Vol. VIII No. 12
*****
Wayne A. Holst, Editor
My E-Mail Address:
waholst@telusplanet.net
*****
Colleagues List Web Site:
http://colleagueslist.blogspot.com
Canadian Anglicans Google Groups:
http://tinyurl.com/cyyba8o
Now "Quicklinks" are included with many items.
Otherwise, scroll down to find your selection
in the body of the blog, as in the past.
*****
Dear Friends:
This week I send you a 'regular' Colleagues
List letter. Next week, I include our family
Christmas Letter. The final Colleagues List
issue for 2012 will offer a summary of
offerings from the past year.
I hope you will enjoy all three remaining
issues for the current calendar year.
--
Special Item - this week offers a book notice
for the third in a trilogy entitled "Jesus
of Nazareth" and this one is seasonally
entitled: "The Infancy Narratives." It was
authored by Joseph Ratzinger, now Pope
Benedict XVI.
http://tinyurl.com/clktyzu
I provide a comparison between this title
and one by Marcus Borg and John Dominic
Crossan entitled "The First Christmas"
which I offered here three years ago.
http://tinyurl.com/bmwfqqv
Colleague Contribution:
Colleague Beth Porter (Richmond Hill/Toronto)
serves L'Arche Canada. She publishes a
quarterly interview entitled "A Human Future"
and this quarter the theme is 'water.'
http://larche.ca/en/inspiration/
--
Net Notes this week include the following:
"Ravi Shankar Dies" - the great world music
pioneer was in his nineties when he passed
away this week (The Guardian, UK)
http://tinyurl.com/akdzqmg
"Living Counter-Testimony" - Walter
Brueggemenn has been a popular theologian
of the Hebrew Bible for many years.
Here is a review of his autobiography
(The Englewood Review of Books)
http://tinyurl.com/bp9ahah
"Faith in the Public Square" - this is
the title of the third book released in
2012 by Rowan Williams (The Tablet, UK)
http://tinyurl.com/cdrgcg3
"Anglican-Lutheran Greetings" - a short
"blessing for the season" is offered
by Primate Hiltz and National Bishop
Susan Johnson (ACC News Service)
http://tinyurl.com/cho3n95
"Cameron Criticized for Stance" - the
Britsh PM has declared his support for
Same Sex Marriage and women bishops in
the Church of England (Uca News)
http://tinyurl.com/bh6uba8
"Serving God in the Third Millennium" -
here is an article on hallucinations and
human spirituality, by Oliver Sachs
(The Atlantic Online)
http://tinyurl.com/c94jp5j
"'Lincoln' Heads the Golden Globes Pack"
- I was pleased to see that a movie that
impressed me and I introduced here some
weeks ago has garnered the most Golden
Glove nominations for 2012 films -
(The Guardian, UK, the New York Times)
http://tinyurl.com/cqcg3db
http://tinyurl.com/d8cmn78
"St. Nicolas - Separating Facts and Myth"
- it doesn't hurt to be reminded of the
backstory to this significant legend
(Uca News) http://tinyurl.com/au472ua
"UK Census Reveals Christians in Decline"
- while it comes as no surprize, the
statistical evidence is provided here
(The Guardian, UK)
http://tinyurl.com/blr58f6
--
Wisdom of the Week is provided by
Sojourners Online -
Thomas Merton, David Lim and Henri J.M. Nowen
--
On This Day:
From the Archives of the New York Times:
For the Week of December 9th-15th
Charles and Diana Split
http://tinyurl.com/a77p9hz
UN Adopts Human Rights Declaration
http://tinyurl.com/b5chndc
Kenya Gains Independence from Britain
http://tinyurl.com/dytum7n
Polish Communists Restrict Solidarity
http://tinyurl.com/dyvp7ks
--
My Closing Thoughts for this issue
are shared by William Everson, and
John Chittister
---
Holiday Blessings to all readers!
