*****
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:
Canada experienced an unusual terrorist
crisis this week - and I have provided
links to this story (see Net Notes, below)
My Special Item this week is a book notice -
"I Want to be in that Number" which is a self-
published volume of reflections by octogenarian
Lois M. Wilson. She is well known in ecumenical
circles and still writing. A month ago, we
were introduced here to "Feisty and Fearless" -
a biography of this remarkable women, and
now we hear from her directly
http://tinyurl.com/mstq5a2
Please scroll down to read my book notice.
--
Colleague Comment - this week is from
Lorna Dueck who is remarkable in her own
way, and writes me from Toronto.
Scroll down to read her.
--
Colleague Contributions this week are from:
James M. Wall - who writes
"Listen to this Irish Senator"
An Appeal to American Leaders
For a Two-State Solution in Israel
http://tinyurl.com/k8nzuxn
Jim Taylor - who shares
"The Ways We Respond to Stress"
http://tinyurl.com/obvfxub
Ron Rolheiser - who provides
"The Goddess of Chastity"
http://tinyurl.com/ozq7v97
Martin Marty - who reflects on
"Religion Unites and Divides"
http://tinyurl.com/m465dmz and
Michael W. Higgins - who contributes
"Ripples of a Living Church"
http://tinyurl.com/lqv8mex
--
Net Notes - this week
"Gunman Panics Ottawa" - a terrorist
in Ottawa turned normally peaceful
Canada into several days of national
panic (New York Times, Globe and Mail)
http://tinyurl.com/qchdblm
"Prayers for Peace in Ottawa" - church
leaders responded with compassion
for the victims and concern for those
in the Canadian Islamic community.
(Anglican Church in Canada, Citizens
for Public Justice, CBC)
http://tinyurl.com/p8rn7hf
http://tinyurl.com/kcrqwx5
http://tinyurl.com/k6eddvp
http://tinyurl.com/p3wuny8
I also include comment from the USA
http://tinyurl.com/o868kuq
"Pope Francis to Visit Turkey" -
this week the Vatican announced
the itinerary for Pope Francis'
upcoming visit to Islamic Turkey
(Catholic News Service)
http://tinyurl.com/nyq3nwe
"Five Trends of the Unchurched" -
all signs point to growing secularization
in America, while Canada seems to have
experienced similar trends sooner
(The Barna Group)
http://tinyurl.com/qfdw9p2
- meanwhile the Mainline Protestant decline
in the USA seems to be slowing
(The Christian Post)
http://tinyurl.com/mle6rww
"A Pauline Case for SS Marriage" - the
Catholic ethicist husband of a Mennonite
pastor does some creative reflection on
St. Paul and gay and co-habitation issues
(The Christian Century)
http://tinyurl.com/l5d3mus
"Vatican Boy's Club Needs Inclusivity" -
Catholic women are no longer hesitant
to criticise the upper echelons of the curia
(National Catholic Reporter)
http://tinyurl.com/llysfhj
"Astronaut Hadfield's Great Space Photos" -
beautiful pictures from space just released
(The Guardian, UK)
http://tinyurl.com/leeelu8
"What if America had Canada's Healthcare?" -
these issues have long been discussed, but
now we have some hard data to work with
(The Atlantic Online)
http://tinyurl.com/msfbbr8
"Loren Mead on the Importance of the
Local Church" - the founder of the Alban
Institute, now centered at Duke University,
speaks with forty years of experience
(Alban.org) http://tinyurl.com/ososclh
"Death Sentence Upheld for Pakistani
Christian Woman" - Asia Bibi continues
to have her basic human rights denied
because of her minority faith in an
Islamic nation (America Magazine)
http://tinyurl.com/ppsqzo8
--
Wisdom of the Week - comes courtesy of
Sojurners and Bruderhof online, including
contributions from -
Thomas Merton, Vaclav Havel, Anne Lamott,
Pope Francis and Hildegard of Bingen
Please scroll down to read them.
