Colleagues List, December 31st, 2020

 Vol XVI. No. 22

Archive - Dec 2009 - Oct 2019                                                                    http://colleagueslist.blogspot/.ca http://colleagueslistii.blogspot.com

GLOBAL AND ECUMENICAL IN SCOPE                                                  CANADIAN IN PERSPECTIVE

YEAR-END ISSUE

Wayne A. Holst, Editor
My E-Mail Address: waholst@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

******

END OF YEAR COLLEAGUES LIST SUMMARY - 2020

Dear Friends:

Thanks for joining me for the last issue of 2020!

I conclude each year with a collation of all Special Items
and other articles that have appeared on Colleagues List
during the past twelve months.

My productivity this year has been affected by the virus
and cataract surgery on both eyes at different times.

Hopefully 2021 will bring positive improvements.

Please click the links in each selection if you wish to see
an item again, or missed it the first time.

If a link appears dead, cut and paste it into the address bar
and it should work for you. Otherwise contact me at:
waholst@telus.net

*****

Total Colleagues List issues for 2020: 44

These selections appeared as:

Book notices  - 15
Anglican Journal columns - 7
Personal reflections - 7
Colleague Contributions - 4
Other - 11

Total - 44 Special Items were sent this year.

You can reach all  CL postings for 2020 if you so choose.
They appear under each week's dateline.

During the past 16 years I have created 738 CL issues.                         That works  out to 46.1 issues on average per year.

All articles focus on contemporary religion and culture themes,
observed mostly from a Canadian perspective,

I hope we can continue together through 2021.

Wayne

*****

A SUMMRY OF MY SPECIAL ITEM SELECTIONS FOR 2020

January 12th, 2020

"Ten Steps on Freedom Road"
  - book by John Badertscher

https://tinyurl.com/skemafy

--

January 19th, 2020

"The Millennial Mosaic"
  - book by Bibby, Thiessen and Bailey

https://tinyurl.com/qmrgwvk

--

January 26th, 2020

"We're in this Together"
  Holst January column for the Anglican Journal

https://tinyurl.com/wdgg9g8

--

February 2nd, 2020

"Co-Creating With the Divine"
  Holst February column for the Anglican Journal

https://tinyurl.com/sdcjyqb

--

February 9th, 2020

"Walter Rauschenbusch - Essential Spiritual Writings"
  - edited by Joseph Fahy

https://tinyurl.com/vxtmbc5

--

February 16th, 2020

"How Canon Hugh Puxley Motivated My Life"
 Holst Winter  column for the Anglican Journal

https://tinyurl.com/uvd4tmd

--

February 23rd, 2020

Colleague Steve Newroth  comment on
my Jim Puxley column

https://tinyurl.com/ucloq3q

--

March 1st, 2020

"Death of Jesus for Progressive Christians"
 - book by Donald Schmidt

https://tinyurl.com/t4falm9

--

March 8th, 2020

Community Newsletter from L'Arche Calgary
- announcing the abuse of Jean Vanier

https://tinyurl.com/qmdbh5x

--

March 15th, 2020

"Easter for Progressive Christians"
- book by Donald Schmidt

https://tinyurl.com/s5mwcxr

--

March 22nd, 2020

Holst Reflection on the Present Moment
in the Midst of Coronavirus  Confusion

https://tinyurl.com/wybktgh

--

March 29th, 2020

Holst Lenten Reflection with the Help of the Dalai Lama

https://tinyurl.com/w8dxdtv

--

April 5th, 2020

Holst Holy Week Reflection on Early Spring

https://tinyurl.com/vkb4nqb

--

April 12th, 2020

"Easter was Unexpected at the Beginning -
  and it Still is"

