*****
GLOBAL AND ECUMENICAL IN SCOPE
CANADIAN IN PERSPECTIVE
Wayne A. Holst, Editor
My E-Mail Address:
waholst@telus.net
Colleagues List Web Site:
http://colleagueslist.blogspot.com
"Quicklinks" are included with many items
at the beginning of this issue. To get a more
complete picture, however, scroll down to
find your special selection in the body of
the blog.
*****
Dear Friends:
My Special Item this week is my September
column for the Anglican Journal, the national
online newspaper of the Anglican Church in
Canada, headquartered in Toronto.
It is entitled
"Are We Still a People of Compassion?"
http://tinyurl.com/of7ugfu
---
Colleagues Contributions this week are from:
Michael W. Higgins (Fairfield, CT) who compares
Pope Francis and President Obama
"A Meeting of Kindred Spirits"
http://tinyurl.com/nq9avkz
--
Jim Taylor (Okanagan, BC) writes one of his
typically insightful articles on the subject of:
typically insightful articles on the subject of:
"Stupidity, the Growth Industry"
http://tinyurl.com/q29u5je
--
Martin Marty (Chicago, IL) gives us his
helpful perspective on the:
"Refugee Crisis"
http://tinyurl.com/p8o6hfa
--
Ron Rolheiser (San Antonio, TX) is
always helpful as a spiritual guide:
"Things Beyond Our Imagination"
http://tinyurl.com/nlnhnge
--
Doug Shantz (Calgary, AB) Chairholder
of Christian Thought at the U. of Calgary
suggests Calgary area people attend:
The Bentall Lectures in Christian Theology by -
Dr. Ryan J. Williams
SSHRC Post-Doctoral Fellow
Department of Classics and Religion,
University. of Calgary
http://www.ucalgary.ca/christchair/events
For a full description, scroll down.
Thanks to all five of you.
--
Net Notes - for more details, scroll down.
"Phyllis Tickle Dies" - last week we featured
Phyllis Tickle - Essential Spiritual Writings
http://tinyurl.com/pcq2bn6 - and this week
her colourful career ended (Publisher's Weekly)
http://tinyurl.com/qbch7t3
--
"Sir David Willcocks Dies - the famed English
choral director achieved many lifetime honours
(New York Times) http://tinyurl.com/plrr3u4
--
"A Kiss Knows No Borders" - a striking photo
taken in a refugee camp this week reveals
a tender moment (The Guardian, UK)
http://tinyurl.com/ntdxcq2
--
"'Be Good Stewards of the Earth'" - Hillary Clinton
quotes the pope (National Catholic Reporter)
http://tinyurl.com/qyjlv7x
--
"Most Syrian Refugees Stay Close to Home"-
while their numbers seem limitless, the
majority are not leaving home for Europe
(New York Times)
http://tinyurl.com/o7wnecp
--
"Francis to Find an American Church
in Upheaval" - here is a Francis potpourri
outlining highlights from this past week
(New York Times, National Catholic Reporter,
America Magazine, The Guardian UK,
Religion News Service, Sojourners)
http://tinyurl.com/p6ttv3e
http://tinyurl.com/nwlprw9
http://tinyurl.com/qybuk2f
http://tinyurl.com/orpvjhq
http://tinyurl.com/nhlk8hv
http://tinyurl.com/phukyft
http://tinyurl.com/pcmyxsh
--
"Disputed Canonization of Franciscan
Juniper Sera" - for the first time, an
American saint was canonized on American
soil; not without controversy (America
Magazine, National Catholic Reporter)
http://tinyurl.com/q9x7h2c
http://tinyurl.com/q9o79hd
--
"Mar Thoma Catholic Bishop's Tomb
Found in Kerala" - this discovery opens
new doors of ecumenical precedent in India
(UCA News) http://tinyurl.com/qd9xad2
--
"Hajj Pilgrimage - 700+ Dead at Human
Crush Near Mecca" - a tragedy this week as
Muslims gather en masse to celebrate the
festival of Eid (The Guardian, UK)
http://tinyurl.com/qaxsouj
"Hajj Tragedy Inflames Schisms"
(New York Times)
http://tinyurl.com/po3gpcw
"Canadians Oppose Face Coverings
at Citizenship Hearings" - a revealing
poll discovery concerning Canadian views
of Muslim dress (CBC News)
http://tinyurl.com/o3hv5n2
--
Wisdom of the Week:
Hilary of Poitiers, Henri J.M. Nouwen,
Ambrose of Milan, Marilynne Robinson,
and Simone Weil - share their insights
Scroll down to read them.