--
On This Day:
Oct 12th - 18th
Canadian Crisis in Perspective -
"Terrorists Hit Americans in Beirut"
http://tinyurl.com/k979en8
"Edison Invents Electric Light"
http://tinyurl.com/mxn27c2
"UN Charter Takes Effect"
http://tinyurl.com/lj2jyv7
"UN Votes to Admit China, Expel Taiwan"
http://tinyurl.com/mwvjlat
--
Closing Thought - is from Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Please scroll down to read him.
(end)
***
Fall 2014 Adult Spiritual Development
ACTS Ministry Programs at St. David's
and at the University of Calgary
This information can be found at the
very end of this blog.
My best wishes to all readers.
Wayne
*****
SPECIAL ITEM
Book Notice -
I WANT TO BE IN THAT NUMBER
Cool Saints I have Known
by Lois M. Wilson
Self-published, 2014. 192 pages.
ISBN #978-0-9780839-1-5.
Cover Promo:
This is a storybook for adults.
In our highly individualistic culture, it
invites the reader to consider all that is
implied about community in that phrase
"the communion of saints." Lois offers
deeply personal stories about "saints"
she has known, some as colleagues in
the World Council of Churches, others
as family members or close friends. All
stories are anchored in the scriptural
text chosen for their funeral. She
explores not only why these texts "fit"
the person as she knew them, but what
they say about creating new possibilities
for the world we are co-creating. Here is
a book that offers hope in the midst of
our death-denying culture.
--
Author's Bio:
Dr. Wilson is a well-known teller of
Biblical stories who shared team ministry
with her husband Roy for fifteen years.
Minister, ecumenist, former Moderator of
the United Church of Canada, Senator,
Chancellor, President of both the Canadian
and the World Council of Churches, mother
of four, grandmother of twelve, and great-
grandmother of one.
Read more from Wikipedia:
http://tinyurl.com/mstq5a2
--
Author's Words:
(At a significant ecumenical event for me)
I started to wonder if my own grandkids
knew or even cared about the rich legacy
some of my friends had contributed to the
practice of justice and peace from our faith
community. It prompted me to think about
my own legacy. Did I have any insights
about aging or faith to pass on to younger
generations?...
I had a conversation with my daughter Jean
about a possible book I might write about
aging and death, She suggested that one
of my particular strengths, in her view, was
my grounding in and knowledge of the Biblical
text. Lots of people would have perspectives
to share about aging, but she thought that if
I focused on Biblical texts, I might make a
more lasting contribution. Then we got to
talking about the significance of Biblical
passages, chosen for loved ones' funeral
services.
(I would often make notes in my marked-up
Bible about the person who had died and the
scripture text(s) used at their memorial.)
It was my way of remembering my life and
legacy every time I read that passage...
Although I am no Biblical scholar, I know the
texts of the Hebrew and Greek Bible. (I
consulted with my daughter Jean, who is a
professor of comparative literature, about
discerning the meaning of texts.)
We decided that I would identify each of
these people to the reader by presenting a
greatly condensed biography of their life;
set them in their historical context; relate
the scriptural texts used at their funeral to
the work and witness of the person I had
known; and then wrestle with the scriptural
texts in such a way that they were seen
to critique the world we have, as well as to
create new possibilities for the world we
would like to have. What could we learn from
them? The point would not be to focus on
what the intended meaning of the text was
for the person who chose it, but to consider
what meaning we can derive from it for our
witness today...
I was reminded of how N.T. Wright, in
his book "How God Became King" writes:
"Those who have gone before us include,
especially, those who have lived, suffered,
and died, and bear witness to Jesus as the
world's true Lord, over against the other
"lords" that try to claim our allegiance."
{This "communion of saints" in each
generation, joined to those who have gone
before and filled them with light, became
a golden chain, in which each saint is a
separate link, united to the next by faith
and works and love. So, in the one God
they form a single chain which cannot
quickly be broken.)
I have grouped the articles around the
themes of Justice; Resurrection;
Transformation; Church and World.
You are invited to join me in my discoveries
about our common Christian life and legacy.
- from the Introduction
--
My Thoughts:
I have attended quite a few funeral and
memorial services myself, especially as
I have grown older and the reality of
what happens to all life becomes more
real for me. I tend to pay more attention
to what goes on and what is said than
I did when I was a young pastor.
