Friday, December 30, 2011

Colleagues List, December 31st, 2011

Vol. VII. No. 20

*****

END OF YEAR
NEW YEAR'S EVE EDITION

Wayne A. Holst, Editor

*****

Colleagues List Blog:
http://colleagueslist.blogspot.com/

My E-Mail Address:
waholst@telusplanet.net

*****

OPENING KUDOS

SUSAN JOHNSON
Winnipeg, MB.

Commenting on the news about
Canadian Lutherans and Mennonites
in dialogue, CL December 17th issue -

December 20th, 2011

Thanks as always, Wayne.

I appreciate you sharing this
with a wider and eclectic audience!

+ Susan

The Rev. Susan C. Johnson,
National Bishop
Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada

---

LANCE WOODRUFF
Bangkok, Thailand

December 21st, 2011

Greetings from Bangkok, Wayne.

I appreciate your overviews and
specifics of what's going on.

As one who lives at some distance
from you I continue to be fed by
your ministry of sharing news of
others, and of yourself.

May God's spirit continue to feed
your ministry.

Lance Woodruff,
An Anglican Abroad in Thailand

---

JEAN KONING
Peterborough, ON.

December 21st, 2011

Many thanks for this, Wayne and for
all your good work during the year.
I don't always write, but I always
read you, and appreciate the variety
of thought you bring to my life these
days!

Blessings,
Jean.

*****

Special Items
In This Issue -

End of Year Reflection:

Canadian Mainline Protestantism
Is It Renewable?

---

End of Year Roundup:

Annual Summary of Colleagues List Articles
Written During the Calendar Year of 2011

___

Colleague Contributions:

John Stackhouse Jr.
Jim Taylor
Ron Rolheiser
___

Net Notes:

Korea Update
The Book of Books
Queen's Christmas Message
Muslim Christmas Celebrations
Rene Fumoleau's Dene Christmas
Our Christmas Customs are Changing
Christian Week's 2011 Top Ten Stories
Israelis Protest the Treatment of Women
Nigerian Churches Blasted by Extremists
Pakistan's Christians Celebrate Christmas
Pew: Christianity is Globe's Largest Faith
Ancient Documents Shed Light on the Wise Men
___

Global Faith Potpourri:

Thirteen ENI Geneva stories.
___

Quotes of the Week:

Dorothy L. Sayers
Dimitrii of Rostov
___

On This Day:

Dec. 23, 1986 - Voyager, piloted by Dick
Rutan and Jeana Yeager, complete first
non-stop, around-the-world flight without
refueling.

Dec. 25, 1991 - Soviet President Gorbachev
announces his resignation as the eighth
and final leader of a Communist superpower
that had already gone out of existence.

Dec. 26, 1941 - Churchill becomes first
British prime minister to address a joint
meeting of the United States Congress.

Dec. 28, 1981 - Elizabeth Jordan Carr,
the first American test-tube baby, was
born in Norfolk, Va.

Dec. 29, 1940 - during World War II,
Germany began dropping incendiary bombs
on London.
___

Closing Thought:

Winston Churchill on Gandhi and India

(end)

*****

Dear Friends:

For this, the last day and last issue of
Colleagues List for 2011 I have spent some
time creating a reflection entitled:

"Canadian Mainline Protestantism
Is It Renewable?"

Also, please find a listing of the book
reviews, notices, reflections and articles
that have appeared here during 2011. I
include links to all 43 in the event there
are some you may have missed:

Please consider the -

"Annual Summary of Colleagues List Articles
Written During the Calendar Year of 2011"

___

Colleague Contributions:

John Stackhouse Jr. of Vancouver BC reflects
theologically on the Christmas child.

Jim Taylor of Okanagan, BC shares his views
on God and Jesus at Christmas.

Ron Rolheiser of San Antonio, TX invites you
to consider the books that have influenced
him the most during the past year.
___

Net Notes:

"Korea Update" - here is a series of
links to help fill in the picture of
what is happening in Korea now
(Ucan News, Cankor, Hindustan Times,
 The Atlantic Online)

"The Book of Books" - a fine essay by
Marilynne Robinson on what literature
owes the Bible (New York Times)

"Queen's Christmas Message" - an
annual event for those who appreciate
Her Majesty and her Christian faith
(The Telegraph, UK)

"Muslim Christmas Celebrations" -
this article will possibly surprise
some of you (Huffington Post Canada)

"Rene Fumoleau's Dene Christmas" -
a long-time mentor of mine, Oblate
priest Fumoleau lives in Yellowknife
and continues to inspire his readers
(New Catholic Times)

"Our Christmas Customs are Changing" -
as Canada evolves into a global microcosm
our rites and rituals as a people are
changing (Vancouver Sun)

"Christian Week's 2011 Top Ten Stories" -
still on top of his game, editor, friend
and colleague Doug Koop sends us his last
annual story summary (Christianweek.org)

"Israelis Protest the Treatment of Women"
- not all Israelis are the same - perhaps
no two are! ... and here is a story that
demonstrates that point (CBC.ca)

"Nigerian Churches Blasted by Extremists"
- perhaps the most dramatic global religious
story of the week, and it is portrayed from
several angles (BBC, ENI, Rueters)

"Pakistan's Christians Celebrate Christmas"
- here is a hopeful story from a difficult
religious situation (The Times of Lahore)

"Pew: Christianity is Globe's Largest Faith"
- a world-wide survey with current statistics
to support the claims (ENI, Anglican Journal,
Zenit News from Rome)

"Ancient Documents Shed Light on the Wise Men"
- modern scholars probe texts that offer some
insight to a rather nebulous but intriguing
subject (Huffington Post Canada)

___

Global Faith Potpourri:

Thirteen stories are offered this week from
Ecumenical News International, Geneva.

___

Quotes of the Week:

Dorothy L. Sayers and Dimitrii of Rostov
share their wisdom with us.
___

On This Day:

Voyager, piloted by Rutan and Jeana Yeager,
complete first non-stop, around-the-world
flight without refueling (1986)

Soviet President Gorbachev resigns. He was
the eighth and final leader of a Communist
superpower (1991)

Churchill becomes first British PM to address
a joint meeting of the US Congress (1941)

Elizabeth Jordan Carr, the first American
test-tube baby, born in Norfolk, Va. (1981)

During WW II, Germany began dropping
incendiary bombs on London (1940)
___

Closing Thought:

Winston Churchill on Gandhi and India

You may be surprised at these comments.
It removes some of the sheen from the
image of a great world leader.

___


This is the last occasion I will have
in 2011 to wish you God's blessings.

Next week, in 2012, I hope to begin
a new Colleagues List series!

