Colleagues List, May 19th, 2013

Vol VIII No. 30

****

Wayne A. Holst, Editor

My E-Mail Address:
waholst@telusplanet.net

*****

Colleagues List Web Site:
http://colleagueslist.blogspot.com

Canadian Anglicans Google Groups Web Site:
http://tinyurl.com/bg29svu

"Quicklinks" are included with many items.
Otherwise, scroll down to find your selection
in the body of the blog.

*****

Dear Colleagues:

Our tour of Turkey was filled with many
good experiences and much learning. Our
travel group got on well and friendships
were formed and/or enhanced.

To help me review that opportunity, and to
share some highlights with you, including
web links to special places, I send you
as a Special Item this week::

"Reflections on Our Tour of Turkey"

Special Sites:
http://tinyurl.com/ykk5q44
http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/357
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ephesus
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GJIofU-0jC0
http://tinyurl.com/cu59qdu
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antalya

--

Colleague Comments this week are from -

Reginald Bibby, Lethbridge, who shares an
article he wrote for the Globe and Mail
on the current state of religion in Canada.
Thanks for continuing to do this, Reg.
http://tinyurl.com/c3sehc9

Rob Fennell, Halifax, who announces the
start of a new blog "Creedal and Loving It"
in which he and Ross Lockhart describe what
being "creedal" means in the United Church
of Canada. Most intersting.
http://creedalandlovingit.wordpress.com/

--

Colleague Contributions this week are from
faithful providers Martin Marty, Jim Taylor
and Ron Rolheiser -

http://tinyurl.com/b6e7kw5
http://tinyurl.com/ydsyqsq
http://tinyurl.com/b4wbkls

--

Net Notes:

"Why Hymnals Matter" - hymnals may come
and go from our churches over the years,
but the treasures they contain, survive
(The Christian Century)
http://tinyurl.com/adjn23p

"C.S. Lewis - A Life" - UK Anglican
evangelical Alistair McGraw writes a book
on C.S. Lewis, an evangelical hero
(The Tablet, UK)
http://tinyurl.com/b9qztt5

"A Post-Catholic Ireland?" - Two articles on
religion in Ireland after the great societal
reaction to abuse and victimization there
(America Magazine)
http://tinyurl.com/ak6xnx4
http://tinyurl.com/b84vl8c

"CPJ Celebrates Fifty Years" - Citizens for
Public Justice continues to be one of
Canada's most effective religious lobbies
(Christian Week) http://tinyurl.com/aap5y75

"St. Paul's Missionary Methods" - a
classic missiological text is retreaded
for modern students of mission
(Englewood Review of Books)
http://tinyurl.com/cptb5yc

"Resurrection - Just a Metaphor?"
A debate on the meaning of resurrection
for Christians developed in the British
press after Easter this year
(The Telegraph, UK)
http://tinyurl.com/a9ouwh5

"Catholics Grow in Global South, East"
Reflecting similar Protestant trends,
global Catholicism is expanding greatly
(International) http://tinyurl.com/bdeb464

"Early Christian Persecution Debunked"
The persecution of members of the early
church has long been accepted as fact.
A modern scholar questions this
(Religious News Service)
http://tinyurl.com/bdb4wae

"More Canadians They Aren't Religious"
It is becoming more socially acceptable
in Canada to declare "no reigion" in
response to census questions
(National Post)
http://tinyurl.com/cqd3mjw

German Christians Optimistic about Francis
Participants in the popular German Kirchentag
(or "Church Days") showed a very positive
attitude to the new pope Francis I (Uca News)
http://tinyurl.com/d4lzg8f

--

Wisdom of the Week - is offered by
the following:

C.S. Lewis, Jane Addams, Jessica Dovey,
Leo Tolstoy, Jacques Ellul, Richard Foster,
and Thomas W. Ogletree

--

On This Day:

"War Ends in Europe"
http://tinyurl.com/a6rcoqm

"John Paul II Shot, Seriously Wounded"
http://tinyurl.com/ajc7tf3

"State of Israel Established"
http://tinyurl.com/a4eqx

"Mount St. Helens Erupts in Washington"
http://tinyurl.com/bfyhulx

*****

Closing Thought -

Native American Proverb

Wayne

*****

Our New Fall Programs will be posted here
shortly, as they develop over the next months.

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

REFLECTIONS ON OUR TOUR OF TURKEY
Seventeen Days of Great Experiences
April 23rd - May 9th, 2013

Marlene and I co-hosted this special
activity with colleague John and
Brenda Bailey of Coquitlam, BC.
A total of 26 persons participated.

Early on,I suggested four main themes
for the itinerary and reflection booklet -

Ancient and Classical Cultures
Early Christianity
Interfaith Encounters (and)
Natural Beauty.

