Saturday, March 14, 2015

Collegues List, March 15th, 2015

Vol. X.  No. 31

*****

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.


*****

Dear Friends:

In February 2014 I introduced you to Harold
Bloom's classic "Shakespeare - the Invention
of the Human." This was part of my life-long
quest to know Shakespeare better and more
fully. The essays in Bloom's book focus on all
of Shakespeare's generally acknowledged (35)
plays (though there may be more now.)
http://tinyurl.com/k7hfboe
http://tinyurl.com/kptwdlw

This week I introduce you to a volume I find
helpful when I want clear and concise plot-
developments and support material that
might be accessed and digested more quickly
before attending a Shakespeare play. This
book is DK Publishing at its best.

The book is entitled -
"Essential Shakespeare Handbook"
  http://tinyurl.com/mj35ch8


Please scroll down to read my thoughts and
get more information about the publisher.

--

Colleague Contributions -

This week we hear from our regulars:

Martin Marty (Chicago)
"Lost in Translation"
  http://tinyurl.com/qbw6rb5

Jim Taylor (Pentiction)
 "Evolution -
  Nothing Ever Stands Still"
  http://tinyurl.com/nkkvy9e

Ron Rolheiser (San Antonio)
"Going to Heaven -
  by Good Luck or God's Grace?"
  http://tinyurl.com/n55corm

--

Net Notes - offer us the following
stories and related material:

"Back to Selma" - Fifty years ago
he was there. Now, he returns
(The Christian Century)
http://tinyurl.com/oowhpo4

"Vanier Wins Templeton Prize" -
the founder of L'Arche communities,
world-wide, was given a special
recognition this week
(Publisher's Weekly, The Tablet UK)
http://tinyurl.com/owag4u2
http://tinyurl.com/o4ehldp

"The Martyrdom of Oscar Romero" -
March is always a time to remember
the martyrdom of  the archbishop
and this year his sainthood prospects
are considerably improved
(America Magazine)
http://tinyurl.com/l3lznyv

"US Women Make Religious History" -
here is an interesting selection of
a broad cross-section of American
women who help move us forward
(Huffington Post Religion)
http://tinyurl.com/ndqxcrh

"Dalai Lama/China Clash on His Afterlife" -
an interesting debate this week as China,
officially atheist, deals with the Tibetan
leader succession and his teachings
about re-incarnation (New York Times)
http://tinyurl.com/nd6aaz6

"Bible Schools Closing on Canadian Prairies" -
long a part of prairie life, these schools are
closing because of societal and educational
changes. They served a noble purpose in
in their time, but times change
(Christian Week online)
http://tinyurl.com/ob5l7uk

"Filipino Priest Runs Protest Against Canada" -
a priest from the Philippines is demonstrating
against Canadian industry-caused toxic
waste in his country (UCA News)
http://tinyurl.com/nlu6puf

"Movies that Foster Lenten Reflection and More" -
here are five current films you may wish to watch
as part of your Lenten spiritual reflection
(National Catholic Reporter)
http://tinyurl.com/kzn3fhm

"Cinderella - The Virtues of Being Old-Fashioned" -
traditional movie stories have not lost their power
to affect us - and our children as well (Atlantic
Online, New York Times and the Globe and Mail)
http://tinyurl.com/k4g7sdu
http://tinyurl.com/olm4nqu
http://tinyurl.com/olm4nqu

"Vatican Backs Ecumenical Pan-Amazonian Network" -
a coalition of Latin American churches is very
concerned about the displacement and destruction
of 30M Amazonian people and their environment 
(America Magazine)
http://tinyurl.com/om9ys9p

"Aussie PM is Criticised for Comments on Aborigines" -
the Australian leader made a mistake when he
talked about Aboriginal life as a "lifestyle choice"
(UCA News) http://tinyurl.com/qedw6cf

--

Wisdom of the Week -

Ludwig Wittgenstein, Alice von Hildebrand,
Henri de Lubac and Amy Carmichael share
their insights with us courtesy of Sojourners
and the Bruderhof online.

Please scroll down to read them.

--

On This Day -

From the Archives of the New York Times

"Riots Begin in St. Petersburg,
  Russian Revolution Begins"
  http://tinyurl.com/axgelxa

"Gorbachev Elected to Lead Russia"
  http://tinyurl.com/p987ltp

--

Closing Thought -  is from the former
Secretary General of the United Nations
Dag Hammarskjöld

Scroll to the end of the blog to read him.

(end)

*****

If your are interested in our current programs,
please scroll down to the end of the blog.

Winter 2015 Adult Spiritual Development
ACTS Ministry Programs at St. David's
and at the University of Calgary


*****
 


SPECIAL ITEM

Book Notice -

ESSENTIAL SHAKESPEARE HANDBOOK
DK Reprint Edition (Jan. 2013)
Paperback. 480 pages. $9.50  CAD.
ISBN #10: 1465402268

Description:

From Hamlet and The Tempest to Henry V and
Romeo and Juliet, the Essential Shakespeare
Handbook is a user-friendly, and a beautifully
illustrated guide to every play in the entire
Shakespearean canon, as well as a compelling
portrait of the Bard's life.

