Saturday, January 29, 2011

Colleagues List, January 29th, 2011

Vol. VI. No. 20

*****

Wayne A. Holst, Editor

*****

Colleagues List Blog:
http://colleagueslist.blogspot.com/

_____

In this Issue:

Special Item This Week

Cancer Discharge Letter -
"Reflection on a Cure and
 a Look at Survivorship"

_____

Colleague Contributions

Douglas John Hall
Ed Schroeder
___

Net Notes

The Moral Landscape
Spiritual But Not Religious
Christianity Today 2010 Book Awards
Christian Leaders Plan Thailand Meet
Sudanese Referendum Sparks Flight North
Pope Notes Catholic-Lutheran 'Togetherness'
Indian Court Responds to 'Conversion' Issue
T.S. Eliot Prize Goes to Poet Derek Walcott
Billy Graham on Aging, Regrets, Evangelicalism
Space Demand Inspires  Interfaith Co-Operation
_____

Global Faith Potpourri:

5 Stories from Ecumenical News International

_____

Quotes of the Week:

Teresa of Avila
Elie Wiesel
Joan Chittister
Dorothy Day
_____

On This Day:

Jan. 23, 1973 - Nixon announces end of
                        Vietnam War
Jan. 24, 1965 - Churchill dies in London
                        at age 90
Jan. 25, 1915 - Bell inaugurates continental
                        phone service
Jan. 26, 1950 - India proclaims itself
                        a republic
Jan. 27, 1967 - Grissom, White & Chaffee
                        die in Apollo fire
Jan. 28, 1986 - Challenger explodes;
                        all 7 crew members die

_____

Closing Thought

(end)


*****

Dear Friends:

This week I began teaching three courses
at the university and church for a winter
term and consider it a cause for special
celebration!

A year ago I was diagnosed with colon
cancer and, after a series of tests,
treatments and surgery, I have been
declared 'cured' by my doctors. I am
resuming my regular teaching schedule,
and to recognize this I would like to
share with you the following article
I have just written. It is entitled:

"Reflection on a Cure and
 a Look at Survivorship"
_____

Colleague Contributions

Douglas John Hall introduces an article
he had published in the January 5th issue
of the Christian Century on the value of
neo-orthodoxy as a theological critique
for our times.

Ed Schroeder writes a Lutheran theological
critique of the State of the Union Address
given this past week by President Obama.
___

Net Notes

"The Moral Landscape" - John Haught,
a theologian from Georgetown University
who specializes in evolution, does an
interesting assessment of Sam Harris'
latest book - the one I am using for
my university course (America Magazine)

"Spiritual But Not Religious" - while
this phrase has become common in both
religious and secular circles, local
congregations are challenged to come
to terms with it - within and beyond
their own communities (Alban Weekly)

"Christianity Today 2010 Book Awards" -
The American evangelical periodical
issues its picks (Christianity Today)

"Christian Leaders Plan Thailand Meet" -
several international and ecumenical
organizations are meeting together
in Asia at a time of great change
(Uccan News)

"Sudanese Referendum Sparks Flight North" -
The separation vote in the Southern Sudan
is putting pressure on many who voted for
unity to go north (Catholic News Service)

"Pope Notes Catholic-Lutheran 'Togetherness'"
- Benedict warmly welcomes a group of German
church leaders meeting in Rome (Zenit News)

"Indian Court Responds to 'Conversion' Issue"
- conversion from one faith to another is a
very contentious issue in India today
(Uccan News)

"T.S. Eliot Prize Goes to Poet Derek Walcott"
- the Caribbean poet has suffered recent
reputational challenges but is seen as being
redeemed by this recent Oxbridge honour
(The Guardian, UK)

"Billy Graham on Aging, Regrets, Evangelicalism"
- the grand old man of American evangelicalism
is interviewed by Christianity Today.

"Limited Space Inspires Interfaith Co-Operation"
- northern Canada is a place for experimentation
with worship space as I discovered years ago
(Christianweek.org)
_____

Global Faith Potpourri:

5 stories are provided this week from Ecumenical
News International kin Geneva.

_____

Quotes of the Week:

Teresa of Avila, Elie Wiesel, Joan Chittister
and Dorothy Day share their wisdom with us
courtesy of Sojourners.online
_____

On This Day:

The New York Times archives provides these
on-the scene reports as they happened

Nixon announces end of Vietnam War (1973)
Churchill dies in London at age 90 (1965)
Bell begins continental phone service (1915)
India proclaims itself a republic (1950)
Grissom, White & Chaffee die in Apollo fire (1967)
Challenger explodes; all 7 crew members die (1986)
_____

Closing Thought - a fashion tip

Blessings on your week!

Wayne

************************

SPECIAL ST. DAVID'S LINKS

Contact us at: asdm@sduc.ca (or)admin@sduc.ca
St. David's Web Address - http://sduc.ca/

Listen to audio recordings of Sunday services -
http://sduc.ca/services.htm

___


ST DAVID'S ACTS WEB PAGE

Created and maintained by Colleague
Jock McTavish

http://stdavidscalgary.net/

__

INTRODUCING OUR
ST.DAVID'S WINTER STUDY FOR 2011

Books Considered:

"An Altar in the World"
 by Barbara Brown Taylor

(and)

"I Shall Not Hate -
 A Gaza Doctor's Journey"
 by Izzeldin Abuelaish

More study and website particulars will
be posted as they become available.

Classes have already begun!

*****

INTRODUCING MY UNIVERSITY
WINTER COURSE FOR 2011

GOD, ATHEISM, AND MORALITY

We continue our investigation of the
New Atheists and consider the question:
"Can we be good without God?"

Text for the course will be Sam Harris'
new book:

"The Moral Landscape:
 How Science Can Determine Human Values"
 (Free Press, October, 2010)

Course description and registration
information:

http://tinyurl.com/2fc7xr4

Classes have now begun. A great group!

*****

REMINDER:

ST. DAVID'S 50th ANNIVERSARY
TOUR OF CELTIC LANDS - 2011

We plan a 15-day tour of special Celtic sites
in Scotland, Ireland, Wales and England -
April 26th - May 10th, 2011.

A highlight of the tour will be a visit to
St. David's Cathedral, Pembrokeshire. Choir
members from our group will sing at various
informal cathedral events through the day
and at Evensong, on Saturday, May 7th!

We have 26 choristers signed up as part of
the tour group. This special choir begins
rehearsals in early January - led by our
congregation's music director, Brent Tucker.

Details are presently being finalized with
the St. David's cathedral dean, Fr. Jonathan
Lean.

We are also planning to sing while visiting
Iona, Scotland and the Church of Mary
Immaculate in Inchicore, Dublin, Ireland.
Fr. Ned Carolan, host.Rehearsals begin
Sunday, January 23rd.

ALL 38 PLACES ON THE TOUR
ARE NOW SOLD OUT

January 26th was the deadline for all
trip payments - 90 days before departure.

We continue to gather a waiting list for this
trip,as they may be some drop-outs as we near
deadlines. We have started an interest list for
future tours!

Let me know if you are interested in knowing
more about exciting, spiritual tourism!

*****

STUDY ARCHIVES

A collection of twenty-five+ studies conducted
since 2000 can quickly be found at:
http://bookstudies.stdavidscalgary.net/

This collection of study resources represents
a decade of Monday Night Studies at St. David's,
plus extra courses too!

You are welcome to use our course outlines,
class notes and resource pages in your personal
and group reflections.

******************************************

SPECIAL ITEM

CANCER DISCHARGE LETTER:
REFLECTION ON A CURE AND
A LOOK AT 'SURVIVORSHIP'

This week, I received a letter of
discharge from the Tom Baker Cancer
Centre in Calgary and I would like
to share some thoughts with you at
an important time in my 68 years
of life.

The letter was sent to my family
physician, Dr. Patrick Lai, but I
received a copy. In it, the cancer
specialists advised my family doctor
that "Wayne Holst no longer requires
further care from us."

The notice went on to suggest an
on-going regimen of physical exams,
CT scans and colonoscopy tests through
the next six years.

According to my cancer doctors, I can
declare myself cured, while they will
wait for about four more years of
cancer-free test results before they
declare me "medically cured."