Wayne
********************************
St. David's and ACTS Ministry Announce:
Our Spiritual Travelers Tour for 2013
TURKEY AND THE EARLY CHRISTIAN CHURCH
April 23rd - May 9th, 2013
Tour sale requires a $300 deposit, with
full payment due, and of January, 2013.
Our major tour themes are: Classic Greek and Roman,
Early Christian, Muslim-Christian and the beautiful
scenery of the Mediterranian coast of SW Turkey.
*Enjoy Istanbul (Constantinople) - long a link
between East and West.
*Classical cities like Troy will be visited and
intriguing ancient sites will be revealed.
*Pilgrims from many of the regions we will visit
were present in Jerusalem at Pentecost - people
from "Mesopotamia, Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia" -
(Acts 2.)
*Saint Paul founded churches in many of the centers
of central and western Turkey and we will spend
quality time in places like Ephesus.
*We will come to know cities mentioned in the
Book of Revelation (chapters 1-3) by Jobn.
Cities like Pergamon, Thyatira, Philadelphia,
Sardis and Smyrna
---
Details such as costs and prep notes have been
edited into a beautiful travel brochure. This
was just sent to all who have thus far expressed
interest. If you are interested, let us know!
The brochure will also be posted to the St.
David's Spiritual Travelers Discussion List Group.
which is your place to express yourself!
To join this unique internet discussion contact:
Deb. Charnusaki - debcharnuski@hotmail.com
Your tour hosts:
Marlene and Wayne Holst
waholst@telusplanet.net (or)
marleneaholst@gmail.com
403-286-7416
*****
OUR WINTER AND SPRING 2013 PROGRAMS
With more to be announced -
AT ST.DAVID'S UNITED CHURCH
"WELCOMING THE STRANGER" WEEKEND AT ST. DAVID'S
Friday March 1st - Sunday, March 3rd (confirmed)
Special Guest:
Mary Jo Leddy, Romero House, Toronto.
Mary Jo's presentations will take place
at St. David's church.
Other guests are presently being secured for
panels, workshop and as seminar leaders. These
activities will be held on the university
campus.
Watch for new information on this
special weekend focused on Canada's
policy for welcoming new Canadians
and how Christians might respond.
*****
MONDAY NIGHT STUDY
From Monday, January 14th
thru Monday, March 26th.
7:00 -9:00 PM TM Room.
Study Book:
"Radical Gratitude" by Mary Jo Leddy
Review of book links:
http://tinyurl.com/bemfdms
(Western Catholic Reporter)
http://tinyurl.com/awu94eq
(Gospel and our Culture)
Cost of the course: $50.00
Buy only the book: $20.00
The course and books are now
on sale at the church lobby.
*****
THURSDAY MORNING BIBLE STUDY
Begins Thursday, January 17th, 2013
Theme:
"'Wisdom' in the Biblical Literature"
A six week series running through
the winter. 10-11 AM
All welcome. No cost.
*****
AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CALGARY
Tuesday Night University Study sponsored
by the Faculty of Continuing Education:
HERESIES AND HERETICS - The Real Story of
Early Christianity. Cont Ed Course 198-001
Ten Sessions - Jan. 22nd - Mar. 26th, 2013
Click this link for books, costs and details:
http://tinyurl.com/77xuwnu
---
Faith and Spirituality Centre Winter Study
Sponsored by the Christian chaplains of
the University of Calgary
TWELVE STEPS TO A COMPASSIONATE LIFE
A Study of Karen Armstrong's latest book.
Fridays - March 1st - April 5th
12 noon - 1:00 PM
Six Weeks - Native Centre Board Room,
McEwan Student Centre, University of Calgary.
12 noon to 1:00 PM: Cost of the book: $15.
*****
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/St_Davids_United_Church/Audio.html
*****
STUDY ARCHIVES
An accumulation of thirty-five books studied
since 2000 can quickly be found at:
http://tinyurl.com/6oxmyj4
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:
Book Notice -
JESUS OF NAZARETH
The Infancy Narratives
by Joseph Ratzinger, Benedict XVI
Image Random House Canada, 2012
$22.00 CAD.ISBN #978-0-385-34640-5.
