VT Faith Community's Online News - June 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.

PRAYER
Dear Father, We are in Your hands; bless us and help us to do Your will. In the name of Jesus, Your Son, we beg You, enlighten us and strengthen us with the power of the Holy Spirit, so that we will truly be one communion, the Body of Christ, filled with Your wisdom and love for You and each other. Amen. (from James Case)

RELIGIOUS LEADERS RESPOND TO GULF CRISIS
The links below are to articles about the Gulf of Mexico tragedy from two religious leaders: Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, leader of 300 million Orthodox Christians around the world, and Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori, the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ecumenical-patriarch-bartholomew/sins-against-nature-and-g_b_567993.htmlhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/bishop-katharine-jefferts-schori/lessons-from-the-gulf-oil_b_591160.html

THE WILD AND THE SACRED
This is the theme of the first anniversary commemoration of the passing of Thomas Berry. The Green Mountain Monastery in Greensboro will host an event on Saturday, June 5th at 4 pm with the Aurora Ancient Singers and readings from the writing of Thomas Berry. Also at the monastery, is a showing of the art of Marion Honors, CSJ. For directions and more information, contact: greenmountainmonastery@together.net. Aurora Ancient Music will also perform concerts at: Grace Episcopal Church, Sheldon, Fri., Jun. 18, 7:30 pm Old West Church, Calais, Sat., Jun. 19, 7:30 pm Charlotte Congregational Church, Sun., Jun. 20, 7:30 pm The suggested donation for these concerts is $15. Call 802-453-4353 for more information.

PRAISE-A-PALOOSA!
Five churches - from Burlington, South Burlington, Colchester, and Essex Junction – are hosting this praise and worship event. Come hear music of praise bands, and sing, worship, and PRAISE! It's happening Sunday, June 6th, from 3-6 pm on the lawn at Grace United Methodist Church, 130 Maple Street in Essex Junction.

FIT for FREEDOM, NOT for FRIENDSHIP
Donna McDaniel and Vanessa Julye, co-authors of the book “Fit for Freedom, Not for Friendship: Quakers, African Americans and the Myth of Racial Justice,” will speak on June 7 at 7 pm at the First Unitarian Universalist Society at the top of Church Street in Burlington. After seven years of research for their book, the two Quaker authors conclude that, contrary to what many believe, the attitudes of Quakers toward the people of African descent weren't very different from those of the general population of European Americans. The co-sponsors of this presenta- tion are Burlington Friends Meeting, Peace and Justice Center, and the Anti-Racism Committee of the First Unitarian Universalist Society. For more information, contact Ruah Swennerfelt at 802-425-3377 or email ruah@peaceforearth.org

PRAYER SERVICE - RESPONSE TO GULF CRISIS
Join us for an interfaith prayer service Sunday, June 13, 7:30 pm, at St. Paul’s Episcopal Cathedral in Burlington. As the tragedy in the Gulf of Mexico continues, we’ll come together for a time of prayer and reflection. We will pray for the devastated ecosystem and for the people who suffer as a result of this catastrophe. For more information, contact: info@vtipl.org.

BURLINGTON SHOWING of the FILM “RENEWAL”
The film “Renewal” will be shown June 16 at 7 pm at the Roxy Theater in Burlington. It tells several stories about actions that different faith groups across the country have taken to address environmental issues, and it includes a story about Interfaith Power and Light. Following the “Renewal” showing, one of the producer/directors of the film, Marty Ostrow, and Vermont Interfaith Power and Light leaders will host a question and answer session. Contact info@vtipl.org for more details.

CHURCH PEWS FOR SALE
Twenty church pews that are 12-feet-long, solid oak, in good condition, circa 1900, are offered for sale. Price: $100 each or best offer for all 20. They can be picked up in Rutland. Contact: Kathleen Krevetski at 802-779-1485 or email: kkrevetski@hotmail.com

BIBLE SOCIETY OFFER
This is a reminder that the Bible Society part of the Vermont Ecumenical Council and Bible Society can provide free Bibles to those churches, hospitals, prisons, etc. that don't have the funds to purchase them. To request Bibles or to find out more, contact us at 802-540-3012 or info@vecbs.org.