Monthly Archives: March 2010

Mission Central collecting tarps, tents for Haiti

Posted on March 31, 2010 by melissa nann burke

Mission Central in Mechanicsburg is asking for donations of tarps and tents to help those affected by the January earthquake in Haiti — specifically, children at a special-needs hospital in Port Au Prince run by the Children of Haiti organization. … Continue reading →

Posted in Around Pennsylvania, Denominational doings | 1 Comment

Philip Yancey to speak at Messiah College

Posted on March 30, 2010 by melissa nann burke

Evangelical Christian author Philip Yancey will present the last keynote lecture for Messiah College’s centennial year 7 p.m. April 7 in Brubaker Auditorium in the Eisenhower Campus Center. Yancey has written books, including “Where Is God When It Hurts?,” “The … Continue reading →

Posted in Academia, Local events | Leave a comment

Getting Easter lilies to the church on time

Posted on March 28, 2010 by melissa nann burke

An estimated 9 to 10 million Easter lilies are shipped across North America each year, but timing is tricky. As RNS reports, “getting the trumpet-shaped flowers to bloom on cue takes months of just-right gardening, mathematical deduction and extreme diligence.” … Continue reading →

Posted in Science | 1 Comment

Authors didn’t work on ‘Amish Grace’ film

Posted on March 24, 2010 by melissa nann burke

The Amish generally don’t like to be photographed, don’t like to be the subject of movies, don’t like when filmmakers portray their lifestyle inaccurately. According to early reviews, I doubt they’d like the new Lifetime movie that will air 8 … Continue reading →

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Diocese confirmed election of lesbian bishop

Posted on March 23, 2010 by melissa nann burke

Last week, the Episcopal Church confirmed its first lesbian bishop, the Rev. Mary Douglas Glasspool. She is the first openly gay priest to be elected bishop since the Rt. Rev. V. Gene Robinson of New Hampshire in 2003. Glasspool was … Continue reading →

Posted in Anglicanism, Denominational doings | Leave a comment

Sightings: Natural Inclusion of Religion

Posted on March 22, 2010 by melissa nann burke

In today’s Sightings column, religion scholar Martin Marty talks about the “natural inclusion” of religion in public discourse, education and writing. Read on at the jump.

Posted in Academia, Elsewhere | 2 Comments

Local Lutherans might split with ELCA

Posted on March 16, 2010 by melissa nann burke

A church in West Manchester Township voted overwhelmingly Sunday to end its affiliation with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. The vote comes seven months after the denomination approved a policy allowing non-celibate gay and lesbian clergy in the pulpit … Continue reading →

Posted in Denominational doings, Mainline Protestants | Leave a comment

Workshop on church stewardship

Posted on March 16, 2010 by melissa nann burke

The collection plates at many congregations took a hit during the past year due to the economy — and again when the snowstorms canceled services a couple of Sundays this winter. For tips on improving stewardship at your congregation, an … Continue reading →

Posted in Local events, Mainline Protestants | Leave a comment

Catholic Charities stops benefits for employees’ spouses

Posted on March 2, 2010 by melissa nann burke

Rather than provide health care to gay and lesbian spouses in D.C., Catholic Charities has cut off health care benefits for employees’ spouses. A letter describing the change was e-mailed to employees Monday, two days before same-sex marriage becomes legal … Continue reading →

Posted in Catholicism, Politics | 3 Comments