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THE [IVING CHURCH AN INDEPENDENT WEEKLY SERVING EPISCOPALIANS• DECEMBER 12, 2004 • $2.00 You can heat the subscription rate increase of THE [IVING Ctturu Now is your chance to subscribe to the only national , independent weekly magazine serving the Episcopal Church before the price increases. On Jan. 1, 2005, the subscription price of THE LIVING CHURCH increases to $42.50 for one year.You can extend, renew or begin your subscription at the current rate by responding now. Order with MC/VISA Toll-free at 1-877-822-8228 or by sending in the form below. Foreign rates and sample copies also available D ONE-YEAR Subscription - $39.50 (52 issues) D TWO-YEAR Subscription - $70.72 (104 issues) Name ____________________________ _ Address ____________________________ _ City _____________________________ _ State ___________ Zip ______ Phone (__ )______ _ Make checks payable to: The Living Church Foundation, P.O. Box 514036, Milwaukee, WI 53203-3436 □ Check □ MC / VISA Card # __________ _ Exp. Date __ _ Signature ___________ _ Offer expires Dec. 31, 2004 The objective of THELIVING CHURCH magazine is to build up the body of Christ, by describing how God is moving in his Church; by reporting news of the Church in an unbiased manner; and by presenting diverse points of view. THIS WEEK 11 Features Opinion 11 Resilient Ministry 12 Guest Column Hiswri c Cincinnati parish Kind if not Gentle rebounds from adversity BYAARON OREAR BY MICHAELO'LOUGHLIN 13 Editorials Bishops as Teachers 14 Reader's Viewpoint The (Wmk, Wmk) Factor News BY WILLlAMJ . CAVANAUGH 15 Letters 7 Secretary Powell Calls AIDS Role of Scripture the Greatest WMD OtherDepartments 4 Sunday's Readings 5 Books 6 Short & Sharp 17 People & Places DECEMBER.12. 2004 · THE LIVING CH UR.CH 3 8~tid O~k SUNDAY'SREADINGS CHOIR CHAIR Christ'sLife and Work '... the coming of the Lord is near' ( James 5:Bb) The Third Sunday of Advent (Year A), Dec. 12, 2004 Isaiah 35:1-1 O; Psalm 146 or 146:4-9; James 5:7-10; Matt. 11 :2-11 The prophet Isaiah foresees a time ther stipulates that the body continues when God's glory will be revealed the Lord's life and work until his final everywhere. The desert will burst coming in triumph (John 12:12). From forth with springs, and thus become these two points, our own task is clear fertile and productive. The weak will as the present age draws to a close. be made strong; the fearful will be We're called to heal brokenness, given confidence . "Then the eyes of pure and simple. While healing litur the blind shall be opened," the vision gies, offered in many of our churches, continues, "and the ears of the deaf are clearly a part of this, there's infi unstopped; then the lame shall leap nitely more to it than that. We're with FIBRE RUSH SEAT like a deer, and the tongue of the charged, individually and corporately, Since 1877 speechless sing for joy." For Chris with addressing spiritual deafness and tians, this wonderful age foretold is blindness around us by proclaiming R.Geissler.i Inc. the kingdom of God. and living the truth of the gospel of P.O. Box 432 Today's gospel makes it clear that love. We're called to work for whole Old Greenwich, CT 06870 the life and ministry of Jesus Christ are ness of the marginalized and disen Phone: (203) 637-5115 inbreakings of the kingdom in history. franchised, to the end that all may one John the Baptist inquires from prison if day walk with dignity. We're to work Jesus is in fact the Savior who has long for the healing of the root causes of DEDICATEDTOSTAINED been expected. The Lord replies in the poverty and of want - things like lack affirmative, pointing to irrefutable evi of adequate education, unequal oppor GLASSEXCELLENCE dence. "Go and tell John what you hear tunity, and the insatiable greed of FOR MORE THAN A ............. .. and see," he says. "[T]he blind receive many of us. In the words of a once their sight, the lame walk, the lepers popular bumper sticker, perhaps our CENTURY ROID..F'S are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead calling is to live more simply "so that AND THE PAYNE are raised, and the poor have good others may simply live." news preached to them." In Christ, the The kingdom foretold by Isaiah has STUDIO HAVE BEEN foundation of the kingdom is even now its beginnings in the life and work of CONSERVING AND being laid in the world. Jesus Christ. To the extent that we CREATING STAINED ' Paul tells us that Christians collec continue that life and work in the tively constitute the body of Christ, world today, we obey the injunction of GLASS WINDOWS and that individually we are members James to be strong, for the final "com WORLDWIDE. of it (1 Cor. 12:27). John's gospel fur- ing of the Lord is near." FORMORE INFORMATION & LITERATURE PLEASEWRITE, PAX, PHONE OR E-MAILTO: LookIt Up How does James understand the relationship between faith and good works? RohtrsStudio Inc. (James 2:14-26) 783 South.3rd. Ave. MountVernon, NY 10550 , ThinkAbout It 800-969-4106 What are some of the ways in which the Episcopal Church works for the spread FAX: (914) 699-7091 of the kingdom? e-mail: [email protected] BE SURETO VISITOUR WEBSITE www.Rohlfstudio.com NextSunday A n A1t,1 ,at~ nt R,J tii! 