Wayne

************************

SPECIAL WINTER STUDY ANNOUNCEMENTS
Introducing the Full Program

ST. DAVID'S MONDAY NIGHT STUDY
WINTER 2012

"The Other Face of God:
 When the Stranger Calls Us Home"

by Mary Jo Leddy

Ten Monday Nights -
January 16th - March 26th, 2012
(except February Family Weekend Monday)

Information about the book from Amazon.ca:
http://tinyurl.com/c6aror6

*****

UNIVERSITY TUESDAY NIGHTS

A Study Program Sponsored by:
The Department of Continuing Education
At the University of Calgary

Taught by: Wayne Holst

"God, Atheism and Morality" (ten sessions)
Tuesday Nights, 7:00PM - 9:00 PM
January 24th - March 27th, 2012

Course Information:
http://tinyurl.com/2fc7xr4

*****

ST. DAVID'S ACTS MINISTRY AND
THE FAITH AND SPIRITUALITY CENTRE
ON THE UNIVERSITY OF CALGARY CAMPUS

Welcome to our -

LENTEN STUDIES 2012

Noon Hour Book Discussions for Faculty,
Staff and Students Winter Series for 2012:

"An Altar in the World" by Barbara Brown Taylor

Discovering God in the ordinary experiences of life
March 2nd - March 30th - five Friday noon sessions

Time and Location for all sessions:
12:00 to 1:00PM in the Native Centre Board Room
Located above the Dairy Queen, Mac Hall Student's
Centre

Led by: Wayne Holst,
Coordinator of the ACTS Ministry, St. David's United
and a Faith and Spirituality Centre Liaison.

Cost of the book: $15.00 each

*****

Join us this year for stiumlating campus discussions!

For more information: Adriana Tulissi 403-220-5451
Co-ordinator, Faith and Spirituality Centre, U. of
C. - artuliss@ucalgary,ca

*****

SPECIAL ST. DAVID'S LINKS

Contact us at: asdm@sduc.ca (or)admin@sduc.ca
St. David's Web Address - http://sduc.ca/

Listen to audio recordings of Sunday services -
http://sduc.ca/services.htm

*****

STUDY ARCHIVES

An accumulation of twenty-five+ studies conducted
since 2000 can quickly be found at:
http://bookstudies.stdavidscalgary.net/

This collection of study resources represents
more than a decade of Monday Night Studies at
St. David's, plus extra courses too!

You are welcome to use our course outlines,
class notes and resource pages in your personal
and group reflections.

******************************************

SPECIAL ITEM #1

CANADIAN MAINLINE PROTESTANTISM -
IS IT RENEWABLE?

An End-of-Year Personal Reflection:

In his book "Beyond the Gods and Back -
Religion's Demise and Rise and Why it
Matters" (introduced to the readers of
Colleagues List; see #5 below, Feb. 19th,
2011) colleague Reg. Bibby declares that
groups such as the United and Anglican
churches "are not yet out of the running
in Canada, given the size of their
affiliate pools, but time is not on the
side of either denomination."

A basic problem, he adds, is that many
and perhaps most Canadians who identify
with Catholic and Protestant traditions
have no particular reason to associate
what they want and need with what those
groups are doing (pp. 213-14.)

"That has to change. People have to know
that (these) groups are dealing with the
life and death questions that they are
asking and are capable of having a
positive impact on their lives and the
people and issues they care about.

"Religious groups that can do these kinds
of things have futures. Those that can't
or won't are going to fade away."

Bibby believes that as Canadians search
for meaning that science and materialism
cannot provide for them, many may simply
bypass the existing groups altogether and
opt for new ones that are not yet born.

What is certain, he continues, is that
the needs that call for "the gods" in
people's lives are going to persist.
But we live in the paradoxical situation
that many groups are going broke precisely
at a time when many people out there are
going spiritually hungry.

"In the long run," Bibby concludes, "many
people may say goodbye to any number of
forms of organized religion (but) few
will say goodbye to the gods."

---

I return to the question posed by the
title of this reflection - "Canadian
Mainline Protestantism - Is It Renewable?"

I would like to respond to that question
in the affirmative, but with conditions.
It would seem, in some circles at least,
that I am viewed as one committed to the
rebirth of this tradition, but expressed
in new, more meaningful ways.

On page 195, Bibby states: "As I look at
the four primary "firms" in this grouping
- the United, Anglican, Lutheran and
Presbyterian churches - I see far more
than cold numbers.  I see the faces of
many people I have known who value faith
and who have been working hard to
resuscitate their denominations. Minus
their formal titles they include people
like Lewis Garnsworthy, Ted Scott, Gord
Turner,  Ralph Milton, Muriel Duncan,
Sandra Severs, Vince Alfano, Allan Saunders,
Mardi Tindal, Tony Plomp, Wayne Holst,
Michael Pryse and Susan Johnson."

(Bibby joked with me when I asked him
why my name was listed with this rather
august group. He said, without comment
that he placed my name there quite
intentionally and between "United" and
"Lutheran" folk.)

---

Bibby states: If the research findings
point to a reality that would not surprize
any of them, it is difficult to see much
hope for viable futures.

My Response: I believe the mainline
traditions carry within them more than
negative possibilities. They also contain
seeds of hope that have blossomed in the
past and can do so again.

Let me suggest just a few reasons why
I soldier on, and I do not claim to speak
for anyone listed but myself.

1. I continue to serve from within a
faith community that accepted me when
I needed a spiritual home. It may sound
like a broken record, but that is the
primary reason for any good I may have
been able to offer people through the
church during the last 22 years.

2. I continue to serve because I have
been able to be who I am in this community.
I have never been asked to deny what
shaped me and what I brought with me.
In fact, I was encouraged to share this
with others.

3. I continue to serve because I truly
need to be part of a faith community.
I cannot be "spiritual, not religious"
or a "free lance Christian" but one that
lives with all the good and bad things
that community involves. At most of the
university classes I teach I am asked
why I am a Christian. I tell those that
question this need that I find it hard
to explain, but it is important to me
and I could not be the person I try to
be without a living Christian community
to support me.

4. I continue to serve because I find
myself at a vantage point that continues
to offer me many other considerations.
I try to weigh them all respectfully,
and am able to adapt new discoveries
and insights into my philosophy. I have
learned a great deal over the years from
other believers and non-believers alike.
I consider all of them gifts from God.

5. I continue to serve because I choose
to be hopeful about the church, rather
than despondent. As much as I wish much
of my Christian heritage had never
happened, I nevertheless rejoice that
much of it did. I want to claim what is
good from the past, learn from it, and
not dwell on the negative.

6. I continue to serve because I want to
be part of the new unfolding of what God
has in store for God's people in Canada.
While I do not know how it all will turn
out, I want to be numbered among those
who are doing what they can to bring it
about.

What I say about myself, I believe is
true for many others who faithfully tend
the fires of hundreds of mainline Protestant
Christian communities across Canada. Many
of them go unheralded, and Bibby's
representative list could contain a
lot of other unsung witnesses.

---

So --

Is Canadian mainline Protestantism
renewable?

In its present form? No. There is a lot
needing to be ejected.

But hopefully something new already exists
in a form that is even now emerging - that
is, as I believe it to be - a people that are
inclusive, experience-centered, thoughtful,
justice and peace seeking, grounded in tradition
but progressive and ever - open to new promptings
of God's Spirit.

It is neither Catholic on the one hand; nor is
it conservative, evangelical Protestant on the
other. At the same time it is open to the good
influences of both.

I speak of a type of emerging Christian and
Christian community that more and more people
will find attractive, because they are about
things that really matter.

Thanks, Reg. Bibby for helping me to reflect
on these matters at the closing of the year.

