Speaker Profiles

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Speaker Profiles 2020 ECW Province V Annual Meeting Speaker Profiles 1 The Rev. Rosalind Hughes Church of the Epiphany Euclid, OH Responding to Gun Violence O God whose Name is love and whose Word is welcome: You have made each of us in your own image. You have given us breath so that we can contemplate the climb out of the valley of the shadow of death. You have connected us in ways beyond our imagination, threading us together with your Spirit so that even when we are apart, our lives support one another; so that your love, unbound, may grow between us. Even as we shelter from a different kind of harm, we pray that you will continue to comfort and console all who grieve the gun violence that besets us. We ask your inspiration for those who act on your command to love your children, to care for your creation, to heal this nation. May your will win out here as in heaven. Deliver us from the evil of gun violence and all evil ideas and ideologies that inspire it. Let your Spirit of life and truth be our only fire power. Let your love be our only temptation. Let your presence be our protection and our provocation in this and at all times and in all places. Amen 2 Bishops United Against Gun Violence is a network of more than 100 Episcopal bishops working to curtail the epidemic of gun violence in the United States. Bishop Steven Miller, Diocese of Milwaukee – one of 3 conveners Bishop Jennifer Baskerville-Burrows, Diocese of Indianapolis Bishop Tom Breidenthal, Diocese of Southern Ohio Bishop Wendell Gibbs (retired), Diocese of Michigan Bishop Mark Hollingsworth, Diocese of Ohio Bishop Whayne Hougland, Diocese of Western Michigan Bishop Jeff Lee, Diocese of Chicago Bishop Bonnie Perry, Diocese of Michigan Bishop Rayford Ray, Diocese of Northern Michigan Bishop Cate Waynick, (provisional) Diocese of Eastern Michigan Four leaders of Bishops United Against Gun Violence have published an op-ed in Religion News Service expressing concern about the increase in gun sales during the coronavirus pandemic. "As our nation struggles to contain the COVID-19 pandemic, gun sales are surging," they write, "Such sales are always seasonal, but according to the FBI's analysis of data from licensed gun stores, Americans bought 1 million more guns last month than are normally sold at this time of year." Bishopsagainstgunviolence.org 3 Pushing guns during a pandemic April 8, 2020 Bishops United Against Gun Violence Religion News Service (RNS) religionnews.com Semiautomatic handguns are displayed at Duke's Sport Shop on March 25, 2020, in New Castle, Pennsylvania. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic) (RNS) — In the midst of one plague, we are sowing the seeds of another. As our nation struggles to contain the COVID-19 pandemic, gun sales are surging. Such sales are always seasonal, but according to the FBI’s analysis of data from licensed gun stores, Americans bought 1 million more guns last month than are normally sold at this time of year. Indeed, the nation’s licensed gun sellers moved more merchandise in March than in any month in recent his- tory, save for January 2013, the month after the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School, and the month in which President Barack Obama was inaugurated for his second term. According to a Newsy/Ipsos survey, 1 in 20 households has purchased a gun in response to the pandemic. As bishops of the Episcopal Church, we are concerned that the proliferation of weapons in our society will result not in greater safety, but in greater violence. The reasons for this surge are easily understood, but they are troubling, nonetheless. People fear a breakdown in the social order. People fear that virus-depleted law enforcement agencies will respond more slowly to calls for help. People fear that nonviolent offenders released from prisons where the pandemic is spreading rapidly will turn to crime when they are free. But every gun purchase comes with attendant risk, especially during this time when most U.S. residents are being asked to stay at home. A 2014 review in the Annals of Internal Medicine concluded that having a firearm in the home, even when properly stored, triples the risk a resident of the home will die by suicide. This is a particular concern at a time of social isolation and economic uncertainty. People protest the National Rifle Association’s influence in national gun control policies. (Photo by Josh Lopez/Creative Commons) 4 About 4.5 million women report being threatened by a partner with a gun. Abused women are five times more likely to be killed if their abuser has a firearm. These numbers suggest that women sheltering with gun- owning abusers are in greater danger than ever. A 2015 study in the Journal of Urban Health estimated as many as 4.6 million children in America live in homes with unsecured guns, and children are home all day now because