--
On This Day (no stories this week)
Closing Thought - Thomas Merton
Scroll to the end of the blog to read him.
(end)
If you are interested in our fall program,
now beginning, please scroll to blog's end.
Our New Program Planning Season Begins -
Autumn 2015 Adult Spiritual Development
ACTS Ministry Programs through St. David's
United Church, Calgary.
*****
SPECIAL ITEM
My Anglican Journal Column for September
"Are We Still a People of Compassion?"
http://tinyurl.com/of7ugfu
COLLEAGUE CONTRIBUTIONS
Michael W. Higgins
Fairfield, CT
Globe and Mail
September 22nd, 2015
Francis and Obama
"A Meeting of Kindred Spirits"
http://tinyurl.com/nq9avkz
--
Jim Taylor
Okanagan, BCPersonal Web Log
September 20th, 2015
"Stupidity, the Growth Industry"
http://tinyurl.com/q29u5je
--
Martin Marty,
Chicago, IL
Sightings,
September 21st, 2015
"Refugee Crisis"
http://tinyurl.com/p8o6hfa
--
Ron Rolheiser,
San Antonio, TX
Personal Web Site
September 21st, 2015
"Things Beyond Our Imagination"
http://tinyurl.com/nlnhnge
--
Doug Shantz,
Calgary, AB
Chair of Christian Thought
University of Calgary
The Bentall Lectures in Christian Theology
Dr. Ryan J. Williams
SSHRC Post-Doctoral Fellow
Department of Classics and Religion,
University. of Calgary
http://www.ucalgary.ca/christchair/events
"Redeeming the “unredeemable”:
Rehabilitating extremist offenders
and what this teaches us about
Peace-building"
The Canadian case of Omar Khadr -
Guantanamo Bay detainee, now living
in Edmonton - embodies new questions
around the rehabilitation and release of
offenders convicted of terrorism related
offences. Khadr’s case of hope and change
contrasts with broader opinion against the
possibility of rehabilitating those convicted
under counter-terrorism legislation. This
talk will explore the reasons behind this
resistance and the significance of the
possibility of rehabilitating this type of
offender in a global, post-secular and
post-9/11 world. The lecture is based
on Williams’ recent fieldwork in UK
maximum security prisons, and will
draw on his interviews with prisoners
convicted of terrorist offences.
Monday, September 28, 2015 at 7:30pm
Gallery Hall, Taylor Family Digital Library
University of Calgary
--
"Challenges & Opportunities in
Rehabilitating Extremist Offenders"
This talk explores the challenges and
opportunities of rehabilitating individuals
convicted of terrorism-related offences
within prisons. This problem is examined
in the light of Anglican theologian Rowan
Williams’ reflections on the meaning of
“responsibility” and the role of correctional
services as “guarantors of possibilities.”
Different countries have varied approaches,
with some “containing” convicted terrorist
offenders in special units and other countries
“dispersing” this type of prisoner among the
regular prisoner population. This talk uses
the UK’s “dispersal prisons” as an example
and will describe the complex relationships
among offenders convicted of terrorism
and peers, staff, and chaplaincy.
