GLOBAL AND ECUMENICAL IN SCOPE
CANADIAN IN PERSPECTIVE
Wayne A. Holst, Editor
My E-Mail Address: wholst@telus.net
--
I have come to believe over and over again that
what is most important to me must be spoken,
made verbal and shared, even at the risk of
having it bruised or misunderstood.
- Audre Lorde
--
If it's painful for you to hear my story, it's OK.
That's part of the process because my story
includes pain, so don't stop listening because
you are uncomfortable. If you would just move
past your discomfort you might learn something
about empathy and compassion and mercy
and justice.
- Pastor Gricel Medina
--
To be baptized “into Christ” and “in the name of Christ”
means to be incorporated into the way of life which
characterized his life, the life of the empty one, the
servant, the humble one, the obedient one, obedient
even unto death (Phil. 2:6–11). That day at the Jordan,
knee deep in cold water, with old John drenching him,
the Anointed One began his journey down the via
crucis. His baptism intimated where he would finally
end. His whole life was caught up in this single sign.
Our baptism does the same.
- William Willimon
--
Truth is frightening. Pontius Pilate knew that, and
washed his hands of truth when he washed his
hands of Jesus. Truth is demanding. It won’t let
us sit comfortably. It knocks out our cozy
smugness and casual condemnation. It makes
us move. It? It? For truth we can read Jesus.
Jesus is truth. If we accept that Jesus is truth,
we accept an enormous demand: Jesus is wholly
God, and Jesus is wholly human. Dare we believe
that? If we believe in Jesus we must.
And immediately that takes truth out of the
limited realm of literalism.
- Madeleine L’Engle
--
An enormous conflict between words and deeds is
prevalent today: everyone talks about freedom,
democracy, justice, human rights, about peace and
saving the world from nuclear apocalypse; and at the
same time, everyone, more or less, consciously or
unconsciously, serves those values and ideals only
to the extent necessary to serve himself and his
“worldly” interests, personal interests, group interests,
power interests, property interests, and state or great-
power interests.…So the power structures apparently
have no other choice than to sink deeper into this
vicious maelstrom, and contemporary people
apparently have no other choice than to wait
around until the final inhibition drops away.
But who should begin? Who should break this
vicious circle? Responsibility cannot be preached
but only borne, and the only possible place to begin
is with oneself.
- Vaclav Havel
*****
CLOSING THOUGHT - Arundhati Roy
There’s really no such thing as the ‘voiceless’.
There are only the deliberately silenced,
or the preferably unheard.
(end)
*****
ANNUAL ST. DAVID'S LENTEN RETREAT
Mount St. Francis Retreat Centre
Cochrane, AB
Registration/Hospitality and Book: $60.00.
Book only: $20.00
Total class registrations: 42
***
ST. DAVID'S SPIRITUAL TRAVELERS TOUR, 2019
East Europe and Russia were chosen as our destinations!
We plan a twenty-day tour that combines a focus
on spirituality, culture and the relationship between
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,
A year ago, I wrote the Special Item I
am re-using now on the value of attending
a Lenten retreat.
I am again sharing that Anglican Journal
column because I continue to find it helpful.
Please enjoy all the other items I am
also providing for you with this issue.
Wayne
*****
SPECIAL ITEM
My Anglican Journal column
for March, 2018 (repeated)
Encountering the Sacred at the Mount
Our Congregational Lenten Retreat
http://tinyurl.com/y3lonp6b
*****
COLLEAGUE CONTRIBUTIONS
Mark Whittall,
Ottawa, ON.
Sermons and Blog
March 16th, 2019
Blessing and Lament
http://tinyurl.com/yxc7wf3c
--
*****
Dear Friends,
A year ago, I wrote the Special Item I
am re-using now on the value of attending
a Lenten retreat.
I am again sharing that Anglican Journal
column because I continue to find it helpful.
Please enjoy all the other items I am
also providing for you with this issue.
Wayne
*****
SPECIAL ITEM
My Anglican Journal column
for March, 2018 (repeated)
Encountering the Sacred at the Mount
Our Congregational Lenten Retreat
http://tinyurl.com/y3lonp6b
*****
COLLEAGUE CONTRIBUTIONS
Mark Whittall,
Ottawa, ON.
