"For a half hour or longer a completely innocent woman and her daughter were intimidated in the hot Arizona sun on the side of the road by a peace officer and for what reason? Racial profiling in Arizona? Is this what we have come to?"
Pastor Kevin Kanouse, our Northern Texas - Northern Louisiana bishop, shares a weekly devotion called "Lifelines." For next week's edition he wrote about the way a member of our synod's staff was treated on a highway in Arizona.
Read "Hospitality and Humility Shake Hands" at this link:
http://hosted.verticalresponse.com/481563/b9e6ca640f/1774501452/3b643fe3b7/
Bishop Kanouse writes, "Again, the law has been enforced and we have every right to write laws and enforce them. But... we've heard for two weeks that the Pharisees and religious leaders were just trying to keep the law when they made their choices, too. It's about the law, isn't it? It's all about the law...? Or is it? In our lives, Jesus expects more. As the writer to the Hebrews this weeks says it: "Let mutual love continue. Show hospitality to strangers, for in so doing some have entertained angels unawares." It is Christ's law of mutual love that we are called to obey, the law of humility, the law of empathy for our neighbor and those who are least among us.
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Monday, August 23, 2010
'Coming home' five years after Katrina
NCC presents an NBC special on August 29
'Coming home' five years after Katrina struck
Five years after Hurricane Katrina, many families are still struggling to return home. "Coming Home: Hurricane Katrina 5 Years Later," is their story. [http://www.ncccusa.org/news/100818cominghome.html]
"You have to remember one thing when you drive through my city," says Wanda, "behind every broken window...behind every boarded up empty house...There is a family trying to come home.
Wanda was one of the thousands of families left homeless or displaced following Hurricane Katrina. Five years later, some of these families are still trying to return home. The most destructive hurricane in U.S. history inspired a movement that brought thousands of volunteers from all over the world taking leave from their jobs, their families to work alongside families and communities desperately trying to return home.
The documentary -- alternately heart wrenching and deeply inspiring -- is presented by the National Council of Churches and produced by the Presbyterian Church (USA), on many NBC stations beginning August 29.
(If your local station isn't carrying this important show, call the station management and tell them how much you'd like to see it.)
'Coming home' five years after Katrina struck
Five years after Hurricane Katrina, many families are still struggling to return home. "Coming Home: Hurricane Katrina 5 Years Later," is their story. [http://www.ncccusa.org/news/100818cominghome.html]
"You have to remember one thing when you drive through my city," says Wanda, "behind every broken window...behind every boarded up empty house...There is a family trying to come home.
Wanda was one of the thousands of families left homeless or displaced following Hurricane Katrina. Five years later, some of these families are still trying to return home. The most destructive hurricane in U.S. history inspired a movement that brought thousands of volunteers from all over the world taking leave from their jobs, their families to work alongside families and communities desperately trying to return home.
The documentary -- alternately heart wrenching and deeply inspiring -- is presented by the National Council of Churches and produced by the Presbyterian Church (USA), on many NBC stations beginning August 29.
(If your local station isn't carrying this important show, call the station management and tell them how much you'd like to see it.)
Friday, August 20, 2010
Exploring the power of language used to talk about God and one another...
The National Council of Churches reports on the work of an ecumenical group that explored the power of language used to talk about God and one another.
Read the entire article: http://www.ncccusa.org/news/100818language.html
A diverse group of Christians gathered in Chicago, August 9-11 to explore the power of language Christians use to talk about God and one another.
The participants represented a broad spectrum of ages, races, cultural backgrounds, gender, sexual orientations, abilities, denominations/communions, and professional fields.
“Our vision,” said the Rev. Ann Tiemeyer, Program Director for Women’s Ministries at the National Council of Churches, “is for many conversations that take diverse contexts seriously in exploring the power of language (words, symbols or images) and how it can be used in life-giving ways that extend the hospitality of the church’s mission within the local church and community.”
“This vision is grounded in the Gospel mandate to affirm life and carry forth the healing love of God found within the gospel of Jesus Christ in the face of the death-dealing effects of sin in our world,” Tiemeyer said.
The gathering approached language issues using a descriptive rather than a proscriptive method. The conversation was grounded in relationship and listening to each others’ stories of experiencing the power of language and the breaking through of God’s healing.
