Vol. XII 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//colleagueslist2.blogspot.com
*****
Dear Friends:
In anticipation of our St. David's Calgary Spiritual
Travelers' journey to South Africa this autumn (we
currently have 26 persons signed up to go) I am
creating several goals for myself that I hope will
stimulate you to consider travel objectives for
when you depart on a special tour. I believe a
formal or an informal set of intentions can make
travel more rewarding for anyone.
This issue has some special colleague contributions,
net notes, and wisdom I hope you will also enjoy.
Good wishes,
Wayne
*****
SPECIAL ITEM
A SHORT PERSONAL REFLECTION ON OUR ST. DAVID'S
SPIRITUAL TRAVELERS' JOURNEY TO SOUTH AFRICA
OCTOBER-NOVEMBER, 2017
During the past six years, St. David's Spiritual Travelers
(members and friends of our Calgary congregation) have enjoyed
three excellent sojourns - to the Celtic Lands (Scotland, Ireland
and Wales), to Turkey and the Holy Land. This year, for our fourth
tour, we are enthusiastically setting our sights on South Africa!
When undertaking ventures such as these, it seems right to
reflect on the goals of our endeavour - not in a slavish way, but
to help us focus on what we might anticipate from this significant
investment of time and resources.
For each of our previous trips I have attempted to reflect on
personal hopes and intended outcomes. Perhaps my thoughts
will stimulate yours - whether you will travel with us or not.
Please feel free to work with these ideas as you see fit.
***
The Spiritual Dimension
I consider this a tour with a spiritual dimension underlying all
we do. In a true sense, this is what makes St. David's Spiritual
Travelers a unique group of people. We are tourists, but much
more than that too.
Three Other Dimensions
Nature, culture and social justice are three important dimensions
of our South African Adventure. You might come up with other
worthwhile aspects, but consider this a beginning.
Nature. Enjoying geographic beauty will be a major part of our
activity. Flora and fauna - often gloriously different from what we
are used to seeing in Canada - will make this journey memorable.
We can prepare ourselves for maximum rewards by securing books
and other resources to help us anticipate what we will see. Chances
are, we will discover more that way. While our previous trips have
all included natural beauty, this one will be unusual and we hope to
fully enjoy God's creation, South Africa-style!
Culture. An important aspect of our travels will be to come to better
know and understand the human geography and history of this place.
As is the case in Canada, white, Euro-Canadian culture is a very recent development. Indigenous peoples like the Zulus have lived in South
Africa for centuries. And, like our First Nations peoples, indigenous
cultures form the base of both our modern societies. Prepare by
learning more about the host culture that will welcome us.
Social Justice. This dimension will appeal to many who have a
conscience for what has blessed and cursed South Africa - especially
during more recent times. Whose hearts cannot be moved by the
life and contribution of a man like Nelson Mandela? Who will not also
be repulsed by racial conflict? - the results of which we will see.
There are triumphs to celebrate in this country, but there is also tragedy to encounter - even today. An honest but hopeful and compassionate perspective will be required of us. A trip like this can help us to better see and understand the social justice issues confronting our own nation.
Of course, we will enjoy our community of fellow-travelers and the hospitality, generosity and knowledge of our hosts; still ...
Nature. Culture. Social Justice. These three major themes beckon
us to grow spiritually as part of a wonderful South African Adventure!
*****
COLLEAGUE CONTRIBUTIONS
Philip Jenkins,
Waco, TX
The Christian Century,
May 3rd, 2017
"Baptists in the Global South"
http://tinyurl.com/m7gj5qx
--
Martin Marty,
Chicago, IL
Sightings,
May 1st, 2017
"Shocking News on Worship and the Public"
https://tinyurl.com/m35lvve
--
Elfrieda Schroeder,
Winnipeg, MB.
In Transit Blog
May 3rd, 2017
"Spring Ritual"
https://tinyurl.com/n2tgvdd
--
Jim Taylor
Okanagan, BC
Personal Web Log
May 3rd, 2017
"An Inferior God? Why Not?
http://tinyurl.com/lqt48jk
--
Ron Rolheiser,
San Antonio, TX
Personal Web Site
May 1st, 2017
"An Extraordinary Book (about Dorothy Day)"
https://tinyurl.com/memhl4r
--
Thomas Ryan,
Boston, MA
The Paulist
May 1st, 2017
"The 500th Anniversary of the Reformation:
A Time of Unparalleled Opportunity"
http://tinyurl.com/lfhej72
****
NET NOTES
FRANCIS BREAKS PAPAL MOLD
IN HIS APPROACH TO ISLAM
He Takes the Personal Engagement Way
With Egypt's Muslim Leaders, and Others
America Magazine,
May 3rd, 2017
http://tinyurl.com/ktvncyb
"Francis Hails a Healthy Secularism
after His Egypt Visit"
Religion News Service,
May 3rd, 2017
http://tinyurl.com/koxjoau
--
SEVEN THINGS ABOUT WORKING
WITH MILLENNIALS
Leaders Should Know Them
Christian Week Onine
May 1st, 2017
http://tinyurl.com/mjmrn95
--
WHITE AMERICAN EVANGELICALISM
IS A BUBBLE ABOUT TO BURST
Major Rupture is Currently Happening,
and Trump is the Fault-Line
Sojourners,
May 3rd, 2017
http://tinyurl.com/k3v9x6q
--
FLOOR DROPPING OUT FOR MAINLINE
AMERICAN PROTESTANT CHURCHES?
Do 23 Easters Remain?