Sermons and Blog
March 16th, 2019
Blessing and Lament
http://tinyurl.com/yxc7wf3c
--
Jim Taylor,
Okanagan, BC
Personal Web Log
March 18th, 2019
The Mattress that Fell from the Sky
http://tinyurl.com/y48cvxce
--
Ron Rolheiser,
San Antonio, TX
Personal Web Site
March 18th, 2019
Our Struggle for Proper Celebration
http://tinyurl.com/y4cgravd
*****
NET NOTES
THE TRUTH ABOUT
ST. PATRICKS DAY
Facts and Legends
Religion News Service,
March 15th, 2019
http://tinyurl.com/yyal5b8p
--
ARE WE WITNESSING THE
TRIUMPH OF EVIL?
A Jewish Reflection on Christchurch
Religion News Service
March 18th, 2019
http://tinyurl.com/y64esxl8
--
KNOWING AND PREACHING
THE JEWISH JESUS
Interview with Amy-Jill Levine,
Jewish Theologian
The Christian Century,
March 13th, 2019
http://tinyurl.com/y5bggvld
--
TIBET REMAINS RESTIVE
UNDER CHINESE RULE
China Confines Foreign Travel
UCA News,
March 19th, 2019
https://tinyurl.com/yyzp3bmy
--
BEING A GAY CHRISTIAN CAN
BE HURTFUL AND GRUELLING
But I refuse to Lose Faith
The Guardian,
March 21st, 2019
https://tinyurl.com/y6gjg7qn
--
DOOMSDAY PROPHET SAYS
BIBLE PREDICTED TRUMP
Has Many Faithful Followers
New York Times
March 17th, 2019
http://tinyurl.com/y5q4dpfp
--
NONES - NOW AS LARGE A SECTOR
AS EVANGELICALS, CATHOLICS IN USA
Non-Committed a Growing Voice There
Religion News Service,
March 22nd, 2019
http://tinyurl.com/yygmvmyk
--
LUTHERANS CELEBRATE TWENTY
YEARS OF AMITY WITH CATHOLICS
Justification Agreement Also Supported
by Methodists and Anglicans
La Croix International
March 20th, 2019
https://tinyurl.com/y6lzstkn
--
MOST U.S. CHRISTIANS FIND TRUMP
SIGNING BIBLES INAPPROPRIATE
Another Blurring of Church and State
Religion News Service,
March 20th, 2019
https://tinyurl.com/y5z5p5nw
--
THE BRITS SHOULD HAVE LEARNED
FROM THE QUEBEC REFERENDUM
Commentary on the Problems of Brexit
Globe and Mail,
March 18th, 2019
“At the time of the 1995 Quebec referendum,
then-prime minister Jean Chrétien
controversially advanced the view that a simple
majority vote was not enough to take Quebec
out of Canada. ... The close referendum vote
in 2016 and the Westminster shenanigans that
have ensued since surely remind Canadians
of the wisdom and prescience of their federal
leaders when their own referendum vote was
held.
Chrétien was right; votes that bring overwhelming
change may well require overwhelming votes in
favour.”
- Barbara Yaffe is a retired journalist in Vancouver.
*****
WISDOM OF THE WEEK
Provided by Sojourners and the Bruderhof online:
Okanagan, BC
Personal Web Log
March 18th, 2019
The Mattress that Fell from the Sky
http://tinyurl.com/y48cvxce
--
Ron Rolheiser,
San Antonio, TX
Personal Web Site
March 18th, 2019
Our Struggle for Proper Celebration
http://tinyurl.com/y4cgravd
*****
NET NOTES
THE TRUTH ABOUT
ST. PATRICKS DAY
Facts and Legends
Religion News Service,
March 15th, 2019
http://tinyurl.com/yyal5b8p
--
ARE WE WITNESSING THE
TRIUMPH OF EVIL?