--

Organized according to the categories of
plays and including a section on his non-
dramatic poetry, this is an excellent basic
tool for gaining insight into the Bard's poetic
genius.

Each of the categories - histories, comedies, 
tragedies, and romances - commences with
a well-written essay that explains the nature
of the genre (and the place of Shakespeare's
works within it) and discusses the themes
and ideas that lay behind the poet's words.

A more in-depth analysis of each play follows: a
look at the sources that inspired it, an act-by-act
plot outline (with relevant quotes), an annotated
list of the dramatis personae, ideas to ponder
when reading/seeing the play, and, finally, a
discussion of issues associated with the play
and/or its productions. Each treatment is liberally
peppered with informative sidebars, as well as
with clear, color photos of relevant people and
places.

For the poems, similarly organized information
is offered. A number of useful discussions help
put the pieces into their full literary context.

A biography of the playwright, an essay on
Elizabethan society and the theater it spawned,
a discussion of the overall canon, and an
explanation of Shakespeare's language and
poetic meters round out the text.

This volume is not meant to take the place
of more comprehensive reference works,
such as Michael Dobson and Stanley
Wells's Oxford Companion to Shakespeare
(Oxford, 2001), but it is an informative,
visually enticing introduction to the world's
most famous dramatist.

–Nancy Menaldi-Scanlan, LaSalle Academy,
  Providence, RI     
 
Review -
 
"This simple, colorful handbook is a perfect
companion to the playwright's complete works."
 
– Library Journal

--

The Publisher:

Dorling Kindersley is a British multinational
publishing company specializing in illustrated
reference books for adults and children in 51
languages. It is part of Penguin Random House,
a consumer publishing company jointly owned
by Bertelsmann SE & Co. KGaA and Pearson PLC.
 
--
 
My Thoughts -

What prompted me to share this book with
you is the current mounting of "King Lear"
at Theatre Calgary - which Marlene and I
hope to attend this weekend as part of our
season's subscription.

Here is a Calgary Herald review:
http://tinyurl.com/obtaffe

I am happy to learn that the Stratford
Festival plans to film all of Shakespeare's
plays over the next decade. I may, in
fact, get to see them all in my lifetime -
on stage or at the movies!

This book helps me to prep for any
Shakespeare play Marlene and I get
to see - whether by professional or
amateur companies.

There is no substitute for Harold Bloom's book
or The Oxford Companion to Shakespeare, but
sometimes the preferred preparation time is
just not available. This book arms me with at
least some basic information and I am sure
you would find it to be true for you as well.

*****
 
Buy the book from Amazon.ca:
http://tinyurl.com/mj35ch8
 
*****

COLLEAGUE CONTRIBUTIONS

MARTIN MARTY
Chicago IL

Sightings
March 9th, 2015

"Lost in Translation"
  http://tinyurl.com/qbw6rb5

--

JIM TAYLOR
Okanagan BC

Personal Web Log
March 11th, 2015

"Evolution -
  Nothing Ever Stands Still"
  http://tinyurl.com/nkkvy9e

--

RON ROLHEISER
San Antonio TX

Personal Website
March 8th, 2015

"Going to Heaven -
  by Good Luck or God's Grace?"
  http://tinyurl.com/n55corm


*****

NET NOTES

BACK IN SELMA
Reflections After 50 Years

The Christian Century
March 9th, 2015

http://tinyurl.com/oowhpo4

__

VANIER WINS TEMPLETON PRIZE
Founder of L'Arche Recognized

Publisher's Weekly
March 11th, 2015

http://tinyurl.com/owag4u2

The Tablet UK
March 11th, 2015

http://tinyurl.com/o4ehldp

--

THE MARTYRDOM OF OSCAR ROMERO
Remembering the Soon-to-be-Canonized

America Magazine
March 23rd, 2015

http://tinyurl.com/l3lznyv

--

US WOMEN MAKE RELIGIOUS HISTORY
A Year of Female Inter-Faith Contributions

Huffington Post Religion
March 13th, 2015

http://tinyurl.com/ndqxcrh

--

DALAI LAMA/CHINA 
CLASH ON HIS AFTERLIFE
China Seeks Control
of Tibetan Lama Succession

New York Times
March 12th, 2015

http://tinyurl.com/nd6aaz6

--

BIBLE SCHOOLS CLOSING
ON CANADIAN PRAIRIES
End of an Era for Institutes
that Once Met Needs 

Christian Week Online
February 26th, 2015

http://tinyurl.com/ob5l7uk

--

FILIPINO PRIEST RUNS
PROTEST AGAINST CANADA
Wants Us to Take Back
Our Toxic Waste

UCA News
March 10th, 2015

http://tinyurl.com/nlu6puf

--

MOVIES THAT FOSTER LENTEN
REFLECTION AND MORE

National Catholic Reporter
March 15th, 2015

http://tinyurl.com/kzn3fhm

--

CINDERELLA -THE VIRTUES
OF BEING OLD-FASHIONED

The Atlantic Online
March 13th, 2015

http://tinyurl.com/k4g7sdu

Globe and Mail Review
March 13th, 2014

http://tinyurl.com/olm4nqu

New York Times Review
March 12th, 2015
http://tinyurl.com/olm4nqu

--

VATICAN BACKS ECUMENICAL
PAN-AMAZONION NETWORK
Coalition Seeks to Save
30M People/Environment

