Vol VIII No. 36
****
Wayne A. Holst, Editor
My E-Mail Address:
waholst@telusplanet.net
*****
Colleagues List Web Site:
http://colleagueslist.blogspot.com
"Quicklinks" are included with many items.
Otherwise, scroll down to find your selection
in the body of the blog.
****
Dear Friends:
This is the last issue of Colleagues List
before my bi-weekly summer mailings
begin. You will receive one new issue
every two weeks through July and August.
--
My Special Item this week is a reflection
prepared for the service of worship at
St. David's United Church, Calgary on
Sunday, June 30th.
It is entitled "The Trials of Transition"
and attempts to speak to a congregation
that is going through change.
Declines in church attendance and giving
over the past decade require that we face
realistically what is happening to our community.
I suspect that many mainline congregations in
Canada are going through a similar experience
and this is one way to share our fears and hopes
on matters of governance in changing times.
--
Colleague Contributions:
This week -
Martin Marty (Chicago) picks up on a news item
we shared here last week on an evangelical group
that has apologized for abuse of gays.
http://tinyurl.com/p25znlz
Ron Rolheiser:(San Antonio) reflects on contemplative
soundbites in today's spiritual marketplace.
http://tinyurl.com/nfxtbv3
John Stackhouse Jr.(Vancouver) offers an honor role
of Canadian academics and others for Canada Day
http://tinyurl.com/pk8wg74
--
Net Notes this week -
"'I Am..'" - a most poignant short video produced
by the L'Arche community of Cape Breton NS
which features members of that community.
Marlene and I visited there in 2009
(L'Arche Canada Foundation)
http://tinyurl.com/o5y2hp6
"Calgary Begins Massive Cleanup" - here are
reports on the aftermath of the flooding in
Calgary and Southern Alberta
(Reuters Canada, Canada.com)
http://tinyurl.com/nzphcpo
http://tinyurl.com/q5v7mj2
"No Place for Rape in Incredible India" - the
victimization of women in India continues to
be a major issue that we want to follow
(UCA News) http://tinyurl.com/olonprw
"Vatican to Investigate Disgraced Cardinal" -
a story that might have been lost during the
period of the papal transition is revived again
by none other than Francis I (Guardian, UK)
http://tinyurl.com/qfsb69h
"US Supreme Court Rulings Bolster Gay Rights" -
a major story this week, as the top American
court rules on a number of precedent-setting
issues (New York Times, National Catholic
Reporter, Christianity Today)
http://tinyurl.com/pzyyuqb
http://tinyurl.com/nwajdvg
http://tinyurl.com/ncg298a
"More Than a Decade Ago, Canada's Path Different" -
while Canadians went through a similar time of
redefining marriage during the late 1990's we seem
to have taken a simpler route to the same place
(Toronto Sun) http://tinyurl.com/q6vydq9
"North American Anglican and Lutheran Statement" -
Lutherans and Anglicans on this continent re-affirm
their commitment to mutual and global ministry
(Anglican Journal) http://tinyurl.com/ox7nxsu
"World Evangelicals Commit to Embrace Refugees" -
'welcoming the stranger' is a theme that evangelical
Christians are taking up with considerable energy
(Evangelical Fellowship of Canada)
http://tinyurl.com/ngdqekw
"Irish "Maggie" Workhouse Victims Given $45 Million"
- we have followed this story since the appearance
of the famous movie expose on the houses that held
many women in life-time captivity. Marlene and I
visited a special memorial in a Dublin Park, 2011
(The Guardian, UK) http://tinyurl.com/ou5a542
"Christians and Muslims Challenged to Strive for
Peace" - as the Archbishop of Canterbury visits
the Coptic Popein Egypt, a statement on religious
tolerance emerges(Anglican Journal)
http://tinyurl.com/qjokhjj
"Indian Justice Center Provides Voice for the
Voiceless" - Oblate Theologian Father Tissa
Balasuriya founded a center that continues to
provide many with a place to stand and
advocate for justice (UCA News)
http://tinyurl.com/n2qbfd6
--
Wisdom of the Week:
Provided by Sojourners online comes to us from -
Chief Seattle, John Wesley and Fannie Lou Hamer
--
On This Day:
Issued from the archives of the New York Times -
Kennedy Gives "Ich Bin Ein Berliner" Speech
http://tinyurl.com/q5zlhfa
Custer Suffers Defeat by Indians in Montana
http://tinyurl.com/ncupzq
"Treaty of Versailles Signed in France"
http://tinyurl.com/qa7p57x
--
Our Closing Thought - this week if from
Corrie Ten Boom, a victim of Nazi atrocities
during the occupation of the Netherlands
by Germany during World War II.