A Jewish Reflection on Christchurch
Religion News Service
March 18th, 2019
http://tinyurl.com/y64esxl8
--
KNOWING AND PREACHING
THE JEWISH JESUS
Interview with Amy-Jill Levine,
Jewish Theologian
The Christian Century,
March 13th, 2019
http://tinyurl.com/y5bggvld
--
TIBET REMAINS RESTIVE
UNDER CHINESE RULE
China Confines Foreign Travel
UCA News,
March 19th, 2019
https://tinyurl.com/yyzp3bmy
--
BEING A GAY CHRISTIAN CAN
BE HURTFUL AND GRUELLING
But I refuse to Lose Faith
The Guardian,
March 21st, 2019
https://tinyurl.com/y6gjg7qn
--
DOOMSDAY PROPHET SAYS
BIBLE PREDICTED TRUMP
Has Many Faithful Followers
New York Times
March 17th, 2019
http://tinyurl.com/y5q4dpfp
--
NONES - NOW AS LARGE A SECTOR
AS EVANGELICALS, CATHOLICS IN USA
Non-Committed a Growing Voice There
Religion News Service,
March 22nd, 2019
http://tinyurl.com/yygmvmyk
--
LUTHERANS CELEBRATE TWENTY
YEARS OF AMITY WITH CATHOLICS
Justification Agreement Also Supported
by Methodists and Anglicans
La Croix International
March 20th, 2019
https://tinyurl.com/y6lzstkn
--
MOST U.S. CHRISTIANS FIND TRUMP
SIGNING BIBLES INAPPROPRIATE
Another Blurring of Church and State
Religion News Service,
March 20th, 2019
https://tinyurl.com/y5z5p5nw
--
THE BRITS SHOULD HAVE LEARNED
FROM THE QUEBEC REFERENDUM
Commentary on the Problems of Brexit
Globe and Mail,
March 18th, 2019
“At the time of the 1995 Quebec referendum,
then-prime minister Jean Chrétien
controversially advanced the view that a simple
majority vote was not enough to take Quebec
out of Canada. ... The close referendum vote
in 2016 and the Westminster shenanigans that
have ensued since surely remind Canadians
of the wisdom and prescience of their federal
leaders when their own referendum vote was
held.
Chrétien was right; votes that bring overwhelming
change may well require overwhelming votes in
favour.”
- Barbara Yaffe is a retired journalist in Vancouver.
*****
WISDOM OF THE WEEK
Provided by Sojourners and the Bruderhof online:
to hate
is an easy lazy thing
but to love
takes strength
everyone has
but not all are
willing to practice
is an easy lazy thing
but to love
takes strength
everyone has
but not all are
willing to practice
- Rupi Kaur
--
I have come to believe over and over again that
what is most important to me must be spoken,
made verbal and shared, even at the risk of
having it bruised or misunderstood.
- Audre Lorde
--
If it's painful for you to hear my story, it's OK.
That's part of the process because my story
includes pain, so don't stop listening because
you are uncomfortable. If you would just move
past your discomfort you might learn something
about empathy and compassion and mercy
and justice.
- Pastor Gricel Medina
--
To be baptized “into Christ” and “in the name of Christ”
means to be incorporated into the way of life which
characterized his life, the life of the empty one, the
servant, the humble one, the obedient one, obedient
even unto death (Phil. 2:6–11). That day at the Jordan,
knee deep in cold water, with old John drenching him,
the Anointed One began his journey down the via
crucis. His baptism intimated where he would finally
end. His whole life was caught up in this single sign.
Our baptism does the same.
- William Willimon
--
Truth is frightening. Pontius Pilate knew that, and
washed his hands of truth when he washed his
hands of Jesus. Truth is demanding. It won’t let
us sit comfortably. It knocks out our cozy
smugness and casual condemnation. It makes
us move. It? It? For truth we can read Jesus.
Jesus is truth. If we accept that Jesus is truth,
we accept an enormous demand: Jesus is wholly
God, and Jesus is wholly human. Dare we believe
that? If we believe in Jesus we must.
And immediately that takes truth out of the
limited realm of literalism.
- Madeleine L’Engle
--
An enormous conflict between words and deeds is
prevalent today: everyone talks about freedom,
democracy, justice, human rights, about peace and
saving the world from nuclear apocalypse; and at the
same time, everyone, more or less, consciously or
unconsciously, serves those values and ideals only
to the extent necessary to serve himself and his
“worldly” interests, personal interests, group interests,
power interests, property interests, and state or great-
power interests.…So the power structures apparently
have no other choice than to sink deeper into this
vicious maelstrom, and contemporary people
apparently have no other choice than to wait
around until the final inhibition drops away.
