newSpin, the newsletter
May 20, 2013
Bill Lewellis
Published on Monday
• Bishop Paul on leave of absence ... [Bishop Paul writes in DioLight] "Yesterday morning I learned that I shall have to keep still for three to four weeks. This is not a life-threatening condition so long as I obey orders, maintain relative stillness, and follow a carefully designed regimen. My leave of absence began at noon on May 14." Read on.
• Health Insurance through the national plan ... [Diocesan Insurance Committee] Meetings are scheduled for: Tuesday, May 21, 2-4 p.m. or 7-9 p.m. at St. Alban's, Sinking Springs. Wednesday, May 22, 2-4 p.m. or 7-9 p.m. at Trinity, Bethlehem. Thursday, May 23, 7-9 p.m. at St. Stephen's, Wilkes-Barre. More info here.
• The Task Force for Reimagining The Episcopal Church (TREC) is asking for help ... TREC has created a website to invite feedback about the structures, governance, and administration of the Church. It is using Twitter and Facebook as well. Go to the provided TREC Twitter (use #reimaginetec ) and TREC Facebook sites to share your ideas.
• National Cathedral wins preservation grant ... [Episcopal Café] The Washington National Cathedral won first place in preservation grant voting giving it $100,000 towards restoration after the earthquake. Episcopalians and others around the country voted each day to make the Cathedral the top vote getter. Using Twitter and Facebook and their web site the Cathedral reminded voters to click through each day and add to the vote total. Read on.
• Minnesota legalizes gay marriage ... [HuffPost] Minnesota officially became the 12th U.S. state to approve same-sex marriage May 14 when Gov. Mark Dayton appeared before a jubilant crowd to sign a marriage equality bill into law. Read on.
• State-by-State on gay marriage ... [Pew Forum] Here.
• The IRS and liberal churches ... [Andrew Gerns, Episcopal Café] As the IRS vs. Tea Party scandal unfolds, we remember that in 2006 All Saints Episcopal in Pasadena, California was threatened by the IRS under a previous administration. Read on.
• Set me straight ... [Bill] "Feedback" is a new section in the newSpin newsletter. See it below, way below.
SoulSpin
• The Book of Common Prayer ... every edition from 1549 to 1979. Here.
• Prayers and Thanksgivings from the BCP ... Here.
• The Daily Office ... can be read online in Rite I, Rite II or the New Zealand Prayer Book versions. At Mission St. Clare.
• Holy Women, Holy Men ... Download Holy Women, Holy Men as a .pdf file.
• Speaking to the Soul ... An Episcopal Café blog. Sermons, reflections, multimedia meditations and excerpts from books on spirituality. Here.
DioBethSpin
• Jubilate ... Hymnody for Pentecost, 5/19, to the Last Sunday after Pentecost, 11:24, may be downloaded from our DioBeth website.
If you want to receive it in Word and .pdf formats, please signup to
get the next edition (in November) under the "Get Connected" tab on the
right side of the website. Jubilate is published by the Diocese of Bethlehem for our diocesan community and
for free distribution to the world. It is a service of our Liturgy
and Music Commission, specifically Canon Cliff Carr who has been
doing this for more than 30 years.
Members of the St. Matthew Society ... enjoyed their annual gathering yesterday (May 19) afternoon at the Lehigh County Club. They were hosted by Charlie Barebo and Bishop Jack. The St. Matthew Society is an honorary society begun
in 2001 in our diocese to acknowledge and thank those who have chosen to
support the life and work of their parishes through bequests and other planned
gifts. It was founded because planned giving — a ministry bearing fruit not
during our lifetime but for those who follow after us — is crucial to the
future ministry and mission of the church. A planned gift is a carefully
considered way of giving out of one’s accumulated assets, e.g., stocks, bonds,
property, life insurance, that is prearranged through a will, a life income
agreement or a trust arrangement that may provide income during the lifetime of
one or two lives, the remaining principal of which will go to the church to
provide for future anticipated needs and opportunities for ministry and
mission. There is no minimum
gift amount. No gift is too small The easiest way to
make a gift is by way of a bequest in a will. A bequest to a parish tells the
parish and our heirs how important God’s mission is to us. Another simple way we
can give is to list our parish as the final beneficiary on a pension fund, IRA
or insurance policy. There are no legal fees. One simply fills out the
appropriate form. This will not eliminate any other beneficiaries. We may
designate the order in which they will inherit.