Wayne
(end)
*****
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.
--
Our New Fall Programs will be posted here
shortly, as they develop over the next months.
FALL MONDAY NIGHT STUDY
AT ST. DAVID'S CHURCH
"Immortal Diamond"
by Richard Rohr
Description:
http://tinyurl.com/n9ymr59
Mid-September through end of November
More registration info to come:
*****
FALL TUESDAY NIGHT UNIVERSITY COURSE
"Heresies and Heretics"
- based on Bart Ehrmann's
"Lost Christianities"
Description and Registration Info:
http://tinyurl.com/qcs6hx7
*****
SPECIAL ITEM
THE TRIALS OF TRANSITION
Living Creatively in Challenging Times
A Reflection Offered During Worship
at St. David's United Church, Calgary
by Wayne Holst
Sunday, June 30th, 2013
May the words of my mouth, and the meditation of
our hearts, be acceptable in your sight O Lord, our
strength and our redeemer.
Biblical Foundations:
To begin, I want to remind you of the lectionary
scripture passages we heard earlier:
Psalm 77: 1-2; 11-20 “I cried out in my despair.
You came and guided me…”
Here, the Psalm-writer reminds us of a familiar
pattern – we find ourselves in difficulty And we
call out to God for help.Invariably, God hears and
responds, although not always in the ways we
anticipate.
--
Luke 9: 51-62 “No one who puts a hand to the plow
and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”.
Jesus is heading toward the climax of his
ministry – his trials, suffering and death in
Jerusalem. Various people realize something
important is going to happen there, but they
can only offer excuses about why it is not
possible for them to support him just then.
Galatians 5:13-25 “For you were called to freedom,
brothers and sisters; only do not use your freedom
as an opportunity for self-indulgence, but be
servants to one another in love.
I will return to these readings later.
*****
I would like to pose a question -
Are we going to become a hospice, or a seed-bed
for transformed Christian life here at St. David’s?
Actively or passively, do we envision ourselves as
creating a place to die with dignity? (or) do we
envision ourselves as a locus of new beginnings?
Dying with dignity? Or a locus of new beginnings?
That is the picture I took from a church council
meeting this past week. On Tuesday last, members
of our congregation’s primary decision-makers
gathered to hear a commissioned report presented
by presbytery consultant Joel Den Haan.
He addressed the important matter of congregational
governance during challenging times.
Using statistics from the United Church of Canada’s
information bank, he made in part the following
points:
In the past 5-6 years, our Sunday morning worship
attendance has dropped by 20%
In the past 5-6 years, congregational giving has
declined by 30%
Recently, we have been holding fairly steady with
just over 400 households receiving pastoral care.
83% of these are identifiable givers of at least
$50 per year.
Consolidation has been taking place.
5% of the total capital value of our assets is
currently being spent on ministry costs – this,
compared to many of Calgary United Church
congregations, is still quite good. It is a
sign that we still have some flexibility and are
not up against a wall as yet.
---
What all this says, in a nutshell, is that two
important indicators of church vitality,
attendance at worship and congregational giving
- are in a process of obvious long-term decline.
I believe is that these trends willcontinue –
and perhaps in spite of anything we might do.
That said, I also believe that we are still in a
position to be engaged in significant ministry
and mission, here at St. Davids.
Our location on the LRT and across from the
university is ideal. Our people are very committed.
They demonstrate that in many visible and invisible
ways. We have a solid history to provide good
precedents for us. We are part of a city that is
oriented to the future, not fixated on the past.
We have been able to maintain, even expand, our
staff ministries this past decade.
What we have been losing in total member gifts we
have been making up for -to a certain extent at
least - through rentals and creative staffing.
For this, we are grateful to a number of
hardworking people among us - who are known -
but whose names will go unmentioned for fear
of forgetting someone
There are many programs and ministry efforts
happening here that make St.David’s a place of
spiritual depth and vitality – on Sundays, and
all through the week. For this we can also thank
many faithful members and volunteers, as well
as a dedicated staff.
Actually, I can see this status quo continuing
for some time to come. We have already demonstrated
considerable creativity during a time of transition.
