Thursday, September 29, 2016

Colleagues List, October 2nd, 2016

Vol. XII.  No. 9

*****


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


***

Dear Colleagues:

I keep trying to improve Colleagues List.
Please let me know how I'm doing.

Thanks for sharing this letter with others.

If you have friends who would like to
receive Colleagues List notices, just send
me their email addresses.

Your recommendation is all I would need
to include them.

--

My Special Item - this week is a book notice
for "Cardinal Walter Kasper: Spiritual Writings"
- latest in the Orbis Modern Spiritual Masters
Series, now numbering about 65 volumes.

Kasper is well-known in ecumenical circles,
but perhaps not so much to non-specialists.
An unfortunate lack of broad awareness of
him is compensated somewhat by this book,
and I am pleased to promote it.

Five Colleague Contributions appear below,
followed by ten Net Notes. Spiritual insights
are offered by means of Wisdom of the Week,
with nine contributors, including the Closing
Thought by Martin Luther King Jr.

The New York Times archives provide two
historical events written by journalists as
the stories actually unfolded.

--

Next week, Marlene and I are taking a
"Canadian Thanksgiving break" and wedding
anniversary trip to Ontario - my home province.

The next issue of Colleagues List will appear
October 16th, two weeks from now.

Thanks for reading.

Wayne

*****

SPECIAL ITEM

Book Notice:

CARDINAL WALTER CASPER
Spiritual Writings, Selected
with an Introduction by
Patricia C. Bellm and Robert A Krieg

Modern Spiritual Masters Series
Orbis Books, Maryknoll, New York
$30.00 CAD/22.00 US. 173 pages. 2016
ISBN #978-1-62698-191-1.


“Mercy is the new Christian awareness.
Mercy gives a foretaste and an anticipation
of what we hope for, the coming of the
heavenly Jerusalem. . . One beam of mercy
makes the world warmer and brighter for
all people.”

- Cardinal Walter Kasper

--

Wikipedia Bio:
http://tinyurl.com/jyyv8m9

--

Publisher's Promo:

Walter Kasper, a German bishop and
theologian, has long been regarded as
a vital expositor of the gospel and one
of the leading voices of church renewal
and reform. Named a cardinal in 2001,
Kasper served as president of the
Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian
Unity and represented the Church in
advancing Jewish-Christian relations.

He assumed an especially important
role under Pope Francis, who publicly
endorsed Kasper’s book on Mercy, thus
signaling a principle theme of his papacy.

This volume reflects the major themes of
Kasper’s long career. Given the breadth
of his work, the selections here on God,
Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, the Church,
Ecumenism, and Christian Hope, represent
a veritable introduction to the Christian faith.

--

The Editors:

Patricia C. Bellm - is co-director of the
Science and Religion Initiative with
Notre Dame's Institute for Church Life.

Robert A. Krieg - a professor of theology
at Notre Dame, is co-editor of Cardinal
Walter Kasper: Speaking Truth in Love
(Liturgical), and editor of the Orbis book
Romano Guardini: Spiritual Writings.

--

Introductory Comments:

(I am now completing sixty years of
priestly ministry). The desire to become
a priest was placed in my heart at an
early age...

(After ordination) my priestly ministry
soon took me into academic theology.
This path led me later to the office of
bishop and eventually to Rome in the
service of the world church and the unity
of all Christians. I dedicated my ordination
as a bishop to "truth in love" (Eph. 4:15).

Thus, ministry for the "Joy of the Gospel"
has accompanied me every step of the
way.  For this reason, and along with
my strictly theological presentations,
numerous spiritual texts have come
about over the years from my sermons
and meditations. In this time of so many
significant changes, these writings are
meant to contribute "to giving an account
of the hope that is in us" (1 Peter 3:1-5).

Faith is Jesus Christ is a gift to be passed
on. Therefore, I owe Patricia C. Bellm
and Robert A Kreig for taking the trouble
to select some of the texts written since
1972 and for making them accessible in
English to a wider public.

I hope that this gift for the jubilee of my
priesthood will become a gift for as many
readers as possible.

Walter Cardinal Kasper,
Rome, 2016.

--

My Thoughts:

Bellm and Krieg, the editors of Kasper's
spiritual work, say this about him in their
introduction:

"In four ways, this book probes the depth
of the treasure in Kasper's writings.

"First, it includes selections from Kasper's
memoir "Where the Heart Faith Beats" -
that probes Anselm of Canterbury's idea
that theology is "faith seeking understanding" -
the resulting fruit of Kasper's faith evidenced
here.