schools are not in session. Bishops United Against Gun Violence, the network we represent, supports a number of commonsense gun reforms that enjoy high levels of bipartisan support. Our agenda includes background checks on all gun pur- chasers, handgun purchaser licensing, restrictions on gun ownership by domestic abusers and safe storage of firearms. Our country would be a safer place today if these policies were in effect. Yet in this moment of mutual need, we are troubled to find the National Rifle Association stoking fears of social disintegration to sell more guns. The NRA’s aggressive lobbying to keep gun stores open while other businesses are closed, coupled with its litigious response to governors who have not granted them this privileged status, makes it clear, once again, that it values the interest of gun manufacturers over the safety of our country. Legislation that could help protect lives is long overdue but unlikely to be enacted while Congress is rightly occupied by the COVID-19 pandemic. So, we write today not only as advocates, but as pastors, imploring you to keep yourself and your loved ones safe. Just as you take care to protect yourself against infection in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, so we urge you to protect yourself and your loved ones from circumstances in which gun violence is likely to oc- cur. If you have a gun in your home, is it properly secured? If your child is visiting other homes, do you know whether a gun is present and whether it is secured? Are you aware of someone forced to shelter with a potentially violent family member? What can you do to help this person stay safe? Do you know someone suffering from depression that might be heightened by the sense of powerlessness that affects us all during this pandemic? How can you help to ease this isolation? As advocates, we remain committed to revising our country’s appallingly lax gun laws. We lament the cur- rent surge in gun purchases, and we urge you to join us in mitigating the violence that accompanies it through small but courageous acts of attention, compassion, and concern. (Bishops Ian Douglas of Connecticut, Daniel Gutiérrez of Pennsylvania and Steven Miller of Milwaukee are co-conveners of Bishops United Against Gun Violence, a network of more than 100 Episcopal bishops that advocates policies and legislation to reduce the number of people in the United States killed or wounded by gunfire. Bishop Mark Beckwith is a founding co-convener. The views expressed in this commentary do not necessarily reflect those of Religion News Service.) 5 SOJO.NET WHY I'VE MADE 100 ORANGE STOLES ADDRESSING GUN VIOLENCE BY ROSALIND C. HUGHES SEP 26, 2019 Outside of the Ohio State House on Sept. 18, an eclectic group had gathered to demand that the legislators #DoSomething about gun violence. Across the square, I noticed an orange stole draped across a deacon. I have been making orange clergy stoles for gun violence awareness and sending them out to friends and strangers alike since 2016, when a colleague seeded the idea of bringing the #WearOrange movement to church. The #WearOrange movement began with a group of teenagers in Chicago whose friend, Hadiya Pendleton, was shot to death in a park near her school in 2013. Hadiya was 15. Her murder made the headlines because she had played with her school band at President Obama’s second Inauguration celebrations only the week before. First Lady Michelle Obama attended her funeral. A few weeks earlier, the world was reeling from the murders of 20 small children and six of their trusted adults at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn. Three months after Hadiya’s missed 16th birthday, a man with a fake pass killed 12 people and injured eight more at the Washington Navy Yard, a military facility replete with guards and guns. In May 2014, a man killed seven strangers and himself after failing to gain entry to a sorority house in Santa Barbara, Calif. Two weeks after the first National Gun Violence Awareness (#WearOrange) Day in June 2015, a young man intent on igniting a race war sat quietly through a Bible study at Mother Emmanuel AME church in Charleston, S.C., before murdering nine Christians during their prayer. President Obama sang “Amazing Grace” at the pastor’s funeral. When publicity began for the second national #WearOrange Day, my friend and colleague, the Rev. C. Eric Funston, posted on Facebook that if he had an orange stole, he would wear it to church the next Sunday. Later, he told me that while we may not think of orange as a standard liturgical color, once it was an accepted alternative to the green of “ordinary time.” What’s more, “amongst those who assign symbolic or allegorical meaning to colors, orange is considered the color of warning and prophecy.” 6 I heard Eric’s call to raise up the awareness of gun violence within the church that preaches peace and life and offered to make us an orange stole each.
