*****
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
"Quicklinks" are included with many items
at the beginning of this issue. To get a more
complete picture, however, scroll down to
find your special selection in the body of
the blog.
Note that not all items here have links.
*****
Dear Friends:
This week, I would like to elaborate a little
on the two books we introduced here last
week by John Ralston Saul and Richard
Wagamese.
My Special Item is entitled -
A Reflection on Canadian Identity Today -
"Beyond Multiculturalism:
Grounding Ourselves in a
Native Canadian Dimension"
To read my thoughts, please scroll down.
--
This week, our Colleague Contributions
are from -
Martin Marty of Chicago
http://tinyurl.com/ofrk776
John Stackhouse Jr. of Vancouver
http://tinyurl.com/puffhco
Jim Taylor of the Okanagan
http://tinyurl.com/pzvumgs and
Ron Rolheiser of San Antonio
http://tinyurl.com/oqaul5m
--
Net Notes:
"Almost Like the Blues" - Canadian
artist Leonard Cohen offers a very
meaningful personal creation
(New Yorker via Sojourners)
http://tinyurl.com/ndptqou
"Hope for Gaza Ceasefire" -
people of eternal optimism would
like to believe it will work this time
(America Magazine)
http://tinyurl.com/n5tcfbb
"Icelandic Volcano Erupts" - a
marvellous scene of natural beauty
(The Guardian, UK)
http://tinyurl.com/l55bwo8
"Baptism in the Holy Spirit" -
A Catholic perspective on the
Charismatic Movement (UCA News)
http://tinyurl.com/l8rqwny
"South Korea's Catholic Church" -
an insightful article on the pope's
visit to Korea and how his church
there is an alternative to excesses
(Sightings) http://tinyurl.com/kahjfur
"Christians Facing More Persecution" -
the continuing story of martyrdom in
our time and on a global scale
(Anglican Journal)
http://tinyurl.com/pgtrcgd
"Growing Violence Against Non-Hindus" -
an example of the above article from
India is presented here (UCA News)
http://tinyurl.com/kukkoow
"Kerala's Dwindling Jewish Community" -
not only Christians are on the move due
to difficulties remaining where they
have long resided (UCA News)
http://tinyurl.com/ndmq75a
"Battle Vs. ISIS on Two Fronts for Britain" -
the challenge of dealing with radical young
Muslims confronts Britain at home and abroad
(The Tablet, UK)
http://tinyurl.com/l67y5yy
"Tax Law Change Sparks German Church Exodus"
- church rolls continue to decline in Germany
as citizens choose to withdraw their membership
(Reuters Faith World News)
http://tinyurl.com/oxcn7hn
--
Wisdom of the Week:
- is provided by Sojourners and Bruderhof online
and includes thoughts by -
Cesar Chavez, Emily Greene Balch, Martha Beck
Theodore Roosevelt and Marcus Aurelius.
To read this, please scroll down.
--
On This Day:
From the archives of the New York Times.
Read the stories as they unfolded:
"Germany Invades Poland, WWII Begins"
http://tinyurl.com/6hbn23
"First Human Spacecraft Lands on Mars"
http://tinyurl.com/27fw9e7
"Japan Surrenders, Ending WWII"
http://tinyurl.com/mjxy8y5
"Palestinians Kill Israeli Olympic Athletes in Munich"
http://tinyurl.com/1b56
--
Closing Thought:
This week, we conclude with words from -
Adolfo Pérez Esquivel
Please scroll down.
(end)
Fall 2014 Adult Spiritual Development
ACTS Ministry Programs at St. David's
and the University of Calgary
To read about our fall classes,
please scroll to the end of this issue.
*****
SPECIAL ITEM
Reflection on Canadian Identity Today
BEYOND MULTICULTURALISM
Grounding Ourselves in a
Native Canadian Dimension
What does it mean to be a Canadian today?
If you are a Canadian, how would you define
yourself as a citizen?
Over time, that definition keeps changing
and evolving. Through our history - as more
people join us, and we mature as a nation -
our Canadian spirituality is also developing.
100 years ago, when Canadians fought in
World War One, we did so as British
subjects. When we entered World War
Two we did so as Canadians but many
Quebecois were not pleased that they
were fighting a war dominated by the
English.
Fifty years ago we started to describe
ourselves as a bilingual and bicultural
nation. When that seemed inadequate
to many of my own people, the idea
was expanded to multiculturalism.
In some ways, that still continues to
describe us but a most important
ingredient has always been missing.