The major event of my past year, as many
of you know, was my cancer detection,
(January 11th, 2010) chemo and radiation
treatments - a total of 25 + 23 = 48
respectively (March through December) and
surgery on June 15th.

Countless hours were spent making 95
visits to the Centre and the Hospital,
including 7 days of hospitalization.
My wife Marlene faithfully accompanied me
through the entire process, and made an
additional 15 hospital visits. That's
a total of 110! We live only 15 minutes
from the Foothills Medical Centre. I
think of those folk who have to travel
miles from their homes to do the same
discipline.

I attribute the resulting "cure" to
early detection, professional treatment,
a caring extended family (including some
very kind people at the church and the
university) and my faith in a loving God.

I now know I was a stage two (of four
possible stages) cancer victim.

If you have cancer in your family, get
tests to determine you are cancer free.
That would be my primary piece of advice.
It can make all the difference.

---

Recent developments in the science of
cancer cure suggest that chemo and
radiation treatments may be enough to
destroy a tumor and infected area;
so that the number of future surgeries
might be significantly reduced.

We now talk of 'beating back cancer'
- step by step - until a cure is found.

I am currently attempting to determine
what my experience cost our Canadian
health care system.

A general figure stands at $100,000
but I would like to be more specific.
If I were an American, with no insurance,
who sought to use our system, this is
likely to be what it would cost him,
according to Dr. Donald Buie my surgeon.

---

My Response to Cancer

In an article on cancer survivorship
(Globe and Mail, February 11th, 2010)
Andre Picard, the paper's public health
reporter, wrote that with the growing
number and percentage of Canadian
cancer survivors (we have one of the
best records in the world - if not the
best - for colon cancer)... "public
policy must now begin to focus on
'survivorship' so as to manage cancer
through a person's life cycle."

We no longer deal with the deadly enemy
we once faced. More and more of us can
call ourselves "survivors."

My question now is - "How do we help
people to live through and beyond cancer
to enhance societal quality of life?"
Five year survival rates for many
cancers now stand at 90+%. I have been
told that my own rate (because of the
many 'assurance treatments' I took
after surgery) stands at 98+%.

One friend commented that heart problems
have overtaken cancer as our deadliest
enemy.

There are 700,000 cancer survivors in
Canada today and with many of these good
folk, I would like to create a positive
response to the good thing that happened
to me in the past twelve months.

I survived a serious disease that, only
some years ago, would most certainly have
killed me.

Now, I want to give back.

I have created a personal binder called
"My Cancer Story 2010" that contains
information on each step of my journey.
It includes notes from every medical
person from whom I learned something
(which amounts to about 100 different
people.) It includes consultations with
my surgeon and specialists, my nurses
and other medical supporters, and
advice from family and friends.

What will I do with this bulging binder?
My first activity will be to create an
article which I hope to write for a
periodical with wide circulation. In it
I want to celebrate the dedicated skills
of my caregivers and my pride in our
Canadian health care system. The fact is,
many of these fine folk do their jobs -
day in and day out - "in spite of" not
"because of" - the system, and the
press they frequently receive.

You can help me to make the most of my
survivorship by suggesting other ways
that I can express a grateful "thanks."

*****

COLLEAGUE CONTRIBUTIONS

DOUGLAS JOHN HALL
Montreal, QC

AGAINST RELIGION
The Case for Faith

The Christian Century
January 5th, 2011

This article is not yet fully available
to the public, but will be shared on
Colleagues List as soon as it is posted
in full. Please click:

http://tinyurl.com/4hgqjhd

---

A note from from Doug Hall:

January 22nd, 2011

Thank you, Wayne.  The article brought many
interesting (mostly positive) responses. 
The critique of religion, which was central
to the thinking of Barth, Tillich, Bonhoeffer,
Niebuhr and others of that generation, never
'made it' into the main stream of Christian
thinking--especially in North America. 

After 1960, the attention of Protestants
was consumed with cause - and identity -
theologies, and the whole so-called neo-
orthodox renewal/revolution in theology
was buried under a sea of 'theologies of'. 

I think it is necessary somehow to revive
the critique of religion today in the light
of the violence and fear that all the
religions court, whether they desire it or
not!  If the 'new atheism' is understood
as a reaction to this implicit and explicit
exclusivism and self-righteousness of the
religious mentality, it may be understood as
something like an ally of critical theology,
if not even of faith itself.

- Doug

*****

ED SCHROEDER
St. Louis, MO.

Thursday Theology #659
January 27, 2011 
Topic: President Obama's Address

Colleagues,

President Obama concluded his message to the
nation two days ago with the standard mantra
for such occasions: "God bless the United
States of America."

Sad to say, it ain't gonna happen. Curmudgeon
though I may be, that conclusion is not
original with me.

If the Bible is any kind of yardstick for God's
blessing business, it ain't gonna happen. 

Claus Westermann (Biblical super-scholar of my
younger years) showed us that God's blessing -
business is - in Lutheran lingo - God's left-
hand operation. It's a consequence of good
behavior, good performance. It's getting your
just deserts. It happens because God sees to
it that in God's old creation righteousness is
rewarded and wickedness punished. 

Both individuals and nations. [Remember the
ancient meaning of "nation" (Latin) is not a
governing state, but the "tribe, race, people"
being governed]. So if a nation is getting
clobbered, God has closed down the blessing-
business. Once a nation becomes an empire,
it's super-grim. There's no Biblical example
of God ever blessing empires. They always get
"weighed, and found wanting."

As if that's not bad enough... Sadder still
is that neither the American president, nor
the American people seem to have any clue
that God is not blessing America right now
and that there are no grounds for expecting
God to stop non-blessing America. Also
clueless are they - are we - to the fact
that if God's not doing the blessing business,
then there's just one alternative.  And it is
not that God has taken a holiday from doing
any business at all. That never happens. 

Isn't this what that madman Jeremiah Wright,
the president's one-time pastor, told him -
yes, told the nation - before Obama was
elected? 

Obama said no, Wright was wrong, was
misreading the data.  The American people
agreed with Obama.

How could God ever stop blessing America
and revert to cursing instead? Nonsense.
Other nations perhaps, but not America. 
We're different from "the nations" - even
if the Bible does put us in that column.

In last Tuesday's address Obama was not
only speaking TO us Americans, but even
more FOR us. Despite the Republican/
Democratic gridlock in the very room
where he was speaking, both factions agree
(as do the constituencies they represent)
that these words of his are true:

- We share a common creed [Ah, but just
  what is it? Listen to the items below.]

- That creed sets us apart as a nation.
  [Does the judge of creeds (and nations)
  agree? Why then all our troubles?]

- We have broken the back of the recession.
  The worst of the recession is over.

- THE FUTURE IS OURS TO WIN.
  [a mantra throughout the address]

- We can out-educate, out-innovate,
  out-build the rest of the world.

- We Americans do big things.

- In America anything is possible.

- The Iraq war is coming to an end.

- [al Queda,] we will not relent, nor
  waver; we will defeat you.

----

Sobering notes were there, but the irony in
them ignored:

- We need to rebuild our people's faith in
government. How do you bring back faith when
it has faded away?  Rebuild faded faith in
anything? That's fundamental theology.
That's mission work. Obama didn't give any
details that got below the surface for fixing
this faith-fadeout.

And then this one, not disconnected to the
one above:

- We should have no illusions (about what
it will take to get us out of our troubles).
But how many of those points above are not
just that: illusions?

Not just president's illusions, but the
illusions of the people (the nation), both
Republican and Democrat. He did indeed not
only speak TO the nation, but also FOR us.
Those illusions ARE "the common creed we
all share." 

Jesus once said something about what
happens when the blind lead the blind.

- Ed
___

Read more Thursday Theology from Ed:
http://tinyurl.com/4lu62ju

*****

NET NOTES

THE MORAL LANDSCAPE
Review of Sam Harris book
by theologian John Haught

America Magazine
Feb. 1st, 2011

http://tinyurl.com/4z6ccl7

*****

SPIRITUAL BUT NOT RELIGIOUS
What are our congregations doing
for people who make this claim?