Tuesday, September 29, 2015 at 12:00pm
Social Sciences 113
University of Calgary
*****
NET NOTES
PHYLLIS TICKLE DIES
Colorful Career Ends
Publisher's Weekly
September 23rd, 2015
http://tinyurl.com/qbch7t3
--
SIR DAVID WILLCOCKS DIES
Famed English Choral Director
New York Times
September 23rd, 2015
http://tinyurl.com/plrr3u4
--
A KISS KNOWS NO BORDERS
Refugee Camp Tender Moment
The Guardian, UK
September 23rd, 2015
http://tinyurl.com/ntdxcq2
--
"BE GOOD STEWARDS OF THE EARTH"
Heed Francis' Message, Says Hillary
National Catholic Reporter
September 25th, 2015
http://tinyurl.com/qyjlv7x
--
MANY SYRIAN REFUGEES
STAY CLOSE TO HOME
Majority Not Leaving for Europe
New York Times
September 22nd, 2015
http://tinyurl.com/o7wnecp
--
FRANCIS TO FIND AN AMERICAN
CHURCH IN UPHEAVAL
Historic Week for America
The New York Times
September 21st, 2015
http://tinyurl.com/p6ttv3e
"Francis Arrives in America"
Welcomed by President Obama
Calls for Protection of Religious
Liberty and the Environment
National Catholic Reporter
September 23rd, 2015
http://tinyurl.com/nwlprw9
"Pope Francis Addresses
Joint Session of US Congress"
America Magazine Online
September 24th, 2015
http://tinyurl.com/qybuk2f
"Full Text of Pope's Speech to Congress"
America Magazine Online
September 24th, 2015
http://tinyurl.com/orpvjhq
"Pontiff Given Rock Star
Welcome in New York"
The Guardian, UK
September 25th, 2015
http://tinyurl.com/nhlk8hv
"At St. Patrick's Pope Embraces
Nuns Once Under Vatican Fire"
Religion New Service
September 24th, 2015
http://tinyurl.com/phukyft
"When a Visitor Changes Your Home"
by Jim Wallis
Sojourners Online
September 25th, 2015
http://tinyurl.com/pcmyxsh
DISPUTED CANONIZATION
OF FRANCISCAN JUNIPER SERA
Controversy Surrounds His Cause
America Magazine
September 15th, 2015
http://tinyurl.com/q9x7h2c
"Amid Controversy, Francis Says
that Sera 'Protected" Native Americans"
National Catholic Reporter
September 23rd, 2015
http://tinyurl.com/q9o79hd
--
MAR THOMA CATHOLIC BISHOP'S
TOMB FOUND IN KERALA INDIA
Seen as basis for Church Unity
UCA News
September 23rd, 2015
http://tinyurl.com/qd9xad2
--
HAJJ PILGRIMAGE - MORE THAN
700 DEAD AT HUMAN CRUSH NEAR MECCA
Large Gathering Marred by Human Tragedy
The Guardian, UK
September 25th, 2015
http://tinyurl.com/qaxsouj
"Hajj Tragedy Inflames Schisms"
Pilgrimage Meant to Build Muslim Unity
New York Times
September 26th, 2015
http://tinyurl.com/po3gpcw
--
CANADIANS OPPOSE FACE COVERINGS
AT CITIZENSHIP CEREMONIES
Broad Spectrum Supports This View
CBC News
September 21st, 2015
http://tinyurl.com/o3hv5n2
WISDOM OF THE WEEK
Provided by Sojourners and Bruderhof online -
It is wrong that a love of walls has seized you;
wrong that you venerate the church of God in
roofs and buildings; wrong that beneath these
you introduce the name of peace...
To my mind, mountains, woods, lakes, prisons,
and chasms are safer. For, either abiding in or
cast into them, the prophets prophesied.
- Hilary of Poitiers
--
How can we not lose our souls when everything
and everybody pulls us in different directions?
How can we “keep it together” when we are
constantly being torn apart? Jesus says, “Not
a hair of your head will be lost. Your perseverance
will win you your lives” (Luke 21:18–19). We can
only survive our world when we trust that God
knows us more intimately than we know ourselves.
We can only keep it together when we believe that
God holds us together. We can only win our lives
when we remain faithful to the truth that every little
part of us, yes, every hair, is completely safe in
the divine embrace of our Lord. To say it differently:
when we keep living a spiritual life, we have nothing
to be afraid of.
- Henri J. M. Nouwen
--
It is not from your own goods that you give to the
beggar; it is a portion of [the beggar's] own that you
are restoring to [the beggar]. The Earth belongs to all.
So you are paying back a debt and think you are
making a gift to which you are not bound.
- Ambrose of Milan
--
The great temptation of money is that it seems
to give us tokens, markers, by which things and
people can be truly said to succeed or fail.