Click the link to the complete story: http://www.ncccusa.org/news/100818language.html
Read the entire article: http://www.ncccusa.org/news/100818language.html
A diverse group of Christians gathered in Chicago, August 9-11 to explore the power of language Christians use to talk about God and one another.
The participants represented a broad spectrum of ages, races, cultural backgrounds, gender, sexual orientations, abilities, denominations/communions, and professional fields.
“Our vision,” said the Rev. Ann Tiemeyer, Program Director for Women’s Ministries at the National Council of Churches, “is for many conversations that take diverse contexts seriously in exploring the power of language (words, symbols or images) and how it can be used in life-giving ways that extend the hospitality of the church’s mission within the local church and community.”
“This vision is grounded in the Gospel mandate to affirm life and carry forth the healing love of God found within the gospel of Jesus Christ in the face of the death-dealing effects of sin in our world,” Tiemeyer said.
The gathering approached language issues using a descriptive rather than a proscriptive method. The conversation was grounded in relationship and listening to each others’ stories of experiencing the power of language and the breaking through of God’s healing.
Click the link to the complete story: http://www.ncccusa.org/news/100818language.html
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Gathering of Spirits Celebration
Gathering of Spirits Celebration August 28 at the Grunewald Guild - http://www.artfaith.com/
You are invited to a very special luncheon to conclude our 30th Summer at the Grunewald Guild.
Nathan will be making a fantastic meal at 12:30 on Saturday, August 28. Don't miss it! The luncheon costs only $12, and overnight stays are available for only $30 more.
Or, stay for all of the Envisioning Week (Aug. 23-29), and enjoy Open Studios, great worship & fellowship, and participate in planning the future offerings of the Guild.
Contact us at office@artfaith.com or (509) 763-3693 for reservations.
You are invited to a very special luncheon to conclude our 30th Summer at the Grunewald Guild.
Nathan will be making a fantastic meal at 12:30 on Saturday, August 28. Don't miss it! The luncheon costs only $12, and overnight stays are available for only $30 more.
Or, stay for all of the Envisioning Week (Aug. 23-29), and enjoy Open Studios, great worship & fellowship, and participate in planning the future offerings of the Guild.
Contact us at office@artfaith.com or (509) 763-3693 for reservations.
Right Wing Blogger Provoked Attack On Islamic Center
Jim Wall sheds light on the heat.
Right Wing Blogger Provoked Attack On Islamic Center.
The conservative anger that arose in the land last summer with the false furor over the “Kill Grandma” panels, has returned in a new form.
After smoldering for many months, this years’s conservative wild fire roared into full flame after the White House iftar dinner where President Obama spoke of the right of Muslims to build an Islamic community center in New York City, two city blocks away from the site where the World Trade Center buildings were destroyed on 911.
See the entire piece at Jim's blog: http://wallwritings.wordpress.com/2010/08/18/right-wing-blogger-provoked-attack-on-islamic-center/
Right Wing Blogger Provoked Attack On Islamic Center.
The conservative anger that arose in the land last summer with the false furor over the “Kill Grandma” panels, has returned in a new form.
After smoldering for many months, this years’s conservative wild fire roared into full flame after the White House iftar dinner where President Obama spoke of the right of Muslims to build an Islamic community center in New York City, two city blocks away from the site where the World Trade Center buildings were destroyed on 911.
See the entire piece at Jim's blog: http://wallwritings.wordpress.com/2010/08/18/right-wing-blogger-provoked-attack-on-islamic-center/
The Tears of Gaza Must Be Our Tears
Empathy is perhaps the best starting point for change.
See Chris Hedges' speech: The Tears of Gaza Must Be Our Tears
Muslim, Christian or Jew, we ignore this suffering at the peril of our own humanity. As Rachel Corrie wrote in her last letter to her parents, “I could live a comfortable life and possibly, with no effort at all, exist in complete unawareness of my participation in genocide.”
Click the link: http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/the_tears_of_gaza_must_be_our_tears_20100809/
See Chris Hedges' speech: The Tears of Gaza Must Be Our Tears
Muslim, Christian or Jew, we ignore this suffering at the peril of our own humanity. As Rachel Corrie wrote in her last letter to her parents, “I could live a comfortable life and possibly, with no effort at all, exist in complete unawareness of my participation in genocide.”
Click the link: http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/the_tears_of_gaza_must_be_our_tears_20100809/
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