GLOBAL AND ECUMENICAL IN SCOPE
CANADIAN IN PERSPECTIVE
Wayne A. Holst, Editor
My E-Mail Address: wholst@telus.net
CANADIAN IN PERSPECTIVE
Wayne A. Holst, Editor
My E-Mail Address: wholst@telus.net
This email is sent only to a voluntary subscriber list.
If you no longer wish to receive these weekly columns,
write to me personally - waholst@telus.net
*****
Dear Friends,
Last weekend a special, historic event took place at my home church, St. David's United, Calgary and I would like to tell you about it.
Read about the episcopal ordination of woman-priest Jane Kryzanowski which I was invited to attend. Our support at St. David's for events like this now goes back more than a decade.
Please enjoy the other items I have selected for you as well.
Wayne
*****
SPECIAL ITEM
Jane Kryzanowski Ordained New Bishop for RCWP at
St. David's United Church, Calgary (July 21st, 2018)
Roman Catholic Woman Priest (RCWP) website articles were selected and published by colleague Felix Kryzanowski of Regina, SK. the new bishop's husband.
http://rcwpcanada.x10.mx/
*****
Dear Friends,
Last weekend a special, historic event took place at my home church, St. David's United, Calgary and I would like to tell you about it.
Read about the episcopal ordination of woman-priest Jane Kryzanowski which I was invited to attend. Our support at St. David's for events like this now goes back more than a decade.
Please enjoy the other items I have selected for you as well.
Wayne
*****
SPECIAL ITEM
Jane Kryzanowski Ordained New Bishop for RCWP at
St. David's United Church, Calgary (July 21st, 2018)
Roman Catholic Woman Priest (RCWP) website articles were selected and published by colleague Felix Kryzanowski of Regina, SK. the new bishop's husband.
http://rcwpcanada.x10.mx/
The evening before the episcopal ordination I attended a presentation at the University of Calgary in which three existing North American bishops - Nancy Meyer, Jane Via and Marie Bouclin - were interviewed and responded to the following three concerns:
1. Why I'm still Roman Catholic
2. My migration from exile to living the Gospel (and)
3. What keeps me going
I sensed a profound desire to remain true to the essence of the Gospel, and a commitment to inclusivity and community in all of the responses. I also sensed these women were in it for the long haul, and were working on "tent-making" activities in the spirit of St. Paul, to support their ministries.
While the Roman Catholic Church is clearly hierarchical in structure, the model for their ministries was an early church form that was circular and "bottom-up" in nature.
The comments were intelligent, thoughtful, and grounded in much prayer and spiritual discipline.
Their preaching and teaching styles were not confrontational but inclusive and inviting in nature. All of the speakers had had bad experiences in their past, but they were committed to respond with peaceful and resolute conviction in the spirit of Christ.
I was also impressed with their commitment to sound, contemporary ecumenical theology and spirituality.
A total of 267 woman-priests now serve in many nations, world-wide.
As in the past, I was impressed by the authenticity of their testimony.
***
The following day, July 21st, was an historic occasion for the Canadian Catholic Church in general and St. David's United, Calgary in particular.
For the first time in Canadian Catholic Church history, a woman was ordained a bishop on Canadian soil. St. David's had the privilege and opportunity to serve as the host facility for the event, since, obviously, no Roman Catholic parish in the country would be allowed to do so.
I sensed it to be a foretaste of the feast to come in which there would be no "winners" or "losers" but when the whole church would be renewed in Christ.
In the words of one of the speakers - "out of the ashes of older traditions, a new spirit was breaking forth."
As a Protestant attendee, I can attest that the atmosphere of the gathering, while truly unostentatious, could indeed serve as a model for many of our own important services. Indeed, I knew that the Holy Spirit was present here.
While the liturgy was grounded in biblical theology, a special place was reserved for the reading of an extra-canonical text, the Gospel of Mary (Magdalene). I was particularly drawn to the exchanges between Mary and some of the other apostles in that early Christian community where it was openly stated that Jesus had expressed a special love for Mary and this was recognized and appreciated by many of the others.
(Interestingly, our St. David's Bible Study Group had studied this extra-canonical text only last spring and the public reading I heard at worship today was good to experience in a worship context.)
Over all there was a spirit of courage and hope, not a feeling of being abused by power or fear. In this time of social unrest on matters of gender, I found this experience to be particularly encouraging. These women had experienced abuse and marginalization, but they were not allowing this to define them. Here, I believe, is good advice for everyone.
The final words of Bishop Jane on this special day for her and all of us was this - "Don't let others define you. Instead, listen to the divine voice within you."
A final thought on the ordination experience came to me as I left this event. I was taken, in my spirit to the story of Gamaliel, a Pharisee and teacher of the law. His words were shared with his peers in the Jewish Council who were debating the fate of Peter and other apostles. I thought of their application here, and so I share them with you:
Acts 5:33-42 Good News Translation selections (GNT/TEV)
Gamaliel said:
“Fellow Israelites, "be careful what you do to these men...
