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About FaithBy Amy Umble
Nov. 20, 2009 1:01 pm
It seems a little odd to write "Getting Ready for Advent" since advent means getting ready. But I stumbled across this neat project for an advent calendar, and thought I'd share the idea. It requires a little bit of work, so I thought I'd get it to you now, even though you might still be thinking about how to cook that turkey.
Perma-link: http://fredericksburg.com/blogs/view?blogger_id=28&p=1258740082
Nov. 19, 2009 4:08 pm
Each year, in early December we include a spiritual gift guide in the religion section. Suggestions have ranged from a Seven Deadly Sins soap collection to religious CDs. As I sat down to compile this year's list, I thought of the spiritual gifts I've received for holidays. There haven't been many, I admit. But my favorites include a Tibetan prayer wheel necklace and a book of blessings. What have been your favorite faithful gifts? I'd love to include some in our upcoming guide. Which ones stand out in your mind and why? Share them with me at aumble@freelancestar.com. Thanks!
Perma-link: http://fredericksburg.com/blogs/view?blogger_id=28&p=1258664893
Nov. 17, 2009 3:26 pm
Jewish teens looking for social causes have a new resource. JChoice.org just launched today. On the site, Jewish youth can learn about all sorts of opportunities to do good including helping elderly women in Jerusalem who pack lunches for needy students, preserving a 7,000-acre reservation in Massachusetts, providing birthday parties for homeless kids in New England, and supporting drum workshops and soccer camps for Palestinian and Israeli youth. Each cause is linked to a Jewish value, such as shalom or peace, guarding the earth or l'ovdah U'l'shomrah, and tzedek or justice. From a press release about the site: “Our mission is simple. We empower this next generation of contributors to learn and experience the Mitzvah of Tzedakah and become more thoughtful in their relationships with society,” said Joshua Troderman, executive director of JChoice.org.
There are four unique feature sections on the site that make it easy to use and navigate:
· Explore Causes showcases causes that can be searched and sorted by popular categories, Jewish values and geography · Give Now enables a user to donate directly to a charity, give to a friend or family member’s account or purchase gift cards · My JChoice Network is the social networking community where users engage not only one another (building a shared database of Torah sermons (Divrei Torah), Mitzvah projects, and Jewish value identification), but can also directly interact with their causes of choice · JMix is the multi-media area of the site that houses other areas of inspiration including music, video, arts, B’nei Mitzvah tools and contests that award participants with gifts of Tzedakah grants to be given away from their accounts
“We built JChoice.org to meet the demand of an audience of younger Jewish donors that strive to find causes that have meaning within the context of their own lives,” said David Rosenberg, founder and visionary leader of JChoice.org. “We did an in-depth study last summer and learned these young donors want involvement. They have told us they want to understand the impact of their activism and to be able to dialog with their peers regarding their charitable choices.”
Perma-link: http://fredericksburg.com/blogs/view?blogger_id=28&p=1258489616
Nov. 17, 2009 12:07 pm
They say cleanliness is next to godliness. In light of the swine flu fears, some area congregations are putting the maxim to the test. Across the country, churches have stopped the "passing of the peace" where worshippers shake hands during the service and have put away the shared Communion cups. Locally, most area houses of worship are taking smaller steps: At Beth Sholom Temple in Stafford County, Rabbi Devorah Lynn combines Hebrew lessons with germ-fighting. She teaches the children to sing the Aleph-Bet song while washing their hands. Not only does it reinforce their language skills, the song is the perfect length of time to wash hands and get rid of germs. Lynn shares the Jewish proverb, "If you save one life, it's as if you save the world." The Rev. Doug Hodges, interim pastor at United Church of Christ of Fredericksburg makes sure to wash his hands frequently Sunday mornings. After all, he shakes a lot of hands. And a pastor wants to share a message--not germs. At Evergreen Church in Spotsylvania, Communion wafers are now used instead of shared bread. And the church keeps hand sanitizers handy.
Perma-link: http://fredericksburg.com/blogs/view?blogger_id=28&p=1258477666
San Francisco Presbytery Approves Ordination of Lesbian Nov. 11, 2009 6:52 pm
Lisa Larges has waited more than 15 years to be called the Rev. Lisa Larges. And last night, it looks like she might be an ordained Presbyterian minister in the near future. The Presbytery of San Francisco late last night voted to ordain Larges, the first openly homosexual minister in the Presbyterian Church (USA). The vote was 156-138 in Larges' favor. The PC(USA) technically does not allow the ordination of openly gay clergy. The church requires ministers to be married and faithful or unmarried and celibate. However, the church does allow regional presbyteries to consider cases if the candidate declares a scruple--basically, a written statement saying they disagree with the church policy. Larges submitted a scruple against the so-called chastity clause which requires church officers to have "fidelity within the covenant of marriage between a man and a woman or chastity and singleness." Her ordination was first approved in January 2008 but appealed. That appeal was rejected Nov. 4. Larges, a deacon at in a San Francisco church, has been a ministry candidate since 1986. The vote can still be appealed.