Holst Easter column for the Anglican Journal

"Resurrection as a Spiritual Practice"
  Spirituality and Practice article

https://tinyurl.com/vtq9uv2

--

April 19th, 2020

"Weathering a Gathering Storm"
 - by colleague Doug Koop

https://tinyurl.com/yd73ugbd

--

May 3rd, 2020

"Some Thoughts to Share
 About the Resurrection of Jesus"
 by colleague John Griffith

https://tinyurl.com/y8x6uay9

--

May 10th, 2020

"A Life Reflection in Three-Quarter(s) Time

Holst Thoughts on the Evolution of His Ministry
Over the Past Fifty Years

https://tinyurl.com/y8oquvgp

--

May 17th, 2020

"Heaven and Hell - A History of the Afterlife"
- book by Bart Ehrman

https://tinyurl.com/ycjr8xn7

--

May 24th, 2020

"Imagine a Joyful Economy"
- book by Speth and Denton

https://tinyurl.com/ya39m4gx

--

May 31st, 2020

"The Ways We Witness"
  Holst Pentecost column for the Anglican Journal

https://tinyurl.com/y8mo4atv

--

June 7th, 2020

"Creation - for Progressive Christians"
- book by Donald Schmidt

https://tinyurl.com/yc9fbe6t

--

June 21st, 2020

"Fallen Heroes"
 - a personal reflection

https://tinyurl.com/yc2qu7wj

--

June 28th, 2020

Discussion on Sea and Land Masses -
Rising and Falling - Global Warming
or Other Factors at Work?

- Colleagues Colin Outrim and Robert Schmidt

https://tinyurl.com/ybu7mhgp

--

July 5th, 2020

'Responsive Prayers -
 For Every Sunday of the Church Year"
- book by David Sparks

https://tinyurl.com/y7sgul2o

--

July 12th, 2020

"Who Will Support Our Guardian Angels?"
- G&M newspaper column by Andre Picard

https://tinyurl.com/yd3zehlq

--

July 19th, 2020

"Finding God Beyond Church Walls"
- an essay by Barbara Brown Taylor

https://tinyurl.com/y6b4bzff

--

July 26th, 2020

"Rabbi Zalman Schachter -
  Writings and Essential Teachings"
- introduction by Rose and Miles-Yepez

https://tinyurl.com/y6o6ndnh

--

August 2nd, 2020

"What if Covid-19 Changes Nothing?
- an essay by Martha Tatarnic

https://tinyurl.com/yyg3tf2e

--

August 9th, 2020

"So Much to Learn -
  The Untold Story of Slavery in Canada"
   CTV.ca

https://tinyurl.com/y27olges

--

August 16th, 2020

"Colonialism Made the Modern World -
 Let's Remake It"
 New York Times article by Adom Getachew

https://tinyurl.com/y3t8aa3h

--

September 13th, 2020

"The Beatitudes for Progressive Christians"
- book by Donald Schmidt

https://tinyurl.com/yxc5zqsf

--

September 20th, 2020

"What Kind of Turning Point?"
- Respecting the History of Pandemic,
  by colleague Mark Noll

https://tinyurl.com/yyv67xbg

--

October 11th, 2020

"Decolonization Starts With Me"
 Late-Summer Holst Anglican Journal column

https://tinyurl.com/y4oech9o

--

October 18th, 2020

"Buddy and Me"
 Proposal-writing "how to" book by colleague                                             Isabel Gibson

https://tinyurl.com/y6nyyycs

--

October 25th, 2020

"In Sync with the Sacred
 Out of Step with the World"
- book by Tom Stella

https://tinyurl.com/yy5gsjgj

--

November 1st, 2020

"Christianity in India"- the Anti-Colonial Turn

Book by colleague Clara Joseph

https://tinyurl.com/y276jsll

--

November 15th, 2020

"War and Peace with the Beasts -
  A History of our Relationship with the Animals"
- book by Brian Griffith

https://tinyurl.com/y56b5m8v

--

November 22nd, 2020

"Annie Ruth's Truths -
  Wisdom, Warnings and Wake-up Calls"
- book by David Sharp

https://tinyurl.com/y3xwozqh

--

November 29th, 2020

"A Brief Advent Introduction"
  - personal reflection

https://tinyurl.com/yypy4oq7

--

December 6th, 2020

"A Season of Waiting in Expectation"
 - personal reflection

https://tinyurl.com/y2y7ca4k

--

December 20th

"Holst Family Christmas Letter"