And so in this case, I tell you, do not take any action...
Leave them alone!... If what they have planned and done is
of human origin, it will disappear, but if it comes from God,
you cannot possibly defeat them. You could find yourselves
fighting against God!”
Acts 5:33-42 Good News Translation selections (GNT/TEV)
Gamaliel said:
“Fellow Israelites, "be careful what you do to these men...
And so in this case, I tell you, do not take any action...
Leave them alone!... If what they have planned and done is
of human origin, it will disappear, but if it comes from God,
you cannot possibly defeat them. You could find yourselves
fighting against God!”
- Wayne Holst
-----
The following article, featuring colleague and friend, Calgary woman-priest Monica Kilborn-Smith appeared in the Calgary Herald Magazine some years ago.
*****
Michael Higgins,
Sacred Heart University
Fairfield, CT.
Globe and Mail,
July 25th, 2018
"Fifty years ago,
an unholy mess shook the Catholic church"
“...the ‘Pope of the Council,’ Paul VI, issued on July
25th, 1968 Humanae vitae, his long awaited encyclical
on artificial means of birth regulation. The encyclical
reinforced the traditional ban against birth control, a
position that startled as many inside the Roman
Catholic Church as it did outside. For some time, a
growing expectation of change in the teaching had
created a momentum that came to a grinding halt
with the Pope’s document. The shock waves unleashed
by Humanae vitae were strong and long-lasting.
A massive diminishment of the credibility of papal
teaching on sexual matters created an ecclesial
nightmare the authorities are still struggling to emerge from.”
--
Ron Rolheiser,
San Antonio, TX
Personal Web Site
July 23rd, 2018
"To the Friends I've Known"
https://tinyurl.com/ydggoj5m
--
Martin Marty,
Chicago, IL.
Sightings,
July 23rd, 2018
"The Prosperity-Anti-Gospel"
https://tinyurl.com/ycm2kn9r
--
Jim Taylor,
Okanagan, BC
Personal Web Log,
July 22nd, 2018
"Fake News -
Mobs Don't Distinguish Facts from Falsehood"
https://tinyurl.com/ybl7zo4u
June 25th, 2018
"How Colonizers Gain Control"
https://tinyurl.com/y8tcpgl4
*****
NET NOTES
FORCED TO LEAVE
Africa's Young Migrants
La Croix International
July 24th, 2018
https://tinyurl.com/ycm6zpr5
--
BREAKING UP IS HARD TO DO
Brexit from the EU Not Happening
America Magazine,
July 24th, 2018
https://tinyurl.com/ycf7479t
--
NEWS PHOTOS FROM 30 YEARS AGO
Calgary Winter Games Were Big That Year
The Atlantic,
July 2018
https://tinyurl.com/y8qpcfp4
--
WOMEN OF THE BIBLE SAY "#ME/TOO"
More Examples from Biblical Studies
The Christian Century,
July 17th, 2018
https://tinyurl.com/y8rpeufs
--
ELCA ELECTS SIX WOMEN BISHOPS THIS YEAR
#MeToo and Holy Spirit Concerns High on Their Agendas
Religion News Service
July 25th, 2018
https://tinyurl.com/y9l6kfyb
--
THE MOST SPIRITUALLY LITERATE FILMS OF 2018
A Listing of Those Appearing So Far at Least
Spirituality and Practice,
July 24th, 2018
https://tinyurl.com/y82q4lpt
--
AMERICAN PASTOR RELEASED FROM TURKISH JAIL
He Had Been Charged With Terrorism, Helping Kurds
Religion News Service,
July 25th, 2018
https://tinyurl.com/yca4ogvz
The Christian Post,
July 25th, 2018
"Pastor Now Placed Under House Arrest"
https://tinyurl.com/ycky4bw3
--
IS TURKEY RETURNING TO NORMAL? NOT AT ALL
Ending State of Emergency Does Not End Crackdown
La Croix International
July 23rd, 2018
https://tinyurl.com/y7kkcarj
--
PEOPLE WITH STRONG RELIGIOUS BELIEFS SPEND LESS
They Also Make Fewer Impulse Purchases
Harvard Business Review,
July 23rd, 2018
https://tinyurl.com/y8q8824r
--
CANADA SPARKS DARING MISSION TO HELP HUNDREDS
OF HUMANITARIAN WORKERS TRAPPED IN SYRIA
Not Unlike the "Canadian Caper" in Tehran, 1979.
Globe and Mail,
July 23rd, 2018
https://tinyurl.com/yaupkxuw
The Canadian Caper
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadian_Caper
*****
WISDOM OF THE WEEK
From Sojourners and the Bruderhof online:
It is this belief in a power larger than myself and
other than myself which allows me to venture into
the unknown and even the unknowable.
- Maya Angelou
--
How easily we forget that the church was founded
by disciples who betrayed their master. None was
willing to stand by Jesus as the religious and political
authorities condemned him to death. At his moment
of greatest need, the disciples fled in the darkness.
The boldest of the lot, Peter, was the very one who
cursed and denied him three times before the cock
crew. It was for traitors that Jesus died.
- Philip Yancey
--
Let us go forward quietly, forever making for the light,
and lifting up our hearts in the knowledge that we are
as others are (and that others are as we are), and that
it is right to love one another in the best possible way -
believing all things, hoping for all things, and enduring
all things.…And let us not be too troubled by our
weaknesses, for even he who has none, has one
weakness, namely that he thinks he has none, and
anyone who believes himself to be so perfect or wise
would do well to become foolish all over again.
- Vincent van Gogh
*****
CLOSING THOUGHT - Anaïs Nin
We don't see things as they are, we see them as we are.
(end)
*****
For those interested:
From Sojourners and the Bruderhof online:
It is this belief in a power larger than myself and
other than myself which allows me to venture into
the unknown and even the unknowable.
- Maya Angelou
--
How easily we forget that the church was founded
by disciples who betrayed their master. None was
willing to stand by Jesus as the religious and political
authorities condemned him to death. At his moment
of greatest need, the disciples fled in the darkness.
The boldest of the lot, Peter, was the very one who
cursed and denied him three times before the cock
crew. It was for traitors that Jesus died.
- Philip Yancey
--
Let us go forward quietly, forever making for the light,
and lifting up our hearts in the knowledge that we are
as others are (and that others are as we are), and that
it is right to love one another in the best possible way -
believing all things, hoping for all things, and enduring
all things.…And let us not be too troubled by our
weaknesses, for even he who has none, has one
weakness, namely that he thinks he has none, and
anyone who believes himself to be so perfect or wise
would do well to become foolish all over again.
- Vincent van Gogh
*****
CLOSING THOUGHT - Anaïs Nin
We don't see things as they are, we see them as we are.
(end)
*****
For those interested:
ST. DAVIDS ADULT SPIRITUAL DEVELOPMENT/ACTS MINISTRY
FALL PROGRAM BEGINS TO TAKE SHAPE
ST. DAVID'S MONDAY NIGHT STUDY 'BOOKENDS' EVENT
Monday, September 10th, 2018
TM Room 7:00 - 9:00 PM
Come for a free evening to view our official South African
Spiritual Travelers pictures (October-November 2017)
created by many tour-members and assembled by
Jock McTavish.
Learn about our up-coming tour, April-May 2018
"From Vienna to Moscow" (see more details, below)
*****
ST. DAVID'S ACTS MONDAY NIGHT FALL BOOK STUDY
A Ten Week Series September 17th - November 26th, 2018
Monday Evenings, TM Room 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM
(No class on Thanksgiving Monday)
"THE BOOK OF JOY"
Lasting Happiness in a Changing World
Authors: Dalai Lama and Desmond Tutu
Registration/Hospitality and Book: $60.00.
Book only: $25.00
Authors: Dalai Lama and Desmond Tutu
Registration/Hospitality and Book: $60.00.
Book only: $25.00
Registration and Book Sale begins Sunday, August 26th
35 copies of the book will be available for sale.
Background information on the study book will be
provided here during the next weeks of summer:
--
Other background:
During the 2017-2018 fall/winter two term series -
Total class registrations: 70
Total books sold: 78
Our best year ever, since we started in 1998!
***
***
ST. DAVID'S SPIRITUAL TRAVELERS TOUR, 2019
East Europe and Russia have been chosen as our destinations!
This will be our fifth Spiritual Travelers Tour, with a
group emerging from St. David's but very open to others.
The Tour is entitled: "From Vienna to Moscow"
We plan a twenty-day tour that combines a focus
on spirituality, culture and the relationship between
religion and politics. The tour will run from April 26th
through May 16th, 2019.
A beautiful brochure with trip cost, itinerary, and
many helpful travel hints will soon be published.
A beautiful brochure with trip cost, itinerary, and
many helpful travel hints will soon be published.
Our trip sale will begin (with early bird registration
benefits) beginning in September, 2018
Our Canadian tour company is Rostad Tours, Calgary.
Contact Rostad Tours: http://www.rostad.com/
Contact Rostad Tours: http://www.rostad.com/
Follow these notices for weekly updates.
***
ST. DAVID'S ACTS THURSDAY MORNING STUDY
Ten Sessions September 13th-November 22nd, 2018
Biblical book(s) to be studied this autumn will be
determined by the class at their first meeting on
Thursday, Sept. 13th with ten sessions following.
Gathering at 9:30 AM in the St. David's TM Room
and meeting 10:00 - 11:00 AM.
No charge
Study resource -
"The DK Complete Bible Handbook"
Edited by John Bowker
http://tinyurl.com/odxlv7q
*****
