The Llama Butchers find another one

From the Llama Butchers, That's My Church! Inadvertent Truthiness Division, for fun and games (and another Clown Mass):

Yep, pretty much says it all, although I don't believe that is the intent:

This Sunday, being a clown earns you a special blessing at Hickory Neck Episcopal Church in Toano [Virginia].

Big red noses, supersized rubber shoes and frizzy wigs will fill pews for the seventh year at one of the few church services in the country to recognize International Clown Week.

But the "Blessing of the Clowns" service isn't just about thick painted smiles and polka-dotted jumpers — the gospel message will also be given by the clowns in the form of a skit.

[INSERT YOUR OWN TEC CRISIS JOKE HERE]

As a matter of fact, a couple of our older parishioners came up to me yesterday after our service and asked when I was going to be posting again about the impending TEC implosion. I more or less shrugged - it's the slowest time of the year and our parish dreams in a false peace (as I believe Tolkien said of Ithilien before Sauron unleashed his assault on Gondor). As a matter of fact, I was musing at the time on the fact that ushering summer services is always a breeze because the only people who show up are the regulars, and they both are better about picking up their trash from the pews and also know what they're doing when they come up for Communion, so do not need much attendance. . .

I expect our parish will wake up to what's going on when it starts trying to hit up the regulars for money just about the same time that the noozpapers start splashing frontpage headlines about the crackup. All I can say is that I'm awfully glad I'm not on the stewardship committee.

Read it all.

Sign the TEC Legal Transparency petition

From the American Anglican Council, a statement on requesting information from ECUSA on how various lawsuits are being funded:

The Episcopal Church's (TEC) continued litigation against parishes and vestries is a great concern to many in the Anglican Communion. These lawsuits come at a high price emotionally, spiritually, and financially. Of special concern is the source of TEC’s funding. Where are they getting the money to sue these churches? Should TEC be open about the amount spent and the source of their litigation funding?

Sign it here.

H/t to Stand Firm.

Five Talents

Mr. Frederick Kalema-Musoke, a former World Bank senior staffer, will succeed the Rt. Rev’d Martyn Minns as chair of the board for Five Talents International. CANA’s Bishop Martyn Minns has served as chair since 1999 and was a co-founder of the organization.

"Transformation!” emphasized Bishop Minns, “that's the most important accomplishment of Five Talents: transformed lives and changed communities.”

During Minns’s tenure as chair, Five Talents, a Christian microfinance organization working in partnership with the worldwide Anglican Communion, has assisted more than 220,000 of the poor in 14 countries through microcredit and savings programs and business training. The ripple effects of these projects have touched a million people around the globe. “I don’t think we ever dreamed of the worldwide impact we are making,” Minns said.

Read it all.

H/t to Transfigurations.

Uganda Christian University Partners

If reading Archbishop Orombi's article, "What is Anglicanism?", in First Things inspires you to find out more about working with Anglican groups overseas, check out Uganda Partners

a non-profit charitable organization committed to raise public awareness about Uganda Christian University in the United States by seeking material and spiritual support for students through sponsorships; and by procuring funds for buildings and other needed projects

They seek

to further the University’s mission of preparing students 'through teaching, scholarship, service, spiritual formation, student development and social involvement....for thoughtful, productive lives of Christian faith and service in their respective professions and places

Take a look at How to Get Involved and consider helping with their physical plant or sponsoring a student scholarship.

And for more on Anglican Missions worldwide, check out the Anglican Communion Network's Anglican Global Mission Partners info.