*****

SPECIAL ITEM #2

ANNUAL SUMMARY OF COLLEAGUES LIST ARTICLES
Written During the Calendar Year of 2011

All selections can be retrieved by
clicking the link and scrolling down
the page to each specific article:

A. BOOK NOTICES AND REVIEWS

1. "Souls in Full Sail: A Christian
Spirituality for the Later Years"
by Emilie Griffin
Reviewed for America, March 14th, 2011
January 8th, 2011
http://tinyurl.com/7zt4v96

2. "Godless Morality: Keeping Religion
Out of Ethics" by Richard Holloway
January 22nd, 2011
http://tinyurl.com/8yxcm7m

3. "The King's Speech:
A Reflection on the Oscar Nominee
For Best Picture and other Awards"
February 5th, 2011
http://tinyurl.com/7xv4b4f

4. "Thinking in Tongues:
Pentecostal Contributions to
Christian Philosophy"
by James K.A. Smith
February 12th, 2011
http://tinyurl.com/bn68h52

5. "Beyond the Gods and Back:
Religion's Demise and Rise
and Why it Matters"
by Reginald Bibby
February 19th, 2011
http://tinyurl.com/csrfodh

6. "If the Church Were Christian:
Rediscovering the Values of Jesus"
by Philip Gulley
February 26th, 2011
http://tinyurl.com/7u2739e

7. "Community and Growth
Revised Edition" by Jean Vanier
March 5th, 2011
http://tinyurl.com/7o89k6u

8. "I Shall Not Hate:
A Gaza Doctor's Journey"
by Dr. Izzeldin Abuelaish
March 12th, 2011
http://tinyurl.com/7o4szym

9. "Christian Mystics:
365 Readings and Meditations
That Celebrate the Mystical Path"
Prepared by Matthew Fox
April 9th, 2011
http://tinyurl.com/6wf7stj

10. "Why Catholics are Right"
by Michael Coren
April 16th, 2011
http://tinyurl.com/c8beole

11. "Soulistry:
Artistry of the Soul
Creative Ways to
Nurture Your Spirituality"
by June Maffin
June 11th, 2011
http://tinyurl.com/656hcvk

12. "Our One Great Act
of Fidelity" by Ron Rolheiser
June 18th, 2011
http://tinyurl.com/75y6dpf

13. "Devil's Ink:
Notes from the Basement Office"
by Jeffrey C. Pugh
June 25th, 2011
http://tinyurl.com/7a5r27e

14. "Allah, Liberty and Love:
The Courage fo Reconcile"
by Irshad Manji
June 30th, 2011
http://tinyurl.com/cmfco5e

15. "Speaking Christian:
Why Christian Words Have Lost
their Meaning and Power -
and How They Can Be Restored"
by Marcus Borg
August 6th, 2011
http://tinyurl.com/7jt5mj3

16. "A Public Faith:
How Followers of Christ
Can Serve the Common Good"
by Miroslav Volf
September 3rd, 2011
http://tinyurl.com/7ev6apb

17. "The Messenger:
Friendship, Faith and
Finding One's Way"
by Douglas John Hall
September 17th, 2011
http://tinyurl.com/6u2q3lg

18. "The Long View:
An Elderwoman's Book of Wisdom"
By Donna Sinclair
September 24th, 2011
http://tinyurl.com/6w9xjt9

19. "Practicing Reverence:
An Ethic for Sustainable
Earth Communities"
by Ross Smilie
October 22nd, 2011
http://tinyurl.com/7nz6m8k

20. "The Other Face of God:
When the Stranger Calls Us Home"
by Mary Jo Leddy
October 29th, 2011
http://tinyurl.com/73x9mcj

21. "Reclaiming the Bible
for a Non-religious World"
by John Shelby Spong
November 5th, 2011
http://tinyurl.com/7zxz3ce

22. "What the Bible Really Tells Us:
The Essential Guide to Biblical Literacy"
by T.J. Wray
November 12th, 2011
http://tinyurl.com/824g4as

23. "A Common Written Greek Source
for Mark and Thomas"
by John Horman
November 19th, 2011
http://tinyurl.com/7nojp33

24. "Beyond Religion:
Ethics for the Whole World"
by the Dalai Lama
December 2nd, 2011
http://tinyurl.com/6u2mub3

25. "The United Church of Canada:
A History" edited by
Don Schweitzer
December 18th, 2011
http://tinyurl.com/738k4ff

*****

B. SERMONS, LECTURE NOTES,
AND PERSONAL REFLECTIONS

1. "Is It Fitting?" Sermon Preached
at St. David's United Church, Calgary on
The Baptism of our Lord, January 9th, 2011
January 8th, 2011
http://tinyurl.com/7uydpyr

2. "Cancer Discharge Letter:
Reflections on a Cure and
a Look at 'Survivorship'"
January 29th, 2011
http://tinyurl.com/89xmt5v

3. "Goals for the Tour to the Celtic Lands:
Thoughts on the St. David's Calgary 50th
Anniversary Pilgrimage to Sacred Places in
Scotland, Ireland, Wales and England"
(April 26th - May 10th, 2011)
March 19th, 2011
http://tinyurl.com/75n9sck

4. "The Universal Spirituality
of Classical Music"
March 26th, 2011
http://tinyurl.com/83uklyl

5. "God, Atheism and Morality:
A Summary of Learning from the Course"
April 2nd, 2011
http://tinyurl.com/7njeuet

6. "The Holy Land Conflict" -
Notes from a Presentation by
Oren Steinitz, Doctoral Candidate
and Jewish Chaplain at the Centre
of Faith and Spirituality,
The University of Calgary
April 9th, 2011
http://tinyurl.com/6wf7stj

7. "Notes taken from a presentation by
Dr. Izzeldin Abuelaish at the Webber
Academy, Calgary this week"
April 23rd, 2011
http://tinyurl.com/7gyfhhv

8. "Thin Places on Our Tour of
the Celtic Lands"
June 4th, 2011
http://tinyurl.com/7lw9k87

9. "A Brief Reflection on
My Summer Reading"
July 9th, 2011
http://tinyurl.com/7hhzsd4

10. "Sacred Sites:
Thoughts on Tourism
as Spiritual Nourishment"
July 23rd, 2011
http://tinyurl.com/7dq5ew7

11. "Early Protestant
Missionaries in S. Alberta"
Historic Calgary Week
Chinook Historical Society
Presentations at the
McDougall Memorial United Church
Morley Village, Alberta
Sunday, July 31st, 2011
August 20th, 2011
http://tinyurl.com/85unymf

12. "On Smelling the Roses"
Reflections Before Our Planned
Trip to See the Leaves
Turn Colour in Ontario
October 1st, 2011
http://tinyurl.com/8xscwpv

13. "Beauty in the Beholder's Eye"
Reflections After Our Planned
Trip to See the Leaves
Turn Colour in Ontario
October 15th, 2011
http://tinyurl.com/7br4g6y

14. "The Ends of Economic Activity"
A Lecture by Miroslav Volf
Presentated at Ambrose University College
Calgary, November 18th, 2011
November 26th, 2011
http://tinyurl.com/8abbn27

15. "A Visit to St. David's Monday Night
Study Group by Two of Calgary's
Gay nnd Lesbian Communities" -
Notes of the Discussion
December 10th, 2011
http://tinyurl.com/893ks22

16. "Holst Family Christmas Letter, 2011"
December 24th, 2011
http://tinyurl.com/6nz5xh3

17. "Canadian Mainline Protestantism:
Is it Renewable? " -
A Year End Reflection
December 31st, 2011
(see above)