Perma-link: http://fredericksburg.com/blogs/view?blogger_id=28&p=1257983557
Ted Haggard to Lead Prayer Study Nov. 10, 2009 4:58 pm
A recent study estimates that as many as one-third of churchgoers worship in a house. Their reasons vary. Ted Haggard announced plans to worship at home so as not to distract other worshippers. The former pastor of New Life Church resigned three years ago after admitting to using a gay prostitute. He said he planned to worship at home, and Thursday, he will lead a prayer study at his home in Colorado Springs. It's quite a change from New Life, where 14,000 people showed up Sundays to worship in a $50 million campus. Of note, that church also started in Haggard's home. The Denver Post quotes Haggard: "We just thought it would be a great time to get together with people to find out what they're doing and to pray for them--and to have their prayers for our travel."
Perma-link: http://fredericksburg.com/blogs/view?blogger_id=28&p=1257890290
Bishop Loverde on Upcoming Execution Nov. 6, 2009 3:42 pm
John Allen Muhammed, one of the DC snipers, is slated for lethal injection Nov. 10. Bishop Paul S. Loverde, of the Arlington Diocese of the Catholic Church, put out this blog in response: On November 10th, John Allen Muhammad is scheduled for execution in Virginia. As many will recall, Mr. Muhammad orchestrated the 2002 sniper attacks in the Washington metropolitan area — a rampage that left 10 people dead, others wounded and entire communities in shock and fear. To say that these acts are horrific and appalling would be an understatement. Certainly, a person who committed such brutal acts should be punished severely, and many among us would surely desire revenge and would even say that such a person deserves to die for what he did. It is understandable for us — all of us, myself included — to have these reactions, and to be outraged at the way in which innocent lives were so senselessly taken, with their families left to mourn and to ask questions which have no satisfactory answers. Read the rest here.
Perma-link: http://fredericksburg.com/blogs/view?blogger_id=28&p=1257540122
Nov. 4, 2009 3:59 pm
I somehow managed A's in the two semesters of economics required to get a journalism degree. But it wasn't my strong subject. Still, I loved "Freakonomics" and can't wait to find the time to dig through the sequel "Superfreakonomics." So, I love any opportunity to connect the books with religion. And an Indian journalist, apparently, helped me out. Co-author Stephen J. Dubner said told readers of his blog that he's now trying to answer this question from a reporter in India: You state that your book is based on one fundamental assumption about human nature: people respond to incentives. Which is another way of saying that people are basically selfish. Take someone like Jesus Christ. What was his “incentive” to go on the cross? Read the blog post here.
Perma-link: http://fredericksburg.com/blogs/view?blogger_id=28&p=1257368341
Oct. 5, 2009 4:18 pm
Have you ever seen postsecret? There, people anonymously share secrets written on postcards. I recently stumbled across this site (see below) that seems to be a Christian version of the postsecret. There aren't many "confessions" up yet, but it looks like it could be interesting to follow:
Perma-link: http://fredericksburg.com/blogs/view?blogger_id=28&p=1254773936
Sep. 23, 2009 6:25 pm NBC's Nightline will tackle the Ten Commandments. Tonight's show will focus on the seventh (thou shalt not commit adultery, in case you don't have them memorized). Guest experts will try to answer the question: Were we born to cheat? The lineup includes pastors and the CEO of ashleymadison.com. I'm not including a link for the site for people who want to cheat on their partners. But I will include the link for NBC's companion quiz, where you can find out if you're a saint or a sinner--or something in between. Tomorrow's installment will center on the commandment to keep the Sabbath day holy.
Perma-link: http://fredericksburg.com/blogs/view?blogger_id=28&p=1253744724
Sep. 18, 2009 1:16 pm
L’Shanah Tovah Tikatevu
Today is Rosh Hashana, the Jewish New Year. And here's a link to President Obama's Rosh Hashana greetings.
Perma-link: http://fredericksburg.com/blogs/view?blogger_id=28&p=1253294215
Sep. 15, 2009 12:09 pm
Just wondering what, exactly, a clergy would say to talk a parishioner into an affair. But, according to a new Baylor University study, they're definitely finding the words. The study, released last week found that 3.1 percent of adult women have been the object of a sexual advance from their clergy. Much has been made of the clergy sex abuse scandals involving children--and most people would obviously find serious problems with a spiritual leader having any sexual contact with a child. But, the study's authors report, many people do not have such a problem when the spiritual leader comes on to an adult woman. "Many people--including the victims themselves--often label incidences of clergy sexual misconduct with adults as 'affairs,'" said Diana Garland, dean of the school of social work and the study's lead researcher. "In reality, they are an abuse of spiritual power by the religious leader." In fact, many incidents aren't reported because of the "culture of niceness" in houses of worship. And case studies show that sometimes, the congregation blames the woman and not the clergy. One victim, Carolyn Waterstradt, said, "When it was happening to me, I felt confused and isolated. Now I know that many others have struggled with this, and that there is hope for putting systems in place to help prevent it from happening." Garland hopes the study's lasting impact will be to develop ways to prevent more cases. "Now that we have a better understanding of the problem, we can start looking at prevention strategies." Some of those strategies will be featured in this week's religion section.
Perma-link: http://fredericksburg.com/blogs/view?blogger_id=28&p=1253030996
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Amy Umble is the religion reporter for The Free Lance-Star.
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