The Washington Post,
April 28th, 2017
http://tinyurl.com/lqfu9qw
--
SPIRITUAL MATURITY CANNOT BE MEASURED
BY CHURCH ATTENDANCE
It is a Nuanced Matter
The Christian Post
May 4th, 2017
http://tinyurl.com/mos9ne7
--
INDIGENOUS PEOPLES OF PAPUA NEW GUINEA
A Top Priority Must be Protecting Rainforests
UCA News (video)
May 3rd, 2017
https://tinyurl.com/n5j5f8k
--
THE BIGGEST MEGACHURCH ON EARTH
AND KOREA'S CRISIS OF EVANGELISM
Image of Christian Integrity is Shattered
PRI News
May 1st, 2017
http://tinyurl.com/n7nsomx
--
EVANGELICAL, SACRAMENTAL AND PENTECOSTAL
WHY THE CHURCH SHOULD BE ALL THREE
Calgary Educator Proposes Ecumenical Vision
(book notice)
Christianity Today,
March 17th, 2017
http://tinyurl.com/ls848tt
--
YOU CAN THANK MULTICULTURALISM FOR
CANADA'S STRONG POPULATION GROWTH
Globe and Mail
May 4th, 2017
“Seniors outnumber children in Canada for the first time in this country’s history. The reason that gets all the attention is the aging of the baby boomers. The more important reason, which is generally ignored, is that Canada’s fertility rate (the average number of children per mother) is 1.6, half a baby short of the 2.1 children needed to keep a population stable. Nonetheless, Canada’s population grew by 5 per cent between 2011 and 2016, and will continue to grow in the coming decades, reaching 50 million by 2060, thanks to three decades of robust immigration.
…
"Every day we must make the case for a more multicultural Canada.
We must agree to do this together. The alternative is stagnation and decline.”
– John Ibbitson
*****
WISDOM OF THE WEEK
From the Bruderhof and Sojourners Online
Strike against war, for without you no battles can be fought.
Strike against manufacturing shrapnel and gas bombs and
all other tools of murder ...
Be heroes in an army of construction.
- Helen Keller
--
Thou mastering me
God! giver of breath and bread;
World's strand, sway of the sea;
Lord of living and dead;
Thou hast bound bones and veins in me, fastened me flesh,
And after it almost unmade, what with dread,
Thy doing: and dost thou touch me afresh?
Over again I feel thy finger and find thee.
- Gerard Manley Hopkins
--
I know from experience that when I allow busy little doings
to fill the precious time of early morning, when contemplation
might flourish, I open the doors to the demon of acedia. Noon
becomes a blur – no time, no time – the wolfing down of a
sandwich as I listen to the morning’s phone messages and plan
the afternoon’s errands. When evening comes, I am so exhausted
that vespers has become impossible. It is as if I have taken the
world’s weight on my shoulders and am too greedy, and too foolish,
to surrender it to God.
- Kathleen Norris
--
Sunrise is an event that calls forth solemn music in the very
depths of our nature, as if one’s whole being had to attune itself
to the cosmos and praise God for the new day, praise him in the
name of all the creatures that ever were or ever will be. I look at
the rising sun and feel that now upon me falls the responsibility
of seeing what all my ancestors have seen, in the Stone Age
and even before it, praising God before me. Whether or not
they praised him then, for themselves, they must praise him
now in me. When the sun rises each one of us is summoned
by the living and the dead to praise God.
- Thomas Merton
--
I leave you finally a responsibility to our young people. The world
around us really belongs to youth, for youth will take over its future
management. Our children must never lose their zeal for building
a better world. They must not be discouraged from aspiring toward
greatness, for they are to be the leaders of tomorrow. Nor must they
forget that the masses of our people are still underprivileged,
ill-housed, impoverished and victimized by discrimination.
We have a powerful potential in our youth, and we must have the
courage to change old ideas and practices so that we may direct
their power toward good ends.
- Mary McLeod Bethune
--
The prevailing image of creation is a huge complex engine,
requiring (on the part of authorities) vigilance and, on occasion,
repair. Like the vitals of a town clock, it must be periodically oiled,
adjusted, repaired.… And the kings, whatever their moral stripe,
are free in their time and place to mimic the gods. Godlings.
For a time, in a space, they may play their games, superhuman
and silly. But to speak of the community of faith, and of [the prophet]
Daniel, no such idiotic theodicy exists. Rather than wanton power,
a far greater gift is implied and conferred; it is called hope.
An unambiguous gift. A hope which includes the possibility of violent
death, prison, torture, exile, persecution of every kind. A hope which,
on a warranty and promise, and against all odds and evidence, hopes
on – for reasons which surpass all reason.
- Daniel Berrigan
*****
CLOSING THOUGHT - Carrie Chapman Catt
To the wrongs that need resistance,
To the right that needs assistance,
To the future in the distance,
Give yourselves.
(end)
*****
For Those Interested -
ST.DAVID'S SPIRITUAL TRAVELERS EVENT, 2017
South Africa has been chosen as our destination!
We plan a nineteen-day tour that combines a focus
on spirituality, social justice, culture, and nature,
and it will begin October 21st 2017.
A beautiful brochure with trip cost, itinerary, and
many helpful travel hints has been published.
http://tinyurl.com/hucsaf7
Our optimal group size for maximum trip meaning
and value is 28-29 persons.
To date, twenty-six persons have put down deposits
to claim a special saving.
WE ARE CLOSE TO REACHING OUR DEPARTURE GOAL.
YOU CAN STILL REGISTER. After we have 29 deposits
you will be added to a waiting list and still join us
in the event someone has to drop out.
We have installed a South Africa Spiritual Travelers
discussion list group to begin building community
amongst the participants, and to share news and
resources.
We hope to name a tour reporter who will report
back home each day's activities so everyone can
enjoy the experience, if not directly, then indirectly.
Six months from now we leave for South Africa!
Contact Rostad Tours: http://tinyurl.com/hucsaf7
Follow these notices for weekly updates.
*****
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