Sunday, January 9, 2011

Colleagues List, January 8th, 2011

Vol. VI. No. 18


Wayne A. Holst, Editor

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

*****

NEW YEAR EDITION

Good Words to Start 2011 -

Wayne:

This moment cannot pass without a comment 
about Colleagues List from this end.

Your "idea," and continuing fulfillment of it, 
is an exciting example, a model of "calling" 
which enriches every life it touches.  A BIG 
"Thank you" to you for starting it, keeping 
it going, and teaching/inspiring us often 
throughout the year.

You are a Blessing to us all. Thanks!

Art Bauer
Pompton Plains, NJ.

*****

In this Issue -

Special Item:

"Is it Fitting?"

My sermon for:  
The Baptism of Our Lord
Sunday, January 9th, 2010
___

Colleague Comment and Contributions:

Jim Taylor
Martin Marty
Herb O'Driscoll
Isabel Gibson

___

Net Notes:

Egypt's Coptic Tensions
Car Bomb Hits Egyptian Church
Coptic Christians Respond Bravely
Punjabi Governor Killed by Bodyguard
Pope is 'Stunned' by Religious Violence
Pope Calls Interfaith Meeting at Assisi
Remembering Christians Who Are Persecuted
Week of Prayer for Unity Focus - Jerusalem
Catholic Stores Withdraw 'Dangerous' Books
Ten Worst Countries to Practice Christianity
Police Criticized for Apology to Ottawa Muslims
Eliza Griswold - on the Muslim-Christian Divide
___

Global Faith Potpourri

2 Stories from Ecumenical News International
___

Quotes of the Week:

Dorotheus of Gaza
Anne Frank
John Wesley
Mother Theresa
___

On This Day (Jan 1st - Jan 1st)

Jan. 1, 1959 - Castro overthrows Batista in Cuba
Jan. 7, 1979 - Vietnam overthrows Cambodian 
               government.
Jan. 9, 1968 - Surveyor 7 space probe makes soft 
               moon landing 
___

Closing Thought 

(end)

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

Dear Friends:

Here is my first issue of Colleagues List
for the year 2011. I hope you will enjoy it!

My Special Item for this week is a sermon which
was preached at St. David's United Church, Calgary
for the Sunday of the Baptism of Our Lord, which
this year is celebrated, January 9th.

The reflection is entitled:

"Is it Fitting?" (Matthew 3:13-16)

_____

Colleague Contributions this week are provided by:

Jim Taylor - an Epiphany reflection on "seeing the light"

Martin Marty - an update on the health of his friend
and a hero for many of us, Fr. Andrew Greeley.

Herb O'Driscoll - an article of philosophical thought
he found in the New York Times - "The Arena Culture"

Isabel Gibson - a personal reflection on the recent 
death of her father, Sheldon Gibson of Calgary 

___

Net Notes:

Stories in this section are dominated by a rash
of religious violence that has enveloped the 
world early this new year of 2011:

"Egypt's Coptic Tensions" - this interpretive 
article which appeared during 2010, give some 
background tothe religious violence currently 
occurring in Egypt (Religion and Ethics, NPR)

"Car Bomb Hits Egyptian Church" - this story 
dominated the week's international news and I
have collected a number of articles from around 
the world on this subject (Time Magazine, The Hindu, 
Anglican Church News, Sydney Morning Herald)

"Coptic Christians Respond Bravely" - generally 
speaking, the response of Coptic Christian in Egypt 
and around the world has been admirable (BBC, 
NY Times, Abram.org)

"Punjabi Governor Killed by Bodyguard" - another sad
development this week was the political assassination
of a moderate Islamic governor in the Punjab 
(Arab News, Life News)

"Pope is 'Stunned' by Religious Violence"- comment
from Rome was swift. The pope was deeply affected
by the violent news from several parts of the world
(Washington Post)

"Pope Calls Interfaith Meeting at Assisi" - his
initial response this week was a call together a
gathering, based on the original interfaith meeting
held at Assisi, Italy to respond to the violence
(The Tablet, UK)

