Deciding what our church should do...

Richard Bott has some good questions to consider when we are thinking of starting or revitalizing a ministry at our church.
Check it out.

The Story of Stuff and Annie Leonard

Annie Leonard is my new hero! I haven't listened to all of the interview yet but the first half was awesome. I particularly love the quotes, "collaborative consumption - or as it used to be called - sharing! Can I talk about sharing for a bit?" and "I'm a garbage wonk"

For more on the Story of Stuff visit storyofstuff.org It'll blow your mind but ignorance is not really bliss.

Questions anyone?

I received some unsolicited mail today requesting donations to a TV and web program called, "Context with Lorna Dueck - Life Beyond the Headlines" The show apparently deals with news events with a faith lens. What caught my eye was the bold and underlined statement 64% of Canadians feel religion creates more questions than answers

I thought, "Wow! That's great!"

Apparently that wasn't the right response.

Harperland

Normally I try to stay non partisan in places where people might think that I am speaking on behalf of the church. Let me then add this disclaimer **THESE THOUGHTS ARE MY OWN**

This news article got my blood to boiling. It seems that the Conservatives are urging and ordering the civil service to use the term "Harper government" instead of the more neutral terms of "Government of Canada" "Industry Canada" etc. My umbrage springs from the idea that the civil service is supposed to serve the citizens--not the elected officials--of Canada (hence "civil" service) The government is supposed to be stewards of the civil service--to direct it so that the citizens of Canada will receive the best and fairest treatment.

As a Christian when I think of stewardship I think of humanity's stewardship of God's resources. Humanity has been given control over God's creation, but the earth is still God's. Renaming Earth as "Homosapienville" does not change the fact that none of us created the earth, it will outlast humanity and it is God's property that we should not mess with.

Frankly humankind has not been doing a good job of stewardship of the planet, but that's no excuse to pollute the civil service.

Oh and the Conservatives shouldn't lie either. Just saying.

Bureaucrats told to 'harperize' government message - Canada - CBC News: Industry Canada's emails and edited releases from autumn 2010 make a mockery of Conservative government denials offered when The Canadian Press first published reports of the name-change orders last March.

Non violent protest

The Internet has been abuzz lately with Photoshop photos of the campus polics officer at the University of California at Davis who pepper-sprayed protestors sitting down at the Occupy Davis site. It has become a meme, a theme that many have picked up and and created their own Photoshopped photos of. The reason that this photo has become so popular is because of the casual body language of the campus police officer which does not indicate the violence of his action. Google pepper spray cop and you will find many images of this meme. The reason that this has been picked up and noticed by so many is because of the aburdity of the violence, particularly when done casually. From a Christian's viewpoint it isn't hard to draw comparisons to the crucifixion. Jesus' death on a cross for the crime of teaching love and compassion points out the absurdity and emptiness of violence in general and the system of domination within which he lived (and I would argue we live in as well). It is easy for non violent protests to point out that the emperor has no clothes, since the powerful are threatened by opposition--even opposition that has much less power or that offers no tangible threat. I mean really! The threat of a bunch of kids camping on a lawn? What backyard has not been "terrorized" in a similar fashion!

The Season of Creaton: Forest

The Season of Creation is a relatively new innovation in mainline worship. We use the month of September in the church season "After Pentecost" to look at the interconnections between God, the environment and us. The first Sunday is a focus on forests. Next Sunday the focus is land.

Handsome!

And the human ain't bad, either!

Dutch Rethink Christianity

This news story is about the Protestant Church of the Netherlands, but it could easily be about the United Church of Canada as well. The Observer magazine has had a number of recent stories and letters about "post-theism".
I rankle at the idea of post-theism taking away our beloved hymns and isolating us from other Christians but I find myself holding beliefs that might be considered post-theistic. I don't really believe that God is a person. To me I imagine God as an energy field that is present in and through us, through which our prayers can be carried to and felt by others. This is not typical Christianity but I'm not uncomfortable with traditional Christian language. I simply see traditional Christian language as one way of understanding God--not inferior to my way. Similarly St. Paul envisioned God in his own way--not inferior or superior to my way. In fact if we beleive that Jesus' revelation to us is specially tailored to us there will be no understanding of God that is the same as any other.
Truly what annoys me most about post-theism are those people who are so sure that the only things we know are from science. I've never seen a burning bush but at the same time I've seen things that I can't explain. The only thing I know for sure is that I don't know anything for sure.