Alban Weekly
Jan. 24th, 2011

http://www.alban.org/conversation.aspx?id=9369


*****

CHRISTIANITY TODAY BOOK AWARDS 2010
Evangelical Reading Picks of Last Year

Christianity Today
January 29th, 2011

http://tinyurl.com/69a2hqa

*****

CHRISTIAN LEADERS PLAN THAILAND MEET
Several International and Ecumenical
Organizations Plan to Meet in Asia

Uccan News
January 21st, 2011

http://tinyurl.com/48b4wqr

*****

SUDANESE REFERENDUM SPARKS FLIGHT
Unity Voters Head Back to the North

Catholic News Service
January 27th, 2011

http://tinyurl.com/4zk7jln

*****

POPE NOTES CATHOLIC-LUTHERAN 'TOGETHERNESS'
Pope Encourages Continued Dialogue

Zenit News from Rome
Jan. 24th, 2011

He Points to Future of Hope,
Despite Difficulties

Benedict XVI says that what has already been
achieved between Catholics and Lutherans on
the path to unity reinforces trust that the
dialogue will continue...

Read the article:

http://tinyurl.com/4zdkv2o

*****

INDIAN COURT AND RELIGIOUS CONVERSION
Serious Religious Issue Signaled by Court

Uccan News
Jan. 26th, 2011

http://tinyurl.com/4749xea

*****

T..S. ELIOT PRIZE GOES TO DEREK WALCOTT
Caribbean Poet Sees Reputation Rebuilt

The Guardian, UK
January 25th, 2011

http://tinyurl.com/46ljcoq

*****

BILLY GRAHAM TALKS OF AGING,
REGRETS AND EVANGELICALISM
Evangelist Has Second Thoughts

Ecumenical News International
January 26th, 2011

Billy Graham says he "would have steered clear
of politics"

New York(ENI news) – American evangelist Billy
Graham – who has been called "the pastor for
presidents" for having met and prayed with
every U.S. president in the last six decades,
from Harry Truman to Barack Obama - has publicly
acknowledged regret at sometimes crossing the
line between ministry and politics

---

Christianity Today/Graham Interview
January 26th, 2011

http://tinyurl.com/4dsu9q2

*****

LIMITED SPACE INSPIRES
INTERFAITH GROUPS TO CO-OPERATE
Northern Canada Builds Joint Facilities

ChristianWeek.online
January 26th, 2011

http://tinyurl.com/4zvb4rh

*****

GLOBAL FAITH POTPOURRI

Ecumenical News International
News Highlights
25 January 2011

Sudan faith leader supports call to forgiveness

Juba, Southern Sudan (ENI news) – The head of the
Sudan Council of Churches (SCC) has backed a
statement by the president of southern Sudan that
southerners should forgive northerners for the
deaths and atrocities of the 21-year civil war.

_____


Several leaders will boycott Anglican summit

Canterbury, England (ENI news)--At least seven
of the leaders representing 38 Anglican provinces
worldwide will not attend a key meeting in Dublin
from 25-30 January. Their absence comes at a time
when the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan
Williams, is under mounting pressure from two
wings of the 77 million-member Anglican Communion
on the subject of human sexuality.

*****

26 January 2011

Russian Patriarch denounces Moscow airport bombing

Moscow (ENI news) –Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill
I denounced a terrorist attack at Moscow’s busiest
airport as "the horrifying scowl of sin, and a
barbaric distortion of human nature," and said that
acts once condemned even in war "are today becoming
a form of protest.

*****

27 January 2011

Many genocides to be commemorated
on Holocaust Memorial Day

Canterbury, England (ENI news)--After the Nazi
slaughter of six million Jews during World War
II, the world cried out "never again." But one
of Britain’s best-known young rabbis, Jonathan
Romain, of Maidenhead Synagogue in Berkshire,
said that although it was a wonderful phrase,
"never again" has proved tragically wrong.

*****

QUOTES OF THE WEEK

January 24th, 2011

"Accustom yourself continually to make
many acts of love, for they enkindle
and melt the soul."

- Teresa of Avila

---

January 25th, 2011

"Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the
victim. Silence encourages the tormentor,
never the tormented."

- Elie Wiesel

---

January 27th, 2011

"Humility leads me to do anything I can
do in any situation without having to do
everything in every situation."

- Joan Chittister

---

January 29th, 2011

"An individual can march for peace or vote
for peace and can have, perhaps, some small
influence on global concerns. But the same
individual is a giant in the eyes of a
child at home. If peace is to be built,
it must start with the individual.

It is built brick by brick."

- Dorothy Day

*****

ON THIS DAY

Jan. 23, 1973 - President Richard Nixon announced
an accord had been reached to end the Vietnam War.

http://tinyurl.com/4funvav

_____

Jan. 24, 1965 - Winston Churchill died in London
at age 90.

http://tinyurl.com/4n4pc2a

_____

Jan. 25, 1915 - the inventor of the telephone,
Alexander Graham Bell, inaugurated U.S.
transcontinental telephone service.

http://tinyurl.com/4l7cpya

_____

Jan. 26, 1950 - India proclaims itself a republic.

http://tinyurl.com/4cxessq

_____

Jan. 27, 1967 - Astronauts Virgil I. ''Gus''
Grissom, Edward H. White and Roger B. Chaffee
died in a flash fire during a test aboard
their Apollo I spacecraft at Cape Kennedy, FL.

http://tinyurl.com/4qfqez9

_____

Jan. 28, 1986 - space shuttle Challenger
exploded 73 seconds after liftoff from
Cape Canaveral, killing all seven crew
members.

http://tinyurl.com/4chjmdp

_____

Jan. 29, 1963 - Robert Frost died in Boston.

http://tinyurl.com/63uw4t8

*****

CLOSING THOUGHT

Fashion Tip:

"Make sure your walk matches your talk"

(end)

Saturday, January 22, 2011

Colleagues List, January 22nd, 2011

Vol. VI. No. 19

*****

Wayne A. Holst, Editor

*****

Colleagues List Blog:
http://colleagueslist.blogspot.com/

*****

In this Issue -

My Book Notice of:

"Godless Morality"
 by Richard Holloway
___

Colleague Comment:
Doug Koop
___

Colleague Contributions:
Jim Taylor
Martin Marty
___

Net Notes:

Alma Hotel a Hidden Gem
Why Radical Muslims Hate You
Not All are Equal Before the Law
The Sunni-Shia Conflict Within Islam
GGeneral Honours Ploughshares Co-Founder
Gender Politics Drag on School Spirit Plans
Vatican Official Joins event With Lutherans
Catholic/Orthodox Unity Coming Close Enough
Twelve Good Ways to Live a Compassionate Life
Priest Returns to Inuit Community - on Charges
Ignatieff Defends Sikhs' Kirpan Case in Quebec

___

Global Faith Potpourri

13 Stories from Ecumenical News International
___

Quotes of the Week:

Martin Luther King Jr
Joan Chittister
Nelson Mandella
Mother Teresa

___

On This Day (Jan 17th - Jan 21st)

Jan. 17, 1893 - Hawaii's monarchy is overthrown
Jan. 18, 1912 - Scott expedition reaches the
                South Pole
Jan. 19, 1937 - Millionaire Hughes sets
                transcontinental air record
Jan. 20, 1981 - Iran releases 52 American hostages
Jan. 21, 1924 - Russian revolutionary Lenin dies

___

Closing Thought - Leonardo da Vinci

(end)

*****

Dear Friends:

In this Issue -

I begin teaching a number of classes this
coming week and am happy to share with you
my book notice of "Godless Morality" by
Richard Holloway, former Primus or Primate
of the Episcopal Church (Anglican) of
Scotland.

This book complements my text by Sam Harris
which I am using for my university course.
It is entitled:

"The Moral Landscape - How Science Can
Determine Human Values"

I introduced it to you early in October.
(Colleagues List, October 9th, 2010.)

My university class is usually made up of
atheists, agnostics and some people of
faith. My main task is normally one of
refereeing the discussion!

___

Colleague Comment:

I appreciated the brief feedback from
the Christian Week (Winnipeg) editor
Doug Koop and share it with you now.

___

Colleague Contributions:

Jim Taylor - writes of guns and violence
in the United States from a Canadian
point of view.

Martin Marty - writes of the very busy
presence of religion in the United States
from an American point of view.