"Remembering Christians Who Are Persecuted" -
this article, appearing before Christmas describes 
the persecution of Christians on a global scale
(National Post)

"Week of Prayer for Unity Focus - Jerusalem" -
this year, Week of Prayer ecumenical meditations
will centre on Jerusalem and the three faiths that
claim deep roots here (Anglican Journal News)

"Catholic Stores Withdraw 'Dangerous' Books" - a
strange story from Vietnam where Catholic bishops
there decry the use of biblical literature authored
by the late William Barclay of Scotland (Ucan News)

"Ten Worst Countries to Practice Christianity" -
another article on global religious persecution 
(Open Doors - The Persecuted Church website)

"Police Criticized for Apology to Ottawa Muslims" -
in Canada, Ottawa police are criticized for showing
more religious tolerance toward Muslims than to
other faiths (Vancouver Sun)

"Eliza Griswold - on the Muslim-Christian Divide" -
the daughter of a former Episcopalian primate in
the USA attempts to explain religious violence
at particular fault lines between Christians and
Muslims in Africa. This is a very good report. 
(Religion and Ethics, NPR)

___

Global Faith Potpourri

ENI begins the new year with a new staff and
working policy at the World Council of Churches
in Geneva

2 Stories from Ecumenical News International:

The Copts
The Vote in the Sudan
___

Quotes of the Week:

Dorotheus of Gaza, Anne Frank, John Wesley and
Mother Theresa share their wisdom with us.

___


On This Day (Jan 1st - Jan 1st)

Special stories from the archives of the
New York Times:

Castro takes over from Batista in Cuba (1959)
Vietnam overthrows Cambodian government (1979)
Surveyor 7 space probe makes soft moon landing (1968) 

___

Closing Thought - a reflection on caterpillars 
                  and butterflies

___


Blessings to you as a new year begins.

Wayne


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

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

___


ST DAVID'S ACTS WEB PAGE

Created and maintained by Colleague Jock McTavish
http://stdavidscalgary.net/

__

INTRODUCING OUR ST.DAVID'S WINTER STUDY FOR 2011

Books Considered:

"An Altar in the World" by Barbara Brown Taylor (and)

"I Shall Not Hate - A Gaza Doctor's Journey"
 by Izzeldin Abuelaish

Books on sale since Sunday, December 12th, 2010
More study and website particulars will be posted
as they become available

*****

INTRODUCING MY UNIVERSITY WINTER COURSE FOR 2011

GOD, ATHEISM, AND MORALITY

We continue our investigation of the New Atheists and
consider the question: "Can we be good without God?"

Text for the course will be Sam Harris' new book:

"The Moral Landscape:
 How Science Can Determine Human Values"
 (Free Press, October, 2010)

Course description and registration information:

http://tinyurl.com/2fc7xr4

*****

REMINDER:

ST. DAVID'S 50th ANNIVERSARY
TOUR OF CELTIC LANDS - 2011

We plan a 15-day tour of special Celtic sites
in Scotland, Ireland, Wales and England -
April 26th - May 10th, 2011.

A highlight of the tour will be a visit to
St. David's Cathedral, Pembrokeshire. Choir
members from our group will sing at various
informal cathedral events through the day
and at Evensong, on Saturday, May 7th!

We have 26 choristers signed up as part of the
tour group. This special choir begins rehearsals
in early January - led by our congregation's
music director, Brent Tucker.

Details are presently being finalized with
the St. David's cathedral dean, Fr. Jonathan Lean.

We are also planning to sing while visiting Iona,
Scotland and the Church of Mary Immaculate in
Inchicore, Dublin, Ireland. Fr. Ned Carolan, host.

ALL 38 PLACES ON THE TOUR ARE NOW SOLD OUT

We continue to gather a waiting list for this trip,
as they may be some drop-outs as we near deadlines.
We have started an interest list for future tours!

Let me know if you are interested in knowing more
about exciting, spiritual tourism!