Now, one significant reality has been
added.
We are beginning to understand ourselves
with a Native Canadian dimension. Using
John Ralston Saul's term in his book
"A Fair Country" we are becoming aware
of ourselves as "A Metis Nation."
We have been heavily influenced and
shaped by Aboriginal ideas such as
egalitarianism, proper balance between
individual and group, and a penchant
for negotiation, rather than violence.
All of these are values that Canada has
absorbed. We see the results in our
healthcare system and our evolving
legal system as traditional British and
French law changes to adapt to a new
realities in the new world.
How important it is to recognise that we
are influenced by the fact that Native
Canadians were here first! As we started
arriving from Europe, the United States
and other parts of the Americas, we
have been joined by new Canadians
from around the world. Gradually, we
ware coming to see that there were
significant cultures already present,
to which we had to accommodate, even
though our relations with the First
Nations has always been an uneasy one.
Richard Wagamese, a fine Ojibway writer,
and one of Canada's best today now
publishes "Medicine Walk" a profoundly
spiritual story that integrates both Judeo-
Christian and Traditional spiritualities.
We are not just different from Americans,
but different in ways that matter. We
are not a melting pot of cultures, but
respectful of the different cultures that
continue to influence us as Canadians.
Wagamese believes that we are far more
Aboriginal than European and American
and our failure to recognize and celebrate
this prevents us from becoming the strong,
confident and progressive country that is
our birthright.
Whether we can all agree that the First
Nations are indeed the founding pillar
of our civilization, and that Native
spirituality is indeed something we
are able to integrate to our nation's
spiritual values - will be key issues
with which we will be grappling this
fall as people of our congregation study
both Ralston Saul and Wagamese.
"A Fair Country" by John Ralston Saul
http://tinyurl.com/pvs5e3w
"Medicine Walk" by Richard Wagamese
http://tinyurl.com/o95nho4
*****
COLLEAGUE CONTRIBUTONS
MARTIN MARTY
Chicago, IL
Sightings
Sept. 2nd, 2014
"Ferguson"
http://tinyurl.com/ofrk776
--
JOHN STACKHOUSE JR
Vancouver, BC
Faith Today
Sept/Oct, 2014
"In Defense of Shame"
If we won't blush, we won't care
http://tinyurl.com/puffhco
--
JIM TAYLOR
Okanagan, BC
Web Log
Sept. 3rd, 2014
"Manipulative Sales Techniques"
http://tinyurl.com/pzvumgs
--
RON ROLHEISER
San Antonio, TX
Personal Web Site
Sept. 1st, 2014
"Your Kingdom Come, But Not Yet"
http://tinyurl.com/oqaul5m
*****
NET NOTES
ALMOST LIKE THE BLUES
by Canadian Leonard Cohen
The New Yorker
Sept. 8th, 2014
(words and music via Sojourners)
http://tinyurl.com/ndptqou
--
HOPE FOR GAZA CEASEFIRE
This One Just Might Work
America Magazine
Sept. 15th, 2014
http://tinyurl.com/n5tcfbb
--
ICELANDIC VOLCANO ERUPTS
Spectacular Photos
The Guardian UK
September 5th, 2014
http://tinyurl.com/l55bwo8
--
BAPTISM IN THE HOLY SPIRIT
Discovering Charismatic Renewal
Many have received baptism in the
Spirit without knowing anything about
Charismatic Renewal. It is a grace.
UCA News
September 1st, 2014
http://tinyurl.com/l8rqwny
--
SOUTH KOREA'S CATHOLIC CHURCH
Poster Child for a Fresh Pontificate
Sightings
Sept. 4th, 2014
http://tinyurl.com/kahjfur
--
CHRISTIANS FACING
MORE PERSECUTION
Reporting Reveals it
as a Global Phenomenon
Anglican Journal
Sept. 5th, 2014
http://tinyurl.com/pgtrcgd
--
GROWING VIOLENCE
AGAINST NON-HINDUS
Growing Threat to Indian Unity
UCA News
Sept. 5th, 2014
http://tinyurl.com/kukkoow
--
KERALA'S DWINDLING
JEWISH COMMUNITY
Many Have Migrated
to Israel Since 1948
UCA News
Sept. 3rd, 2014
http://tinyurl.com/ndmq75a
--
BATTLE VS ISIS ON TWO
FRONTS FOR BRITAIN
National/International
Problems With Young Muslims
The Tablet, UK
September 5th, 2014
http://tinyurl.com/l67y5yy
--
TAX LAW CHANGE SPARKS
GERMAN CHURCH EXODUS
Rather Than Pay the Tax,
Many Drop Their Membership
Reuters Faith World News
August 29th, 2014
http://tinyurl.com/oxcn7hn
*****
WISDOM OF THE WEEK
Provided by Sojourners
and the Bruderhof online:
“Perhaps we can bring the day when children
will learn from their earliest days that being
fully man and fully woman means to give one’s
life to the liberation of the brother who suffers.”