___

Net Notes:

"Alma Hotel a Hidden Gem" - the U of C
has built a unique hotel on campus with
a focus on cross-cultural engagement
(Calgary Herald)

"Why Radical Muslims Hate You" - the
theme is strong, but times are difficult.
This article lays things out starkly
(Virtual House, Evangelical Fellowship
 of Canada)

"Not All are Equal Before the Law" -
- this article describes the current
status of gay rights in Britain
(The Tablet, UK)

"The Sunni-Shia Conflict Within Islam" -
for those who think that Islam is a
unified whole, here is an expose
(Religion and Ethics, NPR)

"GGeneral Honours Ploughshares Co-Founder" -
Ernie Regehr has given much of his life to
a unique form of Canadian peacemaking, and
he is finally being recognized by society
(Globe and Mail)

"Gender Politics Drag on School Spirit Plans" -
here is an example of what happens when a
conflict of values occurs in an Ontario high
school (Cdn. Ctre. for Progressive Christianity)

"Vatican Official Joins event With Lutherans" -
the Vatican is recognizing a special event
in Rome attended by representatives of the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in Germany
(Zenit News from Rome)

"Catholic/Orthodox Unity Coming Close Enough" -
long-time friend Fr. Tom Ryan writes about the
growing thaw in relations between Rome and
Constantinople after about 1,000 years!
(National Catholic Reporter)

"Twelve Good Ways to Live a Compassionate Life" -
Karen Armstrong has just come out with her new
book on compassion and here is a summary of it
(Religion and Ethics, NPR)

"Priest Returns to Inuit Community - on Charges" -
here is a most unfortunate story of a Belgian
Oblate priest who is returning to Canada for
justice after being protected from the law for
some years by his order (Globe and Mail)

"Ignatieff Defends Sikhs' Kirpan Case in Quebec" -
the opposition leader has taken a strong stand
for justice against the popular will of many in
Quebec. He deserves credit (Globe and Mail)

___

Global Faith Potpourri

13 stories are provided this week from Geneva,
and Ecumenical News International (WCC)

___

Quotes of the Week:

Martin Luther King Jr, Joan Chittister,
Nelson Mandella and Mother Teresa share
their insights with us courtesy of
Sojourners.online.

___

On This Day (Jan 17th - Jan 21st)

The New York Times provides on the scene
historical reports as they happened:

Hawaii's monarchy is overthrown (1893)
Scott expedition reaches the South Pole (1912)
Hughes sets transcontinental air record (1937)
Iran releases 52 American hostages (1981)
Russian revolutionary Lenin dies (1924)

___

Closing Thought -

A helpful insight from Leonardo da Vinci

___

Thanks for reading. I hope you enjoyed
Colleagues List this week.

Wayne

************************

SPECIAL ST. DAVID'S LINKS

Contact us at: asdm@sduc.ca (or)admin@sduc.ca
St. David's Web Address - http://sduc.ca/

Listen to audio recordings of Sunday services -
http://sduc.ca/services.htm

___


ST DAVID'S ACTS WEB PAGE

Created and maintained by Colleague
Jock McTavish

http://stdavidscalgary.net/

__

INTRODUCING OUR
ST.DAVID'S WINTER STUDY FOR 2011

Books Considered:

"An Altar in the World" by Barbara Brown Taylor

(and)

"I Shall Not Hate - A Gaza Doctor's Journey"
 by Izzeldin Abuelaish

More study and website particulars will be
posted as they become available

*****

INTRODUCING MY UNIVERSITY
WINTER COURSE FOR 2011

GOD, ATHEISM, AND MORALITY

We continue our investigation of the
New Atheists and consider the question:
"Can we be good without God?"

Text for the course will be Sam Harris'
new book:

"The Moral Landscape:
 How Science Can Determine Human Values"
 (Free Press, October, 2010)

Course description and registration
information:

http://tinyurl.com/2fc7xr4

*****

REMINDER:

ST. DAVID'S 50th ANNIVERSARY
TOUR OF CELTIC LANDS - 2011

We plan a 15-day tour of special Celtic sites
in Scotland, Ireland, Wales and England -
April 26th - May 10th, 2011.

A highlight of the tour will be a visit to
St. David's Cathedral, Pembrokeshire. Choir
members from our group will sing at various
informal cathedral events through the day
and at Evensong, on Saturday, May 7th!

We have 26 choristers signed up as part of
the tour group. This special choir begins
rehearsals in early January - led by our
congregation's music director, Brent Tucker.

Details are presently being finalized with
the St. David's cathedral dean, Fr. Jonathan
Lean.

We are also planning to sing while visiting
Iona, Scotland and the Church of Mary
Immaculate in Inchicore, Dublin, Ireland.
Fr. Ned Carolan, host.Rehearsals begin
Sunday, January 23rd.

ALL 38 PLACES ON THE TOUR ARE NOW SOLD OUT

We continue to gather a waiting list for this
trip,as they may be some drop-outs as we near
deadlines.We have started an interest list for
future tours!

Let me know if you are interested in knowing
more about exciting, spiritual tourism!

*****

STUDY ARCHIVES

A collection of twenty-five+ studies conducted
since 2000 can quickly be found at:
http://bookstudies.stdavidscalgary.net/

This collection of study resources represents
a decade of Monday Night Studies at St. David's,
plus extra courses too!

You are welcome to use our course outlines,
class notes and resource pages in your personal
and group reflections.

*************************************

SPECIAL ITEM

Book Notice -

"Godless Morality:
 Keeping Religion Out of Ethics"
 by Richard Holloway (new edition)
 Canongate Books: Edinburgh, UK
 2009. 163 pages. Price varies.
 ISBN #1-84195-5787

Publisher's Promo:

The use of God in moral debate is so
problematic as to be almost worthless.
We can argue with one another as to
whether this or that alleged claim
genuinely emanated from God, but surely
it is better to leave God out of the
argument and find strong human reasons
for supporting the systems we advocate.
We need a sensible and practical approach
that will help us pick our way through
the moral maze that confronts us in the
pluralistic society we live in. "Godless
Morality" offers exactly this: a human-
centered justification for contemporary
morality.

One of the most outspoken and best-loved
figures in the modern church, Richard
Holloway recently stood down as the
Anglican Bishop of Edinburgh but remains
Gresham Professor of Divinity in the City
of London and a Fellow of the Royal
Society. He has written for many newspapers
in Britain including The Times, The Guardian,
Sunday Herald and The Scotsman; and presented
his own series on BBC Television.

---

Author's Words:

(Paraphrased)

This is not a book about God or about whether
God exists. This book argues that we must
disconnect religion and God from the struggle
to recover some elements of a common ethic.
(4)

To discover a morality apart from God may be,
paradoxically, the final test of faith because
I believe that God must be involved in our
moral struggles even though morality need not
be based on God. (5)

The good life... is now a more subtle business
of developing appropriate inner intentions,
leading to love of, and compassionate action
toward, our neighbors. (10)

Morality is a human construct. It tries to
base itself on observed consequences and its
primary goal is "do no one harm." (14)

Religious systems have tended to claim divine
authority, eternal punishment for disobedience,
and operative systems based on fear. However,
the most effective moral systems operate on
the basis of consent, not coercion. (17)

Different moral systems frequently compete
and conflict with one another. Each of such
good systems has greatness, appeal, and a
shadow side. (19)

This book values moral pluralism but it
refused to endorse any one system. It is
better to leave God out of the moral
debate and find good human reasons for
supporting the system we advocate. (20)

This book is an attempt to offer sensible
approaches to the confused moral maze that
surrounds us (relating to the gay issue,
abortion, euthanasia, withdrawal of life
support, artificial insemination, surrogate
motherhood, genetic engineering, etc.)

It seeks a human approach. A morality
without God. (20)

---

My Thoughts:

I have found this book to be most helpful,
and a worthy alternative to Sam Harris' new
study "The Moral Landscape: How Science Can
Determine Human Values" (Free Press, 2010)
which came out in October.

Harris believes that science, not religion,
should ultimately determine human ethics.

Holloway believes that God should be kept
out of definitive ethics but that God can
serve as a partner with humans in
determining what our ethical behavior
around certain issues should be. He
rejects any exclusivist claims - i.e.
the belief that one ethical system has
all the answers.

