Church of England, Approves Women Bishops

 

 

After extended debate, the General Synod of the Church of England made history July 7 by voting to approve the appointment of women as bishops. This came 16 years after the same governing body of the Established Church voted to approve the ordination of women as ministers.  In both cases there have been contentious and sometimes bitter exchanges between liberals who endorse women in ministry and traditionalists, many of whom do not. Particularly stressing to traditionalists was the Synod’s refusal to establish firm protections for those who in conscience cannot accept women in episcopal office. They have confirmed their intention to continue opposition to the move, and some are considering withdrawal from the Church of England. Liberals opposed establishing any structures of accommodation for conservatives, asserting that to do so would be to institutionalize discrimination against women in the church.

 

 

 

 

THE POPE AND THE RABBI

Several centuries ago, the Pope decreed that all the Jews had to convert to Catholicism or leave Italy.  

There was a huge outcry from the Jewish community, so the pope offered a deal.  He would have a religious debate with the leader of the Jewish community. If the Jews won, they could stay in Italy; if the Pope won, they would have to convert or leave.

 

The Jewish people met and picked an aged and wise Rabbi to represent them in the debate. However, as the Rabbi spoke no Italian, and the Pope spoke no Yiddish, they agreed that it would be a “silent” debate.

 

On the chosen day the Pope and Rabbi sat opposite each other. The  Pope raised his hand and showed three fingers.

 

The Rabbi looked back and raised one finger.

 

Next, the Pope waved his finger around his head.

 

The Rabbi pointed to the ground where he sat

 

The Pope brought out a communion wafer and a chalice of wine.

 

The Rabbi pulled out an apple.

 

With that the Pope stood up and declared that he was beaten, and that the Rabbi was too clever. The Jews could stay in Italy.

 

Later the Cardinals met with the Pope and asked him what had happened?

 

The Pope said, “First I held up three fingers to  represent the  Holy Trinity. He responded by holding up one finger to remind me there is still only one God  common to both  our beliefs.    Then, I waved my finger around my head to show him that God was all around us.    He responded by pointing to the ground to show that God was also right here with us. I pulled out the wine and wafer, to show  that God absolves us of all our sins. He pulled out an  apple to remind me of the original sin. He had beaten me at every move and I could not continue.

 

Meanwhile, the Jewish community gathered to ask the Rabbi how he had  won.

 

“To be perfectly honest, I haven’t a clue” said the Rabbi.  First, the Pope said to me that we had three days to get out of Italy, so I told him that it wasn’t possible. Then he tells me that the whole country would be cleared of Jews and I said to him that we’re staying right here.

 “And then what?” asked a woman.

 “Who knows?” said the Rabbi. “He took out his lunch, so I took out mine.”

 

 

Happy Reformation Day!

Today approximately 5 centuries ago (October 31, 1517), Bro. Martin nailed his parchment to the Wittenberg church door as a testimony of the items he held close to his heart and those which he believed the Roman Catholic Church was violating.  His 95 theses emphasized the solas of the Reformation: Scripture Alone! Faith Alone! Grace Alone! and one solus, Christ Alone!  It is today that we celebrate that we are more than evangelical Christians or even Pilgrims, but that we are Protestants.  Today we say with Martin Luther to those who would deny Holy Scripture, “Scripture alone.”  To those who would deny the doctrine of salvation we say “Faith alone and grace alone!”  To those who would try to deny the Christian Church we say, “Christ Alone” is our anthem.

We sing today, as children of the Reformation, Luther’s hymn that he composed for all to singing:

A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing;
Our helper He, amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing:
For still our ancient foe doth seek to work us woe;
His craft and power are great, and, armed with cruel hate,
On earth is not his equal.

Did we in our own strength confide, our striving would be losing;
Were not the right Man on our side, the Man of God’s own choosing:
Dost ask who that may be? Christ Jesus, it is He;
Lord Sabaoth, His Name, from age to age the same,
And He must win the battle.

And though this world, with devils filled, should threaten to undo us,
We will not fear, for God hath willed His truth to triumph through us:
The Prince of Darkness grim, we tremble not for him;
His rage we can endure, for lo, his doom is sure,
One little word shall fell him.