*****

STUDY ARCHIVES

A collection of twenty-five+ studies conducted since 
2000 can quickly be found at: 
http://www.blogger.com/goog_2059240355

This collection of study resources represents 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

IS IT FITTING?
The Baptism of Our Lord

Sermon Preached at 
St. David’s United Church
The Baptism of Our Lord
Sunday, January 9th, 2011

“IS IT FITTING?”

May you experience the peace of God our loving 
Father, the caring partnership of our brother, 
Jesus, and the on-going enlightenment of the 
Spirit!

TEXT: Matthew 3: 13-15 (selections)

Then Jesus appeared - (as) he was to be baptized 
by John (who)tried to dissuade him with the words – 
“It is I who need baptism from you, and yet you 
come to me?” But Jesus replied “Leave it like 
this for the time being; it is fitting that we 
should, in this way,do all that uprightness 
demands.” Then John gave in to him.

---

May the words of my mouth and the devotion of our 
hearts find acceptance in your sight, O Lord, our 
strength and our redeemer.

INTRODUCTION

When is it good to omit doing the expedient thing 
in favour of doing the fitting thing? When is it 
better to be wise, rather than to act out of our 
natural inclinations? When, in other words, should 
we take the advice of Jesus and response of John 
as our model? 

I would like to unpack for you, today, some of the 
discoveries I have made from my encounter this week 
with the beautiful story of the Baptism of Jesus, 
the festival after which this Sunday is named and 
the subject of today’s scripture text. I want to 
reflect with you on the matter of doing what is 
fitting at strategic moments of life rather than 
doing what is expedient – or reacting from our 
inclinations of the moment.

Our text today gives us clues for following the 
wisdom of how John the Baptist - Jesus’ designated 
advocate and sponsor – went against his natural
judgment in order to do the fitting thing - so that 
something great could happen!

At a significant moment in their relationship and 
in the drama of our salvation, John sidestepped 
expediency and did what was fitting.

The result was that Jesus had a marvelous debut – 
a significant introduction to the world. Jesus’ 
baptism was endorsed by of the Hebrew prophets 
who foretold it, the Holy Spirit who honoured it, 
and by God who confirmed it.

---

The crux of the story, it seems to me, hangs on 
John the Baptizer who questions his role in this 
drama.

“It is fitting that we do this,” said Jesus, who 
saw beyond the understanding of John's baptism as 
an occasion of great import. The act was of no 
small significance. Not only did it symbolize a 
new beginning. It introduced Jesus to the world 
as Lord and Saviour.

Let me declare something of my own faith 
at this point.

As much as I believe that there are other ways 
to God than through Jesus, I rejoice that today 
“it is fitting” to encounter God directly through 
faith in Jesus, who is my Lord and Saviour.

I believe we Christians need to claim this truth, 
even as we seek to live faithfully and respectfully 
in a multi-faith world.

FITTING, NOT EXPEDIENT

Here are two stories from my own experience which 
help me to understand when it is better “to be 
fitting, rather than to be expedient.”

Many years ago, when I was completing my final 
year of university undergrad work, I found 
myself is a deep quandary. I had worked so hard 
on my studies and worried so much about my success 
in writing the exams that I literally collapsed 
from burn-out (even though we didn’t call it that
in those days.) Given my own self-understanding 
at the time, I thought of myself as a failure; 
a mental case.

Instead of writing my exams, I found myself on 
the psych ward of the local hospital. 

How humiliating! How profoundly debilitating!

Then, one day as I was convalescing at home, 
I received a letter from the dean of my 
university. “Mr. Holst” the letter said to 
my utter stupification “the academic committee 
has determined to grant you aegrotate standing, 
based on your past performance. You need not 
write your exams. You will graduate with 
your class.”

That, let me assure you, was a moment of sheer 
grace. I had not expected it. In many ways I 
felt I did not deserve it. The fact that a 
person could actually graduate without writing 
final exams was totally beyond my experience 
and even my comprehension at the time.