Some services tend to focus almost
exclusively on remembrance of the
deceased. Some seem to focus almost
entirely on the funeral liturgy of a
particular tradition, or on scriptural
cliches with hardly any reference
to the deceased. I find both practices
short-shrift the possibilities of what
might happen at such an important
event. We have the opportunity to
both remember how the eternal
Christian values have been reflected
in the life of the person who is most
in our minds at that time. We also have
an opportunity to bring the rich and
hope-filled truths of our Biblical
heritage to bear upon this event.
We often seem to ignore those who
have gathered and what they are
really needing to experience at this
important time. Saying that the
deceased was a good person or that
the church's traditional teachings and
practices make us a better community
is really not good enough.
Delicately blending remembrance and
the hope of life beyond life we have
as Christians - is the important challenge
of any who would accept the task of leading
or attending an event at such a time as this.
--
In this book, Wilson tells the story
of forty key people in her life at
whose funeral or memorial services
she participated in various capacities.
For each one she weaves a meaningful
biography and scriptural web that
help us better understand the person
being recognized and the faith that
person espoused.
In our secular society, I believe many
people are searching and in need of
experiencing that important blend.
We need inspiration to make this world
a better place. We also need to know
that Jesus "has prepared a place for us."
I was particularly struck by what Lois
had to say about people we knew in
common (even though she probably
knew them much better than I.)
Her reflections on Garth Legge, Byers
Naude, Clifford Elliott, Katherine Hockin,
and Ted Scott (to name a few) brought
out important discoveries and reasons
for the hope that lay within them that
I am grateful to know more about.
It takes a person of deep faith and
experience to write short pieces like
this and I believe this book would
serve as a helpful guide to sermon/
homily/or reflection preparation.
The value of this book encompasses
many of our denominational traditions.
It will also offer the person in the pew
a chance to recover an important balance
between remembrance and hope that I
believe many are looking for today.
Buy the Book from the Author:
6canoe@gmail.com
Discuss best way to get your copy
*****
COLLEAGUE COMMENT
LORNA DUECK
Toronto, ON
Oct. 19th, 2014
Thanks Wayne. I was helped by your
Martin Marty clip on "Lila" and all the
great links on it. I'm interviewing
Marilynne Robinson on Friday so this
was a good short cut for my research.
http://tinyurl.com/nvvv6gg
Take care, and thank you.
Lorna
Editor's Note: Lorna is both a national and
international social commentator who writes
with an enlightened Christian perspective.
Located in Toronto, she frequently appears
in the Globe and Mail, on TV and the internet.
See her website -
"Context - Life Beyond the Headlines"
http://www.contextwithlornadueck.com/
*****
COLLEAGUE CONTRIBUTIONS
JAMES M. WALL
Chicago, IL
Wallwritings
October 23rd, 2014
"Listen to this Irish Senator"
An Appeal to American Leaders
For a Two-State Solution in Israel
http://tinyurl.com/k8nzuxn
--
JIM TAYLOR
Okanagan, BC
Web Log
October 22nd, 2014
"The Ways We Respond to Stress"
http://tinyurl.com/obvfxub
--
RON ROLHEISER
San Antonio, TX
Personal Web Site
October 20th, 2014
"The Goddess of Chastity"
http://tinyurl.com/ozq7v97
--
MARTIN MARTY
Chicago, IL
Sightings
October 20th, 2014
"Religion Unites and Divides"
http://tinyurl.com/m465dmz
--
MICHAEL W. HIGGINS
Fairfield. CT.
Globe and Mail
October 21st, 2014
"Ripples of a Living Church"
http://tinyurl.com/lqv8mex
*****
NET NOTES
GUNMAN PANICS OTTAWA
Terrorist Jars All Canada
New York Times
October 23rd, 2014
http://tinyurl.com/qchdblm
--
PRAYERS FOR PEACE IN OTTAWA
Anglican Primate Calls for Prayers
Public Justice Advocacy Group Reports
Anglican Church of Canada and
Citizens for Public Justice Update
October 22nd and 23rd, 2014
http://tinyurl.com/p8rn7hf
http://tinyurl.com/kcrqwx5
"The Gun Conversation
We Need to Have"
Comment from the USA
Sojourners Online
October 23rd, 2014
http://tinyurl.com/o868kuq
"Leaders Reflect on the Tragedy"
Anglican Journal
October 23rd, 2014
http://tinyurl.com/k6eddvp
"Where Did the Terrorist Get His Gun?