• PCC Ministry of Public Witness ... [Diana Marshall] The May 17 News and Action Summary of the Pennsylvania Council of Churches Ministry of Public Witness can be downloaded in pdf format here.
• DioLight ... Read about Bishop Paul's "Leave of Absence" in this fifth issue of DioLight. Back issues are available here: first issue, second, third, fourth.
• Dolores Evans ... got married May 18. Her name is Dolores Evans Smith (no hyphen). [h/t Jane Teter]
• In-Formation in Bethlehem ... The May issue of Canon Kitch's newsletter on lifelong Christian formation resources is available here.
• Vocare #3 ... May 31 to June 2, Kirby House. Blog post here. Facebook event here. Registration here.
• Bishop's Day for Kids 2013 ... June 22 in Scranton and June 29 in Whitehall. More info here. Our friends in Kajo-Keji have sent special greetings to the Children of the Diocese of Bethlehem. Come and see!
• When in our Music God is Glorified ... July 14, a Lovefeast and Song Service of Christian Unity. Here.
• Diocesan level events ... Here and Here.
• DioBeth Website ... newSpin Blog ... Re:Create blog for youth and young adults ... Twitter.DioBeth ... Twitter.Kat Lehman ... Facebook.DioBeth ... Flickr, search under dio_beth
• Public news and info lists ... At the Diobeth website,
enter your name and email in the "Get Connected" box. You
are welcome to subscribe to
any or all of
these. "Bakery" is
our diocesan interactive
list.
ParishSpin
• Painting classes in Mountain Top ... [Janeann Lokken] Have you thought that you might like to give painting a try? St. Martin-in-the-Fields has something that might interest you. Robert Kray of Mountain Top will be holding painting classes at St. Martin’s starting June 6 from 7 to 9 p.m. for ten weeks. For more information you may speak with Mr. Kray at 570-868-3751 or e-mail him at krayrc@msn.com. See some of his work here.
• EfM Graduations
... Here.
• Father Joe Rafferty ... has been called to serve as priest-in-charge at Prince of Peace in Dallas. June 2 will be his first Sunday. Father Rafferty served as a Roman Catholic priest in the Diocese of Scranton for 21 years. He was received as a priest of the Episcopal Church in 2011 and served at Trinity West Pittston as well as a hospice chaplain.
• Tunkhannock
... St. Peter's Tunkhannock is providing a community garden at the
church's new location near the Wyoming County Emergency Center on Route
6, and have invited people of the community to apply for space for the
planting of vegetabes and flowers. Read on.
• Trinity Soup Kitchen in Bethlehem ... Since 1981, five days a week, 52 weeks a year, Trinity Soup Kitchen
serves wholesome, hot lunches to our guests. It's not just about food.
Our guests receive more than hot meals. Hospitality volunteers are here
to help guests with problem-solving or to direct them to other agencies
for the help they need. We have enlisted the Bethlehem Health Bureau,
several local dentists and other agencies for additional education and
aid for our guests. You can help. Volunteer. Contribute food. Make
donations. For more info: The Rev. Elizabeth Miller, Coordinator,
Trinity Soup Kitchen, 44 E. Market Street, Bethlehem, 18018,
610-867-4741. Over the
past five years, the numbers have gone from 80 guests a day to
more than 150.
• Calendar of events in our parishes ... Here.
Rest in peace
• Caitlin Noelle Dickey, 9 ... Caitlin
passed away surrounded by the love
of her family on May 17 after a five year battle with
brain cancer. The
daughter of James R. and Meredith L. (Lucas) Dickey, Caitlin was a
fourth grade student at the Joseph P. Liberati Intermediate School of
Southern Lehigh School District. She was a member of Trinity Episcopal
Church in Bethlehem. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m., on Wednesday, May 22. Find obituary here. [Mother Laura Howell] Please pray for this little one, and for the family who are mourning her passing.