That word above all earthly powers, no thanks to them, abideth;
The Spirit and the gifts are ours through Him Who with us sideth:
Let goods and kindred go, this mortal life also;
The body they may kill: God’s truth abideth still,
His kingdom is forever.

 

Archeologist finds tomb of King Herod

An Israeli archeologist has found the tomb of King Herod, the legendary builder of ancient Jerusalem and the Holy Land, Hebrew University said late Monday.  The tomb is at a site called Herodium, a flattened hilltop in the Judean Desert, clearly visible from southern Jerusalem. Herod built a palace on the hill, and researchers discovered his burial site there, the university said.  The university had hoped to keep the find a secret until Tuesday, when it planned a news conference to disclose the find in detail, but the Haaretz newspaper found out about the discovery and published an article on its website.

Herod became the ruler of the Holy Land under the Romans around 40 B.C. The wall he built around the Old City of Jerusalem still stands, and he also ordered big construction projects in Caesaria, Jericho, the hilltop fortress of Masada and other sites.  It has long been assumed Herod was buried at Herodium, but decades of excavations had failed to turn up the site. The first-century historian Josephus Flavius described the tomb and Herod’s funeral procession.  Haaretz said the tomb was found by archeologist Ehud Netzer, a Hebrew University professor who has been working at Herodium since 1972. The paper said the tomb was in a previously unexplored area between the two palaces Herod built on the site. Herod died in 4 B.C. in Jericho.

Herodium was one of the last strong points held by Jewish rebels fighting against the Romans, and it was conquered and destroyed by Roman troops in A.D. 71, a year after they destroyed the Second Temple in Jerusalem.

 

The History of the Easter Bunny

It is thought that the idea of the Easter Bunny was developed by German Protestants, who wanted to retain or re-introduce the Catholic custom of eating colored eggs for Easter, but did not want to introduce their children to the Catholic rite of fasting, which was the reason for the abundant availability of eggs at Easter time (they were forbidden to Catholics during the fast, thus eggs layed during the fast were stored until the feast).

The idea of an egg laying rabbit came to the United States in the 1700s. German immigrants in the Pennsylvania Dutch area told their children about the “Osterhase” (also: “Oschter Haws”) or Easter Bunny. Only the good children received gifts of coloured eggs in the nests that they had made in their caps and bonnets before Easter. Presumably, the Oschter Haws laid them when they were not looking.

In the United States, the Easter Bunny purportedly leaves baskets of treats (including Easter eggs and assorted chocolates) on Easter morning for good children. This is a common practice even in non-Christian households, as Easter has started to become a more non-sectarian festival, like Halloween or Valentine’s Day.

 

The History of the Easter Egg

Of all the symbols associated with Easter the egg, the symbol of fertility and new life, is the most identifiable. The customs and traditions of using eggs have been associated with Easter for centuries Originally Easter eggs were painted with bright colors to represent the sunlight of spring and were used in Easter-egg rolling contests or given as gifts. After they were colored and etched with various designs the eggs were exchanged by lovers and romantic admirers, much the same as valentines. In medieval time eggs were traditionally given at Easter to the servants. In Germany eggs were given to children along with other Easter gifts.

Different cultures have developed their own ways of decorating Easter eggs. Crimson eggs, to honor the blood of Christ, are exchanged in Greece. In parts of Germany and Austria green eggs are used on Maundy Thursday (Holy Thursday). Slavic peoples decorate their eggs in special patterns of gold and silver.

Austrian artists design patterns by fastening ferns and tiny plants around the eggs, which are then boiled. The plants are then removed revealing a striking white pattern. The Poles and Ukrainians decorate eggs with simple designs and colors. A number of eggs are made in the distinctive manner called pysanki (to design, to write).

Pysanki eggs are a masterpiece of skill and workmanship. Melted beeswax is applied to the fresh white egg. It is then dipped in successive baths of dye. After each dip wax is painted over the area where the preceding color is to remain. Eventually a complex pattern of lines and colors emerges into a work of art

In Germany and other countries eggs used for cooking where not broken, but the contents were removed by piercing the end of each egg with a needle and blowing the contents into a bowl. The hollow eggs were dyed and hung from shrubs and trees during the Easter Week. The Armenians would decorate hollow eggs with pictures of Christ, the Virgin Mary, and other religious designs.