The moment God is put in the role of
ultimate, divine arbiter of what is right
and wrong we experience unsatisfactory
results and useless conflict between
various religiously-based ethical systems.

---

I however, want to pursue a third approach.

I cannot accept Harris' view that science
should become our ethical arbiter, even though
I believe that science can provide us with much
good data to help us in moral decision-making.
Science, no more than religion, is fit to
be the ultimate arbiter of anything.

I cannot fully accept Holloway's view that
there is no place for divine or transcendent
meaning as humans seek to determine what for
them is good, ethical behavior.

To say that it ALL depends on what we as
humans do is inappropriate, since I believe
that there are times when a contending moral
argument needs to appeal to an "authority
beyond the human 'however we wish to define
that. Otherwise, we will never have a sense
of 'assurance' in our ethical stances. While
we must avoid ethical complacency, we do
need to carry with us a sense that we are
doing the right thing for ourselves.

I agree with both Harris and Holloway that
religion has too often in the past done us
more harm than good as an ethical arbiter.

But I am not about to concede my view that
there must be a reality and a point of
reference beyond what humans can know
or do on their own.

It is with this frame of mind that I look
forward to teaching a university course
this winter on "God, Atheism and Morality."
I anticipate good, fermentive discussion
and debate on these points. Hopefully, we
can move good ideas from various sources
forward as we seek to better understand
responsible contemporary ethical behavior.

______

Buy the book on Amazon.ca
http://tinyurl.com/4rvfjzu

*****

COLLEAGUE COMMENT

DOUG KOOP

Thank you.

"I especially appreciated the
 review of 'Souls in Full Sail...'"
 dk

*****

COLLEAGUE CONTRIBUTIONS

JIM TAYLOR
Okanagan, BC

Sunday January 16, 2011

AMERICA’S SELF-APPOINTED VIGILANTES

By Jim Taylor

Don’t expect this column to be balanced
and impartial.
        
I tried that last week, when I suggested
that violent metaphors in our speech
encourage real violence in our society.
By some tragic coincidence, that column
was published the day after 22-year-old
Jared Lee Loughner fired 30 rounds from
a Glock semi-automatic pistol, killing
six people and injuring 20 others.

The United States is still reeling from
last Saturday’s assassination attempt on
U.S. Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords in
Tucson, Arizona.
        
Pima County Sheriff Clarence Dupnick made
my point for me, referring to “the vitriol
that we hear inflaming the American public....”
        
“It is true,” wrote Paul Krugman in the
New York Times, “that the shooter in Arizona
appears to have been mentally troubled. But
that doesn’t mean that his act can or should
be treated as an isolated event, having
nothing to do with the national climate...”

Read the rest of the article:

http://tinyurl.com/yl374wj

*****

MARTIN MARTY

RELIGION IN NEWS CLIPS
Religion not 'on the ropes'

Sightings
January 17th, 2011

http://tinyurl.com/49mkj33

*****

NET NOTES

ALMA HOTEL A HIDDEN GEM
U Calgary Venture in
International Community

Calgary Herald
January 20th, 2011

http://tinyurl.com/4e8jzzv

*****

WHY RADICAL MUSLIMS HATE YOU
One Christian Take on the
Current Crisis With Islam

Virtual House (EFC)
Jan. 21st, 2011

http://tinyurl.com/4rs59ta

*****

NOT ALL EQUAL BEFORE THE LAW
UK Still Needs to Improve
its Treatment of Gays

The Tablet
Jan. 21st, 2011

http://tinyurl.com/4tv6hk5


*****

THE SUNNI-SHIA CONFLICT
WITHIN ISLAM
Internal Muslim Politics

Religion and Ethics (NPR)
January 21st, 2011

http://tinyurl.com/4cj2xwb

*****

GOVERNOR GENERAL TO HONOUR
PLOUGHSHARES CO-FOUNDER

Ernie Regehr has been
hard at it since 1976

The Globe and Mail
January 21st, 2011

http://tinyurl.com/5s7sumo

*****

GENDER POLITICS A DRAG ON
SCHOOL SPIRIT PLANS

School values met with reaction

Canadian Centre for
Progressive Christianity
January 21st, 2011

http://tinyurl.com/6cv3fb2


*****

VATICAN OFFICIAL TO
JOIN CEREMONY WITH LUTHERANS

Rome Meeting with German Group

Zenit News from Rome
January 20th, 2011

http://tinyurl.com/46o5fbf


*****

CATHOLIC AND ORTHODOX UNITY
CLOSE ENOUGH TO IMAGINE

A warming state of relations

National Catholic Reporter
January 18th, 2011
by Fr. Thomas Ryan

http://tinyurl.com/4jpkos8


*****

TWELVE CONCRETE WAYS
TO LIVE A COMPASSIONATE LIFE
New Karen Armstrong Book

Religion and Ethics
National Public Radio
January 17th, 22011

http://tinyurl.com/46qlvau

*****

PRIEST RETURNING TO INUIT
COMMUNITY TO FACE SEX CHARGES
Oblate to Come Back from Belgium

Globe and Mail
Jan. 19th, 2011

http://tinyurl.com/4uxp5hf

*****

IGNATIEFF DEFENDS SIKHS'
RIGHT TO WEAR THE KIRPAN
Takes an important stand

Globe and Mail
Jan. 21st, 2011

http://tinyurl.com/623yyul

*****

GLOBAL FAITH POTPOURRI

Ecumenical News International
News Highlights
17 January 2011

Churches mobilize as flooding affects Brazil

New York(ENI news)--Church and ecumenical groups
in Brazil are gathering resources to help the
thousands affected by devastating floods and
mudslides near Rio de Janeiro. In the past week,
days of heavy rain have drenched hillside towns
around the city. More than 600 people have died
and another 14,000 people have been driven from
their homes, according to state officials.

*****

18 January 2011

National Council praises new Obama
policy towards Cuba

New York (ENI news)--The general secretary
of the National Council of Churches (NCC) on
18 January welcomed a White House decision
that will lift travel restrictions between
the United States and Cuba to make it easier
for religious groups in both countries to
engage with one another.

_____


Faith representatives meet
with Hungarian EU Presidency

Budapest(ENI news)--As part of a series of
regular encounters between churches and the
incoming EU Presidencies, a delegation of
Hungarian and European faith representatives
was received by Hungarian Prime Minister
Victor Orbán on 17 January in Budapest.

_____

Howarth appointed to inter-religious
post for Church of England

London(ENI news)The Rev. Dr. Toby Howarth has
been appointed to serve as Secretary for Inter
Religious Affairs for the Church of England,
according to an announcement on 18 January
from the Archbishop of Canterbury and the
church's Mission and Public Affairs Council.

_____

Faith gets star treatment
at Sundance film festival

Park City, Utah(ENI news)--Celebrity sightings
and up-and-coming indie flicks are a given at
the annual Sundance Film Festival in Park City,
Utah, but this year something else is drawing
attraction on the red carpet: faith on film.

*****

19 January 2011

Activist for womens' ministry re-elected
to Church of England council

Canterbury, England(ENI news)--The re-election
of Christina Rees, a strong supporter of
women's ministries, to the Church of England's
Archbishops' Council is a sign that the
church's mainstream wants to move forward on
the ordination of women as bishops, observers
said.

_____

Exiled Sudanese clergy hope for peaceful return

Nairobi(ENI news) – Rev. Jacob Nhail Guut recalls
painfully the relentless bombardment of his
village in Southern Sudan about 20 years ago.
"I was only ten years old and I can remember
the intense bombing. We all had to flee to
safety. After walking for 16 days in the bush
without any food or water, we finally arrived
in Ethiopia," Guut, a leader from the Episcopal
(Anglican) Church in Sudan who lives in Kenya
told ENI news in an interview in Nairobi on
15 January.

_____


Muslim countries cited on religious freedom

Washington, DC (ENI news)--The New Year's Day
massacre at a Coptic church in Egypt. Christian
converts facing the death penalty in Afghanistan.
Swastikas painted on a Jewish synagogue in
Venezuela. As the headlines deliver fresh
stories of the persecution of the faithful,
two recent reports by watchdog groups and a
new book take a fresh look at the persistence
of religious intolerance worldwide, with
Muslim-majority nations facing particular
criticism, Religion News Service reports.