• John Piovane, 73 ... brother of Canon Michael Piovane. John died suddenly on May 12. Find his obituary here. May his soul and the souls of all the departed rest in peace.
• Our young men and women who died recently in Afghanistan and for their families ... Here.
Episcopal/Anglican (beyond DioBeth)
• Episcopal Relief & Development: New website, New URL, Fresh look [EpiscopalRelief.org] Here.
• Bishop Gepert is retiring ... [ENS] The Diocese of Western Michigan elected Whayne Hougland to succeed Bishop Robert Gepert, who is retiring after
serving as bishop of Western Michigan for 12 years. Bishop Gepert was onetime rector of our former church in Birdsboro. The Diocese of Western Michigan covers the western half of the lower
peninsula of Michigan, including Ionia County, with 10,153 members
worshiping in 61 faith communities.
• Episcopal Church launches 'On the Move' ... for churchwide appointments, transitions. Read on.
• House of Deputies newsletter ... Here. Special edition on Thurgood Marshall, here.
• Around the Episcopal Church ... Here.
• Episcopal Church Website ... ENS blog ... Episcopal Web Radio ... Episcopal Church on Facebook ... YouTube ... Twitter ... foursquare ... and Linked-In ...
• Anglican Communion Website ... News Service. ... and News Service on Facebook.
• Good Shepherd and St. John the Evangelist in Milford [one hour East of Scranton at the tri-state juncture of NJ/PA/NY] is seeking an organist and a choir director OR an organist/choir director. More info.
• St. Brigid's seeks Director for Choir and Organist ... St. Brigid’s Episcopal Church in Nazareth, PA, is seeking an Organist/Choir Director. This is a part-time position. Salary is commensurate with experience and educational background. The ideal candidate will be a leader who is energetic and enthusiastic. A knowledge of the Episcopal liturgy would be a plus, or a willingness to learn it. Candidate will be responsible for playing for one service per weekend (Sunday at 10am, or 9am during summer) and an occasional special service (e.g. Ash Wednesday). Church is located at the corner of Washington & Madison, Nazareth PA, 18064. Please submit resume to stbrigidschurch@rcn.com. If additional information is required, please contact Trula at 610-746-3910.
Pre-School Director in Boyertown ... St. John's Lutheran Pre-School, Boyertown, is seeking a Pre-School Director for the 2013-2014 school year beginning August 1. This position requires an education degree with pre-school experience. Resumes may be sent by June 1 to St. John's Lutheran Church, 45 North Reading Ave., Boyertown, PA 19512, Attention: Pre-School Board.
Adult Choir Director in Telford ... St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Telford, PA is seeking a part-time (approximately 10 hours/week September-June) adult choir director. Responsibilities include directing the adult choir at weekly rehearsals, Sunday worship, and special services, recruiting choir members, and planning choir music. For a complete position description and more information, contact Pastor David Christensen at pastor@stpaulstelford.org or Kristine Fosbenner, director of music, at musicdirector@stpaulstelford.org. Resumes must be submitted by June 30 to Pastor Christensen or Kristine Fosbenner at the above email address or to the church at St Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church, 107 W Lincoln Ave, Telford, PA 18969.
• Episcopal Positions (NYC/DC) ... Here.
TaleSpin
• Anyone remember ... [Gawker] that liberal churches — namely, All Saints Episcopal in Pasadena, Calif. — were the victims of a “witch hunt” by the IRS under a former administration? Read on.
• Mount S. Helens, 1980 ... [The Writer's Almanac, May 18] At 8:32 a.m. on May 18 — a Sunday — in 1980, an earthquake struck Mount St. Helens, causing a massive eruption of molten lava that killed 57 people and countless animals. Read on.
• An eMo from Barbara Crafton ... Jerk Squrrels and a Botched Ascension. Read it here.