18. "Annual Summary of Colleagues List Articles
Book Notices, Sermons, Lecture Notes and
Personal Reflections" -
December 31st, 2011

*****

COLLEAGUE CONTRIBUTIONS

JOHN STACKHOUSE JR.
Personal Blog
December 23ed, 2011

"How the Baby Protects Us"

http://tinyurl.com/6rhvpo6

---

JIM TAYLOR
Okanagan, BC

Wednesday December 28, 2011

"The Difference Between God and Jesus"

http://tinyurl.com/bt7au3e

---

RON ROLHEISER
San Antonio, TX

Wednesday, December 28th, 2011

"Books that have Found Me in 2011"

http://www.ronrolheiser.com/

*****

NET NOTES

KOREA UPDATE

Ucan News
December 23rd, 2011

"Where the Divide
 Hardly Exists"

http://tinyurl.com/7rs5g7e

---

"Canada Walks Out at
 Kim Jong Il Moment
 of Silence at the UN"

Cankor Commentary
December 23rd, 2011

http://tinyurl.com/6tv96up

---

"West Misunderstands N. Korea"

Hindustan Times
December 27th, 2011

http://tinyurl.com/7t2rka9

---

"North Korea Mourns Kim Jong Il"

Atlantic Online Photos
December 28th, 2011

http://tinyurl.com/cyy8c8u

*****

THE BOOK OF BOOKS
What Literature Owes the Bible
Essay by Marilynne Robinson

The New York Times
Review of Books

December 26th, 2011

A number of the great works of Western
literature address themselves very directly
to questions that arise within Christianity
and test doctrine by means of dramatic
imagination.

http://tinyurl.com/6q6qmuk

*****

QUEEN'S CHRISTMAS MESSAGE
A Clearly Christian Testimony
in a Multi-Faith World

ABC Queensland, Australia
December 25th, 2011

http://tinyurl.com/7x3s8qg

*****

MUSLIM CHRISTMAS CELEBRATIONS
Seeing Jesus in the Koran

Huffington Post Canada
December 16th, 2011

http://tinyurl.com/7png2xv

*****

RENE FUMOLEAU'S DENE CHRISTMAS

New Catholic Times
December 27th, 2011

http://tinyurl.com/7d66z2k

*****

CANADIAN CHRISTMAS CUSTOMS CHANGING
Traditional Practices in Decline

Vancouver Sun
December 24th, 2011

http://tinyurl.com/7jj5ptx

*****

CHRISTIAN WEEK'S TOP TEN
STORIES FOR 2011

Christianweek.org
December 28th, 2011

http://tinyurl.com/c3wtmpd

*****

ISRAELIS PROTEST ULTRA-
ORTHODOX TREATMENT OF WOMEN

CBC.ca
Dec. 28th, 2011

http://tinyurl.com/d896vy4

*****

NIGERIAN CHURCHES BLASTED
DURING CHRISTMAS SERVICES

BBC News
December 25th, 2011

http://tinyurl.com/chupxjy

---

Ecumenical News International
December 28th, 2011

After carnage in Nigeria, spiritual leaders
seek unity, fearing religious war

Abuja, Nigeria (ENI news) - After Muslim
militants bombed a Nigerian church over
the Christmas weekend, northern Nigerian
Christians say they will fight to defend
themselves against a possible religious
war in Africa's most populous country.
On Christmas Day, a suicide bomber tried
to force his way into St Theresa's Roman
Catholic Church in Madella, on the edge
of the capital, Abuja. He was stopped by
police and detonated a bomb as parishioners
poured out of the church after Christmas
Mass. Thirty-nine people died and hundreds
were injured.

In the U.S. the National Council of Churches
(NCC) condemned the bombing as "intrinsically
evil." Incoming president Kathryn Mary Lohre
added that "we condemn any violent act so
contrary to the common understanding of God's
love as it is expressed among Christians,
Muslims and persons of all the major faith
traditions."

---

"Northern Nigerian Christians
 Warn of Religious War"

Rueters
Dec. 27th, 2011

http://tinyurl.com/c4vhxfp

*****

PAKISTAN'S CHRISTIANS
CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS

The Times of Lahore
December 25th, 2011

http://tinyurl.com/85kzqxr

*****

CHRISTIANITY IS GLOBE'S
LARGEST FAITH
Pew Survey Confirms This

December 21st, 2011

Ecumenical News International
Report shows Christianity
shifting to Africa

Report shows Christianity
shifting to Africa

Washington, D.C. (ENI news) - With
2.18 billion adherents, Christianity has
become a truly global religion over the
past century as rapid growth in developing
nations offset declines in Christianity's
traditional strongholds, according to a
report released on 19 December. Billed
as the most comprehensive and reliable
study to date, the Washington, D.C.-based
Pew Research Center's "Global Christianity"
reports on self-identified Christian
populations based on more than 2,400
sources of information, especially
census and survey data, Religion News
Service reports.
_____

Anglican Journal
December 22nd, 2011

http://tinyurl.com/753c3vb

---

"Christianity by the Numbers
 Around the World"

Zenit News from Rome
December 23rd, 2011

http://tinyurl.com/d86v6w8


*****

ANCIENT DOCUMENTS SHED
LIGHT ON THREE WISE MEN

Huffington Post Canada
December 22nd, 2011

http://tinyurl.com/83hy3kk

*****

GLOBAL FAITH POTPOURRI

Ecumenical News International
News Highlights
21 December 2011

Hong Kong churches promote
economic justice at Christmas

Hong Kong (ENI news) - The Hong Kong
Catholic Church has reminded its members
to be aware of the need for economic
justice during the Christmas season and
two other church groups are participating
in the "Occupy" anti-corporate movement.
The Diocesan Catholic Commission for Labor
Affairs (CCLA) has organized a Christmas
campaign to boycott shopping centers to
promote the cause and highlight the need
to alleviate the wealth gap in society.

*****

22 December 2011

Haifa's Holiday of Holidays festival
embraces differences

Haifa, Israel (ENI news) - Both Christmas
lights and Hanukkah dreidels (spinning tops)
are appearing as decorations as the northern
Israeli port city of Haifa throws a multi-
faith party on December weekends. Now in its
18th year, the Holiday of Holidays -- which
also includes the recently-celebrated Muslim
Eid al-Adha -- is meant "to share the
differences and honor them," said Assaf Ron,
director of the Beit Hageffen Jewish-Arab
Center which organizes the festival along
with the Haifa municipality. "We want to
show Jews, Christians, and Muslims that we
can celebrate our holidays together, we can
be together in a big open venue, mix together,
and not feel strange or fearful," Ron said.
______

Today, the Magi would have a tough time
finding frankincense

(ENI news) - The world may still have gold
and myrrh, but it's quite possible that
frankincense could become a thing of the
past, given ecological pressures on the arid
lands where it grows in Ethiopia. The storied
resin -- known to millions as one of the three
gifts of the Magi, the wise men who visited
Jesus after his birth -- is made from gum
produced by the boswellia papyrifera tree.
It is used as incense in religious rituals
in many cultures, as well as an ingredient
in perfume and Chinese traditional medicine,
reports USA Today via Religion News Service.
Dutch and Ethiopian researchers studying
populations of the scraggly, scrublike trees
in northern Ethiopia found that as many as 7
percent of the trees are dying each year,
and seedlings are not surviving into saplings.