Oh Lucky Me!

In the how fortunate I am department:
I was listening to CBC radio this morning and heard on The Current a story about the "Lost Boys" of Sudan. They were interviewing a rapper named "Hot Dogg" (a name not chosen out of bragging but given to him out of teasing that happened when he tried to order a hot dog at McDonalds). He described some of his experiences on his way to refugee status in Canada.

It makes me realize how fortunate I am to live in a country where my family is not in danger, where I can meet military and police officers on the street and share a smile. This is an old news story but it is never too late to realize how lucky one is and to be reenergized to make sure no children have to scrounge for food or run away from home.

Teddy Bear's Picnic

Hey - check out Calvary in the news!
And check out the comments below--it's always a good sign when folks are complaining that they didn't find out about your event before it happened!

Sermon from May 22

Yikes, May is just slipping away! Hmmm...almost slipped away since today is the last day. Anyhow here is the sermon I preached at Calvary on May 22. It is a little jumbled but no too bad. The theme is what we do with the freedom that has been given us in the resurrection. It's better than it sounds.

Watch Your Language!

Language advisory: some might be offended by the language used in this post.

I have been seen some of my friends share information on what is called a "Slutwalk". This is a protest march that took place in Toronto in response to remarks made by a Toronto police representative. At an campus safety information session the representative suggested that women can avoid sexual assault by avoiding dressing like a slut. This evoked outrage from those who saw it as reinforcing the stereotype that sexual assault is dependent on the attire and attitude of the victim rather than the offender.

On the CBC radio show Q this morning I heard two sides of the debate over this event. Whether you are a feminist or not, or what type of feminist you might be, this is a conversation that matters to Christians. Christians are people of the Word. John's gospel compares Jesus to the Word, the organizing principle of the universe--the Word that was spoken by God to create the heavens and the earth. Our friend and saviour is a Word of power and of glory. Our God spoke the world into being. We are a people who worship the Word.

So this debate is partly about reclaiming the word "slut" from its negative connotations, similar to the word "queer" for gay and lesbian people and the word "bitch" for women. I believe it is possible. Look at the word, "God". Never has a word stood for so many different things. At one time it was used for multiple divine beings who were personifications of human tendencies and natural phenomenon. It can stand for a single divine being of the Judeo-Christian heritage. Some use this word as a swear or expression of aggravation. Some use it as a prayer. And yet we still use this word and try to reclaim it from the negative connotations and the use of this word in the Crusades, the Inquisitions and the Shoah.

We still talk about God and proclaim to our society what we think this word means--love, acceptance, compassion, forgiveness--so why cannot women proclaim that the word "slut" no longer defines certain women who are considered to be "loose" or provocative but rather those who use the word to refer to women.

Jesus Portrayer Shunned By Hollywood

Recently Jim Caviezel, the actor who played the part of Jesus in Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ" was reported as saying that it has been hard for him to get work as an actor after playing the biblical rebel.

I wonder if it is about the controversy about Jesus in Hollywood or the controversy around being linked with Mel Gibson in Hollywood? Irregardless I think that it is a risk to come out with strong opinions about Jesus--not just in Hollywood but everywhere. The Christian faith is widely accepted and supported, but once a person starts to speak out about their faith, they put themselves socially at risk.

Garage Sale this weekend!

If you are in Prince Albert this weekend check out the Calvary United Church garage sale, Thursday (4-8pm), Friday (4-8pm) and Saturday (9-12am)
There is a lot of great stuff there!

Sermon from May 1, 2011

I had a lot of fun writing and preaching this sermon - and better yet I had people requesting a copy! It's always nice when people listen to one's sermon. Thanks Laurie!
This link should get you there.