Recommended publications
  • 2018 Annual Report
    ANNUAL REPORT 2018 Message from our CEO Dear Friends, “Vision is seeing something before you see it, so that you can actually see it” (author: unknown). The aforementioned quote not only reflects a powerfully insightful message, it also represents just how relevant it is to what we’ve experienced over the past year at Mariners Inn. We officially embarked on a journey to expand our mission and services in a way that will continue to successfully address the needs of the vulnerable target population that are seeking support to combat the disease of addiction and homelessness. We continue to be blessed beyond measure, because there is no greater feeling than helping to save lives. We recognize that our fortunate position to be able to do so would not be possible without the unwavering support of the community, our friends, donors and stakeholders. It is tremendously challenging for nonprofits in the human service arena to secure the type of fiduciary support that will contribute to the long-term general operating needs of organizations like ours. While that factual premise is supported by the data related to agencies providing services to those in need of help to regain their dignity and respect, it’s not a barrier to our success. We remain steadfastly committed to providing the type of services, resources, compassionate professionalism, expertise and love to the people we serve with a desired outcome of them returning to their families and the community clean, sober and ready to confidently embrace the future. Thank you for believing in us and our mission.
    [Show full text]
  • Convention Takes Flight by Ri C H E L L E Th O M P S O N in T E R C H a N G E E D I T O R
    CONGREGATIONS | NEWCOMERS | FORMATION | MISSION NOVEMBER 2011 Volume XXXVIV, No.9 Interchange www.diosohio.org news from the Diocese of Southern Ohio TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALL GAME Convention takes flight BY RICHELLE THO M PSON INTERCHANGE EDITOR In a city where impossible dreams took flight, the Diocese of Southern Ohio will gather for its Nearly 100 Episcopalians, including Graysen Evans and his dad, Garyne, of St. James, Cincinnati, joined together 137th annual diocesan convention. to watch the Cincinnati Reds battle the Milwaukee Brewers. Although the Reds were unable to bring home a win, On Nov. 11-12 at the Hope Hotel and Convention the real winner was young adult ministry in the diocese, which received proceeds from the ticket sales. Inset: Anny Richard Holbrooke Conference Center near news on Stevens-Gleason, Redeemer, Hyde Park, and Allegra Ubbes, Holy Trinity, Oxford, give two thumbs up to the Episcopal Dayton, convention delegates will explore pages 2, Night at the Reds. Photos by Megan Murray life and faith “On eagles’ wings,” a theme based on Exodus 19:4: “You yourselves have 8-25 seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself.” Joy abounds at Gabriel’s Place celebration The notion of soaring flight is fitting, considering Dayton is the hometown of the Wright brothers who transformed the fantastical BY JULIE MURRAY of the closing of St. Michael and All Angels church in idea of flying into a reality more than a century ago. This long history INTERCHANGE ASSISTANT EDITOR 2008, he emphasized that “we now gather around the of flight connects to the site of convention, located on the grounds of possibility of new life and new ministry in Avondale, the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.
    [Show full text]
  • From the Rector Alleluia!
    Newsletter of St. James Episcopal Church Walk with us in God’s love May 2019 From the Rector Josh Hoover This is the best way to get to know them some and help decide who you [email protected] think is the best fit to be our new More than a year ago our Bishop, bishop, so all those who will be the Rt. Rev. Wendell Gibbs, an- voting from St. James are planning nounced his retirement at the end of to attend a walkabout. But if this is this calendar year. Since then many too large a commitment, there is the people in our diocese have been opportunity to learn a lot about the doing a lot of work to help us candidates at the diocesan website choose a new bishop and welcome where you can find resumes, answers them to the diocese. Those of you to essay questions, and videos from who have been a part of search each of the candidates. They are committees at St. James or other here: https://www.edomi.org/ churches may have some inkling of candidates/ what this has entailed, only on a smaller scale. Like a parish search At our annual meeting, we elected for a priest, they started by creating Mark Gable, Pam Landgraf, and a profile of the diocese. Taking input Elaine Linstedt to represent us at the Alleluia! Christ is Risen! electing convention. I also have a vote from clergy and church members In this issue: Photos from Holy Week along with all the other clergy of the from all around, they asked who we and Easter – p.