*****

23 December 2011

Filipinos asked to moderate Christmas
celebrations, give to storm victims

Manila, Philippines (ENI news) - A tropical
storm that hit the southern Philippines eight
days before Christmas has prompted church and
government leaders to ask Filipinos to tone
down their festivities this season and give
to hundreds of families left homeless and
hungry. Some churches that celebrate morning
or evening pre-Christmas services from 19 to
24 December have encouraged parishioners to
contribute to a fund drive to help survivors
recover from Tropical Storm Sendong, which
hit on 16 December.
_____

Christmas services go outdoors
as quakes again hit New Zealand city

Christchurch, New Zealand (ENI news) - Many
Christmas church services in Christchurch,
New Zealand will be held outdoors this weekend
after four strong earthquakes struck within
three hours on 23 December, injuring 60, and
causing further damage to the Anglican and
Catholic cathedrals. Christchurch Mayor Bob
Parker said the quakes, which included 5.8
and 6.0 magnitude temblors, were distressing
at a time when the council is slowly making
the city safe after a February 6.1 magnitude
quake that killed 181 people. This time, he
said, "there has been no loss of life or
serious injury. This is not a miracle, we
have been right to be cautious."
_____

Congolese religious leaders
urge election dispute settlement

Kinshasa, Congo (ENI news) - Church
leaders in the Democratic Republic of
Congo are calling for urgent dialogue
over the current election dispute, where
two leaders are claiming the presidency.
The disagreement appeared to heighten
after police on 23 December blocked
opposition leader Etienne Tshisekedi
from accessing a stadium in Kinshasa
where he planned to stage his own
swearing-in as president. Three days
earlier, Joseph Kabila had been sworn
in for a second term, after the Supreme
Court declared that he had won with
49 per cent of the vote against
Tshisekedi's 32 per cent. "We want them
to come to the negotiating table and agree,"
Anglican Archbishop Henri Isingoma Kahwa
told ENI news moments after Kabila's
swearing-in on 20 December.

_____

Faith group says "human dignity"
should be key to bioweapons accord

Geneva (ENI news) - Over 100 countries
agreed on 22 December in Geneva to a
set of initiatives to strengthen
international cooperation to prevent
biological weapons such as toxins or
infectious agents being developed or
used by terrorists or nations. Trevor
Griffiths, representative for Brussels
- based Pax Christi International,
however, stressed that "key principles
guiding relevant initiatives should be
human dignity and human security."
_____

27 December 2011

In Kenya camp at Christmas, refugees
see Jesus as one of them

Nairobi, Kenya (ENI news) - In the
Dadaab refugee complex in northern
Kenya, the concept of Jesus as a
refugee is gaining relevance, as
Christians and refugee churches
celebrated Christmas. In the
settlement, Pastor Ancent Muisyo
of the Dadaab International Worship
Center said church leaders were
encouraging refugees from conflict
and famine in the Horn of Africa to
be hopeful, even as the government
on 21 December issued a security
alert for churches across the country.
The center brings together members
from 50 Christian denominations,
including Anglicans, Presbyterians
and Baptists. "The people in Dadaab
need to hear words of hope at this
time, because they have fled war and
insecurity. Their experiences are
similar to the flight of baby Jesus
into exile over fears of persecution,"
said Muisyo.

*****

28 December 2011

UK churches strive for an
environmentally "green" Christmas

(London - As the concept of "going green"
continues to gain traction among consumers
and businesses, churches in the United Kingdom
are using the Christmas season to highlight
their role in improving the environment. In
early December, St. Luke's, a Catholic church
in the London suburb of Pinner, switched on
its solar panels, while the Anglican dioceses
of Gloucester, Exeter, Bath, and Wells launched
an ambitious project to provide "green"
electricity for most of their 300 churches,
200 schools, and other institutions. A number
of other green initiatives were implemented
by churches this Christmas season.

*****

29 December 2011

Dissident's book reveals "secret history"
of Christianity in China

(ENI news) - Though Western companies, from
American automakers to European luxury firms,
have recently gained a foothold in China,
Western religion has played a role there for
much longer than General Motors or Hermes.
Nonetheless, Christianity's presence in China
has been "hidden from the West for many years,"
says Wenguang Huang in the introduction to his
translation of "God is Red: The Secret Story
of How Christianity Survived and Flourished
in Communist China" (HarperOne, September 2011)
by Liao Yiwu, a dissident writer whose previous
book landed him in jail.

_____

Clergy brawl erupts at
Bethlehem's Church of the Nativity

Bethlehem, West Bank (ENI news) - A brawl
erupted on 28 December between Greek Orthodox
and Armenian clergy in Bethlehem's Church of
the Nativity, traditional birthplace of Jesus
Christ, also known as the Prince of Peace.

*****

QUOTES OF THE WEEK

December 22nd, 2011

"Unless we do change our whole way of
thought about work, I do not think we
shall ever escape from the appalling
squirrel-cage of economic confusion in
which we have been madly turning for
the last three centuries or so, the
cage in which we landed ourselves by
acquiescing in a social system based
upon envy and avarice."

- Dorothy L. Sayers

---

December 23rd, 2011

"Come, my Light, and illumine my darkness./
Come, my Life, and revive me from death./
Come, my Physician, and heal my wounds./
Come, Flame of divine love,/ and burn up
the thorns of my sins,/ kindling my heart
with the flame of thy love."

- Dimitrii of Rostov

*****

ON THIS DAY

On Dec. 23, 1986 - the experimental
airplane Voyager, piloted by Dick Rutan
and Jeana Yeager, completed the first
non-stop, around-the-world flight without
refueling as it landed safely at Edwards
Air Force Base in California.

http://tinyurl.com/cwne6d4

---

On Dec. 25, 1991 - Soviet President
Mikhail S. Gorbachev went on TV to
announce his resignation as the eighth
and final leader of a Communist superpower
that had already gone out of existence.

http://tinyurl.com/dy98ahe

---

On Dec. 26, 1941 - Winston Churchill
became the first British prime minister
to address a joint meeting of the United
States Congress.

http://tinyurl.com/6tk82ta

---

Dec. 28, 1981 - Elizabeth Jordan Carr,
the first American test-tube baby, was
born in Norfolk, Va.

http://tinyurl.com/cs9vkzz

---

Dec. 29, 1940 - during World War II,
Germany began dropping incendiary bombs
on London.

http://tinyurl.com/br9lchn

*****

CLOSING THOUGHT - Winston Churchill

The Guardian, UK Dec. 26th, 2011 -

Churchill commenting on Gandhi's
meeting with the Viceroy of India, 1931:

It is alarming and nauseating to see
Mr Gandhi, a seditious Middle Temple
lawyer, now posing as a fakir of a
type well known in the east, striding
half naked up the steps of the viceregal
palace, while he is still organising and
conducting a campaign of civil disobedience,
to parlay on equal terms with the
representative of the Emperor-King.

In a letter to his mother, 1896:
(India is) a godless land of snobs and bores.

