eChurch Blog

Wildfires are dangerously out of control in Russia, due to the hottest temperatures since records began 130 years ago.

Things have become so dire that the Orthodox Russian Patriarch Kirill has today called for prayer for rain:

Yahoo:

Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill asked Russians to pray for rain on Sunday as wildfires raged across the European parts of the vast country, sweltering since June in an unprecedented heat wave.

“Grief has come to our nation, human lives have been lost, hundreds have lost shelter and thousands have been left without sustenance, including many children,” national media quoted Patriarch Kirill as saying in a prayer during a visit to the Nizhny Novgorod region, one of the worst hit by fires.

“I call upon everyone to unite in a prayer for rain to descend on our earth.”

Thick smoke from nearby forest fires blanketed a magnificent monastery where Kirill, clad in a richly embroidered gold cloak, conducted an outdoor liturgy glorifying a Russian saint, Russia’s NTV channel showed.

The mainly elderly worshippers stood on their knees as Kirill prayed for rain. “This (fires) is punishment sent to us for sins,” a woman worshipper told NTV.

“We should do only good deeds and pray.”

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Protect the Pope:

The Mirror newspaper reports that BBC staff are threatening to blackout coverage of the Holy Father’s state visit in September as part of their dispute with BBC management over pensions.

The Express reports: ‘The unprecedented action would form part of strike plans by broadcasting unions. Ballot papers are being sent out on Thursday with a result expected by September 9.’

‘The proposed action during Pope Benedict XVl’s tour will be a huge embarrassment to the corporation. It is his first state visit to Britain and the country’s 7.5 million Catholics will be infuriated if the historic occasion is caught up in the BBC’s latest controversy.’

Gerry Morrissey, general secretary of the union Bectu said:

‘If the vote is for a strike then we will focus action on key broadcasts…the Pope’s visit is also a clear target for us.’

Continue

Whilst we’re on the subject of the BBC:

Biased BBC:  THE ANTI-ZIONIST NETWORK

I really enjoyed the first reading from the Liturgy of the Word this morning at the cathedral, so thought I’d share:

Colossians 3: 1-11

Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.

Dr Jim West has dutifully and quite painstakingly put together the ‘July Biblical Blog Carnival’ which consists of the very best of the best postings.

Dr Jim West – The July, 2010 Biblical Studies Blog Carnival

PS I am in the list, see if you can find me using the following obscure and vague clues:

Clue 1: Under the heading Church History

Clue 2: Under the name Stuart James

Clue 3: Something to do with Diarmaid MacCulloch

Hope I haven’t made this too tough for you.

I feel like I should offer a prize for anyone who manages to discover my link, however, my wife popped unleaded in my diesel 4×4 during the week and it cost me a small fortune, enough said….