"Lessons and Carols for Advent"
  Advent Christmas Holst AJ Column

https://tinyurl.com/y76wjq4q

--

December 31st, 2020

COLLEAGUES LIST SPECIAL SUMMARY FOR 2020

https://tinyurl.com/yc8vsdry

*****

CLOSING THOUGHT - Shannon Casey

In the darkness of the womb, the future is waiting to be born.

Almighty God, may we each be pregnant with the hope
for a future where justice and love exist in abundance.  

end









******

Colleagues List, December 20th, 2020

 Vol XVI. No. 21

Archive - Dec 2009 - Oct 2019                                                                      http://colleagueslist.blogspot/.ca http://colleagueslistii.blogspot.com

GLOBAL AND ECUMENICAL IN SCOPE                                                  CANADIAN IN PERSPECTIVE

ADVENT IV

Wayne A. Holst, Editor
My E-Mail Address: waholst@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:

Usually, just before Christmas, I post our annual Christmas letter. You will find that below. Also, my Advent/Christmas column, written for the Anglican Journal. It's subject is the lessons, prayers and carol services for Advent Sunday and Christmas Eve - just published.

I have also provided a link to the chorister section of King's College Cambridge, UK. Hopefully, you will enjoy seasonal words and music.

Next week I will send you a collation of the Special Items sent you this year. As usual, this is my annual summary of Colleagues List mailings.

Wayne

*****

HOLST FAMILY CHRISTMAS LETTER, 2020

Dear Friends:

Writing you during the time of the virus is a
mixed blessing. We will miss seeing some of
you face-face this Christmas, but we are grateful
for at least this much contact.

Thanks for reading our letter.

Staying at home, we have maintained many
family/church ties and activities.

Our Hamm family returned after six years living
and working in Oman - the Saudi Arabian peninsula.
They are now having to adjust to Canadian life. Two
of the grandkids are seeing snow for the first time.
Then, there is school. We are happy that, given the
virus and uncertain global politics and economics,
they are once again close by.

Sarah and her family continue to do well in Slave Lake,
northern Alberta, but we have not visited them since
last Christmas. Sarah herself is evolving into a nursing
educator and we are proud of her as well as Ronnie
and their kids. Paul is single once again, but adjusting.
We hope to see our two grandkids in his family soon,
when life settles again.

We hoped to visit Switzerland this May for a fifty year
reunion at Wayne’s alma mater, the Graduate School
of Ecumenical Studies, Bossey, near Geneva. That
had to be postponed, but a number of Zoom gatherings
brought us together. We have learned a lot about each
other until we actually meet.

The bright side of this is that we have saved money and
Aeroplan points! When life opens again for us, we want to
travel again, if possible.

We continue to serve the people of St. David’s. Marlene
works in the church office when required and is an important
hospitality person. Wayne co-teaches a weekly book and
bible study series. This helps to keep his mind active as
both of us are well into our seventies.

We try to keep fit with daily disciplined walks and our quality
of life has not suffered a lot so far. Hopefully, a virus vaccine
will appear sometime during the new year. We think of you,
and hope you and yours are well.

Marlene and Wayne                                            
marleneaholst@gmail.com    waholst@telus.net*  

******

SPECIAL ITEM

Here is my Advent/Christmas column for the Anglican Journal which is entitled: "Lessons and Carols for Advent"

https://tinyurl.com/yc229olz

Here is some background on the King's College Choristers:

https://www.kings.cam.ac.uk/choir

*****

CLOSING THOUGHT - Oscar Romero

No one can celebrate a genuine Christmas without
being truly poor. The self-sufficient, the proud, those
who, because they have everything, look down on
others, those who have no need even of God – for
them there will be no Christmas. Only the poor, the
hungry, those who need someone to come on their
behalf, will have that someone.