"Second, the depth of Kasper's own thought
comes to light in relation to the documents
of the Second Vatican Council. He sought
to elucidate the council's teachings. His
future development as a theologian was
grounded in the renewing work of that
council for the whole church.

"Third, in his writings, Kasper continually
calls attention to the fact that true Christian
faith and theology are oriented to mystery -
the mystery of being human, of Christ and
of the triune God. Also, the mystery of the
church and of salvation.

"Lastly, this book conveys the spirit with
which Kasper shares the treasure of the
Christian faith. It does this simply because
its texts radiate Kasper's genuine approach
to life in light of the Gospel. All this is done
with a deep sense of joy."

(these lines have been edited by me.)

I am grateful for this book because it
offers the refined thought of a strong
influence in the Catholic Church today.
He has truly influenced others too.

Walter Kasper is known and loved as
a person by many ecumenists - both
Catholic and non-Catholic - who have
worked with him over the years.

The Spirit of God in Christ permeates
his life and influence. I would say that -
even while he is still among us - his
impact is unusually significant.

____

Buy the book from Orbis:
http://tinyurl.com/zv3qa8r

Buy the book from Amazon.ca:
http://tinyurl.com/jgu5eof

*****


COLLEAGUE CONTRIBUTIONS

Marjorie Gibson,
Vancouver, BC

Marjorie Remembers Blog
September 28th, 2016

"A New Life"
  http://tinyurl.com/jt8gwa9

-

John Stackhouse Jr.,
Moncton, NB

Christianity Today
September 26th, 2016

"The Precarious Future
  of Assisted Suicide"    
  http://tinyurl.com/jypgl9x

--

Martin Marty,
Chicago. IL

Sightings,
September 26th, 2016

"The Moment"
  http://tinyurl.com/z5e7qnu

--

Ron Rolheiser,
San Antonio, TX

Personal Web Site
September 26th, 2016

"Software, Moral Formatting,
  and Living in Sin"
  http://tinyurl.com/hky7wqk

***

NET NOTES

REMEMBERING PHYLLIS TICKLE
Her Life and Work (video)

Englewood Review of Books
September 23rd, 2016

http://tinyurl.com/h39y6nx


--

WHEN THE BIBLE
IS BAD FOR YOU
Maturing in Faith

Christian Week
September 26th, 2016

http://tinyurl.com/za8mu2y

--

THE POLITICAL MAGIC
OF C.S. LEWIS
My Social Maturation
(Opinion)

New York Times
September 24th, 2016

http://tinyurl.com/z5zhzvw

--

A DECADE AFTER TRAGIC
AMISH SHOOTING
Mother Talks of Forgiveness

National Public Radia
September 30th, 2016

http://tinyurl.com/hp6yxwa

--

MAJOR KOREAN RELIGIONS
GATHER FOR HARMONY
Four Faiths Involved 

UCA News
September 30th, 2016

http://tinyurl.com/zh3yl4r

--

THE BEST THINGS
SHIMON PERES EVER SAID
Assessing an Israeli Founder

Religion News Service,
September 28th, 2016

http://tinyurl.com/hcwyfqk

"'Peres a Great Man'" Say
  Both Arabs and Jews of Israel"

The Jerusalem Post
September 29th, 2016

http://tinyurl.com/j7rgckm

--

CHRISTIANS SUFFER EXTREME
CRUELTY IN NORTH KOREAN PRISONS
True Stories Often Slow to Emerge

UCA News
September 26th, 2016

http://tinyurl.com/z2afudj

--

'RENT A PRIEST' - SERVICE OFFERED
IN KERALA STATE, INDIA
Former Priests Serve Former Catholics

UCA News,
September 26th, 2016

http://tinyurl.com/hm58gcr

--

THE NUMBER OF FEMALE PASTORS
IS GROWING IN AFRICA
The Tanzanian Lutheran Story

Lutheran World Information
September 25th, 2016

http://tinyurl.com/j6qlse9

--

AMERICAN EVANGELICAL DESPAIR
OVER SOCIETY AND VOTING OPTIONS
Not Supportive of Either Candidate
Unhappy With Shifting Societal Directions

New York Times
September 29th, 2016

http://tinyurl.com/hlsdup5

Religion News Service
September 26th, 2016

"American Evangelicals Divided on Trump
    Following at Least Four Ways"
  
  http://tinyurl.com/jq46mrj


***

WISDOM OF THE WEEK

From Sojourners and the Bruderhof online:

What you are is God's gift to you,
what you become is your gift to God.


- Hans Urs von Balthasar

--

You pray in your distress and in your need;
would that you might pray also in the fullness
of your joy and in your days of abundance.