Publisher's Promo:
The momentous third and final volume
in the Pope’s international bestselling
Jesus of Nazareth series, detailing
how the stories of Jesus’ infancy and
childhood are as relevant today as they
were two thousand years ago.
In 2007, Joseph Ratzinger published his
first book as Pope Benedict XVI in order
“to make known the figure and message of
Jesus.” Now, the Pope focuses exclusively
on the Gospel accounts of Jesus’ life as
a child. The root of these stories is the
experience of hope found in the birth of
Jesus and the affirmations of surrender and
service embodied in his parents, Joseph and
Mary. This is a story of longing and seeking,
as demonstrated by the Magi searching for
the redemption offered by the birth of a
new king.
It is a story of sacrifice and trusting
completely in the wisdom of God as seen
in the faith of Simeon, the just and devout
man of Jerusalem, when he is in the presence
of the Christ child. Ultimately, Jesus’ life
and message is a story for today, one that
speaks to the restlessness of the human heart
searching for the sole truth which alone leads
to profound joy.
Author's Comment:
Are we dealing with history that actually
took place or merely a theological meditation
presented under the guise of stories?
Some of the infancy narratives are of greater
meaning for faith than others.
I believe that we are dealing here with actual
historical events whose theological significance
was worked out by the early Jewish Christian
community and by the gospel writers.
For the past fifty years there have been
a changed attitude to scripture and the
Christian message generally.
Modern exegetes have rejected historicity
or left it open. Still, I believe that the
evangelists did not want to deceive their
readers but rather to inform them regarding
historical events. To contest this
historicity escapes the competence of
historians.
The infancy narratives (in this particular
case, Matthew's version) are not a meditation
presented under the guise of stories, but
the converse.
The Gospel writers are presenting real
history, theologically thought through
and interpreted, and thus, they help us
understand the mystery of Jesus more
deeply. (pp. 118-19)
My Thoughts:
Three years ago, I introduced a book
on the birth narratives of Jesus
entitled: "The First Christmas" by two
of our favorite authors - Marcus Borg
and John Dominic Crossan.
Read that introduction here:
http://tinyurl.com/bmwfqqv
I tried to show that these authors help
us see the well-known stories afresh by
probing the question: "What do these
narratives mean?" While they are often
sentimentalized, the stories of Christmas
have emotional power, and are richer and
more challenging than what is commonly
considered.
The focus of their book was not to defend
or trash these stories as factual or
non-factual. The focus was on the meanings
behind the stories.
--
In this year's Christmas narrative book under
consideration we read Benedict's words: "I
believe that we are dealing here with actual
historical events whose theological significance
was worked out by the early Jewish Christian
community and by the gospel writers."
Does this mean the pope considers these
stories "real history" while Borg/Crossan
do not? I am not sure...I don't think so.
Quite obviously, Benedict writes from a
pre-Vatican-Two Catholic biblical scholarly
perspective that tended to leave the text
unquestioned. Still, he mentions that "things
have changed in the past 50 years, but he is
inclined "to accept the stories as historical
because the gospel writers wrote them as
history."
Obviously, Borg/Crossan do not view them
as "history" in the post-enlightenment sense
of the term. They look at them as important
however, because they have meaning for people
today as well as for those who read them at
the time they were first recorded by the
evangelists.
I would like to think that both books and
their authors have valuable things to say.
Benedict affirms traditional definitions --
while Borg/Crossan focus on modern meanings.
Taken together, they speak to a very wide
human audience - many of whom may not be
self-declared Christians at all.
I am always amazed at many of the people
who attend Christmas Eve services at our
local church. As scientifically-trained
and secularly-oriented as many of them
might be, they nevertheless come to hear
these ancient stories, told and re-told
for the last 2,000 years, without the need
to apply their normal "critical" faculties
to what they are experiencing.
Obviously, there is meaning in the wonder
of it all! Call it history or myth, the
narratives about the manger, the shepherds,
the wise-men and an evil king continue to
strike awe in human hearts as they always
have.