But I am concerned.
Are we satisfied to see St. David’s merely survive,
and then die with dignity? Or could we catch the
vision of new and better congregation in the future?
Hospice, or seedbed of transformed life?
While we cannot return to what we were, we can still
think boldly about what we might become. The good
thing, as I see it, is that we have a window of
opportunity during these years to face the options
realistically and seriously. We can develop
governance and work intentionally toward a good
future.
*****
Many years ago I discovered a popular book that
perhaps you might also remember.
William Bridges wrote:
“Transitions: Making Sense of Life’s Changes.”
What he says about coping with human transition can
also apply to institutions like our congregations.
The book employed a model that emphasized three
transitional themes
“Endings”
“The Neutral Zone” (and)
“Making a Beginning”
All good things come to an end. Experiences fade.
People pass on. Groups disappear.
That’s the Ending phase.
When we realize this, we enter an important period
for reflecting candidly and making strategic
decisions.
That’s the Neutral Zone, or the time between.
After we have thought things through, we can
determine to start living in new ways.
That’s what Making a Beginning is all about.
I believe that, as a congregation, we are moving
through the “endings” phase, but we are not yet
living creatively in new ways. We are entering
the Neutral Zone. What we need now is honesty
and candor about our current state.
We have good traditions to guide us.
We have many wonderful possibilities ahead of us.
*****
This brings us back to the biblical themes with
which I began. I see them as the foundation of our
life together as a Christian community while we are
going through the “trials of transition.”
More than any other authority, the biblical
tradition is the rock upon which we stand.It is
the wellspring that inspires and renews us. It
is the rich resource of our spiritual heritage.
*****
So, for my remaining time, I would like to remind
you of some meaningful images and insights from
Scripture. And we return to the readings for today
which I think fit together quite nicely.
The Psalm 77 passage we read responsively is a
poetic reflection on Israel’s past. It begins with
a cry of pathos as the speaker realizes he is in
difficulty, and wonders if God has abandoned him:
“I cry to God in distress…”
“You kept me from closing my eyes when I was too
distraught to speak...”
“I cried to God and God heard me.”
When old, familiar assurances have been ripped away.
will God, who seemed so close back then, continue
to be there with me?
The speaker struggles to maintain balance through
difficult circumstances. She ends by comforting
herself that God remains faithful and will
continue to guide her with a steady hand.
The Luke 9 passage is also known as “The Mission
of the Twelve Disciples.” Jesus prepares his
followers to take over after he is no longer with
them, they are shocked and dismayed when the
reality strikes that they will have to function
alone. The story continues as Jesus’ small band
of faithful followers pass through Samaria and
are refused hospitality by the inhabitants.
Then, a series of would-be followers back away
because they realize how difficult the journey
will be.
Jesus had not promised that the way would be easy.
“Don’t look back.” he says, “Others may fall by
the wayside, but don’t succumb.”Those for whom
fidelity is a high value will know what Jesus’
followers have always known. Perseverance is
hard, but it is right.
After those “middle times” in the wilderness we
know something new will emerge, and it will be
good.
The Galatians 5 passage suggests that we are
not alone through times of transition.
The Holy Spirit serves as continuing divine presence
among us In spite of “antagonisms, rivalry, quarrels
and disagreements.” These are signs that stress is
great and the temptation to compromise is real. The
writer of Galatians seeks to reassure us that we
should “never slacken in doing what is good; for
if we do not give up, we shall reap a rich harvest
in due time.”
Biblical wisdom and modern mentors like William
Bridges concur that we cannot predict what
challenges will befall us in life, but patience
and perseverance can lead us into new and exciting
places.
This is true for persons and for our life together
in community.
I am glad our church council is attempting to
provide good governance for us at this important
transition time in our congregation’s history.
We all have a part to play by keeping alert to
developments and to the contributions we can make.
I am proud that our congregation is not hiding from
reality. We are not whitewashing the facts of our
current situation. We are being forced to rediscover
our true values and want to work creatively with
the possibilities.
We are a people of hope.
Amen.
*****
COLLEAGUE CONTRIBUTIONS
MARTIN MARTY
Chicago, IL
Sightings
June 24th, 2013
"Evangelical Gay and Lesbian Ministry Closes"
http://tinyurl.com/p25znlz
--
RON ROLHEISER
San Antonio, TX
"Contemplative Sound Bites"
http://tinyurl.com/nfxtbv3
--
JOUN STACKHOUSE JR.