    [Show full text]
  • Morning Prayer Rite 1
    Morning Prayer Rite 2 Dismissal BCP 102 The Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost: Proper 16 ASSISTING with today’s service: August 26, 2018 Lector: Audrey Johnson Christ Church (Episcopal), Adrian 720 Riverside Ave Upcoming Services: The Entrance Rite 9/2 Morning Prayer, Rite I, Todd Johnson officiating Processional Hymnal 408 9/9 Holy Eucharist, Rite II The Passing of the Peace 9/16 Morning Prayer, Rite II, Joyce Holden officiating Sentence of Scripture (At any time) BCP 78 Upcoming Events: Confession of Sin BCP 79 9/3 Labor Day Invitatory and Psalter 9/4 Harold Gregg’s birthday Antiphon (on other Sundays…) BCP 81 9/8 Bob Bird’s birthday Jubilate BCP 82 9/9 Work Bee, potluck lunch, following the Liturgy Antiphon BCP 81 Saints celebrated this week: Psalm 84 BCP 707 8/28 Augustine, Bishop of Hippo, 430 The First Lesson 1 Kings 8:41-43 8/31 Aidan, Bishop of Lindisfarne, 651 The Third Song of Isaiah BCP 87 9/1 David Pendleton Okerhater, Deacon & Missionary, 1931 The Second Lesson Ephesians 6:10-20 Common prayers with uncommon results this week for: The Song of Zechariah BCP 92 CONTINUED PRAYERS: CONTINUED PRAYERS: Bob Welke; The Gospel Lesson John 6:56-69 Bob’s daughter Bobbie; Sue Burke; Harold Gregg; Mel Dye; Ed Sermon Joyce Holden, Lay Worship Leader & Audrey Johnson; Joyce Johnson; Scott & Natalie Linden; The Apostles’ Creed BCP 96 Matthew Linden; Lillian; Vicky; Ann Wise; Bob Bird; Brad Offertory Anthem Hymnal 561 Rounds; Ed & Audrey Johnson; Jamie & Marvin; Ridge; Jill Offertory Hymnal 380 Holden; Virginia Smith; Wanda Clifton; Julie
    [Show full text]
  • Intercessions
    Intercessions IMMEDIATE PRAYER LIST: Kiera, Penny, Claire, Nev Curtis, Lucy, Natalie, Mildred Smith, Grace, Betty Hall, Bill, JoAnn, Leslie Davlin, Jerin and Micah, Dave, Richard and Sue, Henry, Bob, Richard, Erica Kohut, Bud Panzera, John Slocum, Rob, Barb, Ronald, Helaine, Yvonne Hawkins. SUSTAINING PRAYER LIST: Steve, Michelle Wells, Richard Wells, Vince Walk with us in God’s love December 29, 2019 Cardinale, Bertha Pastor, Merle Goatley, Elsie Righter, Mary, Pat Semivan, Lisa, Joe Hardig, Jon Wickens, Sami and Leyla Saba, David K., Pete, Elsie Overy, Tom In the name of Jesus Christ, welcome to St. James. We are glad you are here, Woodside, Alonna, Noah Russell, Carol, Maryanna Kelly, Justin Kelly, Peggy and hope you find in us a community that provides healing, proclaims hope, John, Ralph, Nancy, Burton Bronson. and practices God’s unconditional love. SERVING IN THE MILITARY: Bret Anstett, Andrew and Michelle Crowe, Brian To our visitors: After services, we invite you to join us for refreshments and Hertenstein, Geoffrey Hertenstein, Theodore Moran, Jeff Schultz, Hugo Stange. hospitality downstairs in Centennial Hall. Meet new friends and ask PARISH CYCLE OF PRAYER: Charles Green; Katie, Miles, Reagan, and Thatcher questions. If you want to know more about what we believe and do, we Haenggi; Erica, Jerry, Owen, and Elizabeth Driscoll; Jayne, Donald, Sarah, Bridget, invite you to speak to the clergy, an usher, or a Vestry member. For more and Emily Corwin; Barbara Spencer. formal information, please fill out a welcome card in the pew and place it in DIOCESAN CYCLE OF PRAYER: Wendell Gibbs, our Bishop; Bonnie Perry, the offering plate or sign the guest book in the narthex.
