Monthly Archives: December 2008

Pennsylvanian named Methodist of the Year

Posted on December 31, 2008 by melissa nann burke

Katherine Commale, a 7-year-old from Downingtown, Chester County, has been named “United Methodist of the Year” for 2008, according to the United Methodist Reporter. She raised a whopping $85,000 for Nothing but Nets, a project to combat poverty-related diseases. The … Continue reading →

Posted in Around Pennsylvania, Denominational doings, Mainline Protestants | Leave a comment

The Bible as a glossy magazine

Posted on December 31, 2008 by melissa nann burke

Judging by the cover, it looks like the Goth Bible. A Swedish advertising executive has published “Bible Illuminated: The Book,” which is the New Testament packaged like a glossy magazine — chock full of professional photographs that are anything but … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Worship | Leave a comment

Club-hopping priest removed from church

Posted on December 30, 2008 by melissa nann burke

A 43-year-old Episcopal priest who allegedly loves the night-club life in Chelsea, NYC, has been removed as vicar from the St. James Episcopal Church in Dundaff, Susquehanna County, and cannot exercise priestly ministry, according to the New York Daily News … Continue reading →

Posted in Anglicanism, Around Pennsylvania | 1 Comment

Historically incorrect Christmas songs

Posted on December 29, 2008 by melissa nann burke

I missed this last week while on vacation, but it’s still worth a post. Ted Olsen at Christianity Today has a list of Christmas songs that are “just plain wrong.” First on the list, “I Saw Three Ships”: Bethlehem is … Continue reading →

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Churches defaulting on loans

Posted on December 29, 2008 by melissa nann burke

The Wall Street Journal reports that a surprising number of churches are defaulting on loans and heading for bankruptcy: During this holiday season of hard times, not even houses of God have been spared. Some lenders believe more churches than … Continue reading →

Posted in Ecomony | Leave a comment

More suicides around holidays? It’s a myth.

Posted on December 28, 2008 by melissa nann burke

Statistics from the National Center for Health Statistics show that December has the lowest suicide rate of any month of the year, reports Religion News Service. The holidays are “just not a time for suicide — that’s the bottom line,” … Continue reading →

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Word of the day: Tope

Posted on December 28, 2008 by melissa nann burke

A tope is a usually dome-shaped monument built by Buddhists. It’s also known as a stupa. (At right is the Jetavanaramaya stupa in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka.) Read a history of stupas, learn how to build one or visit the Dhamek … Continue reading →

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What the election means for the segregated church

Posted on December 21, 2008 by melissa nann burke

Christianity Today has an interesting Q&A: “What Obama’s Election Means for the Segregated Church” or “Why black and white evangelicals can’t believe the other voted as they did.” The interview is with Michael O. Emerson, founding director of the Center … Continue reading →

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Lutheran bishop readies for Middle East trip

Posted on December 18, 2008 by melissa nann burke

The Rev. B. Penrose Hoover, bishop of the Lower Susquehanna Synod, will travel next month to Israel, Jordan and Palestine with 58 other bishops of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and five Canadian bishops. Hoover and the others will … Continue reading →

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Word of the day: Motet

Posted on December 16, 2008 by melissa nann burke

motet noun (music) A polyphonic composition based on a sacred text and usually sung without accompaniment. – The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (fourth edition)

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