• It's Thomas Midgeley Day ... [Seth Godin] May 18 would have been his 124th birthday. A fine occasion to think about the effects of industrialization, and what happens when short-term profit-taking meets marketing. He is responsible for millions of deaths. Not directly, of course, but by, "just doing his job," and then pushing hard to market ideas he knew weren't true—so he and his bosses could turn a profit. ... We have to balance the undeniable benefits of progress, innovation and industry with the costs to all concerned. Read on.
• Proof of heaven popular, except with the church ... [CNN Belief Blog, John Blake] Heaven used to be a mystery, a place glimpsed only by mystics and
prophets. But popular culture is filled with firsthand accounts from all
sorts of people who claim that they, too, have proofs of heaven after
undergoing near-death experiences.
Yet the popularity of these stories raises another question: Why doesn’t the church talk about heaven anymore? While the church may be reluctant to talk about heaven, publishers have
become true believers. The sales figures for books on heaven are divine. This is a well-done and interesting piece. Read on.
• For second careers, a leap of faith ... [WSJournal] After decades of pursuing money, titles and ever more stuff, baby
boomers are coming to a big realization: Success and security just
aren't enough anymore. They want something more fulfilling out of life,
something that feeds their spiritual side and connects them to a bigger
purpose. For many, the answer is embracing faith—and devoting their lives to serving others.
Flocks of people in their 50s and 60s are putting aside thoughts of a
comfortable retirement and heading to theological school, where they've
become the fastest-growing age group in recent years. Read on.
HeadSpin
• Oh no, Pat, not again ... [HuffPost]
Responding to a question from a viewer, Pat Robertson said on his 700 Club that married men "have a tendency to wander" and it is the spurned wife's job to make sure the home is so enticing, he doesn't want to stray. Read on.
• Being right ... [Bishop Paul] We don't maintain the unity of Christ's Church by "being right." The late Rabbi Edwin Friedman said in his lectures on family systems that no aquarium survives unless some fish is willing to eat the garbage. [From "Conflict Advances Truth: Don't Confuse Being Valuable with Being Right" in Bishop Paul Marshall's book "Messages in the Mall: Looking at Life in 600 Words or Less"]
Evangelical Lutheran
• NEPA Synod website ... Here.
• ELCA website ... Here.
• ELCA News Service ... Here.
• ELCA's blogs may be found here. See especially "Web and Multimedia Development."
Moravian
• Moravian Church in North America website.
• Moravian Church Northern Province website.
• Moravian Theological Seminary website.
United Methodist
• UMR Communications will cease operations on May 31 ... Finding no viable plan for reversing financial losses of recent months, UMR Communications will cease operations on May 31. UMR Communications (UMRC) publishes the United Methodist Reporter in print and digital formats and online, and provides printing and communication services to churches and other nonprofits. The final print Reporter will carry the date June 7, but will be mailed and printed by May 31. Read on.
• Communication newsletter (tips and tools) Here.
• UMC website Here.
• News Service Here.
• Communication Resources ... Start here.
• Eastern PA Conference website Here. Facebook Here. Bishop Peggy Johnson's blog Here.
Roman Catholic
• Reconfiguring the Archdiocese of Boston ... [Commonweal] Last fall, the Archdiocese of Boston released an ambitious plan designed
to stem the decline it has experienced—in priests, Mass attendance, and
treasure—since the 2002 wave of sexual-abuse scandals. The plan, called "Disciples in Mission,"
will be phased in throughout Boston’s 288 parishes over five years.
Cardinal Seán O’Malley hopes it will not only slow the decline of the
archdiocese—some of it self-inflicted, some caused by powers beyond its
control—but will also create the conditions for eventual growth. Whether
the plan will work remains an open question. That something
needs to be done is a sentiment shared widely among Boston-area
Catholics. That recognition—along with the openness to change it
implies—may be the most important factor in the plan’s prospects for
success. ... Some 50 years ago, roughly two in three Catholics attended Mass on Sunday. Today, one in six. And, back then, there was a surplus of priests. ... The new plan directs that “the 288 parishes of the Archdiocese of Boston be organized
into approximately 135 Parish Collaboratives, these collaboratives
consisting usually of two or three parishes, but sometimes only one,
and, in rare occasions four parishes.” Each collaborative will be
assigned one pastor—a clear response to the seminary’s single-digit
graduating classes. Read on.
