How Myanmar refugees saved a dying Smyrna church and inspired a movie

From Tennessee-

The true story of how refugees from Myanmar breathed new life into a floundering Episcopal church in Smyrna is being brought to the big screen.

The inspirational drama "All Saints" will star John Corbett of "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" and "Northern Exposure" as well as Cara Buono of "Stranger Things" and "Mad Men," according to Affirm Films and Provident Films, the entities behind the movie. It is inspired by what happened at All Saints' Episcopal Church about a decade ago.

More here-

http://www.tennessean.com/story/news/religion/2016/10/13/how-myanmar-refugees-saved-dying-smyrna-church-and-inspired-movie/91943740/

Myanmar Buddhist Monk May Have Plans to Build Monastery Near Anglican Church

From Radio Free Asia-

An influential Buddhist monk who has been erecting Buddhist pagodas on the grounds of churches and mosques in eastern Myanmar’s Karen State may begin building a monastery near an Anglican church, said the bishop who oversees Anglicanism in the state and neighboring regions on Tuesday.

Monk Myaing Kyee Ngu, also known as U Thuzana, has been building pagodas—also called stupas—near Christian churches and mosques in an act of defiance to supposedly reclaim ancient Buddhist lands.

Anglican Bishop Saw Stylo told RFA’s Myanmar Service that the monk and his supporters arrived near St. Mark Anglican church in Kondawgyi village of Hlaingbwe township on Monday with eight trucks of bricks.

Another truck arrived near the church on Tuesday morning, although church officials do not know if workers intend to build a monastery or make a fence dividing the two properties, he told RFA’s Myanmar Service.

“We called the state religious officer this morning [to inform him],” Saw Stylo said. “We will send an official letter to the state government tomorrow.”

More here-

http://www.rfa.org/english/news/myanmar/myanmar-buddhist-monk-may-have-plans-to-build-monastery-near-anglican-church-06072016161747.html

Episcopal Relief & Development Supports Church Response in Burma-Myanmar Following Cyclone Komen

From ERD-

Episcopal Relief & Development is supporting the relief efforts of the Church of the Province of Myanmar (CPM) in response to widespread flooding caused by heavy monsoons and Cyclone Komen, which swept through the region on July 30. The rains that began on July 16 caused landslides in hilly areas and floods throughout much of the country, which worsened as water flowed out of the mountains and reservoirs were opened to prevent dams from breaking.

According to UN OCHA, as of August 11, more than 1 million people have been affected and over 240,000 households are displaced. Approximately 687,000 acres (1,100 square miles) of farmland have been damaged, and special equipment is needed to remove water, mud and sand from fields so they can be replanted in order to prevent food shortages.

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http://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/15/08/p5765314/episcopal-relief-development-supports-church-response-in-burma-myanmar-#ixzz3in4j6cmW

Unsung Hero: Katharine Babson of Brunswick, priest with a world view

From Maine -

 Katherine Babson was first drawn to the priesthood as a little girl.

“I’d walk into the church and wander around, wondering what the mystery was all about,” she recalled.

Several years later, while a student at Williams College in western Massachusetts, Babson told an administrator she felt called to be a priest. “I didn’t know where that came from, as there were no women priests in the Episcopal Church at the time,” she said.

Soon after that conversation, Babson went along on the first Williams in India program. The experience moved her so much that she briefly considered pursuing a doctorate in Indian art.
More here-

http://www.theforecaster.net/news/print/2014/08/04/unsung-hero-katharine-babson-brunswick-priest-worl/206108