*****
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:
I appreciated the response to my
Canadian Thanksgiving reflection
in last week's Colleagues List. An
opportunity to write about my
gratitude for life is important to me.
This week, my Special Item is a
book notice for a title noted here
before:
"The Emerging Church: Revised and
Expanded - A Model for Change and
a Map for Renewal" (second edition)
- by Canadian writer Bruce Sanguin.
It is a title I hope you will consider.
http://tinyurl.com/lnzyjpf
http://tinyurl.com/lymw3qh
--
Colleague Comments - this week are
from Marjorie Gibson (Vancouver)
Isabel Gibson (Ottawa) and Elfrieda
Schroeder (Winnipeg) and I thank
all three of you for writing.
Please scroll down to read their notes.
--
Colleague Contributions - are from
three of our regular columnists:
Martin Marty (Chicago) who writes
about "Lila" the new book by writer/
theologian Marilyyne Robinson -
http://tinyurl.com/nvvv6gg
Jim Taylor (Okanagan) who discusses
protest movements -
http://tinyurl.com/kudd9w5 (and)
Ron Rolheiser (San Antonio) who reflects
on "The Unhappy Cost of Resentment" -
http://tinyurl.com/nludfb9
--
Net Notes:
"Keeping the Faith" - read about how
childhood practices at church influence
future church-going as adults
(The Atlantic Online)
http://tinyurl.com/qhfkpvk
"Listening to Ebola" - an editorial call
for international solidarity against a
dreaded adversary (America Magazine)
http://tinyurl.com/mqkyyyj
"Irrational Atheism" - an interesting
article on how atheism is based on
more than intellectual dissent
(The Atlantic Online)
http://tinyurl.com/lsd3sk9
"Americans and Fitness" - a craze
that has addicted many is described
(The New York Times)
http://tinyurl.com/nfe4rcr
"Allah" Not Exclusive to Islam" -
in Malaysia, debate over the use
of "Allah" involves many faiths,
and not Muslims only
(The Malaysia Insider)
http://tinyurl.com/o8qu57m
"Vatican's New Merciful Stance" -
- conflicting messages on the
gay and divorce issues were coming
from the bishop's synod in Rome
this week, but many remain hopeful
that a corner has been turned
(Atlantic, and National Catholic Reporter)
http://tinyurl.com/kjvx7zr
http://tinyurl.com/klcbkpd
"Yancey Addresses Korean Church Crisis" -
Philip Yancey was in Korea last week trying
to calm Christians there who have been
deeply troubled by church scandals
(Korean Mission Life Website)
http://tinyurl.com/mjumysx
"Canadians Share Reasons to be Thankful" -
many Canadians take time to reflect on their
blessings, even though Thanksgiving is
not a religious holiday (CTV News)
http://tinyurl.com/l76wq6o
"The Jesuits - From Ignatius to the Present" -
a good read, among many, on the subject
of the Jesuit order and its stormy history
(The Tablet, UK) http://tinyurl.com/mdtah2t
"Hong Kong Anglican Bishop Calls for Dialogue" -
church leaders are making their voices heard
on the freedom demonstrations and unrest there
(The Christian Post) http://tinyurl.com/oakokow
--
Wisdom of the Week:
- is provided through Sojourners and
Bruderhof online -
Mahatma Gandhi, Oscar Romero and
St. Augustine share insights with us.
--
On This Day:
- coming from the archives of
the New York Times tell us of
events as they were taking place -
"China Detonates Its First Atomic Bomb"
http://tinyurl.com/luzaf3p
"Martin Luther King Awarded Nobel Peace Prize"
http://tinyurl.com/k4rh4ee
--
Closing Thought - Jean Vanier completes
this issue for us. Please scroll down.
(end)
Fall 2014 Adult Spiritual Development
ACTS Ministry Programs at St. David's
and at the University of Calgary
Note the programs at the end of this
mailing.
*****
SPECIAL ITEM
Book Notice -
THE EMERGING CHURCH
A Model for Change and Renewal
Revised and Expanded
by Bruce Sanguin
Copperhouse/Woodlake
2014. 238 pages.