 

Remember… Jesus died for you!

Today, approximately 2,000 years ago today at approximately 2:00 in the afternoon, Jesus died on the cross for you and me. Here is a hymn by Isaac Watts (revised) that gives the call to remember what Christ did for us. Isaiah 53 says “He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.” Alas! and did my Savior bleed, and did my Sovereign die! Would he devote that sacred head for sinners such as I?Was it for crimes that I have done, he groaned upon the tree? Amazing pity! Grace unknown! And love beyond degree!

Well might the sun in darkness hide, and shut its glories in, when God, the mighty maker, died for his own creature’s sin.

Thus might I hide my blushing face while his dear cross appears; dissolve my heart in thankfulness, and melt mine eyes to tears.

But drops of tears can ne’er repay the debt of love I owe. Here, Lord, I give myself away; ’tis all that I can do.

 

Repentant thieves break into church again to return stolen equipment

Burglars have struck twice at the Guyandotte United Methodist Church but the second time they may have remembered that commandment, the one that goes, “Thou shalt not steal.” Thieves first jimmied the church’s door locks Monday night and stole about $5,000 worth of sound and office equipment, church treasurer Rocky Frazier said. Then, they broke back the next night and returned everything. “They taketh and the Lord giveth back,” Frazier said Friday. “It’s like there’s a higher power at work.”

Whatever the reason, they had a change of heart, said the Rev. Julia Bolling. “It was either that, or our prayer for grace for them,” she said. The sound system, keyboard, computer – “It’s all back,” she said. The only thing the thieves didn’t return was about $22 in change, Frazier said. Even though the equipment was returned and no real damage was done, Huntington Police Lt. Rocky Johnson said the investigation remains open.

“It’s odd that they brought it back,” said Johnson, noting that he’s never seen anything like this. “I’m glad they did.”

 

The History of Valentine’s Day

Every February, across the country, candy, flowers, and gifts are exchanged between loved ones, all in the name of St. Valentine. But who is this mysterious saint and why do we celebrate this holiday? The history of Valentine’s Day — and its patron saint — is shrouded in mystery. But we do know that February has long been a month of romance. St. Valentine’s Day, as we know it today, contains vestiges of both Christian and ancient Roman tradition. So, who was Saint Valentine and how did he become associated with this ancient rite? Today, the Catholic Church recognizes at least three different saints named Valentine or Valentinus, all of whom were martyred.

One legend contends that Valentine was a priest who served during the third century in Rome. When Emperor Claudius II decided that single men made better soldiers than those with wives and families, he outlawed marriage for young men — his crop of potential soldiers. Valentine, realizing the injustice of the decree, defied Claudius and continued to perform marriages for young lovers in secret. When Valentine’s actions were discovered, Claudius ordered that he be put to death.

Other stories suggest that Valentine may have been killed for attempting to help Christians escape harsh Roman prisons where they were often beaten and tortured. According to one legend, Valentine actually sent the first ‘valentine’ greeting himself. While in prison, it is believed that Valentine fell in love with a young girl — who may have been his jailor’s daughter — who visited him during his confinement. Before his death, it is alleged that he wrote her a letter, which he signed ‘From your Valentine,’ an expression that is still in use today. Although the truth behind the Valentine legends is murky, the stories certainly emphasize his appeal as a sympathetic, heroic, and, most importantly, romantic figure. It’s no surprise that by the Middle Ages, Valentine was one of the most popular saints in England and France.

 

Parishioners overpower gunman attempting to snatch purses at Ohio church

Parishioners tackled a gunman suspected of snatching purses from church pews during mass, the pastor and police said. One man suffered lacerations to his head and face during the struggle at Christ the King Catholic Church on Sunday morning, police said. Wendell Hollingsworth, 43, and Celeste Smith, 51, were arrested and each charged with aggravated robbery at the church, police said. They were being held in the Franklin County jail Monday, awaiting bond. The pair walked into the service and grabbed purses as Hollingsworth displayed a handgun and said, “This is a robbery,” police said. Hollingsworth was tackled as parishioners called police on cellphones. Smith was arrested outside the church, police said. “Our parishioners are not about to let anyone defile their church,” said the Rev. Michael Lumpe.