*****

20 January 2011

'Flying Dutchman' will minister
to oil and gas industry

Edinburgh, Scotland (ENI news)--A Dutch Church of
Scotland minister has been appointed to one of
Britain’s most prominent chaplaincy posts. The
Rev. Martin Grashoff, 54, minister at Kilcalmonell,
Killean and Kilchenzie churches in Kintyre, will
take over as chaplain to the oil and gas industry
on 1 March 2011, according to a news release from
the Church of Scotland.

*****

Religious leaders must be more open,
says senior Muslim in UK

Canterbury, England (ENI news)--Religious leaders
in Britain must make themselves more available to
journalists in order to provide the public with
"authentic, mainstream" views in order to overcome
intolerance and misunderstanding, a senior Muslim
leader has told ENI news.

_____

21 January 2011

Sentencing is significant for Egypt's Christians

Jerusalem (ENI news)—The sentencing to death of a
Muslim man in connection with an attack in 2010
that killed six Coptic Christians and a Muslim
police officer is seen as being particularly
significant for Egypt's Christians and a marked
difference from previous responses to attacks
on Copts.

_____


Indigenous traditions infuse
theological gathering

Toronto, Canada (ENInews)—Indigenous Christian
theologians from around the world will gather
in La Paz, Bolivia in the coming week to share
their experiences and reflections. Sponsored
by the World Council of Churches (WCC), in
partnership with local ecumenical organizations,
the 23-27 January gathering is a follow-up to
previous indigenous consultations in the
Philippines in 2008 and Switzerland in 2009.

_____

Minority Christians cling to
tenuous position in Pakistan

Lahore, Pakistan (ENI news)--As Pakistan's main
churches held special prayers in memory of
Salman Taseer, the Punjab governor assassinated
for his opposition to a law that punishes insult
to Islam by death, Christians in Pakistan spoke
of their feelings that they are in a precarious
position in their own country.

*****

QUOTES OF THE WEEK

Provided by Sojourners Online

January 17th, 2011

"You don't have to have a college degree
to serve. You don't have to make your
subject and your verb agree to serve.
You don't have to know about Plato and
Aristotle to serve. You don't have to
know Einstein's theory of relativity to
serve. You don't have to know the second
theory of thermodynamics in physics to
serve. You only need a heart full of grace.
A soul generated by love...

"And you can be that servant."

- Martin Luther King Jr.

___

January 18th, 2011

"Compassion for the other comes out of our
ability  to accept ourselves. Until we
realize both our own weaknesses and our
own privileges, we can never tolerate lack
of status and depth of weakness in another."

- Joan Chittister

___

January 19th, 2011

"To be free is not merely to cast off one's
chains, but to live in a way that respects
and enhances the freedom of others."

- Nelson Mandela

---

January 20th, 2011

"Be kind and merciful. Let no one ever come
to you without leaving better and happier."

- Mother Teresa

*****

ON THIS DAY

Provided from the archives of the
New York Times

Jan. 17, 1893 -  Hawaii's monarchy was
overthrown as a group of businessmen
and sugar planters forced Queen
Liliuokalani to abdicate.

http://tinyurl.com/4og7nuo

---

Jan. 18, 1912 - English explorer
Robert F. Scott and his expedition
reached the South Pole, only to
discover that Roald Amundsen had
gotten there first.

http://tinyurl.com/4wfyyxb

_____

Jan. 19, 1937 - Millionaire Howard Hughes
set a transcontinental air record by
flying his monoplane from Los Angeles
to Newark, N.J., in 7 hours, 28 minutes
and 25 seconds.

http://tinyurl.com/4j3lfoa

_____

Jan. 20, 1981 - Iran released 52 Americans
held hostage for 444 days, minutes after
the presidency had passed from Jimmy Carter
to Ronald Reagan.

http://tinyurl.com/46pzevu

_____

Jan. 21, 1924 - Russian revolutionary
Vladimir Ilyich Lenin died at age 54.

http://tinyurl.com/6dzdlfq

*****

CLOSING THOUGHT

"Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication."

- Leonardo da Vinci

(end)

Saturday, January 15, 2011

Colleagues List, January 15th, 2011

Vol. VI. No. 19

*****

Wayne A. Holst, Editor

*****

Colleagues List Blog:
http://colleagueslist.blogspot.com/

*****

In this Issue -

My review of -

"Souls in Full Sail:
 A Christian Spirituality 
 for the Later Years"
 by Emilie Griffin

___

Colleague Contribution:

Doug Shantz

___

Net Notes:

Evolution Conference
Haiti's Recovery Continues
In Search of the Real Islam
Cracks in the Crystal Cathedral
Pakistan Divided Over Assassination
The Cloudy Logic of 'Political' Shootings
'De-Baptism' Trend Gains Strength in Belgium
The Solitary Self: Darwin and the Selfish Gene
Vatican Announces May 1st Beatification of JPII
Pope's Call for Christian Protection Sparks Reaction

___

Global Faith Potpourri

8 Stories from Ecumenical News International
___

Quotes of the Week:

Martin Luther King Jr
Teresa of Avila
Mohandas Gandhi
Peter J. Gomes

___

On This Day (Jan 10th - Jan 14th)

Jan. 10, 1946 - First UN Assembly Convenes in London
Jan. 11, 1935 - Amelia Earhart 1st Woman to Fly 
                Pacific
Jan. 14, 1943 - Roosevelt and Churchill Meet in 
                Casablanca
 
___

Closing Thought 

(end)

*****

Dear Friends:

Colleague Pat Kossmann, literary editor
for America Magazine, published by the
Jesuits of New York, asked me to review -

"Souls in Full Sail: A Christian Spirituality 
 for the Later Years," by Emilie Griffin

It's a book about the spiritual benefits and
challenges of growing older which I enjoyed 
very much.

I wrote that review this weekend, and share
the pre-edited version with you now.

___

Colleague Contribution:

Doug Shantz - announces a lecture he will soon
be giving as Chairholder of Christian Thought
at the University of Calgary.

___

Net Notes:

"Evolution Conference" - Joan Chittister announces
a timely gathering on a subject of great import
right now - better relations between science and 
faith (National Catholic Reporter)

"Haiti's Recovery Continues" - a positive story on
developments in Haiti, one year after the earthquake.
Many of the other stories I've read have been rather
negative (America Magazine)

"In Search of the Real Islam" - a YouTube report
on the essence of the Muslim faith as we struggle
to understand it better (America Magazine)

"Cracks in the Crystal Cathedral" - a sobering
statement on the demise of the very first of 
the big American megachurches (Christianity Today)

"Pakistan Divided Over Assassination" - the
death of a moderate politician in Pakistan has
caused considerable debate in that country
(The Age, Sydney, AU)

"The Cloudy Logic of 'Political' Shootings" -
The most significant news in the USA this past
week came from Tuscon as a tragedy unfolded
and the nation tried to come to terms with it
(The Atlantic, Sojourners, The Guardian UK)

"De-Baptism Trend Gains Strength in Belgium" -
this story relates to the reaction of some 
Belgians to the priest abuse scandal there
(Associated Faith Press)

"The Solitary Self: Darwin and the Selfish Gene" -
Dawkins the atheist has made much of the selfish
gene in his writings. Here is a review of a book
with a religious bias that takes on his arguments
(The Tablet, UK)

"Vatican Announces May 1st Beatification of JPII" -
John Paul II will begin the first step on his way
to sainthood with a ceremony in Rome this spring
(National Catholic Reporter, the Associated Press)

"Pope's Call for Christian Protection Sparks Reaction" -
When Benedict spoke out in defense of the Coptic
Christians in Alexandria, Egypt recently he got
unexpected flack from some Muslim spokespersons
(The Guardian, UK)

___

Global Faith Potpourri

8 religious news stories from around the world
are provided for us this week from Ecumenical 
News International, Geneva.
___

Quotes of the Week:

Martin Luther King Jr, Teresa of Avila,
Mohandas Gandhi and Peter J. Gomes share
their wisdom with us through the services
of Sojourners.online

___

On This Day (Jan 10th - Jan 14th)

News stories as they happened are reported
courtesy of the archives of the New York 
Times:

First UN Assembly Convenes in London (1946)
Amelia Earhart 1st Woman to Fly Pacific (1935)
Roosevelt and Churchill Meet in Casablanca (1943)
 
___


Closing Thought - On "Theological Positions" 

___

Classes are beginning again, new books are arriving
and life is getting back to normal after Christmas.

