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Some churches: We've already prayed, Mr. President
"Not to be critical, but the president is a little late," Reginald Jackson, president of the Black Ministers Council of New Jersey, says in an Associated Press story about today's National Day of Prayer and Remembrance for the Victims of Hurricane Katrina.

"While many houses of worship planned to participate, several others around the country said they had already held such services and would not join the president. Some said they were so angry over the government's sluggish response to blacks and poor people in New Orleans, who waited days for rescue, that they would not heed Bush's request," Associated Press religion writer Rachel Zoll reports.

Bush took part in a memorial service at the National Cathedral in Washington.

"Through prayer we look for ways to understand the arbitrary harm left by this storm and the mystery of undeserved suffering," he says. "And in our search we're reminded that God's purposes are sometimes impossible to know here on Earth. Yet even as we're humbled by forces we cannot explain, we take comfort in the knowledge that no one is ever stranded beyond God's care. The Creator of wind and water is also the source of even a greater power —a love that can redeem the worst tragedy, a love that is stronger than death."

More than 300 people gathered at St. Paul's Cathedral in London for a memorial service there, too.

U.S. House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi also issued a statement on the National Day of Prayer and Remembrance, quoting Amos: "Let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream."

"It is also through our prayers today that we are renewed and reminded of the work ahead," Pelosi said. "Our actions must reflect our words. Our deeds must be as bold as our prayers. If not, then we have made a mockery of the worshipful act of prayer."

On a related note, the White House website's "Ask the White House" forum today will have Jim Towey, director of the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives, answering questions about faith-based hurricane relief efforts, and, one imagines, the church-state issues being raised. When it's over (it starts at 2 p.m. Friday), you can read the transcript here.

The Anglican game
"Guess What the Anglican Leaders Really Meant" is a very popular game among a certain set of our readers. Why it's so popular, Weblog has no idea; the game certainly isn't very fun, the rules keep changing, and it just drags on and on and on. As a wise machine once said, it's "a strange game, professor; the only way to win is not to play."

But anyway, if you like to play, be sure to check out the all-new Nigeria version.

The Anglican Church in Nigeria's General Synod, which is very orthodox and represents the largest Anglican body in the world, has rewritten its constitution.

"All former references to 'communion with the see of Canterbury' were deleted and replaced with another provision of communion with all Anglican Churches, Dioceses and Provinces that hold and maintain the 'Historic Faith, Doctrine, Sacrament, and Discipline of the one Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church,'" says a press release.

Is this big news? Or not? Play the game at popular orthodox Anglican blog TitusOneNine. Weblog will stick to Sudoku.

More articles

Bush urges prayer after Katrina:

• Many churches heed Bush's call for prayer | But once again, several pastors said, the government was a step behind (Associated Press)
• 'Prayer can change things' | In the aftermath of natural disasters, people of every spiritual belief experience a multitude of emotions, religious leaders say (The Saginaw News, Mi.)

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September (Web-only) 2005, Vol. 49