observances for the anniversary of the quake. The ceremony was marked by pealing of bells at 1:53 p.m., the moment the quake hit. Afterward a newly carved crocket stone (an orna- mental carving of foliage that acts as a rainspout) was blessed and placed on the damaged southwest pinnacle of the 330-foot tall central tower.
Mo. passes prayer amendment Missouri voters overwhelmingly approved a “right to pray” amend- ment to the state’s constitution in August, despite concerns about the measure’s necessity and legality. The ballot language stressed the rights of citizens to express their religious beliefs and the rights of children to pray and acknowledge God in schools. It also said students could be exempted from classroom activities that violate their religious beliefs.
U.S. split on Muslims Americans are almost evenly divided in how they view Muslims, accord- ing to a survey released in August by the Arab American Institute in Wash- ington, D.C. “The American Divide: How We View Arabs and Muslims,” found that 41 percent of Americans had unfavorable views of Muslims, compared to 40 percent who held favorable views. That’s an improve- ment from 2010, when another insti- tute survey found that 55 percent of Americans viewed Muslims unfa- vorably, compared to 35 percent with favorable views.
Episcopal restructure
As conversations in the Episcopal Church continue around restructur- ing the churchwide offices in New York City, the denomination’s July 2012 General Convention passed a resolution encouraging leaders to look at other possible locations. This summer church leaders agreed to lease nearly 12,000-square-feet at
Church pulls out all the stops They love to sing at Immanuel
the center to the Consulate General of the Republic of Haiti. Chief Oper- ating Officer Bishop Stacy Sauls told the Episcopal Church Office of Pub- lic Affairs that talks continue with the ELCA about future sharing of staff and space, or other options including joint mission efforts and initiatives.
Show tests Bible knowledge The American Bible Challenge is thought to be the first religiously themed game show on a secular net- work. The show, airing Thursday evenings on GSN (formerly Game Show Network), teams knowledge of the Old and New Testaments in a quiz show interspersed with stories of the competitors and the charities they play for. Comedian Jeff Foxworthy hosts. Readers of the New Interna- tional Version translation might want to play along—it’s the show’s official Bible.
Remembering infants
Anglican cathedrals in England, Wales and Scotland are holding spe- 10
Lutheran Church, Absarokee, Mont.— and have a new pipe organ to accom- pany them. The 180 members raised $135,000 over two years to build an organ using components from one a former pastor, A.O. Aadland, made for his home. When he died in 2009, his 10 children gave it to Immanuel, where one sibling, Dan, is choir director. Brother Art, an organ builder, rede- signed the instrument and crafted components in his South Dakota shop and brother Steve’s shop in Montana. Steve and 80 volunteers contributed 6,000 hours to transform the steeple into an organ chamber and to trans- port, restore and install the organ that boasts 700 pipes and 27 stops.
Quote
We have become a nation rife with domestic terrorism—moving from a land of hospitality and freedom to a land of the fearful and the besieged, with gun violence being the driving force behind this change.
The Progressive National Baptist Convention in a resolution calling for a ban on assault weap- ons, adopted in August at its annual session in Memphis, Tenn.
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