's s,,.n ,o. l'li The Fourth Sunday of Advent (Year A), Dec. 19, 2004 Traditional• Contemporary ♦ Restorations Isaiah 7:10-17; Psalm 24 or 24:1-7; Rom. 1:1-7; Matt. 1:18-25 4 THE LIVING CHURCH· DECEMBER 12. 2004 BOOKS th.e Harvestfor the World included may leave a bit to be desired A WorshipAnthology on Sharing in terms of aesthetics. All that being said, however, Har in the Workof Creation vest for the World Compiled by Geoffrey Duncan. Pilgrim Press. is an important Pp. 295. $21. ISBN 0-8298-1530-9. addition to the literature of worship and is hopefully an indication that ChristianEnvironmental environmental concerns are more and Ethics more being reflected in how we pray. Living a More A CaseMethod Approach How we pray, however, is directly Vibrant Life By James B. Martin-Schramm & Robert L. related to what we believe. Two Stivers. Orbis Books. Pp. 192. $20. ISBN 1- Lutherans, James B. Martin-Schramm 57075-499-3. and Robert L. Stivers, in Christian "The rule of prayer is the Environmental Ethics, have rule of belief." And so worship created a great tool to con- influences theology and theol , sider our beliefs. ogy, worship. As environmen After three introductory tal and ecological issues chapters designed to give increasingly appear on the background in environmental radar of Christian moral theol ethics, the authors proceed to ogy, it becomes essential that provide nine real-life case a biblical ethic of creation be studies. These include a wide reflected in our liturgy as well variety of environmental situa as our study. tions from a family's concerns In this regard, Geoffrey over building a vacation home Duncan has done us quite a to the development of a Wal service in the compilation of Mart Supercenter to nuclear Harvest for the World. A col waste and environmental lection of prayers, stories, racism. poems, litanies and skits, it Each case is followed by a contains a great many gems commentary by the authors for use in worship both corporate and which clearly and carefully sets out private. While the editor is a Reformed the conflicts inherent in the study, and clergyman and therefore less bound to provides scriptural and theological liturgical rubrics than are we Angli insights which deal specifically with Gordon Lamont the issue at hand. At the end of each cans, the book nonetheless can be a ISBN 0-281-902694-28-7 reference for our own services. Lita commentary is a list of books and Paper• 160 pp • $16 nies and responsive readings can be websites for further study. used as the Prayers of the People; While its academic approach will be A practical book on prayers can be included at Morning better suited to the collegiate or semi how to find creative and Evening Prayer; skits and stories nary setting, it is not without value for and energizing ways to may be useful in Christian education the serious study group within the approach any aspect of parish or religious community. settings. The included "Eucharistic life. (SPCK) Prayer for a Quiet Garden Day," "A The appearance of these books is a Harvest Communion Service," and "St. hopeful sign that the Church on the Order from your Episcopal bookseller or Francis: A Eucharistic Prayer" may be local level is seriously wrestling with good jumping-off points for compos concerns of environmental steward ~-- ing our own "Rite Three" (BCP p. 400) ship. Duncan's text urges us to bring AWi, liturgies on special occasions. these concerns before God. Martin THEl@f'® Duncan's work is not without its Schran1m and Stivers encourage us to PILGRIM shortcomings. It is difficult to see tackle particular cases and thus derive PRESS where some of the texts - particu some moral principles by which to Phone: 800.537.3394 direct our own behaviors. One hopes (M-F, 8:30am-4 :30pm , ET) larly the poetry - would be used in a Fax: 216 .736.2206 liturgical setting. Furthermore, that such texts will lead local parishes www.thepilgrimpress.com although there is a topical index, the and communities to think deeply Allow $5.00 shipping for first book, 75¢ each additional book.