- Cesar Chavez
--
"Those who are rooted in the depths
that are eternal and unchangeable
and who rely on unshakable principles,
face change full of courage, courage
based on faith."
- Emily Greene Balch
--
I have discovered that many of the things
I thought were priceless are as cheap as
costume jewelry, and much of what I labeled
worthless was, all the time, filled with the kind
of beauty that directly nourishes my soul…
Now I think that the vast majority of us “normal”
people spend our lives trashing our treasures
and treasuring our trash. We bustle around
trying to create the impression that we are hip,
imperturbable, omniscient, in perfect control,
when in fact we are awkward and scared
and bewildered.
- Martha Beck
--
It is not the critic who counts, not the one
who points out how the strong man tumbled,
or where the doer of deeds could have done
them better. The credit belongs to the one
who is actually in the arena; whose face is
marred by dust, sweat and blood; who strives
valiantly; who errs and comes short again and
again; who knows the great enthusiasms, the
great devotions and spends himself in a
worthy cause; who at the best knows in the
end the triumph of high achievement, and
who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails
while daring greatly, so that his place shall
never be with those cold and timid souls
who know neither victory nor defeat.
- Theodore Roosevelt
--
Observe constantly that all things take place
by change, and accustom thyself to consider
that the nature of the Universe loves nothing
so much as to change the things which are
and to make new things like them.
For everything that exists is in a manner
the seed of that which will be.
- Marcus Aurelius
*****
ON THIS DAY
From the archives of
the New York Times
"Germany Invades Poland, WWII Begins"
http://tinyurl.com/6hbn23
"First Human Spacecraft Lands on Mars"
http://tinyurl.com/27fw9e7
"Japan Surrenders, Ending WWII"
http://tinyurl.com/mjxy8y5
"Palestinians Kill Israeli Olympic Athletes in Munich"
http://tinyurl.com/1b56
*****
CLOSING THOUGHT - Adolfo Pérez Esquivel
"We cannot sow seeds with clenched fists.
To sow we must open our hands."
(end)
*******
Fall 2014 Adult Spiritual Development
ACTS Ministry Programs at St. David's:
MONDAY NIGHT STUDY (Ten Weeks)
September 15th - November 24th
7-00-9:00PM TM Room
(Thanksgiving Day exempted)
"A Fair Country" by John Ralston Saul
http://tinyurl.com/pvs5e3w
"Medicine Walk" by Richard Wagamese
http://tinyurl.com/o95nho4
Led by Jock McTavish and Wayne Holst
Registration, Books, Hospitality - $60.00
Books Only - $40.00
(now on sale in church lobby)
--
MONDAY NIGHT 'BOOKENDS EVENTS'
September 8th and December 1st
7:00-9:15PM TM Room
Sponsored by the Bible Study Group
"From Jesus to Christ" -
How Jesus Became God
A PBS Video Series
(total of four hours in length)
http://tinyurl.com/iedt
Hospitality and discussion
Led by Jock McTavish and Wayne Holst
All welcome. Hospitality donation only
--
THURSDAY MORNING BIBLE STUDY
(Twelve Weeks)
September 18th - December 4th
10:00-11:00AM TM Room
"From Jesus to Christ II -
A Study of the Book of Acts"
Led by Wayne Holst
No charge.
--
UNIVERSITY OF CALGARY
FAITH AND SPIRITUALITY CENTRE
Friday Noon
Interfaith Chaplains' Book Studies
For faculty, students, staff, campus guests -
Fall and Winter 2014/2015
Native Centre Board Room
McEwan Student Centre
12:00 - 1:00 PM
Authors Being Considered:
Rob Bell, Brene Brown
Richard Rohr and Richard Wagamese
Fall, 2014 Series: October 17th - November 21st
(six sessions)
Winter 2015 Series: February 27th - March 27th
(five sessions)
Book cost $15.00
Updated information to follow.
*****
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