    [Show full text]
  • Executive Council
    EXECUTIVE COUNCIL Membership Officers The Most Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori, Presiding Bishop, DFMS President, and Chair The Rev. Gay Clark Jennings, President, House of Deputies, DFMS Vice President, and Vice Chair The Rt. Rev. Stacy Sauls, DFMS Vice President The Rev. Canon Michael Barlowe, Secretary Mr. N. Kurt Barnes, Treasurer Elected by General Convention until General Convention 2015 Ms. Elizabeth Anderson Ms. Sarah Dylan Breuer Ms. Stephanie T. Cheney The Rt. Rev. Wendell N. Gibbs, Jr. The Rt. Rev. Mark Hollingsworth, Jr. Mr. Stephen F. Hutchinson The Rev. Brandon Mauai, elected 4/2014, replacing The Rev. Terry Star, deceased Mr. Francisco Quiñones The Rev. Silvestre E. Romero, Jr. Ms. Katie Sherrod Elected by Province until General Convention 2015 I. Ms. Anne Watkins (Connecticut) II. Ms. Martha Gardner (Newark) III. Ms. Jane Cosby (Pennsylvania) IV. The Rev. Brian Cole (Lexington) V. Ms. Deborah J. Stokes (Southern Ohio) VI. Ms. Lelanda S. Lee (Colorado) VII. Ms. Vycke McEwen (Oklahoma), resigned 9/2014 VIII. Mr. Bryan Krislock (Olympia) IX. The Rev. Cristóbal León Lozano (Ecuador Litoral) Elected by General Convention until General Convention 2018 The Rt. Rev. David Bailey The Rt. Rev. Clifton Daniel III Mr. Joseph Ferrell Dr. Anita George Dr. Fredrica Harris Thompsett Mr. John Johnson Ms. Nancy Koonce Ms. Karen Ann Longenecker The Rev. Dr. James B. Simons The Rev. Susan Brown Snook 1 of 33 Report to the 78th General Convention Elected by Province until General Convention 2018 I. The Rev. Canon Tanya Wallace (Western Massachusetts, I), elected 8/2014, replacing The Rev. Canon Charles LaFond, resigned II. The Rev.
    [Show full text]
  • Cycle of Prayer
    Cycle of Prayer 12 January 2020 - 09 May 2020 Diocese of Chester Key: C = Clergy LM = Licensed Lay Minister (Reader) (Pastoral Worker) (Youth Worker) Diocesan entries from the Anglican Cycle of Prayer are in italics. Chester Diocesan Board of Finance. Church House, 5500 Daresbury Park, Daresbury, Warrington WA4 4GE. Tel: 01928 718834 Chester Diocesan Board of Finance is a company limited by guarantee registered in England (no. 7826) Registered charity (no. 248968) Foreword Who will you be praying for in 2020? No surprises if I tell you I’m praying for the next Bishop of Chester. I will use some of the prayers prepared for the diocese and found on the website and I hope to go to one of the prayer meetings arranged for us to pray together. I hope I will be praying on my own in my own words, sometimes not using words at all, experiencing what St Paul says in Romans 8.26: ‘Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words.’ Have a look at Psalm 34. I’ve been listening to a wonderful gospel setting of the Psalm from the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir which you can find on YouTube. Go back to the words of just this one psalm; notice the emotive language: ‘I will bless the Lord at all times;’ ‘O magnify the Lord with me, let us exalt his name together;’ ‘O taste and see that the Lord is good.’ This is prayer coming from the heart, being expressed in praise, and not forgetting to express prayer as a ‘cry’: ‘When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hear,’ prayer offered because the psalmist knows, ‘the Lord is near the broken-hearted, and saves the crushed in spirit’ (Ps 34.18).