But who should begin? Who should break this
vicious circle? Responsibility cannot be preached
but only borne, and the only possible place to begin
is with oneself.
- Vaclav Havel
*****
CLOSING THOUGHT - Arundhati Roy
There’s really no such thing as the ‘voiceless’.
There are only the deliberately silenced,
or the preferably unheard.
(end)
*****
For those interested:
Current ACTS Ministry Activities at
St. David's United Church, Calgary
CANADIAN AUTHOR MARY JO LEDDY
Launches her new book in Calgary -
"WHY ARE WE HERE? - A Meditation on Canada"
Book Sale and Signing, Q&A, Hospitality
St. David's United Church
3303 Capitol Hill Crescent, NW
3303 Capitol Hill Crescent, NW
Monday, April 1st, 2019
7:00PM - 9:00 PM
7:00PM - 9:00 PM
Welcome!
Amazon.ca notice - https://tinyurl.com/y3qdlzxx
*****
ANNUAL ST. DAVID'S LENTEN RETREAT
Mount St. Francis Retreat Centre
Cochrane, AB
http://www.mountstfrancis.ca/
Theme: "Who Do You Say That I Am?"
Led by Spiritual Director Susan Campbell
Completed on Sunday, March 10th, 2019
11:30 AM to 4:00 PM
Cost: $30.
(includes registration, lunch and refreshments)
Theme: "Who Do You Say That I Am?"
Led by Spiritual Director Susan Campbell
Completed on Sunday, March 10th, 2019
11:30 AM to 4:00 PM
Cost: $30.
(includes registration, lunch and refreshments)
25 persons registered for the event.
Restful reflections and nature walks, weather excellent...
This program is now completed.
***
Restful reflections and nature walks, weather excellent...
This program is now completed.
***
ST. DAVID'S ACTS WINTER MONDAY NIGHT BOOK STUDY
A Ten Week Series January 14th - March 18, 2019
Monday Evenings, TM Room 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM
"THE GREAT SPIRITUAL MIGRATION"
A Ten Week Series January 14th - March 18, 2019
Monday Evenings, TM Room 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM
"THE GREAT SPIRITUAL MIGRATION"
How the World's Largest Religion is
Seeking a Better Way to be Christian
Author: Brian D. McLaren
Seeking a Better Way to be Christian
Author: Brian D. McLaren
Final Session on "the common good"
Guest: Ryan Anderson, lead-organizer
Calgary Alliance for the Common Good
Registration/Hospitality and Book: $60.00.
Book only: $20.00
45 copies of the book were made available for sale.
All are now sold. Total on-site registrations: 42
(plus 3 on-line participants). Grand Total: 45
Here are power point notes from each session:
https://tinyurl.com/ycz5wf72
Book Description - https://tinyurl.com/ybeaaceq
(plus 3 on-line participants). Grand Total: 45
Here are power point notes from each session:
https://tinyurl.com/ycz5wf72
Book Description - https://tinyurl.com/ybeaaceq
--
Some stats:
Autumn, 2018 Program -
Some stats:
Autumn, 2018 Program -
Total books sold: 57
Autumn and Winter Series (2018-19) -
Total class registrations: 87
Total books sold: 102
Average weekly winter class attendance: 34
Average weekly winter class attendance: 34
***
ST. DAVID'S SPIRITUAL TRAVELERS TOUR, 2019
East Europe and Russia were 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.
https://tinyurl.com/y834742f
A beautiful brochure with trip cost, itinerary, and
many helpful travel hints has been published.
https://tinyurl.com/y7j55gym
Our trip sale reached an important milestone
as 38 persons registered, helping us to surpass
our
https://tinyurl.com/y834742f
A beautiful brochure with trip cost, itinerary, and
many helpful travel hints has been published.
https://tinyurl.com/y7j55gym
Our trip sale reached an important milestone
as 38 persons registered, helping us to surpass
our