That someone is God, Emmanuel, God-with-us.
Without poverty of spirit there can be no abundance of God.

(end)

*****

Colleagues List, December 6th 2020

  Vol XVI. No. 20

Archive - Dec 2009 - Oct 2019                                                                        http://colleagueslist.blogspot/.ca http://colleagueslistii.blogspot.com

GLOBAL AND ECUMENICAL IN SCOPE                                                  CANADIAN IN PERSPECTIVE

ADVENT II

Wayne A. Holst, Editor
My E-Mail Address: waholst@telus.net 

This email is sent only to a voluntary subscriber list.

If you no longer wish to receive these weekly columns,
write to me personally - waholst@telus.net

******

Dear Friends,

My Special Item this week is a personal reflection on Advent, and about how the season speaks to me right now. 

The rest of this letter is a selection of worthwhile notes and wisdom which I hope you will find meaningful.

Wayne

PLEASE NOTE- If a link, below seems to be dead, cut and paste it into the address bar at the top of your web page and it should work.

*****

SPECIAL ITEM

Advent Reflection 2

"A Season of Waiting in Expectation"

I have two reasons to wait expectantly this Advent Season that help me  understand this most important Christian meaning.

In the first place, I am about to receive my second eye cataract surgery on  Monday. The first eye was completed several months ago. Now, I wait expectantly for a return to good complementary sight from both eyes once more.

Secondly, I join many of you in anticipation of the vaccine that will hopefully and eventually help the world's population control the virus that has plagued us for almost a year.

I, like many of you, are not waiting to put in time. There is a purpose in our waiting for restored health, just as we await the coming of Jesus at Christmas.

There are many images and moments from ordinary living that can help us to appreciate the Advent coming so important to our faith. I have just shared two of them with you.

Thanks for joining me as we wait together in expectation.

*****

COLLEAGUE CONTRIBUTIONS

Bill Way,
Calgary, AB

At the recent Board of Directors meeting of the
Hearts and Hands Foundation, our Executive
Director announced that the next Stoves building
trip for H&H will be October 20, 2021 through
November 3, 2021  Recent floods and mudslides
in the Guatemalan highlands, added to the second
wave of Covid-19 pandemic have made it impossible
for the previously scheduled trips in October 2020
and in March 2021.

At this point, this is a Save-the-Date announcement.
Hearts and Hands is in constant contact with our staff
in Guatemala.  All necessary travel restrictions and
health recommendations will be obeyed as the safety
and well-being of our volunteers is paramount.  

Final decisions to go, or not-go to Guatemala will be
announced later in 2021.

If you are interested in joining this trip as a Volunteer,
please contact me at the email address below.

With Hope and Joy,

Bill Way
Hearts and Hands Foundation
bway.triathlon@gmail.com

--

Mark Whittall,
Ottawa, ON.

Sermons and Blog,
December 4th, 2020

"We are in the Wilderness"
  https://tinyurl.com/y2ee4jcn

--

Ron Rolheiser,
San Antonio, TX

Personal Web Site
November 30th, 2020

"Our Wounds, Our Gifts,
  and Our Power to Heal Others"
  https://tinyurl.com/y47luyst

*****

NET NOTES

TEN GREAT PIECES OF ADVENT MUSIC
BBC Classical Music Magazine,
December, 2020

https://tinyurl.com/y67hmgb9

--

WHY 2020 NEEDS ADVENT
A Reflection on the Season

Christian Week
November 28th, 2020

https://tinyurl.com/y2eau8k4

--

WHAT IS CHRISTMAS WITHOUT SINGING?
Church Choirs Singing Carols in New Ways

Broadview,
November 27th, 2020

https://tinyurl.com/yygo24kl

--

CANADIAN CHURCHES RETURN
LAND TO INDIGENOUS GROUPS
A Repudiation of Doctrine of Discovery