- Kahlil Gibran

--

I feel most alive, most electric with faith,
breath, and courage, when I think of God
as a current that runs through all that is. 


- Tracy K. Smith

--

I pledge allegiance to the world,
To cherish every living thing,
To care for earth and sea and air,
With peace and freedom everywhere. 


- Lillian Genser

--

No one can serve two lords. There is
only one God, and that God will either
be the true one, who asks us to give
things up when they become sin, or
it will be the god of money, who makes
us turn our back on Christianity’s God.

The spiritual life does not remove us
from the world,but leads us deeper
into it.

-  Oscar Romero

--

Christ said, “Go and give all you have to
the poor and become the servant of all,”
for if you do that, you’ll become a thousand
times richer because your happiness won’t
be made just of good food, rich clothes,
satisfied vanity, and appeased envy. 

Instead it will be built on love, love multiplied
by love without end. And then you will gain
not just riches, but the whole world! 


- Fyodor Dostoyevsky

--

Venture to give all your possessions to the
poor and you will certainly experience the

truth of Christ’s teaching. Venture once to
make yourself completely vulnerable for
the sake of the truth, and you will certainly
experience the truth of Christ’s word.

You will experience how it alone can save
you from despairing or from succumbing,
for you will need Christ both to protect
yourself against others and to maintain
yourself upright when the thought of your
own imperfection would weigh you down.

- Søren Kierkegaard

--

Found on a wrapping paper in
the Ravensbrück concentration camp:


Lord, remember not only the men and
women of good will, but also those of
ill will. But do not remember all the
suffering they have inflicted upon us.


Remember rather the fruits we brought,
thanks to this suffering: our comradeship,
our loyalty, our humility, the courage,
the generosity, the greatness of heart
that has grown out of this. 


And when they come to judgment, let
all the fruits we have borne be their
forgiveness.


--

ON THIS DAY

From the archives of the New York Times:

"Nine Black Children, Escorted by
  National  Guard into Little Rock School"
  http://tinyurl.com/hhz8bd7

"Meeting in Munich Grants Hitler
  Sudetenland Appeasment"
  http://tinyurl.com/ll68vt4

***

CLOSING THOUGHT - Martin Luther King Jr

We are called to play the good Samaritan
on life's roadside; but that will be only an
initial act. 


One day the whole Jericho road must be
transformed so that men and women will
not be beaten and robbed as they make
their journey through life. 


True compassion is more than flinging a
coin to a beggar; it understands that an
edifice that produces beggars needs
restructuring.


(end)


*****

For Those Interested -

Continuing Our Program Planning Season -
Autumn 2016 Adult Spiritual Development
ACTS Ministry at St. David's 
United Church, 
Calgary

FALL 2016 MONDAY NIGHT STUDY

This series starts in September

Theme: "Rediscovering the Bible for Today"

Book: "Reclaiming the Bible 
             for a Non-Religious World"
             by Bishop John Spong

http://tinyurl.com/jfanqdp

A ten-week introduction to the entire Bible
with help to engage it meaningfully, today.

Ten Monday evenings, 7-9PM
In the St. David's TM Room
September 19th - November 28th, 2016
Excluding Monday of Thanksgiving Weekend

Books and Registration/Hospitality - $60.00
Books only - $20.00

Total book sets made available for sale: 40.


BOOKS SOLD OUT, but more to come if needed.


Now beginning eighteen years
of Monday Night Studies
Our thirty-seventh series of
(usually) ten week sessions!

Course design:

http://rtb.stdavidscalgary.net/

Check our complete archives
for all 48 book studies since 2000:
http://tinyurl.com/q3bw6dh

***


THURSDAY MORNING BIBLE STUDY

Theme: "Mark - the Earliest Gospel"


Ten sessions 10-11 AM
Gathering at 9:30 AM
In the St. David's TM Room
September 22nd - November 24th.

No charge.

Study resources -


"The DK Complete Bible Handbook"
  Edited by John Bowker
  http://tinyurl.com/odxlv7q


"Reclaiming the Bible for a Non-Religious World"
  by Bishop John Spong
  http://tinyurl.com/jfanqdp

(reserve copies available in our church library)


***

NEW SEASON,
NEW ST.DAVID'S SPIRITUAL TRAVEL PROJECT

The Planning Cycle for a 2017 Tour Continues.

The Travel Destination has been researched with 
Rostad Tours of Calgary. 

We have selected South Africa as our location!

We plan a seventeen-day trip that combines a
focus on faith, culture, and nature, and it will
happen the second half of October next year.

Cost and itinerary will be published this autumn. 
Follow these notices for weekly updates.

*****









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