I hope this dark season of Canadian winter does not
negatively affect your spirits. I like to find ways
to counter the mid-January blahs... and I hope the
same for you!

Wayne

************************

SPECIAL ST. DAVID'S LINKS

Contact us at: asdm@sduc.ca (or) admin@sduc.ca
St. David's Web Address - http://sduc.ca/

Listen to audio recordings of Sunday services -
http://sduc.ca/services.htm

___


ST DAVID'S ACTS WEB PAGE

Created and maintained by Colleague Jock McTavish
http://stdavidscalgary.net/

__

INTRODUCING OUR ST.DAVID'S WINTER STUDY FOR 2011

Books Considered:

"An Altar in the World" by Barbara Brown Taylor 
 
(and)

"I Shall Not Hate - A Gaza Doctor's Journey"
 by Izzeldin Abuelaish

More study and website particulars will be posted
as they become available

*****

INTRODUCING MY UNIVERSITY WINTER COURSE FOR 2011

GOD, ATHEISM, AND MORALITY

We continue our investigation of the New Atheists and
consider the question: "Can we be good without God?"

Text for the course will be Sam Harris' new book:

"The Moral Landscape:
 How Science Can Determine Human Values"
 (Free Press, October, 2010)

Course description and registration information:

http://tinyurl.com/2fc7xr4

*****

REMINDER:

ST. DAVID'S 50th ANNIVERSARY
TOUR OF CELTIC LANDS - 2011

We plan a 15-day tour of special Celtic sites
in Scotland, Ireland, Wales and England -
April 26th - May 10th, 2011.

A highlight of the tour will be a visit to
St. David's Cathedral, Pembrokeshire. Choir
members from our group will sing at various
informal cathedral events through the day
and at Evensong, on Saturday, May 7th!

We have 26 choristers signed up as part of the
tour group. This special choir begins rehearsals
in early January - led by our congregation's
music director, Brent Tucker.

Details are presently being finalized with
the St. David's cathedral dean, Fr. Jonathan Lean.

We are also planning to sing while visiting Iona,
Scotland and the Church of Mary Immaculate in
Inchicore, Dublin, Ireland. Fr. Ned Carolan, host.
Rehearsals begin Sunday, January 23rd.

ALL 38 PLACES ON THE TOUR ARE NOW SOLD OUT

We continue to gather a waiting list for this trip,
as they may be some drop-outs as we near deadlines.
We have started an interest list for future tours!

Let me know if you are interested in knowing more
about exciting, spiritual tourism!

*****

STUDY ARCHIVES

A collection of twenty-five+ studies conducted 
since 2000 can quickly be found at: 
http://bookstudies.stdavidscalgary.net/

This collection of study resources represents 
a decade of Monday Night Studies at St. David's, 
plus extra courses too!

You are welcome to use our course outlines, 
class notes and resource pages in your personal 
and group reflections.

******************************************

SPECIAL ITEM:

Book Review
Prepared for America Magazine
Literary Editor, Colleague Pat Krossmann:

SOULS IN FULL SAIL
A Christian Spirituality for the Later Years
by Emilie Griffin

InterVarsity Press: Downers Grove, IL
Release Date: February, 2011. 183 pages.
ISBN #978-0-8308-3548-2.

Reviewed by Wayne A. Holst  (900 words)

A dear friend and role-model for voyaging the 
senior years died during the Christmas holidays. 
He had lived a rich and full life, and ended his 
days with an ‘undaunted’ but ‘surrendered’ spirit. 
Often, his exemplary way of handling things came 
to mind as I read Emilie Griffin’s helpful 
spiritual guide to Christian aging. He lived, 
to my mind, what the author so beautifully 
describes.

“I’m adjusting to the new normal,” was his 
frequently brave and always hopeful comment as 
he ‘navigated longingly toward home’ with an 
inspiring blend of restlessness and 
accommodation.

“There are right and wrong ways to deal with our 
fears as we move into later life,” writes Griffin 
in a chapter on the challenges that must be faced. 
“As we pursue the life voyage, we stop keeping a 
resume; earning a degree seems less important than 
receiving an accolade; it is time to do less, to 
accept the thanks being given for what we have 
already done.” 

Griffin is a writer and editor. A native of New 
Orleans, she worked and lived for many years in 
New York City. The author of sixteen books on the 
spiritual life, she has contributed to many more. 
She and her husband William, an author, editor and 
translator, now reside in Alexandria, Louisiana. 
As playwrights, they studied under Edward Albee 
in New York. This rich experience is reflected 
on these pages.

A lover of words and proud of her English ancestry, 
Griffin enriches her chapters with quotes from such 
notables as C. S. Lewis and John Henry Newman. She 
includes examples of her own poetry to emphasize a 
point. Her wide-ranging literary and dramatic tastes 
display her as adept at quoting from the Latin 
authors as she is in using songs from Broadway 
musicals like Gypsy or Chorus Line.

A woman whose forebearers have known privilege, 
and lost it, she writes from a background of both 
opportunity and difficulty. She has had to contend 
with physical loss and walks today with a cane. 
From it all, a profound spiritual maturity serves 
as grounding for what appears in this book’s ten 
chapters.

As the title suggests, the author uses the images 
of sailing and voyaging to reflect the imagery and 
metaphor she believes are necessary for unpacking 
and clarifying the mysteries of faith encountered 
along our life journey.

We set out on this new and uncharted mission 
recognizing that old age has indeed arrived. We 
may deny it, or try to fight it, but ultimately, 
we will need to surrender to it if we want to be 
enriched. Older people can serve as our mentors, 
both in how we too want to live and what we want 
to avoid.

Our true “vocation” in the senior years is to 
spend time working with the people that inspire 
us and the things we are good at. Newman says 
that we all need to be engaged with ‘some 
definite service’ that provides meaning and the 
rewards of faithfulness. 

Living well with a “baptized imagination”(Lewis) 
is a gift we give ourselves and others as we 
cultivate old and new friendships across the 
years. 

Like the spiritual teacher in my opening example 
was able to do, we all need to learn how to 
transcend and reframe the infirmities we encounter, 
while we continue to grow with those we love and 
seek to forgive our adversaries while there is 
still time.

In the chapter on “Night Fears” Griffin refers to 
the temptations we could face as certain powers 
diminish. Sexuality, for example remains part of 
our humanity. Both men and women may be tempted to 
resort to thoughts and behaviors that can 
blindside us into thinking we retain the prowess 
we once commanded. Spiritual courage helps us to 
realize that we still have much to offer and to 
discern what truly nurtures the ego.

Family rituals on special occasions like 
Thanksgiving and Christmas need to be rethought. 
The weave of family personalities and their 
stories gives meaning, but senior members need 
to “give way” to the younger generations, 
treating them as peers and allowing them to 
take responsibility for many family activities. 


A great gift of aging is to be able to look at 
“spiritual pinpoints’ – when we become more 
keenly aware of the things that matter and 
the things that do not.

George Bernard Shaw was a late-bloomer as a 
playwright who did some of his best work as 
an octogenarian. We too can venture in 
creative ways that bring us joy. The important 
thing is to be focused on the present and to 
let the future tend to itself.

Readers will need to square their own unique 
experiences with those of the author. Few of 
us share her ancestry, her professional 
achievements and gift with words, yet all of 
us can identify with her because of the way 
her writing engages us.

The voyage tends homeward as a longing toward 
completion becomes more real.“Growing older 
doesn’t have to be learned,” she writes. “It 
simply happens. But to live it with grace is 
a kind of learning, which like all learning 
is painful.”

We need to be concerned about practical 
things, but people of faith are often better 
prepared for life’s vagaries. Hopefully, we 
too can continue to adjust to the ever changing 
“new normality” which life brings, and when our 
time for completion comes, we too will face it 
with equanimity.

This book should find its place in our libraries, 
even as many of us seek to divest ourselves of 
much lifelong accumulation.

---

Wayne Holst teaches religion and culture at the 
University of Calgary and helps to co-ordinate 
adult spiritual development at St. David’s 
United Church in that city.