I now look back to that event as one when I 
now realize that those in authority treated me
in a way that was fitting, rather than expedient. 
In a true sense, their vision for me transcended 
my vision of myself. Those having responsibility 
for me anticipated that something grander would 
result in my life because of this experience. In 
a true sense, the expediency of fulfilling a set 
of exams was waived in favour of something more 
fitting to the situation.

I will never forget that experience. It has 
influenced my handling of a number of situations 
when I was in the position of those who granted 
me aegrotate standing, many years ago.

---

Not that long ago, I attended a congregational 
meeting here at St. David’s. 

On the agenda was the proposal to call the first 
woman minister in the history of this congregation.

We at St. David’s have a reputation for being 
rather conservative when compared to sister 
United Church congregations, and I am certain 
that sober, thoughtful, conservatism existed 
in the minds of many at that meeting. 

Were we, in fact, ready to call a female to lead 
this congregation when – for decades we had been 
led exclusively by males? A number of women from 
the congregation expressed their feelings to me 
– though not at the public meeting.

“A woman can’t handle the responsibility” was 
the message I got.

Gingerly, the matter was debated. In the end, 
we adopted the proposal of the call committee 
and the gender of those leading our congregation 
since that time has taken a decided turn toward
the female – to which the picture gallery in 
our lobby will testify.

What happened at that congregational meeting 
(which some of you here present may still 
recall?) I believe that the Spirit of God
was present in this place when most of those 
voting made a fitting, and not necessarily 
expedient, decision. Our life together has 
never been the same, because we have discovered 
that true leadership ability is not the purview 
of only one gender.

---

Let me add a further example. This one is from the 
future and not the past.

I believe the time will come when this congregation 
will need to think about gender and leadership in 
ways we have not yet considered. If current trends 
continue (consider for example the classroom gender 
makeup in many of our theological colleges) we are
becoming a community led by women rather than men.

What will happen if there are only women available 
to lead congregations like ours? What impact might 
that have on the minds of young boys who may know 
only female leadership models in their schools and 
churches? Will the numbers of men (compared to 
women) attracted to education and religion continue 
to decline in liberal societies? 

I do not claim to have answers to these questions, 
but they do concern me, and I believe they concern 
many other thoughtful people of both genders as we 
contemplate the future.

While I do not know what our decisions will be, 
I hope that we may follow an important principle 
in the way we live community and chose our 
leadership in the years ahead. 

May it be that we do the fitting thing, 
not the expedient one.

WISDOM THAT COMES THROUGH EXPERIENCE

Why is it often wise to anticipate a fitting,  
rather than an expedient result?

The struggle to determine the fitting over the 
expedient is not simple. We are not fortune-
tellers. We have no special awareness of that 
the future holds.

What we do possess, however, is a wisdom that 
can be discerned from Jesus and those who trust 
in him.

We might be guided by formuling questions like – 
what decision will allow for the greatest general
benefit, the most freedom and flexibility, the 
best opportunity for human fulfillment?

My university authorities – those who had 
control of my academic destiny at that crucial 
moment in time – were very conscious of the 
importance of their decision. Would they come 
down hard on “following the rules?” and “of 
my passing exams?” or did they sense that by 
giving this student special consideration at 
that highly sensitive moment they were providing 
him with an unexpected benefit, a freedom, and 
an opportunity to learn frome experience; to move 
ahead with greater maturity, more fully - 
developed as a person?

The decision-makers here at St. David’s who 
determined to call the first women pastoral 
leaders in our history – were also very much 
aware of the crucial nature of their decision. 
I, for one, wanted my children, especially my 
daughters, to observe role-models other than 
male so that their identities would be empowered 
and enhanced in ways that had not been previously 
possible for them. 

If we look back in retrospect, fitting decisions 
all seem so very right; but at the time, such 
possibilities are unprecedented. Making decisions 
based exclusively on custom is just not good 
enough. 

THE BAPTISM OF OUR LORD – 
JESUS IS PRESENTED TO THE WORLD

The climactic moment of our scriptural lesson 
for today is the the baptism at the Jordan River, 
when Jesus is presented to the world as Lord and 
Saviour.