    [Show full text]
  • Shedding Light
    THE PARISH ADMINISTRATION ISSU [IVING CHURC........ i AN INDEPENDENT WEEKLY SERV ING EPISCOPALIAN S• JANUARY 7, 2007 • $2.50 Shedding Light Simple Ways to Cut Energy Costs in Your Parish "I'll be able to retire and I won't have to live with my kids." "My savings will be up, my anxiety level will be down." "My child will be in college and I won't be going broke paying for it." Are You Planning For Tomorrow ? From seminary through retirement. .. Wherever you are in life, Planning For Tomorrow Conferences can help. They provide tailored financial and life planning assistance specifica lly geared to you and your family. Whether it's saving for major family expenses, preparing your taxes, transitioning into retirement, making vocational decisions in retirement, making a will, or a host of other topics, our team of dedicated Church Pension Fund professionals can help you sort it all out. There will be new financial workshops for 2007. And personal financial consultations are available. February2-3 Dallas June1-2 SouthernVirginia DavidGibbs Rev. Cn.W in Lewis/ SamanthaHorrocks (214)826-8310 (757)423-8287 / (757)213-3391 February16-17 Colorado June8-9 SouthernOhio Rev. Cn. Bill Martin/ Cn. NeilRiley PattyHassel (303)837 - 1173 (513)421-0311 March2-3 California September14-15 NewHampshire Jim Forsyth JudyBarnes (415)869-7807 (603) 224-1914 March9-10 El CaminoReal September21-22 CentralPennsylvania SusanAltig Rev. Cn. JoeSeville (831)394-4465 (717)236-5959 April13-14 WestTexas October5-6 Connecticut Ven. DonLee JackSpaeth (210)824 -5387 (860)233-4481 April20-21 Oregon October12-13 NewYork MarlynFlanders Rev.
    [Show full text]
  • 2008 Mid-Year Report to the House of Bishops
    2008 Mid-Year Report to the House of Bishops Living Our Vows Residency, May 19-23 Twenty-seven bishops (those elected in 2006 and 2007) attended the five-day conference at Lake Logan Conference Center. Four newly-elected bishops from the Anglican Church of Canada were included in this group as well. The participants gathered together in community to reflect on the gifts, power, and authority of the episcopate and to acquire resources to lead and serve dioceses effectively and faithfully. We are grateful to the following faculty members and guest speakers for their participation in the conference: Class of 2008 Bishops and Spouses Macky Alston DavidSally Johnson Beers DavidFred Borsch Beers SamMary Faeth Kostel FredBarry Borsch Howe GayClay Jennings Matthews New Bishops’ and Spouses’ Conference, SamSally FaethJohnson MaryTodd KostelOusley January 21-25 BarryClay Matthews Howe ToddTom ShawOusley This conference at Camp Allen provided bishops elected in 2007 GayTom JenningsShaw Ann Tottenham and their spouses an opportunity to come together for five days of community building, reflection and support during their Living Our Vows Peer Coaching unique time of transition into a new ministry, new roles and new experiences. The Presiding Bishop and her husband, Dick, The peer coaching program provides new bishops with a joined the group for two days during the week. Thank you to companion relationship that supports spiritual health and the following faculty members for a productive program: personal development to equip them for transformative leadership. The coaching relationship begins immediately Karlah Gibbs KarenWendell Sisk Gibbs following a new bishop’s consecration and continues for the WendellMartha Matthews Gibbs MarkClay MatthewsSisk duration of the three-year Living Our Vows program.
