Teacup Browsing

• Letting scripture interrupt you.

• The aesthetics of Gerardus van der Leeuw:  

"The dance reflects the movement of God, which also moves us upon the earth. The drama presupposes the holy play between God and man. Verbal art is the hymn of praise in which the Eternal and his works are represented. Architecture reveals to us the lines of the well-built city of God’s creation. Music is the echo of the eternal Gloria."

•  Pope Francis:  "Mandatory celibacy [for priests] not dogma; open to change" important since  US faces a shortage of priests:

"Nationally, one in five Catholic parishes does not have a resident priest.  America’s Catholic population is rising by 1 percent annually, but seminary enrollment is flat. An inadequate supply of priests already has forced hundreds of parishes to close or consolidate.

• President celebrates Memorial Day with troops...makes major faux pas.

• Church of England votes in favor of women bishops.

• Episcopal Church to host forum on civil discourse in America. 

• Rolheiser on Saying Goodbye.

• AUSTIN, Texas — A political mailer was sent to hundreds of thousands of Republican voters recently, calling on them to elect what it called “Tea Party Champions” in Tuesday’s Republican runoff elections. But many Tea Party leaders in the state have never heard of the group that put out the glossy ad.

• Church sign of the week: