GLOBAL AND ECUMENICAL IN SCOPE
CANADIAN IN PERSPECTIVE
CHRISTMAS EDITION
Wayne A. Holst, Editor
My E-Mail Address: wholst@telus.net
CANADIAN IN PERSPECTIVE
CHRISTMAS EDITION
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:
My Christmas issue of Colleagues List always contains
our Holst Family Christmas Letter for the season. This
year's letter is included, below.
I also include a recent column written for the Anglican
Journal entitled: "Making Bible Study Special." It is a
reflection on my experience leading bible studies at my
home church, St. David's, for the past fifteen years.
Hopefully the Christmas column I wrote for AJ will be
published by year end and can appear in next week's
issue of Colleagues List.
My feature for next week will be a summary of all key
Special Items selections from all CL issues of the past
twelve months. In the meantime, I wish to you and those
you love a blessed and meaningful Christmas.
Wayne
*****
SPECIAL ITEMS
HOLST FAMILY CHRISTMAS LETTER, 2018
Calgary, Alberta
Dear Friends:
This year’s activities were - in some ways - similar to
the past, but we did experience some unique events
and would like to share them with you.
Our travels took us to Ontario in the spring, while
summer was spent seeing a lot of Alberta. Please
enjoy the article below, which Wayne wrote as his
regular column for the Anglican Journal, the national
communication of the Anglican Church in Canada.
After many engagements in our respective home provinces,
it seemed appropriate to write a comparison story about
“the trillium and the wild rose” – our beautiful provincial
flowers.*
We enjoyed a wide range of cultural and natural beauty
again this year and are grateful for health that allows both
of us such freedom in our 8th decade. We work hard at
exercise, proper meds and diet – all of which seem to
help. Our family continues to be spread out across the
province and the world.
Most are able to see each other together at least once a
year, and that is always a special occasion. Our grandchildren
continue to be an inspiration. Both of us are involved quite
extensively at St. David’s United Church, as we have for
many years. Marlene works in hospitality and office
administration while Wayne in engaged in teaching
and social justice. Together, we serve as tour hosts,
and this spring we plan to lead a 30-member group
tour to East Europe and Russia - our fifth St. David’s
Spiritual Travelers activity.
We are fortunate to be able to work with a number of
wonderful co-leaders and participants in ten or twelve
ministries involving perhaps 150 persons. This year we
attended two memorial/funeral services for friends Keith
Boeckner and Russell Golem while in Ontario (one
scheduled, one not) - a reminder that life is a gift which
has its limits but also its great joys.
Marlene and Wayne
marleneaholst@gmail.com waholst@telus.net
*Link to Trillium and Wild Rose Article:
https://tinyurl.com/yba43jc6
*****
Here is my recently published column in the
Anglican Journal:
MAKING BIBLE STUDY SPECIAL
Anglican Journal, December, 2018
https://tinyurl.com/y89r2are
*****
COLLEAGUE CONTRIBUTIONS
Mark Whittall
Ottawa, ON.
Sermons and Blog
December 15th, 2018
"God News?"
https://tinyurl.com/y9wnpwx8
--
*****
Dear Friends:
My Christmas issue of Colleagues List always contains
our Holst Family Christmas Letter for the season. This
year's letter is included, below.
I also include a recent column written for the Anglican
Journal entitled: "Making Bible Study Special." It is a
reflection on my experience leading bible studies at my
home church, St. David's, for the past fifteen years.
Hopefully the Christmas column I wrote for AJ will be
published by year end and can appear in next week's
issue of Colleagues List.
My feature for next week will be a summary of all key
Special Items selections from all CL issues of the past
twelve months. In the meantime, I wish to you and those
you love a blessed and meaningful Christmas.
Wayne
*****
SPECIAL ITEMS
HOLST FAMILY CHRISTMAS LETTER, 2018
Calgary, Alberta
Dear Friends:
This year’s activities were - in some ways - similar to
the past, but we did experience some unique events
and would like to share them with you.
Our travels took us to Ontario in the spring, while
summer was spent seeing a lot of Alberta. Please
enjoy the article below, which Wayne wrote as his
regular column for the Anglican Journal, the national
communication of the Anglican Church in Canada.
After many engagements in our respective home provinces,
it seemed appropriate to write a comparison story about
“the trillium and the wild rose” – our beautiful provincial
flowers.*
We enjoyed a wide range of cultural and natural beauty
again this year and are grateful for health that allows both
of us such freedom in our 8th decade. We work hard at
exercise, proper meds and diet – all of which seem to
help. Our family continues to be spread out across the
province and the world.
Most are able to see each other together at least once a
year, and that is always a special occasion. Our grandchildren
continue to be an inspiration. Both of us are involved quite
extensively at St. David’s United Church, as we have for
many years. Marlene works in hospitality and office
administration while Wayne in engaged in teaching
and social justice. Together, we serve as tour hosts,
and this spring we plan to lead a 30-member group
tour to East Europe and Russia - our fifth St. David’s
Spiritual Travelers activity.
We are fortunate to be able to work with a number of
wonderful co-leaders and participants in ten or twelve
ministries involving perhaps 150 persons. This year we
attended two memorial/funeral services for friends Keith
Boeckner and Russell Golem while in Ontario (one
scheduled, one not) - a reminder that life is a gift which
has its limits but also its great joys.
Marlene and Wayne
marleneaholst@gmail.com waholst@telus.net
*Link to Trillium and Wild Rose Article:
https://tinyurl.com/yba43jc6
*****
Here is my recently published column in the
Anglican Journal:
MAKING BIBLE STUDY SPECIAL
Anglican Journal, December, 2018
https://tinyurl.com/y89r2are
*****
COLLEAGUE CONTRIBUTIONS
Mark Whittall
Ottawa, ON.
Sermons and Blog
December 15th, 2018
"God News?"
https://tinyurl.com/y9wnpwx8
--
Jim Taylor,
Okanagan, BC
Personal Web Log,
December 19th, 2018
"Christmas Trees and Memories"
https://tinyurl.com/y9rb7ptl
--
Ron Rolheiser,
San Antonio, TX
Personal Web Site
December 17th, 2018
"The Double Message of Christmas"
https://tinyurl.com/ycjr4xv4
--
Ron Rolheiser,
San Antonio, TX
Personal Web Site
December 17th, 2018
"The Double Message of Christmas"
https://tinyurl.com/ycjr4xv4
*****
NET NOTES
WINTER SOLTICE IS DECEMBER 21st
Eight Things to Know About It
Vox,
December 21st, 2018
https://tinyurl.com/ycpx527e
--
THE REAL WORK OF CHRISTMAS
Starts When Decorations are Put Away
Religion News Service,
December 18th, 2018
https://tinyurl.com/yb6gpdwq
--
WHY HAS 'SILENT NIGHT' ENDURED?
Two Hundred Years After It Appeared
Religion News Service,
December 21st, 2018
https://tinyurl.com/ycv5jup7
--
WHY DOES THE SOUL OF INDIA
RESPOND TO CHRISTMAS?
Festivals Link God and Humanity
LaCroix International
December 17th, 2018
https://tinyurl.com/y9jlp26f
--
'HACKING THE GOOD' FROM RELIGION
AT A SECULAR SOLSTICE
Pre-Christian Traditions Can Teach Us Much
Religion News Service,
December 20th, 2018
https://tinyurl.com/ybj2wwkd
--
CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS HAVE ALWAYS
DRAWN FROM MANY CULTURES
Religious Studies Helps Us See This
Folio,
University of Alberta
December 18th, 2018
https://tinyurl.com/yd769c3f
--
THE HURON CAROL TAKES ON
A WHOLE NEW MEANING
Classic Christmas Carol Updated
United Church Observer,
December, 2018
https://tinyurl.com/ycmlbvkc
--
TWO VIBRANT CONGREGATIONS IN WINNIPEG
Anglican Churches Assume New Mission Approach
The Christian Century,
December 12th, 2018
https://tinyurl.com/y93o6z4y
*****
WINTER SOLTICE IS DECEMBER 21st
Eight Things to Know About It
Vox,
December 21st, 2018
https://tinyurl.com/ycpx527e
--
THE REAL WORK OF CHRISTMAS
Starts When Decorations are Put Away
Religion News Service,
December 18th, 2018
https://tinyurl.com/yb6gpdwq
--
WHY HAS 'SILENT NIGHT' ENDURED?
Two Hundred Years After It Appeared
Religion News Service,
December 21st, 2018
https://tinyurl.com/ycv5jup7
--
WHY DOES THE SOUL OF INDIA
RESPOND TO CHRISTMAS?
Festivals Link God and Humanity
LaCroix International
December 17th, 2018
https://tinyurl.com/y9jlp26f
--
'HACKING THE GOOD' FROM RELIGION
AT A SECULAR SOLSTICE
Pre-Christian Traditions Can Teach Us Much
Religion News Service,
December 20th, 2018
https://tinyurl.com/ybj2wwkd
--
CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS HAVE ALWAYS
DRAWN FROM MANY CULTURES
Religious Studies Helps Us See This
Folio,
University of Alberta
December 18th, 2018
https://tinyurl.com/yd769c3f
--
THE HURON CAROL TAKES ON
A WHOLE NEW MEANING
Classic Christmas Carol Updated
United Church Observer,
December, 2018
https://tinyurl.com/ycmlbvkc
--
TWO VIBRANT CONGREGATIONS IN WINNIPEG
Anglican Churches Assume New Mission Approach
The Christian Century,
December 12th, 2018
https://tinyurl.com/y93o6z4y
*****
WISDOM OF THE WEEK
From Sojourners and fhe Bruderhof online
Seasons of loss, like the colder seasons,
are the hardest ones to endure, even if you
logically understand they won't last forever.
- Mari Andrew
--
In Advent, Christians remember that God not only
hears the cry of the poor, but God was born one
of the oppressed.
- Shelley Douglass, Advent in a Crumbling Empire
--
If everyone were holy and handsome, with
“alter Christus” shining in neon lighting from them,
it would be easy to see Christ in everyone. If Mary
had appeared in Bethlehem clothed, as Saint John
says, with the sun, a crown of twelve stars on her
head, and the moon under her feet, then people
would have fought to make room for her.
But that was not God’s way for her, nor is it Christ’s
way for himself, now when he is disguised under
every type of humanity that treads the earth.
- Dorothy Day
--
We have become so accustomed to the idea of
divine love and of God’s coming at Christmas that
we no longer feel the shiver of fear that God’s coming
should arouse in us. We are indifferent to the message,
taking only the pleasant and agreeable out of it and
forgetting the serious aspect, that the God of the world
draws near to the people of our little earth and lays claim
to us. The coming of God is truly not only glad tidings,
but first of all frightening news for everyone who has a
conscience.
- Dietrich Bonhoeffer
*****
From Sojourners and fhe Bruderhof online
Seasons of loss, like the colder seasons,
are the hardest ones to endure, even if you
logically understand they won't last forever.
- Mari Andrew
--
In Advent, Christians remember that God not only
hears the cry of the poor, but God was born one
of the oppressed.
- Shelley Douglass, Advent in a Crumbling Empire
--
If everyone were holy and handsome, with
“alter Christus” shining in neon lighting from them,
it would be easy to see Christ in everyone. If Mary
had appeared in Bethlehem clothed, as Saint John
says, with the sun, a crown of twelve stars on her
head, and the moon under her feet, then people
would have fought to make room for her.
But that was not God’s way for her, nor is it Christ’s
way for himself, now when he is disguised under
every type of humanity that treads the earth.
- Dorothy Day
--
We have become so accustomed to the idea of
divine love and of God’s coming at Christmas that
we no longer feel the shiver of fear that God’s coming
should arouse in us. We are indifferent to the message,
taking only the pleasant and agreeable out of it and
forgetting the serious aspect, that the God of the world
draws near to the people of our little earth and lays claim
to us. The coming of God is truly not only glad tidings,
but first of all frightening news for everyone who has a
conscience.
- Dietrich Bonhoeffer
*****
CLOSING THOUGHT - L.R. Knost
Love intentionally, extravagantly, unconditionally.
The broken world waits in darkness for the light
that is you.
The broken world waits in darkness for the light
that is you.
(end)
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