$21.95 CAD Paper $13.50 CAD Kindle
ISBN #978-1-77064-679-7.
(originally published in 2008 and
introduced on Colleagues List
April 24th, 2010)
Publisher's Promo:
Realizing the importance of creating a
practical guide for both ministers and
congregations seeking to shift their
congregational culture towards a
progressive form of Christianity, Bruce
Sanguin grounds The Emerging Church
in his own experience as a way to establish
context and to share real-life examples.
At the same time, he peppers the book with
insights from leading edge science, including
the science of emergence, chaos theory,
quantum physics, field theory, spiral dynamics,
and evolutionary science.
In this newly revised and expanded edition
of The Emerging Church, Bruce Sanguin
continues his exploration of the characteristics
of emerging, evolutionary-driven congregations
that provides updated guidelines and advice to
those seeking to effect evolutionary change in
their own contexts.
--
Author's Words:
I want our churches to be fully alive. In John's
gospel, Jesus is reported to have said he came
to bring abundant life. You can measure the
health of a congregation using this criterion -
where are the signs of life?
Almost 25 years ago, an itinerate evangelist
persuaded me Jesus was the way, the truth,
and the life. So I took the plunge and asked
Christ to break open my heart. My life has
never been the same. I've since shed the beliefs
associated with my evangelist friend, but not
the heart-breaking, heart-healing that turned
my life upside down.
(I have also since served the church for twenty
years as an ordained minister.)
I want our congregations to be full of zest
and centres of authenticity, vitality, and
creativity...
I want to be with others who are animated
by this sacred current...
Many congregations have formed some bad
habits that now get in the way of creative
abundance...
In the mainline church, we have lost the
practice of prayer and replaced it with
programs that aren't necessarily related to
a clear mission and vision...
I've heard it said that we in Canada are
in the business of making nice people even
nicer, when in fact our congregations are
looking for Holy Spirit creativity...
The good news is that bad habits are
possible to break!
In my corner of the world, the public has
metaphorically fired the mainline church.
They have sent a message saying they will
no longer be needing our services, thank you
very much - at least the way we have been
delivering them.
(We need to follow a new paradigm that
connects again with people today.)
(I have been influenced by theologians
like Matthew Fox, and geologians like
Brian Swimme and Thomas Berry. They
have introduced me to an evolutionary
paradigm that invites us to be in
conversation with scientific culture and
and to look at the evolving life of our
congregations through both a biblical
and a scientific lens... Christians in the
twenty-first century need to be both
biblically and scientifically literate.)
That said, I intend this book to be a
practical model for congregational-
culture shifting. I offer a map of some
of the principles that have helped me to
open the gates of life and love in the
congregations I have served. This map
is, itself, an evolving reality...
I write this book for church leaders,
both lay and clergy, who are ready to
act as guides on this journey of
congregational renewal.
(I believe that my model can be used
creatively in urban and rural settings.
This model needs neither paid clergy
nor a building within which to work.)
I hope this book helps your congregation
live up to its high and holy calling.
--
My Thoughts:
I have introduced here the original edition
of "The Emerging Church" more than four
years ago.
http://tinyurl.com/l9xge5p
http://tinyurl.com/ltlhu8s
Now, I am re-introducing it to build on
the background already begun. I do
this because I am committed to renewal
in the old Canadian mainline churches.
In my first notice of this book I stated that
there were two things I liked about it.
First, the richness of the spiritual
resources inherent within the mainline
churches. This, in spite of the fact that
the ways we have come to reflect that
heritage has lost touch with many people
today. We need to mine our traditions
for richness but find better paradigms
or models, and creative new ways of
presenting them.
Second, the ability of the author to be
conversant in the thought and paradigm
understandings of modern science. We
need new ways of integrating our
spirituality with modern science in order
to speak the language of many today.
Sanguin uses an evolutionary paradigm,
borrowed from modern science, to help
the church rediscover a meaningful message.
A third ingredient is added in this new
edition. Sanguin inserts a chapter (#11)
through which he adds principles of
practical operation in a congregation
to help bring about the renewal he
desires.
He advises that we listen for signs of
emergence and pay attention to our language
so that we share honestly the Word through
the words we use.