America Magazine
March 6th 2015

http://tinyurl.com/om9ys9p

--

AUSSIE PM CRITICIZED FOR
COMMENTS ON ABORIGINES
Said Living in Remote
Communities a "Lifestyle Choice"

UCA News
March 11th, 2015

http://tinyurl.com/qedw6cf

*****

WISDOM OF THE WEEK

Provided by Sojourners
and Bruderhof online -

A [person] will be imprisoned in a room
with a door that's unlocked and opens
inwards; as long as it does not occur to
[that person] to pull rather than push.

- Ludwig Wittgenstein

--

What does it mean to be made for immortality?
It means there is something inside you that is
going to last for ever and ever and ever. In my
apartment building there are all sorts of people;
it’s a little microcosm of humanity. Sometimes I
feel so sorry for the people because it seems that
all they are doing is making money and more money – 
for what? You can’t take gold with you in your casket.
Yet many of them only live for sheer pleasure; they
forget that they are actually made for immortality.

- Alice von Hildebrand

--

The finest and boldest Christian effort, the freshest
and most enduring, has always flourished from
the roots of tradition.

- Henri de Lubac

--

We profess to be strangers and pilgrims,
seeking after a country of our own, yet we
settle down in the most un-stranger-like
fashion, exactly as if we were quite at home
and meant to stay as long as we could. I
don't wonder apostolic miracles have died.
Apostolic living certainly has.

- Amy Carmichael
 
*****

ON THIS DAY

From the Archives of the New York Times

"Riots Begin in St. Petersburg,
  Russian Revolution Begins"
  http://tinyurl.com/axgelxa


"Gorbachev Elected to Lead Russia"
  http://tinyurl.com/p987ltp


*****

CLOSING THOUGHT - Dag Hammarskjöld

Forgiveness is the answer to the child’s dream
of a miracle by which what is broken is made
whole again, and what is soiled is made clean a
gain. The dream explains why we need to be
forgiven, and why we must forgive. In the
presence of God, nothing stands between him
and us – we are forgiven. But we cannot feel
his presence if anything is allowed to stand
between ourselves and others.
 
(end)

*****

Winter 2015 Adult Spiritual Development
ACTS Ministry Programs at St. David's
and at the University of Calgary:


MONDAY NIGHT STUDY - WINTER SERIES

January 12nd – March 23rd, 2015
7-00-9:00PM TM Room. Ten Weeks.
(Family Day Monday exempted)

“Fields of Blood: Religion and

  the History of Violence”
  by Karen Armstrong

Led by Jock McTavish and Wayne Holst

Registration $60.00. Book only $25.00

This study is now in progress.
Forty books sold.

Study design and class links
http://tinyurl.com/k5ppruz

Lorna Dueck interviews Karen Armstrong
Youtube link: http://tinyurl.com/n7odd6g

---
THURSDAY MORNING BIBLE STUDY
January 22nd - March 26th, 2015. Ten Weeks.
10:00-11:00AM TM Room

"Romans and James -

  Foundations for Christian
  Thought and Living"
  Study Leader: Wayne Holst

No charge.

Study resource -
The DK Complete Bible Handbook
http://tinyurl.com/odxlv7q

This study has begun.

---

ST. DAVID'S SPIRITUAL TRAVELERS'
SPECIAL 2015 SIXTEEN DAY TOUR

"Jerusalem and the Land of Three Great Faiths"
  October 16th - 31st, 2015


http://tinyurl.com/plg4sgo

Hardcopy tour details brochure
is available in the church lobby.

Tour Company: Rostad Tours Calgary

Tour Hosts: Wayne and Marlene Holst
Sponsored by: St. David's ACTS Ministry
Endorsed by: St. David's Church Council

Talk with or write to Marlene and Wayne
(403-286-7416)
waholst@telus.net
marleneaholst@gmail.com

Save $300. if deposit paid by March 31st.

This tour is filling up. 24 registrants to date.
30 participants max.

---

UNIVERSITY OF CALGARY
FAITH AND SPIRITUALITY CENTRE


Interfaith Chaplains' Book Studies
for faculty, students, staff, and
campus guests - Winter, 2015


"Simply Good News" by N.T. Wright

http://tinyurl.com/kwte3os

Book Study Co-Sponsored by:
The Faith and Spirituality Centre,
University of Calgary and
The ACTS Ministry,
St. David's United Church, Calgary

Native Centre Board Room
McEwan Student Centre
Fridays, 12:00 - 1:00 PM. Five sessions.
Feb. 27th, March 6th, 13th, 20th, 27th.

Participants are encouraged to attend
all five sessions. However, you may attend
one or more sessions on a drop-in basis.


This program has started.

Study Leader: Dr. Wayne A. Holst
Book cost $20.00


*****


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