All of these we found in abundance!

Turkey is certainly a rich and blessed land
in spite of its challenges. We traveled in
the western region only, feeling very safe.
Our tour host Yasar Uslu was very helpful in
introducing us to the best of all four themes
and, as a Turk himself, blended these theme
very creatively for us.

In terms of spiritual travel, major interests
for us were archaic or primitive religion,
(Antiquities) Greco-Roman, early Christian
communities, Islamic traditions of various
kinds, and an Interfaith Centre - the House
of the Virgin in Ephesus.

Beauty was part of all regions we visited -
the sea, the mountains, agriculture and
fruit-growing areas - blended perfectly!

My Three Most Meaningful Places Visited:

Hagia Sophia, Istanbul
http://tinyurl.com/ykk5q44

The first day of our tour brought us to
this marvelous World Heritage Site. It
had beautiful parks surrounding it, and -
taken together - was well worth the visit.
The building is no longer a church or a
mosque. It is now a museum. Still, it
provided us with a helpful introduction
to Islam which we encountered extensively.

We discovered a plethora of minarets and
five daily calls to prayer.

The first began at 5 AM!

--

Goreme National Park and the Rock Sites
of Cappadocia. This included extensive
exploration of the Underground Churches
http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/357

Another World Heritage Site was located south
of Ankara in Central Turkey. We physically
navigated underground passages in an area
that housed many thousands of people. Here,
esarly Chrisitians created places to eat, sleep
and work, as well as to worship - all out
of reach of their enemies for lengthy periods.
We learned that these sights were used during
several eras at times of persecution. The
artwork in the churches here remains awesome.

--

Ephesus was yet another World Heritage Site:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ephesus

This great city is classical, Jewish and
Christian, together. Paul preached in the
great theater here (Romans 19:21-40) and I
had a special feeling while sitting in a
place where Paul himself spoke - much to the
chagrin of the local silversmiths who made
their living by creating worship aids for
"the goddess Diana of the Ephesians"
(see especially verse 27.)

The Great Library of Celsus (at one time
holding 240,000 scrolls) was breathtaking
to behold. It included a menorah symbol,
indicating Jewish presence here as well.

In addition, the Whirling Dervishes, a Sufi
sect of Sunni Muslims centered in Konya,
provided us with a spiritual highlight.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GJIofU-0jC0

--

Three Other Valuable Experiences:

The House of the Virgin in the eastern part
of Ephesus was hosted by a Franciscan monk.
We relished the peaceful nature of this
pilgrimage center. It attracts both Muslim
and Christian pilgrims - since both honor
Mary/Meryem. We lit candles here to
remember our families back home.
http://tinyurl.com/cu59qdu

The Natural Beauty of the Turkish Riviera
at Antalya on the Mediterranean Coast
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antalya

Looking out our hotel window on two
consecutive mornings at sunrise were
beautiful moments of our sojourn.

Also, listening as our tour host Yasar Uslu  who
spoke passionately of his national hero Ataturk,
and of his hopes and concerns about the current
political direction of his homeland, was very
poignant.

--

If possible, I want to keep "spiritual travel"
as an important adult ministry at St. David's
United, Calgary. The more we cultivate this
ministry, the wider our engagement with a broad
range of people within and beyond our congregation.

We will be listening for new tour suggestions,
perhaps for 2015!

*****

COLLEAGUE COMMENT

REGINALD BIBBY
Lethbridge, AB

May 16th, 2013

Hi Wayne!  Hope and assume (!) you had a great
time in Turkey.  Will be good to hear more about
the trip.

Just got back from five days away at a conference
in England on "implicit religion."  In the waning
hours before I left, I wrote a short commentary
for the Globe & Mail on the latest "census" findings
on religion (literally, as you know, from the
National Household Survey).

Reg.

Globe and Mail
May 9th, 2013

"Religion in Canada is Changing
 but it is not Being Abandoned"

http://tinyurl.com/c3sehc9

--

BOB FENNELL
Halifax, NS

Hi Wayne,

Not sure if this fits your list, but my
colleague Ross Lockhart and I have started
a new blog that may be of interest to you
and others:

Regards,

Rob

The Rev. Dr. Rob Fennell
Atlantic School of Theology
Halifax, NS

http://creedalandlovingit.wordpress.com/

*****

COLLEAGUE CONTRIBUTIONS

MARTIN MARTY
Chicago. IL

"Faith, Grace and the Arts"