• Diocese of Allentown ... Here.
• Diocese of Scranton ... Here.
• United States Conference of Catholic Bishops ... Here.
• Catholic News Service ... Here.
The Vatican
• Pope Francis on the economic and financial crisis ... [Guardian UK] "We have created new idols. The worship of the golden calf of old has found a new and heartless image in the cult of money and the dictatorship of an economy which is faceless and lacking any truly humane goal." More here. Full text of the speech here.
• Liberation theology redux: A new pope revives an old debate ... [Religion Link] Liberation theology is a movement that recalls the kind of ideological clashes that were considered obsolete when the Cold War ended. But the election of Pope Francis, a vocal advocate for the poor as a priest and bishop in Argentina, and now as pope, has renewed debates about this controversial strain of theology. This edition of ReligionLink provides resources for reporters to explore the role of liberation theology today, and the wider issue of Christianity’s role in pushing for changes to economic and political systems. More here.
• Vatican website ... Here.
• Vatican Information Service blog ... Here.
• Vatican News/Info Portal ... Here.
• Helping someone who is grieving ... [American Cancer Society, h/t Diana Marshall] Here.
• Beginning a national conversation on genetic testing for breast cancer ... [NYTimes Op-Ed] Angelina Jolie reveals that she underwent a
double-breast mastectomy in order to reduce her chances of developing
breast cancer, which testing has shown she is predisposed for. "On April
27, I finished the three months of medical procedures that the
mastectomies involved," she writes. " ... I am writing about it now
because I hope that other women can benefit from my experience. Cancer
is still a word that strikes fear into people’s hearts, producing a deep
sense of powerlessness. But today it is possible to find out through a
blood test whether you are highly susceptible to breast and ovarian
cancer, and then take action." She continues: "I choose not to keep my
story private because there are many women who do not know that they
might be living under the shadow of cancer. It is my hope that they,
too, will be able to get gene tested, and that if they have a high risk
they, too, will know that they have strong options." Jezebel's Laura Beck called Jolie's op-ed "stunning." Joan Walsh at Salon
effusively praised Jolie: "It takes courage for an international sex
symbol (and renowned actress and humanitarian) to tell the public she
had a double mastectomy." But Walsh noted some caveats to Jolie's
detailed piece: "It would be wonderful if Jolie’s essay motivated more
women to learn more about their breast cancer risk. It would be sad if
it scared them out of screening, or into getting unnecessary
mastectomies." Jen Doll here at The Atlantic Wire
says that kind of open dialogue is "a powerful step." Meanwhile Boing
Boing's Xeni Jardin, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in late 2011, responded on Twitter: "Angelina Jolie didn't owe you that piece ... but it was clear headed and generous. It's enough. Not owed but enough." [h/t The Atlantic Wire]
The cost of Angelina Jolie's preventive surgery ... [The Guardian, UK] Sadhbh
Walshe draws attention to the unmentioned reality of the costs of the
kind of testing and preventive treatment for breast cancer that actress
Angelina Jolie described in her Tuesday op-ed about obtaining a double-mastectomy. "[Jolie's] goal was to encourage
other women at high risk of developing cancer to explore their choices
and to take whatever steps may be necessary to save their own lives.
Unfortunately the reality for many women in America and elsewhere is
that quite often when it comes to making decisions about their health,
they often have no choice at all. ... Many women in similar
circumstances will no doubt be comforted and encouraged by her
experience and her decision to share it. She does have one major
advantage over a lot of women dealing with cancer or facing the prospect
of developing cancer, however, and this is that for her money is not an
object." In their report for The New York Times, Denise
Grady, Tara Parker-Pope, and Pam Belluck point out another pitfall:
"[Jolie's] disclosure could be misinterpreted by other women, fueling
the trend toward mastectomies that are not medically necessary for many
early-stage breast cancers. In recent years, doctors have reported a
virtual epidemic of preventive mastectomies among women who have cancer
in one breast and decide to remove the healthy one as well, even though
they do not have genetic mutations that increase their risk and their
odds of a second breast cancer are very low." [h/t The Atlantic Wire]
• Local women who have had the preventive treastment for breast cancer ... [The Morning Call] Here and Here.