---

Reserve the Book from Amazon.ca:
http://tinyurl.com/4srk23c

*****

COLLEAGUE CONTRIBUTION

DOUG SHANTZ

Chair of Christian Thought
University of Calgary

"What a Church Historian 
Can Offer the Church Today"

Christ Church, Elbow Park Calgary
Monday, February 7th, 2011

The posted lecture will appear here
when it becomes available:

http://tinyurl.com/4uwkccz

*****

NET NOTES

EVOLUTION CONFERENCE
A Timely Event

Joan Chittister
Jan. 10th, 2011

http://ncronline.org//taxonomy/term/165

*****

HAITI'S RECOVERY CONTINUES
One Year After the Earthquake

America Magazine
Jan. 14th, 2011

http://tinyurl.com/4o6pmjs

*****

IN SEARCH OF THE REAL ISLAM
Reflecting on Core Values

America Magazine
January, 2011

YouTube Presentation

http://tinyurl.com/65hb3pt

*****

CRACKS IN THE CRYSTAL CATHEDRAL
Sobering Message About Megachurches

Christianity Today Editorial
January 10th, 2011

http://tinyurl.com/4vgxc2v

*****

PAKISTAN DIVIDED OVER ASSASSINATION
Strong Sides Taken For and Against

The Age, Australia
January 11th, 2011

http://tinyurl.com/4eo9256

*****

THE CLOUDY LOGIC OF 'POLITICAL' SHOOTINGS
Tuscon Tragedy and National Assessment

The Atlantic
Jan. 13th, 2011
by James Fallows

http://tinyurl.com/335ycsb

---

What a tragedy can call us to do

Sojourners.online
by Jim Wallis

http://tinyurl.com/47yrpdj

---

Left and Right Praise Obama's
Appropriate Speech at Tuscon

The Guardian, UK
Jan. 4th, 2011

http://tinyurl.com/6xosh9c

*****

DE-BAPTISM TREND GAINS STRENGTH IN BELGIUM
In Wake of Clerical Abuse Scandals

Associated Faith Press
January 10th, 2011

http://tinyurl.com/2cnjm89

****

THE SOLITARY SELF: 
DARWIN AND THE SELFISH GENE
A Challenge to Dawkins

The Tablet, UK
January 14th, 2011

http://tinyurl.com/6bmx8hx

*****

VATICAN ANNOUNCES MAY 1ST BEATIFICATION
FOR JOHN PAUL II

Late Pope on Way to Sainthood

National Catholic Reporter
January 14th, 2011

http://tinyurl.com/4qpnytk

---

Former Pope a Step Closer 

YouTube Presentation - Associated Press
January 14th, 2011

http://tinyurl.com/47cs68v

*****

POPE'S CALL FOR PROTECTION OF 
CHRISTIANS SPARKS MID-EAST REACTION
Egypt is Offended by His Statement

The Guardian UK
Jan. 12th, 2011

http://tinyurl.com/49p37a6

*****

GLOBAL FAITH POTPOURRI

Ecumenical News International
News Highlights

10 January 2011

WCC delegation conveys condolences 
to Pope Shenouda

New York (ENI news)--A delegation from the 
World Council of Churches, led by general 
secretary the Rev. Dr. Olav Fykse Tveit, 
on 8 January visited in Cairo Pope Shenouda 
III of the Coptic Orthodox Church and 
expressed condolences for the New Year's 
Day church bombing in Alexandria, Egypt. 

*****

11 January 2011

In wake of U.S. shooting, religious leaders 
call for calm, civility

Washington, DC (ENI news/RNS) Tucson Bishop 
Gerald Kicanas was thousands of miles away 
from the shooting rampage that rocked his 
Arizona diocese on Saturday, 8 January but 
the emotional shock hit him hard. "It broke 
me up," said Kicanas, who was in Jerusalem 
attending a meeting of Catholic bishops on 
peace in the Holy Land. "I could not sleep. 
I just wanted to return home as soon as 
possible," the bishop wrote to his spokesman, 
Religion News Service reports.

_____


Haitians mark a "very, very difficult year."

Port-au-Prince, Haiti(ENI news)--From the streets 
of Port-au-Prince to the hills of northern Haiti, 
Haitians were commemorating the anniversary of the 
12 January 2010 earthquake that killed some 250,000 
persons, devastated major cities and fueled Haiti's 
uncertain political future.

*****

14 January 2011

Pakistani churches criticize government's refusal 
to amend blasphemy law 

Bangalore, India(ENI news)Churches in Pakistan 
have expressed frustration over the government's 
refusal to amend a controversial blasphemy law, 
as urged by the Pope and protesting civil rights 
activists. "We are disappointed by the stand 
taken by the Prime Minister," said Joseph Francis, 
director of CLAAS (Centre for Legal Aid Assistance 
& Settlement), which has defended dozens of 
Christians and Muslims charged under the law.

_____


Scientists probe brief brushes with the afterlife

Washington, DC(ENI news/RNS)--Wanda Colie vividly 
remembers what she saw in 1984 when, at age 28, 
a condition that produced blood in her lungs 
nearly killed her. The pain vanished and a crowd 
of familiar faces came to welcome her in a light-
drenched valley. For more than two decades, Colie
kept her experience secret. But she's recently 
joined hundreds of others who've started going 
public with their near-death experiences, or 
NDEs, Religion News Service reports. 

*****

14 January 2011

Ecumenism takes time to bear fruit, 
says U.S. church leader

Toronto, Canada(ENI news)--While the progress 
of ecumenism can typically only be measured 
over decades, simple local events during the 
upcoming week devoted to Christian unity are 
critical to the future of the church, said 
an ecumenical leader in the United States.

_____


First Anglican bishops to join 
Catholic Church under new structure

London(ENI news)--Three former Anglican bishops 
are to be ordained as Roman Catholic priests 
on Saturday, 15 January at Westminster Cathedral 
– the first bishops to join Rome under a new 
structure set up by Pope Benedict XVI for 
dissident Anglicans. 

_____


Australian churches come together 
in flood crisis

Canberra(ENI news)--As northern Australia 
suffers the worst flooding in more than 30 
years, Australian churches have moved rapidly 
to respond to the community’s urgent needs. 
Flooding has continued to build since late 
December with flood waters covering an area 
the size of Germany and France combined. 
Sixteen people are now confirmed dead, with 
53 missing and more than 200,000 people 
stranded. Local church leaders who spoke 
with ENI news on 13 January said they are 
dealing with the immediate effects of the 
crisis. 


*****

QUOTES OF THE WEEK

January 10th, 2010

"Darkness cannot drive out darkness; 
only light can do that. Hate cannot 
drive out hate; only love can do that."

- Martin Luther King Jr.

---

January 11th, 2011

"Christ has no body now, but yours. 
No hands, no feet on earth, but yours. 
Yours are the eyes through which Christ 
looks compassion into the world. Yours 
are the feet with which Christ walks 
to do good. Yours are the hands with 
which Christ blesses the world."

- Teresa of Avila

---


January 12th, 2010

"Prayer is not an old woman's idle amusement. 
Properly understood and applied, it is the 
most potent instrument of action."

- Mohandas Gandhi 

---

January 13th, 2011

"We do not live to win. We do not live even 
to finish. We live to persevere and to endure. 
Nothing more than this is necessary, but 
nothing less than this will do until that 
new heaven and that new earth come, the 
former things have passed away, the sea 
is no more, and the vision has become 
the reality."

- Peter J. Gomes

*****

ON THIS DAY

Provided from the archives
of the New York Times

Jan. 10, 1946 - first General Assembly of the 
United Nations convened in London

http://tinyurl.com/4srsy7y

*****

Jan. 11, 1935 - aviator Amelia Earhart began a 
trip from Honolulu to Oakland, Calif., becoming 
the first woman to fly solo across the Pacific 
Ocean.

http://tinyurl.com/4aq7qad

_____

Jan. 14, 1943 - President Roosevelt and British 
Prime Minister Winston Churchill opened a wartime 
conference in Casablanca

http://tinyurl.com/4dbxabf


*****

CONCLUDING THOUGHT

"Theological positions that are set in stone
 are heavy - and that's about all they have
 going for them."

(end)