Sightings,
May 6th, 2013

http://tinyurl.com/b6e7kw5

--

JIM TAYLOR,
Okanagan, BC

"Losses"

http://tinyurl.com/ydsyqsq

--

RON ROLHEISER
San Antonio, TX

Personal Website
May 5th, 2013

"Boldness With God"

http://tinyurl.com/b4wbkls

****

NET NOTES

WHY HYMNALS MATTER
Books Change, Hymns Survive

The Christian Century
May 1st, 2013

http://tinyurl.com/adjn23p

--

C.S.LEWIS - A LIFE
By Alistair McGrath

The Tablet, UK
May 18th, 2013

http://tinyurl.com/b9qztt5

--

A POST-CATHOLIC IRELAND?
Envisioning the Future

America Magazine
May 20th, 2013

http://tinyurl.com/ak6xnx4

"Ireland's Catholic Future"
A Nation Needing Missionaries

America Magazine
May 9th, 2013

http://tinyurl.com/b84vl8c

--

CPJ CELEBRATES FIFTY YEARS
Advocacy Group at Half-Century

Christians Week.org
May 8th, 2013

http://tinyurl.com/aap5y75

--

ST. PAUL'S MISSIONARY METHODS
A Classic Revisited for Today

Englewood Review of Books
May 18th, 2013

http://tinyurl.com/cptb5yc

--

RESURRECTION - JUST A METAPHOR?
Debate Over Death of Jesus

The Telegraph, UK
May 3rd, 2013

http://tinyurl.com/a9ouwh5


CATHOLICS GROW IN GLOBAL SOUTH, EAST
Decline in Europe and America

International
May 9th, 2013

http://tinyurl.com/bdeb464

--

EARLY CHRISTIAN PERSECUTION DEBUNKED
Scholars Views it as Myth

Religious News Service
May 14th, 2013

http://tinyurl.com/bdb4wae

--

MORE CANADIANS DENY BEING RELIGIOUS
Largest Numbers Since Census Began

National Post
May 13th, 2013

http://tinyurl.com/cqd3mjw

--

GERMAN PROTESTANTS OPTIMISTIC ABOUT FRANCIS
"Church Days" Provide Endorsement for Pope

Uca News
May 8th, 2013

http://tinyurl.com/d4lzg8f


*****

WISDOM OF THE WEEK

Provided by Sojourners Online:

I think each village was meant to feel pity for
its own sick and poor whom it can help and I doubt
if it is the duty of any private person to fix his
mind on ills which he cannot help. This may even
become an escape from the works of charity we really
can do to those we know. God may call any one of us
to respond to some far away problem or support those
who have been so called. But we are finite and he
will not call us everywhere or to support every
worthy cause. And real needs are not far from us.

- C.S Lewis

--

In the unceasing ebb and flow of justice and
oppression we must all dig channels as best we
may, that at the propitious moment somewhat of
the swelling tide may be conducted to the barren
places of life.

- Jane Addams

--

I will mourn the loss of thousands of precious
lives, but I will not rejoice in the death of one,
not even an enemy.

- Jessica Dovey

--

[People] of our time believe that all the
insanity and cruelty of our lives, the
enormous wealth of few, the envious poverty
of the majority, the wars and every form of
violence, are perceived by nobody, and that
nothing prevents us from continuing to live
thus.

- Leo Tolstoy

--

One thing, however, is sure: unless Christians
fulfill their prophetic role, unless they become
the advocates and defenders of the truly poor,
witness to their misery, then, infallibly,
violence will suddenly break out. In one way or
other 'their blood cries to heaven,' and violence
will seem the only way out. It will be too late
to try to calm them and create harmony.

- Jacques Ellul

--

We have real difficulty here because everyone thinks
of changing the world, but where, oh where, are those
who think of changing themselves? People may genuinely
want to be good, but seldom are they prepared to do
what it takes to produce the inward life of goodness
that can form the soul. Personal formation into the
likeness of Christ is arduous and lifelong.

-Richard Foster

--

Sometimes, when what is officially the law is wrong,
you try to get the law changed. But if you can’t,
you break it.

- Rev. Dr. Thomas W. Ogletree

*****

ON THIS DAY

Provided from the Archives
of the New York Times:
(May 7th - 18th)

WAR ENDS IN EUROPE
May 7th, 1945

http://tinyurl.com/a6rcoqm

--

JOHN PAUL II SHOT, SERIOUSLY WOUNDED
May 13th, 1981

http://tinyurl.com/ajc7tf3

--

STATE OF ISRAEL ESTABLISHED
May 15th, 1968

http://tinyurl.com/a4eqx

--

MOUNT ST HELENS ERUPTS IN WASHINGTON
May 18th, 1980

http://tinyurl.com/bfyhulx

*****

CLOSING THOUGHT -

We do not inherit the earth from our
ancestors, we borrow it from our children.

- Native American Proverb

(end)