Religion News Service,
November 25th, 2020

https://tinyurl.com/y6jvszxz

--

97% OF CONSERVATIVE CHRISTIANS
VOTED FOR OUT-GOING PRESIDENT TRUMP
He Got Near Unanimous Support from Them

Christian Post,
December 3rd, 2020

https://tinyurl.com/y3ahxn3x

--

CANADIAN JORDAN PETERSON SOON
PUBLISHING NEW BOOK OF LIFE RULES
His Work is Receiving Mixed Reader Reaction

Religion News Service,
December 3rd, 2020

https://tinyurl.com/y2kpaolz

--

BIBLE GATEWAY SEARCH VERY ACTIVE
DURING YEAR OF PANDEMICS AND POLITICS
Many People Seek "Answers" from Scripture

Religion News Service,
December 2nd, 2020

https://tinyurl.com/y2muds6j

--

VIRUS KILLS BELOVED SERBIAN
ORTHODOX CHURCH LEADER
He Was Deeply Ecumenical

Christianity Today,
November 25th, 2020

https://tinyurl.com/y6lr8jw7

*****

WISDOM OF THE WEEK

People create social conditions and people can change them.

- Dr. Osonye Tess Onwueme

--

You are responsible for the world that you live in. It is not
government’s responsibility. It is not your school’s or your
social club’s or your church’s or your neighbor’s or your
fellow citizen’s. It is yours, utterly and singularly yours.

- August Wilson

--

Often we stumble along, not knowing where we’re going,
but understanding that the journey is worth it because
Jesus took it for us, shared it with us. Because the immortal
God became mortal, we all share in the immortality as well
as the mortality.…To believe that the universe was created
by a purposeful, benign Creator is one thing. To believe that
this Creator took on human vesture, accepted death and
mortality, was tempted, betrayed, broken, and all for love
of us, defies reason.

- Madeleine L’Engle

--

Every year we celebrate the holy season of Advent, O God.
Every year we pray those beautiful prayers of longing and
waiting, and sing those lovely songs of hope and promise.
Every year we roll up all our needs and yearnings and 

faithful expectation into one word: “Come!” And yet, what 

a strange prayer this is! After all, you have already come 

and pitched your tent among us. You have already shared 

our life with its little joys, its long days of tedious routine, 

its bitter end.

Could we invite you to anything more than this with our 

“Come”? Could you approach any nearer to us than you did 

when you became the “Son of Man”? In spite of all this we 

still pray: “Come.”

- Karl Rahner

--

Celebrating Advent means learning how to wait.…
Not all can wait – certainly not those who are satisfied,
contented, and feel that they live in the best of all possible
worlds! Those who learn to wait are uneasy about their
way of life, but yet have seen a vision of greatness in the
world of the future and are patiently expecting its fulfillment.
The celebration of Advent is possible only to those who are
troubled in soul, who know themselves to be poor and
imperfect, and who look forward to something greater
to come. For these, it is enough to wait in humble fear
until the Holy One himself comes down to us, God in
the child in the manager.

- Dietrich Bonhoeffer

--

When have Christians been promised physical security?
In the early church it is evident that they did not even
expect it! Their security, their true life, was rooted in God;
and neither the daily insecurities of the decaying Roman
Empire, nor the organized persecution which followed later,
could affect their basic confidence. In my judgement, the
description which Christ gave of the days that were to come
before his return is more accurately reproduced in this fear-
ridden age than ever before in human history.…When God
decides that the human experiment has gone on long enough,
yes, even in the midst of what appears to us confusion and
incompleteness, Christ will come again. This is what the New
Testament teaches. This is the message of Advent. It is for
us to be alert, vigilant and industrious, so that his coming will
not be a terror but an overwhelming joy.

- J. B. Philipps

*****

CLOSING THOUGHT - Flannery O'Connor

The truth does not change according to our ability
to stomach it emotionally.

(end)

*****