*****
GLOBAL AND ECUMENICAL IN SCOPE
CANADIAN IN PERSPECTIVE
Wayne A. Holst, Editor
My E-Mail Address:
waholst@telus.net
Colleagues List Web Site:
http://colleagueslistII.blogspot.com
*****
Dear Colleagues:
My Special Item for this issue is a
book notice for the fourth edition of
"This United Church of Ours" by our
colleague, Ralph Milton, and I
think many of you should enjoy it.
My Colleague Contributions, Net Notes,
Wisdom of the Week, On This Day and
Closing Thought are all new, currently
relevant material. Enjoy!
Life after travels continues to return
to normal and I have a number of
projects to attend to. But I do this
blog every week because I have to!
Wayne
*****
SPECIAL ITEM
Book Notice -
THIS UNITED CHURCH OF OURS
(Fourth Edition) by Ralph Milton
Woodlake Publishing, Kelowna BC.
$15.95 CAD Paper
$9.95 CAD Kindle
264 pages. January, 2017
ISBN #978-1-77064-917-0
Publisher's Promo:
Except for Bibles and Hymnbooks, no other
book has been read and appreciated by as
many United Church people. From what to
wear and where to sit in church to theology
and ethics, Ralph Milton covers it all with
his signature easygoing style.
Updated with new information, and expanded
to reflect a church that is reconciling the past
and celebrating the future, this fourth edition
is both informative and revealing.
-
Former Moderator's Words:
Ralph Milton hasn't been "done" (ordained) and
I'm glad he isn't done with our church either.
While he doesn't fit easily into any of our church's
role titles, there's no one who better understands
and loves the soul of our church, or can describe it
more clearly...
This new (fourth) edition of the beloved "This
United Church of Ours" is just what we need.
If ever there was a time for us... to remember
who we are, this is it. Humour and humility are
married in these pages...
You will read here about who we are as an
increasingly diverse community of faith within
a changing national landscape
The congregation in which I worship welcomes
new members frequently and we should give
every one of them a copy of this book. For
newcomers, it offers a better understanding of
our idiosyncrasies and core beliefs, from worship
to money to ethical concerns. For long-timers,
it reminds us about why we do what we do.
Ralph does all of this with honesty, creativity,
and personal revelation of his own love and
frustrations...
Reading this book... reminds me of who I am
connected to, through the love of Christ, in a
great evolving story of what we are a part...
"a community of broken but hopeful believers."
- from the Foreword by Mardi Tindal
--
Author's Bio:
Dr. Ralph Milton is one of Canada's best-
known religious communicators, and a
recipient of an Honorary Doctorate of
Sacred Letters from St. Stephen's College,
Edmonton. He also has an Honorary
Doctorate of Divinity from the Vancouver
School of Theology.
A former news broadcaster, open line host
and church administrator, Milton is the author
of 17 books including the bestselling titles
Family Story Bible; Angels in Red Suspenders;
and Julian's Cell, a novel based on the life of
Julian of Norwich.
On the Internet, Ralph Milton publishes the
popular e-zine Rumors, which uses liberal
doses of humour and story to communicate a
lively faith. Co-founder of Wood Lake Publishing,
Ralph Milton lives in Kelowna, British Columbia,
with his wife and friend of 50 years, Beverley,
a retired church minister. Together, they remain
the ever-proud grandparents of Zoe and Jake.
--
My Thoughts:
I have read the three previous editions of
this book as they have appeared over the last
thirty-six years. As the church has evolved,
so has Milton matured with it.
I have always believed that the United Church
of Canada is an interesting microcosm of
Canada itself. Now as it comes close to
reaching the first century of its existence
it continues to reflect - for good and ill -
something of what our nation is like.
Earlier editions have sold 60,000 copies,
which is quite an achievement for any
Canadian publication from secular or
religious presses. I would agree with
Mardi Tindal that it should be given to
every person who joins this church -
at least as an adult.
This fourth edition, just published,
reflects the United Church of Canada
as it is today - warts and all.
There is no question, but that Milton
continues to maintain a rather sharp
awareness of his subject because he
keeps attuned to many reflectors across
the land and the denomination.
While I may not always resonate to his
humour, I recognize that many people do.
While my approach to describing what I
see might assume a more academic style,
I do appreciate Milton's populist approach.
My mother was brought up in the United
Church but she married into another
mainstream Canadian denomination when
she married dad. When I began attending,
and then joined St. David's United Calgary
almost thirty years ago - I had to make
some adjustments. But my reasons for
continuing to remain an active, serving
member (as a layperson and not the
ordained pastor I had been) have kept
me here. The people who form my great
community of faith are a big factor in all
this. But, I am also grateful that I did not
have to become a Christian I was not in
order to remain here.