Canadian Laws Prevent Legal Acquisition"
CBC News
October 24th, 2014
http://tinyurl.com/p3wuny8
--
POPE FRANCIS TO VISIT TURKEY
Inter-faith Itinerary Just Published
Catholic News Service
October 21st, 2014
http://tinyurl.com/nyq3nwe
--
FIVE TRENDS OF THE USA UNCHURCHED
Continuing Tendency to Secularization
The Barna Group
October, 2014
http://tinyurl.com/qfdw9p2
"American Mainline Decline
May be Slowing Down with
Internal Conflicts Lessening"
The Christian Post
October 20th, 2014
http://tinyurl.com/mle6rww
--
A PAULINE CASE FOR
SAME-SEX MARRIAGE
Mennonite Pastor Offers
a Second Look at I Cor. 7
The Christian Century
October 20th, 2014
http://tinyurl.com/l5d3mus
--
VATICAN BOY'S CLUB NEEDS
TO BE MORE INCLUSIVE
Female Columnist Speaks
Bluntly About Curia
National Catholic Reporter
October 22nd, 2014
http://tinyurl.com/llysfhj
--
ASTRONAUT CHRIS HADFIELD'S
AMAZING PHOTOS FROM SPACE
The Guardian, UK
October 20th, 2014
http://tinyurl.com/leeelu8
--
WHAT IF AMERICA HAD
CANADA'S HEALTHCARE SYSTEM
An Helpful Comparison
The Atlantic Online
October 21st, 2014
http://tinyurl.com/msfbbr8
--
LOREN MEAD ON THE IMPORTANCE
OF THE LOCAL CHURCH
Alban Institute Founder Reflects
Alban.org
October 20th, 2014
http://tinyurl.com/ososclh
--
DEATH SENTENCE UPHELD FOR
PAKISTANI CHRISTIAN WOMAN
Asia Bibi Still Guilty of Blasphemy
America Magazine
October 17th, 2014
http://tinyurl.com/ppsqzo8
*****
WISDOM OF THE WEEK
Provided by Sojourners
and Bruderhof online:
Peace demands the most heroic labor and
the most difficult sacrifice. It demands
greater heroism than war. It demands greater
fidelity to the truth and a much more perfect
purity of conscience.
- Thomas Merton
--
Hope is a state of mind, not of the world.
Hope, in this deep and powerful sense, is
not the same as joy that things are going
well, or willingness to invest in enterprises
that are obviously heading for success, but
rather an ability to work for something
because it is good.
- Vaclav Havel
--
| Try walking around with a child who’s going, “Wow, wow! Look at that dirty dog! Look at that burned-down house! Look at that red sky.” And the child points and you look, and you see, and you start going, “Wow! Look at that huge crazy hedge! Look at that teeny little baby! Look at the scary dark cloud!” I think this is how we are supposed to be in the world – present and in awe.” |
- Anne Lamott
--
The great leaders of the people of God, like
Moses, have always left room for doubt. You
must leave room for the Lord, not for our
certainties; we must be humble.
- Pope Francis
--
We cannot live in a world that is interpreted
for us by others. An interpreted world is not
a hope. Part of the terror is to take back our
own listening. To use our own voice. To see
our own light.
- Hildegard of Bingen
*****
ON THIS DAY
Oct 18th - 25th
From the Archives of the New York Times
Canadian Crisis in Perspective -
"Terrorists Hit Americans in Beirut"
http://tinyurl.com/k979en8
"Edison Invents Electric Light"
http://tinyurl.com/mxn27c2
"UN Charter Takes Effect"
http://tinyurl.com/lj2jyv7
"UN Votes to Admit China, Expel Taiwan"
http://tinyurl.com/mwvjlat
*****
CLOSING THOUGHT - DIETRICH BONHOEFFER
We are not to simply bandage the wounds of
victims beneath the wheels of injustice, we are
to drive a spoke into the wheel itself.
- Dietrich Bonhoeffer
(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
by Bart Ehrmann
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 IV -
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
*****
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