VT Faith Community's Online News - January 2010

Other Faith Common Articles

Faith Common is the email newsletter of the Vermont Ecumenical Council & Bible Society (VEC). PLEASE POST IT in your house of worship. To be added to this newsletter mailing list or to submit news, please send an email to the VEC office at info@vecbs.org.

POPE BENEDICT XVI’S PRAYER FOR HAITI:
God of all creation, as we weep with our family in Haiti, console us. In this time of crisis, open our eyes to look beyond the disaster to see Christ in our brothers and sisters in Haiti, as Christ sees us. Be with us as we stand in solidarity with those living and working in Haiti.
Be with us in our mourning and guide our efforts to feed the hungry, shelter the homeless, comfort the grieving and stand for justice. With your mercy, sustain us at this time as we continue to work for peace and justice. Amen.

-For the Haitian people, that help comes to them quickly and comfort comes to those who hurt. Lord, hear our prayer.

-For the lost or buried, that they are found and reunited with their loved ones. Lord, hear our prayer.

-For the relief workers, that they have the tools they need, the courage and the strength to respond fully. Lord, hear our prayer.

-For the families in Haiti and in the United States who are waiting to hear from loved ones, that good news comes to them. Lord, hear our prayer.

-For those who have perished, may their souls rest with you, O Lord, where they will find eternal love. Amen.

WEEK OF PRAYER FOR CHRISTIAN UNITY
The Week of Prayer worship service will be held at 4 pm this Sunday, January 24, 2010 at First United Methodist Church in Burlington. Bishop Susan Hassinger will be the homilist. The service is sponsored by VEC’s Prayer and Worship Committee. Refreshments and fellowship will follow the service. All are welcome - please join us!

VEC OFFICE CLOSING
Beginning March 1st, the Vermont Ecumenical Council and Bible Society will follow the recent trend of giving up its “bricks and mortar” office. VEC’s Administrative Assistant, Betsy Hardy, will do the work from her home. VEC’s email address and website will remain the same. When the new P.O. Box number and phone number are available, we will include them in this newsletter.

WHAT IS SPIRITUAL DIRECTION?
Holy Family Church in Essex Junction will be hosting an evening in-service on the nature of Spiritual Direction that can enrich and deepen one’s prayer and everyday living. It will be on Mon., Jan. 25th, 7 – 8:30 pm. The Institute for Spiritual Development leaders Elizabeth Mahoney and Sister Ann Duhaime RSM will facilitate. Please register by calling 862-2210.

SAFE SANCTUARY SEMINAR:
Keeping the Church Safe from/for Sexual Offenders This training for church and ministry leaders will be held on Saturday, January 30th, 8 am – 4 pm, at the United Christian Assembly in Jericho. Realizing that there could be known and unknown, treated and untreated sexual offenders currently participating in church services and activities, learn how to be proactive and to reach out to offenders in Christian love. Learn how to supervise and or be a support person for offenders, and how to deal with “situations” that commonly occur when dealing with offenders. Learn about the typologies, characteristics, offense patterns, and treatment for sexual offenders. For more information, contact Pastor Pete Fiske at: pastorpete@churchatprison.com

ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY AT ST. VLADIMIR’S
The Most Rev. and Rt. Honorable Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury, senior bishop of the worldwide Anglican communion, will deliver a lecture at St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary in Yonkers, NY, and to recognize the contribution he has made to academic study of Eastern Orthodox theology and spirituality, he will receive a Doctorate of Divinity “honoris causa.” The lecture titled, “Theology and the Contemplative Calling: The Image of Humility in the Philokalia” is at 12:30 pm on Sat., Jan. 30th and is free and open to the public. The archbishop is a pioneer in this field and has outstanding breadth and depth. Ancient Faith Radio will podcast: http://ancientfaith.com To learn more, call the seminary: 914-961-8313 ext. 351 or visit http://www.svots.edu/

SONGS FROM THE EARTH
Institute for Spiritual Development is offering this benefit concert on March 6th, 7 pm at Mount St. Mary Chapel, 100 Mansfield Ave., Burlington. The music, from the Celtic Mass for Peace, music and lyrics by our local musician and composer Sam Guarnaccia with J. Phillip Newell, gives voice to earth’s deepest yearnings for peace. Local musicians and singers perform. Tickets: $20/$15 (students), plus a service fee, through the Flynn Box Office. Contact: Joan Magnant: 802-878-7745.

FILL THE PANTRY – HELP RUSSIAN JEWS
A Franklin County resident contacted VEC about the plight of destitute Jews in Russia and the need for funds to provide food. To help and to find out more, contact the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews at info@ifcj.org or visit http://ifcj.org