I hope to continue offering something
back to my community for all it has done
for me.
I encourage you to read this book. You
do not have to be a new or considering
member of the United Church of Canada.
Read it to get a sense of a unique body
of Christians, unlike any other faith
community in the world. It is one
that remains inclusive, ecumenical and
justice-and-peace-seeking, like few other
denominations in this land or anywhere.
Probably the most important reason
for reading Milton's fourth edition is that
it is proof that God can work through frail
and sinful humans, and still form something
beautiful from it all.
--
Buy the book from Woodlake Publishing:
http://tinyurl.com/jyy5nnf
Buy the Kindle Edition from Amazon.ca:
http://tinyurl.com/zxseg92
****
COLLEAGUE CONTRIBUTIONS
Elfreide Schroeder,
Winnipeg, MB
"In Transit" Blog
February 8th, 2017
"Canadian Values"
http://tinyurl.com/hzjqxkj
--
Thomas Ryan,
Boston, MA
Paulist Fathers Website
February 6th, 2017
"Keep the Fire Burning"
http://tinyurl.com/huq2y38
--
Ron Rolheiser,
San Antonio, TX
Personal Website,
February 6th, 2017
"Embittered Moralizing"
http://tinyurl.com/jkdh9x9
****
NET NOTES
HUSTON SMITH DIES AT 87
Leading Interfaith Specialist
New York Times Obituary
January 1st, 2017
http://tinyurl.com/hhdw2rb
My Globe and Mail Review
of His Last Book, July 3rd, 2009
"Tales of Wonder - Adventures
Chasing the Divine"
http://tinyurl.com/jfhtfss
--
REMEMBERING SANG CHUL LEE
UCC Korean-Canadian Moderator
United Church of Canada Website
February 7th, 2017
http://tinyurl.com/jcvsgfu
--
"DON'T BUILD WALLS" SAYS FRANCIS
Pope Continues to Challenge Trump
Religion News Service
February 8th, 2017
http://tinyurl.com/hqnubpj
--
UNFLINCHING NEW LUTHER BIOGRAPHY
Assessment of His Strengths/Weaknesses
Publisher's Weekly,
February 7th, 2017
http://tinyurl.com/z4p5yq8
--
NEW DEAD SEA SCROLLS CAVE FOUND
First New Discovery There in Sixty Years
International Business Times
February 9th, 2017
http://tinyurl.com/h9qf4uz
--
PORTRAYING MENNONITES ON CBC TV
A Concern About False Representation
Evangelical Fellowship of Canada
February 6th, 2017
https://www.evangelicalfellowship.ca/Pure
--
DOROTHY DAY - A SAINT
FOR DIFFICULT PEOPLE
The Atlantic,
March, 2017
http://tinyurl.com/hgq54pq
"Dorothy Day -
Future Saint - Imperfect Parent"
America Online
February 8th, 2017
http://tinyurl.com/js3cf37
--
500 PROMINENT US EVANGELICALS
SIGN PETITION SUPPORTING REFUGEES
Many are Involved in Refugee Work
Religion News Service
February 10th, 1017
http://tinyurl.com/j5v6cth
--
GUARDIANS OF A VAST LAKE,
PROTECTORS OF HUMANITY
Canada's Great Bear Lake NWT
a Native-Led Project
New York Times
February 7th, 2017
http://tinyurl.com/h5mhu8k
--
GERMAN EVANGELICALS ISSUE
HISTORIC INVITATION TO THE POPE
A First, in 500 Years at Anniversary
America Online
February 6th, 2017
http://tinyurl.com/j336jar
--
OPENING WORSHIP LEADERSHIP
TO THE LAITY
America's New Ministers -
Changing Protestantism
Christian Science Monitor,
February 6th, 2017
http://tinyurl.com/jzfq225
****
WISDOM OF THE WEEK
Live for yourself and you will live in vain;
Live for others, you will live again.
- Bob Marley
--
Paradise is to be the ultimate instrument,
fulfilling God's desperate intent that we
love each other.
- Ruby Dee
--
'Sin,' he reflected, 'is not what it is usually thought
to be; it is not to steal and tell lies. Sin is for one
[person] to walk brutally over the life of another
and to be quite oblivious of the wounds [they]
have left behind.
- Shūsaku Endō (Japanese author)
--
It is when we love the most intensely and most
humanly that we can recognize how tepid is our
love for others. The keenness and intensity of love
brings with it suffering, of course, but joy too because
it is a foretaste of heaven. When you love people, you
see all the good in them, all the Christ in them. God
sees Christ, his son, in us. And so we should see
Christ in others.