(end)

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Colleagues List, December 24th, 2011

Vol. VII. No. 19

*****

Wayne A. Holst, Editor

*****

Colleagues List Blog:
http://colleagueslist.blogspot.com/

My E-Mail Address:
waholst@telusplanet.net

*****

CHRISTMAS WEEK EDITION

Special Item
In This Issue -

Holst Family
Christmas Letter
2011
___

Colleague Comment

Don Schweitzer
___

Net Notes:

Vaclav Havel Dies
Martyr's Shrine Threat
Pope's Health in Decline
After Kim Jong Il's Death
Campus Centre Mends the Mind
Imam Regrets Misinterpretation
Disgraced NS Bishop Apologizes
Shroud of Turin May Not Be Fake
Christmas Cards and Citizenship
Thousands of Abuse Cases Reported
Lutheran and Mennonite Leaders Meet
___

Global Faith Potpourri:

Seven ENI Geneva stories.
___

Quotes of the Week:

Dorothy Day
Abba Poeman
Jean Vanier
___

On This Day:

Dec. 17, 1903 -  Wright Bros. make 
first successful man-powered airplane 
flight, near Kitty Hawk, N.C.
---
Dec. 19, 1984 - Britain and China 
sign accord returning Hong Kong to 
China control July 1, 1997.
---
Dec. 21, 1988 - a terrorist bomb explodes 
aboard a Pan Am Boeing 747 over Lockerbie, 
Scotland, killing 270 people.
___

Closing Thought: 

Hildegard of Bingen

(end)

*****

Dear Friends:

This issue of Colleagues List is
arriving at your in-box a few days
of the week earlier than usual
because Marlene and I leave for
Christmas celebrations, December 22nd, 
with our daughter Sarah, our son-in-
law Ronnie, and grand-daughter Mya. 
They live in Slave Lake, Alberta -
about 5 1/2 hours drive northward 
from Calgary. This will be our closest
Christmas to the North Pole, ever!

Normally, our Christmas week edition
contains our family letter, and this
year is no exception.

A final 2011 issue of Colleagues List 
will be sent to you before New Year's.
___

Colleague Comment:

This week is from Don Schweitzer,
who teaches at St. Andrew's College,
Saskatoon. I introduced his new
book "The United Church of Canada:
A History" to this list last week.
___

Net Notes:

"Vaclav Havel Dies" - one of the
great voices in post-Communist
East Europe died this week. I have
gathered several articles (BBC, 
New York Times, Montreal Gazette)

"Martyr's Shrine Threat" - the
Jesuits of Ontario are again in
fighting mode to protect historic
property from development. This
site is indeed worth preserving
(Christianweek.org)

"Pope's Health in Decline" - some
disquieting news about Benedict's
health has surfaced this week
(Associated Press)

"After Kim Jong Il's Death" -
the news from North Korea is that
little will change with the death
of the current dictator 
(The Guardian, Ucan News)

"Campus Centre Mends the Mind" -
when stress is high among students,
quite a few find help by walking
the labyrinth (CTV.ca)

"Imam Regrets Misinterpretation" -
a Canadian imam feels he has been
misquoted in the media and seeks
to rectify the situation
(Toronto Sun)

"Disgraced NS Bishop Apologizes" -
the court appearance of a Canadian
Catholic bishop this week resulted
in an apology (CBC.ca)

"Shroud of Turin May Not Be Fake" -
the shroud is like the finding of 
Noah's ark - it is a story that never 
seems to go away (Montreal Gazette)

"Christmas Cards and Citizenship" -
how to handle being Christian and
Canadian simultaneously at this time 
of year is the focus of this story
(Evangelical Fellowship of Canada)

"Thousands of Abuse Cases Reported" -
while the story is not new, the extent
of the abuse is greater than anticipated.
Why do I keep posting these stories?
Because of the extent of the travesty
(The Guardian)

"Lutheran and Mennonite Leaders Meet" -
historic meetings are taking place in
Canada between the descendants of
Mennonites and Lutherans. This is a
wonderful development (ELCIC News)
___

Global Faith Potpourri:

Seven news stories from around the
world are reported by Ecumenical
News International, Geneva this week.
Remaining Christmas reports will be
posted in next week's issue of CL.

___

Quotes of the Week:

Dorothy Day, Abba Poeman and
Jean Vanier share their wisdom
with us.
___

On This Day:

Wright brothers. make first successful 
man-powered airplane flight (1903)

Britain, China sign accord returning 
Hong Kong to Chinese control (1984)

Terrorist bomb explodes aboard a Pan 
Am Boeing 747 over Lockerbie, Scotland, 
killing 270 people (1988)
___

Closing Thought: 

The medieval mystic Hildegard of Bingen
offers spiritual guidance to complete 
this issue of Colleagues List.
_____

May God guide your Christmas celebrations
this year, and we will be back with you
in about ten days.

Wayne

************************

SPECIAL WINTER STUDY ANNOUNCEMENTS
Introducing the Full Program

ST. DAVID'S MONDAY NIGHT STUDY
WINTER 2012

"The Other Face of God:
 When the Stranger Calls Us Home"

by Mary Jo Leddy

Ten Monday Nights - 
January 16th - March 26th
(except Family Weekend Monday)

Information about the book from Amazon.ca:
http://tinyurl.com/c6aror6

*****

UNIVERSITY TUESDAY NIGHTS

A Study Program Sponsored by:
The Department of Continuing Education
At the University of Calgary

Taught by: Wayne Holst

"God, Atheism and Morality" (ten sessions)
Tuesday Nights, 7:00PM - 9:00 PM
January 24th - March 27th, 2012

Course Information:
http://tinyurl.com/2fc7xr4

*****

ST. DAVID'S ACTS MINISTRY AND
THE FAITH AND SPIRITUALITY CENTRE 
ON THE UNIVERSITY OF CALGARY CAMPUS

Welcome to our -

LENTEN STUDIES 2012

Noon Hour Book Discussions for Faculty, 
Staff and Students Winter Series for 2012:

"An Altar in the World" by Barbara Brown Taylor

Discovering God in the ordinary experiences of life
March 2nd - March 30th - five Friday noon sessions

Time and Location for all sessions:
12:00 to 1:00PM in the Native Centre Board Room
Located above the Dairy Queen, Mac Hall Student's 
Centre

Led by: Wayne Holst, 
Coordinator of the ACTS Ministry, St. David's United
and a Faith and Spirituality Centre Liaison.

Cost of the book: $15.00 each

*****

Join us this year for stiumlating campus discussions!

For more information: Adriana Tulissi 403-220-5451
Co-ordinator, Faith and Spirituality Centre, U. of 
C. - artuliss@ucalgary,ca

*****

SPECIAL ST. DAVID'S LINKS

Contact us at: asdm@sduc.ca (or)admin@sduc.ca
St. David's Web Address - http://sduc.ca/

Listen to audio recordings of Sunday services -
http://sduc.ca/services.htm

*****

STUDY ARCHIVES

An accumulation of twenty-five+ studies conducted
since 2000 can quickly be found at:
http://bookstudies.stdavidscalgary.net/

This collection of study resources represents 
more than a decade of Monday Night Studies at 
St. David's, plus extra courses too!

You are welcome to use our course outlines,
class notes and resource pages in your personal
and group reflections.

******************************************

SPECIAL ITEM

HOLST FAMILY LETTER 
FOR CHRISTMAS 2011


Calgary, Alberta                                                               
                        
Dear Friends:

The year 2011 has passed quickly. 

So many good things have happened to us 
during the past twelve months that the 
time seemed to fly by! Still, it is 
important to stop and reflect on what 
we have been experiencing. We hope to 
include you in that reflection.
 