That glorious development happened because of 
the wise insight of Jesus. “Leave it like this 
for the time being; it is fitting that we should, 
in this way, do what uprightness demands.”

John’s humble response to that led him to do what 
was fitting and what was needed, as future 
developments would confirm.

This text stands as precedent for us now as we 
make those important decisions of life that 
affect lives and human futures.

WHAT IS FITTING?

I hope these thoughts will be of some help as you 
grapple with the important decisions you may be 
facing right now. Perhaps it is a personal, health, 
or relational decision; perhaps one concerning your 
family, or the well-being of other people.

May God help you to decide what is fitting, and 
may the examples of Jesus and John today guide 
you in your deliberation.

---

And may the peace of God that passes all 
understanding, keep your hearts and minds 
in Christ Jesus.

AMEN


*****

COLLEAGUE COMMENT

JIM TAYLOR
Okanagan, BC

Friday, Decenber 31st, 2010

Hi, Wayne,

Happy New Year.

I write this note just to let you know that this 
(December 31st) was an especially fine issue of 
Colleagues' List. 

Ordinarily, I follow up on perhaps three or 
four of your links -- this time I must have 
followed up on at least a dozen. Took me far 
longer than I had wanted! Regards,

Jim T

---

Wednesday January 5, 2011

Seeing the Light

At Epiphany, on January 6, the Twelve Days of 
Christmas come to an end.

http://edges.canadahomepage.net/2011/01/05/953/

*****

MARTIN MARTY
Chicago, IL

Update on Health of Fr. Andrew Greeley
January 3rd, 2011

The news on Greeley is not good. 25 months have 
gone by and he is only marginally intelligible 
and comprehending. The brain injury as severe. 
He has around the clock help.His novels sold well 
enough that he can sustain (be sustained) through 
horrific expenses. He goes to rehab three times 
a week. Few visitors are welcomed but Harriet and 
I have access. She couldn't stay for our whole hour 
the other day; she could not believe what I did 
report about how he came "marginally" through. 
He is still capable of showing recognition of 
Catholic people, but not of priests and hierarchs 
(with a few exceptions).

The old resentments are there. And yet I can get 
him to smile and make some brief comments. No one 
is optimistic, but this is the first time I 
detected glimmers. Did I mention that a month 
ago David Tracy said mass and held up the book 
and Greeley read along some. Significantly, 
all the old gestures are there as reflex: e.g. 
he knew when to pour the water into the wine, 
and did so.
 
Keep him in prayer

Now I'll read Colleagues list to further 
my updating project.
 
Benisons in the New Year!

Marty
 
PS In the meantime, check this out:

"Atheists Don't Have No Songs" Steve Martin 
 on YouTube:

http://tinyurl.com/273ug5w

*****

HERB O'DRISCOLL
Victoria, BC

"The Arena Culture"
We are still spiritual, though secular people

New York Times
Dec, 30th, 2010

http://tinyurl.com/2bvasq3

*****

ISABEL GIBSON
Ottawa, ON.

"The First Day"

Yesterday was the first day that I deliberately 
did not tell someone that my father had just died.

It’s been two weeks and two days since I saw him 
breathe his last: his death is still pretty much 
top-of-mind awareness for me. My thoughts jump 
unpredictably—the ups and downs of his last few 
weeks in the hospital jostle with the transfer 
to hospice, his final evening, the flurry of 
memorial service arrangements, and events from 
his 88-year life as viewed by me for all but 30 
of those years. 

It’s been two weeks and two days since I saw him 
breathe his last: his death is still pretty much 
centre-of-heart impact for me. My feelings dance 
jerkily—warm memories sashay uncomfortably with 
regret for old conflicts, gratitude that someone 
was with him, guilt that being that someone wasn’t 
enough to change the outcome, amusement at things 
that would have irritated or amused him not so very 
long ago, and a mild unease at something undefined
being absent from the Christmas celebrations just 
completed—someone, as it turns out.