- Dorothy Day
--
Nobody can will their heart to beat even once.
Every heartbeat is a gift from God and it means
he’s not done with you yet. The idea that we are
going to put less value on another person’s heartbeat
because they are disabled or because they carry an
incurable disease is anathema to us. Remember,
when Jesus rose from the dead he restored life in
God-made man! In the face of that gift, how can
we denigrate the life of any other human being?
- Joseph Dutkowsky, MD
--
It is quite easy to found a community. There are
always plenty of courageous people who want to
be heroes, are ready to sleep on the floor, to work
hard hours each day, to live in dilapidated houses.
It’s not hard to camp – anyone can rough it for a
time. The problem comes in living with brothers and
sisters whom we have not chosen but who have
been given to us, and in working ever more truthfully
towards the goal. A community is only being created
when its members accept that they are not going to
achieve great things, that they are not going to be
heroes, but simply live each day with new hope, like
children, in wonderment as the sun rises and in
thankfulness as it sets.
- Jean Vanier
--
Is the exploration of the natural world just a pleasant
way to pass the golden hours of childhood or is there
something deeper? I am sure there is something much
deeper, something lasting and significant. Those who
dwell, as scientists or laymen, among the beauties and
mysteries of the earth are never alone or weary of life.
Whatever the vexations or concerns of their personal
lives, their thoughts can find paths that lead to inner
contentment and to renewed excitement in living.…
There is symbolic as well as actual beauty in the
migration of the birds, the ebb and flow of the tides,
the folded bud ready for the spring. There is something
infinitely healing in the repeated refrains of nature –
the assurance that dawn comes after night, and spring
after the winter.
- Rachel Carson
***
ON THIS DAY
"George VI Dies: Elizabeth II Succeeds Him"
http://tinyurl.com/b85jj85
"Roosevelt, Churchill and Stalin Meet at Yalta"
http://tinyurl.com/bpv3pbh
***
CLOSING THOUGHT - Sadhu Sundar Singh
Diamonds do not dazzle with beauty unless they
are cut. When cut, the rays of the sun fall on them
and make them shine with wonderful colors.
So when we are cut by the cross, we shall shine
as jewels in the kingdom of God.
(end)
*****
For Those Interested -
ST. DAVID'S ACTS MONDAY NIGHT WINTER STUDY
A Ten Week Series January 23rd - April 3rd, 2017
Monday Evenings, TM Room 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM
"How Jesus Became God -
The Exaltation of a Jewish Preacher from Galilee"
http://tinyurl.com/gqzkcbx
Author: Bart D. Ehrman
Registration/Hospitality and Book: $60.00.
Book only: $20.00
35 copies were secured for sale.
All copies have been sold.
Our Evolving Course Design:
http://tinyurl.com/j3nv7nd
--
Here is the total course content from our
completed Monday Night Autumn 2016 Study:
"Reclaiming the Bible for a Non-Religious
World" by Bishop John S. Spong
http://rtb.stdavidscalgary.net/
Check our entire archives for all 48 books
studied since 2000:
http://tinyurl.com/q3bw6dh
***
ST. DAVID'S ACTS THURSDAY MORNING STUDY
Ten Sessions February 2nd - April 6th, 2017
"Joshua and Judges" - Formative Hebrew History
Ten sessions 10-11 AM
Gathering at 9:30 AM
In the St. David's TM Room.
No charge
Study resource -
"The DK Complete Bible Handbook"
Edited by John Bowker
http://tinyurl.com/odxlv7q
***
ST.DAVID'S SPIRITUAL TRAVELERS PROJECT, 2017
South Africa has been chosen as our location!
We plan a nineteen-day tour that combines a
focus on faith, social justice culture, and nature,
and it will begin mid-month of October 2017.
A beautiful brochure with trip cost, itinerary, and
many helpful travel hints has been published.
http://tinyurl.com/hucsaf7
Fifteen persons have already put down deposits
or declared they are doing so to claim a $300.
saving. Offer stands until February 28th. This
represents half our goal of 28-30 travelers.
Follow our notices for weekly updates.
*****
ANNUAL ST. DAVID'S LENTEN RETREAT
Mount St. Francis Retreat Centre
Cochrane, AB
http://www.mountstfrancis.ca/
Theme: "Encountering Mercy"
Led by Spiritual Director Susan Campbell
Sunday, February 26th, 2017
11:30 AM to 4:00 PM
Cost: $30.
(includes lunch and refreshments)
Nature walks, weather permitting..
*****