The illusion that value inheres in it has vigorously
survived a recent proof of its evanescence, in fact
its utter dependency on our faith in its value. It has
a placebo effect more predictably than it ought to,
seeming to satisfy a need to know how value is
discovered, or created, or conveyed, or preserved.
It is human nature to want to know this.
- Marilynne Robinson
--
Christ does not save all those who say to him
"Lord, Lord." But he saves all those who out of
a pure heart give a piece of bread to a starving
man, without thinking about him the least little
bit. And these, when he thanks them, reply:
"Lord, when did we feed thee?"… An atheist and
an “infidel,” capable of pure compassion, are as
close to God as is a Christian, and consequently
know him equally well, although their knowledge
is expressed in different words, or remains
unspoken. For “God is love.”-
Simone Weil
*****
ON THIS DAY
From the archives of the New York Times -
None this week.
*****
CLOSING THOUGHT - THOMAS MERTON
You do not need to know precisely what is happening,
or exactly where it is all going. What you need is to
recognize the possibilities and challenges offered by
the present moment, and to embrace them with
courage, faith and hope.
(end)
*****
Our New Program Planning Season Begins -
Autumn 2015 Adult Spiritual Development
ACTS Ministry Programs through St. David's
United Church, Calgary.
AUTUMN 2015 MONDAY NIGHT STUDY
Theme: "Living in Darkness - Living in Light"
Books: "Learning to Walk in the Dark"
by Barbara Brown Taylor
"Between the Dark and the Daylight"
by Joan Chittister
http://tinyurl.com/pncmzec
http://tinyurl.com/qy9netg
A ten-week study in contemporary spirituality
with books by two prominent Protestant and
Catholic writers.
Ten Monday evenings, 7-9PM
In the St. David's TM Room
September 21st - November 30th, 2015
Books and Registration/Hospitality - $60.00
Books only - $35.00
Registrations to date: 27.
We have sold most of our 35 original book sets,
but registration is still open.
Brenda and Joan will help Jock when Wayne
participates in the "Jerusalem and the Lands
of Three Great Faiths" tour (October 16th - 31st)
Now into our sixteenth year of Monday Night Studies
Our thirty-first series of (usually) ten week sessions!
Check our study archives for all 45 book notes:
http://tinyurl.com/q3bw6dh
*****
THURSDAY MORNING BIBLE STUDY
Theme: The Book of Exodus from the Hebrew Bible
"A Classic Story of Human Liberation"
Ten sessions 10-11 AM
Gathering at 9:30AM
In the St. David's TM Room
September 17th - December 3rd
No charge.
Study resource -
The DK Complete Bible Handbook
http://tinyurl.com/odxlv7q
(copy available in our church library)
*****
ST. DAVID'S SPIRITUAL TRAVELERS'
SPECIAL 2015 SIXTEEN DAY TOUR
"Jerusalem and the Land of Three Great Faiths"
October 16th - 31st, 2015
http://tinyurl.com/plg4sgo
Tour Company: Rostad Tours Calgary
Tour Hosts: Wayne and Marlene Holst
Sponsored by: St. David's ACTS Ministry
Endorsed by: St. David's Church Council
Talk with or write to Marlene and Wayne
(403-286-7416) waholst@telus.net
marleneaholst@gmail.com
We have 29 paid-up participants getting
ready to depart. On Sunday, October 11th
there will be an official "blessing" and
"send off" from St. David's congregation.
Books for consideration -
JERUSALEM:
One City, Three Faiths
by Karen Armstrong (1997)
http://tinyurl.com/qb4urn5
JEERUSALEM, ISRAEL, PETRA & SINAI
DK Eyewitness Travel (2014)
http://tinyurl.com/prl3k8m
TOP TEN: Israel, Including Sinai & Petra
DK Eyewitness Travel (2014)
http://tinyurl.com/pyromfc
27 persons attended the Jerusalem Tour
gathering at St. David's, September 14th.
*****
ACTS LENTEN RETREAT, 2016
Mount St. Francis Retreat Centre
Cochrane, Alberta
http://www.mountstfrancis.ca/
Mark your calendars!
Sunday February 28th
11:30 AM - 4:00 PM
John Griffith is on sabbatical this year.
Reflections will be led by a Franciscan on staff.
*****
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