The thinking-and-feeling programming varies, but 
the selected channel has been consistent, and the 
associated broadcast effort almost constant.  
Family first, with cell phone from the hospice.  
Lodge residents and staff the next day, in person.  
Dad’s community of friends and associates, through 
phone calls and a written obituary.  My own circle 
of friends and colleagues, through staged email.

The directed effort proceeds under its own 
unarguable logic: begin with those who must know 
immediately and move on to those who will hear of 
it eventually and who would feel badly that they 
had not heard sooner.  Minister, funeral director, 
lawyer, pension administrators, colleagues, friends, 
and acquaintances who had met him—these are caught 
in this intentional net.  A parallel outpouring 
proceeds under its own emotional imperative: tell 
whoever is beside me when the noise in my head gets 
too loud.  Airline check-in staff, friendly grocery 
store clerks, email correspondents who ask how 
Christmas went—these are caught in this 
unpredictable net.  Spilled out onto the trawler’s 
deck, all are left gasping for air, yet sometimes 
it is the only way I can catch my breath.

Yesterday, my non-stop broadcast stopped. A 
hair stylist understandably preoccupied with 
crazed clients and the death of ‘glam’ even for 
New Year’s Eve-the stuff of his own life—provided 
no conversational opening for what was new in my 
life, and I chose not to force one. Friends of 
friends discussing aging parents over an end-of-
year glass of wine opened the door wide, but I 
chose not to walk through. Stepping carefully 
to avoid outright lying, I participated in the 
prevailing light-hearted and optimistic tone.

Yesterday was the first day that I deliberately 
did not tell someone that my father had just died.  
Today, I tell you. Two steps forward, one step 
back. It’s been two weeks and two days since 
I saw him breathe his last.

---

Isabel:

What a beautiful statement! May he rest in peace.

Wayne

*****

NET NOTES

EGYPT'S COPTIC TENSIONS
Background to the Current Strife

Religion and Ethics (NPR)
February 26th, 2010

http://tinyurl.com/yb252xo

*****

CAR BOMB HITS CHURCH IN EGYPT NEW YEAR'S DAY
21 Worshippers Killed

Time Magazine
January 1st, 2010

http://tinyurl.com/2dqta4b

---

Obama Condemns Deadly Attacks in Africa

The Hindu, India
Jan. 2nd, 2011

http://tinyurl.com/3ymmx6p

---

Anglican Primate's Response
Williams Deplores Bombings

Anglican Church News
January 3rd, 2011

http://tinyurl.com/2afdrws

---

Top Egyptian Imam Criticizes Pope's "Interference"

Sydney Morning Herald
January 4th, 2010

http://tinyurl.com/2c8x9c4

___


COPTIC CHRISTIANS RESPOND BRAVELY
Egypt's Nervy Christians

BBC NEWS
January 6th, 2011

http://tinyurl.com/2dpazyq

---

Blast Awakens Egypt to Threat From Religious Strife

A fatal blast at a church has forced leaders to see
that Egypt is plagued by religious extremism that 
could undermine stability. 

New York Times
January 7th, 2011

http://tinyurl.com/26vmjtz

---

Copt's Ire Extends to Their Own Church

New York Times
January 7th, 2011

http://tinyurl.com/27gh3xz

---

Egypt's Muslims Protect Christians at Worship
Served as "Human Shields" of Defense

Abram.org
January 7th, 2010

http://english.ahram.org.eg/News/3365.aspx

*****

PUNJABI GOVERNOR KILLED BY BODYGUARD
Upset With Official's Stance on Blasphemy

Arab News
Jan 5th, 2011

http://arabnews.com/world/article229443.ece

---

500 Muslim Scholars Endorse Governor's Murder

Life News
January 7th, 2011

http://tinyurl.com/282dwhl

*****

POPE IS 'STUNNED' BY ANTI-CHRISTIAN VIOLENCE

Washington Post
December 6th, 2011

http://tinyurl.com/2aueeoy

*****

POPE CALLS INTERFAITH MEETING AT ASSISI
Concerned About Recent Religious Violence