• How slower brain tracks fast-moving objects ... [MercuryNews.com] The human brain is far slower than a Major League fastball or a blistering tennis serve -- but it has figured out a workaround. New research by UC Berkeley scientists solves a puzzle that has long mystified anyone who has watched, in awe, as elite athletes respond to incoming balls that can surpass 90 mph. Former Yankees catcher Yogi Berra pondered the mystery, once asking: "How can you think and hit at the same time?" You can't, because there's not time for both. The brain, however, perceives speeding objects as further along in their trajectory than seen by the eyes, giving us time to respond, according to research by Gerrit Maus, lead author of a paper published recently in the journal Neuron. Read on.
• Lonelinss can ravage our mind and body ... [The New Republic, Judith Shulevitz] Sometime in the late ’50s, Frieda Fromm-Reichmann sat down to write an essay about a subject that had been mostly overlooked by other psychoanalysts up to that point. Even Freud had only touched on it in passing. She was not sure, she wrote, “what inner forces” made her struggle with the problem of loneliness, though she had a notion. It might have been the young female catatonic patient who began to communicate only when Fromm-Reichmann asked her how lonely she was. “She raised her hand with her thumb lifted, the other four fingers bent toward her palm,” Fromm-Reichmann wrote. The thumb stood alone, “isolated from the four hidden fingers.” Fromm-Reichmann responded gently, “That lonely?” And at that, the woman’s “facial expression loosened up as though in great relief and gratitude, and her fingers opened.” Read on.
• Resources for caregivers ... Here.
• Medline Plus ... Here.
• WebMD ... Here.
• Alzheimers.gov ... For people helping people with Alzheimers. Here.
Media/Films/DVD/TV/Books/Music/Tech
• Aram Basmadjian ... one of the most accomplished young organ virtuosos in America, is artist in residence at Trinity Bethlehem. Bio, last updated Jan. 2011, here. Aram is renowned among organists for his exciting and spectacular CD
recordings and nation-wide tours using Allen theater and church organs. See and hear Aram on YouTube: One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight and nine.
• The Comprehensive Guide to Facebook Privacy Setting 2013 ... [Techlicious] Here.
• The Six Biggest Facebook Scams ... [Techlicious] Here.
• Twitter 101 ... [Techlicious] Here.
• Life Skills: How to do almost anything ... [Chicago Tribune] From dealing with customer service, cleaning and keeping your desk clean, repotting a house plant, turning down a request and washing a dog. Many more. The next step: Google "Life Skills."
• From Dante to Dan Brown ... [BBC] 10 things about hell. Here.
• E-Books and Democracy: Getting your e-books from the public library ... [NYTimes Op-Ed] Wrestling with my newspaper on the subway recently, I noticed the woman
next to me reading a book on her smartphone. “That has to hurt your
eyes,” I commented. Not missing a beat, she replied, in true New York
style, “My font is bigger than yours.” She was right. ... According to national surveys, most Americans
don’t know they can download library e-books anywhere and on any device. Read on.
• Free eBooks by Project Gutenberg ... Here.
• Free Audiobooks from LibriVox ... Here.
• Free Audiobooks and eBooks ... Here and Here.
• Google Books ... Millions of books you can preview or read free. Here.
• The Online Books Page ... from UPenn. Here.
• More free eBooks and Audiobooks ... [Techlicious] Here.
Feedback
• Tell me what I'm doing wrong, tell me how to do it better ... [Bill] You have probably surmised by now that the editor of the newSpin newsletter leans socially, theologically and politically left. Set me straight. At the same time, recognize that it's Bill you're talking to, not the Bishop, the Archdeacon or anyone with authority in the diocese. There's a note at the bottom of the newsletter: The views expressed,
implied or inferred in items
or links contained
in the newsletter
or the blog do not represent
the official view
of the Diocese of
Bethlehem unless
expressed by or forwarded
from the Bishop or the
Archdeacon as an
official communication. Email me: blewellis@diobeth.org. Thanks.
