored with the Spirit of Jesus Christ, as salt flavors food.  Amen."

Bennison refuses to resign

Sadly no surprise here on this from EpiscopalLife Online. 

PENNSYLVANIA: Bishop declines request to resign

By Mary Frances Schjonberg, September 22, 2010

[Episcopal News Service] Saying he has "always been, innocent of the charges against me," Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania Bishop Charles Bennison announced late Sept. 22 that he would not honor his colleagues' request that he resign his position. Bennison, via a statement e-mailed to Episcopal News Service by his publicist, said that he hoped "the suffering I have endured during the past three years has strengthened me and will enable me to work for reconciliation within the diocese."
The House of Bishops announced their request at the end of their Sept. 16-21 fall gathering in Phoenix, Arizona. In a lengthy and strongly worded "mind of the house" resolution, they said they were "profoundly troubled by the outcome of the disciplinary action" against Bennison, and had concluded that his "capacity to exercise the ministry of pastoral oversight is irretrievably damaged."
"Therefore, we exhort Charles, our brother in Christ, in the strongest possible terms, to tender his immediate and unconditional resignation as the bishop of the Diocese of Pennsylvania," the bishops said.
"We will continue to pray for Charles, his family, and every person who has been hurt by the church," the bishops said.
Bennison replied in his statement that he appreciated the prayers of his peers in the House of Bishops "and understand that they are concerned for the welfare of my soul."
"However, they have no cause to be worried," he said.
The Rev. Glenn Matis, president of the Standing Committee, told ENS late Sept. 22 that he was "not surprised by Bishop Bennison's statement."
"He has made it crystal clear to us that he will not resign or retire," he said in an e-mailed statement. "The only hope we have is that when he reaches the mandatory age of 72, he will resign or retire. This diocese is facing major issues of finances, property, and declining church membership. Under his leadership, it is a just matter of time before we are facing serious financial problems. His continued presence among us will further divide the diocese."
Bennison, 66, resumed his role as diocesan bishop Aug. 16, some 11 days after the church's Court of Review for the Trial of a Bishop overturned a lower church court's finding that he ought to be deposed (removed) from ordained ministry because he had engaged in conduct unbecoming a member of the clergy. The review court agreed with one of the lower court's two findings of misconduct, but said that Bennison could not be deposed because the charge was barred by the church's statute of limitations.
Episcopal Church canons have no time limit for bringing claims arising out of physical violence, sexual abuse or sexual exploitation of a person younger than 21 years (Canon IV.19.4(a) and (b). The statute of limitations on other offenses committed by clergy is 10 years, with certain exceptions extending the time period by a small number of additional years.
The decision by the Court of Review for the Trial of a Bishop is here.
The lower court, the Court for the Trial of a Bishop, had called for Bennison's deposition after it found that 35 years ago when he was rector of St. Mark's Episcopal Church in Upland, California, he failed to respond properly after learning that his brother, John Bennison, was "engaged in a sexually abusive and sexually exploitive relationship" with a minor parishioner. At the time, John Bennison was a 24-year-old newly ordained deacon (later priest) whom Charles Bennison had hired as youth minister. The abuse allegedly lasted for more than three years from the time the minor was 14 years old.
Charles Bennison was found to have failed to discharge his pastoral obligations to the girl, the members of her family, and the members of the parish youth group as well as church authorities after he learned of his brother's behavior. The court said that he suppressed the information about his brother until 2006, when he disclosed publicly what he knew.
Bennison had been inhibited (prevented) from exercising his ordained ministry since the fall of 2007 when the disciplinary action began. The ban expired with the review court's decision.
"I have deep compassion for the young woman who was abused," Bennison said in his statement. "If I could have prevented that abuse, I would certainly have done so. But I did not know of the relationship until it was over, and I can not pretend otherwise."
"I have nothing but affection for her and for her parents, whom I loved very much, and if there were any way that I could help her now, I would do so," he said, but added that his resignation "will not ease her pain or remove the sting of the abusive relationship."