The Tablet
January 7th, 2011

http://www.thetablet.co.uk/article/15744

*****

REMEMBERING CHRISTIANS WHO ARE PERSECUTED 
FOR THEIR FAITH

National Post - Holy Post
December 23rd, 2010

http://tinyurl.com/2cbkard

*****

WEEK OF PRAYER FOR CHRISTIAN UNITY
FOCUS THIS YEAR IS ON JERUSALEM

Anglican Journal News
January 7th, 2011

http://news.anglican.ca/news/stories/2307

*****

CATHOLIC STORES WITHDRAW 'DANGEROUS' BOOKS
Books by Scottish Protestant Biblical Scholar
Wm. Barclay Considered Unfit for Vietnamese Faithful

UcanNews
Dec. 6th, 2011

http://tinyurl.com/2c9kgco

*****

THE TEN WORST COUNTRIES TO PRACTICE CHRISTIANITY

Open Doors - The Persecuted Church
January 5th, 2011

http://tinyurl.com/2699brv

*****

POLICE CRITICIZED FOR APOLOGISING TO OTTAWA MUSLIMS

Vancouver Sun
January 6th, 2011

http://tinyurl.com/372fdh6

*****

ELIZA GRISWOLD AND THE MUSLIM-CHRISTIAN DIVIDE
Going Deeper into Significant Global Fault Lines

Religion and Culture (NPR)
October 15th, 2010

http://tinyurl.com/24sswan

*****

GLOBAL FAITH POTPOURRI

Stories provided by Ecumenical News
International, World Council of Churches
Geneva, Switzerland

Ecumenical News International
News Highlights

6 January 2011

Prayers sought on 9 January for Coptic Christians

New York (ENI news) Bishop Angaelos, the General 

Bishop of the Coptic Orthodox Church in Great 
Britain, is asking worshippers across Europe on 
Sunday 9 January to pray for "all those Coptic 
Christians who have lost their lives in 2010." 

*****

7 January 2011

Churches call for peaceful vote in Sudan
By Trevor Grundy

Canterbury, England 7 January (ENI news)--The 
Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, 
has urged all Anglicans and Christians from 
other denominations to stand with the Sudanese 
people as that country prepares for its historic 
referendum that starts on Sunday (9 January) 
and ends the following Saturday (15 January).

In a statement issued (7 January) from Lambeth 
Palace in London, Dr Williams, who is the 
spiritual head of the 87 million-member 
worldwide Anglican Communion, described 
the referendum that will determine the 
fate of mainly Christian and oil- rich 
Southern Sudan as "an immensely important 
day." He urged Christians to stand with the 
Sudanese people "to ensure that the referendum 
takes place peacefully and that the process 
and the results are fully respected."Sunday’s 
referendum is the final provision in Sudan’s 
Comprehensive Peace Agreement, which was 
brokered by Britain, the US and Norway in 
2005 and which brought to an end the decades-
long civil conflict that has claimed more 
than two million lives.


Voting will decide whether South Sudan and 
North Sudan remain as one or separate with 
Southern Sudan becoming a new African state.

The Northern regime of President Omar 
al-Bashir wants to hold on to the south and 
the 480,000 barrels of oil a day that are 
pumped from its fields. African and Western 
politicians fear that if Southerners vote 
for a separate state, it would trigger the 
renewal of war between the mainly Muslim 
North and predominately Christian South.
In an interview on 6 January with Episcopal 
News Service’s Matthew Davies, the Sudanese 
Bishop (Anglican) Joseph Garang of the 
Diocese of Renk said that everyone in Sudan 
is praying for peace. He told ENS: "All the 
troops from the North and South are on the
border and facing one another. Too many 
people have died during the civil war and 
we don’t want that to happen anymore." 
He praised Christians for supporting Sudan 
and praying for peace saying, "If we did not 
have our brothers and sisters in the UK, 
America, Canada, Australia, we don’t think 
that the Comprehensive Peace Agreement 
would have happened. The church played 
a big role and talked with their governments, 
and their governments took action. The 
partnerships are very important to ensure 
that peace happens."Staff at the Episcopal 
church of Trinity Wall Street in New York 
have set up a section on their website 
called Praying for Peace that features 
links to a rangeof resources and actions 
including a Facebook group and an open 
letter to the United Nations Secretary 
General, Ban Ki-Moon, asking for a greater 
UN commitment to Sudan. Capturing the spirit 
of Sudanese Christians, and helping to tell 
their stories of living in and around the 
country’s North-South border region, has 
been a year long passion and media project 
for a team of Episcopalians from the Diocese 
of Chicago. The Renk Media Team has launched 
an educational video for those considering 
forming partnerships with the Episcopal 
Church of Sudan. The media team is named 
after the Diocese of Renk which is on the 
border between North and South Sudan. 
report issued (9 January) by the Anglican 
Communion News Service in London said that 
Anglican leaders from Sudan continue to call 
for support from brothers and sisters across 
its worldwide network.

