The Maryland Church News Online
Summer, 2007: Women in Leadership
"She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue." (Prov 31:26)
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Christian Witness against the War
A personal account of a winter march on Washington
Rookie Missionary Sees Passed Destruction
This January I joined 12 dedicated people on a trip to Mississippi to help rebuild people’s lives...
The Revised Common Lectionary
Reprinted from The Journal of the Association of Anglican Musicians (Vol. 15, No. 10, December 2006) with permission.
Summer Reading List
More great choices to take to the beach, mountains, or your favorite summer escape.
Christian Witness against the War:
A personal account of a winter march on Washington
By the Rev. Madeleine Beard
After gathering for prayer early on the morning of March 16 at New York Avenue Presbyterian, after an afternoon of visiting the Episcopalian Senators' offices to give each a copy of the General Assembly Resolution opposing the war, after walking around Washington D.C. in the rain with wet feet, I arrived at the National Cathedral and joined more than 3,000 others in Christian witness against the war.
The organ swelled and the procession began. The cross was covered in purple for Lent, concealed, expressing sorrow and repentance. I sang and prayed. I listened as an American mother grieved her dead son and as an Iraqi nun mourned her wounded neighbors. I heard preaching, such preaching. It rang in my ears and stirred my heart. Called to remember, I heard again the words of Martin Luther King, words from another war, another time, words still true for this war, for this time.
Then we marched. Because the rain had changed to snow as we prayed, we marched from the cathedral into a night sparkling with snowflakes. We marched by candlelight down Massachusetts Avenue. We marched down to the White House and then around it. We marched “in the light of God.”
We came to Washington as Episcopalians, Mennonites, Catholics, Presbyterians, Baptists or Lutherans, but in our praying we were one. We came from across the nation, but in our marching we were one.
As one we said, and continue to say: “end the occupation, rebuild Iraq, and cease all torture immediately.” As one, we support our troops who are our brothers and sisters, our sons and daughters. And as one, we pray that God’s justice will prevail and that God’s peace will come.
The Rev. Madeleine Beard is deacon at St. Mark’s Church, Highland, and the coordinator of MEPPN (Maryland Episcopal Public Policy Network). meppnsignup@aol.com, www.meppn.ang-md.org
Rookie Missionary Sees Passed Destruction
By Jim Harry
This January I joined 12 dedicated people on a trip to Mississippi to help rebuild people’s lives. This group was from several Episcopal Churches throughout the diocese. Some of the team members had been there before, but others, like me, were taking not only their first trip to Mississippi, but their first mission trip of any kind.
The decision to go to Mississippi was one that I had struggled with for several years. I had always wanted to do something to help those who were affected by some disaster or another, but had continually found reasons not to go. At this stage of my life I couldn’t find any reason NOT to go. I am 68 years young, in relative good health, and have no responsibilities that couldn’t be put off for a week or so. It turned out to be one of the best things I have done in my life. Little did I know how good I would feel both during and after the trip.
Even after 15 months the destruction remains overwhelming. I wasn’t prepared for the devastation to people’s lives as well as property. But beyond the destruction, what we found is inspiring. First are the residents - people who have experienced the worst of times, but somehow manage to remain joyful and forward-looking. Second are the people who have put their own lives on hold to come to Mississippi to work full-time, helping the victims of the hurricane. Just as important are the thousands of people who have donated their time, talents, energy and money to help in any way possible.
This outpouring of resources has but one objective. Help to reestablish the lives we were able to touch leaving the devastation of Hurricane Katrina to be nothing but a lingering memory. With the help of my co-missionary from St. Paul’s, Michele Ridgely, and our giving congregation, we raised $1,000 for furniture for a truly wonderful woman. This lady is housing several generations of her family while they work to get their lives back to pre-hurricane status.
For me, personally, I found that life as I have known it may never be the same. Up to now I was content to attend church, help with church functions, and serve on the Vestry; always holding something back from a true commitment to be a messenger of God’s work and miracles. I found that service to others is what God’s work is all about – asking the question: what more can I do to promote God’s message?
We need only look beyond our busy lives to see the good that can be accomplished by people with the spirit of community, love and the willingness to be more than what we are.
Will I return to Mississippi or some other place where I can do God’s work? Absolutely. In fact, my next mission trip will be closer to home at the Bishop Claggett Center, helping with Rainbow Camp this summer. Sponsored by the diocese, Rainbow Camp is for children with or affected by chronic diseases.
James Harry, a retired accountant, is a member of St. Paul’s Church, Poplar Springs, where he currently serves on the Vestry.
The Revised Common Lectionary
By Alan Lewis, Ph.D.
span class="it">Reprinted from The Journal of the Association of Anglican Musicians (Vol. 15, No. 10, December 2006) with permission.
The headline events of last summer’s General Convention in Columbus, Ohio, were clearly the election of a new Primate and the determination of a response to the Windsor Report. A step of lesser prominence, but with the potential for far deeper ramifications on the weekly experience of those in the Church’s pews, was the formal adoption by The Episcopal Church of the Revised Common Lectionary (hereinafter RCL).
Click here to download the entire article in Adobe PDF format.
Summer Reading List:
More great choices to take to the beach, mountains, or your favorite summer escape.
By the Rev. Beth McNamara
Click here to download a summer reading list compiled by the Rev. Beth McNamara, vicar of Church of the Resurrection, Baltimore, and owner of St. Bede’s Books.
On the Cover
On the cover of this issue is a photo mosaic featuring women leaders from across our diocese.
Click here to download a high resolution image of the mosaic (1.43 mb jpg image)
Published quarterly, the Maryland Church News is a resource for Episcopalians throughout the diocese with messages from the bishops on current events and mission-specific issues, diocesan and parish news, features, information and events. It is a vital tool that mirrors where we are as a church and how we witness to our community, and provides an in-depth analysis of our mission.