In 2010, Marlene’s postmistress job at 
the University of Calgary was terminated 
and the retail post office there was closed 
– much to the continuing chagrin of students 
and staff on campus. The blessing in this was 
that she was able to help Wayne (see next 
paragraph) and enjoy her three granddaughters. 
As she waited for her various pensions to kick 
in, up to May of 2012, she sought other income 
sources. It was good news when she was asked 
to work as office staff at St. David’s, the 
congregation we attend. Later, Marlene became 
the acting person in charge but she will be 
happy to return to a less stressful lifestyle 
when a new office manager is hired in the 
new year!

Last year Wayne went through a colon cancer 
challenge. That journey was completed this 
year when a reversal procedure put him back 
on his own internal plumbing. That operation 
occurred in early September and all went 
smoothly and quickly. He did not miss any of 
his regular teaching or other responsibilities 
and for that we are grateful. 

We served as hosts of the St. David’s Fiftieth 
Anniversary Tour of the Celtic Lands (visiting
Scotland, Ireland, Wales and parts of England.) 
What a wonderful experience it was to help 35 
persons become exposed to the history, culture 
and spirituality that has shaped us. We stayed 
on for an additional two weeks, visiting Devon 
and Cornwall, London, and Normandy - places we 
had not seen on previous trips to the UK and 
France. We hope to do more “Spiritual Travel” 
hosting as we found this experience to be most 
rewarding – with thanks to Rostad Tours, our 
Calgary travel agency.

Marlene had her first opportunity to see the 
maples turn colour in Ontario, as we visited 
Algonquin Park, Muskoka, and other lovely 
places in October. When in that area, we always 
take in cultural events at the Shaw and Stratford 
Shakespearean Festivals.

Our family continues to change – Kate (new 
daughter for Paul and Heather) joined us in 
February. Carmen and Mark are expecting their 
second child in March. Ronnie, his wife Sarah 
and daughter Mya (who live in Slave Lake, 
Northern Alberta) sadly experienced the 
loss of a third of their town in May due 
to a forest fire. Ronnie also lost his 
father who died this fall. It has been 
quite a challenging year for the Lukans 
and we will join them for Christmas this 
year – a reversal of how we normally do 
things!
 
Wayne continues to carry a full teaching load – 
two weekly classes at the university and two at 
the church. He is now in his seventieth year, 
but enjoys what he does and has no desire to 
slow down. He continues to write and to edit 
his weekly Colleagues List religion and culture 
blog http://colleagueslist.blogspot.com/ 
that is read by at least 650 persons around 
the world. We both enjoy our gardening and 
yard work and view it as an annual, natural 
"liturgical" cycle that provides us with much 
spiritual satisfaction.
                                                                               
Marlene and Wayne

*****

COLLEAGUE COMMENT

DON SCHWEITZER
Saskatoon, SK

December 19th, 2011

Dear Wayne,
           
Thanks for your .... interest in and promotion of 
"The United Church of Canada: A History" (the book
notice appeared in CL, the December 17th issue.)

I'm glad you like it. Hopefully your discussion 
of it will benefit the church. 

Don

Editor's Comment: So do we.

*****   

NET NOTES

VACLAV HAVEL DIES

BBC News
December 18th, 2011

Former Czech President Vaclav Havel, 
the playwright dissident who led his 
country out of communism, has died 
at the age of 75, an aide says.

http://tinyurl.com/7trv6kg

---

New York Times
December 18th, 2011

http://tinyurl.com/77b36oe

---

"Havel Brought Genuine Joy
to Oppressed People"

Montreal Gazette
Dec. 18th, 2011

http://tinyurl.com/btw3cwh

*****

MARTYR'S SHRINE THREATENED
Jesuit's Fight to Preserve
Historic Canadian Site

Christianweek.org
December 16th, 2011

http://tinyurl.com/72ollch

*****

POPE'S HEALTH IN DECLINE
Christmas Brings Added Burdens

Associated Press
December 17th, 2011

http://tinyurl.com/7hytfpa

*****

AFTER KIM JONG IL'S DEATH
What's Next for North Korea?

The Guardian UK
December 19th, 2011

http://tinyurl.com/7ljlf5g

---

Korean Churches Send Condolences

Ucan News
Dec. 21st, 2011

http://tinyurl.com/7nxju7z

*****

CAMPUS CENTRE MENDS THE MIND
U of C Labyrinth Popular During Exams

CTV.ca
Dec. 16th, 2011

http://tinyurl.com/7z9wd7z

*****

IMAM REGRETS BEING MISINTERPRETED

Toronto Sun
December 16th, 2011

http://tinyurl.com/7crz4t7

*****

DISGRACED NOVA SCOTIA
CATHOLIC BISHOP APOLOGIZES
Lahey's Day in Court

CBC.ca
Dec. 20th, 2011

http://tinyurl.com/88zq7lg

*****

SHROUD OF TURIN MAY NOT BE FAKE
Much Controversy Over the Years

Montreal Gazette
December 19th, 2011

http://tinyurl.com/6o2vvph

*****

OF CHRISTMAS CARDS 
AND CANADIAN CITIZENSHIP

EFC Canada Activate Page
December 19th, 2011

http://tinyurl.com/cbn9mut

*****


THOUSANDS OF DUTCH
ABUSE CASES REPORTED

The Guardian
December 16th, 2011

http://tinyurl.com/758bb8m

*****

LUTHERAN AND MENNONITE 
LEADERS MEET IN WINNIPEG

News Release
From the National Office of the ELCIC
December 20th, 2011

Winnipeg, 20 December 2011 - 
Senior management from the Evangelical 
Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC) and 
Mennonite Church Canada (MC Canada) 
met at the ELCIC National Office in 
Winnipeg on December 15.

Nine leaders attended, including national 
leadersWillard Metzger (MC Canada) and 
National Bishop Susan C. Johnson (ELCIC)
as well as staff with oversight in the areas 
of witness, church engagement, communications, 
finance, justice and other departments. They 
shared their current work, challenges, strategic 
plans, and mapped out their relationships with 
partners. 

Relations between the ELCIC and MC Canada have 
been renewed since July 2010, when The Lutheran 
World Federation offered a historic apology to 
Mennonites for past persecutions. The move to 
formally apologize comes out of a seven year 
dialogue between Lutherans and Mennonites:

http://tinyurl.com/6qfe6hk
 
The ELCIC and MC Canada have worked to apply this
global (act) of reconciliation in local churches 
and jointly prepared a congregational study guide, 
"Healing Memories, Reconciling in Christ."

http://tinyurl.com/7ckwemt
 
This guide offers a study process primarily for 
groups of both Lutherans and Mennonites to understand 
the context of the apology and the new relationship 
between the churches. 

The study guide was intended as a first step with 
the hope that there would be further places to 
foster dialogue and leadership. The December 
meeting of senior staff is another step in 
building relationships. 

Further areas of cooperation emerged from the 
discussions, particularly in the 
area of indigenous ministries. 

The leaders agreed that bilateral conversations 
in specific work areas should take place in the 
coming months, with a follow up meeting planned 
for late 2012. 