ACNS said the Rt Rev Anthony Poggo, Bishop 
of the Diocese of Kajo-Keji, has asked for 
prayers for his country. He said the choice 
this Sunday was between unity and separation: 
"It is very likely that the people of Southern 
Sudan will vote for secession."

Reid Trulson, executive director of American 
Baptist International Ministries, called for 
a peaceful outcome to the referendum. "In the 
historic referendum, the people of Southern 
Sudan will decide whether to change Sudan’s 
present borders that were put in place by 
colonial powers, in order to form a country 
in the South that is separate from the North. 
We urge prayer that this process will be 
conducted in a manner that respects the 
dignity and well-being of all. 

"Sudanese people who live in Europe will be 
allowed to vote at booths set up at the 
Methodist Hall close to the British 
Parliament in London. Registration centres 
have also been set up in Australia, Canada, 
Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenyan and Uganda. Nearly 
10,000 South Sudanese live in Britain. 


Gabriel Dharmi, 45, told ENI news:  "I was 
born in war and I grew up in war. My children 
have the same problem. This Sunday we are 
going to end the miserable life of our people."

*****

QUOTES OF THE WEEK

Provided by Sojourners Online

January 23rd, 2011

"Each one according to [their] means should 
take care to be at one with everyone else, 
for the more one is united to [their] neighbor, 
the more [they are] united with God."

- Dorotheus of Gaza 

---

January 4th, 2011

"I see the world gradually being turned into a
 wilderness. I hear the ever-approaching thunder, 
which will destroy us too. I can feel the 
sufferings of millions and yet, if I look 
up into the heavens, I think that it will 
all come right."

- Anne Frank

---

January 5th, 2011

"One of the principle rules of religion is to 
lose no occasion of serving God. And since [God] 
is invisible to our eyes, we are to serve [God] 
in our neighbor; which [the Lord] receives as if 
done to [Godself] in person,standing visibly 
before us."

- John Wesley

---

January 6th, 2010

"Because we cannot see Christ we cannot express 
our love to him; but our neighbors we can always 
see, and we can do for them what, if we saw him, 
we would like to do for Christ."

- Mother Teresa

---

January 7th, 2011

"I don't preach a social gospel; I preach 
the gospel, period. The gospel of our Lord 
Jesus Christ is concerned with the whole 
person. When people were hungry, Jesus didn't 
say, 'Now is that political or social?' 
He said, 'I feed you.' Because the good 
news to a hungry person is bread."

- Desmond Tutu


*****

ON THIS DAY

On Jan. 1, 1959 - Fidel Castro led Cuban 
revolutionaries to victory over Fulgencio 
Batista.

http://tinyurl.com/29od7h7

___

Jan. 7, 1979 - Vietnamese forces captured the 
Cambodian capital of Phnom Penh, overthrowing 
the Khmer Rouge government.

http://tinyurl.com/25sgqzw

___

Jan. 9, 1968 - the Surveyor 7 space probe made 
a soft landing on the moon, marking the end of 
the American series of unmanned explorations of 
the lunar surface.

http://tinyurl.com/24m826j 

*****

CLOSING THOUGHT - 

What a caterpillar calls the end of the world,
God calls a butterfly.

(end)

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