• In defense of Carbon Dioxide ... [W. Richard Guyer] With respect to carbon dioxide. This is a political issue which is not settled by a long shot. I suggest that you read an article in the WSJ (May 8) which indicates the benefits of CO2 in terms of plant efficiencies with respect to photosynthesis and food product and its relationship to the increased amount of water required by plants at lower than 400 ppm. I wonder where God stands on this issue? The motivations appear more political (read as control and monetary) than environmental stewardship. As I have said this is not a settled issue and I hope that you will present some of the other side of this issue.
[Bill] Dick's comments are in response to an item in the May 13 newSpin on a NYTimes article (May 10) that said "the most important heat-trapping gas in the atmosphere,
carbon dioxide, has passed a long-feared milestone not seen on the earth for millions of
years, a sobering reminder that decades of efforts to bring
human-produced emissions under control are faltering. The best available evidence suggests the amount of the gas in the air
has not been this high for at least three million years, before humans
evolved, and scientists believe the rise portends large changes in the
climate and the level of the sea.
The WSJournal column Dick refers us to begins: "Of all of the world's chemical compounds, none has a worse reputation
than carbon dioxide. Thanks to the single-minded demonization of this
natural and essential atmospheric gas by advocates of government control
of energy production, the conventional wisdom about carbon dioxide is
that it is a dangerous pollutant. That's simply not the case. Contrary
to what some would have us believe, increased carbon dioxide in the
atmosphere will benefit the increasing population on the planet by
increasing agricultural productivity." The column was written by Harrison H. Schmitt, an adjunct professor of engineering at the University
of Wisconsin-Madison who was was an Apollo 17 astronaut and a former U.S.
senator from New Mexico, and by William Happer, a professor of physics at
Princeton University and a former director of the office of energy
research at the U.S. Department of Energy.
In yesterday's (May 19) Sunday Review, the NYTimes editorial board adds these comments.
Resources
• In-Formation in Bethlehem ... May issue here.
• Insights into Religion ... Here.
• Forward Movement ... May News.
• The Alban Institute ... Here.
• ECF Vital Practices ... Here.
• Faith in Public Life ... Here.
• Religion&Ethics News Weekly (PBS) ... Here.
• The Chalice, a publication created by Joan DeAcetis for older adults and caretakers. Download issues here.
• Weekly Bulletin Inserts from the Episcopal Church ... Here.
• Episcopal Web Radio ... Here.
• Updated Episcopal Church canons and constitution ... Here.
• Religion News Service Daily Roundup ... here.
• National Catholic Reporter ... here.
• Back issues of the newSpin newsletter ... here.
• Episcopal/Anglican
(1) The Episcopal Church
(2) Episcopal News Service
(3) Episcopal Café
(4) AngicansOnline.
(5) AnglicansOnline News Centre.
• Daily Office ... Lectionary Page ... Lectionary ... Oremus Bible Browser ... Revised Common Lectionary
*************
Comments are welcome at the newSpin blog.
Click there on the title of the current newsletter. Comment below. As
soon as the
newsletter is completed, usually on
Monday, it is uploaded to the
blog and posted on Bakery and on a
ChurchPost list of some 1,200
addresses. Many recipients often
forward it to others. The
newsletter comes, of
course, with some spin
from the editor.
The views expressed,
implied or inferred in items
or links contained
in the newsletter
or the blog do not represent
the official view
of the Diocese of
Bethlehem unless
expressed by or forwarded
from the Bishop or the
Archdeacon as an
official communication. If
you're wondering why you
haven't seen something related
to your parish or
agency here, it's probably
because no one has sent
relevant info. If you think something about
your parish or agency merits
inclusion, send email to Bill.
Bill Lewellis, Diocese of Bethlehem, retired
Communication Minister/Editor (1986-2010), Canon Theologian (1998)
Blog , Email (c)610-393-1833
Be attentive. Be intelligent. Be reasonable. Be responsible.
Be in Love. And, if necessary, change. [Bernard Lonergan]