He suggests we work on exemplifying or
embodying the meaning we want to share,
build up various spaces - both internal and
external - that are there to be filled, be
willing to fail bravely and to learn from our
mistakes, to see crises as opportunities,
to take responsibility for our efforts and
to surrender to the grace we will be offered
as we venture forth.
Sangin writes well, if not always with
simplicity. But the subject matter is
meaty and worth the struggle.
--
Amazon Web Comment:
The author is a mainline United Church of
Canada minister with progressive views.
The book is about the change or 'progress'
that has occurred and is occurring in
religious values over time. He also tells
how he became a coach for leaders at his
church. He understands the environmental
problem, which many do not.
Emerging Church - is a term used elsewhere
for changes in fundamentalist churches or
small group Christianity outside a main
building, hence the misleading title.
If you are interested in a new approach
and are coming from a mainline religious
tradition this is a recommended book for you.
--
Buy the book:
From the publisher:
http://tinyurl.com/lnzyjpf
From Amazon.ca:
http://tinyurl.com/lymw3qh
COLLEAGUE COMMENTS
MARJORIE GIBSON
Vancouver, BC
October 12th, 2014
Wayne - I am pleased that you chose to use
some of my work in your publication. It is
certainly not for me to "push" it on my friends,
but if they find it useful, or interesting - I am
both pleased and encouraged. I miss you all.
(see Holst Thanksgiving article -
encounter with cancer. So far, so good - and the odds are better now than when you were
first diagnosed. One gets to the point where
it is a race. Will our old bodies hang on until
our desire to live on is satisfied? When I was
diagnosed with early dementia- an old friend
of mine here said "Marj, you only have a handful
of years left to you. The dementia will have to
hustle to get you before your years run out!"
That was when I was 90, and at 92 I now believe
that is true. You are a lot younger than me, so
have more years in the race to cover. However,
you have at least a "cured" diagnosis, even if it
is a "probably cured" one! Good luck, and full
steam ahead. Love to you both, and my other
friends when you think of it.
Marjorie.
--
ISABEL GIBSON
Ottawa, ON
October 11th, 2014
Wayne:
I'm surprised that you're coming up on
your 5-year cancer-free anniversary -
time does move along.
With your caveats about a "cure" noted,
I congratulate you both - not just on the
milestone but on your determination to live
in a state of gratitude, rather than entitlement.
May it be so for all of us.
Isabel
ELFRIEDA SCHROEDER
Winnipeg, MB
October 11th, 2014
Hi Wayne,
Hardy and I enjoyed reading your blog again.
We hope and pray that all will be well and the
bladder polyps will prove to be benign.
Hardy turned 77 this September and I turned 71
this May. We are enjoying
our senior years and,
like you, I don't think either of us would say that
we
wish our lives were over at age 75! However,
we are in good health and that
makes a big
difference (Hardy is suffering hearing loss which
can be frustrating
at times, but he has a good
hearing aid to help him).
I have had my own reminiscences and reflections
about death and dying which
I have written about
in my blog. Check it out if you are interested.