So, this Christmas, I invite you to
consider the pope's new book, and not
to 'nit pic."
Recognize, with Benedict, that what we
are dealing with here is a "mystery."
Mystery and meaning are both important
when we encounter the Christmas story.
In that, I suspect Borg/Crossan would
be quick to agree!
--
Buy the Book from Amazon,ca:
http://tinyurl.com/clktyzu
*****
COLLEAGUE CONTRIBUTION:
BETH PORTER
A Human Future
December, 2012
"Water - What Does it Mean to Us"
An interview with Luke Stocking
http://larche.ca/en/inspiration/
*****
NET NOTES
RAVI SHANKAR DIES
World Music Pioneer
The Guardian, UK
Dec. 12th, 2012
http://tinyurl.com/akdzqmg
--
LIVING COUNTER-TESTIMONY
Conversations with
Walter Brueggemann
Englewood Review of Books
December 14th, 2012
http://tinyurl.com/bp9ahah
--
FAITH IN THE PUBLIC SQUARE
New Book by Rowan Williams
The Tablet, UK
Dec. 13th, 2012
http://tinyurl.com/cdrgcg3
--
ANGLICAN-LUTHERAN GREETINGS
Hiltz/Johnson Share Christmas
ACC/ELCIC Youtube Video
December 14th, 2012
http://tinyurl.com/cho3n95
--
CAMERON CRITICIZED FOR STANCE
He Supports SSM, Women Bishops
Uca News
Dec. 10th, 2012
http://tinyurl.com/bh6uba8
--
SERVING GOD IN THE THIRD MILLENNIUM
The Importance of "Mind" Experience
The Atlantic Online
December 14th, 2012
http://tinyurl.com/c94jp5j
--
LINCOLN HEADS GOLDEN GLOBES PACK
Movie Starts Early in Oscar Race
The Guardian, UK
Dec. 13th, 2012
http://tinyurl.com/cqcg3db
Golden Globes Nominess
New York Times (Slideshow)
December 14th, 2012
http://tinyurl.com/d8cmn78
--
ST. NICOLAS - SEPARATING FACTS, MYTH
Uca News
December 11th, 2012
http://tinyurl.com/au472ua
--
UK CENSUS REVEALS CHRISTIANITY IN DECLINE
The Guardian, UK
Dec. 11th, 2012
http://tinyurl.com/blr58f6
*****
WISDOM OF THE WEEK
Provided by Sojourners Online
Religious silence is silence that
is undertaken as an act of worship.
Whether I hear God or not makes no
difference.
- Thomas Merton
--
The measure of a society's progress
is not whether it can give more to
those who have more, but whether
it can provide enough to those who
have less.
- David Lim
--
In our chatty world, in which the word has
lost its power to communicate, silence helps
us to keep our mind and heart anchored in
the future world and allows us to speak from
there a creative and recreative word to the
present world.
- Henri J.M. Nouwen
*****
ON THIS DAY
From the archives of
The New York Times
Dec. 9th - 15th
Prince Charles and Princess Diana Split
http://tinyurl.com/a77p9hz
UN Adopts Declaration of Human Rights
http://tinyurl.com/b5chndc
Kenya Gains Independence from Britain
http://tinyurl.com/dytum7n
Polish Communists Restrict Solidarity
http://tinyurl.com/dyvp7ks
*****
CLOSING THOUGHT
William Everson:
Faith is certitude in existence. I
think mysticism professes this. It
is the mystic's faith that enables
him to transcend consciousness...
The prophet takes over where the
mystic stops.
Joan Chittister
True contemplatives, then, must do
justice, must speak justice, must
insist on justice. ... And so must
we do whatever justice must be done
in our time if we claim to be serious
about sinking into the heart of God.
- Joan Chittister from "Illuminated Life"
Comment by Matthew Fox:
Dies your faith develop as a
"certitude in existence?" Do
you sense that trust is a deep
part of your abiding mysticism?
The mystic says "yes" to life
The prophet says "no" to injustice
and whatever interferes with life.
Does the prophet in you take over
from the mystic in you?
(end)
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