*****

GLOBAL FAITH POTPOURRI

Ecumenical News International
News Highlights
19 December 2011

South Korean church leaders hope 
for peace following Kim's death

Seoul, South Korea (ENI news) - Leaders of 
a South Korean church council expressed on 
19 December "sincere condolences" on the 
death of North Korean leader Kim Jong Il. 
"We ask [the] international community to 
cooperate continuously, not taking this 
for breaking of security on the Korean 
peninsula, but for building peace in the 
region of North East Asia," said General 
Secretary the Rev. Kim Young Ju and the 
Rev. Kim Ki Taek, chairperson of the 
unification committee of the National 
Council of Churches in Korea, based in 
Seoul. On 19 December, Pyongyang's Korean 
Central News Agency announced that Kim 
Jong Il died on 17 December from heart 
failure at the age of 69. 
_____

Church of Scotland supports
Israeli agricultural project

Jerusalem (ENI news) - An Arab-Jewish 
agricultural project in northern Israel 
that helps empower women "is a sign of 
hope for a people and a land," according 
to the moderator of the Church of Scotland, 
which is investing in it. During a 12-day 
visit to the Holy Land, the Rev. David 
Arnott on 18 December participated in 
the inauguration of an olive plantation 
on lands belonging to the Abu Hatum 
family in the Jezreel Valley area of 
Galilee. The Church of Scotland is 
providing an initial five-year 
investment to replant 1,000 olive 
trees and rehabilitate land which 
the family is leasing to the Sindyanna 
of Galilee for Free-Trade organization 
-- an Arab-Jewish cooperative providing
employment for women through fair-trade 
projects. 
_____

Episcopal clergy arrested 
at Occupy Wall Street protest

New York (ENI news) - A retired 
Episcopal Church bishop and at least 
two other Episcopal priests were arrested 
on 17 December after they entered a fenced
property owned by historic Trinity Episcopal 
Church in Lower Manhattan as part of an 
event to mark the three-month anniversary 
of the anti-corporate Occupy Wall Street 
(OWS) movement. Livestream video showed 
George Packard, former Episcopal bishop 
for the armed forces and federal ministries, 
dressed in a purple robe and wearing a cross, 
climbing a ladder that protesters erected 
against the fence and dropping to the 
ground inside the property, called Duarte 
Park. Other protesters followed, including 
the Rev. John Merz and the Rev. Michael 
Sniffen, Episcopal priests in the Diocese 
of Long Island (New York), Episcopal News
Service (ENS) reports.

*****

20 December 2011

Anglican church's Christmas billboard 
vandalized in New Zealand

Wellington, New Zealand (ENI news) - An 
Anglican church's Christmas billboard, 
depicting Jesus' mother Mary dressed in 
traditional garb and holding a pregnancy 
test strip while covering her mouth with 
the other hand, was vandalized over the 
weekend. The billboard, erected on 15 
December by St. Matthews-in-the-City in 
central Auckland, New Zealand's biggest 
city, has been greeted with controversy.
_____

Orthodox emergency care group 
trains Arab women in home safety

Jerusalem (ENI news) - When a cup of hot 
tea spilled on her infant son's hand, new 
mother Yehut Amer, 22, panicked. "I was 
very scared and didn't know what to do. 
It took me some time to get my wits 
together and get to the clinic," said 
Amer, who on 14 December was among 45 
Arab women from the Israeli Arab village 
of Kfar Qassem to take part in a home 
safety and accident prevention course 
offered for the first time by ZAKA, an 
ultra-Orthodox Jewish volunteer rescue 
and recovery organization. 
_____

Young hip Jews leading 
a Hanukkah music makeover

Washington, D.C. (ENI news) - Put on 
your boogie shoes - the new Hanukkah 
songs are here! What last year seemed 
like a happy coincidence has become a 
hip new Hanukkah tradition: groups of 
harmonizing young Jews releasing 
seriously Jewish, yet seriously 
danceable, songs for the Festival 
of Lights, which begins at sundown 
on 20 December. The Maccabeats, who 
scored more than six million hits on 
YouTube last year with a song about 
flipping potato latkes (pancakes), a 
traditional Hanukkah food, are back 
this year with a boppy reggae tune, 
Religion News Service reports. 
"Miracle" explores the spiritual 
meaning of Hanukkah, which 
commemorates the successful revolt 
led by Judah Maccabee against an 
ancient king who tried to quash 
Judaism. 

_____

Hungarian court annuls law that 
withdraws legal recognition of churches

Warsaw, Poland (ENI news) - Hungary's 
Constitutional Court has annulled a 
new law that would have withdrawn legal 
recognition from all but a handful of 
the country's registered religious 
associations. However, a church 
commentator warned that the ruling was 
"just a technical delay," and predicted 
the law would still be enforced from the
start of 2012. "Several petitions were 
received from individuals, legal entities, 
and churches, citing the unconstitutional 
nature of the whole law or certain 
provisions," the Court said in a statement 
accompanying its detailed 15,000-word 19 
December ruling.

*****

QUOTES OF THE WEEK

December 19th, 2011

"What we do is very little. But it is 
like the little boy with a few loaves 
and fishes. Christ took that little 
and increased it. [Christ] will do 
the rest. What we do is so little 
that we may seem to be constantly 
failing. But so did [Christ] fail. 
[Christ] met with apparent failure 
on the Cross. But unless the seeds 
fall into the earth and die, there 
is no harvest."

- Dorothy Day

---

December 20th, 2011

“The nature of water is yielding, 
and that of a stone is hard. Yet 
if you hang up a bottle filled with 
water above the stone so that the 
water drips drop by drop, it will 
wear a hole in the stone. In the 
same way the word of God is tender, 
and our heart is hard. So when people 
hear the word of God frequently, their 
hearts are opened to the fear of God."

- Abba Poeman

---

December 21st, 2011

"What is the 'impossible'? It is liberation. 
To liberate people from the demons of fear, 
of loneliness, of hatred and of egoism that 
shackle them. To liberate people so that they 
also can love, heal, and liberate others. But 
in order to do that, you must go in poverty 
and experience the life of God flowing within 
your own flesh."

- Jean Vanier

*****

ON THIS DAY

Provided from the archives
of the New York Times:

On Dec. 17, 1903 - Orville and Wilbur 
Wright made the first successful man-
powered airplane flight, near Kitty 
Hawk, N.C.

http://tinyurl.com/6qotl5p
_____

On Dec. 19, 1984 - Britain and China 
signed an accord returning Hong Kong 
to Chinese sovereignty on July 1, 1997.

http://tinyurl.com/7bhom8f

_____

Dec. 21, 1988 - a terrorist bomb exploded 
aboard a Pan Am Boeing 747 over Lockerbie, 
Scotland, killing 270 people.

http://tinyurl.com/6uhnvn6

*****

CLOSING THOUGHT

"God has gifted life with all that is
necessary... nothing that is necessary
for life is lacking.

- Hildegard of Bingen

Here, Hildegard is teaching us to trust.
She says that everything that is necessary
is already within creation. When things go
bleak for us, when bills go unpaid or a
relationship sours, we can easily fall
into despair or self-pity. But Hildegard
urges us to look deeper inside. Life is
what matters. All else is a detail. We
have been given the gift of life, and
within that gift is "everything that is
necessary." This includes our creativity
and imagination to overcome adversity, to
forge new directions and relationships."

- Mathew Fox in "Christian Mystics"


(end)