Words on Emerging Church

This link leads to interesting observations on the emerging church (emerging conversation as Mclaren prefers to call it) in America and across the pond...

Are the English really more comfortable than Americans with post-modernism? I'm not sure because I haven't been there recently but Americans aren't fans of many philosophies.

Lent Program

Wednesday, March 22, The Rev. Joshua Brower, Justice for Children International, 6 p.m. prayer and meal, program at 7 p.m. Josh has just returned from a trip to Cambodia where he saw first-hand aid to protect children from trafficking. Here's a link to a Lifetime movie with Myra Sorvino on this subject. Here's another link to an informational website.

A Reality Check

The community is invited to St. John's

A Reality Check

Wednesday, March 8th, 7 p.m. (Adults)
Wednesday, March 15th 7 p.m. (Adults and middle school / high school youth)

Beth Cozzolino
Columbia County District Attorney

Speaks on the use of the Internet:
What you should know.

The first talk on March 8th is geared especially for adults. The talk on March 15th is for families especially with kids in middle school and high school.

There is no charge.

Towards understanding an anti-religious stance

Here's an interesting post.

While I haven't actually had any conversations locally with people who strongly advocate a non-religious stance, I have heard about it in the news. Around here if someone is anti-religious we just don't talk about it.

But I do think that religious people need to know what others think about religion -- that, for instance, it has a checkered history. This isn't so hard to learn. When I watched HBO's Carnivale the officially religious person was the clear villian and he seemed little more than a cardboard character.

I watched Dawson's Creek and the religious aunt was painful to behold... it took quite a while for her to seem anything more than a fussy, prim... rather puritanical lady. Eventually one began to see that she was a human being struggling with the challenges of living with and loving a troubled niece.

I've come to my acceptance of Christ and Christianity through life lived and suffered, with the questions that come. I've found extraordinary responses to these questions. They are responses worth living with, questioning them with all my heart and mind... and never made to believe that questioning God or man is bad. Quite the contrary I am challenged to get beyond my own status quo.

Funeral Service for Barb Rousseau

Barb Rousseau died early this morning, Thursday, Dec. 22. Valenti & Richards Funeral Directors... wake, Friday, Dec. 23rd, Valenti & Richards (Town Hall Road). Burial Mass for the Dead, Saturday, Dec. 24th, 1 p.m. at St. John's.

Condolences to Mike. Memorials to St. John's.

Christmas Services

Worship with us Christmas

Christmas Eve
7 p.m. The Holy Eucharist and the Giving Tree, the Varriale Sisters singing
(Bring a gift if your child is not a part of the Sunday School, give it to an usher to place under the tree.)
10:30 p.m. Festival of Carols
11:00 p.m Mass of the Nativity, Eric Hofmanis, guitarist
Christmas Day
10 a.m. Holy Eucharist

On leaving the charismatic church

Here's an article I found interesting and well written... and it might well raise some questions we can get to later.

Extraordinary article: Dancing with Terrorists

Here's a piece worth thinking about.

More on the aftermath of Katerina

Here's New Orleans on the August 30th.

Episcopal Relief and Development may be reached at this site where donations may be made directly.

And here is a prayer from Fr. Jake's site.

A prayer offered by Renee Miller;

O God, we remember when the disciples of Jesus were terrified after a long night on a turbulent sea. When they cried to you for help, you stilled the sea and brought them to safety. We ask now that you comfort and still the hearts of those suffering from the effects of Hurricane Katrina. We pray for those who have been displaced and who now must return to homes destroyed or damaged by the storm. We pray for those whose lives were lost and for those who now must grieve the loss of a loved one. We pray for those who are attempting to offer help and relief to victims. While we wonder why such devastation can occur, where lives and property can seem held so capriciously in the hand of what is uncontrollable, we know, O God, that you count every hair on our head and that our names are written on the palm of your hand. Let your loving grace wash over those who must now face damaged lives, homes, and possessions. Hold them close to yourself until they are sure of the security of your loving embrace. Calm their hearts and still their souls, O Lord. We ask this for the sake of your love. AMEN.