The bishop concluded that he hoped that "the members of the diocese and I can put the past behind us and work together to achieve our goals."
In the middle of the House of Bishops' meeting, an article about the tension in the diocese appeared in the Philadelphia Inquirer newspaper. It quotes Bennison as calling the efforts to depose him "Machiavellian," the charges against him "Kafka-esque," and his 2007 inhibition "craziness."
"Church leaders wanted him out, he surmised, because of his sometimes-divisive leadership style and controversial financial priorities," the paper reported.
The diocesan Standing Committee has been at odds with Bennison since the mid-2000s over concerns about how he managed the diocese's assets and other issues. More than once in the past the Standing Committee has called for Bennison's resignation, including on the day he returned to work in August. Most recently, the Standing Committee had asked for the help of the House of Bishops for its "support and assistance" in securing Bennison's retirement or resignation.

-- The Rev. Mary Frances Schjonberg is a national correspondent for the Episcopal News Service and editor of Episcopal News Monthly and Episcopal News Quarterly.

HOB calls on Bp. Bennison to resign

 I'm very pleased at the strong position taken by the HOB as shown in the release below.  Sadly I'm guessing Bp. Bennison will just consider this more of his sharing the cross of Jesus.  This guy just seems incapable of getting it! 

The Episcopal Church
Office of Public Affairs



House of Bishops to Charles Bennison: “We exhort Charles, our brother in Christ, in the strongest possible terms, to tender his immediate and unconditional resignation as the Bishop of the Diocese of Pennsylvania.”



[September 21, 2010] The House of Bishop of The Episcopal Church, meeting in Phoenix, AZ, approved the following resolution:


Grace to you and peace in Jesus Christ our Lord.  As the bishops of The Episcopal Church, bound by solemn vows to share in the governance of the whole church, guard its unity, and defend those who have no helper, we are committed to safeguarding the dignity of every person entrusted to our care. We are devoted especially to the care of the young, the weak, and those most vulnerable among us. Because of the depth of these commitments, long held among us, we are profoundly troubled by the outcome of the disciplinary action against the Bishop of the Diocese of Pennsylvania, The Right Reverend Charles E. Bennison, Jr.

In a lengthy judicial process Bishop Bennison was found guilty on two counts of conduct unbecoming a member of the clergy during a lengthy judicial process. Subsequently, the Court of Review reversed one count, upheld one count, but vacated the sentence because the statute of limitations had expired. We respect the decision of the Court of Review and we share their disappointment and find the ultimate resolution of this matter unsatisfactory and morally repugnant. The wholly inadequate response of our brother bishop to the sexual assault upon a minor is an inexcusable violation of his ordination vows. We note here two excerpts from the decisions of the ecclesiastical court:

           The tragedy of this conduct unbecoming a member of the clergy is exacerbated by the fact that, during the trial of the case, Appellant testified that, upon reflection on his failure to act, he concludes that his actions were “just about right.” They were not just about right. They were totally wrong. Appellant’s testimony on this subject revealed impaired judgment with regard to the conduct that is the subject of the First Offence and that is clearly and unequivocally conduct unbecoming a member of the clergy.  (Court of Review, page 25).

               … we find that Appellant committed conduct unbecoming a member of the clergy.  Because the statute of limitations has run on that offense, we have no choice under the canons of the Church but to reverse the judgment of the Trial Court finding that Appellant is guilty of conduct unbecoming a member of the clergy . . . (Court of Review, page 38).

           The bishops of this church stand in unequivocal solidarity with anyone who has been sexually abused or mistreated by a member of our clergy or by any member of our church. We apologize, out of the depths of God’s compassion for every human being, to the woman who has been victimized by Bishop Bennison’s lack of responsible action, and to all those who have in any way been hurt by our church. We are deeply sorry and we are committed to consistent discipline for those who bring shame upon the Body of Christ by sinful, demeaning, and selfish behavior that takes from another human being their God-given dignity.

           As the House of Bishops, we have come to the conclusion that Bishop Bennison’s capacity to exercise the ministry of pastoral oversight is irretrievably damaged. Therefore, we exhort Charles, our brother in Christ, in the strongest possible terms, to tender his immediate and unconditional resignation as the Bishop of the Diocese of Pennsylvania. For the sake of the wholeness and unity of the body of Christ, in the Diocese of Pennsylvania and in the church, we implore our brother to take this action without further delay.