    [Show full text]
  • The Rt. Rev. Herbert Thompson Jr., Retired Bishop of Southern Ohio, Who Served the Foundation As Its Governor T for the Last Eight Years
    September 2006 Volume XXXV, No. 9 INTERCHANGE www.episcopal-dso.org special edition: A tribute to Bishop Herbert Thompson Jr. 1933-2006 IntoInto youryour hands,hands, OO mercifulmerciful Savior,Savior, wewe commendcommend youryour servantservant Herbert.Herbert. TRIBUTE Herbert Thompson: a man of love henever someone we love dies, there is a he agreed to pray for you, he meant it! We never sense of loss. When someone as univer- roomed together again, but to this day, I look at my sally loved as Bishop Herbert Thompson responsibility to pray quite differently. W Bishop Thompson prayed so hard because he dies, the grief is far reaching. Death came unexpectedly. When phone calls believed God heard those prayers. And in turn, he began to be made after hearing the news, the com- received direction from God. He believed God mon reaction was disbelief. Bishop Herb had just worked through him to reach out to an often hurt- stopped by Diocesan House the day before leaving ing world. This Interchange is full of comments for Italy. He never looked better. He was so looking from people whose lives were touched by their forward to his stint as visiting bishop at the church beloved bishop reaching out to them. But Herb in Florence. He also shared excitedly the huge num- Thompson would be the first to say it was not ber of speaking engagements that had come his way Herb the man, but Jesus working through him, since retirement. And yet, as busy as his life was, he who actually touched those people. The true meas- agreed to assist with some Sunday visitations for us.
    [Show full text]
  • St. Mary's-In-The-Hills Episcopal Church Lake Orion, Michigan
    St. Mary’s-in-the-Hills Episcopal Church Lake Orion, Michigan GEOGRAPHY Driving north from Pontiac, Michigan, on Joslyn Road, one comes upon a scattering of buildings where the road takes a bend to the east. A long, low building, the Orion Township Hall is on the right. There is a timber and plaster barn with silos. A few hundred yards south of the barn is a steeply slanting brown roof seen above a colorful row of stained glass windows. A fieldstone building fronts this with a stately stone bell tower rising above its north end. The structure upon closer inspection is St. Mary’s-in-the-Hills Episcopal Church. The church faces the former Joslyn Road, now referred to as Joslyn Court. The barns and houses have been converted into an interesting group of shops known as Canterbury Village. The history of the cluster of buildings is interesting, especially the church. The old stone part of the church building has survived man and the elements since 1924 and has become a handsome house of God. THE EARLY YEARS Wildwood Farms William E. Scripps, president of the Detroit News and founder of Detroit radio and television station WWJ, in the early1920’s acquired 3,000 acres of land to create Wildwood Farms. The estate included two good-sized lakes and one smaller lake plus acres and acres of cultivated fields, woods, and hills. The land supported a prize herd of deep-chested Aberdeen Angus beef cattle, a herd of registered Holstein milk cows, draught horses, riding horses, sheep, chickens, turkeys, ducks, and geese.
    [Show full text]
  • Final Cluster Bomb Levin Letter
    August 4, 2009 Dear Senator Levin: Our faith calls us to work for peace and to protect the poor and the innocent. As religious leaders in our communities, we are alarmed by the many well-documented reports detailing the huge numbers of civilian casualties that have resulted from the use of indiscriminate cluster munitions around the world. These weapons scatter deadly explosives over wide areas of land, making it very difficult to avoid civilian casualties. Moreover, while designed to explode on impact, many of the submunitions initially fail to detonate, leaving behind large numbers of hazardous explosive “duds.” These duds are akin to landmines that injure and kill civilians and contaminate the land long after conflict has ended. The U.S. has used cluster bombs in civilian populated areas of three countries in the last 10 years, and the cluster bombs the U.S. dropped in Laos more than three decades ago are still killing civilians today. All of our faith traditions call for us to act when we have opportunities to protect human life and dignity. Moral teachings and international humanitarian law insist that the use of force during wars be discriminate. The indiscriminate nature of this weapon violates these accepted principles. The use of cluster bombs has already been condemned by Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Secretary- General of the United Nations Ban Ki-moon, the International Committee of the Red Cross, UNICEF, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the Christian relief group World Vision. More than half the world’s governments responded to this call by agreeing in late May to a global treaty banning use, export and procurement of cluster munitions.
    [Show full text]