Vancouver. BC.
Personal Blog
June 29th, 2013
"An Honor Role for Canada Day"
http://tinyurl.com/pk8wg74
*****
NET NOTES
"I AM..."
Meet the People of L'Arche Cape Breton
http://tinyurl.com/o5y2hp6
--
CALGARY BEGINS MASSIVE CLEANUP
After Floods, Recovery on the Way
Reuters Canada
June 25th, 2013
http://tinyurl.com/nzphcpo
Helping Strangers: "In the Mud Together"
Canada.com
June 27th, 2013
http://tinyurl.com/q5v7mj2
--
"NO PLACE FOR RAPE IN INCREDIBLE INDIA"
Nation Must Focus on True Equality of the Sexes
UCA News
June 27th, 2013
http://tinyurl.com/olonprw
--
VATICAN TO INVESTIGATE DISGRACED CARDINAL
British Prelate Stepped Down Over Sexual Abuse
The Guardian, UK
June 23rd, 2013
http://tinyurl.com/qfsb69h
--
US SUPREME COURT RULINGS BOLSTER GAY RIGHTS
Major Step for American Civil Rights
New York Times
June 26th, 2013
http://tinyurl.com/pzyyuqb
"The Supreme Court Giveth and Taketh Away"
National Catholic Reporter
June 27th, 2013
http://tinyurl.com/nwajdvg
Christianity Today
June 27th, 2013
American Evangelical Leaders Respond:
http://tinyurl.com/ncg298a
--
MORE THAN DECADE AGO, CANADA'S PATH DIFFERENT
Legalization of Gay Rights Here Was Much Simpler Process
Toronto Sun
June 26th, 2013
http://tinyurl.com/q6vydq9
--
NORTH AMERICAN LUTHERAN - ANGLICAN STATEMENT
After 12 Years, Church Leaders Re-Issue Call to Ministry
Anglican Journal
June 24th, 2013
http://tinyurl.com/ox7nxsu
--
WORLD EVANGELICALS SEEK TO EMBRACE REFUGEES
Alliance Issues "Welcoming" Statement on World Refugee Day
Evangelical Fellowship of Canada Website
June 20th, 2013
http://tinyurl.com/ngdqekw
--
IRISH WORKHOUSE VICTIMS OFFERED $45 MILLION
Victims of Maggie Laundries Finally Compensated
BBC News, UK
June 28th, 2013
http://tinyurl.com/ou5a542
--
CHRISTIANS AND MUSLIMS MUST STRIVE FOR PEACE
Canterbury Visits the Coptic Pope in Egypt
Anglican Journal
June 25th, 2013
http://tinyurl.com/qjokhjj
--
INDIAN CENTER PROVIDES A VOICE FOR THE VOICELESS
Center for Society and Religion Founded by "Radical"
Oblate Theologian Father Tissa Balasuriya
UCA News
June 24th, 2013
http://tinyurl.com/n2qbfd6
*****
WISDOM OF THE WEEK
Provided by Sojourners Online -
Humankind did not weave the web of life.
We are but one strand within it. Whatever
we do to the web we do to ourselves.
- Chief Seattle
--
One of the principle rules of religion
is to lose no occasion of serving God.
And since he is invisible to our eyes,
we are to serve him in our neighbor;
which he receives as if done to himself
in person, standing visibly before us.
- John Wesley
--
Christianity is being concerned about your fellow
man, not building a million-dollar church while
people are starving right around the corner.
Christ was a revolutionary person, out there
where it was happening. That's what God is
all about, and that's where I get my strength.
- Fannie Lou Hamer
*****
ON THIS DAY
Provided from the Archives
of the New York Times
KENNEDY GIVES "ICH BIN EIN BERLINER" SPEECH
Addresses Encircled City at Infamous Wall
http://tinyurl.com/q5zlhfa
--
CUSTER SUFFERS DEFEAT IN MONTANA
Battle of Little Big Horn A Historic Moment
http://tinyurl.com/ncupzq
--
TREATY OF VERSAILLES SIGNED IN FRANCE
World War One Comes to an End
http://tinyurl.com/qa7p57x
*****
CLOSING THOUGHT
Forgiveness is the key that unlocks the door of
resentment and the handcuffs of hate. It is a
power that breaks the chains of bitterness and
the shackles of selfishness.
- Corrie Ten Boom
(end)
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