           This matter has weighed heavily upon the hearts of every member of the House of Bishops and it has been held in prayer not only among us, but by the good and faithful clergy and people of our church. We will continue to pray for Charles, his family, and every person who has been hurt by the church. We pledge to continue to seek God’s guidance and we resolve to lead our church with compassion, justice, and mercy.




# # # #


For more info contact:
Neva Rae Fox
Public Affairs Officer
The Episcopal Church
newsline@episcopalchurch.org
212-716-6080  Mobile: 917-478-5659

crazy people and book burning

I just don't understand the book burning thing.  First, don't these people ever read history.  You don't see many book burners remembered for being like Jesus.  On the plus side, an unknown person out on the fringe now has his moment in the sun.  And I'm willing to bet he is cashing in on it too!

He made it on national news this evening, so obviously he has hit a nerve.

And of course he believes it is what Jesus would want him to do.

Pretty sad.

Who needs God?

A great joke from Robin.

One day a group of atheists got together and decided that humans had come a long way and no longer needed God. So they picked a spokesman to go and tell God that he was no longer needed.
The spokesman walked up to God and said, “God, we’ve decided that you’re no longer needed. We’re to the point that we can synthesis new elements, we can create the building blocks of life in a test tube, we can clone sheep and soon we will be able to clone people. There’s no end to the miraculous things we can do. You’ve become irrelevant.” 
God listened patiently. After the spokesman finished talking, God said, “Very well! How about this? Let’s have a person-making contest.” To which the spokesman replied, “OK, great!”
But God added, “Now we’re going to do this the old fashion way, just as I did it originally.”
The spokesman said, “Sure, no problem” and bent down and grabbed a handful of dirt.
God smiled and said, “No, no, no . . . You get your own dirt!”

thought for day

Thanks to my friend Dennis for posting this on FB.

There is a really deep well inside me. And in it dwells God ... But more often stones and grit block the well, and God is buried beneath. Then God must be dug out again.- Etty Hillesum 
from An Interrupted Life: The Diaries of Etty Hillesum, 1941-1943

Prayer request

Pray for David Hawkins a local minister who runs the Seaman's Mission in Seward.  He was found outside unconscious while walking his dog and is currently in the hospital.

a bit of humor

I laughed so hard I was crying!

Grace

I was visiting with a good friend this week and me mentioned the importance of grace in his faith tradition.  And they really live into it.   I was thinking of other faith traditions which, while claiming the important of grace, display a noticeable lack of grace in their theology and practice.  Which is very sad.  

Thinking about our discussion, I realized how fortunate I am to have received so much grace in my life.  I have been blessed so much, way beyond what I deserve, but I suppose that is that grace is all about!  

thought for day

“You can safely assume that you've created God in your own image when it turns out that God hates all the same people you do.” - Anne Lamott.

Jesus nominated to the Supreme Court

A Democratic Party President nominated Jesus of Nazareth to become an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States of America. 

Republican Senators were outraged. They complained that:

1. He consistently and constantly re-interpreted the law.
2. He had nothing to say against sodomy.
3. He was opposed to divorce (even for the rich).
4. He was soft on sin, and refused to condemn sinners.
5. He taught that people should care for the poor, the naked, the prisoners, the hungry etc.
6. He had little respect for family values, and was quite scathing about his birth family.
7. He fed the “unworthy” hungry.
8. He told folks to love their enemies.
9. He was unemployed for three years.
10. He was in favour of paying taxes.
11. He thought that foreigners were as worthy as were his native people.
12. He consorted with an enemy Roman Centurion.
13. .He said “let your yes be yes”, and “let your no be no”. (The Republicans at least liked the “no” bit).


Every Republican Senator thought that Jesus was unfit for the Supreme Court. 


Stolen shamelessly from Povey Prattle

Prayer of confession

From the prayer of confession at Seward Memorial United Methodist Church today:

God, you call us to proclaim a gospel we find difficult to practice at times.  You ask us to love as we have been loved.  But our understanding of love is clouded by the experience of failed love, broken love, selfish love.  Remind us of the love you pour out in the act of creation, in the gift of redemption, in the power of inspiration.  And help us to love.  Forgive us for unloving thoughts, words, and deeds, O God whose name and nature are love."

Prayer request

Thanks to those who prayed for little Silas.  He is home and well!