See my blog http://ens-intransit.blogspot.ca/
Elfrieda
*****
COLLEAGUE CONTRIBUTIONS
MARTIN MARTY
Chicago IL
Sightings
October 13th, 2014
"Marilynne Robinson's 'Lila'"
http://tinyurl.com/nvvv6gg
--
JIM TAYLOR
Okangan, BC
Web Log
October 15th, 2014
"Protest Movements"
http://tinyurl.com/kudd9w5
--
RON ROLHEISER
San Antonio, TX
Personal Website
October 13th, 2014
"The Unhappy Cost of Resentment"
http://tinyurl.com/nludfb9
*****
NET NOTES
KEEPING THE FAITH
Childhood Influences Churchgoing
The Atlantic Online
October 14th, 2014
http://tinyurl.com/qhfkpvk
--
LISTENING TO EBOLA
Call for International Solidary
America Magazine
October 27th, 2014
http://tinyurl.com/mqkyyyj
--
IRRATIONAL ATHEISM
Atheism Need Not Be Rational
The Atlantic Online
October 11th, 2014
http://tinyurl.com/lsd3sk9
--
AMERICANS AND FITNESS
Movement Reaches Cult Status
New York Times
October 14th, 2014
http://tinyurl.com/nfe4rcr
--
'ALLAH' NOT EXCLULSIVE TO ISLAM
Malaysian Debate, Broader Implications
Malaysian Insider
October 17th, 2014
http://tinyurl.com/o8qu57m
--
THE VATICAN'S NEW MERCIFUL STANCE
Opposition to Gays, Divorcees Still Real
But Long-term Prospects are Good
The Atlantic Online
October 17th, 2014
http://tinyurl.com/kjvx7zr
Synod Issues New Document
Reflecting Mercy, Listening
National Catholic Reporter
October 13th, 20124
http://tinyurl.com/klcbkpd
--
YANCEY ADDRESSES KOREAN CHURCH CRISIS
American Evangelical Author Offers Advice
Korean Mission Life Website
October 14th, 2014
http://tinyurl.com/mjumysx
--
CANADIANS SHARE
REASONS TO BE THANKFUL
Annual Day of Thanksgiving
Includes Entire Nation
CTV News
October 11th, 2014
http://tinyurl.com/l76wq6o
--
THE JESUITS:
FROM IGNATIUS TO THE PRESENT
The Order, Two Hundred Years
after Papal Restoration
The Tablet, UK
October 18th,2014
http://tinyurl.com/mdtah2t
--
HONG KONG ANGLICAN ARCHBISHOP
CALLS FOR DIALOGUE
Attempt to Diffuse Crisis with China
The Christian Post
October 15th, 2014
http://tinyurl.com/oakokow
*****
WISDOM OF THE WEEK
Provided by Sojourners and Bruderhof online:
Poverty is the worst form of violence.
- Mahatma Gandhi
--
A church that doesn't provoke any crises, a
gospel that doesn't unsettle, a word of God
that doesn't get under anyone's skin, a word
of God that doesn't touch the real sin of the
society in which it is being proclaimed --
what gospel is that?
- Archbishop Oscar Romero
--
You never go away from us, yet we have
difficulty in returning to you. Come, Lord,
stir us up and call us back. Kindle and
seize us. Be our fire and our sweetness.
Let us love. Let us run.
- Augustine
*****
ON THIS DAY
Provided from archives of the New York Times
"China Detonates Its First Atomic Bomb"
http://tinyurl.com/luzaf3p
"Martin Luther King Awarded Nobel Peace Prize"
http://tinyurl.com/k4rh4ee
*****
CLOSING THOUGHT - JEAN VANIER
| Yes, in that broken child, a light is shining; in that man in prison, a heart is beating; in that woman, victim of prostitution, there is a yearning for life; in the rich and greedy person, seeking power, there is a child of purity; in that young man dying of AIDS, there is the light of God; in every person, no matter how broken, sinful, hardened, dominating, or cruel, there is a spring of water waiting to flow forth. |
(end)
*****
Fall 2014 Adult Spiritual Development
ACTS Ministry Programs at St. David's
and at the University of Calgary:
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
Link to study:
http://tinyurl.com/kkca8rp
--
MONDAY NIGHT 'BOOKEND EVENT'
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 - Part Two
(total of two 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 III -
A Study of the Book of Acts"
Led by Wayne Holst
No charge.
Study resource -
The DK Complete Bible Handbook
http://tinyurl.com/odxlv7q
--
UNIVERSITY OF CALGARY
FAITH AND SPIRITUALITY CENTRE
Interfaith Chaplains' Book Studies
For faculty, students, staff, campus guests -
Fall 2014
Native Centre Board Room
McEwan Student Centre
Fridays, 12:00 - 1:00 PM
Oct 17, 24, 31, Nov 7, 14, 21
(six sessions)
"Everything Belongs:
The Gift of Contemplative Prayer"
by Richard Rohr.
http://tinyurl.com/luljvww
http://tinyurl.com/ntxcp2v
Participants are encouraged to attend
all six sessions. However, you may attend
one or more sessions on a drop-in basis.
Book cost $15.00
*****
No comments:
Post a Comment